Toxic Gifts: Read the Ingredients before Slathering on that Smelly Lotion

So, you’ve opened all your gifts and among them are some cologne, lotion, body wash or other personal care products loaded with fragrance. You might be eager to try out your new stuff, but before you douse yourself in that rank smelling body spray in the hopes of enticing your sister’s hot friend into joining you under the mistletoe, check the ingredients. There might be stuff in that harmless looking product that could seriously affect your health.

The number one ingredient you should look for? Fragrance. Whenever you see ‘fragrance’ you should read it as ‘hidden chemicals’, due to a major loophole in FDA federal law that allows manufacturers to include nearly any ingredient in their products under the word ‘fragrance’ without actually listing the chemical.

From the Environmental Working Group:

Companies that manufacture personal care products are required by law to list the ingredients they use, but fragrances and trade-secret formulas are exempt. An analysis of the chemical contents of products reveals that the innocuous-looking “fragrance” often contains chemicals linked to negative health effects. Phthalates, used to make fragrances last longer, are associated damage to the male reproductive system, and artificial musks accumulate in our bodies and can be found in breast milk. Some artificial musks are even linked to cancer. And if you’ve got asthma, watch out– fragrance formulas are considered to be among the top 5 known allergens, and can trigger asthma attacks. The same kinds of chemicals are often used for fragrances in cleaning products, scented candles, and air fresheners.

Never assume that ‘fragrance’ means natural essential oils. If the scents used in a product are natural, the manufacturer is going to make sure you’re aware of that – it’s a major selling point. It’s sad that we have to be responsible to ensure that neurotoxins, carcinogens and other dangerous substances don’t end up in our bodies without our knowledge, but the FDA simply doesn’t regulate the personal care/cosmetics industry as well as they should.

Look up any product you receive in the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, which rates products according to the safety of their ingredients. Don’t assume that just because a brand has a reputation for natural and organic products, that every product from that brand is safe.

Link [EWG] + [Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database]

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