| Mercury Free Mascara by Afterglow Cosmetics | | | | proven that humans exposed over time to very small |
| Author: Nirvana Fashion Editor Mon Mar 17, 2008 | | | | quantities of harmful chemicals do indeed suffer the |
| Starting Jan 1st, 2008 the state wide law banning | | | | consequences. |
| mercury in mascaras, eye liners and skin-lightening | | | | Medical science has proven that even the thin patches |
| creams took effect in Minnesota. | | | | we stick to our arms or stomach with very small |
| This bold move to ban mercury in makeup makes the | | | | amounts of pharmaceutical chemicals can very |
| great state of Minnesota the first state in the nation to | | | | effectively deliver chemicals into the bloodstream, |
| ban intentionally added mercury in cosmetics and sets | | | | totally changing the body's chemistry. Trans-dermal |
| a tougher standard than the federal government for | | | | patches containing small traces of nicotine can |
| regulating cosmetic ingredients. "Mercury does cause | | | | effectively deliver chemicals directly into the |
| neurological damage to people even in tiny quantities," | | | | bloodstream to alter tobacco cravings. The new |
| said Sen. John Marty, the Democrat who sponsored | | | | contraceptive alternative to the “Pill” is a patch |
| the ban. "Every source of mercury adds to it. We | | | | which contains very low levels of hormones and still |
| wanted to make sure it wasn't here." | | | | has the ability to stop a woman from getting pregnant. |
| So your first questions are probably. . . | | | | The real motivation behind the Cosmetic Industry's |
| Why isn't mercury already banned in cosmetics? Well, | | | | disconcern is money and profit. Chemicals, dyes and |
| that's a long story but the short version is that the US | | | | fillers mentioned below are found in almost every |
| FDA has banned very, very, very few chemicals in | | | | cosmetic product because they can be manufactured |
| cosmetics. Mercury is not one of them. In fact, Europe, | | | | incredibly inexpensively and have a very long shelf life. |
| Korea and Japan have banned many chemicals still | | | | If they were to discontinue using these chemicals for |
| common in cosmetics in the USA. | | | | more healthy alternatives they would be severely |
| I don't see mercury on my mascara ingredient label. | | | | cutting their profit margins to give you chemical free |
| Does that mean it's mercury free? The actual | | | | beauty products. In this battle their profits supersede |
| ingredient name containing mercury is called | | | | your health. As a consumer your only response should |
| Thimerosal . It is a mercury-containing organic | | | | be to discontinue using their products. |
| compound used as a preservative and anti-fungal | | | | Large corporations in the personal-care industry are |
| agent since the 1920s. Thimerosal has been banned | | | | only motivated to be interested in their profits because |
| around the world but NOT in the US (except for | | | | the United States Government and specifically the |
| Minnesota). | | | | Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate |
| What should I do now? Ladies, the bottom line in my | | | | or require any kind of federal, unbiased testing before |
| opinion is actually not about the mercury, but rather, it's | | | | a cosmetic or personal-care product hit the shelves. |
| about the lack of regulation in general in the USA for | | | | The FDA leaves it up to the cosmetics manufactures |
| cosmetic ingredient safety. So what's a girl to do? | | | | to test their own products. In essence, YOU the |
| Most women are not going to become chemists in | | | | consumer are the Commercial Cosmetic Industry's |
| their spare time to keep up with international cosmetic | | | | guinea pig. No wonder virtually none of them need to |
| ingredient regulations to understand if products are | | | | test on animals anymore! The consumer is now the |
| safe. Instead, I suggest that you look for companies | | | | guinea pig of choice! |
| that are focused on safety and transparency | | | | Currently, the cosmetic companies in North America |
| regarding the ingredients they use. | | | | alone generate over $30 billion in sales each year. |
| The long awaited, all natural mascara from Afterglow | | | | Advertising through celebrities, slick magazine and TV |
| Cosmetics is here! Beautifully lush and all natural, Pure | | | | ads, they give hope for a brighter, younger complexion, |
| Soul Mascara is available in Onyx (black) and Mink | | | | more beautiful hair and sexier features. What they |
| (deep brown). | | | | don't mention is the long list of chemicals that go into |
| Why you'll love Afterglow Pure Soul Mascara: | | | | that promise. Since the industry is not regulated, many |
| * It creates rich, luscious lashes that are soft and | | | | cosmetic companies don't even bother to list the |
| flexible. | | | | ingredients on their products. |
| * It's volumizing, flake proof, smudge proof and | | | | It is concerning then, in light of all the information we |
| clump-free. | | | | know about the chemicals in the products that we |
| * Its all natural formula is rich in soothing organic | | | | slather on our skin EVERY DAY, that we are not |
| botanical antioxidants. | | | | more informed and outraged about the implications of |
| * It's gentle enough for even the most sensitive eyes. | | | | constantly introducing these chemicals into our bodies. |
| * It's gluten-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, synthetic | | | | Little is known about the long term effects of the |
| dye-free, perfume-free, mercury-free, | | | | petroleum chemicals and synthetic products that we |
| petrochemical-free, phthalate-free, mineral oil-free, | | | | rub into our skin on a daily basis in the form of |
| tar-free. | | | | cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, etc. At this point |
| Afterglow Cosmetics is committed to providing | | | | scientists and researchers know that these chemicals |
| effective and safe cosmetics. | | | | pose a threat to human health and fertility and have |
| We are a Compact Signer for the Campaign for Safe | | | | been found in our bodies and breast milk. Chemicals |
| Cosmetics and ranked as one of the safest cosmetic | | | | found in cosmetics and personal-care products are |
| lines according to the EWG's Cosmetic Database. | | | | linked to birth defects, hormone disruption and reduced |
| Suggested Retail Price: $21.00 | | | | fertility not to mention more pervasive cosmetic |
| Shop | | | | damage such as rashes, mild to severe acne and |
| The Ugly Truth About Commercial | | | | eczema. Many people use cosmetics and lotions to |
| Cosmeticschemicals in cosmeticsI believe most of us | | | | cure skin issues. Ironically, the products they are using |
| take for granted that the popular cosmetics, soaps, | | | | and hoping for a cure are the very same products |
| lotions and hair care products we buy in our local | | | | that are causing the problem! |
| salons, drug and departments stores are safe. Why as | | | | Even after reading all of this I'm sure you are still |
| consumers would we be able to buy and use a | | | | thinking, “I doubt the products I use every day have |
| product on our skin, lips, eyes and hair every day if | | | | the chemicals you are talking about.” I thought the |
| they were harmful? This wasn't even a question I had | | | | same thing until I looked into the research of a few |
| ever asked myself because I was so confident in my | | | | different sources like the Environmental Working |
| products and the well known companies that produce | | | | Group. I had to resort to these research groups since |
| them. I first began investigating cosmetics when I | | | | most of my cosmetics don't list the ingredients |
| decided to start my own cosmetic company. When I | | | | anywhere on the packaging. I soon found out that |
| first began investigating the ingredients in my makeup | | | | some of my (formerly) favorite cosmetic companies |
| and shower products like soap and shampoo, I was | | | | were rated among the worst for toxin levels in their |
| shocked to discover that almost all of them contained | | | | cosmetics. |
| not one or two but multiple hard to pronounce, | | | | For more details about the specific chemicals of |
| synthetic, very dangerous chemicals. | | | | concern, please visit the Environmental Working |
| Over 90% of all ingredients in commercially available | | | | Group's website -- click here. Please keep in mind, the |
| cosmetics are of synthetic origin and directly linked to | | | | EWG did not test every cosmetic company's products |
| serious health risks like cancer, infertility, kidney and liver | | | | for this study. If the products you currently use are not |
| disease and severe skin issues. Environmental Working | | | | mentioned please investigate your cosmetic's |
| Group report called, “Skin Deep” found that | | | | ingredient list.If you're thinking you will simply start buying |
| almost 90 percent of the more than 10,000 ingredients | | | | cosmetics that say “organic”, “natural”, |
| used in personal care products have not been | | | | “hypo-allergenic” or “herbal” to avoid |
| evaluated by government regulators. At the same time | | | | these dangerous chemicals please beware. Products |
| of the 20,000 different off-the-shelf cosmetic products | | | | with these labels still often contain these dangerous |
| that are for sales in the US, over 80% of the products | | | | chemicals, minerals and synthetics because there is no |
| surveyed contained one or more ingredients that have | | | | regulation or standard that companies who label their |
| caused documented adverse reactions in humans and | | | | products are required to follow. Read the ingredients. |
| animals in the past. | | | | The typical adult uses nine cosmetics/ personal-care |
| The FDA has only banned or restricted only nine | | | | products a day with an average daily load of around |
| personal care product ingredients in its entire 67 year | | | | 126 chemicals. Most of these chemicals (including the |
| history (FDA 2000). On September 6, 1997 the Boston | | | | one's mentioned above) are absorbed into your body |
| Globe reported that “The General Accounting | | | | through your skin. Others, found in lipstick and lip balm, |
| Office, the investigative branch of Congress, has | | | | you actually eat as they come off your lips when |
| identified more than 125 cosmetic ingredients | | | | eating, drinking or wetting your lips. |
| suspected of causing cancer- and others that may | | | | Cosmetic companies use synthetics and fillers in their |
| cause birth defects.”! Many of the harmful | | | | products to keep costs down and give themselves the |
| chemicals still used abundantly in cosmetics in the | | | | greatest profit margin possible. They are spending |
| United States have been long bannedin the rest of the | | | | pennies on the dollars you spend at your local drug or |
| world's countries. Unfortunately, the United States | | | | department store to buy their products. What you are |
| regulatory vacuum gives cosmetic companies | | | | paying for is an image of beauty perpetuated in |
| incredible leeway to select, manufacture and sell | | | | advertisements. You are not usually paying for quality |
| products laden with questionable ingredients, leaving | | | | with most commercial cosmetic brands. |
| the consumer to ultimately suffer the consequences. | | | | What can you do to save your skin and your body |
| Most of the large cosmetic and personal-care | | | | from exposure to a lifetime of harmless chemicals? |
| companies will tell you not to worry. They agree that | | | | Inform yourself, read labels, investigate products if they |
| there are many chemicals in their products, but say | | | | don't list ingredients. There are natural alternatives that |
| that the quantities are small and will not affect you. At | | | | are better for you and your skin. Afterglow Cosmetics |
| first glance this seems reasonable. Unfortunately, this is | | | | provides you with beautiful, 100% safe cosmetic |
| a sugar coated public relations response and does not | | | | alternatives. None of our cosmetics contain ANY |
| identify the true issue athand. Medical science has | | | | harmful ingredients like the ones mentioned above. |