Make-up has been around for over 5000 years. Think about the ancient Egyptians, Native American Indians and African cultures and their use of body and face paints-to name a few. In our very modern world we have acquired a collective knowledge and scientific sophistication. One would imagine that living here in the USA we would not unknowingly be applying poisons to our skin.

We all want to look great but at what cost? There are many products that promise to make us look healthier, younger and better. Massive advertising campaigns for large cosmetic companies use words like pure, natural, organic and even hypoallergenic to give us a false sense of security so we will purchase their products – I call it “safe-washing.” We buy these items because we are fooled into thinking that they are safe and even good for us but have you read the labels? Why not look healthier because you are healthier-using products that nourish instead of poison you? If you are like most, reading the label means nothing because you don’t know what to look for.

The European Union has already banned most of the following ingredients from the cosmetic industry but the United States falls way behind in this area. According to www.PreventCancer.com: “A U. S. General Accounting Office report notes that the FDA has committed no resources for assessing the safety problems of those chemicals which have been found to cause genetic damage, biological mutations, and cancer.”

What we put on our skin goes into our body, so in an effort to get you on track for a healthier life, here is a list of 10 chemicals to avoid in your cosmetic and personal care items:

1. Mercury
2. Lead Acetate
3. Formaldehyde
4. Parabens
5. Toluene
6.  Petroleum Distillates
7.  Diethanolamine (DEA)
8.  Triethanolamine (TEA)
9.  Ethoxylated Alcohols
10. Polysorbates

Enjoy a feast for your senses at Terre d’Oc, 55 West 49th Street in Manhattan. I love the Moroccan anti-aging Elixir made with argan, prickly pear, dates and flower extract. Explore… we have more healthful choices than ever.

The days when the cosmetic industry can pull the wool over our eyes is over. Unless of course, it is 100% certified organic wool!

Debra Duneier is an accredited LEED® Green Associate, Certified Eco-Designer, Feng Shui Master Practitioner and Author of EcoChi: Designing The Human Experience. For more about EcoChi and Debra visit www.ecochi.com

photo credit: woman in mirror via shutterstock.com