Thanks for this, I will look into my sources and the link you provided!

While it's true that there are a lot of scare-based emails and websites out there, there are reasons why so many people are afraid (and not just because we are being pushed into fear, here!). Many harsh chemicals aren't necessarily classified as harsh, but we have to look into long term usage: for ex., a lotion with a small amount of even a paraben might not cause short-term damage, but if we're using a hand cream even once in the am and once at night, every day, all year, then we're not longer using a small amount! Right?

At the same time, if one looks at a safety data sheet for something like powdered titanium dioxide – a totally safe mineral alternative to chemical sunscreens/blocks – you'll see that it is listed as carcinogenic. The truth is that any powder inhaled is carcinogenic! But unless you're using a powder formulation, titanium dioxide will be blended into a lotion formulation – and therefore no longer in its carcinogenic state.

It's all about education, isn't it?

Thanks for advising me to dig a little deeper – after all, I want to know what these chemicals that are digging deep into my skin are!

Love, Sage

Thanks for your post on this topic. I am also very interested in beauty, but not at the expense of my health or the earth's.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but some of your information on some of the ingredients is just not accurate. (Though some, like phthalates, should definitely be avoided in Nail Polish).

While Sodium Lauryl sulfate is an irritating surfactant, sodium laureth is in fact very mild.

I don't know what your source was for the chemical backgrounds, but I know a lot of what you wrote is almost verbatim what has been circulating in fake scare e-mails and websites. If you dig a little deeper into the chemistry, however, and read a bit more research, some of these common misconceptions are revealed as elaborate hoaxes.
(Unfortunately, some are not though and we need to be reminded that the FDA does not protect us from harmful ingredients in our cosmetics!!)

A really easy to read website that I recommend as a reference is cosmetricscop.com
Under the LEARN tab, there is an Ingredients Dictionary you should find very helpful.

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary.aspx

Thanks Again!