The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Claire pulls kids’ makeup containing asbestos from shelves after FDA tests

Claire, a mall chain store, is removing from shelves three talc-based products — eye shadows, compact powder, and contour powder — that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said earlier this week contain asbestos. Claire’s said it’s doing this "out of an abundance of caution."

FDA test results confirmed the findings of a U.S. PIRG Education Fund study last year that discovered asbestos in Claire’s compact and contour powders. Talc is a substance that sometimes contains naturally-occurring asbestos, and Claire’s said it was "also removing any remaining talc based cosmetic products."

"While we are relieved that children will no longer be able to buy three asbestos-containing cosmetics at Claire's, we urge Claire's to take stronger action with these products,” said Kara Cook-Schultz, toxics program director for U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “Many consumers still have these dangerous products on their shelves at home. Parents and kids should be informed about the problems with the makeup they purchased."

The FDA is advising consumers not to use these products.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

The best and worst super bowl ads of 2019

For years, I’ve written about the Super Bowl ads because they get so much attention. Since so many of them have been violent, ageist, and sexist, I think it’s something that consumers need to know about.

However, this year, before I evaluate the ads, I need to comment on the NFL’s attempts to smooth over its botch response to black athletes kneeling when the national anthem is played to protest police brutality and racism.

Dr. Bernice A. King, the youngest child of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, came out on the field before Super Bowl LIII for the coin toss. Two civil rights leaders, Ambassador Andrew Young and U.S. Representative John Lewis, joined by her.

Facts and figures for the 2018 holidays

It’s that time of year. The holidays are upon us. Hanukkah has been celebrated and today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the least daylight and the longest night. Christmas is approaching rapidly as is Kwanzaa, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Celebrants

Nine-in-ten Americans — and 95 percent of Christians — say they celebrate Christmas, according to a Pew Research Center survey. These figures have generally held steady in recent years. Today, 46 percent of Americans say they celebrate Christmas as primarily a religious rather than cultural holiday.

Top 10 stores for Cyber Monday shopping

Cyber Monday isn't just for Black Friday leftovers. Some of the year's best sales will take place on Monday, Nov. 26. So, you may want to save part of your holiday shopping budget for Cyber Monday deals.

Which stores will be offering the best savings? DealNews.com offers 10 suggestions, based on the best sales last year from Cyber Monday and the Sunday before.

1. Amazon

Best for: Gaming, toys, home, and almost anything else you can buy online

While plenty of other retailers offer Cyber Monday sales, none of them match Amazon's. Last year, DealNews.com saw three times as many Cyber Monday deals at Amazon as the next highest retailer.

Beauty, personal care, and cleaning products contain secret fragrance chemicals linked to cancer, report shows

Companies don’t put all chemical ingredients on the label, the “Right to Know: Exposing Toxic Fragrance Chemicals in Beauty, Personal Care and Cleaning Products,” a report by the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners or BCPP says.

In addition, companies often don’t tell consumers about fragrance chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive harm, and respiratory problems.

“BCPP’s report reveals that when we use common beauty and personal care products, we are exposed to a shocking number of unlabeled, unregulated toxic fragrance chemicals without our knowledge or consent,” said Janet Nudelman, director of program and policy at BCPP and director of BCPP's Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Allure hair dryers recalled by Xtava due to fire, burn, and electrical shock hazards

Xtava is recalling about 235,000 Allure and Allure Pro hair dryers.

The hair dryer and power cord can overheat and catch on fire, posing fire, burn, and electrical shock hazards.

The company has received 193 reports of the hair dryers or power cords overheating, melting, exploding, or catching fire, including 18 reports of burns and two reports of a minor electrical shock. Four of the reported burn incidents resulted in a blister to the hand, wrist, or finger. One consumer reported a severe burn.

Watch out for online nanny and caregiving job scams

Finding a new job can be a challenge. Websites can help you find work, but scammers also use these sites to find people to rip off.

Do you look for work on caregiver/nanny job sites? Sometimes scammers will offer a job but say you need to buy supplies or other equipment, said Carol Kando-Pineda, attorney for the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Consumer and Business Education. They pressure you to act quickly, before you have time to think. They send you a check and tell you to deposit it and transfer money to their vendor to buy the supplies.

Don’t do it — scammers post fake job listings for nannies and caregivers, then make up elaborate stories to get your money, Kando-Pineda said. The positions seem real, but they’re not — it’s a scam. The check will bounce. So, the money you sent is actually your own — and it’s gone.

Boomers: Still keepin’ on

 

Fifty years ago, 1968 was a tumultuous year for baby boomers. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated. Students all over the world protested the Vietnam War, and Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon.

Next year, will be the 50^th anniversary of Woodstock. How time flies.

Meanwhile, boomer bloggers keep on writing. This week they’re reporting on how to deal with trauma, change and how to keep a positive attitude, inexpensive ways to reduce your environmental footprint, how airport travel is all about hurry up and wait, nontoxic skin care, and healing candles infused with crystals and botanicals.

Carol Cassara of Heart·Mind·Soul describes these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #556. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure and join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What’s the latest on the Zika virus?

In 2018, no local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission has been reported in the continental United States.

Where you live, your travel history, and the travel history of your sex partners can affect your chances of getting Zika, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many people infected with Zika won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. However, a pregnant woman, even one without symptoms, can pass Zika to her developing fetus. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.

Rodan + Fields needs to remove misleading claims from its website, environmental group says

The Environmental Working Group is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and California's attorney general to stop Rodan + Fields from making misleading claims about benzophenone, a chemical that has been linked to cancer. 

Rodan + Fields tells consumers to click on a link which, the company claims, provides the FDA’s views on benzophenone.   

However, the link actually leads consumers to a website operated by the Personal Care Products Council, an industry trade group.