Look Good Feel Better!

Look Good Feel Better was first started by the American Cancer Society in 1989, and is the result of the efforts of one physician who in 1987, saw a need for a makeover to help a woman dealing with the horrible physical side effects of the cancer treatment. This woman was so depressed and self-conscious that she would not leave her hospital room. This physician decided he would reach out to the former President of the Personal Care Products Council, Everett Kavanaugh and ask for his help to provide some relief for the woman's depression. Mr. Kavanaugh not only provided free cosmetics but also arranged for the woman to receive a makeover as well. "...the makeover transformed not only the woman's looks, but also her outlook." As a result of this first makeover Look Good Feel Better, "...has been giving women on their cancer journey the tools to look good and feel better about themselves during treatment."

There has been a long-standing partnership between Look Good Feel Better and the Personal Care Products Council to provide free skincare and cosmetic products to women undergoing chemotherapy. What is ironic about this partnership is that many of the skincare and cosmetic products donated to Look Good Feel Better may actually contain ingredients of concern -- many with carcinogenic properties. Let that sink in for a moment!

The Personal Care Products Council celebrated its 125th anniversary on July 3rd with over 600 member companies that, “…manufacture, distribute and supply the vast majority of products marketed in the U.S…and leveraged traditional and social media to effectively communicate our industry’s commitment to safety, quality and innovation.”

“PCPC is a leading national trade association representing cosmetic and personal care products companies and serving as the voice on scientific, legal, regulatory, legislative and international issues for the $250 billion global industry.”

The Personal Care Products Council website notes, the "Cosmetics and personal care products companies take their responsibility for safety very seriously. We are proud that ours is one of the safest product categories regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)." Again, it is worth mentioning that the FDA maintains the Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program, or VCRP, regarding cosmetic ingredients pursuant to 21 CFR 710 and 720. As the program name implies it is entirely voluntary and cosmetic firms are not required to register their companies or list their product formulations with the FDA. Again, it bears repeating - The US hasn't passed any major legislation governing the cosmetics industry since 1938. The EU bans over 1400 ingredients from personal care products. The US bands or restricts only 30.

Personal Care Products Council members have been donating skincare and cosmetic products to Look Good Feel Better" for over twenty-five years. Look Good Feel Better offers free support to individuals dealing with cancer. In particular, they offer skincare and makeup workshops to women who are currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. The Look Good Feel Better workshops also includes a 12-piece makeup/skincare kit to each woman in attendance at the workshop . The makeup kits are made up entirely of products accepted as donations from PCPC member companies. To date, these member companies have donated “…nearly a million individual products for the makeup kits." Some of those PCPC member companies donating free skincare and cosmetic products include:

Chanel Estée Lauder

Clinique IT Cosmetics L’Oréal

Mary Kay Revlon

Lancome Merle Norman

I recently spoke with some of the staff at the Personal Care Products Council in Washington, DC to find out more about the process of receiving the makeup and skincare products donated for use by cancer patients in the Look Good Feel Better program. I was told that all of the skincare and cosmetic products from PCPC member companies donated to Look Good Feel Better are products that are either close to expiration and/or are products that have been discontinued and are no longer for sale by these member companies.

Interestingly, none of PCPC member companies listed above have current ratings by the EWG, and many of the products from these member companies have hazard ratings by Think Dirty and EWG of 4-10 -- meaning these products have a moderate to high risk for ingredients of concern, including many ingredients with carcinogenic properties.

Take a closer look at Beautycounter! The cost of using cleaner skincare products free of ingredients of concern is priceless! Your overall health is important - you are worth it! As a Certified B Corporation Beautycounter puts people and our planet first.

It is also worth noting that Beautycounter is not a member of the Personal Care Products Council. Beautycounter is at the forefront a clean revolution and advocating for better beauty laws. When you buy Beautycounter you are supporting our mission of getting safer products into the hands of everyone! You too can join the clean revolution! Ask your senators to co-sponsor the Personal Care Product Safety Act 2019.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Remember your skin is the largest organ in your body and anything you apply to your skin will then get absorbed into your bloodstream. Beautycounter is one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to cleaner skincare. So, before you make your next purchase be sure to check out Think Dirty or EWG's website to see if the product you are considering has been reviewed and is free of any ingredients of concern.