The next time you’re walking along the beach and come across a grayish, unidentifiable blob, you might not want to ignore it. According to this report, one family in Australia was doing just that when they stumbled across a sample of ambergris worth over $1 million!

So why does this story make the Beauty Brains? Well, it turns out ambergris (or whale vomit) is one of the many natural materials used by perfume companies for creating fragrances. Apparently, one gram of the stuff is worth $20 (US). That’s over $9000 per pound!

The natural material is not used very often anymore because it is extremely rare and it comes from whales (a protected species). Fortunately, crafty chemists have devised suitable synthetic replacements. See, just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s good. Think about that the next time you see advertising telling you differently.

Incidentally, if you are a US citizen and were planning on heading to the beach to seek your blobish fortune, think twice. In the US, possession of ambergris is a violation of the Endangered Species Act of 1978 and could result in significant fines and even some jail time.

I was a little behind in my RSS articles but I stumbled upon a report about Halloween makeup to which the Beauty Brains had to weigh in.

The fear mongering folks at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are at it again. According to their latest report, Halloween face paint is contaminated with lead, nickel, chromium and cobalt. They say this is because of the lack of regulation by the FDA and warn that exposure to these toxic (naturally occurring) chemicals “can lead to hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, IQ deficits, reduced school performance, aggression and delinquent behavior.”

Finally, they recommend that parents “avoid using face paints on children until safety standards are put in place.” They further suggest that you “make your own face paint with food-grade ingredients.”

Not surprisingly, the PCPC (cosmetic industry trade group) responded by saying that the “the trace levels of naturally occurring heavy metals reportedly found in the products are well below the allowable levels set by FDA for approved colors as not presenting a safety concern.”

So, who should you believe?

Lead in Facepaint

No one is disagreeing with the finding that lead was found in the Halloween face paint. With all the lead found naturally in our environment it is understandable and should be expected that products like this will contain some lead. The recent study found 0.05 to 0.65 ppm.

Safe lead levels?

But is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics claim that “Experts say there is no safe level of lead exposure for children” true?

This idea of “no safe level of lead” comes from an international study which showed even low levels currently considered safe could affect IQ scores. However, the study doesn’t show “no safe level of lead”. What it shows is that the current standards may need to be reduced.

In reality, it is impossible to create a standard of zero. Scientists create better and better measurement devices so the idea of “undetectable” gets smaller and smaller. Soon, we’ll be able to find some level of lead in everything. Regulations must always be based on some “safe level”. The only debate should be about what is that safe level.

Regulation of lead

According to the FDA, they do not directly regulate the amount of lead in cosmetics but they do regulate the lead in cosmetic colorants at 20 ppm. This is the “safe level” according to studies done by the FDA. They also conclude that there is no need to be concerned about the level of lead found in cosmetics. The levels found in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics study were within safe levels.

Should you make your own?

One recommendation made was that people should make their own face paint. But if there is “no safe level of lead exposure” how can they possibly make this recommendation?

Food and water all contain lead. Currently, the EPA allows 15 ppb of lead in your drinking water. If you are using water to make the face paint as suggested, you are exposing your child to lead. If you use natural colorants to make the face paint, you are also exposing your child to lead.

Why would advocates of safe cosmetics tell people to use lead-containing ingredients to make face paint?

Could it be that they think there is a safe level of lead?  If so, what is it?

Beauty Brains bottom line

There is no evidence that the amount of lead found in Halloween face paint, lipsticks or other cosmetics is harmful to children or adults. But if you are scared to use it, don’t use anything. Everything has lead in it.

If you want more information based on science, see what the FDA has to say about Halloween face paint.

Christa questions…Hi! I’m new to this site, but was impressed by the thorough analysis done on other products.

My daughter is selling NYR Organic bodycare products and I was wondering if any here have tried it, and would be interested in hearing an analysis from the brains of the group! I’m not a hardcore organic person, but was impressed at how quickly a small 3rd degree burn healed when I used their lavender oil on it, and then I went to a “practice party” that my daughter did, I was able to check out a few more products. As a good mom would, I am scheduled to host a party, but I am more interested in the analysis of the product before I make any kind of investment in it.

Left Brain launches:

So sorry about the delay in answering, Christa, we are working hard on meeting our deadline for our new Beauty Brains book. But I thought I’d take time out to answer this one since enlightening people to the realities of multi-level marketing (e.g. Arbonne) is one of my favorite things to do.

So, your question is basically….Should you invest in NYR Organic?

NYR Organic products

I’ve never used NYR Organic products but you can learn a lot about a product by reviewing the ingredient list. It turns out that they use the same ingredients that everyone else uses. In the cosmetic industry, nearly everyone has access to the same ingredients and ingredient suppliers. Bigger companies will sometimes get exclusive deals, but it’s rare that anyone can gain an advantage by the source of their raw materials. NYR Organic is no different.

As a quick example, look at their Body Cream

You can click the link for the full list but basically the formula is water, emulsifier (glyceryl stearate) and an oil phase (cetearyl alcohol, Lanolin alcohol, Shea butter, etc). It’s probably a fine formula as they no doubt work with some excellent cosmetic chemists. But this formula isn’t any better than something like Burt’s Bees body butter. And at $36 for 5.2 ounces, NYR Organic doesn’t even compare in value to Burt’s Bees product at $13 for 6.6 ounces.

Of course, even Burt’s isn’t even as good a value as something like Neutrogena Body Cream at $7.70 for 6 ounces.

But the point is, there is nothing about NYR Organic formulas that makes them superior to other, less expensive products you can buy. And if you find the natural / organic story compelling, then Burt’s Bees, JASON, or any of the other host of “natural / organic” products you can buy at regular stores will be a better value.

NYR Organic Sales System

I do not know any more about this company than what I’ve read on their website. However, from your description of hosting parties and “investing” in the products, it sounds very much like a system of distribution called Network Marketing or Multi-Level Marketing. In this system, they get “consultants” to buy products, sell them to their friends & family, and then try to get the “consultants” to convert their friends into consultants who will then give them a kickback on every sale.

The whole system is very much like a pyramid scheme in which no one (except the people who started the company) really makes any significant money. Of course, it’s not an illegal pyramid scheme because product is actually produced and sold.

Before you invest any money in this company or any other, be sure to read this information about Multi-level Marketing.

And if the guy at Skeptoid doesn’t make you think twice, read what the FTC has to say about Multilevel Marketing.

Beauty Brains Bottom line

Should you buy into the NYR Organic system and become a consultant? Ultimately, you have to decide this for yourself. But if the reasons are because the products are something special (they aren’t) or that you’ll make a lot of money (you won’t), then you’ll be best served by skipping this “opportunity”.

What do you think about multilevel marketing opportunities? Have you joined and made money? Leave a comment below and let the other Beauty Brains community members know.

I thought this was cute and a good reminder that Natural doesn’t always equal Safer. It’s a promotional video for Amy Stewart’s upcoming book ‘Wicked Plants‘.

Amy I know this book is going on my Amazon Wish List!

Left Brain is livid…

Here at the Beauty Brains, we get contacted by lots of PR firms giving us the latest press release for all the new beauty products coming on the market. It’s really a great perk of writing a beauty blog. Of course, we get many silly press releases which border on being funny, but sometimes we get ones that are so outrageous we can’t ignore them. Here’s one that really boiled my blood.

Chemical Fear – Chemicals Be Afraid

First the subject line:

“Carcinogens in baby shampoos”

Talk about scary! You can’t help but open up the message.

Then the press release goes on with the following headline…

LIL RINSER SIMPLIFIES CHILD BATHING AND PROTECTS AGAINST HARMFUL SHAMPOOS

Rinse and Run Technology Keeps Dangerous Carcinogens Found in Children’s Shampoos Away from Face

They go on to quote the chemical fear-mongering Campaign for Safe Cosmetics explaining that CSC found “…many children’s bath products contain chemicals that may cause cancer and skin allergies.”

Finally, they pitch their product (the Lil Rinser) by saying “For parents concerned about the potential risk, Lil Rinser,…can help further prevent exposure to toxins in shampoos.”

Lil Rinser

Before I get into what’s irked me, I’d like to say that this sounds and
looks like a great idea. I don’t have kids myself, but I’ve helped my sisters with their kids enough to know that some kids don’t like soap to get in their face. Tear-free shampoos can help however, they aren’t always effective.

The Lil Rinser looks like it would do a great job of keeping soap out of their eyes, water out of their ears and doesn’t look too hard to use. I LOVE the fact that it was created by small-time inventors who had the gumption to take their ideas and do something with it. Too many people have great ideas then never do anything about them. But I digress…

Awful marketing campaign

There are two big problems I have with the way that Lil Rinser has decided to market their product. First, they spread distorted information about personal care products to scare people and second, their message is hypocritical. If they focused more on the real benefits of the product, like the ones mentioned above, I’d be a much bigger supporter.

Are baby shampoos filled with toxins?

The suggestion that baby products contain carcinogens comes from a recent report that shows 1,4 Dioxane and Formaldehyde were both detected in a variety of baby products tested. Both of these compounds have been characterized as “probable carcinogens” by the EPA.

While we have no reason to doubt the test results, the implication that the presence of tiny amounts of carcinogens makes the product harmful is unfounded. All of the best research maintains that the levels are not dangerous. The dose of exposure matters just as much as the chemical. Pure water will kill you at a high enough dose.

The idea that you should be afraid of the chemicals in baby shampoos is nonsense. Indeed, selling products without preservatives (as formaldehyde is a preservative) is much more dangerous.

Shame on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics for trying to scare people with distorted science, and shame on Lil Rinser for trying to exploit people’s fear and chemical ignorance for economic gain.

What about toxins in Lil Rinser?

Perhaps the most appalling things about Lil Rinser’s marketing campaign is their own hypocrisy. If you take a look at their lab reports, you might be aghast to find that the Lil Rinser is proven to contain the following toxins

1. Arsenic – a potent human poison
2. Barium – extremely poisonous
3. Cadmium – known to cause cancer
4. Mercury – extremely toxic
5. Antimony – toxic
6. Selenium – toxic

Why are these toxins and carcinogens in the Lil Rinser?

Because they are an unavoidable part of the rubber and plastic making process. And you know over time, these toxins and carcinogens will be leached out into the water that’s your child is soaking in.

Fortunately, these toxins are also in the product at levels that have been determined by reliable, governmental agencies to be safe.

This is also true of the carcinogens that can be detected in your personal care products!

The cosmetic industry has no interest in poisoning people. They do not produce or sell products that are unsafe.

Beauty Brains Bottom Line

Lil Rinser will not make children more safe from their already safe baby shampoos. In our environment we are surrounded by all kinds of chemicals and compounds that are toxic and carcinogenic at high enough doses. Our ability to detect these compounds keeps getting better and better so it’s understandable we’ll find them in more and more every day products. However, presence of a nasty chemical is both unavoidable and should be of little concern if the amount is tiny enough.

It’s impossible to avoid all traces of toxic/carcinogenic compounds. Fear-mongering consumer groups & marketing people who suggest it is are wrong.

If you’re interested in trying the Lil Rinser because it’s a cool gadget (not because it will protect you from cancer) you can see more about it by clicking here.