What’s in that Pink Ribbon Product?

It’s that time of year again, when we can’t walk five steps without finding some new opportunity to spend money for breast cancer. We can “Kiss for the Cause” with Revlon lipstick, dust our cheeks with Estee Lauder’s Pink Ribbon Shimmer Compact, or hydrate our feet with Foot Works for the “Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.”

Before I rush out for a pink-ribbon makeover, I have some questions for these companies: How much money are they actually contributing to breast cancer charities, and what is the money being used for? And most importantly, are they willing to stop using chemicals linked to cancer?

The big beauty companies don’t want such questions raining on their pink parade. Revlon, Avon and Estee Lauder generate lots of goodwill and positive press with their signature pink-ribbon products and events. Yet ironically – outrageously – many of their products contain chemicals linked to cancer.

Revlon, for example, makes more than 20 hair dyes that score a 10 (for most toxic) in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Just one hair-dye product, Revlon Colorist Expert Color & Glaze System, contains more than one dozen chemicals linked to cancer!

Avon and Estee Lauder make various products containing PEG compounds and other chemicals that undergo a nasty chemical process called “ethoxylation,” which uses ethylene oxide (a known breast carcinogen) during processing and often leaves products contaminated with 1,4 dioxane (a carcinogen and serious groundwater contaminant).

The True Cost of Your Shiny Smooth Hair

Beautiful, shiny, frizz-free hair? Count yourself lucky to have hair at all! I first heard about the Brazilian Blowout from Susanne Harvey, who called to tell me she’d lost huge chunks of her long red hair¹ after using the popular hair-smoothing product that is all the rage with celebrities.

Turns out many women have had the same fallout experience, including actress Mary Louise Parker² and scores of others who have been complaining to FDA for years about hair loss, blisters and rashes they experienced after using certain hair treatments.

The reason why was made clear by several recent studies³: Many salon products that promise straight, frizz-free, “healthy” hair — even those marketed as “formaldehyde-free,” like Brazilian Blowout – actually contain significant levels of formaldehyde, a potent allergen and known carcinogen.⁴

The revelations prompted Health Canada⁵ to pull the products off the market six months ago. But here in the United States, where it’s legal for hair products to contain unlimited amounts of carcinogens, FDA has taken no action to protect consumers.

Finally this week, the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration stepped forward to warn salons⁶ to stop using formaldehyde-containing hair straighteners, and the state of California requested an injunction against the LA-based manufacturer of Brazilian Blowout.

“Workers have the right to know the risks associated with the chemicals with which they work, and how to protect themselves,” said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels in a statement.

Yes indeed! Unfortunately, workers and salons are not getting the straight story from manufacturers, who continue to insist these products are safe. According to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) survey, 95 percent of top manufacturers claim their hair-straightening products contain little to no formaldehyde, when they actually contain substantial amounts.

Obviously, these companies can’t be trusted and the FDA is failing to protect public health. The “Brazilian Blowup” is the perfect example why we need to reform national cosmetic regulations to bring American consumer protections up to standards that are already in place in Canada, Europe and elsewhere.

The federal Safe Cosmetics Act, introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives last year by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (and soon to be re-introduced into the new Congress) will make it illegal to put cancer-causing chemicals into personal care products in the first place, and will require companies to be fully transparent about their products.

Take action here to support the Safe Cosmetics Act.

In the meantime, what’s the best option for hair straightening? EWG’s assessment found possible health risks associated with all the longer-lasting chemical hair straighteners. The safest route is to use a flat iron, or – like this Sesame Street video we love – learn to love your hair just the way it is.

Photo credit: Claudio Mancilla

Sources:
1. Not a Pretty Picture. http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/eij/article/not_a_pretty_picture/ Accessed April 18, 2011.
2. Mary-Louise Parker of ‘Weeds’ claims Brazilian hair straightening caused her hair to fall out. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2011/04/12/2011-04-12_mary_louise_parker_of_weeds_claims_brazilian_hair_straightening_caused_her_hair_.html Accessed April 18, 2011.
3. Still waiting on FDA to do something about Brazilian Blowout. http://notjustaprettyface.org/blog/still-waiting-on-fda-to-do-anything-about-brazilian-blowout Accessed April 18, 2011.
4. National Academy of Sciences: Formaldehyde Still Causes Cancer in Humans. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jsass/national_academy_of_sciences_f.html Accessed April 18, 2011.
5. Brazilian Blowout Contains Formaldehyde. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_167-eng.php Accessed April 18, 2011.
6. Hair Smoothing Products That Could Release Formaldehyde. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/hazard_alert.html Accessed April 18, 2011.

What’s in that pink ribbon product?

It’s that time of year again, when we can’t walk five steps without finding some new opportunity to spend money for breast cancer. We can “Kiss for the Cause” with Revlon lipstick, dust our cheeks with Estee Lauder’s Pink Ribbon Shimmer Compact, or hydrate our feet with Foot Works for the “Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.”

Before I rush out for a pink-ribbon makeover, I have some questions for these companies: How much money are they actually contributing to breast cancer charities, and what is the money being used for? And most importantly, are they willing to stop using chemicals linked to cancer?

The big beauty companies don’t want such questions raining on their pink parade. Revlon, Avon and Estee Lauder generate lots of goodwill and positive press with their signature pink-ribbon products and events. Yet ironically – outrageously – many of their products contain chemicals linked to cancer.

Revlon, for example, makes more than 20 hair dyes that score a 10 (for most toxic) in the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Just one hair-dye product, Revlon Colorist Expert Color & Glaze System, contains more than two dozen chemicals linked to cancer!

Avon and Estee Lauder make various products containing PEG compounds and other chemicals that undergo a nasty chemical process called “ethoxylation,” which uses ethylene oxide (a known breast carcinogen) during processing and often leaves products contaminated with 1,4 dioxane (a carcinogen and serious groundwater contaminant).

All three companies make products containing parabens and other chemicals that act like estrogen in the body, which is problematic because higher estrogen exposures are associated with higher breast cancer risk.

Revlon, Avon and Estee Lauder owe it to us to do better. As leaders in the pink-ribbon parade, they have a responsibility to stop buying carcinogens from the chemical companies, and they have the opportunity to be real champions for women’s health by using their leverage with the chemical companies to demand safer, non-toxic alternatives.

Instead, we get cute pink-ribbon products with an undisclosed portion of proceeds going to breast cancer research, almost none of which is focused on environmental causes of the disease such as cancer-causing chemicals and pollution. They want us to “hope for the cure” rather than having a serious discussion about how to prevent breast cancer – because prevention requires changes to the status quo.

For more about the not-so-cute history of the pink ribbon (which was co-opted by a beauty magazine) and Breast Cancer Awareness Month (which was started by a pharmaceutical/chemical company), see chapter 6 of my book “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry.”

After reading these stories, you’ll never look at a pink ribbon the same way again. But the good news is, we don’t have to put up with this, because we get to decide which companies we support with our money and which products we put on our bodies. Here are five things you can do today to take meaningful action for change:

Learn About Environmental Causes of Breast Cancer: Share this important resource about the causes of breast cancer, State of the Evidence 2010 by the Breast Cancer Fund, the only national breast cancer organization focused solely on prevention of the disease. Consider donating to Breast Cancer Fund this October as a way to support prevention.

Think Before You Pink: Check out this website by Breast Cancer Action and encourage your friends to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions. Another great resource on this topic is the book and film No Family History, by Sabrina McCormick.

Just Say No to Toxic Beauty Products: Choose products that are free of carcinogens and other harmful chemicals by using the Skin Deep database. Spend your money on companies with products consistently in the green zone (0-2 toxicity score).

Demand Cosmetics Without Carcinogens: Join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in working to pass the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 that will require companies to eliminate cancer-causing chemicals from cosmetics. Visit our website and join our email list to get involved. Together we can give the beauty industry a makeover!

Pass the News: Educate your friends and networks about this topic by sharing this free short video, The Story of Cosmetics by Annie Leonard. Post it on websites, Facebook, listserves and help us get to one million views!

This article was originally published by Crazy Sexy Life in November 2009 and was updated for October 2010.

Photo Credit: tanakawho

Before you Kiss for the Cause: What’s in that pink ribbon product?

It’s that time of year again, when you can’t walk five steps without finding some new opportunity to spend money for breast cancer. We can “Kiss for the Cause” with Revlon lipstick, “shower for the cure” with Philosophy Pink Ribbon Gel, dust our cheeks with “Hint of a Cure” blush by Ramy, and “Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer” with Avon products.

Before I rush out for a pink-ribbon makeover, I have some questions for these companies: How much money are they actually contributing to breast cancer charities, and what is the money being used for? And most importantly, are they willing to stop using chemicals linked to cancer?

The big beauty companies don’t want such questions raining on their pink parade. After all, Revlon reaps a lot of good will and positive press from its pink-branded products and efforts to raise money for breast cancer charities through the Revlon 5K Run/Walk.

Yet ironically – outrageously – many Revlon products contain chemicals linked to cancer. In fact, Revlon’s Colorsilk brand is ranked as the most toxic brand of all in the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep database, with an average toxicity score of 8.6 (with 10 being the worst).

Pink ribbon giants Avon and Estee Lauder don’t fare much better; each company makes more than 100 products with a toxicity of score of 8 or above, according to Skin Deep, and many of the products contain chemicals linked to cancer. (You can check the score of your favorite products at www.cosmeticdatabase.org.)

This is unacceptable – to say the least! As leaders in the pink-ribbon parade, Revlon, Avon and Estee Lauder have a special responsibility to be champions for women’s health by refusing to buy carcinogens from the chemical companies. As major (and influential) customers of the chemical industry, these companies have the power to shift the market away from harmful chemicals, and toward safer, non-toxic alternatives.

Instead, what we get from these companies are lots of cute pink-ribbon products, with an undisclosed portion of proceeds going to breast cancer research, almost none of which is focused on environmental causes of the disease such as cancer-causing chemicals and pollution. They want us to “hope for the cure” and get our mammograms, rather than having a serious discussion about how to prevent breast cancer, because prevention requires changes to the status quo.

For more about the not-so-cute history of the pink ribbon (which was co-opted by a beauty magazine) and Breast Cancer Awareness Month (which was started by a pharmaceutical/chemical company), see chapter 6 of my book “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry.”

After these stories, trust me, you’ll never look at a pink ribbon in quite the same way again. So then what? The good news is, we have a lot of power too, because we get to decide which companies we support with our money and which products we put on our bodies. We can educate ourselves and our friends about what’s really going on, and take meaningful action for change. Here are four things you can do today:

Think Before you Pink: Share this website by Breast Cancer Action with friends and encourage them to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions. Another great resource on this topic is the book and film No Family History, by Sabrina McCormick.

Just say No to Toxic Beauty Products: Choose products that are free of carcinogens and other harmful chemicals by using the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Spend your money on companies with products consistently in the green zone (0-3 toxicity score).

Donate to Breast Cancer Prevention: Support The Breast Cancer Fund, the only national non-profit organization focused solely on prevention of the disease. Also check out BCF’s annual report, The State of the Evidence, a compilation of science about the environmental links to breast cancer.

Help Give the Beauty Industry a Makeover: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working to pass legislation that will require cosmetics companies to eliminate chemicals suspected of causing cancer, birth defects and other health problems. Visit our website and join our email list to get involved.