cosmetics

There is a saying – don‟t put anything on your face or body that wouldn't be safe and good for you to eat – for over 1,000 chemicals currently involved in the manufacture of cosmetics, toiletries and sanitary products may have harmful effects. As does the waste and energy involved in their packaging, manufacture and disposal.  Since March 2013, experiments on animals for cosmetics have been banned in the EU.

Simplify your use, look very carefully at the ingredients and for the logo of the Soil Association. Weleda, Aveda,Neals Yard Remedies and Green People are safer toiletry options. ( In conventional cosmetics, there are dangerous chemicals like hormone-disrupting parabens, and aluminium in deodorants, excessive sweetness in toothpastes).
 

Sanitary Protection Choose non-chlorine bleached, organic cotton sanitary protection items.  Better still ,try a Mooncup, (www.mooncup.co.uk) available from Boots, a re-useable silicone alternative, to save on the 11,000 tampons or pads a woman uses in her lifetime, that might  end up in the sea, on beaches or landfill.  For the same reason, bin condoms and cotton buds rather than flush as so many plastics are swallowed inadvertently by marine animals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

The packs surrounding the contraceptive pill can be recycled if aluminium. 

You can take old cosmetics to Battlefield HRC for safer disposal.

Enjoy- Living Naturally and The Herbarium  and Snapdragon (Market Hall)  all sell safer toiletries, and will advise, sometimes locally made.
(see Health section)

Teeth:- check ingredients, some toothpastes contain sugar, or harsh chemicals or fluoride, which some people don't want. (See www.flouridealert.org - 50 reasons to oppose fluoridation, and how safe is it in children's toothpaste).

The Natural Collection - W: www.naturalcollection.com/foe  sell mail order cosmetices and toothbrushes with replaceable heads, to help cut waste.
Google in toothpaste soap for a different kind of toothpaste!

See the very useful  www.thestoryofcosmetics.ora  to understand the pollution involved in the manufacture and use of cosmetics.