Hey as long as we’re on the subject of those nasty phthalates found - amongst other cosmetics - in perfumes (see earlier post today), how ’bout picking yourself up some of the real expensive kind!

The Shopping Blog is featuring the new Clive Christian perfume which is retailing for $215,000 (not a typo) a bottle, making it the world’s most expensive perfume. You can have the perfume and I’ll take the 5 carat diamond that comes with each bottle.

Read more about it here. And pick me up a bottle while you’re at it.

Does your child despise mittens as much as mine? Short of super glue, I have yet to find a way to keep anything on his hands (besides dirt and remnants of breakfast, that is). Well, a mom smarter than I has come up with the solution to frostbit fingers: the No-Snow Snuggler. Simply genius….the mittens are built into the jacket!

The jackets are very reasonably priced (and currently on sale!) and there is a color/style to suit every child. You can even personalize it to make sure it doesn’t get lost in the mountain of jackets in the ski lodge…trust me, you won’t want to lose this one.

Even better, the No-Snow Snuggler is made by Crazy Hens, LLC:

a mom-friendly company that employs smart, talented women on a part-time basis with kid flexible hours.

Now who wouldn’t want to support that?!

Most of us have heard about the possibly dangerous ingredients found in cosmetics. Heck, we’ve even mentioned it here on our site. We know that the FDA doesn’t regulate cosmetic ingredients, but exactly what ingredients are suspect and why? We’ll spend the next week taking a closer look at some of the purported dangers in our cosmetics and also the items we use on our children.

Phthalates

Some of the primary chemicals that have come under scrutiny are called phthalates (pronounced THA-lates). These chemicals are often used in vinyl and plastics. They are also found in cosmetics and perfumes where they are used to make the fragrance of the product last longer, nail polish to make it less brittle, and hairspray to give it that “flexible hold.”

Possible Dangers

So what’s the problem? Some research on animals indicates that phthalates, which are absorbed through the skin (and nails) and also through inhalation, can cause liver, lung, kidney and reproductive system (specifically: birth defects in male reproductive organs) damage. Does that mean they can cause the same damage in humans? Maybe, maybe not…no one is 100% certain.

Proponents of phthalates argue that the concentrations found in cosmetics aren’t high enough to cause adverse effects in humans. But no one seems to be addressing the daily use of multiple products containing phthalates and I would be remiss if I didn’t maintain a healthy dose of skepticism regarding ANY claim made by a pharmaceutical company.

Regulation

As of 2003, the European Union has banned the use of phthalates in cosmetics, believing that studies showing damage to rodents is evidence enough for them. The U.S. has been slow to follow suit, though. This is not necessarily in the best interest of you, the consumer.

Unfortunately, avoiding phthalates in your cosmetics isn’t as easy. Reading labels isn’t enough because phthalates don’t conveniently announce themselves in big red letters. Rather, they are often labeled as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Diethyl Phthalate (DEP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). And when it comes to fragrance, be it in perfumes or just in your body lotion or foundation, this falls under the category of a “trade secret” and the FDA requires no disclosure of ingredients whatsoever.

Consumer Options

So what is a consumer to do? Currently the best resource for avoiding cosmetics that contain phthalates is utilizing the comprehensive database maintained by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Take a look at the many companies who have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, pledging to remove questionable chemicals from their products. Think Before You Pink. a project of Breast Cancer Action, provides another good list of phthalate-free cosmetics companies.

While nothing replaces your own research, may we suggest the following:

PeaceKeeper Causemetics - we’ve recommended them before and we’ll keep recommending! This fabulous company not only makes all-natural, safe cosmetics (including phthalate-free nail polish!), but they donate 100% of their after-tax profits to women’s and human rights advocacy groups. That’s right….100%.

Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the allegations of high lead levels in lipstick and other products.

Additional resources you might find interesting:

The Mayo Clinic, Breast Cancer Fund, The Environmental Working Group

IzzieMom has demonstrated the #1 reason to teach our kidlets to say “oowie” and not “boo boo” when they sustain one of the never-ending injuries that toddlerhood produces:

Dear Self,

I know you are a very caring mom and when your son comes to you and speaks the words “boo boo”, you never hesitate to give the afflicted area a kiss to make it all better. However, in the future? You should make darned sure he is saying “boo boo” when he presents an index finger to you before you automatically give it one of your All-Better!™ mommy kisses because he might actually be saying “poo poo” and showing you what he found peeking out of his extremely poop-filled diaper.

For more of her hysterical perspective on the pitfalls of parenthood, visit her blog…it’s part of my internet routine, that’s for sure!

The kidlet has reached that emotional milestone of declaring everything in the universe is “mine mine mine.” (If you’ve ever had the pleasure of watching the fine animated flick Finding Nemo, you’ll find that my son strangely resembles the plethora of seagulls in the film crying out “mine mine mine mine mine.”) For some reason, my long-winded explanation that until he got a job and started paying his own way in life, all this really belongs to his father and I apparently has gone unheeded since everything is still “mine mine mine.” Okay, so he’s two. I’ll shelve the financial solubility lectures for a decade or so.

Meanwhile, I’m not above a little indulgence and these bookplates from The Paper Princess were too much to resist. They come in a dozen different adorable retro styles and while they’re a bit on the pricey side — $25 for 32 bookplates — if you’re as obsessed with unique paper products as I am, they’re worth it.

Now the kidlet can indulge in his “mine” obsession while I get my fix of fine bookplates. A win-win situation.