Hey Taylor Swift, Tell Us What’s In Wonderstruck?
My eight-year-old daughter went to a birthday party recently and came home with a bag full of goodies inspired by the “spa day” theme. Now, most moms might see a little stash of perfume roll-ons and thank their lucky stars their daughters grew out of the Webkins phase. To me, finding tween beauty products in my baby’s overnight bag is like discovering she’d brought home bottles of poison. That’s why I’m asking her hero, Taylor Swift, to tell us exactly what’s in her bestselling Wonderstruck perfume so that parents everywhere can be sure it’s safe. Want to join me?
If Wonderstruck is safe, I’ll go out and buy it in bulk. But if it’s not, I hope that Taylor Swift will stop marketing poison to our girls. Because they’re the only future we have. We don’t know what’s in Wonderstruck because perfume formulations are considered trade secrets. But a study by the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics analyzed 17 of the market’s most popular perfumes and found that they contain, on average, 14 hazardous chemicals that aren’t listed on their labels. These chemicals can cause allergic reactions, reproductive damage and hormone disruption. (You can read more about toxic chemicals in perfumes in this definitive report from Women’s Voices for the Earth or click here to learn more about the Stink! documentary, which nails the subject in 90 minutes.)
Hormones are not something you want to disrupt in a young girl. Hormone disruption has been linked to early puberty, which is in turn linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. That’s why I started early educating my kids about artificial fragrances in personal care products and household cleaners, and demonstrating how easy it is to DIY your own natural perfumes from essential oils.
But perfumes like Wonderstruck are designed to capture a pre-tween’s heart by convincing her that using them is a first step towards womanhood. Enlisting megastars like Beyonce, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift is key.
Believe me, I know the power of T. Swizzle. Her music is beloved by every female member of our family. You have only to watch my girls and I singing off-key to “Trouble” on a recent road trip to see how happy her songs make us.
Along with 65 million others, I follow @TaylorSwift13 on Twitter. I love her FanPop page, where I found the photo of Taylor at the Wonderstruck launch. And I appreciate that she stands up for artists’ rights, and how she seems to truly love her fans—especially the young girls like my daughters who love her right back.
So I believe that she’ll listen, and share with us exactly what’s in Wonderstruck. If it’s safe, I’ll go out and buy it in bulk. But if it’s not, I hope that Taylor Swift will stop marketing poison to our girls.
Because they’re the only future we have.
Want to join me? Please tweet this:
Thanks!
10 Comments
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RC
I hope she will tell what’s in it. When I was young I was pesticide poisoned and as a result of that, I am somewhat like a canary in the coal mines…. that is, I am sensitive to the chemicals in the room often long before others. As a result, I often find large gatherings uncomfortable since I am literally surrounded by chemical laden people in chemical laden clothes and within minutes feel like I have to leave, start to feel sick. This is especially true when people are all dressed up and have on their perfumes!! They walk by me and leave a trail of scent full of who knows what!! It can be very frustrating to try and get them to understand that what smells good is not necessarily good for us. Many people seem to think that they are just flowers and herbs in alcohol and just dont want to know more than that!
Rachel Sarnoff
Oh I agree with this comment so much! It’s especially problematic when people wear perfume to yoga. Ugh! Thanks for sharing, RC.
Michelle
I’d really like to know what’s in it since I’m vegan and was given a bottle of it when she was on Ellen after it first came out. The “parting gift” has been sitting on my dresser ever since.
Rachel Sarnoff
Me too! I think the only non-vegan element in perfume is usually musk, but I could be wrong there, too. But there are a WHOLE lot of chemicals we should know about. Thanks for commenting, Michelle!
Chris Goddard
I feel exactly the same, instead of “ooh how fun” when I see those “goodie bags” come home, all I can think of is “oh, how toxic”. Great idea Rachel, hope we can find out what’s in her perfume. Love TS too.
Rachel Sarnoff
Right? The curse of the informed mom. Thanks for sharing, Chris!
erin hayes weibel
please create a law that will require the perfume industry to properly label and disclose all ingredients in fragrances. consumers should have full disclosure and access to ingredient lists allowing them to make informed choices about their personal care products.
Rachel Sarnoff
Totally! I agree 100%!