Thursday, January 17, 2008

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy ForNEVER..!!!!

“She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd She is a woman, therefore to be won” -
William Shakespeare

There is no denying that it is the beauty that first catch the immediate attention of a person. Life is never fair. Some are lucky to be born with beauty and others like me strive hard to look beautiful. And in our stuggle to attain the beauty, the cosmetic companies give us due suppot. Beauty is addictive and every human being has a natural instinct to look beautiful. With the big cosmetic industry nothing is difficult. Spent some bucks and you can be the way you want...well..almost.

Cosmetics are are substances used to enhance or protect the appearance or odor of the human skin.(source;Wikipedia). A more accurate definition of Cosmetics is given by US FDA, The term "cosmetic" means (1) articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and (2) articles intended for use as a component of any such articles; except that such term shall not include soap.- FD&C Act, Sec. 201 (i)

Why this much talk on cosmetics? That is because I read a review of the book "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry -Stacy Malkan" here. The practices in the cosmetic industry really shook me up. The very famous and branded multinational companies selling the products with ingredients that triggers cancer, reproductive and neurological disorders, and hormone disruption, with full knowledge. I was shocked to know that Placenta is used in Skin moisturisers and toners.

With many campaingns many companies have come forward to sign the "Compact for Safe Products", which states that cosmetics and personal care products made by our company anywhere in the world meet the formulation standards and deadlines set by the European Union Directive 76/768/EEC to be free of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects. If this is of any relief, I would like to braeak the relief that Several major cosmetics companies, including OPI, Avon, Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Revlon, Proctor & Gamble and Unilever have thus far refused to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. List of the safe cosmetic companies is here.

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