The Skin Care Label You Can Trust
By Abigail Hueber
Natural, hypoallergenic, organic…the list goes on. We might see these labels on our personal-care products, such as lotions, soaps and even toothpaste, but can we trust them? Unfortunately, these labels are many times more misleading than helpful.
When it comes to personal-care products it can be hard to decide which brands are trustworthy and which brands are not. The United States does not have an accrediting body that monitors the ingredients used in the personal-care industry. Unfortunately, this lack of oversight has allowed many companies to include harsh chemicals in their products that can be harmful for you and your families health.
Just to give you perspective:
Europe has banned the use of over 1,328 chemicals from personal-care products, whereas the U.S. has only banned or restricted 11 chemicals from personal-care products.
Thankfully, there is a new label we can trust: EWG Verified
The EWG Verified label was created by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and advocacy around the use of chemicals in our personal-care products as well as other areas that impact the health of humans and the greater environment. They are the same ones who have developed scores for packaged foods.
What does EWG Verified mean?
The EWG Verified label signifies that a product has a been deemed the highest grade, “green”, according to the strict standards set by the EWG. The EWG standards are based on the known hazards associated with ingredients listed on labels and are updated continuously based on the most current research. Only those products that receive a “green” designation are extended the EWG Verified label. The EWG Verified label covers personal-care products in the following categories including baby, hair, makeup, nail, skin and oral care products.
Follow the link to read the full criteria for an EWG Verified product.
This label communicates to consumers that these products are safe, a confidence we unfortunately don’t have in the current state of our personal-care industry. Look for the EWG Verified label and breath easy knowing you are supporting your health from the outside in!