helping parents & teens choose cosmetics for a healthy body & a healthy planet

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Healthy Beauty for Life Sierra Club Canada empowers people to protect, restore and enjoy a healthy and safe planet! Helping Parents and Teens Choose Cosmetics for a Healthy Body and a Healthy Planet Sierra Club Canada Foundation 412B-1 Nicholas Street Ottawa ON K1N 7B7 [email protected] (613) 241-4611 Sierra Club Canada Foundation is partnering with healthy cosmetics companies to educate parents and their teen daughters about safe alternatives in cosmetics and personal care products. Teens are especially at risk from experimenting with cosmetic and personal care products since they are developing and can be sensitive to hormone- altering chemicals. Since females tend to use more products, choosing healthy products is especially important for young girls. The combination of different cosmetic products we use everyday allows for a mélange of synthetic chemicals to pass into our bodies and sometimes settle in the lungs, bloodstream and tissues. Mascara, anti-aging creams, sunscreens, eye shadows, and deodorants all contain a cocktail of chemicals that can lead to allergies, eczema, cancer and endocrine disruption. Chemicals in cosmetics are not only toxic to teenagers, but also to our environment after they are washed away into our water system. Some chemicals commonly found in our cosmetics have also been found to be toxic to our environment. We want parents to be able to talk with their teenagers about making safe and healthy lifestyle choices by critically examining ingredient lists to choose products free from harmful chemicals and pollutants. This guide will help you and your teens become conscientious shoppers when choosing personal care products and cosmetics! A study in the UK found that women absorb about 5 pounds of make up a year through their skin and mouth. The cosmetics industry is largely self-regulated in Canada and the US. The ingredient “Fragrance” is used to protect cosmetic companies’ trade secrets. Thousands of different chemicals may be included under the term, many of which can be harmful to human health. Even products that are “unscented” may contain masking fragrances. Visit the Sierra Club Canada website for more information on cosmetics and the cosmetics industry! THANK YOU ! Thanks to our sponsors for their support. You can find out more about these companies on our website: www.sierraclub.ca

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Page 1: Helping Parents & Teens Choose Cosmetics for a Healthy Body & a Healthy Planet

Healthy Beauty

for Life

Sierra Club Canada empowers people to protect,

restore and enjoy a healthy and safe planet!

Helping Parents and Teens Choose

Cosmetics for a Healthy Body and a

Healthy Planet

Sierra Club Canada Foundation 412B-1 Nicholas Street

Ottawa ON K1N 7B7

[email protected]

(613) 241-4611

Sierra Club Canada has partnered with

healthy cosmetics companies to educate par-

ents and their teen daughters about greener

alternative choices in cosmetics and personal

care products. Teens (both boys and girls) are

vulnerable to environmental contaminants

during their crucial adolescent years experi-

menting with cosmetic and personal care

products. Since females tend to use more

products, choosing healthy products is espe-

cially important for young girls. The combina-

tion of different cosmetic products we use

everyday allows for a mélange of chemicals to

pass through and sometimes settle in the

lungs, bloodstream and tissues. Mascara, anti

-aging creams, sun screens, eye shadows and

deodorants all contain a cocktail of chemicals

that can lead to allergies, eczema, cancer and

endocrine disruption.

At Sierra Club Canada, we want to help edu-

cate mothers to help their daughters make

safe and healthy lifestyle choices to critically

examine ingredient lists to choose products

free from harmful chemicals and pollutants.

This pamphlet provides a guide to avoid such

products and navigate the largely self-

regulated cosmetics industry as a conscien-

tious shopper.

Sierra Club Canada Foundation is

partnering with healthy cosmetics companies

to educate parents and their teen daughters

about safe alternatives in cosmetics and

personal care products. Teens are especially

at risk from experimenting with cosmetic and

personal care products since they are

developing and can be sensitive to hormone-

altering chemicals.

Since females tend to use more

products, choosing healthy products is

especially important for young girls. The

combination of different cosmetic products we

use everyday allows for a mélange of synthetic

chemicals to pass into our bodies and

sometimes settle in the lungs, bloodstream

and tissues. Mascara, anti-aging creams,

sunscreens, eye shadows, and deodorants all

contain a cocktail of chemicals that can lead

to allergies, eczema, cancer and endocrine

disruption.

Chemicals in cosmetics are not only

t o x i c t o t e e n a g e r s , b u t a l s o t o o u r

environment after they are washed away into

our water system. Some chemicals commonly

found in our cosmetics have also been found

to be toxic to our environment.

We want parents to be able to talk with

their teenagers about making safe and

healthy lifestyle choices by critically examining

ingredient lists to choose products free from

harmful chemicals and pollutants. This guide

wi l l help you and your teens become

conscientious shoppers when choosing

personal care products and cosmetics!

A study in the UK found

that women absorb about

5 pounds of make up a

year through their skin

and mouth.

The cosmetics industry is

largely self-regulated in Canada and the US.

The ingredient “Fragrance” is used to protect

cosmetic companies’ trade secrets. Thousands of

different chemicals may be included under the

term, many of which can be harmful to human

health. Even products that are “unscented” may

contain masking fragrances. Visit the Sierra Club Canada website for more information on

cosmetics and the cosmetics industry!

THANK YOU !

Thanks to our sponsors for their support. You can find out more about these companies on our website:

www.sierraclub.ca

Page 2: Helping Parents & Teens Choose Cosmetics for a Healthy Body & a Healthy Planet

Sierra Club Canada Smart Shopper’s Guide to Safe Cosmetics

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) – Found in cleansers, conditioners, moisturizers. Opens pores to facilitate rapid absorption of envrionmental toxins; could

increase risk of cancer; may contain harmful impurities.

Resorcinol – Found in acne treatments, hair dye, hair bleach. Skin irritant, dizziness, nausea, headaches.

Retinol (also known as Retinyl palmitate or Vitamin A) – Found in anti-aging products, moisturizers, cleansers. When exposed to UV light, may break down and damage DNA, cause gene mutations (precursor to cancer). If applied to skin and exposed to sunlight, may increase development speed of

skin tumours and lesions. Can also be a skin irritant and may increase chance of birth defects if used while pregnant.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) – Found in shampoo, toothpaste, bubble bath (used to create

foam). Possibly carcinogenic; skin, eye, lung irritant.

Toluene – Found in nail polish, other nail treatment products. Potential neurotoxicant; irritant, impairs breathing, causes nausea; during pregnancy may cause developmental damage to

fetus.

Triclosan – Found in eye shadow, lipstick, facial cleansers, acne treatment, liquid soap. Used as antibacterial agent, may lead to development of resistant bacteria. Toxic to aquatic environments; disrupts thyroid function and reproductive hormones; lung and

skin irritation.

Tips for a Healthier Beauty Regime

Pregnant women should avoid using products, especially: hair dye,

nail polish, perfume, and hair spray.

Limit the number of products you use. One of the biggest problems

with the use of synthetic chemicals in cosmetics is the unknown

additive effects of combining different products.

Try making your own beauty products. Sierra Club Canada has a list

of suggestions for homemade beauty products on our website.

Sierra Club Canada Foundation is introducing the next

generation of Canadian women to the practice of using non-toxic, healthy and organic cosmetics. In order to avoid toxic

cosmetics and personal care products it is essential to read the ingredients label and understand what’s in it before you buy it. Sierra Club Canada has compiled a list of twenty toxic synthetic chemicals to avoid when buying products.

Sierra Club Canada’s Toxic Twenty

Amines (diethanol-, triethanol-, monoethonal-) – Found in mascara, soap, sunscreen, shampoo. Irritation of the lungs,

toxic to immune system, carcinogenic, hormone disruptor.

Benzoyl peroxide – Found in acne creams, soaps, cleansers, shaving creams. Potential carcinogen, hormone disrupter;

bioaccumulates in the environment.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) – Found in concealer, mascara, cleansers, shampoos,

toners, others. Disrupt immune system; possible carcinogen.

Coal Tar (labelled C.I or Aminophenol, Diaminobenzene, Phenylenediamine) – Found in shampoo, make-up, other personal care products. Carcinogenic, may be contaminated

with heavy metals.

Formaldehyde – Found in hair dye, styling gels, facial creams, nail polish, shampoo. Can trigger eczema; irritate lungs, skin;

carcinogen.

Formaldehye releasing agents (DMDM hydantoin, bronopol, Diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quarternium -15) – Found in many cosmetics. Releases

formaldehyde (see above).

Fragrance – Found in almost all personal care products, even those labelled unscented. Generic term, may include allergens,

pthalates, neurotoxins.

Glycol (propylene-, butylene) – Found in deodorants, moisturizer, lipstick. Eye and throat irritation, developmental problems, reduced red blood cells and hemoglobin, and

metabolic acidosis (in high concentrations).

Hydroquinone – Found in hair dye, skin lightening products, also as a contaminant in skin cleansers, facial moisturizers and hair conditioners. Carcinogen, immunotoxicant, developmental and

reproductive toxicant.

Isopropyl Palmitate – Found in lipstick, moisturizers. Skin, eye,

lung irritation with repeated use.

Oxybenzone – Found in sunscreen. It absorbs into skin and may remain in the body; may cause photoallergenic reactions. May

cause endocrine disruption, bioaccumulation.

Parabens (Methyl,propyl, butyl, ethyl etc.) – Found in skin lotion, conditioners, foundation deodorants. Hormone disruptor with

links to breast cancer.

Petrolatum – Found in skin care products. Carcinogenic.

Phthalates (DBP or DEHP) - Hair spray, nail polish, May change

hormone levels, during pregnancy may cause harm to fetus.

Continued ...

COSMETICS CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH