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" Maybe you&amp;#039;re curious to know whether natural feels better and is better for you. Maybe you&amp;#039;d like to reduce your exposure to chemicals. Or maybe you&amp;#039;ve read some scary news about the potential health risks of an ingredient, only to learn that it&amp;#039;s in your daily face cream. Whatever your reason, finding a truly &amp;quot;natural&amp;quot; product can be tricky. &amp;quot;The FDA doesn&amp;#039;t provide guidance on natural personal-care products, be they toothpaste or mascara, and there is no legal or medical definition of &amp;#039;natural,&amp;#039; either,&amp;quot; says New York City dermatologist Anne Chapas, M.D. Consumers will have more help if the Cosmetics Safety Act, currently under congressional review, becomes law; it will &amp;quot;mandate that the FDA regulate chemicals in cosmetic products, as it does in drugs and food,&amp;quot; says Dr. Chapas. In the meantime \u2014 and it may be a long meantime \u2014 it&amp;#039;s up to you to figure out which synthetic ingredients you want to avoid. To help you decide, Good Housekeeping surveyed 900-plus readers to find out which synthetic ingredients topped their list of concerns. Then we asked experts to weigh in on which are simply annoying (for example, merely skin-irritating) and which may lead to more serious trouble (endocrine problems, or even cancer). Unfortunately, because research in humans tends to be scant, the risks in many cases are not well-known. But here is what we do know, and what you can do about five of the ingredients that worry you most. Next:   1. PARABENS Listed on labels as methylparaben, benzylparaben, or other ingredients ending with the same word, these effective preservatives are used in cosmetics from lotions to lipsticks.  Since many parabens appear to mimic the activity of estrogen in the body, there&amp;#039;s concern that they may affect the endocrine system (hence the term &amp;quot;endocrine disruptor&amp;quot;) and lead to decreased sperm counts in men and even breast cancer in women. A much-debated 2004 study found parabens in a small sample of 20 cancerous breast tumors. A follow-up study this year yielded similar results: Parabens were found in the breast tissue of 40 women who&amp;#039;d undergone mastectomies. However, &amp;quot;neither study proves parabens caused the cancer,&amp;quot; explains breast cancer researcher and retired surgeon Susan Love, M.D. &amp;quot;The published data on cancer risk from parabens is either on cells grown in petri dishes or on lab rats, and unfortunately, you cannot extrapolate from those to women. We need more research in women to actually figure this out.&amp;quot; One study has shown that even a very strong paraben is only a weak endocrine disruptor at worst, 10,000 to 100,000 times less active than estrogen itself. And most products that use parabens contain only low concentrations, from .01% to .3%. The FDA maintains, based on currently available data, that parabens are safe for use in cosmetics, but if you&amp;#039;re still concerned, paraben-free beauty options are abundant \u2014 check labels.  2. SYNTHETIC COLORS AND DYES Colorants are &amp;quot;the most highly regulated cosmetic ingredients in the U.S.,&amp;quot; says cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski.  In 1938, to protect consumers, Congress gave the FDA authority to regulate color additives. Due in part to questions about carcinogenicity, the agency has banned a number of dyes and has specified where certain ones may be used \u2014 for example, only food-grade dyes can be used in products applied around the eyes, Romanowski says. One exception to the ban: coal-tar dyes. These dyes can be used in darker hair-coloring products, provided they carry a warning about possible skin sensitivity and against dyeing eyelashes or eyebrows (which may cause blindness). &amp;quot;Coal-tar dye ingredients [listed on labels as, for example, 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine (4-MMPD)] are infrequently used,&amp;quot; says Romanowski. In addition, the FDA notes that surveys show the industry has phased them out (go to fda.gov for a list of hair dyes shown to cause cancer in animal studies).  3. PETROCHEMICALS This large class of chemicals derived from fossil fuels includes gasoline, coal, tar, and the common beauty-product ingredient petrolatum (a.k.a. petroleum jelly).  An inexpensive, effective sealant that traps moisture, petrolatum is well tolerated by people who have irritable skin and is a choice dry-skin remedy of dermatologists, says Valori Treloar, M.D., of Newton, MA. While petrolatum may contain trace impurities of a class of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) \u2014 probable carcinogens \u2014 manufacturers can eliminate the contaminants via a chemical process, says Nneka Leiba, a senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group. &amp;quot;The petrolatum grade used in cosmetics undergoes strict purification,&amp;quot; says Romanowski. Still, a 2001 study found tiny quantities of a few PAHs in multiple petroleum jelly brands. The risk, if any, is contested, but if you&amp;#039;re concerned, minimize exposure to PAHs by choosing cosmetics without petrolatum, petroleum jelly, or mineral oil on their labels. 4. PHTHALATES These multipurpose chemicals are used in cosmetics to reduce brittleness in nail polish, make fragrances last longer, and more. Two common ones: DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEHP (di [2-ethylhexyl] phthalate). In studies on lab rats, certain phthalates have been shown to have &amp;quot;an anti-testosterone effect linked to testicular changes, liver injuries, and cancer,&amp;quot; says Dr. Treloar. In addition, male rats exposed to phthalates in utero have been born with reproductive-system defects. To protect consumers, the European Union has banned DBP, DEHP, and a third phthalate, BBP, in cosmetics; closer to home, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has placed DBP and DEHP on a list of chemicals that may present a hazard to humans. (In the U.S., DBP, DEHP, and BBP have been banned from children&amp;#039;s toys in amounts greater than .1%.) Moreover, a recent study of 319 mother-and-child pairs from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health showed a link between higher phthalate exposure in utero and slower development, including motor delays and increased behavioral problems. The good news: If you&amp;#039;re concerned about phthalates in cosmetics (one of many sources of these chemicals) and/or wish to avoid them during pregnancy, manufacturers have reformulated products, particularly nail polish, to be DBP-free. (See more at right on phthalates in scents.)  5. SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES Formulas for scents, synthetic and natural, are closely guarded trade secrets, whether in a perfume or the fragrance of your favorite lotion. Manufacturers aren&amp;#039;t required to disclose ingredients (you&amp;#039;ll simply see &amp;quot;fragrance&amp;quot; on the ingredients list). So while synthetic fragrances and fragranced cosmetics may contain phthalates, you won&amp;#039;t be able to discern which ones. Nor will you be able to tell if a scent contains galaxolide or tonalide, synthetic musks thought to be endocrine disruptors. Doctors&amp;#039; main concern regarding scents is that they can cause an allergic reaction or dermatitis in sensitive skin \u2014 and that goes for natural fragrances, too. If you&amp;#039;re sensitive to fragranced products or want to avoid added phthalates (some of these chemicals may sneak in, for example, through the supply chain or in manufacturing), seek out the plentiful &amp;quot;fragrance-free&amp;quot; options in stores.  Next:   MASCARAS OUR MISSION: Natural mascaras are notorious for their so-so performance (flaking and smudging) and steep price tags. So GHRI set out to find the best of the bunch on store shelves \u2014 for $20 or less. HOW WE SCREENED: Our scientists first performed a lengthy evaluation of the ingredients in mascaras claiming to be natural. Any containing triethanolamine (an emulsifier), added parabens, or synthetic dyes, waxes, or fragrances were eliminated. THE WINNER: In a close race, Lavera Volume Mascara ($20, lavera.com) came in first. It oomphed up lashes without flaking, smudging, or eye irritation, reported testers. &amp;quot;It was easy to apply and didn&amp;#039;t clump on the brush,&amp;quot; said one.  HONORABLE MENTION: Second-place finisher 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara ($18, 100percentpure.com) scored for its pleasant scent. While it ranked a smidge behind Lavera in flaking and smudging, testers liked how it made their lashes look. &amp;quot;It added just a touch of darkness without being thick or goopy,&amp;quot; noted one. Next:   FACE MOISTURIZERS OUR MISSION: There&amp;#039;s no shortage of &amp;quot;natural&amp;quot; face moisturizers on the market. But which ones are free of controversial synthetics, feel good on your skin, and cost $20 or less? HOW WE SCREENED: After poring over labels, the lab cut any contenders containing added parabens, synthetic dyes or fragrances, or petrochemical-derived waxes or oils. Those remaining were each sent to 20 women, who rated qualities from scent to texture. THE WINNER: Women loved Nature&amp;#039;s Gate Rice Bran Moisturizer ($15, natures-gate.com), noting that the &amp;quot;very light and nongreasy texture&amp;quot; delivered immediate hydration and was absorbed quickly. &amp;quot;Several hours later, my skin still felt smooth,&amp;quot; said one volunteer.  HONORABLE MENTION: Acing second: Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion ($20, usa.weleda.com). While Nature&amp;#039;s Gate won kudos from testers for being fragrance-free, the two tied for going on smoothly and not irritating skin. Some volunteers preferred this heftier option: &amp;quot;It felt very rich and made my skin feel soft,&amp;quot; said one. Next:   TINTED LIP BALMS OUR MISSION: For women who want subtle lip color minus synthetics, natural tinted balms are a good option. To find out which performed best, our team evaluated the most affordable options \u2014 each $7 or less. HOW WE SCREENED: Our lab excluded any tinted balms containing added parabens, synthetic dyes or fragrances, or petrochemical-derived waxes or oils. The ones that made the cut were sent to testers, who weighed in on their feel, color, and moisturizing power. THE WINNER: It was a clean sweep: Burt&amp;#039;s Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($7, burtsbees.com) outperformed the competition in all categories, including leaving lips hydrated. &amp;quot;I really like the texture. It was neither too thick nor too thin, and it didn&amp;#039;t feel gooey \u2014 just comfortable,&amp;quot; said one volunteer.  HONORABLE MENTION: Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shimmer ($5, kissmyface.com) garnered good scores for its soft \u2014 yet still noticeable \u2014 shimmery hue and a refreshing smell. &amp;quot;It has not only a nice color, but a nice peppermint scent as well,&amp;quot; reported a tester. Learn about our Green Good Housekeeping Seal criteria for beauty products "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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