EXCLUSIVE: People - especially men - are using more personal care products, survey finds
A report released Wednesday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Morning Consult suggests that self-care product usage is on the rise, especially for men.
The survey of companies' use of personal care products showed that since 2004 ( when a previous survey was conducted), the use of personal care products increased significantly. On average, men currently use 11 products per day compared to six in 2004, while women use 13 products per day compared to 12 in 2004.
"The number of products has increased gradually since our initial 2004 report for women, but has almost doubled for men," said Homer Swei, EWG senior vice president, healthy living science. "Clearly, opinions about self-care among men have changed over the two decades."
Related ArticlesWith increased use of the product there is an increased possibility of exposure to toxins, argues l 'EWG. However, the report suggests that the use of unique ingredients has decreased, which would ultimately reduce the potential risk of toxin exposure.
"It seems that the combination of own beauty programs, retailers and manufacturing, national regulations and consumer information has fundamentally changed and impacted all levels,” Swei told WWD.
The average adult today is still exposed to an average of 112 unique ingredients per day versus 126 in 2004 Also, compared to 2004, this report shows fewer ingredients that have been linked to potential health issues and many of the 112 green scores on EWG's Skin Deep database, which, according to the group, is indicative of product safety. Through the database, customers can also find EWG-verified products, which the group claims are completely transparent and contain no known harmful chemicals.
However, the report suggests that on average, an American consumer uses two cancer-linked ingredients and two linked daily to potential reproductive harm. Other ingredients include skin irritants and endocrine disruptors. Potentially harmful ingredients often found in personal care products include dyes, parabens, fragrances and lilial, which was recently banned in the European Union after animal studies suggested it could cause fertility problems. While the EWG uses this survey to educate consumers and ideally encourage them to use healthier products, the team recommends using leftover product before switching to avoid waste.
Because the use of multiple products containing toxic ingredients can multiply harmful effects, the EWG aims to create a Skin Deep analysis of a consumer's entire routine in addition to individual products.
"[There is] a need to understand total exposures for consumers, capacity for us to make it easier to find products in Skin Deep, improve how we can identify potential overexposure news from product combinations, improve the functionality of our systems, and perhaps even help customize alternative ingredients and product recommendations," Swei said. "I think that's the future, instead of looking at one bathroom at a time, an entire bathroom at a time."
A report released Wednesday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Morning Consult suggests that self-care product usage is on the rise, especially for men.
The survey of companies' use of personal care products showed that since 2004 ( when a previous survey was conducted), the use of personal care products increased significantly. On average, men currently use 11 products per day compared to six in 2004, while women use 13 products per day compared to 12 in 2004.
"The number of products has increased gradually since our initial 2004 report for women, but has almost doubled for men," said Homer Swei, EWG senior vice president, healthy living science. "Clearly, opinions about self-care among men have changed over the two decades."
Related ArticlesWith increased use of the product there is an increased possibility of exposure to toxins, argues l 'EWG. However, the report suggests that the use of unique ingredients has decreased, which would ultimately reduce the potential risk of toxin exposure.
"It seems that the combination of own beauty programs, retailers and manufacturing, national regulations and consumer information has fundamentally changed and impacted all levels,” Swei told WWD.
The average adult today is still exposed to an average of 112 unique ingredients per day versus 126 in 2004 Also, compared to 2004, this report shows fewer ingredients that have been linked to potential health issues and many of the 112 green scores on EWG's Skin Deep database, which, according to the group, is indicative of product safety. Through the database, customers can also find EWG-verified products, which the group claims are completely transparent and contain no known harmful chemicals.
However, the report suggests that on average, an American consumer uses two cancer-linked ingredients and two linked daily to potential reproductive harm. Other ingredients include skin irritants and endocrine disruptors. Potentially harmful ingredients often found in personal care products include dyes, parabens, fragrances and lilial, which was recently banned in the European Union after animal studies suggested it could cause fertility problems. While the EWG uses this survey to educate consumers and ideally encourage them to use healthier products, the team recommends using leftover product before switching to avoid waste.
Because the use of multiple products containing toxic ingredients can multiply harmful effects, the EWG aims to create a Skin Deep analysis of a consumer's entire routine in addition to individual products.
"[There is] a need to understand total exposures for consumers, capacity for us to make it easier to find products in Skin Deep, improve how we can identify potential overexposure news from product combinations, improve the functionality of our systems, and perhaps even help customize alternative ingredients and product recommendations," Swei said. "I think that's the future, instead of looking at one bathroom at a time, an entire bathroom at a time."
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