Laws of Beauty

Speak out to help regulate dangerous chemicals in cosmetics.

Many of us believe that the personal care products we use on our bodies and our children have been tested for safety. But the unsettling truth is that the FDA does not have the authority to regulate or recall personal care products.

"Cosmetics are still using many synthetic chemicals that have been developed ever since the end of WWII, but we've learned more over the years about the serious health problems linked to these chemicals," says Margaret Shield, coalition coordinator of the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition of Washington State. "Our laws have not kept up with the information we're learning."

According to Skin Deep, a database maintained by the D.C.-based Environmental Working Group, more than one-third of all personal care products (including baby products) contain at least one chemical linked to cancer. These chemicals get absorbed through our skin, ingested directly from our lips and hands, and washed down our drains into waterways, where they contaminate wildlife.

Shield adds that many of the chemical ingredients still common in cosmetics sold in the U.S. have already been banned in the European Union. "The good news is that manufacturers can make these products without these chemicals," she says. And there are many companies, including Washington-based Spirit of Beauty Nutritional Skincare and Terra Firma, that have pledged to use only the safer ingredients.

Until legislation makes safe products mainstream, however, it's up to consumers to shop carefully, and that can be tricky, especially since terms like "organic" aren't held to legal standard on beauty products the way they are on food. To help move us toward the day when we can shop worry-free, Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition is asking state legislators to ensure that cosmetics products sold in Washington are safe by passing new laws.

Want to add your voice to the campaign? Click here to email state senators and representatives from your district and tell them you want only safe cosmetics in Washington stores. In the meantime, Skin Deep can help you learn more about the products you choose, and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics can point you toward manufacturers who have pledged not to use dangerous chemicals.