In 2004, the Environmental Working Group, an environmental research and advocacy group, created a cosmetics database to log the potentially harmful chemicals found in personal-care products. Today, the Skin Deep database, which contains information on more than 70,000 products, reveals that many of the lotions and potions we put on our skin, hair and nails can […]
Beauty
Beauty norms are societal standards that dictate ideal physical appearance and vary across cultures and history. Despite being unrealistic, norms are instilled in women from a young age, harming those who feel they do not fit the mold.
The Top 5 Scariest Toxins in Your Personal-Care Products
How often do we really think about the products we slather on our faces, spray on our hair and apply to our nails? Personal-care products are such a part of our everyday lives that most use them without pause, assuming that these products are safe and regulated. In reality, the Food and Drug Administration is […]
Which Toxins Did YOU Apply Today?
The following is an excerpt from Heather White’s investigative report, “Skin Deep,” published in the Fall 2014 issue of Ms. Join the Ms. community today and take a digital copy of the issue with you everywhere you go! When I was a little girl, my favorite thing to do was watch my grandmother get ready to go out. […]
In the Latest Issue of Ms.: The Ugly Side of Personal-Care Products
The average woman uses 12 personal-care products a day filled with 168 ingredients, many of which contain toxic substances. Contrary to what you may assume, the Food and Drug Administration is not legally required to test or regulate the products. This means your lipstick, lotion and nail polish could contain carcinogens, mercury or hormone-disrupting chemicals. […]
Good Riddance to Dov Charney
At this point, it seems Dov Charney is better at making headlines than unisex tri-blend T-shirts. After years of rumors, allegations and lawsuits, the founder and CEO of struggling clothing giant American Apparel is finally out of the job. The company’s board of directors voted unanimously this week to strip Charney of his chairmanship and […]
U.S. Army Releases “Racially Biased” Hairstyle Regulations
Sgt. Jasmine Jacobs of the National Guard in Georgia has always plaited her hair into two twists around her head. She has been in the military for six years and has worn her hair natural (meaning no chemical treatments [perms] or hair extensions [weaves]) for four of those years. But according to the new hair-grooming […]
Who’s (Miss) American?
With the outrageous social media backlash directed at Miss America winner Nina Davuluri, you would think it was the first time a woman of color took home the tiara. But hatred directed at non-white Miss Americas is nothing new; the history of race exclusion in the contest is an ugly one. It’s just that now, […]
The Femisphere: Fashion and Beauty Bloggers
It’s no big secret that both the fashion and beauty industries have significant issues that make them a challenge for many feminists. While there are certainly hosts of concerns within the two connected industries when it comes to race, body image, age and the promotion of sexist stereotypes, there are also aspects that are inherently […]
Gabby Douglas is Not Her Hair
“Are you kidding me? I just made history. And you’re focusing on my hair?” That was 16-year-old Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas, bravely echoing singer India.Arie’s anthem, “I Am Not My Hair.” The criticism of Douglas’ locks on social media sites such as Twitter and on black blogs is typical of the multiple types of […]
What “Fast Fashion” Costs Us
The first time I stepped into Forever 21, I was amazed: A store at the mall actually had clothes I liked, at affordable prices, bearing “Made in the USA” labels! (At the time, I naively believed “Made in the USA” meant sweatshop-free. I later learned this is far from true.) Though I still prefer thrift […]