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I agree with everyone who has pointed out that these young women use an enormous quantity of products compared to most of us. I would also point out that from a statistician's point of view, a "study" that features only 2 subjects is no valid study at all. And I agree with Lauren that just because something is natural and comes from a plant, doesn't mean it's "safe" - just ask the family of anyone who died from eating poisonous mushrooms.
If you can look beyond the poor journalism for a moment, though, there are some points worth considering. Triclosan and parabens do present valid cause for concern. Phthalates are another unwholesome category of common substance.
It is proven fact that chemicals (healthy or otherwise) can be absorbed into the body through the skin - look how effective skin patches for birth control, smoking cessation, and other treatments have been. There was the one recent medical study where tea tree oil and lavender in personal care products were found to be absorbed into the body through the skin and cause gynecomastia in pre-adolescent boys.
My motive in posting this thread was to encourage people to educate themselves about the ingredients in the products they place on their skin/hair on a frequent basis, and to think about changing brands if their products contain substances that may be harmful with long-term, regular use. Was this particular experiment an example of well-executed scientific method? No, but the thoughts that it raises are valid ones for us to consider.
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