Some sources estimate that more than 12,000 chemical ingredients are used in cosmetics, of which fewer than 20% have been reviewed for safety. There are no laws in the United States to regulate chemicals in cosmetic products; it is up to us individually to decide on the safety of a particular product. The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database (www.ewg.org/skindeep) has ratings for more than 68,000 products from approximately 3,000 brands. Each product is rated on a scale of 0 to 10 for the level of hazard (low, moderate, high) and data availability for the ingredients.
Evaluate the website and work with the information to answer the following questions:
Is this a reliable information source? Does it have a clear and transparent agenda?
Who runs this website? Do the credentials of the organization running the site make the information presented reliable or unreliable? Explain.
What is the mission of this website? What are its underlying values? How do you know this?
What data sources does EWG rely on, and what methodology does the organization employ in constructing its databases? Are the sources EWG uses reliable?
Identify a claim made on this website. Is there sufficient evidence provided in support of this claim? Are there any logical fallacies used? Explain.
Do you agree with EWG’s assessment of the problems with and concerns about cosmetics and other personal care products? What about its solutions? Explain.
Select one of your favorite personal care products that is listed on the EWG website:
Check out the company website for that product. What sort of information about the product and its ingredients does the company website offer? Does the company employ any logical fallacies in talking about the product or its ingredients? Is the information provided useful to you as a consumer? Explain your responses.
How do the two websites (Skin Deep and the company website) compare in providing useful and reliable information about your particular product? Explain.
Search the Skin Deep website for alternative brands that have a safer rating than your personal care product. Are there other choices? Would you consider switching your brand? Explain.
Find an additional case study online at http://www.macmillanhighered.com/launchpad/saes2e