Ladies, you are fine the way you are. Repeat this E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y. I am all for cause marketing but I have a bone to pick with how feminine products are being pushed.
As mentioned in an older blog, The FDA regulates feminine deodorizing sprays, powders, washes, non-medicated douches, and most wipes as “cosmetics” and states they “Must not contain any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to users under the conditions of use prescribed in the labeling."
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What's really in your feminine care and sexual health products?
This looks great on paper however, the reality is it is extremely difficult to find an accurate list of ingredients for many of the feminine hygiene products on the market. I wonder why they make it so hard to find? <<insert face palm>>
Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) has done some pretty extensive research into feminine care products. Thank you WVE!! So, we have some data to work with. You will be horrified to know that one popular feminine wipe, Summer’s Eve Simply Sensitive Cleansing Cloths (32 count soft pack), contains the following chemicals of concern: 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Fragrance, Neutresse, and Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate. The individually wrapped “on-the-go” version of the same wipes (although marketed as the same product) contains high concern chemicals including; Octoxynol-9, Neutresse, and Fragrance. Octoxynol-9 is a highly potent contraceptive (spermicide) found in numerous feminine wipes and has been linked to reproductive harm. WTFemininewipes?
What is infuriating is that it is completely legal to have such a powerful contraceptive in feminine wipes, without providing any warning to women on how these chemicals may impact their fertility. It is also important to note that there are many “other” chemicals used in feminine wipes that vary in health concern levels. It is frightening to think about the cumulative effect all these chemicals have on women. Read more here.
So, all you women out there using these products, please STOP especially if you are having fertility issues!!
Here are the nasty chemicals to watch out for in feminine wipes:
- Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MI and CMI)
- Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC)
- Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben)
- Formaldehyde releasers (DMDM hydantoin and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)
- Octoxynol-9
- Neutresse™ (trademarked name for an odor-controlling ingredient found in wipes-health hazards unknown as chemical structure has not been disclosed
- Fragrance and Preservatives
Listen, we all want to feel freshly showered all day, everyday, but because we have lives this is not always possible. So, there are times where you need a quick refresh. What’s great is there is momentum in the feminine care industry to detox existing products and to create new, non-toxic, natural feminine care products. Just make sure you read labels and don’t buy any that have the ingredients listed above.
Here are a few of our favorites!