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.

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...

Get your own personal copy of Dying To Look Good for handy reference.

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!