Officially toxic!
Posted by John Gustafson at 16:34 on 19 Oct 2007 beauty, organic, Channel 4, how toxic are you, toxic, chemicals, parabens
By now you will have all heard about last week’s programme on the toxic ingredients and effects of some of your normal everyday cosmetic and skincare products. To be honest? I feared the worst. I though the next day would be filled with a barrage of phonecalls asking for all products
to be changed to paraben, preservative free, organic, uber-natural replacements. Thankfully, the modern consumer seems to be a little less influenced by sensationalist media than I expected. So thank you modern consumers! On the downside, I have found out that I am officially toxic. Yes, your mother always said I was bad – now she has been proven correct. Damn.
That being said, there were some frightening bits of incredibly interesting information given…in fact, I took 6 pages of notes during that one-hour programme! Some I knew and others were as new to me as they were to you. I learned:
• 30,000 chemicals are licensed for use in the UK alone.
• We are in contact with approximately 2,500 chemicals a day. Yikes!
• Lipgloss alone contains 28 manmade chemicals.
Now I know we have to be aware of what we put in and on our bodies. But if you think I am going to become even more neurotic than I already am? You are nuts. I am all for keeping the products I apply clear of harmful ingredients, but the problem is that I am results oriented. And sadly – that means the products are going to have to contain chemicals. And knowing that I am rubbish at getting through a product before I get bored or before another one lands on my doorstep: I am going to need them to be preserved. That means chemicals. Like many of the people interviewed in the show, I assume that if the product is available on the market that it is safe for use. And being that I am involved heavily in product development with several companies, I know that is the case. What we don’t know is the extended long-term effects of some ingredients and combinations. But once there is supporting evidence that there is a problem with that ingredient or combination of ingredients, it is retracted from the market.
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for several of the companies mentioned in the show. Simple, for instance. Sure there were 23 manmade chemicals, but that product was singled out of thousands. Same with Boots and Aveda. I know these companies are not deliberately trying to mislead you. They are trying to give you as much information as you need to make a decision and that, more importantly, you will read and understand. Give them a little bit of leeway.
And how about those big nasty parabens? The two test subjects cut them out of their routines and STILL the level raised in one of them. That is 50% of the test group! It was put down to food. If you want to live a macrobiotic life, use nothing remotely effective or active on your skin, and never leave the house…fine. But the moment you step outside your door – unless you wear a gasmask and haz-mat clothing – you will still be subjected to chemicals. Walk into the Underground. Into your office. Do you think they are using less than 100% effective cleaning products that cost 4 times the money in an effort to keep you from coming into contact with potentially harmful chemicals? Me either.
I also found it most peculiar that in the ten-day test, by Friday, all those two girls could do was whine about the makeup and how they had to keep applying it. It was crap. It didn’t apply smoothly. I didn’t stay. But by the end of the trial 3 days later they couldn’t tell the difference between the luxury products they were used to and the new super natural ones. Rubbish. And what ever happened to the test with the laundry? Do you really want to wash your clothes with something that gets them nearly clean? Me either. I buy a non-bio detergent that is as safe as I can find that will get my clothes clean. But isn’t there an argument for needing to use the energy to wash garments three times in order to actually get them clean enough to wear with one of the hard-to-find- eco cleaners? Can we all say “carbon footprint� Where does it all end?
I have been scouring the shelves for effective products without the nasties and the list comes up pretty slim. There are companies like Naked, Organic Pharmacy, ILA, Strixaderm, REN, and Organic Skincare. More arrive every week. And they are really good products too. But again, I am a results person. I want the very best for my skin. And if that means a small compromise on a few ingredients I guess I will make an informed decision on what I can and cannot live with. As should you. It is your body and you need to decide what you are and are not willing to use. But strangely, a woman I saw the day after that show aired asked specifically for anti-ageing products to do miraculous things to her skin without any manmade chemicals or parabens. I showed her a selection of products but was completely truthful with her about what she could expect for her money. All of a sudden her ethics went out the window. All of the natural products cost the same – if not more – than products that are clinically and medically proven to give results that happen to contain a few of the ingredients she was trying to avoid. And once it came to makeup…she couldn’t give a care. She felt that what was ON her skin for makeup didn’t really count as much as skincare that went into her skin. I pointed out that the average woman eats three full-sized lipstick per year. Again: ethics took a backseat to looking good.
Be aware my friends. Do some research on this wonderful thing called the Internet. Make decisions you can live with. But be properly informed. Don’t read one sensationalistic article or watch one television programme and decide to change your life. Make adjustments to cut down on potentially harmful ingredients, and feel good about what you use. But remember that a great deal of testing and research goes into each and every ingredient that is licensed for use. Place your trust in companies that you feel are looking out for your better interests, but don’t lose sight of how amazing modern technology can be. Skincare, medicine, makeup, and technology can mesh to give you incredible results without risking your future health. And don’t let anyone make your mind up for you…only you can do that.
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