The Story of Cosmetics employs the trademark Story of Stuff style to examine the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo. Over seven minutes, the film reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from
hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives.
The film’s release coincides with growing public concern about carcinogens and endocrine disruptors in personal care and other common consumer products. In May, the President’s Cancer Panel sounded the alarm about the health risks of the understudied and largely unregulated toxic chemicals used by millions of Americans in their daily lives.
Click here to view the Story of Cosmetics
Do this simple exercise on a few of the personal care products you and your loved ones use on an everyday basis. It could be your toothpaste, shampoo a moisturising cream or deodorant. Click on the link below and see how many of the toxic ingredients listed in the table you can find in your cosmetics and personal care products.
Here is a typical list on a jar of common hand cream: Water, Stearic Acid, Sorbitol, Glycerin, C-12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Borate TEA, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Aloe Vera, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Quince Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, EDTA, Allantoin, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Butyl Paraben, Menthol.
The product is described as containing "natural" herbal extracts. YOU do your own exercise and see how many toxic chemicals you can find in your products. Remember this is just a partial list of the tens of thousands of synthetic chemicals in common everyday use!
List of Toxic Chemicals and Their Affect