One of the blogs I read regularly, Handprints on the Wall, had a post this morning that linked to the Cosmetic Safety Database. This database, run by some organization called the Environmental working group, contains a giant list of makeup, skin care, hair care, baby care, and similar categories. Within the database are brands of products, and lists of the possibly harmful ingredients they contain. Each product is labeled with a number (from 0 to 10) which describes possible hazard to those who use the product. There are links to each hazardous ingredient which gives more detail about why they have been labeled as such. For example, Kirkland Baby wipes have been given a hazard of 5 (moderate), due largely to their containing 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (which has been labeled as the site as 10, or a high hazard). We’ve been using these for a couple of years and like them. I’m not about to dump them in the trash just yet (heehee, they’re wipes!) but I do have some questions.
My question to you: do you think there is reason to be concerned about some of these products, or does it not really matter? If the product works for us, should it matter if there are some ingredients that some would consider hazardous? Is it worth switching to “less hazardous” brands just in case? And finally, do you think this is just some marketing ploy to get consumers to change brands?
Check out the site, plug in a couple of your favorite products, and let me know what you think.
July 7, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Ok Janeen…now all of these similarities are starting to get wierd! HA I also am a regular reader of handprints on the wall after reading somewhere else about her blog post about the incredible woman she met at the farmer’s market a while back, what a story!! . Anyway, I knew there was a good reason that I typically don’t wear any makeup! I’ve chalked it up to laziness up until now. hehe I have a GREAT and EASY recipe for homemade wipes that has saved us a load of money if you want it. I’ve used it since Jayna was a baby, so I’ve been doing it for 5 years and I feel it’s completely worth it, plus you control a bit more what’s going into them by choosing which baby soap you use to make them.
July 9, 2008 at 6:51 am
I’m so glad you posted this site. There was interesting information about my deodorants. Mitchum brand, that is so powerful a person only has to use it every third or fourth day, is rated safer than the natural Tom’s that is only effective about eight hours. My opinion is to use this information as part of the reason we purchase or don’t purchase a product – unless we are talking about my grandbabies. Then, DON’T PUT ANYTHING ON OR IN THEM THAT IS RATED ABOVE A TWO OR THREE 🙂 You are so great at checking everything out, using cloth diapers and safe products, I’m not really worried.
July 9, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Elizabeth – that’s too funny that we read the same blogs. I’d love to hear your wipes recipe some time. I use cloth wipes with Jacob, and usually use a solution that’s mainly water.
Mom – That’s really surprising about Mitchum vs. Tom’s. I haven’t checked out my deoderants yet. I’m sure they won’t fare well… I really like your idea to just keep this site in mind when making new purchases. I hope to check this database out anytime I’m in need of a new cosmetic/baby product/health care product.