Being beautiful shouldn't cause us harm, that goes against the reason we buy it in the first place, but the fact is that many do just that.  In many cases, we are killing ourselves to be beautiful.  According to the Environmental Defense Group, some 78% of the chemicals in personal care products have not even been tested for toxicity.  Furthermore, most ingredients that are listed are harmful chemicals proven to cause cancer and birth defects.  Most are toxic.  There are also ingredients not listed because they are protected "trade secret" so we don't always know all the chemicals going into a product. 

While Europe has stricter standards, the U.S. government does not police all chemical ingredients in personal care items.  The list of harmful chemicals in any one product is staggering, just look at an ingredient list and try and read them!   Companies are allowed to do it because it's only a "minute amount" of this bad chemical or that one.  The theory is that a little bit can't hurt.  But the truth is that all those minute amounts are compounded into all the luscious creams, lotions, shampoos, perfumes, sprays, deodorants, cosmetics and more and all of a sudden we're not taking in a minute amount at all, but a great amount!  On top of that, we use all of these products daily, thus compounding the cocktail of chemicals into our body on a regular basis. 

We must read the ingredient list and choose companies that take an interest in our health, not just their bottom line.  Safer ingredients too find on labels include:

• Beeswax
• Candelilla wax (iffy)
• Clay Minerals
• Cocoa Butter
• Iron Oxides (iffy)
• Oils including:  Almond, Avocado, Coconut, Hazelnut, Jojoba, Olive, Palm, Pumpkin Seed, Sesame, Sunflower, Wheat Germ
• Pycnogenol (from pine trees)
• Shea butter
• Sunflower oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Titanium dioxide
• Vitamins A, C, E

Safer products come from safer companies including:

• Aubrey Organics
• Avalon Organics
• Badger Balm
• Burts Bees
• Ecco Bella
• EO
• Kiss My Face
• MyChelle
• Terressentials
• Weleda

Remember when reading ingredients:

• Choose nail polish that is formaldehyde and toluene free.
• Hair color should be free of lead and other harmful chemicals.
• Personal care items should be free of SLS and Parabens, and other harmful chemicals.
• Most of the Lipstick we put on our lips is actually digested into our bodies as we eat, drink, kiss, and lick our lips .  Choose lipstick with ingredients that you would eat since after all, you are going to eat it.
• Organic does not necessarily mean safe for personal care products.  It's a marketing ploy.  There are currently no certifications for personal care products to be organic, though it is in the works.  Choose companies that truly offer organic ingredients not just an organic smattering so they can highlight that on their label.
• Perfumes can include a laundry list of items not on the label.   Most include hormone disrupters, phthalates, and artificial fragrances.  Once you understand what's in there, the aroma won't be as alluring.  Choose pure essential oils instead.

• Skin Deep: How does your favorite stack up?, Environmental Working Group
• Chemicals Linked to Birth Defects can Stay in Cosmetics, EWG
• Moisturizers, Body Lotions & Hand Creams, The Green Guide
• Are Your Products Safe?, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics