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.

Get it all in the e-book right now!

OR

Get Dying To Look Good and some Free Special bonuses too!

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.