Mercury Free Mascara by Afterglow Cosmetics

Mercury Free Mascara by Afterglow Cosmetics

Author: Nirvana Fashion Editor Mon Mar 17, 2008

Starting Jan 1st, 2008 the state wide law banning mercury in mascaras, eye liners and skin-lightening creams took effect in Minnesota.

This bold move to ban mercury in makeup makes the great state of Minnesota the first state in the nation to ban intentionally added mercury in cosmetics and sets a tougher standard than the federal government for regulating cosmetic ingredients. “Mercury does cause neurological alteration to people even in little quantities,” stated Sen. John Marty, the Democrat who sponsored the ban. “Every source of mercury adds to it. We wanted to make sure it wasn’t here.”

So your first questions are probably. . .

Why isn’t mercury already illegal in cosmetics? Well, that’s a long story but the short version is that the US FDA has illegal very, very, very few chemicals in cosmetics. Mercury is not one of them. In fact, Europe, Korea and Nihon have illegal many chemicals still common in cosmetics in the USA.

I don’t see mercury on my mascara ingredient label. Does that mean it’s mercury free? The actual ingredient study containing mercury is called Thimerosal . It is a mercury-containing organic compound used as a preservative and anti-fungal agent since the 1920s. Thimerosal has been illegal around the world but NOT in the US (except for Minnesota).

What should I do now? Ladies, the bottom line in my view is actually not about the mercury, but rather, it’s about the demand of regulation in general in the USA for cosmetic ingredient safety. So what’s a girl to do? Most women are not going to become chemists in their spare time to keep up with international cosmetic ingredient regulations to comprehend if products are safe. Instead, I recommend that you look for companies that are focused on country and transparency regarding the ingredients they use.

The long awaited, all natural mascara from Afterglow Cosmetics is here! Beautifully lush and all natural, Pure Soul Mascara is acquirable in Onyx (black) and Mink (deep brown).

Why you’ll love Afterglow Pure Soul Mascara:

* It creates rich, luscious lashes that are soft and flexible.

* It’s volumizing, flake proof, smudge proof and clump-free.

* Its all natural formula is rich in soothing organic botanical antioxidants.

* It’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive eyes.

* It’s gluten-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, synthetic dye-free, perfume-free, mercury-free, petrochemical-free, phthalate-free, mineral oil-free, tar-free.

Afterglow Cosmetics is committed to providing effective and innocuous cosmetics.

We are a Compact Signer for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and ranked as one of the safest cosmetic lines according to the EWG’s Cosmetic Database.

Suggested Retail Price: $21.00

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http://www.afterglowcosmetics.com/eyes

The Unsightly Truth About Commercial Cosmetics

chemicals in cosmeticsI believe most of us take for allowed that the favourite cosmetics, soaps, lotions and hair care products we purchase in our local salons, drug and departments stores are safe. Why as consumers would we be healthy to purchase and use a product on our skin, lips, eyes and hair apiece day if they were harmful? This wasn’t even a question I had ever asked myself because I was so confident in my products and the well known companies that produce them. I first began investigating cosmetics when I decided to begin my own cosmetic company. When I first began investigating the ingredients in my makeup and shower products like soap and shampoo, I was shocked to discover that nearly all of them contained not one or two but multiple hard to pronounce, synthetic, very hazardous chemicals.

Over 90% of all ingredients in commercially acquirable cosmetics are of synthetic origin and directly linked to serious health risks like cancer, infertility, kidney and liver disease and severe skin issues. Environmental Working Group report called, “Skin Deep” found that nearly 90 percent of the more than 10,000 ingredients used in individualized care products have not been evaluated by government regulators. At the same time of the 20,000 different off-the-shelf cosmetic products that are for income in the US, over 80% of the products surveyed contained one or more ingredients that have caused documented adverse reactions in humans and animals in the past.

The FDA has only illegal or restricted only nine individualized care product ingredients in its entire 67 year history (FDA 2000). On September 6, 1997 the Boston Globe reported that “The General Bookkeeping Office, the investigative branch of Congress, has identified more than 125 cosmetic ingredients suspected of causing cancer- and others that might cause birth defects.”! Many of the harmful chemicals still used abundantly in cosmetics in the United Says have been long banned

in the rest of the world’s countries. Unfortunately, the United Says regulatory vacuum gives cosmetic companies astounding leeway to select, manufacture and sell products full with questionable ingredients, leaving the consumer to finally suffer the consequences. Most of the massive cosmetic and personal-care companies will tell you not to worry. They concur that there are many chemicals in their products, but state that the quantities are small and will not affect you. At first glance this seems reasonable. Unfortunately, this is a sugar coated public relations response and does not refer the true issue athand. Medical science has proven that humans exposed over time to very small quantities of harmful chemicals do indeed suffer the consequences.

Medical science has proven that even the thin patches we stick to our arms or stomach with very small amounts of pharmaceutical chemicals can very effectively deliver chemicals into the bloodstream, completely changing the body’s chemistry. Trans-dermal patches containing small traces of nicotine can effectively deliver chemicals directly into the bloodstream to modify tobacco cravings. The new contraceptive substitute to the “Pill” is a patch which contains very low levels of hormones and still has the capability to stop a woman from getting pregnant.

The real motivation behind the Cosmetic Industry’s disconcern is money and profit. Chemicals, dyes and fillers mentioned below are found in nearly apiece cosmetic product because they can be manufactured incredibly affordably and have a very long shelf life. If they were to discontinue using these chemicals for more healthy alternatives they would be severely slicing their profit margins to give you chemical free beauty products. In this effort their profits supersede your health. As a consumer your only response should be to discontinue using their products.

Large corporations in the personal-care industry are only motivated to be interested in their profits because the United Says Government and specifically the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate or require any kind of federal, unbiased testing before a cosmetic or personal-care product hit the shelves. The FDA leaves it up to the cosmetics manufactures to test their own products. In essence, YOU the consumer are the Commercial Cosmetic Industry’s guinea pig. No wonder virtually none of them need to test on animals anymore! The consumer is now the guinea pig of choice!

Currently, the cosmetic companies in North USA alone generate over $30 billion in income apiece year. Advertising through celebrities, slick entrepot and television ads, they give hope for a brighter, younger complexion, more beautiful hair and sexier features. What they don’t mention is the long list of chemicals that go into that promise. Since the industry is not regulated, many cosmetic companies don’t even bother to list the ingredients on their products.

It is concerning then, in light of all the information we know about the chemicals in the products that we slather on our skin EVERY DAY, that we are not more informed and outraged about the implications of constantly introducing these chemicals into our bodies. Tiny is known about the long term effects of the petroleum chemicals and synthetic products that we rub into our skin on a regular basis in the form of cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, etc. At this point scientists and researchers know that these chemicals pose a threat to human health and fertility and have been found in our bodies and breast milk. Chemicals found in cosmetics and personal-care products are linked to birth defects, hormone disruption and reduced fertility not to mention more pervasive cosmetic alteration such as rashes, mild to severe acne and eczema. Many people use cosmetics and lotions to cure skin issues. Ironically, the products they are using and hoping for a cure are the very same products that are causing the problem!

Even after reading all of this I’m sure you are still thinking, “I doubt the products I use apiece day have the chemicals you are speaking about.” I thought the same thing until I looked into the research of a few different sources like the Environmental Working Group. I had to resort to these research groups since most of my cosmetics don’t list the ingredients anywhere on the packaging. I soon found out that some of my (formerly) favorite cosmetic companies were rated among the worst for toxin levels in their cosmetics.

For more details about the specific chemicals of concern, please visit the Environmental Working Group’s website — click here. Please keep in mind, the EWG did not test apiece cosmetic company’s products for this study. If the products you currently use are not mentioned please investigate your cosmetic’s ingredient list.If you’re thinking you will simply begin buying cosmetics that state “organic”, “natural”, “hypo-allergenic” or “herbal” to refrain these hazardous chemicals please beware. Products with these labels still often contain these hazardous chemicals, minerals and synthetics because there is no regulation or standard that companies who adjudge their products are required to follow. Read the ingredients.

The typical adult uses nine cosmetics/ personal-care products a day with an average regular load of around 126 chemicals. Most of these chemicals (including the one’s mentioned above) are absorbed into your body through your skin. Others, found in lipstick and lip balm, you actually take as they come off your lips when eating, drinking or wetting your lips.

Cosmetic companies use synthetics and fillers in their products to keep costs down and give themselves the greatest profit margin possible. They are spending pennies on the dollars you spend at your local drug or department store to purchase their products. What you are paying for is an image of beauty perpetuated in advertisements. You are not usually paying for calibre with most commercial cosmetic brands.

What can you do to save your skin and your body from exposure to a lifetime of harmless chemicals? Inform yourself, read labels, investigate products if they don’t list ingredients. There are natural alternatives that are superior for you and your skin. Afterglow Cosmetics provides you with beautiful, 100% innocuous cosmetic alternatives. None of our cosmetics contain ANY harmful ingredients like the ones mentioned above.

Sources:

Health Risks in Today’s Cosmetics, Alliance Publishers, 1995

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, Ruth Winter

Beauty to Die For, The Cosmetic Consequence by Judi Vance

Perfume Expose by Richard H. Conrad, Ph.D.

http://www.nirvanastyle.com/html/fashion_articles.php?id=283