The personal care and cosmetics industry has a history of largely choosing product ingredients without overmuch concern for their immediate or long-term impact on consumers’ health. Unless the impact is obvious and visible, (like a rash) it’s unlikely to make the corporate radar screen. Long-term consequences from exposure to toxic ingredients are hard to measure and harder to trace.

But concerns related to repeated and prolonged use of multiple products with toxic chemical ingredients is rising. More consumers are becoming aware that what they slather on their body is readily absorbed through the skin into their organs and tissues. This frequently includes carcinogenic ingredients.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety has now identified nearly 900 personal care chemicals that are toxic. Some cause cancer, others disrupt hormone functioning, some act as neurotoxins, while others contribute to organ damage. The Institute notes that Europe has banned some 400 of these dangerous materials, which still appear on U.S. retail shelves.

According to the American Association of Poison Control, accidental ingestion of toxins in personal care products is among the top three causes of their reported incidents among both children and adults. Leaving companies to self-patrol ingredients under loose U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations makes it all the more important for consumers to be informed. Common offenders include talc, formaldehyde, and fragrances. Many cosmetics list talc as their first or second ingredient. This finely powdered moisture absorbing mineral is often used as filler. The American Cancer Society recognizes talc as a carcinogen linked especially to ovarian cancer.

Formaldehyde and Butylated Hydroxtolune (BHT) are common preservatives known to be toxic and still in use in the personal care industry. Disguised under various names, consumers encounter formaldehyde in disinfectants, hair sprays, mascara and even products directly applied to the skin.

The National Cancer Institute classifies this colorless gas as both a carcinogen and irritant. BHT is commonly added to cosmetics and foods to preserve oils. Studies suggest that it can cause cancer, catalyze tumors and alter behavior through neurotoxicity.

Did you know that as many as 3,000 separate ingredients may appear on a product label as a “fragrance?” According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, many of these ingredients are toxic or carcinogenic. In other industries their products are subject to strict regulation when they use these same substances.

Generally speaking, fragrance ingredients constitute a small percentage of a product’s makeup, yet the real concern is related to the constant exposure of the consumer to these toxins because of the sheer number of fragranced products used regularly. Government reports of the synergistic effects of many of these materials can’t be ignored. Clinical observation already shows that certain fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity and irritability.

Therefore, responsibility for making educated purchases falls to the consumer. Unless required by law, most companies aren’t likely to voluntarily fund the necessary research to find safer ingredients.

The good news is that there are pioneering companies, like Shaklee, that see the value of developing and making products that are in harmony with nature. Shaklee has stepped up their investment in good quality beauty products that deliver performance without dangerous or questionable ingredients. Shaklee has an unwavering commitment to products that are always safe, always green and that always work. The Shaklee difference applies to all of our personal care products, too.