The cost of vanity

What is the first thought which comes to your mind when you visit a cosmetics shop and are confronted with the arduous task of deciding between two brands of lipsticks, three brands of face powder and five brands of perfume? You look at the reliability of the brand and the quality of the product. But, do you ever check the ingredients of every particular cosmetic before buying it?

Unfortunately, not many people in this part of the world pay much attention to how a particular brand of cosmetics has been manufactured. And this is the reason why many companies dupe unaware customers by using substandard ingredients in their products.

While, one cannot verify the quality of each and every product, one can turn to the Internet to do some research before making any adulterated purchases. ‘Safe Cosmetics’ is one website which not only provides information on the ingredients used in the manufacturing process of different cosmetics, but is also serving as a campaign to get rid of all the harmful chemicals that are used in the process.

The website has been divided into various sections. Interestingly, one of which carries scientific reports on the results of tests conducted on chemicals used in cosmetics. It is learned that the main item of concern in cosmetics is phthalates, which poses long-term health hazards. There are many research reports that have focused on its usage in shampoos, face lotions and deodorants. If one does not want to go through the entire reports, then one can skim through the media section which contains press releases where information is present in a condensed form.

The website has a list of companies that refrain from using ingredients which pose a medical risk; by going through the list, one can easily decide which products are safe.

The website also urges the surfers to get in action, irrespective of their geographical location. There are ideas on how to create awareness among one’s social circles about the harmful chemicals present in cosmetics. There are handouts and leaflets that can be printed and distributed. There are letters to store managers which one can print, personalise, and give out to the shopkeepers who are selling these products.

Above all, there is a facility entitled ‘Skin Deep’, which is basically a database of all personal care products which have been tested by a working group to see whether or not they contain any toxic elements. So one can enter the name of the product one is using or intends to buy to see if it’s listed here.

One can also browse through products in various categories ranging from skin care and hair care to nail care and fragrances. Each product has a list which tells about the possible medical risks the chemicals pose, along with whether its manufacturer is a signatory to the safe cosmetics petition or not.

So there you have it — a wealth of information on cosmetics. The unfortunate part is most of the people, when shopping for cosmetics, choose to remain indifferent to the chemicals present in them. There is also a vast majority who prefers to buy cheap cosmetics containing low quality and harmful ingredients. This is equivalent to slow poisoning, as the damage done is grave and also affects the next generation. So be vigilant and beware of these products – after all health is more important than artificial beauty.

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To find out more about what exactly is going on behind the scenes as far as cosmetics are concerned, log onto http://www.safecosmetics.org