Understanding how cosmetics can adversely affect our health is no easy feat. But the indomitable Heather White and MindBodyGreen have joined together to make the case for why every woman should care about the chemicals in her beauty products.
Heather White is the Executive Director of the Environmental Working Group and an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, specializing in FDA regulation, cosmetics law, toxic chemicals and lobbying. In this video, she reveals how the chemicals in our personal care products are already affecting us, and why the FDA is unable to provide reasonable consumer protection.
Talk highlights include:
- How common hormone-altering chemicals are contributing to a significant shift in the age young girls are reaching puberty.
- The problem with phthalates and parabens, and just how widespread they are. Hint: there’s over 18,000 products in the Skin Deep Database alone which contain these controversial chemicals.
- The relevance of President Obama’s Cancer Panel (April 2010), which concluded, “Americans are facing grievous harm from largely unregulated chemicals in the air, food, and water.”
- The little-known truth that the FDA lacks the authority to review most cosmetic products before they go to market, and can’t even recall dangerous ones.
Ultimately, White calls upon consumers to read labels and make informed decisions when purchasing products for themselves and their children. If you spent any time this morning applying deodorant, spraying cologne, or dabbing on lipstick, take a moment to watch this video.
VIEW VIDEO AT MINDBODYGREEN