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Phthalates have been shown to cause adverse reproductive effects in laboratory animals, but no harm to humans has been conclusively demonstrated. Acting on the "precautionary principle," the E.U. has voted to ban two common phthalates as of September 2004. Despite a March appeal by the Breast Cancer Fund to U.S. cosmetics companies to do the same, only two -- Procter & Gamble and Estee Lauder -- have announced that they will phase out the chemicals.
 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates cosmetics only after they are already on the market, often based on consultation with the industry-funded Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel. "It's the fox designing and building the henhouse," says Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group. (From the The Wall Street Journal, Thaddeus Herrick, Apr 19, 2004.)
On a more positive side, in natural cosmetics and body care products, are ingredients that are chemical free and healing. Shea butter, for example, is nature's own skin healer. It has been used by healers for thousands of years for a multitude of skin ailments. It moisturizes and protects skin and helps heal skin that may have been damaged from rashes, stretch marks or sun exposure.
Shea butter is rarely "certified" organic because it is produced in 17 African countries where pesticides and herbicides are not routinely used. It is handmade by women from the oil of the karite nuts. The raw nuts are harvested off the ground, dehusked and sundried 4-5 days. The nuts are then cracked, further dried and twice ground. The kernels are then pounded to release the oil. Water is added to the kneading process until it reaches a "chocolate" stage. The oil is scooped off, washed several times and clarified over a fire and cooled. The superior quality of hand kneaded shea butter is unmatched through any mechanical means.
The many attributes of Shea Butter include:
- Naturally rich in vitamins A, E, F and essential vitamins needed for good skin balance.
- Helps heal scars, burns, and stretch marks by promoting skin's natural elasticity.
- Helps heal skin irritations such as psoriasis, eczema, diaper rash chafing and chapping.
- Contains allantoin. Recently curcuminoids, anti-cancer compounds, have also been found in shea butter.
There is one known health warning about shea butter: People who have nut allergies and latex allergies may be sensitive to shea butter.
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