Harmful Cosmetics

     Lewis and I watched the NYC Channel 1 morning news and observed an episode about how many chemicals exist in cosmetics.  Apparently, there is a federal loophole specifically for cosmetics (which is a HUGE industry), that doesn't require pre-market testing.  Things like lotion, nail polish, shampoo, "revitalizing mists", and hairspray are allowed to be put on humans without it.  Those items--many of which are water-based--are "cash cows" for makers and middle-man distributors. 

     In fact, many of those chemical ingredients used freely/daily in America are banned in the European Union!  The European Union bans 1,300 such ingredients, while USA bans only 11!  That means that dozens of independent nations coordinated and agreed to ban those things, and ours didn't. 

     Beauticians are in contact with higher dosages, and the ones working in big cities statistically have the lowest wages.  Which is odd.  A city like NYC has $4 coffee, but only $10 manicures.  Why?  The discount price comes out of the workers' wages.  

     Why do they tolerate that?  Because the workers are afraid to object; they were funneled into this country and into those jobs.  Have you ever noticed how many NY beauty shops are staffed with Asian employees?  It's tremendously high (with a shift from Korean to Chinese).  I have known several Asian individuals who's relatives worked in "beauty".  I suppose that there is "baron" in certain countries who dictates what industry the local population will get "assigned/human-trafficked" into.  That theory might explain why NYC cab drivers are predominantly one nationality, deli owners are another, beauty shop workers are another, Dunkin' Doughnut store employees are another, and 711 store employees are another.  Historically, Irish were sent to be cops and maids, Mexicans sent for landscaping, and Chinese to laundries.  It's like saying that if you're from Kentucky, you're going to be a truck driver, and if you're from Oregon, you're going to be a bricklayer.  

     Yet, do you think that the beauticians at NBC Studios or NYC Fashion Week are predominately Asian?  Probably not.

     Perhaps, some stronger scrutiny on the "beauty" industries is in order; they might really belie ugliness.