Personal Care Products

The first of my personal care products that I reviewed was the Herbal Essence bio:renew Conditioner, Passion Flower & Rice Milk. I was surprised to find that it had a score of 5 which means it is classified as a moderate hazard. The reason I was drawn to this product is because of the labeling which claims to be free of Parabens, Gluten, and Colorants, not to mention the fact that it smells amazing. This is why I was upset to learn that the most concerning ingredient in this product is the fragrance itself. The fragrance had a score of 8 which poses a high hazard and there were major concerns for irritation to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Diethyl phthalate an ingredient used in a lot of products containing fragrance was said to be associated with conditions such as respiratory distress, dermatitis, and allergies. 

The second personal care product I reviewed was the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser. I was very surprised to find that it also had a score of 5 because I always thought of that brand, in general, as being very gentle on the skin and even recommended by some healthcare professionals. I recently started using this product about 2 years ago because I had read very good things about it online from other people who had been using it for years. The most concerning ingredient in this product also happens to be the fragrance which I find hard to believe because the Cetaphil products have an extremely mild fragrance compared to other products. The major concerns associated with the fragrance were, again, allergies and irritation to the skin, eyes, and lungs. 

After reviewing both these products, I will definitely try to research and find other less harmful alternatives to the products I am already using. 

I certainly believe that everyone should know about the risks associated with the products they use, however, I also think that certain factors like economic status prevent people from making changes to their consumer behavior even after they become aware of these risks. Usually, products that are safer, healthier, more natural and environmentally friendly cost twice as much as those who do not meet these requirements. For someone on a fixed income, they are most likely going to go with the cheapest options, even if those products are harming themselves and their environment. In addition, many people who are aware of the risks associated with these products might simply find it hard to change something they have been doing for such a long time. As we have studied in several of our other public health classes, human behavior is a complex thing and change doesn't come quickly.