Our teens are putting on make-up. what's the risk?

Dear Reader,

A friend sent me the following news story and reminded me once more of the commitment I made after climbing Mt. Shasta with the Breast Cancer Fund. After making our climb up this awesome mountain which is just a few feet shorter than Mt. Rainier, we celebrated our stamina and hard work. The next day we spent the entire day developing our Strong Voices to speak out about the toxins in our environment which may cause breast and other cancers. In particular is the make up we use and our teenagers are beginning to use. On my goal board is a picture of 12 year olds preening in front of the mirror together, trying on their mothers' lipstick, eye shadow, blush and hair products. The caption says: Because "use Daily" shouldn't be dangerous advice. My granddaughters have noticed this picture and asked about it. How can I influence them in this age of television and group shopping trips to the drug store for the cheapest stuff available?

I offer this for your consideration. And by the way, I have checked all the ingredients in skin care products by Shaklee and found every ingredient to be safe at the Safe Cosmetics web site.


Makeup Makeover for
Teens and Tweens
Little bundles of joy—you wrapped them in organic cotton blankets, made sure their milk was hormone-free and their food had no preservatives. You raised them green—until now that is, when puberty is at your doorstep. Those precious little ones are now talking cosmetics, nail polish, shaving cream, hair products and acne remedies; products that may contain hormonally active chemicals and preservatives.

Research suggests tweens and teens are particularly vulnerable to exposures from hormone disrupting chemicals. As their bodies undergo accelerated growth to adulthood, their endocrine systems are sensitive to even low levels of the hormonally active chemicals found in body care and other everyday products. Federal regulations do not require companies to test either products or ingredients for safety, so nearly all personal care products have ingredients not tested for safety by an accountable agency.

Teens may use even more products than adults, and parents can help guide them toward safer choices.

Here are four chemical categories to know about:

Phthalates are a component of artificial fragrance, although you will not see it listed in the ingredients as manufacturers are not required to do so. They are also known hormone disruptors linked to a number of reproductive problems. You may be familiar with phthalates, as they are also used to soften plastics.

Musks are another component of artificial fragrance. Research links musks to cancer and hormone disruption.

Parabens are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics and are considered hormone disrupting chemicals. Some can also irritate the skin.

Triclosan is used as a preservative in deodorants, face and body washes, toothpaste, acne remedies and cosmetics. Triclosan accumulates in fat tissues so concentrations build up over time. Research links triclosan to thyroid disruption. You probably know triclosan as an antibacterial ingredient used in hand soaps.

So what is a parent to do? Urge your tween or teen to:

Use fewer products.
Use simpler products with a short list of ingredients you can research and trust.
Research products at Skin Deep Personal Products database, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.
Avoid products with fragrance, musk, parabens, triclosan and sodium lauryl /laureth sulfate in the ingredients list.
Don’t trust terms like hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, natural or organic (when it comes to body care products).
Check out www.teensturninggreen.org.
Talk with your child about what beauty really is.

Source: Environmental Working Group research study “Teen Girls’ Body Burden of Hormone-Altering Cosmetics Chemicals,” http://www.ewg.org/book/export/html/26953 September, 2008.

If you liked this edition of Growing Up green, check out out blog post on hosting a toxic-free spa day birthday party.

Washington Toxics Coalition
4649 Sunnyside Avenue N, Suite 540,Seattle, WA 98103
206-632-1545 : info@watoxics.org
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Growing Up Green.

Happy Day, Betsy

Betsy Bell's Health4u
www.HiHoHealth.com