Consumers’ Resources
Here you will find a selection of educational resources to learn more about the beauty, personal care, and household products that you care about. We encourage you to check them out and do your own research when it comes to what ingredients are safe to use in your home.
CLEAN BEAUTY 101
Cosmo’s Super-Easy, Not-Confusing Guide to Clean BeautyClean beauty is confusing. Like, ‘s very confusing. With all the mixed-up jargon and phrases and the “bad” versus “good” mentality among brands and products, the entire clean beauty scene can feel needlessly complicated. 53 per cent of you said you were unclear on what clean beauty is—which is exactly why I created this quickie guide for you. It covers all the need-to-know basics, from WTF “clean” even means to the best products to try first without confusion. Consider this your crash course to clean beauty—and it starts now.
6 Myths of Clean Beauty DebunkedThe clean beauty movement is new and evolving—and also complicated and confusing. Even the exact definition of “clean beauty” itself is still hotly debated by pretty much everyone in the community. And because the messaging around clean beauty products isn’t regulated either, a brand can claim anything it wants about its supposedly clean/green/sustainable products, and there’s no governing body to fact-check it.
Beauty Heros’s Definition of Clean BeautyMindfully created products define clean Beauty without any proven or suspected toxic ingredients. Clean Beauty products include ethically sourced ingredients and are made with the health of our bodies and the environment in mind. Find out more how Beauty Hero define Clean Beauty.
Webinar: Treating skin conditionsOffered by Province Apothecary, specialized in holistic healing and plant medicine. Province Apothecary’s mission is to harness the power of nature to help everyone feel confident and comfortable in their skin. The team has offered some very helpful resources in treating skin conditions.
CONSUMER WATCH: STAY INFORMED
Talc in MakeupTalc, or talcum powder, is a key ingredient in cosmetic makeup. There are concerns over its safety because of its potential to be tainted with asbestos, a toxic mineral. Lawsuits against talc manufacturers have been filed by those alleging the contaminated talc caused their illnesses.
Chemical Hair Straightener LawsuitsChemical hair straightener lawsuits claim that the straighteners made by L’Oreal and other companies can cause uterine cancer and other health issues. According to lawsuits, manufacturers failed to warn that their products could increase the risk of uterine cancer, breast cancer, fibroids and endometriosis.
GOVERNMENT
Health Canada HotlistThe Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (Hotlist) is an administrative tool that Health Canada uses to communicate to manufacturers and others that certain substances may be prohibited or restricted for use in cosmetics.
EU CosIngCosIng is the EU’s official database for cosmetic ingredients. It has included not only cosmetic ingredients listed in the previous inventory of cosmetic ingredients but also the latest list of banned/restricted cosmetic ingredients in the EU. You can quickly find one ingredient’s INCI name or CAS no. You could also quickly check whether there are any restrictions on your cosmetic ingredients. This article will show you how to search for the EU CosIng with a few tips.
FDAUnder U.S. law, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA approval before they go on the market. The one exception is color additives (other than coloring materials used in coal-tar hair dyes), which must be approved for their intended use. Companies and individuals who market cosmetics have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. In order to take action for safety reasons against a cosmetic on the market, we need reliable information showing that it is unsafe when consumers use it according to the directions in the labeling or in the customary or expected way.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS & CHARITIES
Breast Cancer Prevention PartnersBreast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) is a national organization working to eliminate toxic chemicals and other environmental exposures that lead to breast cancer.
Campaign For Safe CosmeticsThe Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) leads the movement to make beauty and personal care products safer for all.
METAvivorMETAvivor is dedicated to the specific fight of women and men living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. At the time of METAvivor’s founding, no organization was dedicated to funding research for the disease and no patient groups were speaking out about the dearth of stage 4 cancer research. While more and more people have taken up the cry for more stage 4 research, METAvivor remains the sole US organization dedicated to awarding annual stage 4 breast cancer research.
Environmental DefenseEnvironmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with the government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
For over 35 years, Environmental Defence has worked at the municipal, provincial and federal levels to safeguard our freshwater, create livable communities, decrease Canadians’ exposure to toxic chemicals, end plastic pollution, tackle climate change and build a clean economy.
Silent Spring InstituteFounded in 1994, Silent Spring Institute is the leading scientific research organization dedicated to uncovering the links between chemicals in our everyday environment and women’s health, with a focus on breast cancer prevention.
Cosmos StandardThe COSMOS-standard signature is a consumer guarantee for organic and natural cosmetics that you can trust. To date over 29,000 products in 71 countries carry our COSMOS ORGANIC or COSMOS NATURAL signature. Over 12,000 ingredients carry our COSMOS CERTIFIED signature. Over 7,000 raw materials carry our COSMOS APPROVED signature.
Women’s Healthy Environments NetworkWHEN’s smart, informative community helps you to connect the dots between the action we can take to protect our health, and what we can do to change the system.
David Suzuki FoundationFounded in 1990, the David Suzuki Foundation is a national, bilingual non-profit organization headquartered in Vancouver, with offices in Toronto and Montreal. Through evidence-based research, education and policy analysis, we work to conserve and protect the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada.
MD AndersonAt MD Anderson, we understand how hard it can be to choose a hospital for cancer treatment. You’ve just received life-changing news, and now you have to decide how to handle it.
CLEAN BEAUTY RETAILERS
The Detox Market – Ingredient StandardsAt The Detox Market, we believe that beauty should make you feel good without compromising your health. That’s why, in order to live on our shelves, a product must be made with integrity, deliver fantastic results, and be free from synthetic and potentially harmful ingredients. Consider this well-maintained index our promise that you can shop at The Detox Market with confidence. Use the guide below to explore what we keep out and why.
Beauty Counter – The Never List™At Beautycounter, we’ve committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what is legally required in the United States. The Never List™ is made up of more than 2,800 questionable or harmful chemicals we never use as ingredients in our products. This includes the nearly 1,700 chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern.
Whole Foods Market – Premium Body Care Unacceptable IngredientsWhole Foods Market bans 180+ ingredients commonly used in beauty and body products. They believe some things don’t belong in the products you use on your body. Their experts review the latest research on beauty and body care ingredients for many factors, including possible impacts on the environment and human health. We’ve banned more than 180 typically used ingredients, including parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde donors, oxybenzone, PFAS and EDTA.
Credo – The Credo Clean StandardCredo cares deeply about people and the planet. We are curious and committed, and we ask questions of the beauty industry supply chain so that together, we can bring better products to market. We use the information we gather to make informed choices about brands and products we carry, to refine and strengthen The Credo Clean Standard™, and to positively impact the industry and move it forward, to the extent that we can.
Natural Beauty Your Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Natural Beauty ProductsTo understand the context, here’s some clean beauty 101: The personal care industry (meaning things like lipstick, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, and toothpaste) is entirely unregulated in the United States. In layman’s terms, this means no third party, like the FDA, monitoring the safety of the products most use multiple times a day.
Think Dirty Clean Beauty BoxWe partner with rated clean 0-3 beauty brand sponsors who support our mission to bring the most requested beauty box to you. Our special Clean Beauty Box comes with hand-picked, rated clean luxury beauty products!
DOCUMENTARIES
Pink Ribbons Inc.Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a “dream cause,” has been hijacked by a shiny, pink story of success.
Not So PrettyNot So Pretty is the first-ever comprehensive large-scale investigative expose of the trillion-dollar cosmetics, beauty and personal care industry.
Toxic Beauty by Phyllis EllisA whistle-blower, her lawyer, world-class scientists, cancer survivors and those who have lost their lives strip a dominant pharmaceutical company of all credibility in this powerful documentary film while exposing the hard truths about dangerous, unregulated chemicals and toxins in cosmetics and care products.
Story on CosmeticsThe Story of Cosmetics, released on July 21, 2010, examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo. The seven-minute film reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives.
How toxic are beauty products?There comes a point in every woman’s life where she looks down at her favorite foundation or sunscreen and thinks: “I wonder what’s IN this stuff?” If this hasn’t happened to you yet, it’s time. In this episode of #BeautyExperienced Anna goes on a mission to learn all about green beauty.
Why Beauty Products are toxic? By mindbodygreenExecutive Director of the Environmental Working Group Heather White explains why our lotions, makeup, and shampoos are loaded with dangerous chemicals, why babies are born with hundreds of toxins in their blood, and what you can do to make your immediate environment — and world — a little bit safer.
The Ugly Truth About the Beauty Industry by The Nantucket ProjectThe Nantucket Project is one of the world’s great gatherings, each year hosting preeminent thinkers, leaders and innovators in a wide range of fields.
Beauty Tip of the Day
INFLUENCERS/BLOGGERS
Clean Beauty Babe: Jennifer JamesJennifer is the owner and founder of the health brand Clean Beauty By Jenn, which teaches people how to live a toxin-free life. She enjoys sharing her knowledge about BII to inform others who might be experiencing similar symptoms and helps promote living a healthy lifestyle.
Stephanie Liu HjelmesethIn her words: “I began Honey & Silk as a place for me to share with those who love fashion as much as I do. Yet as time went on, Honey & Silk became more about sharing and discovering who I am and how the evolution of my style can be perfectly summed into words that describe my way of life. I cherish this blog as an authentic journal for a spirited life well-lived and curated. For now, let’s talk style.”
Joyous HealthJoy McCarthy is an award-winning Certified Holistic Nutritionist and a Found of Joyous Health. She has been published numerous times in print and online and is a co-host in the Joyous Health Podcast.
Meghan TelpnerMeghan Telpner is a Toronto-based nutritionist and is a founder of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition that promotes healthy eating and living. She has been ranked as one of the top 100 female entrepreneurs in Canada.
PODCASTS
Fat MascaraBeauty journalists (and friends!) Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Sullivan turn up the volume and bring you the big, juicy world of beauty twice a week. On Tuesday episodes, they share their insider access to the beauty industry, candid stories of their beauty adventures, and the best perfumes, skincare, makeup, and hair products. On Friday episodes, they interview their favourite people in the business, including celebrities, makeup artists, perfumers, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and more. Delivered with a heavy dose of fun, Fat Mascara is where beauty obsessives can get their fix!
Natch BeautComedian and beauty expert Jackie Johnson explores the self-care space while laughing, yelling, singing, and keeping things cruelty free. Jackie gabs with celebs, makeup artists, indie brand owners, and fellow funny folks about what beauty and self-care mean to them (as well as what’s in their bags!). Grab your neck cream and join her as she takes the seriousness, mystery, and intimidation out of this robust topic.
Breaking Beauty PodcastGet ready with us! We’re Jill and Carlene, two longtime beauty editors who have seen it all and swatched it all, and now we’re here to tell you what’s good. Whether you’re searching for the latest insider-fave foundation, building a gimmick-free skincare routine, or exploring culture through a beauty lens, tune in every Wednesday for epic guests like Makeup By Mario, Dr. Pimple Popper, and Jonathan Van Ness (say what?!)
Green Beauty Conversations by Formula BotanicaGreen Beauty Conversations by Formula Botanica, the online organic formulation school, challenges you on how you think about the beauty industry. Our host Lorraine Dallmeier tackles topics that encourage debate about green, indie and sustainable beauty.
Forever35Which night creams will make you look well-rested, is quitting coffee worth the headache, can emptying your closet actually bring you joy, and wtf is a gratitude practice, anyway? These are the kinds of self-care questions that wellness enthusiasts and writers Kate Spencer and Doree Shafrir discuss each week, along with a special guest, as they explore what it means to get older — and hopefully wiser.
The mindbodygreen PodcastThe mindbodygreen podcast features host Jason Wachob, founder & co-CEO of mindbodygreen, engaging in open, honest conversations with the people shaping the world of well-being.
BOOKS
Here’s a collection of our picks for non-toxic living. Whether you’re searching for the perfect birthday gift or simply looking to add to your own library, we have a wide selection of books from authors who will share their insider knowledge.
