Bubble Wrapped

Sometimes I feel like I should wrap myself in bubble wrap to protect against the onslaught of chemicals that my body is bombarded with each day. But then I think about the BPA and other things that are infused into bubble wrap and I come to my senses. Since we started on this journey of creating natural skin care products, I've stumbled across some facts that are truly frightening. I've become so much more aware of what I am putting on and in my body all the while trying to maintain a sensible approach to living in this chemical filled world where big company profits endanger us all. 
Did you know that it's perfectly legal for a company to use ingredients that are linked to cancer, reproductive harm and endocrine disruption in personal care products? That's because the industry is largely unregulated. Furthermore, companies can use terms like 'fragrance', which is considered a trade secret so that they don't have to list the multitude of chemicals that are present. We are not talking about trace amounts either. Many body care products contain substantial amounts of complex chemical compounds that are proven to be harmful.

Not alarmed yet? 

These chemicals can bio accumulate. That means with repeated exposure they will build up in tissue. Take for example glyphosate, the main component of Round Up weed killer. In a recent study it shows that we have become essentially carriers for glyphosate in our bodies.
You probably pee glyphosate!
In fact, the study showed that there is a 1200% increase of this chemical inside of us. All the while the government is telling you that it is safe (remember money talks).

1200 Percent Increase of Weed Killer In Your Body

You really need to read labels and not just grab something off the shelf that is labeled Organic or Natural. These terms have little meaning in the largely unregulated personal care industry. Natural means "existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind" so in theory that could be lead, aluminum, talcum powder, petrochemicals, and mineral oil. All of which have been linked to cause anything from irritation to cancer. Plus companies rely on a self made marker that as long as x% of ingredients are natural they will call their product Natural.

This article Toxic Ingredients to Avoid In So-Called Natural Personal Care Products will show you how you are being taken advantage of by some companies.  I know of one company in particular that claims it has Organic Cranberry Seed Oil when in fact it does not have any organic certification. Companies can get away with calling something organic because they can say their product is derived from living matter. Be careful. Investigate. Don't be bamboozled. 

As consumers, we can be more proactive by reading labels and looking up ingredients. Two great places to search for ingredients in skin care products are:
Campain for Safe Cosmetics
EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database

To make my anxiety even greater and looking for the bubble wrap, I have been reading Feeding You Lies by Vani Hari.
Wow.
Amazing what the food industry will do to make a dollar. Did you know that large companies have people on their payroll or will create "Advisory Committees" that will fight real scientists and activists that are trying to show a particular ingredient is harmful? 

It seems that we have to be our own best advocates. Be skeptical of claims. Do more research. Don't believe everything you read. And know that if we as consumers start demanding quality products that do us more good than harm, companies will have to meet those demands if they want to sell us products. 

I'm not a scientist, nutritionist or a doctor but I can research and try to make the best choices in what I choose to put on and in my body.  All of which benefits our product line at Queen B. I don't pretend to know all the facts.

This journey has opened my eyes and I realize that we don't need harmful chemicals to be clean, healthy or beautiful.
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So for now, I'll leave the bubble wrap on the shelf... Besides I just googled Bubble Wrap and saw headlines that the bubbles contain a toxic gas.