The Story of Cosmetics, and the toxins in them

Think of the things in your household that you use every day. For us, it's lipstick, shampoo, make-up, and lotions. Many of us assume that these products are automatically safe and have been regulated by a federal agency. Not true.

The truth is that less than 20% of chemicals in cosmetics have been inspected for safety, so we don't know how bad they are. Annie Leonard, known for her animated documentary The Story of Stuff has teamed up with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to bring us The Story of Cosmetics, the animated cartoon you see above that shines a light on the need for reform in the cosmetics industry. As the Los Angeles Times said this morning, "it's a cartoon, but she's serious."

In the Huffington Post, Leonard wrote, "I asked some scientists what was going on, and what they told me was scary, and not just for our children. It turns out the average American bathroom is a minefield of toxic chemicals. Sunscreens, lipstick, moisturizer, shaving cream -- many cosmetics and personal care products for babies, kids, moms and dads contain chemicals linked to cancer or other health problems like learning disabilities, asthma and even damaged sperm. I got so mad about this I joined with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to make a new video, The Story of Cosmetics."

The states have worked on protecting their citizens from toxic chemicals in cosmetics, however reform for cosmetics needs to come at the federal level. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 has just been introduced into Congress for consideration, and it's a great step toward protecting our families and cosmetics industry workers from toxic chemical exposure.

Will you take action today and make sure your House Representative supports the Safe Cosmetics Act?