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The personal body-care aisles are crammed with products that bill
themselves as natural and organic, but Varon and buyers like her are
well aware that unless a product carries the green and white logo
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the product is not
certified organic. To qualify for the USDA seal, personal body-care
products must have an organic content level of at least 70 percent
and be free of preservatives in order to meet the stringent
standards set by the National Organic Program (NOP). But it’s
impossible for all body-care product makers to meet the standard,
which was originally devised for food products. Consider, for
example, the case of soap and shampoo. The production methods and
inclusion of water, which is not an ingredient that can be certified
as organic, make such products unable to qualify for the USDA
certification. Read more of the article from the Columbia News Service. |
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Many people have become very conscious of chemicals – they don’t
want them in their food, their water, their air, their home or their
skin care products. But sometimes chemicals are almost impossible to
avoid. First of all, be aware of the chemicals that are most
harmful: petroleum products such as mineral oil that clog the pores,
propylene glycol, sodium lauryl and laureth sulphate, Butylated
Hydroxyanisole, FD&C color pigments, formaldehyde, and fragrances
are good examples. These aren’t the only potentially dangerous
ingredients, but they are among the most common. And some are known
carcinogens. Read more of the article from the Skin Care Net. |
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Antioxidants: One of the problems with sunburns is the production of
free radicals. Studies have shown that sunburns cause a tremendous
increase in free radical production, and damage. Vitamins A, C and E
help destroy free radicals and heal the burn. Vitamin C also helps
reduce the possibility of scarring. Now that you’ve taken care of
the repair process, you’ll also need topical skin treatment for
immediate relief. Aloe vera works well for some, but you might also
try a shielding lotion. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer
protective layer of the skin to form a new layer that locks in
natural moisture – sunburn causes serious dehydration so you need
every drop you can get – and keeps out harsh chemicals and
pollutants that could cause further irritation. Read more of the article from the Skin Care Net. |
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The term "Natural" and "Organic" are not the same. The market is
full of body care products labeled "natural." Remember that natural
is an illusory marketing term not regulated by the government.
Organic products are made with ingredients grown without any
synthetic chemicals, sewage sludge or GMOs (genetically modified
organisms), and are third-party certified. Organic products
typically do not contain synthetic ingredients because you cannot
certify a synthetic as organic. "Certified organic" means that an
official certifying agency has approved the producer has grown and
handled the ingredients adhering to strict procedures. Read more of the article from the Organic Authority. |
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The cosmetics industry continues to make products with extremely
hazardous chemicals. The FDA claims that these products are safe
because they are not consumed orally. You would be amazed to find
what the FDA allows to be sold as long as it says, "for external use
only." Toxic chemicals on the skin quickly lead to toxic blood
in the body. The same is true with fragrance, hair color
products and all varieties of personal care products that contain
toxic chemicals. The next time you are shopping for any personal
care products, keep in mind a good rule I learned from Amazon John,
the founder of the Amazon Herb Company: Don't put anything on your
skin that you wouldn't eat. Read more of the article from the Natural News. |
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Environmental Working Group (EWG) released the results of a new
investigation that found literally hundreds of cosmetics sold in the
U.S. containing chemicals the industry itself has determined to be
unsafe even when used as directed. Many of the products lining the
shelves of stores in the U.S. actually included chemicals most other
countries have outright banned. In a letter to the head of FDA, EWG
protested the absence of public health, consumer and environmental
organizations at the meeting scheduled for Thursday of this week in
Brussels. Read more of the article from the Environmental Working Group. |
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Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50
definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest
integrated data resource of its kind. Why did a small nonprofit take
on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn't require companies to
test their own products for safety. Get started here to learn what's
in your personal and skin care products. Skin Deep by the Environmental Working Group offers a searchable database of products and harmful ingredients they contain. Click here. |
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"In my quest to live a more sustainable and organic lifestyle, one
of my goals has been to uncover and discover personal beauty
products that are organic and chemical free. You may wonder why I
add chemical free to my qualifications. You may think organic
products must be chemical free because they are organic, right?
Wrong. You would be surprised at the uses of the synthetic chemicals commonly found in cosmetic and personal care products. The same chemicals used in these products are used in industrial manufacturing processes to grease gears, clean industrial equipment and scour a cement floor. Chemicals used to clean industrial equipment may not be the safest choice with which to wash one’s face. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems that continue to rise in the human race." Read more of Laura Klein's My Quest for Organic Skincare at the OrganicAuthority.com. |
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"Natural, organic products are gentle on the inside, while
actively working on the outside to rejuvenate the skin. Consumers
are offered health and beauty products that are non-toxic and safe.
There is nowhere that you will find ingredients that will leave your
skin looking more gorgeous than in nature. The therapeutic powers of
Mother Earth have been used in the ancient traditions and customs of
our ancestors. Indulging the skin with these properties will repair,
protect, and enliven. The average woman applies 200 chemicals to her skin a day, 60 percent of which are absorbed into the blood stream. Research suggests that many of these chemicals are detrimental to one's health, and may be the culprits behind chronic skin conditions and other health complaints." Read more of Sheryl Waters article on Why Buy Organic Skin Care. |
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