Book Review: No More Dirty Looks

You may remember No More Dirty Looks from my summer wellness reading list.  This book is full of interesting (and alarming) information on just what is in the beauty products that many of us use everyday.  I personally believe it should be required reading!  Authors Siobhan O'Connor and Alexandra Spunt's interest in this research was sparked after they both had a brazilian blow out.  Upon learning that the magic ingredient in their lovely blowout was formaldehyde, they began pouring over years of research and scientific studies and as they write, "opened up a Pandora's box of bad news" regarding the ingredients in their beloved shampoos, bronzers, body lotions, and nail polishes.

This book begins by giving readers a peak inside the "wild west of the beauty industry"--a 35 billion dollar industry.  Here are some jaw dropping findings found in the book...

• 11% of the 10, 500 ingredients determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be in use by the cosmetics industry have been tested for safety by a publicly accountable agency.
• Europe has banned more than one thousand ingredients for use in personal-care products.  The United States has banned nine.
• Many toxic chemicals make it into your beauty products as byproducts and are therefore not listed on labels.
• The fragrance industry is protected under trade secret laws, which means the ingredients are not listed on labels at all.

O'Connor and Spunt write in detail about the ingredients that should most likely be avoided and teach readers how to read the labels of their beauty products and also offer "don't-panic tips on purging your products."

Readers will also be taken through specific areas of the body where you will learn in detail about your scalp and hair function, the different layers of skin on your face and their optimal pH level.  In addition to the nitty gritty about how your skin and body function, readers will learn what to look for and what to avoid in specific products as well as get recommendations for tried and true safe alternatives. 

I'll leave you with a closing thought from the book, "Skin is a popular delivery route for many medications, precisely because it's so direct.  Think about that.  Now think about how much you put on your skin, and how often."

If this book doesn't make you want to clean-up your beauty routine I don't know what will!  Check out two of my favorite DIY moisturizers--free of harmful chemicals and additives.

Winter Skin Repair Oil (I use this blend year round)
Whipped Coconut Body Butter