Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics

by Kim Erickson

Exposes the truth behind the cosmetic industry Each day, we are exposed to some 200 synthetic chemicals--without our knowledge. Skin, hair, body, and beauty products are loaded with potential irritants, carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified many ingredients found in modern cosmetics as hazardous. Worse still, such product ingredients are easily absorbed through the skin. The potential health problems associated with brand-name cosmetics are many and varied. As consumers of mainstream cosmetic products, we make up the single largest class of involuntary and avoidable carcinogenic exposures. Yet, the FDA is virtually powerless to protect us. Drop-Dead Gorgeous was designed to empower you. This timely, much-needed resource uncovers the dangers of these products and lists the nine most hazardous ingredients. The book guides you on how to read and interpret misleading product labels. A variety of natural alternatives and recipes for creating safe cosmetics at home are also included.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2002

About the author

KIM ERICKSON began following Christ after the death of her three-year-old son from strep throat in 2008. Her growing relationship with the Lord and her Bible saved her from the pit of grieving the loss of a child. During this time, she also developed a deep, abiding love for the Word of God. Kim's love of Scripture led her to develop a website and teaching blog to help other women fall in love with the Word of God, www.LoveMyWord.com. Kim also contributed to the book Hopelifter: Creative Ways to Spread Hope When Life Hurts (2013). She is an attorney who practiced business litigation for thirteen years before becoming a law professor. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education, and has returned to her passion for teaching. Kim lives in Florida with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Melissa Massello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Fast Food Nation or Supersize Me, this book exposes the truths and ills of the cosmetic industry. As the author illustrates, products (toothpaste, makeup, fragrances, lip balms, detergents, etc.) are no longer tested on animals — just on humans — without any regulation help from government, since the cosmetics industry lobby is larger and more powerful than tobacco and oil put together. Read it. Now.

Featured in 35 Budget Living Picks for National Book Lovers Day on ShoestringMag.com :

"When I picked up this book way back in 2003, before anyone was talking about the need for organic beauty products and the dangers of parabens, environmental journalist Kim Erickson blew my mind. Containing hundreds of DIY beauty recipes and a dictionary of harmful cosmetics ingredients, this beauty Bible is even more relevant today than ever."

Featured in Shop Local Holiday Guide: Made in Colorado on ShoestringMag.com :

"A longtime Shoestring staff favorite, Erickson's work will provide you with more information than you possibly care to know about the truly dangerous ingredients that are so ubiquitous in our cosmetics industry, including an easy-to-understand list of "Nine Deadly Ingredients" that should always be avoided."

[Lola G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will scare you out of wearing make-up, washing your hair and painting your nails. It is very important information (what common chemicals in cosmetics cause cancer or will lead to neurological damage), but it is just so sad to think about. All the women (including myself) that coat themselves in poison have absolutely no idea of what they are putting on their bodies.

I see this as another issue that would not exist if it affected men. All of the products that have been on the "to test" list for decades would be thoroughly tested, and rejected or approved if men wore make-up to the same extent that women do (everyday for me.) This book was rather morbid and made me think of the elderly women I know that are at the end of their lives, living in nursing homes. I can't help but wonder if the years of hair dye are to blame for their premature aging and death.

The thing that made me feel a little better was the historical information she gave about what make-up women wore in the past. The fact that they used lead and mercury makes me feel a little better about the less toxic chemicals I'm putting on my skin everyday. I also appreciated that she gave natural alternatives to harsh chemicals and that she included petitions for the reader to send out. She is clearly an activist.

Naturally, I will be looking for safe alternatives to the toxic items in my vanity drawers.

[Max · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was like, investigative journalism?? It turned out to be maybe 50 pages on info on super concerning practices in the cosmetics/personal care products industry and then the rest of it was diy lotion recipes. I felt condescended to by phrases like “tired tootsies”. The information on carcinogens in products was sourced but you still feel kinda skeptical after she also recommends juice fasts or a “brown rice fast” for “detoxing”, recommends colloidal silver as a safe natural remedy with no further discussion, says everyone will lose weight without any restriction if they just listen to their bodies, treats an ingredient carrying any risk of causing contact dermatitis as a risk on par with being carcinogenic when any plant you walk by might happen to give you personally contact dermatitis?? I was expecting something informative and find myself instead oddly insulted. It is messed up these industries aren’t regulated but it really feels like she wrote 1/10th of a book, got bored, and filled the rest with garbage

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a US publication, looking mostly at US products and companies, some of which are worldwide (though some of the formulations may change from country to country). Some of the language used is quite general (may, might and other words like that) there are no guarantees in this world when it comes to chemicals and if you have a better idea of what you're using on yourself you might have a better hope of understanding what's happening if things go wrong. If you're trying to be healthier and eat healthier maybe you should also look at what you're putting on the outside of your body and ask if you're absorbing something that won't help.

This is one of the books to use to guide you, it goes through various body parts (skin, hair, face etc.) and looks at the products people generally use and then suggests home-made alternatives. After that she suggests some commercial alternatives. The edition I was looking at dated to 2002, in the intervening years there are probably some more and less to that list, but it's a good start, particularly if you're in America.

The formulas make me want to get brewing, so it can't be all bad. Seeing as how I've been having skin issues recently it's also timely, as this allows me to determine what I'm putting on my skin.

Overall, possibly a little overparanoid but good food for thought.

[Liaken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. It's not just about the dangers of cosmetics, it's also about how we have lost sight of what true beauty is. That we get so caught up in looking a certain way (think Hollywood), that we forget to see the natural beauty in ourselves. There are lots of fun recipes for natural skin care and more. Lots of fun ways to use essential oils, etc. And a very nice piece about loving and appreciating your own self.

[Kathleen O'Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking information about what's really in your cosmetics, and shampoo... you'll be changing brands after reading this book.

Kim lived across the street from me, we had many discussions about this topic and I wrote a book review for the pre-publicity.

Excellent research! Not hard to read even with all the stats.

[Tammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty enjoyable for a corporations-are-going-to-destroy-humanity type of book. She's short on describing everything that's wrong with cosmetics, although what does talk about it riveting. The book is more about fun DIY recipes for beauty products. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

[Megan Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains information on top selling harmful cosmetics anda brief history of the industry. Explains alternative products and do-it-yourself cosmetics and other skin products.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to scare yourself out of using cosmetics? This would be the book to read.

Really interesting--and disturbing--information.