{"id":763,"date":"2015-09-14T02:13:30","date_gmt":"2015-09-14T06:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/ewgs-skin-deep-database-the-only-truth-behind-cosmetic-safety\/"},"modified":"2015-09-14T19:46:25","modified_gmt":"2015-09-14T23:46:25","slug":"skin-deep-database-the-only-truth-behind-product-safety","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/skin-deep-database-the-only-truth-behind-product-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Skin Deep Database: The Only Truth Behind Product Safety?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know that the ingredients in your toothpaste, deodorant and lip gloss are not tested for safety? Most consumers do\u00a0not realize that unlike food and drugs, the FDA does not regulate the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry. Companies are not even required to test their products for safety before they hit store shelves. According to the FDA website<\/a>, “Under U.S. law, FDA does not<\/em> have the authority to require cosmetic manufacturers to submit their safety data to the FDA.” While the European Union has banned 1,373 ingredients<\/a> to date, the FDA has banned 8 and restricted 3<\/a>. So if the FDA is not protecting our health from the potentially toxic ingredients in the products we rub on our skin every single day, who is actually protecting us?<\/p>\n

The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization on a mission<\/a>\u00a0“to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.” They use the power of information to\u00a0“drive consumer choice and civic action.” The EWG’s Skin Deep Database<\/a>\u00a0was launched in 2004 as an online\u00a0product and ingredient database that contains information about the ingredients in over 69,000 products. Every product that is added to Skin Deep from companies and consumers is carefully reviewed by the organization to identify product type, product use and composition, target demographic, and special product claims. Each ingredient name is given a unique identification number in the database and is then sorted by safety status. By\u00a0pooling scientific studies and regulatory statuses\u00a0from 60 sources, including government agencies, industry panels, academic institutions and other credible bodies, the EWG is able to assess the potential health effects and data gaps for the majority of cosmetic ingredients on the market today. Each product is rated on a scale from 0 (very safe) to 10 (potentially toxic,) and consumers are able to type in any product name and learn the truth about the ingredients.<\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a><\/p>\n

The Skin Deep Database is #winning because it is the only digital platform providing accurate, accessible\u00a0information about the ingredients in our cosmetics and skincare products. The EWG has created an effective, user-friendly platform that enables consumers to take a less passive role in product safety and become proactive about their\u00a0lifestyle choices. While potential competition is emerging from apps like ThinkDirty<\/a>, the EWG is constantly strengthening their database by pursuing groundbreaking research and developments in health and wellness. They were the first organization to “map the pollution in people” through their\u00a0Human Toxome Project<\/a>, <\/em>which tests\u00a0human blood for levels of chemical compounds found in consumer products\u00a0and open-sources the results. This study not only proved that the ingredients in our everyday\u00a0products are absorbed into the bloodstream and actually accumulate in our bodies, but it also transformed our conception of personal safety and corporate transparency. My own blood was tested in the Teen Body Burden Study<\/em><\/a>, and when I learned that I had above-average levels of parabens compared to the other teenagers tested, I radically changed my lifestyle and took precautionary measures to avoid harmful chemical exposures. I am proud to share this intimate information with the world, as I believe it will inspire others to take action.<\/p>\n

There are inherent flaws to Skin Deep, like the overall lack of data that creates a degree of uncertainty in the system, but this challenge is representative of the beauty industry in total. How can we prove that a chemical is or is not safe when there have not been\u00a0any comprehensive studies\u00a0that demonstrate long-term impact? How can we ensure our products are safe when companies are not even required to report their ingredients to any entity? At this time, Skin Deep remains the most customer-centric resource for instant, personalized product\u00a0safety information, representing a universal shift towards digital health and wellness platforms. The FDA does not regulate the ingredients in our beauty products, but the EWG is doing its best to protect us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The @US_FDA does not regulate the ingredients in our #beauty products, so the @EWG #skindeep #database protects us. #digitalhealthrevolution<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[209,365,332,341,28,334,333,335,7],"class_list":["post-763","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beauty","category-beautyliestruth","category-ewg","category-ewg-orgskindeep","category-health","category-safety","category-skindeep","category-wellness","category-winner"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/assignment\/digital-winners-and-losers\/","yoast_head":"\nSkin Deep Database: The Only Truth Behind Product Safety? - Digital Innovation and Transformation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/skin-deep-database-the-only-truth-behind-product-safety\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Skin Deep Database: The Only Truth Behind Product Safety? 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