| The cosmetic and personal care product industry is a | | | | 6. "Organic" on the label |
| multi-billion dollar a year industry ... and growing. New | | | | Beware of products that claim to be 95%, 90% or |
| products are coming onto the market every day. | | | | some other high percentage organic on the label. |
| Manufacturers play to your emotions in their | | | | According to cosmetic chemist Paul Lieber, it's |
| advertising and packaging. They tell you their products | | | | physically impossible for more than 30-40% of the |
| will make you look more beautiful, younger, sexier and | | | | ingredients to be organic, unless it's organic oil. Why? |
| help you attract your perfect mate. They promise to | | | | Because typically 60-70% of a product is water and |
| erase blemishes, wrinkles, make your skin smoother | | | | water cannot be certified organically grown, even if it's |
| and softer. In fact, any flaws that you see in yourself, | | | | distilled or processed with organic herbs or essential |
| real or imagined, there is most likely a product on the | | | | oils. |
| market that promises to fix it. | | | | 7. Hypoallergenic |
| Can you believe all the claims you read or hear about | | | | This doesn't mean the product won't cause allergic |
| these products? Is there really truth in advertising? | | | | reactions. There are no standards defining |
| Where do you find the answers to these questions? | | | | hypoallergenic. It just means the manufacturer believes |
| How can you really be sure that a product will do | | | | it's less likely to cause allergic reactions. In many cases, |
| what the manufacturer says it will? And most | | | | it's not even tested; only fragrances are removed. |
| importantly, how do you know that the products are | | | | 8. Pretty labels |
| healthy and safe to use? | | | | Manufacturers spend a lot of money designing labels |
| Here are some things for you to look out for when | | | | to make you think their product is natural, herbal, |
| choosing products you're going to use on your skin: | | | | healthy and will do amazing things if you use it. The |
| 1. Magazine and other print ads | | | | truth is ... the information on the front of the label |
| They're designed to make you want to buy. They | | | | doesn't tell you anything about the health and safety of |
| promise you radiant skin, a healthy glow, age-defying | | | | the ingredients inside the package. Don't base your |
| skin care, purity, safe and effective products made | | | | decision on what's on the front of the label. |
| with natural ingredients. They make the product sound | | | | 9. The ingredients list |
| so good and good for you that you just want to go | | | | This is the most important piece of information that |
| out and buy it. But don't buy yet. You need more | | | | you absolutely must read before you buy any product. |
| information. | | | | The ingredient list is where you find out if the product |
| 2. Radio and TV ads | | | | really contains safe and healthy ingredients or not. This |
| In 30 seconds or less, you'll hear all the wonderful | | | | is not what the manufacturers wants you to read on |
| benefits you'll receive from choosing their products - | | | | their labels. That's why they make it so tiny you need |
| softer, silkier, healthier hair; smoother, younger-looking | | | | a magnifying glass to read it. Buy one and carry it with |
| skin and more. Manufacturers spend a lot of money | | | | you in your pocket or purse. Take it out when you're |
| trying to convince you to buy their products. Don't jump | | | | trying to read that microscopic print. |
| up and rush to the store after seeing or hearing one of | | | | 10. Incomplete ingredient lists |
| their compelling ads. They're not telling you everything | | | | Many companies, because of increased consumer |
| you need to know. | | | | awareness of the ingredients in skin care products, will |
| 3. Celebrity endorsements | | | | list only the known herbal and healthy ingredients on |
| Companies pay celebrities a lot of money to endorse | | | | their website or in their advertisements. If you don't |
| their products. They hope you'll think that because the | | | | read carefully, you may think that what they list is the |
| celebs say wonderful things about their products, you'll | | | | complete list of ingredients in the product ... that is until |
| want to use them too. Don't fall for this. | | | | you buy the product and read the full list of ingredients |
| 4. Samples in the mail | | | | on the label. Beware of this deceptive practice. |
| What better way to get you to try their product than | | | | Now, you may be wondering how you're supposed to |
| to give you a little bit to test on yourself? You get to | | | | know if the ingredients on the label are safe or not. |
| experience first hand how the product smells, feels, | | | | Most of the ingredients are not listed in plain, |
| lathers, absorbs, etc. Now while you may like how it | | | | understandable, everyday language. Well, you don't |
| smells, performs and the result you get, you still don't | | | | need to hire your own personal cosmetic chemist. |
| have enough information to assess the health and | | | | There is a simple solution. Dying To Look Good is an |
| safety of the product. | | | | easy-to-use book, written in plain, understandable |
| 5. "Natural" on the label | | | | language, that classifies ingredients in cosmetics and |
| This suggests that the product is made of ingredients | | | | personal care products according to safety and lists |
| from natural sources. However, there are no industry | | | | products that are safe and healthy to use. If you |
| standards for what "natural" means. The product may | | | | check the ingredients on all product labels before you |
| contain all natural ingredients, just a few natural | | | | buy with the list of ingredients in Dying To Look Good, |
| ingredients added to a synthetic product or no natural | | | | you will be able to confidently choose products that |
| ingredients at all. | | | | are safe and healthy. |