A discussion of the environmental health impacts of beauty & personal care products with Dr. Ami Zota, scientist, professor, and founder of Agents of Change in Environmental Justice at Columbia University. In this episode, we discuss toxic ingredients, colorism, hair discrimination, beauty standards, health outcomes, routes of exposure, policy solutions and more. Dr. Zota shares her framework on these challenges: the environmental injustice of beauty.

Connect with Dr. Zota:

Ami Zota - Associate Professor -  LinkedIn

Agents of Change in Environmental Justice

Podcasts - Agents Of Change

Resources:

Clearya

EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Black Beauty Project

Taking Stock Study

Black Women for Wellness

Think Dirty

Made Safe

COSMOS-standard

United Nations Convention Agrees to Phase Mercury Out of Cosmetics by 2025 

Toxic Free Products | WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Mercury in Soaps and Creams - NYC Health

CROWN Act

Washington state now has the nation’s strongest law against toxic cosmetics | Grist

Mercury in Soaps and Creams - NYC Health

12 Ingredients To Avoid In Cosmetics & Skin Care Products | mindbodygreen

You Have Fossil Fuels On Your Face - by Jessica DeFino

BLK + GRN

Sources:

Countries unite to remove mercury from hazardous skin lightening products

Skin Whitening: The global market, the risks and who makes and sells the products 

Black Women Face Disproportionate Risks From Largely Unregulated Toxic Substances in Beauty and Personal Care Products

A New Law Regulating the Cosmetics Industry Expands the FDA’s Power But Fails to Ban Toxic Chemicals in Beauty Products - Inside Climate News

Credits:

Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan
Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little