MARISA LAU
<Contributor>
Dove, Body Shop, Softsoap, Old Spice, Dial, Crabtree and Evelyn, Bath and Body Works, etc. There are so many brands of personal care products and this can become overwhelming for busy law students. And those brands are just brands of body soap. Some people may choose Dove because it is a well-known brand or Body Shop because it advertises itself as a fair trade company. Others may choose Bath and Body Works because they have a variety of innovative fragrances. What Canadians may not be aware of is that most of these brands contain harmful chemicals. With names like ethylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben, these chemicals usually receive no more than a glance because they sound so scientific. Yet, they have been widely used in the cosmetics industry as preservatives. Unfortunately, they act like the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in developing breast cancer and lowering sperm counts.
Can you believe it? The very product that is in close contact with your skin is carcinogenic. You may ask what the harm is, since we are not ingesting these chemicals. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that there is a risk they may be absorbed through the skin and into your bloodstream. In one Norwegian study, they found that women who used more cosmetics had more parabens in their blood stream. As a result, the European Union took heed to these warnings and banned the use of parabens in skin-care products aimed at children under six years old. This ban showed the seriousness of the problem and prompted some consumers to reconsider the toxicity of their personal care products. However, it put the burden on consumers because they had to study the ingredients list of every product.
As a result, companies realized the seriousness of the problem and many of them signed the “Compact for Safe Cosmetics” which involves pledging to take steps to remove all harmful chemicals from their cosmetics and personal care products. People also started blogs on which companies offer paraben-free products. At the same time, natural home remedies have become popular. Many websites show how household products can be used for various parts of the body and face. For example, extra virgin olive oil can be used not only as a facial cleanser but also to moisturize cuticles and dry hair, and as lip balm.
So, what does this mean for us law students? Of course, it may be hard to cut parabens out of your personal products immediately. That would mean throwing away a lot of household products, and that will surely be a waste, especially for law students with so much debt. However, as you run of products and need to replace them, I encourage you to look for paraben-free products or natural home remedies. It will not only be good for your wallet but also for your health.