“POWERFUL, ALARMING AND WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY SEND AT LEAST A FEW PEOPLE STRAIGHT TO THEIR BATHROOMS TO DUMP THE CONTENTS OF THEIR MAKEUP BAGS.”
— CHRISTINE SISMONDO, TORONTO STAR
Toxic Beauty is a documentary feature film with exclusive access to scientists, lawyers, advocates, regulators, politicians, a dynamic whistleblower, survivors, and women who have lost their lives. It follows the class action lawsuit against J&J and the plaintiffs, personal stories of women fighting for justice in a race against time with this deadly disease. Woven throughout the film is a human experiment. We document, as Boston University medical student, Mymy Nguyen, measures her chemical body burden from over 27 products. Scientists monitor her shocking results. In the end, the film meets the companies and people who offer solutions and optimism for safer, toxicant-free cosmetics.
In 1982, world-renowned epidemiologist, Dr. Daniel Cramer, linked Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder to ovarian cancer. ’Since the 1960’s, J&J allegedly knew the risks and did nothing. In 2004, Dr. Philippa Darbre, a UK scientist, found parabens, a chemical preservative in many cosmetics, in breast tissue. In 2018, the National Institute of Health’s sister study linked breast cancer to personal care product use. Links to hormonal disruption in baby boys, developmental delays, low sperm count in men, infertility, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and skin disease - the cosmetic industry isn’t pretty.
Each morning we slather with 1000’s of chemicals, many of which are proven to be toxic. In the United States, the Cosmetic and Personal Care Industry regulates itself. In Canada, implementing regulations is under scrutiny. There is doubt propagated by big industries making claims that we have nothing to worry about, positioning themselves as champions of personal empowerment through their multibillion-dollar advertising campaigns. Top researchers worldwide have the hard science to answer the question ‘Are cosmetics and personal care products making us sick?
Non-Toxic Beauty is a series of interviews hosted by environmental journalist and The Eco-Hub founder Candice Batista with leaders in the clean beauty world who share their top insights on what to know, what to look for, and what to avoid when starting to switch to safer personal care products.
Produced in association with Canada Media Fund.
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