Legislation

There are often two reactions from people when I share with them the purpose of Pretty Ugly. If the individual is aware of the issue of concerning chemicals in our personal products and cosmetics, their eyes light up and they become overjoyed as I share the reason for creating the story and my hope in how it will help educate and empower people to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.

The other reaction I get is from people who believe the situation “isn’t that dire” and that the government must regulate products and protect us from any potential health hazards. These are the people to whom I can’t wait to show the finished film.

So what is the regulation situation? The reality is the last cosmetic-focused bill to be passed into law was in 1938. Yes, that’s not a typo. It has been nearly 80 years since a federal law was passed to regulate the cosmetics industry in the United States. [Read more…]

So there are chemicals in our body wash and toothpaste. We live in a modern world reliant on chemicals. Why should it matter?

Exactly which ingredients are in your products? Are they a magic potion of sudsy delight or are they comprised of cancer-causing chemicals like methylene glycol and coal tar?

Have you ever read the back of your labels? I definitely recommend it. Look up the ingredients to see if they are benign or linked to major health risks.

The safety of personal care products has two distinct camps. On one end of the spectrum, people claim that nearly everything will make you sick and nothing is safe due to factors like cross contamination, nanotechnology and plastics. On the other end, there are those who purport that all chemicals on the market are safe, have been tested and comply with the strictest of standards. After all, the federal government would not allow potentially hazardous chemicals to be on the shelves, right? [Read more…]

A History of Personal Products and Cosmetics Government Regulation

What’s The Big Deal?