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Lifestyle

5.12.2012

Lanolin: Cruelty-Free?

By Ayanna Michelle



Starting this webzine was one of many steps in my quest to better living. Leading a animal cruelty- free existence is super important to me. Since I was a child, I've been an avid animal lover. It was only as recently as last year that I decided to cut meat and fish out of my diet and become vegetarian. (I had evolved. Bacon was no longer my sole excuse for supporting animal slaughter.).  

Another one of the steps that I took was becoming more educated, little by little about the products who claimed to be cruelty-free and companies producing vegan products. I decided to join a site called Vegetarian Beauty Products and I receive updates from their site in my e-mail pretty regularly.



Recently, they did an article about lanolin, an ingredient used in a lot of products and explained (in heartbreaking detail) why companies who include lanolin in their products in fact aren't cruelty-free. VegetarianBeautyProducts.Com, like many other sites and organizations dedicated to animal welfare, urge consumers to really pay attention to the products we buy and the ingredient list.

The moral of the story? Lanolin is NOT a cruelty-free ingredient. Lambs are harmed (grotesquely) so that this ingredient can be included in many products that we see and purchase. Click here to learn more about the truth about lanolin.

5.9.12



A Very Important Announcement from the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics



I checked my e-mail this morning to find this in my inbox. Read on, beauty fiends.

 

A Victory!

We did it!  Together, we’ve made Congress pay attention to the need to overhaul our broken 70 year old cosmetics laws. Our team has beaten back attempts by the cosmetics industry to fast-track legislation that would allow the big cosmetics companies to write their own rules with a rubber stamp from the FDA — for now.

Not only has Congress held the first hearing on cosmetics safety in 30 years, it also decided not to attach the industry cosmetics bill to a fast-moving must-pass FDA-related bill—all thanks to letters sent by thousands of supporters like you demanding that any cosmetics safety bill must lead to meaningful reform that protects consumers, workers and your right to know what’s in the products you use. This is a real victory and a HUGE thanks goes out to all of you who wrote letters, blogged, called and helped spread the word!



Tell Congress to Stop Industry’s Trojan Horse Bill

We need your help to beat back a new bill that would actually make things worse for consumers. A Trojan Horse Unfortunately, the cosmetics industry lobby is still at it! We need your help to beat back a new industry bill that would actually make things worse for consumers. “The Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012” was recently introduced by Representative Leonard Lance (R-NJ). This bill was written by the Personal Care Products Council, a trade association that represents the big multinational cosmetic companies.

This is a classic Trojan horse – it may sound like a step forward on the surface but the “fine print” inside the bill would allow industry to continue placing profits over public health. This industry-backed bill would make things much worse than they are now, essentially making decisions about ingredient safety made by the industry-funded Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel binding on FDA — something that, according to a top FDA official, would be “unprecedented” and possibly unconstitutional. This bill would put into law the current system that allows the industry to “self-regulate” the safety of cosmetics which has resulted in carcinogens in baby shampoo, lead in lipstick, formaldehyde in hair products, hormone disruptors in fragrance and mercury in face creams.



It would also handcuff states from taking action to pass locally tailored policies to protect the health of their own state residents. For the first time in 30 years Congress is paying attention to cosmetics safety and NOW we need your help to demand REAL reform. Please write your member of Congress today and demand meaningful reform that protects our health. Our message is simple: Any new laws must get rid of the worst chemicals in cosmetics that can cause cancer or reproductive harm. They must also require companies to be transparent and honest about what’s in their products and they must include a strong safety standard to make sure decisions about ingredient safety protect the most vulnerable populations –babies, children, pregnant women and workers. New laws must also ensure that states retain their right to regulate toxic chemicals to protect people’s health.



Please write your member of Congress today and demand meaningful reform that protects our health.

 

Our message is simple: Any new laws must get rid of the worst chemicals in cosmetics that can cause cancer or reproductive harm. They must also require companies to be transparent and honest about what’s in their products and they must include a strong safety standard to make sure decisions about ingredient safety protect the most vulnerable populations –babies, children, pregnant women and workers. New laws must also ensure that states retain their right to regulate toxic chemicals to protect people’s health.

5.22.2012

​The Element of Eco-Chic

By Ayanna Michelle



BTC Elements (BTC stands for 'Be The Change', if you were wondering) is an online boutique in which you can find fashion, accessories, home goods and gifts. They work with small designers to offer customers one-of-a-kind merchandise and only sells goods that are environmentally friendly. It's like the eco-chic boutique version of Etsy. Everything is made in the U.S. and the products they sell are refreshingly off-beat and well-made. Below are some of the amazing products they offer. You can find more in the fashion section of the fixx or check out their site BTCElements.com.

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