With the extra time on my hands these day from staying home, I am finding I am spending more time on my self care routine. The extra lotion or nightly face mask seems to make things seem a little brighter! But have you actually thought about what your favorite products are made with? Do you know when the last time the United States passed a law regulating the personal care industry? 1938 was the last time a previous federal law regarding personal care products passed. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s not a typo. 1938, before World War II, many chemicals were created to fight the war. After the war, companies started using these chemicals in many of our products without ever testing for safety. We have no idea if the ingredients used in your shampoo, baby lotion, or toothpaste contain toxic chemicals that can cause health issues. Most Americans assume the products lining the shelves of our pharmacies and department stores are safe for us to use. But they are not. This unregulated industry is why Johnson and Johnson had to pay $4.7 billion in a lawsuit for knowingly producing body powder that contained talc. This chemical is known to cause cervical cancer.
In 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) discovered 287 cancer-causing chemicals and toxic pollutants in umbilical cord blood. This finding proves that the pollution we encounter every day penetrates through our skin and into our bloodstream. No wonder the health of our children has declined, and the rates of autism and ADHD have skyrocketed.
Now, think about the soaps, lotions, creams, make-up, and hair products that you use every morning. None of those products are being tested or regulated! We are immediately exposed to hundreds of chemicals before we even leave the house. Then, consider the barrage of chemicals you encounter throughout the day, and unfortunately, your skin doesn’t protect you, it absorbs the chemicals and pollutants. How is a person who has a chronic illness, like Lyme, supposed to build a robust immune system and get healthier if they have the burden of these chemicals taxing their body daily?
I am not trying to depress you but to empower you to make better choices. I like to think of our bodies as a boiling pot of water that when we add chemicals, stress, viruses, etc. eventually it boils over. Your goal is to do everything in your power to minimize the toxic load in your body. There is no better time to find safer products. Download the app from the Environmental Working Group called “EWG’s Healthy Living App” or the Chrome plugin called Healthiest that connects directly to your Amazon account. Both applications rate products, helping you choose healthier and safer options.
One of the reasons I use Beautycounter for my personal-care products is because they have already done the work for you. I know their products are safe and high performing. They test every ingredient against the highest of standards and have placed over 1,800 ingredients on their “Never List.” I believe in their mission to elevate the standards for the entire industry by advocating for more federal laws to regulate personal care products and educating the public about what they are putting on their bodies. You can learn more about Beautycounter and find their full assortment of products here.
This topic is something I am incredibly passionate about, so please reach out if you have any questions.
xx, Mimi
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