Chemicals Linked to Birth Defects
Found in More Than 70% of Products
STaCy MaLkan
S
tacy Malkan has been exposing
the toxic truth about everyday
personal care products for many
years (as well as in her award winning
book Not Just a Pretty Face)—and in
2002, she helped launch the cosmetics
campain with the Not Too Pretty report,
which found chemicals linked to birth
defects in more than 70% of products
tested. Stacy is a leading advocate for
keeping products safe for us and the
planet—and giving the beauty industry
a much needed makeover!
A Distinctive Style: What kind of
response are you getting to the Safe
Cosmetics Campaign? Also how about
"The Story of Cosmetics?"
Stacy Malkin: It's been phenomenal.
Our investigation into toxic chemicals
in personal care products began
almost 10 years ago, and it's so grat-
ifying to see the issue getting national
attention at the highest levels. More
than 300,000 people have seen the
Story of Cosmetics so far (and I urge
you to share it with everyone you
know! www.StoryofCosmetics.org.) We
have an amazing opportunity right
now to pass new cosmetic regulations
that protect our health and shift the
$50 billion beauty industry in a safer,
more sustainable direction. This is
80 A Distinctive Style . COM
important for the health of our fami-
lies and future generations — and we
need your help. We’re asking every-
one who cares about this issue to con-
tact your Congressional representa-
tives and ask them to co-sponsor The
Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010. To send
the letter through our website, go to
www.safecosmetics.org.
ADS: Any other adventures you are
taking on?
SM: I just got back from South Africa,
as a guest of the Cancer Society of
South Africa where I was asked to
speak at a women's health conference
about cosmetics and cancer. I'd never
been to that country and I was very
excited! I'm also pleased to be work-
ing with this particular organization
because the Cancer Society of S.A. ded-
icates a significant percentage of its
research dollars to science that inves-
tigates the environmental health links
to the disease. It is critical to under-
stand what has caused such dramatic
increases in cancer, so that we can
figure out the best strategies for
preventing cancer. If the big cancer
groups in the United States were fund-
ing environmental health research, we
would be a lot closer to understanding
how to lessen the epidemic of this dis-
ease. As we wait for more research,
there is plenty of evidence right now
to justify removing carcinogens from
the products we put on our bodies
every day.
ADS: Do you believe that the US Gov-
ernment has started paying attention
to the public outcry?
SM: Yes absolutely. The Safe Cosmet-
ics Act of 2010 is the first real oppor-
tunity we've had to overhaul cosmetic
regulations that were put in place 70
By Shelly Ballestero
years ago. We have the ear of legisla-
tors who are fully committed to this
issue, and now is the time to take
action. It is not going to be easy be-
cause there is huge lobbying pressure
to keep the industry unregulated or
to pass watered-down legislation.
ADS:What advice do you give con-
sumers looking for safer products?
SM: Simpler is better. Choose products
with fewer chemicals, avoid synthetic
fragrance, and use fewer products
overall. The companies like to make
us think we need a different lotion for
every part of our body or a different
cleaning product for every room in
the house. Most of it is just not neces-
sary. However, we should be able to
use whatever beauty products we
want to use without worrying if we
are putting our health in danger.
A great resource for finding safer
products is the Skin Deep database at
www.cosmeticdatabase.org.
ADS: How can we all get involved?
SM: 1. Choose to support companies
that share your values for a healthy
planet. Check out Skin Deep at
www.cosmeticdatabase.com
and choose products in the 0-2 range.
2. Get politically active. We can’t just
shop our way out of this problem. In
order to shift the big companies and
ensure safer products are available
to everyone, we have to change the
law. Ask your Congressional rep to
support the Safe Cosmetics Act; you
can send a letter through our website,
www.safecosmetics.org.
3. Tell your friends. Share the Story of
Cosmetics with everyone you know!
www.storyofcosmetics.org.