Curiosity about the safety of personal care products led me to the Skin Deep site www.cosmeticsdatabase.com Over 142 million searches have been completed at the Environmental Working Group site since it began a little over four years ago.   Searches can be performed for personal care products for women and men including hair, eye, skin, oral care, makeup, fragrance, nail care and baby care at this website. 

            According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) chances are most of us use 10 personal car products each day.  The list could include the following:  toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, shampoo, deodorant, lip balm, shaving products and cosmetics. 

           The products are used without a second thought.  I think most people believe the government is policing the safety of the mixtures used in the products.  However, that is not the case according to the EWG.  Many of the personal products used daily are under no systematic FDA safety reviews. 

            At the Skin Deep site searches can be completed three (3) ways:

                  Enter the brand name in the powerful search engine found at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

                  Enter an individual ingredient of the product, or

                  Browse one of the eight categories hair care, eye care, skin care, oral care, makeup, fragrance, nail care and baby care.  The products are listed from least hazardous to the most hazardous.

            Details from an individual product search will produce the following information:

            Products searches will be rated with an overall hazard (concern) rating of 0-2 low hazard, 3-6 moderate hazard, and 7-10 high hazard. 

            The ingredients in the product are linked to: cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, violations, restrictions and warnings, allergies/immunotoxicity and other concerns for ingredients used in this product.   

            Better products to replace the item submitted for a search.

            Company policies:  including whether the company has signed the compact for safe cosmetics and animal testing policies.

            Each individual ingredient is rated for safety.

            Using personal products from some of the major manufacturers of organic personal body products  does not necessarily equate to a low hazard rating.  

            The site is rich with information detailing the research used to determine the hazard ratings and why it matters.