Dying To Look Good Excerpt #47

Permanent Makeup

Permanent makeup is the process of infusing natural, mineral pigments under the skin’s surface. This micropigmentation, a kind of tattooing, is designed to last many years.

But the convenience has its risks. The pigments used can be toxic and cause adverse reactions. According to the FDA, there have been numerous reports of adverse reactions, associated with a considerable number of Premier ink shades.

The inks and pigments used in permanent makeup are classified as cosmetics and color additives, which are subject to FDA regulation. However, the FDA has not regulated their use and has left it up to local jurisdictions. The FDA is just starting to look into the safety issues.

The FDA has two lists of approved colors for cosmetic use,

• those subject to batch certification, which are the FD&C, D&C and Ext. D&C colors
  
• those exempt from batch certification

None of the approved colors are approved to be injected into the skin, as is done with permanent makeup.

Next time, "Risks Associated With Permanent Makeup"

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Healthy Baby Care Products

Most people think baby products on the market are gentle and safe, because after all, they're made for babies. Right?

Well, not exactly.

They're made for babies. That part is correct.

But safe...

Did you know that when the Environmental Working Group did their survey of 7500 personal care products in 2004, they found ingredients in baby products that

• may be linked to cancer
  
• are known to disrupt the endocrine system
  
• are skin sensitizers
  
• may be toxic to the immune system
  
• may cause reproductive harm
  
• are classified as penetration enhancers (they cause the body to absorb more of the product into the bloodstream)
  
• are highly toxic

So, just because a product label says it's safe and gentle doesn't meant that it's so.

So how do you find out for sure?

You read the list of ingredients, in the tiny print on the back of the label, that's so small that you frequently need a magnifying glass to see it.

If you're a chemist, you'll have no problem understanding what all that "Greek" means. If you're not, you can get Dying To Look Good to help you interpret what each ingredient is and whether it's safe or not.

You can also shop on DyingToLookGood.com. We make sure that the companies we list on that page offer safe and healthy products. If they don't you won't find them there.

You can also check out the DyingToLookGood.com Product of the Month. This month we feature healthy baby products.

You can be sure you're getting healthy products when you shop on DyingToLookGood.com or when you follow the advice in Dying To Look Good.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #46

MSG In Your Personal Care Products Continued...

MSG is hidden in many products, besides food, that you use every day, including:

• cosmetics and personal care products
  
• soaps
  
• shampoos
  
• conditioners
  
• cosmetics
  
• nutritional supplements
  
• medications
  
• vaccines

You can identify MSG in your personal care products by reading the label and looking for specific ingredients that are always or often sources of hidden MSG.

MSG is always in ingredients like

• hydrolyzed proteins
  
• amino acids
  
• yeast extract
  
• nayad (potent yeast extract)
  
• glutamic acid
  
• glutamates.

MSG may also be in or be the result of

• processed proteins
  
• enzymes
  
• carrageenan.

These are the most likely sources of MSG in your personal care products. For a complete list of ingredients containing MSG, see truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html.

For more information on hidden sources of MSG, see truthinlabeling.org/II.WhereIsMSG.html.

Next time Permanent Makeup...

Discover how Dying To Look Good can help you make sure the products you choose are free of MSG.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #45

MSG In Your Personal Care Products

MSG is short for monosodium glutamate, but it also applies to processed free glutamic acid (glutamic acid that has been freed from protein through a manufacturing process or fermentation). I’m sure you’re aware of MSG in food, the effects it can cause and the controversy surrounding its safety. But did you know that MSG could also be hidden in your cosmetics and personal care products?

When you use products on your skin that contain MSG, it’s absorbed directly into your bloodstream.

MSG is a neurotoxin, which means it crosses the blood-brain barrier and the placental barrier and excites nerve cells to death. Because it affects the brain directly, it can cause a wide variety of symptoms from asthma attacks, skin rashes, behavioral problems, depression and migraine headaches to epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Even more frightening is that MSG is much more harmful to infants and children because, in some, their blood-brain barrier does not fully develop until as late as puberty. As a result, it’s a lot easier for neurotoxins to cross the blood-brain barrier in infants and children and cause more serious reactions than in adults. Even a fully developed blood-brain barrier is considered by neuroscientists to be leaky at best.

More next time...

Benefit now from all the health saving information packed into Dying To Look Good.

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #44

Micronized Minerals Continued...

Studies have shown that ultrafine particles can penetrate the skin, enter the cell and cause DNA damage. There is concern that this could possibly result in skin cancer. These studies have been done on titanium dioxide.

As of 2005, "The National Toxicology Program is developing a broad-based research program to address potential human health hazards associated with the manufacture and use of nanoscale materials," using existing testing methods and developing new methods to "adequately assess potential adverse human health effects."

Currently, the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research and the National Toxicology Program’s Center for Phototoxicology are conducting research "to examine the potential dermal toxicity of nanoscale materials." In this study they are investigating titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Based upon the studies being done and in development, it appears that not only are micronized minerals not well defined and not adequately tested, but also, the technology necessary to adequately test them for safety has not yet been completely developed.

Discover more health-saving information in Dying To Look Good.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #43

Micronized Minerals

Micronized minerals are emerging on the marketplace in natural cosmetics and sunscreens. Many companies promoting natural cosmetics are extolling the benefits of micronized minerals in their "all natural" make-up. Some cosmetic products are promoted as 100% pure micronized minerals.

But beware! There are research studies that suggest caution when considering the use of micronized mineral cosmetics.

Micronized minerals, also known as ultrafine or nanoparticles, are mineral pigments where the size of the particles has been reduced. In general, particles are classified according to size as coarse, fine or ultrafine. Micronized particles, the ultrafine or nanoparticles, are 100 times smaller than coarse particles and 25 times smaller than fine particles, according to etcgroup.org.

According to the FDA, there is no official definition of "micronized," but they refer to these particles being less than 250 nanometers, and they also regard nanoscale titanium dioxide as "micronized titanium dioxide."

More next time...

Shop for mineral makeup from safe and healthy crushed minerals, not micronized.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #42

Hair Dyes Continued...

Here's the EWG's list of Top 10 Ingredients of Concern in Hair Dye based upon their research:

• P-phenylenediamine
  
• P-animophenol
  
• M-aminophenol
  
• Phenyl Methyl Pyrazolone
  
• 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene
  
• 1-naphthol
  
• N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine
  
• O-aminophe+nol
  
• Lead acetate
  
• HC Red No. 3

*Excerpted and modified from "Shades of Risk" by Shelley Page, published in the Ottawa Citizen, April 18, 2005. Used with permission.

Next time Micronized Minerals...

Dying To Look Good contains a wealth of information to help you protect yourself from harmful ingredients. Learn more here...

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #41

Hair Dyes Continued...

In the summer of 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzed 117 hair dyes. It found:

• 62 per cent of products contained ingredients that are known or probable carcinogens, including dyes derived from coal tar
  
  
• One product contained lead acetate, a known reproductive toxin
  
  
• 79 per cent of products contained ingredients that contained impurities linked to breast cancer
  
  
• 96 per cent of products contained penetration enhancers that increase exposures to carcinogens and other ingredients of concern
  
  
• 73 per cent of products contained ingredients that are known allergens.

More next time...

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #40

Hair Dyes Continued...

"Researchers from the University of Southern California's (USC) School of Medicine found in 2001 that women using permanent hair dye at least once a month more than double their risk of bladder cancer. If they used it monthly for more than 15 years, they tripled their risk. The risk of bladder cancer was highest among smokers who regularly used hair dyes."

In 2003 the FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research reported that it found a known carcinogen, 4-ABP, in eight of 11 hair dye products bought off the shelf at supermarkets and hair salons. It was not listed as a regular ingredient, but was likely a contaminant formed as a byproduct of the dye-making process according to the researchers.

More next time...

Take advantage of the DyingToLookGood.com November 2006 Product of the Month Special Offer. Get Dying To Look Good for 25% off!

Or check out other Dying To Look Good Special Offers.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #39

Hair Dyes Continued...
In 2004, a "study by Yale researcher Tongzhang Zheng found that long-term use of permanent hair dye, in dark colors, doubles a person's risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma"

"The EU watchdog, known as the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers (SCCNFP), is worried about fatal allergies caused by hair dyes, as well as "new and improved" studies linking dyes to cancer. SCCNFP has strongly criticized hair-dye manufacturers for failing to prove hair dyes are safe and has ordered urgent research to be conducted on the health implications of permanent hair dyes or the product could face a ban. In the meantime, it has warned consumers not to use hair dyes, particularly dark dyes."

More next time...

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #38

Hair Dyes

The industry maintains that "hair dyes are one of the most thoroughly studied consumer products on the market today" and they're safe. However, there is a growing body of scientific evidence pointing to an increased risk of bladder cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with the use of permanent hair dyes, especially the darker colors.

Here are some facts about hair dyes reported in "Shades of Risk," by Shelley Page:

"A study published in the January/February 2005 issue of Public Health Reports, the official journal of the U.S. Public Health Service, found that the use of permanent hair dyes among men and women increases the risk of developing bladder cancer by up to 50 per cent compared to those who don't use hair dye."

More next time...

Or, get all right now... Dying To Look Good e-book.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #37

Grapefruit Seed Extract

The safety of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is controversial. On the one hand, some companies are removing grapefruit seed extract from their products. On the other, some say it’s non-toxic and has no harmful side-effects.

Grapefruit seed extract has been used for many years as a safe alternative to chemical preservatives. However, a study done in 1999 in Germany on six samples of grapefruit seed extract showed contamination with benzethonium chloride in five of the six samples tested. Three of these five samples were also found to contain triclosan and methyl paraben. Each of these samples showed antimicrobial activity. The one sample that contained no preservatives showed no antimicrobial activity. This study concluded that the antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed extract was due to the chemical preservatives detected, not to the grapefruit seed extract.

Conversely, Nutribiotics, one of the major suppliers of grapefruit seed extract, states that their grapefruit seed extract products have been “proven clean” and effective by independent laboratory tests. They assert that grapefruit seed extract has been used safely for many years. It is “non-toxic, biodegradable, economical, with no harmful side-effects.”

So, when choosing products containing grapefruit seed extract, make sure the grapefruit seed extract in the products you choose comes from a reputable source with independent lab tests to verify safety and effectiveness. Quality, safety and effectiveness of grapefruit seed extract may vary among different brands.

Discover why you should avoid products with benzethonium chloride, triclosan and methylparaben.

Shop for healthy products.

What You Need to Know About Codex Alimentarius

This video is the best explanation I've seen and heard about Codex Alimentarius. It's a little long, but I recommend you take the time and watch it to the end.

View Video

Please take action. Sign the petition. YOUR HEALTH IS AT STAKE!

Contaminant in OTC Skin Remedies Linked to 34 Deaths

Diethylene glycol "which is used to keep glue and cosmetics moist" is being blamed for 34 deaths in Panama. It has contaminated skin remedies, like calamine lotion and rash ointments, and over-the-counter medications like cough syrup and antihistamine tablets.

Diethylene glycol is one of many harmful ingredients that are commonly used in products we consume or put on our skin. The industry typically has downplayed the adverse effects of these types of ingredients, saying there is no cause for concern, or that they're used in such small quantities that they're safe.

The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of ingredients that are being used in our foods and personal care products that should not be used. There IS cause for concern. The industry's not going to take them out, because they deny that they're harmful. That is, unless, consumers stop buying products containing the unsafe ingredients.

If you don't know what's harmful and what's safe, you can find out in Dying To Look Good. With that information, you'll be armed to read labels and know which ingredients should and should not be in the cosmetics and skin care products you use.

You vote with your dollars. When enough people stop using the products with the harmful ingredients, the industry will have to change and start producing products with safe and healthy ingredients. But as long as you continue to buy the products with the questionable and harmful ingredients, they'll continue to make them.

If you haven't started reading labels and checking to see if the ingredients are safe or not, now is the time to do so! Your health and your family's health is at stake.

If you're not a chemist and you don't know what to look for, all the information you need to decipher the chemical gobbledy-gook on the ingredients label is the the book, Dying To Look Good. Dying To Look Good also has a sibling for deciphering food labels, Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide...

Now is the time to take charge of your health. These two books make it really easy to get started.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #36

Cosmetics That Require a Warning on the Label Continued...

According to the Environmmental Working Group, of the 7500 products they tested, nearly one in 20 contained one or more ingredients that the CIR found did not have sufficient test data to support the ingredients' safe use in cosmetics. Under federal law, passed in 1995, if a cosmetic product's safety has not been established, the product’s label must read: "WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined."

The EWG did not find any warnings on the labels of the products whose ingredients contained insufficient data to support safety, based on a partial evaluation. Unless studies were done to provide the information needed for these ingredients to be classified as safe, "the manufacturers of these products may be in violation of federal law."

In their evaluations, the EWG also noted that the industry routinely ignores the recommendations of the CIR on the safe use of ingredients as determined by the panel.

Shop for products that have been determined to have only safe and healthy ingredients.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #35

Cosmetics That Require a Warning on the Label

The FDA requires warnings on the labels of products that are potentially hazardous, including:

• Aerosol products
  
  • Hairsprays
    
  • Deodorant
  
  
• Products in pressurized containers
  
  • Shaving cream
    
  • Foaming soaps
  
  
• Detergent bubble bath products
  
  
• Hair dyes containing coal tar colors
  
  
• Feminine deodorant sprays
  
  
• Shampoos, rinses and conditioners
  
  
• Hair straighteners and depilitories
  
  
• Nail builders (elongators, extenders, hardeners, and enamels)
  
  
• Any product that contains one or more ingredients that the CIR found had insufficient testing data to support the ingredients' safe use in cosmetics

Find out next time if the industry is meeting this requirement...

Or you can get the Dying To Look Good e-book and find out right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #34

Cosmetics Classified as Drugs

Cosmetic or personal care products that claim to have a therapeutic benefit affecting body function or structure are also classified as drugs.

These products often can be identified by an "active ingredient" listed in the label. But not all products in this category always list an active ingredient. They are only required to list the active ingredient first, then the remaining inactive ingredients.

The typical type of cosmetic products also considered drugs include:

• Fluoride toothpaste
  
• Dandruff shampoo
  
• Sunscreens
  
• Cosmetics containing sunscreen

Next time... Cosmetics that Require a Warning on the Label.

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OR

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #33

Antibacterial Soaps Continued...

It has been suggested that antibacterial soaps should not be used on children because the chemicals are too harsh and drying for their skin. Using antibacterial soaps on your children does not protect them and help them to stay healthy. In fact, children need to come in contact with "germs" to help them to develop their immune system. Overuse of antibacterial agents has been linked to allergies and asthma.

And antibacterial agents do not kill viruses, the microorganisms responsible for colds and flu.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that the use of antibacterial soaps is not necessary on a daily basis. Washing with warm water and ordinary soap is sufficient.

More on antibacterial soaps here.

Experience the clean refreshing feeling from natural, handmade soaps.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #32

Antibacterial Soaps

Antibacterial soaps have been widely embraced as a way to "kill germs" and prevent illness. But not all bacteria are harmful. And not all "germs" are bacteria.

Some bacteria are beneficial and your body needs them. Antibacterial soaps cannot distinguish between harmful and helpful bacteria. It kills all bacteria. When the healthy bacteria that your body needs have been "washed away," it leaves you more susceptible to illness from harmful bacteria.

Recent studies show that triclosan, one of the most common antibacterial agents used in soaps, acts like an antibiotic in the way it kills bacteria and may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

To be continued...

Get the rest of this important information right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #31

Acrylic Nails Continued...

Acrylic nails have been found to harbor bacteria, fungi and viruses. Significantly higher levels of these microorganisms have been detected on the hands of people with acrylic nails compared with those without.

Allergic reactions may occur when the chemicals come in contact with the skin surrounding the nails causing redness, swelling and itching to occur around the nail and even causing the nail to separate from the nail bed.

In addition, your nails are porous. Chemicals that come in contact with them can be absorbed through the nail bed into your bloodstream.

Next time ... Antibacterial Soaps

You can get your own copy of Dying To Look Good here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #30

Acrylic Nails

Artificial nails, even though they may look great, are in fact harmful to your health and the health of your nails.

The chemicals used to attach and remove acrylic nails are toxic. Ethyl methacrylate most commonly used to glue on acrylic nails, is an eye and skin irritant. Inhaling it can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea. It can also cause asthma and allergic reactions.

Methyl methacrylate was banned in 1974 after it was proven harmful. It is still being used in some establishments "because it's cheap, effective and easy to get despite the ban," according to Evelyn Burgett, Cosmetology Inspector for the state of Tennessee.

More on acrylic nails next time...

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #29

Special Topics Continued...

As of this writing, there is a proposed bill in California, which if passed, would require manufacturers to notify the state of any products they manufacture that contain ingredients linked to cancer or birth defects. EWG identified 155 products that would be affected if the bill passes. It passed the California Assembly's Health Committee on June 28, 2005 and was placed on the Suspense Calendar until after August 15.

According to EWG, “California’s bill also opens the door for national reform of loose standards for personal care products that essentially have industry lobbyists in control of determining if the ingredients their companies use are safe.” If this bill passes, it could be the first step in seeing safer cosmetics available to consumers.

You can follow the developments in this and other environmental safety issues at www.ewg.org.

Here’s a brief look at some topics, that you should be aware of, that are important to your health, including both products and ingredients.

Next time ... Acrylic Nails

Have all this information at your fingertips for your ready reference just when you need it.

Note: The California cosmetics bill became law in October 2005.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #28

Special Topics
There are some products on the market that people use, … just because everyone does, or because they make your face, skin, hands, hair or teeth look beautiful, or because the manufacturer, through their million dollar advertising campaigns has convinced you that you just can’t live without it. That it will make you more beautiful, sexier and will lure your perfect partner to you.

Until recently, most people didn’t even think about what’s in the product or if it’s even safe to put on their skin. They just thought about what it’s going to do for them, how it’s going to make them look or feel and how attractive it will make them to the opposite sex.

But that’s changing now. There’s a growing consciousness toward using safer and healthier products. And it’s turning out that a number of the products that people just took for granted because of what it “did for them,” are actually causing harm.

To be continued...

Get the rest of the story right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #27

Safety Tips Continued...

• Throw away products in which there has been a change in color or odor.
  
  
• Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Discard all products you were using when you discovered the infection.
  
  
• Keep makeup out of sunlight.
  
  
• Close makeup containers tightly when not in use.
  
  
• Many aerosol products are flammable. Do not use near heat or while smoking. Do not inhale hairsprays and powders. They may cause lung damage.

Next time ... Special Topics

Find out more about Dying To Look Good here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #26

Safety Tips Continued...

• Be wary of testers at cosmetic counters. The product may be contaminated. If you must test before purchasing, insist on a new disposable applicator and that the salesperson clean the container opening with alcohol before applying to your skin.
  
  
• Never add liquid to a cosmetic product to restore its original consistency. This may cause bacterial contamination.
  
  
• Stop using a product if you’ve had an allergic reaction to it.

More next time...

Have Dying To Look Good at your fingertips so you can be sure you're using safe and healthy products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #25

Safety Tips

Here are a few tips to help you use your cosmetics and personal care products safely and protect yourself from harm associated with their misuse.

• Never apply makeup while driving. An accidental scratch to your eyeball can cause bacterial infection and result in serious injury, including blindness.
  
  
• Never share makeup, and certain personal care products, like toothpaste and deodorant.

More next time...

Get a copy of Dying To Look Good right now!

Triclosan Alert!

Triclosan, the antibacterial agent commonly found in antibacterial soaps, lotions, acne products, cosmetics and other personal care products is dangerous!

It is classified as a pesticide by the EPA and as a drug by the FDA.

The EPA considers it a major risk to human health and to the environment.

"Chemically triclosan is almost the same as some of the most toxic chemicals on earth: dioxins, PCB’s, and Agent Orange. Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin, a powerful hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects in the parts per trillion (one drop in 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools!)."

If you use any products containing triclosan, my advice to you is to stop using them immediately and throw them away. It's that dangerous.

Learn more about the safety of ingredients in your personal care products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #24

Buyer Beware Continued...

• And other ingredients – means that there are one or more ingredients that the manufacturer considers a trade secret and does not want to list on the label. According to the FDA, "the manufacturer must prove that the ingredient imparts some unique property to the product and that the ingredient is not well-known in the industry."

Next time ... safety tips for cosmetic use.

Get your personal copy of Dying To Look Good here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #23

Buyer Beware Continued...

• Shelf Life (Expiration Date) – gives the length of time a cosmetic product is good if handled and stored properly. Expiration dates are approximate, and in reality, a product may expire long before the expiration date.

More next time...

Find out how you can get your own personal copy today.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #22

Buyer Beware Continued...

• Noncomedogenic – implies that there are no pore-clogging ingredients that may cause acne in the product.
  
  
• Cruelty Free – suggests that there has been no animal testing of the product. In reality, the majority of cosmetic ingredients have been tested on animals at some point. A more accurate statement would be “no new animal testing,” if indeed this were the case.

More next time...

You can have this resource at your fingertips when you need to look up the information. It will even fit in a woman's purse so you can take it shopping with you.

Dying To Look Good Review

Dying To Look Good has been reviewed in Wise Traditions, the quarterly journal for the Weston A. Price Foundation.

Read the Review.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #21

Buyer Beware Continued...

• Fragrance Free – means that the product has no detectable odor. Fragrance ingredients may still be added to mask offensive odors from the materials used to make the product.

More next time...
Or, get the e-book and get it all right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #20

Buyer Beware Continued...

• Alcohol Free – generally means the product does not contain ethyl alcohol (or grain alcohol). The product may contain fatty alcohols like cetyl, cetearyl, stearyl, or lanolin.

More next time...

Of course, you don't have to wait. You can have it all right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #19

Buyer Beware Continued...

• Hypoallergenic – means that the manufacturer believes the product is less likely to cause allergic reactions. But there are no standards for classifying a product hypoallergenic. The manufacturer may actually test the product before classifying it hypoallergenic, or simply remove fragrances and call it hypoallergenic. The manufacturer is not required to prove this claim. Also, the terms "dermatologist-tested," "sensitivity tested," "allergy tested," or "nonirritating" do not guarantee they won't cause allergic reactions.

More next time...

Or get it all now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #18

Buyer Beware
The FDA's attempt at establishing official definitions for specific terms like "natural" and "hypoallergenic" were overturned in court. Consequently, companies can use these terms on cosmetic labels to mean anything they want. Mostly, the value of these terms lies in promoting cosmetic products to the consumer rather than any real medical meaning, according to dermatologists.

Beware of products claiming to be:

• Natural – suggests that the ingredients are derived from natural sources rather than being produced synthetically. However, there are no industry standards for what natural means. The product may contain all natural ingredients, just a few natural ingredients added to a synthetic product or even no natural ingredients at all.

More on this list tomorrow. But, you don't have to wait until tomorrow to get more of this list. You can have it all right now in the Dying To Look Good e-book.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #17

Continued from Excerpt #16 ...

The EWG further states that "for many of the ingredients the CIR has chosen to review, the cosmetic industry has failed to conduct even the most basic toxicity tests."... For more than half of the ingredients approved by the CIR, "the panel fails in whole to discuss any available data with respect to cancer and mutagenicity, birth defects, and other reproductive risks." ... The "CIR has chosen sensitization and the related effect of irritation as the basis for approximately 80% of its safety decisions, to the near total exclusion of other health impacts... It is clear from the review summaries published by the panel in the open scientific literature that basic safety data are often lacking."

The CIR is funded by CTFA.

Don't play Russian roulette with your health. Make sure you know how to tell if your personal care products are safe or not.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #16

Continued from Excerpt #15 ...

The CIR website states that they determine which ingredients to review based upon how widespread the use of the ingredient is and reports of adverse effects, toxicity predictions, potential for skin penetration, if banned in Japan or the European Union, etc. However, according to the Environmental Working Group, based upon their review of the ingredients in 7,500 products in 2004, "the CIR has failed to review one-third of the top 50 ingredients used in cosmetics," some of which pose "potential cancer risks." In addition, "of the 1175 ingredients that had been reviewed by the CIR at the time of EWG’s analysis, half of the ingredients are not used in cosmetics."

To be continued...

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #15

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), established in 1976 by CTFA, was the industry’s effort to provide an unbiased evaluation of the safety of cosmetic ingredients. Between 1976 and June 14, 2005, they completed safety assessments, for 1269 ingredients. This represents only 10% of the more than 12,000 ingredients listed in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary.

New cosmetic ingredients are coming onto the market faster than they can be reviewed. The 2004 edition of the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary listed over 1400 more ingredients than were listed in the 2002 edition. In just two years more ingredients were added to the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary than the CIR has reviewed in 29 years.

More next time...

Get instant access to the rest of this article and all of Dying To Look Good here.

Bar Soap at its Best

Most people don't give a second thought to what's in a bar of soap, let alone that it might just have ingredients that could harm them or their loved ones. Like all other personal care products, a bar of soap can have toxic chemicals that can do harm when absorbed through your skin into your bloodstream. Yes this does happen!

Now, you can have your soap and lather in it too - the healthy way, and it doesn't have to be boring because it's healthy and safe for you.

If you don't believe me, you can check the ingredients in your bar of soap in Dying To Look Good to see how safe the ingredients really are.

Healthy, Natural, Organic Skin Care

There are so many products on the market that claim to be all natural, organic and healthy for you, but are far from it. The reason that these companies get away with that kind of marketing is because ... they can. The cosmetic and personal care industry is the least regulated and they take advantage of the consumer ... big time.

Here's one skin care product line that is truly natural, organic and healthy for you! Why not give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

Learn more about how to protect yourself from misleading marketing of unhealthy products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #14

Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) is an industry organization supporting creative freedom in product development and self-regulation within the personal care product sector. It is the industry lobby at various government levels.

The CTFA International Buyers' Guide 2004 edition lists over 12,000 cosmetic chemicals according to INCI names cross-referencing them to more than 55,000 trade and technical names.

INCI, International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient, standardizes the terminology for cosmetic chemical ingredients in the U.S., Europe, Japan and other countries throughout the world. Manufacturers use this guide to choose their ingredients for the cosmetics they produce. Most of the chemicals have not been tested for short-term or long-term toxic effects or for systemic effects. Many are contaminated with toxic by-products from manufacturing. Many are toxic themselves.

Learn how to determine which ingredients are safe and which are not so you can protect yourself and your family.

Healthy Mineral Makeup

A great deal of the makeup on the market today contains harmful ingredients. Some of these ingredients cause cancer.

If you're conscious about healthy cosmetics, you've probably already heard of mineral makeup as a safe alternative. However, not all mineral makeup is healthy.

Many of the mineral makeups are made from micronized minerals. Micronized minerals can be absorbed into the cell and damage the DNA. According to the National Center for Toxicological Research, these minerals have not been adequately tested, AND the technology to adequately test them does not even exist yet.

Healthy mineral makeup is made from crushed minerals. These minerals cannot be absorbed and will not damage your cells.

Learn more about crushed mineral makeup and how you can get yours today.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #13

The requirement to list cosmetic and personal care product ingredients on the label applies to retail products sold for home use. Products produced for use in salons, labeled "For Professional Use Only" and cosmetic and personal care product samples do not require the ingredients to be listed on the label. However, these products do require the name of the distributor, the quantity, and all necessary warning statements.

Find healthy skin care products here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #12

According to EWG, "The regulatory vacuum in the U.S. gives cosmetic companies tremendous leeway in selecting ingredients, while it transfers potentially significant and largely unnecessary health risks to the users of the products."

Here's how to avoid these health risks when you choose the products you use.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #11

The FDA can make suggestions or recommendations to manufacturers about cosmetic products or their ingredients, but the manufacturers do not have to comply. The FDA must first prove in a court of law that a product is harmful, improperly labeled, or violates the law if it wants to remove a cosmetic product from the market.

Shop for truly safe and healthy cosmetics and personal care products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #10

According to John Bailey, Ph.D., director of the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, "Consumers believe that 'if it's on the market, it can't hurt me,' and this belief is sometimes wrong."

Make sure the products you buy don't hurt you.

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Try some today and get a 10% discount. Click here to get your discount code, then click through to the Terra Naturals website and click on the top link, Terra Naturals Super Sport.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #9

Hair coloring products are among the most poorly regulated consumer products. There is no requirement to place a warning on the label of hair coloring products to inform consumers that these products cause cancer. Although the industry maintains that hair dyes are safe, there is a growing body of scientific evidence pointing to an increased risk of bladder cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with the use of permanent hair dyes.

If you just can't live with your natural hair color, find out which hair coloring products are safe in DYING TO LOOK GOOD.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #8

Cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers are not required to prove the claims they make about their products or to test their products for safety. However, if the product's safety has not been established, the product requires the label to state: "WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined." According to EWG in their evaluation, they did not find a single product with this warning on the label.

Note: The absence of the warning from all labels does not mean that the industry is doing their job and proving their products are safe. They are just ignoring the requirement to place the warning on the label. You can find out why this is the case in Dying To Look Good.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #7

... the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires cosmetic manufacturers to list the ingredients on the label of every cosmetic and personal care product sold directly to consumers in descending order of quantity. In other words, the ingredient present in largest quantity appears first on the label and the ingredient present in the smallest quantity appears last.

Protect your health. Start reading labels on your cosmetics and personal care products and choose products with only safe ingredients.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #6

The cosmetics industry is very poorly regulated. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act does not require cosmetics and personal care products or their ingredients to be approved before they are marketed and sold to consumers. FDA regulations start after they are already in the marketplace. So, except for color additives and a few ingredients, which are banned, manufacturers may use whatever ingredients they choose in the cosmetics and personal care products they produce without approval from the FDA.

Learn how to make sure the products you choose contain safe and healthy ingredients.

Healthy Skin Care Products

A lot of skin care products on the market claim to be all natural and contain healthy ingredients, but if you read the ingredients list, you'll find that's not the case. Most will contain at least one or two objectionable ingredients, usually more.

It's very frustrating and disheartening for you, the consumer when you're making a conserted effort to avoid harmful ingredients and choose healthy products. Even many companies who have signed the Compact for Global Production of Safe and Healthy Beauty Products use ingredients in their products that are undesirable.

So how are you supposed to be able to confidently choose healthy cosmetics and skin care products? Even buying your products in a health food store does not guarantee that the ingredients will be safe and healthy.

Well, I've made it easy for you. In Dying To Look Good, I list 1300 ingredients commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products and rate them according to safety, and I also list 750 products that I have personally evaluated for safety. And to make it even easier for you, on DyingToLookGood.com, I have links to healthy products that you can feel confident that they contain safe and healthy ingredients. One of my favorite product lines is Deep Steep. Click the link and you'll even get a discount on your purchase.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #5

Continued from Excerpt #4 ...

• "Fifty-four products violate recommendations for safe use set by the industry's self-regulating Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) board."
• And nearly all the products (99.6%) "contain one or more ingredients never assessed for potential health impacts by the CIR."

Read more in Dying To Look Good. Find healthy products online and in the book.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #4

Continued from Excerpt #3...

• "Fifty-five percent of all products assessed contain 'penetration enhancers,' ingredients that can increase a product's penetration through the skin and into the bloodstream, increasing consumers' exposures to other ingredients as well." Fifty of these products also contained "penetration enhancers in combination with known or probable human carcinogens."
• "Nearly 70 percent of all products contain ingredients that can be comtaminated with impurities linked to cancer and other health problems."
• ...

To be continued ...

Learn how to protect yourself from harmful ingredients. Shop for healthy products that you can feel confident contain only safe and healthy ingredients.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #3

In 2004, the Environmental Working Group evaluated the ingredients in 7,500 personal care products for safety. They found that:

• "One of every 120 products on the market contains ingredients certified by government authorities as known or probable human carcinogens, including shampoos, lotions, make-up foundations, and lip balms."
• "Seventy-one hair dye products contain ingredients derived from carcinogenic coal tar."
• ...

To be continued ...

Learn more right now and choose safe and healthy products here.

Healthy Deodorant

A great many deodorants on the market contain harmful ingredients that can be absorbed from your armpits directly into your blood stream. Are you risking your health with your undearm protection? Discover which ingredients to avoid in your deodorant so you can protect yourself.

To make absolutely sure that your deodorant does not have any harmful ingredients, and in fact has ingredients that are therapeutic and heal, I've arranged for you to get to try a truly healthy deodorant, with no hidden harmful ingredients at a 10% discount.

Excerpts from Dying To Look Good #2

"Many of the ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products are toxic, even though they may not cause any reactions on the skin. Some cause cancer. Some of the most commonly used ingredients combine with other ingredients to form cancer-causing substances."

Read more in Dying To Look Good. Learn how to get your copy here.

Excerpts from Dying To Look Good #1

"Your health is affected not only by what you put into your body in terms of food, drink, drugs and nutritional supplements, but also by what you put on your body. Your skin is not an impenetrable barrier as was thought years ago. We now know that all chemicals that come in contact with the skin can penetrate the skin in varying degrees. Many of the chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin have been detected in the bloodstream."

Learn more about Dying To Look Good and how you can benefit from the extensive research that went into this book.

Your Deodorant – Is There Danger Lurking Within?

You just got out of the shower and reached for your favorite deodorant. You like it because it smells nice and it keeps your underarms dry and odor free. You've used it for a long time. But did you ever read the ingredients on the label and wonder about the safety of the almost unpronounceable chemicals listed in the too tiny to read print?

If not, you're like most people. You don't expect to find products on store shelves that contain harmful ingredients. But beware. The ingredients in many deodorant products could endanger your health.

Certainly, you've heard in the news recently about the possible association with deodorants and breast cancer. Maybe you've even heard about the possibility that aluminum in deodorants may contribute to Alzheimer's disease. And you may or may not know about ingredients which act like estrogen and can upset your hormonal balance.

Perhaps you've heard all these things and just shrugged them off. After all how could companies sell these products if they're not safe? The manufacturers certainly must test the ingredients and the products before they put them on the market, right? Well, not exactly! The law does not require manufacturers to test their products for safety. In fact, except for colors and a few banned ingredients, manufacturers can use any raw material they want as an ingredient in your deodorant. Most of the ingredients used in deodorant and other personal care products have not been fully tested. Many have never been tested at all.

The industry, in an attempt to make it look like it's acting in the interest of consumer safety, formed the Cosmetic Ingredient Review in 1976 to evaluate the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products. However, in the 29 years up to June 2005, they performed safety assessments on only about 10% of the ingredients allowed in cosmetic and personal care products, including deodorants, and never evaluated one third of the 50 most commonly used ingredients.

But, you might add, the FDA wouldn't allow companies to sell unsafe products to the public, right? Well, in theory! While the FDA urges manufacturers to conduct the tests necessary to substantiate the safety of their products, the law does not require manufacturers to test their products for safety. The FDA doesn't approve deodorants and antiperspirants or any other cosmetic or skin care products before they reach the marketplace. The FDA can only have a product removed from the market if they can prove it harmful in a court of law.

So, what does this mean for you? Does it mean you should stop using deodorant? What can you do to protect yourself? Well, you have several options. You can discover the secret to reading ingredient labels and ascertaining ingredient safety, making yourself a master of choosing products without harmful ingredients. You can ask someone who knows to recommend a safe deodorant or antiperspirant. Or you can get adventuresome and learn how to make your own.

Now, it really isn't necessary to go to the time and trouble of making your own, unless of course you want to. You can find healthy deodorant products in stores or online if you know how to read labels and determine ingredient safety. Once an almost impossible task for the average person, but no more. Now you can easily master the art of label reading and interpretation with the book, Dying To Look Good. It gives you the keys to deciphering the safety of the ingredients on the label of your deodorant and other personal care products as well as providing names of healthy products and where you can buy them.

To discover which ingredients to watch out for in your deodorant and to find out my top recommendation for a healthy deodorant, read Deodorant - Top 7 Ingredients to Avoid.

© 2006 Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C., "The Ingredients Investigator" and author of Dying To Look Good, providing information on how to protect yourself from harmful ingredients in deodorant and other personal care products at DyingToLookGood.com.

This is a "Shareware" Article. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including all links and this notice.

Deodorant - Top 7 Ingredients To Avoid

The first thing you must do whenever you buy deodorant or any product that goes on your skin or in your body is to read the ingredients. They’re usually in very tiny print on the back of the label. If you have trouble reading small print, carry a magnifying glass around with you so you can read before you buy. This is critical because what you put on your skin can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. And harmful ingredients in your blood can have potentially deadly effects on your body.

Here are 7 ingredients to avoid when choosing your deodorant:

Aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly or any aluminum compounds. Aluminum is absorbed through the skin and accumulates in the body. It has been suggested that there is an association between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease.

Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl and butyl), are all derived from toluene, a toxic petrochemical derivative. Toluene is toxic if swallowed or inhaled. It is also harmful in contact with the skin. There is some evidence that repeated exposure to toluene may cause reproductive harm. Since 2000, 13 research studies have shown that various types of parabens act like estrogen in animals and in tissue culture. Estrogen is known to drive the growth of cancerous cells.

Triclosan is a skin irritant and may cause contact dermatitis. It may kill healthy bacteria as well as harmful bacteria. It may contain carcinogenic contaminants. It is stored in body fat and is classified as a pesticide by the FDA.

Talc is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer if it contains asbestiform fibers. The quantity of asbestiform fibers in cosmetic grade talc is unregulated. If talc is listed on the label, there is no way of knowing whether or not it contains asbestiform fibers.

Propylene glycol absorbs quickly through the skin and is a penetration enhancer. It may cause delayed allergic reactions. NIOSH says propylene glycol is a neurotoxin and may cause kidney or liver damage. The EPA says it’s not fully investigated for carcinogenic potential.

Silica is a skin irritant. It may be contaminated with crystalline quartz, which is a carcinogen.

Steareth-n (n may be any number like say 100), may be vegetable derived but is reacted with ethylene oxide (ethoxylated), a known human carcinogen.

Instead choose deodorants with ingredients like vegetable glycerin, natural preservatives like bioflavanoids and lichen, herbs or herbal extracts, de-ionized water or distilled water, green tea, aloe vera, baking soda and essential oils.

A word of caution: Plant extracts listed on labels can already contain parabens and propylene glycol. These do not have to be listed on the label. Very few herbs supplied to manufacturers are free of parabens or other synthetic preservatives unless they are extracted in vegetable glycerine. To make sure that the products you buy are healthy and free of these harmful chemicals, call the deodorant manufacturer and ask them for detailed information.

To receive 5 more important ingredients to avoid in your deodorant and learn about a truly healthy, chemical-free deodorant, click here.

Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. is "The Ingredients Investigator." She has been researching ingredient safety since 1991. She is the author of three books, including the new, second edition of DYING TO LOOK GOOD. To learn more about the safety of ingredients in your deodorant, visit DyingToLookGood.com.

This is a "Shareware" Article. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including all links and this notice. Copyright © 2005 Christine Farlow.

DYING TO LOOK GOOD: The Disturbing Truth About What’s Really in Your Cosmetics, Toiletries and Personal Care Products...And What You Can Do About It

Escondido, CA (PRWEB) January 11, 2006 -- If you're like most Americans, you may be unknowingly poisoning yourself and your family everyday with the many cancer-causing ingredients in today's cosmetics and personal care products. Makeup, shampoo, hair coloring products, baby powder (Yes, baby powder!), shaving cream, mouthwash and toothpaste are just a few of the products that may contain cancer-causing ingredients. Many of these dangerous ingredients may not cause any reactions on your skin, but they can be absorbed through your skin and into your bloodstream.

A number of commonly used ingredients, while not dangerous by themselves, combine with other ingredients to form cancer-causing chemicals. One such group, amines, combines with nitrosating agents to form cancer-causing nitrosamines. Some frequently used amines include Cocamide MEA, Cocamide DEA, TEA, sodium lauroyal sarcosinate and amino methyl propanol. These chemicals will form nitrosamines in the presence of ingredients like sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin and diazonlidnyl urea.

How is this possible with all the government rules and regulations? Well, the truth is that the cosmetic industry is very poorly regulated. The FDA can make suggestions or recommendations to manufacturers about cosmetic products or their ingredients, but manufacturers don't have to comply. The FDA must first prove in a court of law that a product is harmful, improperly labeled, or violates the law if it wants to remove a cosmetic product from the market. According to John Bailey, Ph.D., director of the FDA'S Office of Cosmetics and Colors, "Consumers believe that 'if it's on the market, it can't hurt me,' and this belief is sometimes wrong."

So, how do you know which products contain harmful chemicals and which ones don't? Dr. Christine Farlow, in her just released, 2006 revised edition of Dying To Look Good: The Disturbing Truth About What’s Really in Your Cosmetics, Toiletries and Personal Care Products... And What You Can Do About It, makes it easy to identify which ingredients are harmful and which are not. She classifies 1300 commonly used ingredients according to safety. In addition, she includes a list of 750 products that have been evaluated as safe. It's clear, concise and easy to use. Take this book with you every time you go shopping, and you'll never again wonder about the safety of the ingredients on the label. You'll know.

Farlow, an Escondido, CA, Chiropractor and nutritionist has been counseling patients in health and nutrition since 1984 and researching ingredients since 1991. She has helped thousands of people improve their health and well being. She is also the author of FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper's Guide To What's Safe & What's Not and HEALTHY EATING: For Extremely Busy People Who Don't Have Time For It. She is available for telephone interviews.

The book can be purchased online at DyingToLookGood.com for $12.95 or from KISS For Health Publishing, P.O. Box 462335, Escondido, CA 92046-2335, Telephone 760-735-8101. To order by mail, include $4.50 S&H. California residents add 7.75% sales tax. ###