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2nd out of 12 books
—
8 voters
Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry
by
Stacy Malkan
Lead in lipstick? 1,4 dioxane in baby soap? Coal tar in shampoo? How is this possible? Simple. The $35 billion cosmetics industry is so powerful they’ve kept themselves unregulated for decades. Not Just a Pretty Face chronicles the quest that led a group of health and environmental activists to the world’s largest cosmetics companies to ask some tough questions:
Why do comp
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
October 1st 2007
by New Society Publishers
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This book is a must-read for anyone who uses soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, make-up and any other personal care product. It was a real eye-opener to realize that the seemingly benign and FDA "approved" chemicals in the products we use contribute to create a toxic load in our bodies.
Individually, each product may be slightly hazardous. In combination, these chemicals cause major health problems ranging from dermatitis to cancers, endocrine disruption, sterility and other unhappy...more
Individually, each product may be slightly hazardous. In combination, these chemicals cause major health problems ranging from dermatitis to cancers, endocrine disruption, sterility and other unhappy...more
What an eye opener! This book gives in depth details about the toxic ingredients in the daily makeup, fragrance, and hygiene products that most women (and their families) use. It also exposes the resistance that major cosmetic companies have to reformulating their products with healthier ingredients. I find it appalling that the companies that produce the beauty products that contain carcinogens and hormone disrupters are the same companies that lead the public to believe they are breast cancer...more
This book was pretty good, but I can't say that I didn't already know most of what Malkan wrote about in this book before reading it. The gist of the book is that the chemicals in personal care products are quite astonishing in their sheer numbers and toxicity. Companies that produce personal care products are largely unregulated by any federal agencies (namely the FDA) and most companies are unwilling to remove toxic chemicals from their products in the US, even after being forced to do so in t...more
this short book reads a little like a grad school research paper or a long though informative pamphlet you might expect at earth day celebrations. she cites a lot of sources, which is great, and brings up the arguments against hers, which is very fair of her, but she doesn't entirely prevail against these. for example, regarding the argument that the harmful chemicals she speaks of appear in such small doses in cosmetics that they are not really harmful, her response seems to be summed up as "so...more
Great book about a non-profit campaign that seeks to bring awareness to all the carcinogenic chemicals in our everyday personal care products. The book talks in detail about the campaign to urge larger companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Estee Lauder etc to eliminate ingredients that the EU, Canada and other countries have already deemed as toxic and unfit for use. The book has an extensive reference section and is very transperant in its info. I thought it was a great, quick, informative read...more
I challenge anybody to try to keep using corporate brand name shampoos, soaps, lotions, cosmetics, etc. after reading this book. You won't want to... The $35 billion cosmetics industry is so powerful that they've been able to keep themselves unregulated for decades. Doesn't it seem crazy that skin products continue to go completely unchecked by the FDA? Reading about the toxic ingredients in the things I've been using my whole life was reeeally depressing. But luckily there are plenty of product...more
Holy Cow!! Frightening facts about industrial chemicals in most of the products ALL of us use...yikes...check it out!
Wow, I am about 1/2 way through this book. It is pretty depressing. I am not big on personal care products, but it is forcing me to look at my hair care....not good.
The best part about it was finding the on-line database:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
This helps sort out the truth about the health and ecology of products, which is not always easy to tell by the labeling.
I may come back here and update my rating and review when I am done overall, my feelings about the book are very positive; m...more
The best part about it was finding the on-line database:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
This helps sort out the truth about the health and ecology of products, which is not always easy to tell by the labeling.
I may come back here and update my rating and review when I am done overall, my feelings about the book are very positive; m...more
Jun 08, 2008
Red
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone who wears or knows someone who wears makeup or uses shampoo of some kind
Stacy Malkin is coming to Red Hill on June 20th at 7:00pm to talk about the ugly side of the beauty industry. She names names. Loreal, Redken, Avon, Mr. Bubbles, etc.
This is an important talk. Cancer is in epidemic proportions. Oncologists are throwing up their hands in disgust as industry is taking little responsibility for their ingredients which are comprised of carcinogenic elements, such as lead.
Journalist Stacy Malkin is Communications Director of Health Care Without Harm and co-founder o...more
This is an important talk. Cancer is in epidemic proportions. Oncologists are throwing up their hands in disgust as industry is taking little responsibility for their ingredients which are comprised of carcinogenic elements, such as lead.
Journalist Stacy Malkin is Communications Director of Health Care Without Harm and co-founder o...more
With all of the reading I do, however did I miss reading this particular book? It was truly an eye-opener! I have recently made significant changes to my lifestyle by removing all chemical-laden household cleaning products from my home as well as all chemical-laden personal care products from my body. This book solidified my decision to do so.
This book is a must-read for everybody. It was well-written and easy-to-understand, even for someone like me who is, shall we say, technically-challenged?!
This book is a must-read for everybody. It was well-written and easy-to-understand, even for someone like me who is, shall we say, technically-challenged?!
"We are not expendable. We are not flowers offered at the altar of profit and power. We are dancing flames committed to conquering darkness and to challenging those who threaten the planet and the magic and mystery of life." - Rashida Bee
This book was not the easiest that I've ever read - not in that the writing was difficult to comprehend, but it was difficult to comprehend how ignorant I was previous to reading it. It was difficult to comprehend the anger that it fostered in me, that so many w...more
This book was not the easiest that I've ever read - not in that the writing was difficult to comprehend, but it was difficult to comprehend how ignorant I was previous to reading it. It was difficult to comprehend the anger that it fostered in me, that so many w...more
I am angry that I haven't paid attention to those mystery ingredients on the labels. I am angry that dangerous ingredients are allowed in our products. I'm on a crusade now to eliminate all of the products that could be dangerous from my life and the lives of my family. Everyone with babies or the thought of having babies should read this and do what they can do to protect their children.
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Told me what I already know: The FDA is a crock of crap!
However, I was intrigued by and learned from the depth of information that's provided about a self-regulated industry and the government agency that is a lazy, hands-off waste of time, space, and resources. It scary to know how many toxic ingredients we're putting into and onto our bodies each day. I'm saddened knowing that companies that create personal care and beauty products operate on a voluntary self-regulated basis, and that in the...more
However, I was intrigued by and learned from the depth of information that's provided about a self-regulated industry and the government agency that is a lazy, hands-off waste of time, space, and resources. It scary to know how many toxic ingredients we're putting into and onto our bodies each day. I'm saddened knowing that companies that create personal care and beauty products operate on a voluntary self-regulated basis, and that in the...more
Awesome book! A must read for everyone! Well written and easy to read but scientifically backed. THANKS AUNT BARB, for an awesome Christmas gift. I have officially switched my shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, lotion, and facial care to 100% natural and organic. (found them at Etsy.com)
Great expose of the beauty industry and the questionable use of toxic chemicals in everyday products. You can review most personal care products at cosmeticsdatabase.com. Fortunately pressure by non-profit women's and environmental groups has made more products made by U.S. companies safer.
This book is a MUST READ for everyone who uses personal care products. Uh, that means everyone!!! Everyone uses personal care products, which includes toothpaste!
I'm so glad that I am finally becoming educated about the personal care industry and the FDA. Scary, but I'm thankful!
I'm so glad that I am finally becoming educated about the personal care industry and the FDA. Scary, but I'm thankful!
This is a very important, informative, and helpful book that I would say is a must-read for anyone who does not wish to be an ignorant idiot. It tells you about what kind of toxins are in every day makeup and soap. Trust me, every mother, teenage girl, gym-addicted male and cologne wearing workaholic needs this. It's fast-paced, interesting and scary, but it's also written in an up-beat "ALL IS NOT LOST" sort of tone. Read it. At the worst you'll come away more educated than before. At the best...more
This is a book every consumer of soap, shampoo, deodorant, and the myriad other lotions, potions, and creams in the drug-store, Internet and grocery store must read. Find out how to steer clear of nasty chemicals that make us fat, infertile, and sick.
Having never really considered how many chemicals I put on myself daily by simply taking a shower, using deodorant and wearing chapstick, this book really shook me up. New summer project = lots of label reading and fact checking.
Shocking! Have you ever thought about the products you use on your skin? I enjoyed reading this book but it was all american based. I found myself googling lots to compare Canadians regulations on Cosmetics.
a solid intro to the scary shit we're smearing all over our faces, hair and bodies (even the "natural" and "organic" brands). Share it with all the beauty-addicts you know, especially younger sisters.
A must-read for all women. The book itself could have been better edited, in my opinion, but it is an invaluable source of information; it's basically a health warning to all.
This book was awesome and confirmed and backed up a lot of what I already thought about the cosmetics industry. It's full of research and facts, not just fluff and opinions.
Only a few pages in I was ready to throw out all the makeup I own! Reading on I was glad to find out there has been some progress in removing toxic compounds from the things we use daily.
I didn’t love the way the book was written but I was always eager to keep reading.
I didn’t love the way the book was written but I was always eager to keep reading.
The subject matter is interesting but I found the scientific language difficult to read and I lost interest quickly.
This book is very eye opening as to how the US does not regulate the safety of our personal products. A must read!
Every woman should read this, if not for themselves, for their sisters, neices, girlfriends, etc.
Enlightening read and great reference web sites for more info on the beauty industry.
Very enlightening ! You will labels after reading this book
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