The Truth on Product Labels
True or False? Natural or Organic Personal Care Products:
Can cause an irritant or allergenic reaction
Can contain harmful chemicals
Are not FDA regulated claims
The answer is…. true for all the above statements.
Check out these statements from FDA’s website:
“An ingredient’s source does not determine its safety. For example, many plants, whether or not they are organically grown, contain substances that may be toxic or allergenic.” ¹
“The law does not require cosmetic labeling to have FDA approval before cosmetic products go on the market, and FDA does not have a list of approved or accepted claims for cosmetics.” ²
“Because FDA does not have the authority to approve claims before cosmetics go on the market, you may see cosmetics with claims that go beyond what the law permits.” ²
Product Claims aren’t Enough
Many people have told me that they only use personal care products that says all natural or organic. However, if companies don’t have to validate these claims and their primary goal is to sell you products, then trusting these claims isn’t enough.
“An ingredient’s source does not determine its safety. For example, many plants, whether or not they are organically grown, contain substances that may be toxic or allergenic.”
Toxins & Irritants in Personal Care Products
In another post, we discussed how the EU has banned over 1,300 ingredients, while only 11 have been banned in the US. These are the top toxic ingredients found in personal care products, according to Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. These ingredients can be found many brands including some that claim to be natural or clean.
Fragrance, Parabens, Triclosan
Formaldehyde, Ethanolamines, Benzophenone
BHA, BHT, Chemical UV Filters
Carbon Black, PPD, PTFE (Teflon)
Learn More to Know What’s Really in Your Products
Learn more about these ingredients at Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. www.safecosmetics.org. Use tools like EWG Skin Deep’s report builder or the Clearya App to help you find products without toxins and skin irritants from natural and synthetic sources. Using fewer products and choosing products with simple ingredients lists can help reduce your exposure.
1 FDA. “Organic" Cosmetics. September 15, 2010. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/organic-cosmetics
2 FDA. (n.d.) Cosmetics Labeling Claims. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling/cosmetics-labeling-claims