The Ugly Truth About Beauty

http://storyofstuff.org/cosmetics/

After watching the video posted above, "The Story of Cosmetics", I was totally shocked at the externalities we're facing with the products we use every day.

I've worked as a Cosmetician at Shoppers Drug Mart for the past 5 years and had no idea that there were such awful toxins in the products that I sell and promote every time I go to work. It was a real wake up call watching this video and hearing what Anne Leonard had to say about labeling laws on cosmetic products. It's hard to believe that there isn't more regulation in the industry. The fact that less than 20% of chemicals used in cosmetic products have been assessed for safety by the industry is completely irresponsible.

Cosmetic companies create these products, advertise the heck out of them on TV, using words like "natural" and "organic" and then we as consumers purchase these products and make a habit of using them every day; all the while having no idea about the amount of damage we're putting on our bodies. In a way it makes myself, as a consumer and a Cosmetician, feel kind of stupid. Since words such as "natural" and "herbal" are considered to have no legal definition in the industry, it means that any company can just throw those words on their label and we think we're doing good for our bodes when in fact, we're doing just the opposite. It just makes me feel blindsided because I read those words and automatically just believe them and think they're what they say they are.

In my opinion, as far as corporate social responsibility is concerned, there is a huge break in the cosmetic industry. These companies obviously aren't taking into account the consequences of their actions. Who pays for it? Us! The consumers who use these products day in and day out are the ones cleaning up the mess and doing damage on our bodies. It's completely careless of these companies. When producing these products and advertising them to us are they not asking themselves if it is socially and ethically responsible to use these harmful ingredients? It really makes cost benefit analysis look scary in my opinion. Obviously it costs less to produce cosmetic products when companies use chemicals versus ACTUAL natural and organic ingredients, not to mention the research that goes into it; so they don't consider the negative consequences and in the end, they spend less money producing these products, make more profit and go home happy.

Something needs to change. There needs to be more rules and regulations behind this kind of stuff. Bottom line is that it's unfair to consumers.

-Ashley Dolan