Over the years, we’ve developed a certain trust of the products we use and the companies that make them. Our parents used the same products for years and years and in many cases, we have followed suit. We figure that if our parents used them for years, they must be safe. Who would think that the makers of these trusted products would use toxic ingredients that can potentially harm you or cause disease? For years, I used the same personal care products as my mother did….as I got older, those difficult to pronounce ingredients started to make me think. What in the world is phenyloxyethanol and what is it doing in my hair gel???

   The trust we have developed is hard to overcome. It’s been built over many years. We think that the products we use are safe, otherwise, why would “they” be selling them? Well, it is sad to say that most products contain the cheapest ingredients possible, designed to maximize profits. A lot of the chemicals and preservatives used in personal care products today are bought very cheaply. But the biggest price of all is the cost to our health! Many people still say, why would they let us use disease-causing products if they knew the effects? The answer again is…profit. It’s sad to admit, but most large corporations are not looking out for your health and well being. The all mighty dollar is the bottom line.

   This brings to mind the countless times in American history when the government tried to cover-up their follies until someone uncovered the truth. Whether it be tainted water, toxic waste, or unsafe food, the government has a history of trying to keep it quiet. Why should the health and beauty industry be any different? Today is the day we need to take our trust to a new level…which might mean evaluating your health and beauty habits. The most important defense against things like this is to become educated consumers…and don’t take everything for face value.