Green Your Baby Products

When selecting products for babies and children less is more. Commercial baby powders, oils, lotions, shampoos and other products often contain phthalates. Phthalates have been linked to endocrine and reproductive system problems. Babies who are cared for with phthalate-laced products have shown developmental problems, especially in the reproductive development of male children. Phthalates are hormone mimickers and disrupt natural hormones in the bodies of babies and children. Parents should also beware of overly fragranced baby products. The term “Fragrance” can mean a combination of over 400 chemicals, many of which have never been tested for safety.

A friend of mine was told by her pediatrician that she sees more allergic reactions in children caused by Johnson and Johnson baby products than any other baby product on the market. I often hear from people who are resistant to greening their children's products. Their excuses are often "My Mom used those products on me and I'm fine". These chemicals often take years to accumulate in the body and cause health issues. We didn't have the knowledge of the effects of these chemicals then, but we do now. If their Mom's knew the harm that those products were doing to their children you can bet that they wouldn't have used them.

The Price You Pay For Cheap Cosmetics

Once again I visited the Target Dollar Bin to see what dangers lurked within. To my surprise the lip gloss that I notified them about had been recalled. I was happy to know that children wouldn't be ingesting lead laden lip gloss, however I discovered that the same company was pedaling other toxic products.

I picked up two of their $1 products, a Roll on Fragrance and a Body Lotion. I immediately flipped them over to see if they contained lead. Thankfully they did not contain lead but they had a plethera of other toxic chemicals in them. Once again the packaging was full of bright colors and boasted fun fruity fragrances targeted towards children. The ingredient listing read like a bottle of pesticide. "Mineral Oil, Methylparaben, Triethanolamine..." to name a few. Both products also had a warning not to ingest them.

Out of curiosity I googled the company that makes these products. I found that the products are made in China and that the company is no longer in business. As many of you know China has been responsible for shipping all sorts of toxic products to the US, from toxic toothpaste to deadly pet food to children's toys laced with lead.

I know that with the economy many people are looking for a bargain but I would urge you to investigate what you're buying before getting sucked into the deal. You get what you pay for and when you're paying a dollar for something chances are you are also paying a steep price with your health. Read the labels on all cosmetic products just as you would food labels. The products you put on your skin soak into your blood stream and can lead to many health issues over time. Check out this handy list of some of the worst cosmetic companies on the market and what harmful ingredients their products contain before your next shopping trip.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/whatnottobuy/

Personal Care Product Ingredients are Hazardous to Wildlife

Most people never stop to think about the environmental impact that their personal care products make. Consider for a moment how many millions of people each day rinse commercial shampoos, conditioners, body washes and shaving creams down the drain. It's estimated that the average woman exposes herself to over 100 hazardous chemicals a day through her personal care products. All of these chemicals are washed down the drain into our rivers, streams and oceans.

The hazardous chemicals contained in personal care products are not only putting humans health at risk but also wildlife. Hormone disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and parabens are washed down the drain when we use personal care products containing these ingredients. These chemicals are polluting our rivers and streams and have been linked to the feminization of fish and other aquatic life. By choosing green personal care products you can protect your health and also the health and welfare of our wildlife