They recently found that a certain cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane, is used by many companies in many cosmetic products. You will notice this chemical by other names, such as dioxane, diethylene dioxide, 1,4-diethylene dioxide, diethylene ether, glycol ethylene ether, dioxane-1,4, tetrahydro-p-dioxin, tetrahydro-1,4-dioxin.

The description of 1,4-dioxane from Wikipedia: 1,4-Dioxane is primarily used in solvent applications for the manufacturing sector; however, it is also found in fumigants and automotive coolant. Additionally, the chemical is also used as a foaming agent and appears as an accidental byproduct of the ethoxylation[1] process in cosmetics manufacturing.

Simply speaking, this is scary stuff and cause for concern.

From the EWG study in which they read the ingredient listings of 15,000 cosmetics, skin care and other personal care products, they have published the following alarming statistics:
*22% of cosmetics and skin care products, including baby soaps, are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane.
*80 percent of all cosmetic products may be contaminated with one or more carcinogenic impurities.

Overall, they have found that this chemical is used in almost all brands of
hair relaxers and over half of the baby soaps. They broke down the contamination levels as follows:
* 97% – hair relaxers
* 82% – hair dyes and bleaching
* 66% – hair removers
* 57% – baby soap
* 45% – sunless tanning products
* 43% – body firming lotion
* 36% – hormonal creams
* 36% – facial moisturizers
* 35% – anti-aging products
* 34% – body lotion
* 33% – around-eye creams

So, what do we need to do? First thing is to read your ingredient labels and get to know the names of the chemicals we do not want on our skin. Besides the ones listed above, look for the ingredients sodium laureth sulfate and others that include the clauses “PEG,” “xynol,” “ceteareth,” and “oleth.” These all have some form of 1,4-dioxane in them.

Even if you thought that natural was the way to go, some of these names will sneakily surprise you by showing up on the label. The only true way to avoid these chemicals are to use 100% Organic products – which will be certified as so.

Post from: Pretty by Nature

Having the FDA regulate simply everything we put onto our skin is a bit debatable. I don’t want them to tell me what I can and cannot wear, essentially. But I do agree that some regulating needs to be done as to the use of certain chemicals in our cosmetics and beauty products. I believe that outrageous claims need to be governed as well. I do see this as a long time in coming, though. I mean natural supplements are not even regulated, and it is sometimes scary to think of the herbs we are ingesting. Some things, no matter how natural, are simply not safe.

A good site to reference, though it may be a bit biased, is The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, as referenced in the article.

What do you think?

Post from: Pretty by Nature

One kit I am eyeing is this Juice Beauty Organics to Go. The kit is just $29, and it looks like it is a great way for me to try one of the more popular organic lines with it’s most popular products. It claims to be the ultimate starter set that contains 5 products, all with anti-aging benefits, plus an organic bamboo wash cloth. I must say the anti-aging properties are really luring me in – I will be 40 this year!!!

Please let me know if you have used any of Juice Beauty’s products, or this kit in particular. I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Post from: Pretty by Nature

Post from: Pretty by Nature