Makeup Makeover for Teens and Tweens

Growing Up Green
October 2010

Little bundles of joy—you wrapped them in organic cotton blankets, made sure their milk was hormone-free and their food had no preservatives. You raised them green—until now that is, when puberty is at your doorstep. Those precious little ones are now talking cosmetics, nail polish, shaving cream, hair products and acne remedies; products that may contain hormonally active chemicals and preservatives. 

Research suggests tweens and teens are particularly vulnerable to exposures from hormone disrupting chemicals. As their bodies undergo accelerated growth to adulthood, their endocrine systems are sensitive to even low levels of the hormonally active chemicals found in body care and other everyday products. Federal regulations do not require companies to test either products or ingredients for safety, so nearly all personal care products have ingredients not tested for safety by an accountable agency.

Teens may use even more products than adults, and parents can help guide them toward safer choices.

Here are four chemical categories to know about:

Phthalates are a component of artificial fragrance, although you will not see it listed in the ingredients as manufacturers are not required to do so. They are also known hormone disruptors linked to a number of reproductive problems. You may be familiar with phthalates, as they are also used to soften plastics.

Musks are another component of artificial fragrance. Research links musks to cancer and hormone disruption.

Parabens are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics and are considered hormone disrupting chemicals. Some can also irritate the skin.

Triclosan is used as a preservative in deodorants, face and body washes, toothpaste, acne remedies and cosmetics. Triclosan accumulates in fat tissues so concentrations build up over time. Research links triclosan to thyroid disruption. You probably know triclosan as an antibacterial ingredient used in hand soaps.

So what is a parent to do? Urge your tween or teen to:

• Use fewer products.  
• Use simpler products with a short list of ingredients you can research and trust.
• Research products at Skin Deep Personal Products database, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.
• Avoid products with fragrance, musk, parabens, triclosan and sodium lauryl /laureth sulfate in the ingredients list.
• Don’t trust terms like hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, natural or organic (when it comes to body care products).
• Check out www.teensturninggreen.org.
• Talk with your child about what beauty really is.