There is a great trend toward being “green” these days (have you noticed?) – but going even further than being green for the environment, I think there is a trend toward taking control of personal health and asking questions like we’ve never asked questions before.

It is very important to be aware of what you put on your skin and especially what you put on your children’s skin. Your skin is your largest organ!  There are such amazing products on the market today, but sometimes I wonder what makes them so amazing and what the ingredients are doing to my health. There is a WONDERFUL searchable website (called the Costmetic Database) that rates ove 40,000 products (makeup, skin care, hair care, nail care, oral care, fragrances, suncreens, children’s products, feminine products etc.) by their safety. It even lists all the ingredients and tells you what they are and what they can possibly do to you (cancer, hormone disruption, neurotoxicity, allergies, reproductive toxicity etc). I don’t want to be an alarmist, but there’s some scary stuff in normal every day products I was using!

One thing that I’m particularly interested in knowing is if my products were tested on animals. I avoid products with animal testing at all costs. The Cosmetic Database also has this information. I have written many-a-letter to companies I found out were using animal testing.  It is SO important that we do not let beauty products be tested on animals. It is insane the pain and torture companies put cats, rabbits and dogs through – especially when other technology is available. Please check to make sure your products aren’t tested on animals and if they are – let the companies know you won’t support them until they stop!

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) independently brings you the reseach gathered in The Cosmetic Database. The EWG also has sites that research which fruits/veggies have the most pesticides, which pet foods are nasty, and others. Check it out!