About Labels for Life
Labels for Life is a campaign meant to help everyday consumers understand their cosmetic product labels to know what's going onto—and many times into—their bodies. Best in Beauty wants consumers to be aware of the toxic chemicals included in so many personal care products many people use daily . . . but let's be honest. Memorizing complicated chemical names on the back of cosmetic product boxes is not so easy.
That's why we're here to help!
Remember phrases like “I before E except after C,” “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” or “Roy G. Biv”? These are all phrases that have helped so many people memorize complicated grammar rules, math processes or hues in the color spectrum over and over again.
Well, we've created a phrase similar to this to help you remember chemicals to avoid when purchasing your much-needed personal care products.
Repeat after us: “Pretty Products For Healthy People Minus Many Lousy Chemical Substances.”
Now review the chemical list below, and associate each chemical with a word in our easy-to-remember phrase. Our hope is that this phrase will help you—and your friends and family—remember toxic chemicals we all should be wary of in cosmetic products. Our greater hope is that the FDA and all cosmetic manufacturers will notice consumers' concern for their health and take action to remove these ingredients from cosmetic products altogether.
| Best in Beauty Phrase |
Chemicals |
| Pretty
|
Phthalates
|
| Products
|
Propylene Glycol
|
| For
|
Formaldehyde
|
| Healthy
|
Hydroquinone
|
| People
|
Petroleum
|
| Minus
|
Mercury
|
| Many
|
Mineral Oil
|
| Lousy
|
Lead
|
| Chemical
|
Colorants
|
| Substances
|
Sodium Laurel Sulfate
|
Please note, the chemical list provided above—and our downloadable list (PDF)—has been accumulated through research performed by Best in Beauty. These are ten of the most common toxic ingredients used in everyday cosmetic products, ranging from shampoos and conditioners to nail polishes and deodorants.
We will add more information about chemicals in your makeup and cosmetic products as the Labels for Life campaign continues, but in the meantime, feel free to use sources like the Skin Deep database and SafeCosmetics.org to learn more about the harsh truths in the cosmetic industry. If you like reading, we also recommend: Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry, by Stacy Malkan.
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» Top 10 Most Common Harmful Ingredients Found in Personal Care Products
» Top 10 Strangest Ingredients in Beauty Products
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