Cancer Fairy Godmother » Cancer Cosmetics

Free Products and Make-up Tools for Cancer Patients

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:56:11 +0000

“Look Good … Feel Better” will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Josie Stamp, a semi-retired cosmologist conducts this session on skin and hair care, as well as wearing headscarves.

In addition, participants will receive how-to handouts and free products and make-up tools, as well as scarves and hats to cover hair loss.
The co-sponsors are the National Cosmetology Association and the Personal Care Products Council Foundation.

“Healthy Skin Management Before, During and After Treatment” will run from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 17.

Radiation therapist Deborah Sugg will present the regular support group program geared to longer days of summer sun.

Refreshments will be served at both sessions, which take place at the Cancer Center, 114 Columbia St. in Corning.

Guthrie Cancer Center in Corning plans two programs this month to help cancer patients.

Information: Call Cheryl Hollenbeck at (607) 937-3100.

Parabens-Free Cosmetic Companies

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:55:28 +0000

Want to know if your product contains parabens? Here are some steps to take:

Look on the label for the following ingredients: methylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, or butylparaben.
Find out which company makes the product you use. See if they have an ingredient list available on the product itself or on the company’s web site.
Try emailing or calling the company and asking them if your product contains parabens.
If you find a cosmetics company that is completely paraben-free, let us know!

Keep in mind that if a company is not forthcoming with the information you seek, you may want to purchase your products from another company.

Here are some companies that have committed to being paraben-free. These companies do not use parabens for preservation, but instead use other procedures, packaging choices, and ingredients to achieve product stability.

What about Chemicals in Makeup?

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:27:59 +0000

The Cancer Fairy Godmother has been asked about the chemicals being placed in cosmetics and what are the risk associated with them. Upon thinking about this question I began to do a little research. It appears that many cosmetics contain chemicals known as parabens and phthalates, which recent studies indicate may be linked to cancer development.

* Parabens are chemical preservatives that have been identified as estrogenic and disruptive of normal hormone function. (Estrogenic chemicals mimic the function of the naturally occurring hormone estrogen, and exposure to external estrogens has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.)

* Phthalates are known to cause a broad range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments in laboratory animals that are exposed to these chemicals during pregnancy and after birth. Phthalates are also known to be hormone-mimicking chemicals, many of which disrupt normal hormonal processes, raising concern about their implications for increased breast cancer risk.

There are numerous other chemicals of concern in personal care products. BCA is particularly concerned about progesterone, formaldehyde and coal tar due to their links to cancer.

Cosmetic companies will argue that we don’t need to worry about harmful chemicals in their products because they are only used on our skin and hair.

The cosmetics industry has long stated that their widespread use of parabens and phthalates is not harmful because they remain on our skin and are not absorbed into our body.

Many cosmetic companies will also argue that the level of a harmful chemical in any one product is not enough to harm you, based on studies of chemical exposure in adults.