This benzene problem isn't going away

There are many reasons you may choose to go “clean” with your personal-care products, and avoiding toxic chemicals is definitely one of them. Remember when dozens of sunscreens were recalled this past summer after the carcinogen benzene was found to be present in products from major manufacturers like Neutrogena, Coppertone and Banana Boat, as well as many generics from CVS and Walgreens? (I remember because we got an email from camp that they had tossed ALL the sunscreen to play it safe—and we needed to send more ASAP.)

Just a few weeks ago, benzene was in the news again, this time found in antiperspirant and deodorant sprays. Products from Secret, Old Spice and other BO-fighting brands were found to contain benzene (which is actually one of the few ingredients that the U.S. FDA has zero tolerance for).

And now, benzene has cropped up in aerosol haircare products like dry shampoo and dry conditioner. Pantene, Herbal Essences and Aussie are among the brands affected, which is disturbing since these are some of the top-selling mass lines that can be found at virtually every supermarket and drugstore.

All this doesn’t mean that we’re destined for skin cancer, body odor and greasy roots. But perhaps this could be just the push you need to switch to safer product alternatives. I have plenty of recommendations in all of these categories, so don’t hesitate to ask if you’re unsure where to start!