Cosmetics Database — Check it out!

Recycla has written extensively about parabens and toxins and other complicated chemicals with Latin names that Enviro-Girl has a tough time understanding.  But she DOES understand that a lot of chemicals can hurt a person and a lot of chemicals go into cosmetics.  Since she hasn’t been able to memorize the fancy Latin names and doesn’t enjoy reading the tedious paragraph-length ingredients in products she buys for using in her bathroom, she’s awfully glad for the Cosmetic Database.

The Cosmetics Database is run by the Environmental Working Group.  The site is designed to:

Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind. Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.

The database is set up so you can learn about specific ingredients OR (here’s the part Enviro-Girl likes) type in the name of the product and learn how safe/dangerous it is.  Enviro-Girl is pretty loyal to products because she’s a lazy shopper, so she easily recalls the names of things like “Suave Clarifying Shampoo” and “St. Ives Body Lotion.”

The other day she spent 20 minutes investigating the products she buys her family — first on her list was Certain Dry antiperspirant.  Enviro-Girl has a well-documented problem with sweat and odor (Mr. D calls her “Sweaty Betty), so she buys this prescription-strength roll-on and feared it was laden with cancer-causing chemicals.  Squee!  It rated a “3″ which meant the risk of side effects was LOW!  On to St. Ives Body Lotion.  Hmmm, this rated a “6″ on the 10 point scale (10 is most dangerous, 0 is NO risk).   Enviro-Girl will definitely look for a less dangerous body lotion next time she’s at the store.

One cool thing about the database is how extensive it is (everything from oral care to baby care to body scrubs and make up is categorized in a easy-to-use menu).  The other?  When you are in a “category,” say, “Shampoo,” you can scroll through and learn which brands are less toxic.  Enviro-Girl learned that her hubby’s Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo rated a “3″ but her Nexxus Therappe rated a “6.”  (Which goes to prove that just because you spend more, it doesn’t mean you’re safer.)  She used the database to pick a new brand — she’ll start buying Avalon Organics shampoo and end up saving some money on her shopping bill.

A few categories of note included lip balms (so many are SO toxic!) and baby shampoos (the baby Suave products rated 6-7, a sharp contrast to Suave’s adult shampoo products).

Head over to Cosmetics Database and spend a little time checking out the safety of your products.  You’ll be glad you did.

Shockingly Dangerous!

Surprisingly Safe