www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Skin Deep contains information and online safety assessments for more than 65,000 products that we use on our skin. The products reviewed include sunscreens, tanning oils, all kinds of makeup, acne products, moisturizers, cleansers, soaps, anti-perspirants/deodorants, skin care treatments, hair products, eye drops, nail care products, fragrances, baby products, oral care, and MUCH MORE!
They use a rating system that is easy to understand, and you can also read everything about the rating of each product. That helps you to understand why it's a good or a bad product for your body.
You can also read several different articles about the safety of skin products.
An example of a question/answer from the website:
Are ingredients in personal care products harmful?
It depends. Some companies use ingredients that may cause cancer or that are associated with developmental problems. Many cosmetics ingredients penetrate the skin. People ingest those used on lips and hands and inhale sprays and powders. When risky and unstudied chemicals are used in cosmetics, the stakes are high.
I encourage you to check out the products you and your family are using right now. We definitely don't want to use any products that are harmful or can contribute to cancer.
One of the products that I'm interested in is "Naturally Fresh Deodorant".
I received a sample of the roll-on, and wondered if this is a good product. It makes the following claims: hypoallergenic, non-staining, Phthalate free, Paraben & PG free, No harmful aluminums, up to 24 hour protection. From the back of their brochure: "This deodorant is made of mineral salts, which are pure and natural, fragrance free, natural deodorants which kill odor-causing bacteria while permitting the pores to excrete toxins naturally. This is vital to maintain healthy, axillary lymph nodes located in the underarm area."
I went to the Skin Deep website to check this deodorant out. It has a rating of 0 - which means that it's a very low health concern. The ingredients that are listed are: Purified Water, Natural Mineral Salts, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, and Chamomile Extract.
I've used the same deodorant for YEARS - I love it. It's Secret Solid, Powder fresh fragrance. I just checked out the rating for it - it's rated as a 4 - a moderate health risk. After reading through the information, I've learned that many of the ingredients in this deodorant have organ system toxicity. The most surprising thing that I learned, though, is that the fragrance is a very high hazard - an 8! I'm sad about this, because I love this deodorant, but perhaps it's time to see what else is out there - and start using something that won't hurt me. I haven't tried the Naturally Fresh deodorant yet, but I plan to.
