The Story of Cosmetics - A Powerful Video from the Story of Stuff Project

Comment

Comment by Gbawu on July 26, 2010 at 5:35pm

Listening to this presentation, I am inclined to say that the current generation can give such advices to the younger ones who still have time to depollute their system. The older ones are far advanced in using these products and there is noway we can reverse that action. Let us pass the idea unto the young ones so that they walk rather circumspectly than their forebears did. The evil is our past consumption had not been advised by wisdom but the sheer desire to look or appear fashionable! But could these companies pay damages now that they have done so terribly?

Comment by Abiola Ogunsola on July 24, 2010 at 12:21pm

I really like this very nice and very useful lesson.

Here is a story that emphasises the point.

When my son was born I was given a basket of promotional baby cosmetics (bath wash, shampoo and cream etc.) as well as a variety of baby food products at the hospital! A few weeks later my lovely new baby had the beginnings of a rash that was very scary to a new mother. Fortunately, for me, I was put in touch with a Jamaican herbalist who told me to ditch the baby cosmetics and, as I was breastfeeding, make sure I ate lots of greens and fresh oranges. The rash soon went.

24 years later, I noticed a range of mens cosmetics appearing in our bathroom. I warned against them ... but what do Mums know about now!?! 'They smell nice' 'they are on offer' 'everybody uses them', 'they would not be allowed to sell them if they were dangerous'.

I was on a trip away from home when my son developed a rash that made him miserable. A trip to the doctor for a prescription solution was comforting but I know it was ditching the shower gels that eventually got him his lovely skin back.

So that they were not a total waste, I used the shower gels to wash my feet after our martial arts class, The floors there are filthy but the class is lovely. My son teaches it.

The only problem with this video is that it implies these practices are under control in Europe. We live in London and my son is still 24. This was therefore a recent repeat of an important lesson.