Preserving Your Health

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Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl- and isobutyl): In addition to being suspected hormone disruptors, these chemicals have been shown to cause chronic dermatitis and are irritating to the eyes.

Safer Alternatives

The chemicals below have shown no deleterious health effects in non-CIR studies thus far, and the CIR has published its safety data on these ingredients in peer-reviewed journals.

Sorbic acid/Potassium Sorbate: While potentially irritating, especially in eye makeup, these preservatives have demonstrated no other detrimental human health effects.

Tocopherols (vitamin E): CIR found that these preservatives have very little potential to irritate skin and posed no additional health threats.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) compounds (L-Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate): These have shown little risk of skin sensitization and no toxic effects.

Essential oils: Many companies are using essential oils with inherent antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, such as lavender, rosemary, rose, thyme and tea tree oils, to preserve cosmetics. A study in July's Science News found estrogenic properties in tea tree and lavender oils, and both were linked to enlarged breasts in young boys. Parents should avoid these ingredients in children's personal care products. Other essential oils haven't been independently tested for safety or efficacy, therefore it's important to follow expiration dates or the time guidelines listed below.

What You Can Do

*Take The Green Guide's Smart Shoppers' Dirty Dozen card with you for vetting ingredients. Download at www.thegreenguide.com.

*Be vigilant about following expiration dates and throw out cosmetics when they get old. Some general guidelines:

Foundations and lipsticks = one year
Mascaras and eye makeup = three to four months
Powders = two years

*Choose products with a lower oil content, which generally require fewer preservatives. Some products, such as raw shea butter, require no preservatives at all.

Below are some products that use safer preservatives, and none of the other Dirty Dozen chemicals.

*Dr. Haushcka Mascara Intermezzo ($22.50; www.drhauschka.com, 800-247-9907) and Miessence Pure Black Mascara ($20.50; www.freshorganicbeauty.com, 609-391-0952) are preserved with rose essential oil.

*Pangea Organics Egyptian Basil & Mint Hand & Body Lotion uses vitamin C as a preservative ($15.99; www.pangeaorganics.com, 877-679-5854).

*For more, see our Lip and Eye Makeup and Moisturizers, Body Lotions and Hand Creams product reports.

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