Your morning routine probably includes shampoo, deodorant, lotion and makeup. You may not even think twice about all those ingredients on the labels.
Well, it’s time to change that, as some are linked to cancer, infertility and other serious infections and illnesses. Consumer Reports reveals the ingredients and the products people should be wary of.
Shampoos, lotions, makeup — we lather, rub and apply them every day without a second thought.
“So, the cosmetics industry uses thousands of chemicals in the products we put on our bodies every day. And until recently, federal regulations hadn’t been meaningfully updated in more than 80 years,” Nicole Greenfield of Consumer Reports said.
A 2022 law requires cosmetic companies to register their products and ingredients with the FDA. But that doesn’t mean those ingredients are thoroughly reviewed for safety before they hit store shelves.
“Just by looking at labels, we know that concerning ingredients show up again and again in the products we find in stores,” Greenfield said.
Consumer Reports says to check ingredient labels for “fragrance” — which often means a product contains phthalates — and to seek out products that are paraben-free and formaldehyde-free.
“These chemicals can cause serious health issues. Everything from reproductive harm to an increased risk of cancer,” Greenfield said.
And there’s PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” These can show up in waterproof, long-wear makeup, and some have been linked to serious health concerns.
And coal tar dyes, used in some hair dyes and cosmetics, can cause skin reactions and may raise cancer risk with higher occupational exposure.
What can you do?
Keep it simple: read labels, choose products that say they’re free of these ingredients, and use ingredient-checking tools like Clearya or SkinSafe, whose data CR currently licenses, to compare options. Then swap products — starting with the ones you use most.
“Even small changes can lower the levels of some of these chemicals in your body very quickly,” Greenfield said.
Bottom line: read the label, use the tools available, and replace products gradually — one at a time.
Consumer Reports also says buying from reputable retailers and avoiding unknown online sellers can reduce the risk of contaminated or counterfeit products. This all may have you thinking plant-based, chemical and fragrance-free is the better route, and there is a local retailer who makes these clean products right in their store for you to see, and you don’t have to sacrifice scent.
You can watch the full interviews with Buff City Soap in Canton in the video at the beginning of this article.