Health-Conscious Teens Toss Make-Up

Young women in California and Montana are taking on the $35 billion cosmetics industry one eyeliner at a time.

Their national campaign to promote safe cosmetics is applying idealism and energy to educate girls – and boys – about phthalates, which health advocates warn are carcinogenic, and other toxins in nail polish, shampoos, hair dyes and facial cleansers.

In Marin County, Calif., and in Missoula, Mont., the advocates want their peers to read cosmetic labels, use fewer beauty products and take a closer look at those colorful tubes in their makeup bags. They talk of healthy cosmetic parties and peppering their local schools and stores with Operation Beauty Drop bins to encourage consumers to toss questionable products. And they are working to learn what ingredients can potentially cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm.

"This campaign has made me more aware of the things that I'm putting into my body," said Taylor Lorenz, a 15-year-old Marin girl who said she began using mascara, eye shadow and foundation at age 12. "I never thought about what was in cosmetics, but now if I can find a better alternative, I'm definitely interested in it."

The cosmetics industry insists its products are safe.

"It's unfortunate that they've gotten inaccurate misinformation and are concerned about perfectly safe products," said Gerald McEwen, vice president of science for the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, which represents roughly 600 companies. "My fear is that this is something where they are being exposed to misinformation, speculation and scare tactics and that is causing them to react in a way that isn't in their best interest health-wise or for their pocketbooks."

The activism is especially poignant in Marin County, where during the past several years breast cancer rates have been as much as 15 percent higher than elsewhere in California, according to the Northern California Cancer Center.

A study done five years ago by the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan linked phthalates to early puberty in girls. Harvard University researchers found in 2002 and 2003 that the chemicals can decrease sperm counts in men. And experts with several environmental groups say phthalates disrupt hormone function and may contribute to rising cases of uterine problems in women, testicular cancer in men and infertility in both sexes.

"If I had known about the potential cancer-causing effects of cosmetics I think I would have researched it more instead of just buying the cheapest product or what everyone was wearing," said Audra Silman, a 16-year-old who has used mascara and eyeliner for four years.

Safe Cosmetics Campaign in Missoula sprang from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of more than a dozen health and environmental groups lobbying the cosmetics industry to eliminate potentially toxic chemicals.

Both organizations use research from the Environmental Working Group's 2004 report that found that one-third of all cosmetics contain one or more ingredients classified as possible carcinogens.

The report also notes that just 11 percent of the more than 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have been evaluated for safety. The European Union has banned potentially carcinogenic phthalates known as DBP and DEHP from all cosmetics. Those chemicals are used in some fragrances, hair sprays and nail polishes and many industry insiders say they are safe.

Several cosmetic industry giants, including L'Oreal, Revlon and Avon, have eliminated the toxic chemicals from their products. Avon spokesperson Victor Beaudet said the company's decision was made "to allay public concern, not a safety concern," contending that phthalates are not dangerous.

Body Shop International, Urban Decay Cosmetics and Aveda Corporation do not use phthalates.