Toys vs Beauty Products

[bbymks5]

I am genuinely curious as to why some people lose their minds over "toxic" toys that come from overseas vs beauty products coming from the same countries are a-oaky; you can't read the ingredients? These are things people are putting on the largest organ the body has, in their mouths, on their lips etc.

Why is one horrible and the other not?

 

[londoncuppa]

Because we generally value the health and safety of our children more than that of ourselves. IMHO. It's all scary.

 

[bbymks5]

Shouldn't our health and well-being be taken as serious? We need to be healthy and alive to take care of our children. I really am perplexed.

I guess I should've had been more specific about the products; I'm referring to the ones that are purchased online that cannot be read because they are not in a language we know or a fluent in.

 

[londoncuppa]

Absolutely. You've brought up an excellent point. It seems to me that products like these are usually purchased because the individual doesn't have access to legitimate versions, either because they're cost-prohibitive or just not available. People sometimes do desperate things because they feel they have no other option. It's so sad when you see the often tragic results.

 

[bestcee]

I don't wear beauty products typically, so I can't commit much on that.

For me, I only worry about toys that are for littles who put everything in their mouth, and can't be sterilized. I worry more about the bathroom toys growing mold than anything else!

 

[berniek]

Is this something y'all worry about?
Things from other countries are not automatically 'toxic'. Your country does not have the highest standards in everything, you know that right? There are lots of things that are not allowed in the US which are in the EU. But just as much the other way around. Red velvet cake? That much food colouring is not allowed in my country. If we want it, we have to import it from your country. And because we're bi- or multilingual, we are able to understand the packaging. Not being able to understand a language isn't automatically scary. It's a learning opportunity.
I think it all comes down to common sense. And making your own choices. And maybe broadening your horizons a little bit.

 

[bellbird]

Not sure I know what the issue that prompted this is but it is funny being an 'outsider' sometimes. We hear about what the FDA has approved or vetoed and it doesnt always correspond with standards here either. I think in most cases they are stricter here. There are also 'parallel import' products, so instead of buying, say, dishwasher tablets in the regular supermarket, you can get a version (of the same brand) from like indonesia or somewhere in $2 stores for around half the price. The parallel one has the same logo but different languages, including english, all over it. I don't know how different they are but i can't honestly say i don't know what half written in the 'ingredients' is anyway - it's like reading the back of the shampoo bottle.
It is funny travelling too and seeing something you would think is generic, like McDonalds, that it sells different things in different places. The big boards advertising green tea softserve icecream we saw in Hong Kong come to mind - not sure that would sell particularly well here...

 

[cookingmylife]

Never underestimate the ignorance or nonchalance of the consumer. And with beauty products, sadly we the buyers too easily buy the promise. I read ingredients.

 

[londoncuppa]

Is this something y'all worry about?
Things from other countries are not automatically 'toxic'. Your country does not have the highest standards in everything, you know that right? There are lots of things that are not allowed in the US which are in the EU. But just as much the other way around. Red velvet cake? That much food colouring is not allowed in my country. If we want it, we have to import it from your country. And because we're bi- or multilingual, we are able to understand the packaging. Not being able to understand a language isn't automatically scary. It's a learning opportunity.
I think it all comes down to common sense. And making your own choices. And maybe broadening your horizons a little bit.

I don't worry about it. I always know what I'm buying, either for myself or for my family. I'm a label reader! I completely agree that the US is not the arbiter of what is correct. I think we can sometimes get tunnel vision. I know my comment was more from the point of view of non-EU/3rd world manufacturing where standards are questionable (i.e. ground up plastic in imported dog food that killed so many of our pets a few years back). I shake my head sometimes at things that are allowed in the UK and not here when there's no logical reason why they shouldn't be. I have my suspicions why, but I think I'll keep those to myself. Very thought-provoking thread.

 

[lmccandless]

I think the US actually lags sadly behind many other countries in terms of product safety. For example, many of our kids' cereals here still contain BHT. Both BHA and BHT are banned from foods in Europe, Canada, Japan, etc. It's the same with our plastics. The EU has limited BPA in kids' cups and products for a while, but we're just starting to see that change in the US.

Of course, I think there always exceptions - cheap cosmetics being one of them! I try to be super careful about that issue myself.

 

[bbymks5]

I agree!! Very sad

Absolutely. You've brought up an excellent point. It seems to me that products like these are usually purchased because the individual doesn't have access to legitimate versions, either because they're cost-prohibitive or just not available. People sometimes do desperate things because they feel they have no other option. It's so sad when you see the often tragic results.

I'm the mean mom who doesn't buy bath toys...I don't even give the girls baths unless they have showered first, the thought of sitting in body scum grosses me out LOL!

I don't wear beauty products typically, so I can't commit much on that.

For me, I only worry about toys that are for littles who put everything in their mouth, and can't be sterilized. I worry more about the bathroom toys growing mold than anything else!

Our country is a joke when it comes to the health and safety of it's residents. I shake my head all the time when I see what is allowed here vs other countries and I'm left mind blown! I don't buy a lot of processed foods, anything that change the color of someones bowel movements just cannot be good on any level.

The possibility of lead in being in toys does worry me, but I don't let that fear take over, I'm just more cautious on what toys we purchase, and of course tell the girls toys are to play with not stick in our mouths.

I don't distrust any countries products as a whole, people just need to stop, slow down and use some common sense when buying products online.

Is this something y'all worry about?
Things from other countries are not automatically 'toxic'. Your country does not have the highest standards in everything, you know that right? There are lots of things that are not allowed in the US which are in the EU. But just as much the other way around. Red velvet cake? That much food colouring is not allowed in my country. If we want it, we have to import it from your country. And because we're bi- or multilingual, we are able to understand the packaging. Not being able to understand a language isn't automatically scary. It's a learning opportunity.
I think it all comes down to common sense. And making your own choices. And maybe broadening your horizons a little bit.

You can say that again!! It's very sad how some people are either that naive or just choose to ignore certain things and fall for the hype hook, line and sinker.

Never underestimate the ignorance or nonchalance of the consumer. And with beauty products, sadly we the buyers too easily buy the promise. I read ingredients.

I'm a huge label reader too!! The US needs to wake up when it comes to what they think is okay for sure! The plastic in the pet food was so scary! There are so many questionable standards for sure! You can always PM me

I don't worry about it. I always know what I'm buying, either for myself or for my family. I'm a label reader! I completely agree that the US is not the arbiter of what is correct. I think we can sometimes get tunnel vision. I know my comment was more from the point of view of non-EU/3rd world manufacturing where standards are questionable (i.e. ground up plastic in imported dog food that killed so many of our pets a few years back). I shake my head sometimes at things that are allowed in the UK and not here when there's no logical reason why they shouldn't be. I have my suspicions why, but I think I'll keep those to myself. Very thought-provoking thread.

Yes!! It's so scary what is in our food compared to different countries!!

I think the US actually lags sadly behind many other countries in terms of product safety. For example, many of our kids' cereals here still contain BHT. Both BHA and BHT are banned from foods in Europe, Canada, Japan, etc. It's the same with our plastics. The EU has limited BPA in kids' cups and products for a while, but we're just starting to see that change in the US.

Of course, I think there always exceptions - cheap cosmetics being one of them! I try to be super careful about that issue myself.

I have a girlfriend who added me to a group on FB, that is mostly beauty related. Someone has posted a video to charcoal toothpaste; the link takes you to the product, however you cannot read anything on the label, not the name of the product, not the ingredient label, nothing. Sure the page has a video with a white male in it, in English and is touting at how amazing this product is and it's ingredients are blah blah blah.

I posed the same question on the post and then added a bit of humor to it by saying my luck, my mouth would be stained for days LOL!

Well, lets just say the replies were kind of thoughtless; so I was curious as to what other people thought; so I also posed the same question here as well as on my personal page, which has been successful in getting thought out responses.

One gal replied directly to my comment, saying That wasn't how it worked it all. Not even a little. When I questioned her on how what worked she became a irked and said it doesn't stain your mouth and isn't toxic, she uses it so she would know. I again questioned her if she could tell me with 100% certainty that this particular product wasn't toxic when she cannot read the label. She replied Not with this product. So I asked her if the one she used was from overseas and her reply was no. I nicely told her I was specifically referring to products from overseas when you cannot read the ingredients. Radio silence after that.

I had someone else comment that charcoal is good for you, it absorbs the toxins so that's why they use it at the hospitals to pump your stomach with. I nicely reminded her there's a difference and again, they can read the label on the activated charcoal before running it through your system.

 

[bestcee]

anything that change the color of someones bowel movements just cannot be good on any level.

I had to laugh at this! I know exactly what you mean. But, one of the stories we laugh at is Matthew's first babysitter. He loved beets, and we gave them to him. She freaked out because of the color in his diaper! Oh my gosh. It still cracks me up.

 

[bestcee]

And honestly, ever since I found out that Kinder eggs were banned in the US.....I'm my own best advocate.

 

[bbymks5]

Buuuuuahahaha!!!! I bet she freaked out!! Poor thing!!

Sigh...Kinder Eggs should never have been banned...it's our responsibility to teach our children how to properly do things. It amazes me, how many children's deaths and injuries could have been prevented with some good old common sense

I had to laugh at this! I know exactly what you mean. But, one of the stories we laugh at is Matthew's first babysitter. He loved beets, and we gave them to him. She freaked out because of the color in his diaper! Oh my gosh. It still cracks me up.

And honestly, ever since I found out that Kinder eggs were banned in the US.....I'm my own best advocate.

 

[Dalis]

I don't wear make up but when I do I feel like everything itches, no matter the brand.

 

[Dalis]

100% agree with you in the toys vs. makeup vs food.

 

[bbymks5]

My mom never could wear makeup either...her skin would itch and her eyes would get red and swollen, it didn't matter what brand she tried. If we're going out out, I'll throw some on, but I'm pretty much naked faced 99% of the time.

I don't wear make up but when I do I feel like everything itches, no matter the brand.