Make the Most of EWG's Skin Deep Database

Environmental Working Groups (EWG) Skin Deep Database is about consumer awareness, sustainability and healthy living. It's about protecting you and your family or friends from everyday harmful chemicals that drive the beauty and wellness industry. It is the place to check out if you've had skin problems and, more importantly, if you can't pronounce most of the ingredients in the products on your counter.

The EWG most known for their annual Dirty Dozen list, foods that are exposed to the most pesticides in farming practices. This list was one of the main reasons I started my own backyard food garden, most of the fresh veggies I loved were on this list, and I thought "I could probably grow them myself", so why not try? But if you don't have a green thumb don't worry, they also publish a clean 15 list, and you can do your due diligence by staying an informed consumer.

Now, like many you probably get your skin, hair, face care from a drug store or Sephora. All falling victim to the "wellness" trend that’s swept the world. Having their own "clean" or "green" beauty sections. How many of these products are actually that though? Not many of them. When I started using this data base it was not as robust as it is now. Find a product at Sephora and want to know what’s in it? It will be there now with over 80,000 products rated and broken down for the average person. Buyer Beware, you do have to do some digging of your own, it’s not broken down by country or places sold, some really well rated brands don’t ship to Canada.

How does it work? Simple, their team of scientists takes a label and gives you all information on EVERY ingredient in that bottle. Then the product gets an overall rating with the best being EWG certified. A more detailed version of this can be found here - https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/contents/about-page/.

They rate every product for Cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity, and use restrictions. All gained from cross validating with other data bases and scientific findings. You should care about this because, while you might think that all the products you put on your skin stay on the surface, most don't. Your skin is a filter, and it takes in what it’s given, same with your scalp. Long term use of harmful products can impact you from the inside out whether you notice it happening or not. Think only baby products should be under stringent watch? The recent snub to the long used talc baby powder is just an example of what should be happening with ALL products for ALL ages.

Are you expecting? Do you have children? Do you have skin problems? Check this database out you won’t regret it. I found my go to skincare brand Biossance on here it’s a brand that vegan, doesn’t test on animals and is free of animal by products and has sustainability at its core. My babies go to product line, which is also Canadian made, Attitude brand is also EWG verified, providing products for babies, expecting moms, adults, men’s care, and home cleaning solutions even offering REFILLS. This is huge in reducing environmental impacts at all stages of product use. You can find their line in most grocery stores, health stores and of course, Amazon.

Everything from makeup, to sunscreen, shampoo and conditioner, moisturizer, foot creams, nail polish and oral care can be found here with clear indications of how harmful they are to you. Take the time to look it up, what are you using that you love? Is it really that love worthy once you know what’s going onto and into your body? Probably not.