Until she citess some peer reviewed scientific publications, I would take every thing Paula Begoun says with a huge grain of salt. Everything she says has its basis in fact, but I think she vastly overstates the effect on your skin from the amount of exposure you get through a cosmetic to menthol or other rubefacients.
Peer reviews have unfortunately become worthless as science is less science and more propaganda. For almost every peer reviewed article stating one thing I can find another peer reviewed article that says the exact opposite. True science is a rare commodity these days and hard to find because it doesn't necessarily produce big profits.
I did a tiny bit of checking up on this woman and found out that she has zero medical or chemistry-related education. She is an ex-make up artist turned consumer advocate who happens to have her own product line (slight contradiction there). Anyway I wouldn't for a second put ANY stock in this lady's claims. She has written a few best sellers on the cosmetics industry where she shamelessly promotes HER products! Whoa no way!! Yes way! So before you throw any fine italian product in the trash do a little thinking of your own.