This year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) turns 25! EWG is a national environmental health organization that uses game-changing, original research to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.

To celebrate this huge milestone, EWG is hosting a series of celebrations with EWG VERIFIED™. I celebrated my birthday, and their anniversary at the EWG VERIFIED™ healthy beauty pop-up in Washington, DC.

I was given the opportunity to speak with EWG staff and scientists and EWG VERIFIED™ brand representatives before the event opened to the general public. Experts from EWG answered questions about the program and educated attendees about what it means to be verified.

Here’s the EWG VERIFIED™ mark you should be on the lookout for when shopping for personal care products.

KEY TAKEAWAYS/WHY THE EWG VERIFIED™ MARK MATTERS

• 40 percent of women usually buy products free of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.
• It has been 80 years since Congress last passed legislation regulating the cosmetics industry.
• The average woman uses 12 personal products daily and is exposed to hundreds of chemicals – none of which are required to be tested for safety.
• Other countries have banned almost 1,300 ingredients from use in cosmetics. However, the United States has only banned 11.
• Cosmetics sold in the United States can contain:
  • 29 ingredients banned in Canadian cosmetics
  • 15 ingredients banned in European cosmetics
  • 55 ingredients not allowed in European hair dyes
  • 5 ingredients known to the State of California to cause cancer
  • 6 ingredients known to the state of California to be developmental toxins

In addition to our informative conversations, guests dined on plant-based, organic overnight oats, green juices, and citrus juices courtesy of Fruitive. Fruitive is the first certified organic fast casual restaurant in North America.

Additionally, I took home a wonderful gift bag full of clean personal care products! I’ll be sure to share my favorites in the near future