Some popular brands of cosmetics and personal care products contain chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. Worse, most chemicals have never been evaluated for health and safety. The good news is it’s easy to keep your medicine cabinet, bathroom products and makeup safe. And by making smart choices, you can also change an industry.
Tip: No one should have to figure out how to avoid toxic ingredients in the cosmetics aisle. That's why the Breast Cancer Fund and our coalition partners through the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are pressing the government to require that ingredients in cosmetics are safe before they hit the shelves. In the meantime, here are some useful tips:
- Use fewer products with simpler ingredients
- Read ingredient labels. Be skeptical of claims like "dermatologist-tested," "natural" or "organic."
- Visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to look up the safety of products you use, find safer alternatives and take action to demand safer products!
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID
- Fragrance—not just perfume, but fragrance in lotions, shampoos, etc. (allergies, cancer)
- DMDM hydantoin and Imidazolidinyl urea (toxic contaminants)
- Parabens or “-paraben” (hormone disruption, linked to cancer)
- “PEG” and “-eth” (these ingredients can come with hidden toxic contaminants)
- Triclosan and triclocarban (thyroid, reproductive and environmental concerns)
Triethanolamine (TEA) (allergies, toxic contaminants)
- Hydroquinone (cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies)
- Oxybenzone (allergies, developmental toxicity, hormone disruption)
PRODUCTS TO AVOID
- Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acids
- Hair dyes, especially dark permanent dyes
- Liquid hand soaps with tricolsan/triclocarban
- Nail polish and removers with formaldehyde, DBP or toluene
- Skin lighteners with hydroquinone
- Heavily scented products
Monthly Tip for Pure Prevention
CHOOSE A SAFE SUNSCREEN
A study by the Environmental Working Group, a partner in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, found that 4 out of 5 brand-name sunscreens pose a threat to our health and don’t adequately protect our skin from the sun. However, there are brands available that don’t use harmful chemicals linked to cancer. Read their guide for what to avoid and what products are safer alternatives.
Take Action to Prevent Breast Cancer
Send a Safe Cosmetics eCard to your family and friends to let them know what they can do to reduce their risk.
Bring safe cosmetics to your family and friends by hosting a Healthy Cosmetics Party.
  
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