earth origin - natural & organic

Drop-Dead Gorgeous:

Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics


Your first reaction to Drop-Dead Gorgeous may be never to wash your hair again. After a closer inspection, the reaction might change to vowing never to use a standard beauty product ever again, coupled with a serious distaste for manufacturers who claim to be "natural" but use the same harsh ingredients as any generic brand. Author Kim Erickson has done her homework, and the results are disturbing.

Erickson has determined that chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate and propylene glycol are found in all sorts of cleansers for hair and skin, and little regulation exists within the industry. Some of these issues point to potential toxicity for all users, while others mention a single, if severe, possible allergic reaction. Clearly, this difference is important, but the book doesn't differentiate between potential or accidental harm to one and known test results pointing to health concerns for millions. Still, it's probably better to be aware of all the possibilities lurking in that bottle of bath gel.

As part of your cosmetic education, you'll learn how to whip up your own simple recipes for shampoos, bath salts, lotions, and hair dyes. If that sounds like too much effort, each section includes specific manufacturers and products that contain no damaging substances. Either way, you'll open the door to all sorts of fun beauty products that won't harm you or the world you live in. --Jill Lightner

"Drop Dead Gorgeous" Exposes the truth behind the cosmetic industry

Each day, we are exposed to some 200 synthetic chemicals--without our knowledge. Skin, hair, body, and beauty products are loaded with potential irritants, carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified many ingredients found in modern cosmetics as hazardous. Worse still, such product ingredients are easily absorbed through the skin. The potential health problems associated with brand-name cosmetics are many and varied.

As consumers of mainstream cosmetic products, we make up the single largest class of involuntary and avoidable carcinogenic exposures. Yet, the FDA is virtually powerless to protect us. Drop-Dead Gorgeous was designed to empower you. This timely, much-needed resource uncovers the dangers of these products and lists the nine most hazardous ingredients. The book guides you on how to read and interpret misleading product labels. A variety of natural alternatives and recipes for creating safe cosmetics at home are also included.

From the Back Cover

How safe are your cosmetics and personal-care products?

Do you really know what's in them? Each day, we are exposed to some two hundred synthetic chemicals--without our knowledge. Skin, hair, body, and beauty products are loaded with potential irritants, carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters. Enlightening and empowering, Drop Dead Gorgeous is a timely, much-needed resource that reveals the dangers of these common household products and exposes the lies of the cosmetics industry. It also shows you how to read and interpret misleading product labels and identifies the nine most hazardous ingredients on the market.

Drop Dead Gorgeous is packed with natural alternatives and easy-to-follow recipes for safely creating your own cosmetics at home. You'll learn how to make your own moisturizers, bath oils, shampoos and conditioners, lotions, and much more--all safe enough to use even on babies' sensitive skin. You'll also find treatments for everything from acne to eczema to brittle nails to dandruff. If you prefer the convenience of shopping off-the-shelf, you will find numerous nontoxic products by a variety of manufacturers in the Smart Shopping sections. Plus, a glossary provides definitions of uncommon and common ingredients to help you create products specifically designed for you.

Looking good shouldn't jeopardize your health. Drop Dead Gorgeous shows you how to create your own healthful, safe, and natural beauty--and what could be more radiant than that?

What's in Your Cosmetics?



















The Safe Shopper's Bible

The authors list thousands of household products, personal care products, foods, and beverages--from car wax to mascara to soup and flea powder--by brand names, rating them for both short-term and long-term health hazards. Charts provide recommendations for the safest foods, toiletries, and everday household purchases. Anyone concerned about the health effects of ingredients in the items they buy every day -- from soup to flea powder, mascara, or car wax -- will find The Safe Shopper's Bible indispensable. Finally, here's a complete guide to settle such questions as: Can your hair coloring cause breast cancer? Is this brand of apple juice safe for babies? Will the additives in this salad dressing harm you? Which shampoo won't sting your eyes? The Safe Shopper's Bible rates thousands of household products, personal care products, foods, and beverages. Its extensive charts list products by brand name and rate them each for short-term and long-term health hazards. Readers can find out at a glance which products are more or less likely to provoke allergies or irritation, cause birth defects or cancer, trigger neurological problems, or pose other health hazards. In addition, the charts provide recommendations for the safest foods, toiletries, and everyday household purchases.

There is a virtual laboratory of chemicals in the food we eat and the products we encounter every dayat home, at school, and at work. What are these substances and how are they used? How are they helpful? Can they be harmful? Here are fast, hands-on answers to these and other crucial questions about hundreds of chemical substances we come into contact with on a regular basis. From MSG in food to perchloroethylene in dry cleaning, this AZ guide provides clear, no-nonsense information on the use and health effects of hundreds of chemicals found in food, medicines, cosmetics, cleaning solutions, lawn and garden products, and more. Well-organized and easy-to-use, it gives you the help you need to make smarter choices about the products you choosefor yourself and your family. Inside 1,001 Chemicals in Everyday Products you'll find: -Entries listing products, uses, precautions, and synonyms -Direct answers to over 250 frequently asked questions on everyday chemicals -Handy product and chemical synonym indexes -A nationwide listing of Poison Control Centers



Dying to Look Good

The Disturbing Truth about what's really in your Cosmetics, Toiletries and Personal Care Products