Congratulations!! You are pregnant! This is one of the most exciting and special times in a woman’s life. Now it's time to plan for a safe pregnancy. http://www.vsacharmd.com/

1. Why is Non-toxic, Safe Makeup in Pregnancy Important?
Congratulations!! You are pregnant! This is one of the most exciting and special times in a
woman’s life. Now it's time to plan for a safe pregnancy.
Everybody is concerned about toxins. Pesticides, cigarette smoke, pollution, bisphenol A (BPA),
organic, gluten-free...these phrases are thrown at us countless times per day in magazine ads,
news reports and commercials.
What about in pregnancy? What should you do? Does it matter?
In 2004, and 2009, two different studies from the Environmental Working Group examined
newborn’s blood, and found over 200+ toxins in newborn’s blood! Some of these toxins were
pesticides, Bisphenol A, mercury, some are known to cause cancer, and some are known to be
neurotoxic. The babies were exposed in utero to these chemicals directly from the mother’s
exposure.
Some of these toxins can have an immediate affect, such as low birth weight. But some cause
problems later in the child's life. There is a phenomenon called bioaccumulation,

2. where small amounts of toxin are absorbed, but as the baby grows, these small amounts build up
and become toxic to the child.
These toxins can come from multiple sources; food, air, and even makeup.
A healthy environment is important during pregnancy. In a recent study released in February 2013,
it was found that pregnant women who were living in cities with higher pollution were more likely
to give birth to underweight babies. Clearly, exposure to a high toxin burden, can adversely affect
your babies growth.
What about toxin exposure through skin? Is your makeup safe for your pregnancy?
In March 2013 the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act was introduced in the US
Congress. It aims to ensure that all personal care products are safe by establishing a system to
assess the safety of makeup and cosmetic ingredients and to phase out the most harmful

3. substances that are suspected of causing cancer, reproductive harm or other adverse health
effects. Toxin exposure in makeup has got the attention of the US Government!
Did you know that there is lead in many brands of makeup in the USA today! The lead content
comes from the use of dyes to give color. The FDA tested commonly used lipsticks and reported
their findings in this detailed report:
http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/productinformation/ucm137224.htm.
This report will surprise you!! There is no safe level of lead. Lead should not be in any of our
products. Even though the individual amounts in each lipstick maybe small, a phenomenon of
bioaccumulation occurs. This is when repeated levels of low amounts,build up over time, and can
become toxic levels. In pregnancy, lead can be transferred to the fetus as early as the first
trimester, and is associated with neurodevelopment delay.
We carefully choose every ingredient to ensure that there is no lead in any of our products.
How can a fetus get exposed to toxins in makeup? This is described as transdermal absorption or
across the skin absorption.
Figure 1: Chemical Absorption by Fetus
After the chemicals pass through the skin, they get absorbed into the bloodstream. The mothers
blood directly goes to the baby along with nourishment, oxygen etc. The mother’s blood goes to
Skin
Blood stream
Placenta
Fetus
Absorption in bloodstream
Finds its way into Placenta
Gets to the fetus
Chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream

4. the placenta which is the interface between the mom and the baby. Nourishment, oxygen and
other substances get transferred to the placenta, and then from the placenta to the baby via the
umbilical cord.
Chemicals found in cosmetics have
been found to affect both the
mother and the baby in a number
of ways. Most commonly, they
interfere with hormonal balance
amounting to what is commonly
known as endocrine disruption.
This can occur in the mother, and the baby. For instance, in pregnancy, exposure to parabens, and
phthalates may be associated with reproductive anomalies in the baby later in life. For the
mother, prolonged exposure to certain chemicals such as parabens may be associated with breast
cancer. The European Union classifies pthalates as a suspected endocrine disruptor on the basis of
evidence that it interferes with hormone function, and as toxic to reproduction on the basis that it
may cause harm to the unborn child and impair fertility. As well, Health Canada notes evidence
suggesting that exposure to phthalates may cause health effects such as liver and kidney failure in
young children when products containing phthalates are sucked or chewed for extended periods.
Parabens can mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone. They have been detected in
human breast cancer tissues, suggesting a possible association between parabens in cosmetics
and cancer. Parabens may also interfere with male reproductive functions.
You probably have parabens and a number of other toxins in your makeup, and aren't even aware!
Check the labels of your cosmetic products.
Figure 2: Fetal blood circulation

5. Pregnancy is the most important time to protect yourself agains toxin exposure. Limit yourself
from pesticides by washing all produce, don't expose yourself to pollution and cigarette smoke,
and try to choose safe makeup.
Now there is a safe makeup alternative for pregnant women. To give women a choice in their
makeup, I have created the world's only safe, non-toxic makeup exclusively for pregnancy. I have
removed potential toxins, lead,allergens, and irritants from our ingredients. This is the world's
safest makeup for the mother AND the baby. We feel that our makeup is the best natural, and
toxin free makeup that is safe in pregnancy. Go to www.VSACHARMD.com to get more
information.
References:

6. - Environmental working group website – www.ewg.org
- Food and drug association website – www.fda.gov
(http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/productinformation/ucm1
37224.htm)
- Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 5th
ed. – David L. Nelson, Michael M. Co
- National toxicology program website – http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov
- Pharmaceutical Practice 4th
ed. – A. J. Winfield, J. A. Rees
- Pharmacology (Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews) – Richard A. Harvey
- CDC Report on Human Exposure to PFCs –