Book Review ~ There's Lead in Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon

Sometimes, it seems like everything we touch, apply, and live with is just a Bad Item. Gillian Deacon has a look at the products we use on our skin, everyday. Cosmetics, shampoo, deodorant, hair dye....a broad spectrum of personal care.

I love that she names names. Singling out the offenders allows us to easily avoid toxic ingredients. She also addresses many of the brands that we have been led to believe are good for us: Seventh Generation, Burt's Bees, Avalon, Kiss My Face. The Cosmetics and Toiletries association has no mandatory guidelines on what is considered safe. She explains to us how these products are "greenwashed." That is, made to look like they are good for you, natural...but are, in fact, NOT good for you. The word "Natural" means absolutely nothing Lead is, in fact, natural, but you certainly wouldn't want to apply it to your skin!!!

The bottom line is that your best defence is to become an educated consumer. Read labels. Take a copy of David Suzuki's "Dirty Dozen" toxins list with you to the store, and see if any ingredients are in the product. Compare similar items: for example, Johnson and Johnson's baby shampoo (regular) is the identical formula to J&J's "organic" baby shampoo. Of course, the price is significantly higher on the "organic" product.

Do not despair!! The redeeming grace about this book is that Deacon provides accessible, viable alternatives in every category. While citing "losers" she also cites "winners." Again, by using brands we are familiar with and that are accessible to the average consumer, we can make choices in what we apply to ourselves without a lot of research.
 
Too bad Deacon didn't review eScential Wellness products. :-)
They would more than make the cut. None of Suzuki's dirty dozen here!!
Enjoy the read. It is not at all dry...you can breeze through the book quickly, or, just read chapters that are of interest to you.