Resources, resources, resources!

You have finished your beauty routine and now you realize you have just burdened your body with hundreds of chemicals in the process. Where do you turn? What can you do to educate yourself about all of that "stuff" you have been putting on your body for years?

One of the best websites I can recommend to you is The Cosmetic Database (http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com). The Cosmetic Database is part of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The EWG is a non-profit organization that states, "At EWG, our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know."

The Cosmetic Database can give you an unbiased opinion about your cosmetics since they are not sponsored by any of the cosmetic giants and are an independent organization. The EWG website contains other useful information which will be addressed in a later blog.

You can go to The Cosmetic Database, type in the name brand of the product(s) you use, and see what score each product is given. Products range from 0 to 10 with 0 being your best (safest) choice. Anything rated 0 to 2 is considered a low hazard, 3 to 6 is considered a moderate hazard, and 7 to 10 is considered a high hazard. Right now, at your fingertips, you have the ability to have a non-biased opinion about cosmetics and beauty supplies, backed by scientific data. Come on, visit the website and get the ratings of your current cosmetics. I dare you! The website will tell you if any of the ingredients are linked to:

• Cancer
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity
• Violations, restrictions & warnings
• Allergies/immunotoxicity
• Other concerns for ingredients used in this product

Don't like what you see? Well then do something about it! You can sort the products by their scores and go from there. Even if you change only one product at a time, consider the chemical burden you are removing from your body by replacing that one product. It can be very liberating, and healthy, too!

To your health!

Joyce