tkj25
Member
What are your keys to finding real all natural products? What are some good ones you've found?
I love all natural products. They are great for your hair, skin & body. Here are some guidelines i use for buying real organic and natural products:
1. read ingredient labels. this is the most important. the ingredients are absorbed into your body through your skin/follicles, so be mindful of what you're taking in. manufacturers are required by law to tell you what's in their products and the ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration on the label.
2. do some research. alot of cosmetics companies have jumped on the natural/organic bandwagon and have gotten slick about their marketing. like adding shea butter, carrot or olive oil to their product, but when you read the label the first or second ingredient is mineral oil (hidden as paraffin oil/liquid paraffin), and somewhere down the line you find the "magic organic ingredient" -- that's not cute. some good books to start with are what's in your cosmetics and natural organic hair and skin care by aubrey hampton.
3. if it has methyl paraben, or propyl paraben (PHBs) its not all natural. these are synthetic preservatives used in most commercial hair & skin products. look for natural alternatives like grapfruitseed extract (GSE), essential oils, vitamins A, C, or E, rosemary extract, salt, raw sugar and honey:
http://allnaturalbeauty.us/allnaturali.htm
this is not to say that synthetic products/ingredients can't be incorporated into your regime -- most cosmetics contain synthetics. some of my fav cheapies (aussie moist & trader joe's nourish spa) have botanical & synthetic ingredients -- it is to say be aware and be informed about what you're purchasing:
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/about/dictionary/a_diction.cfm
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/about/treat_10synth.cfm
I've ultimately settled on a regime that incorporates natural & synthetic products. i tried doing all all natural products but i found that:
1. natural products are usually more expensive because of higher quality ingredients, and i go through a lot of product
, so i had to find a suitable compromise. no-pooing with my aubrey conditioners was just washing money down the drain
i now mainly use my all naturals as leave ins. (aubrey organics rosa mosqueta or white camellia, burt's bees, sheago ... looking for more
) i found botanical, cheapie alternatives in retail stores like target (aussie moist), sally's (aura) and trader joe's (nourish spa) for no-pooing or leaving in.
2. all natural products can be harder to find. you usually have to go to a health or specialty store, or order online (shipping/waiting) -- which can make it less convenient. but it's definitley worth the time and effort it can take to get them.
... but when i do buy all natural products i want the real deal. i hold a special dislike for products that are marketed/touted as natural, yet contain all kinds of synthetic ingredients (subtitled in french or latin of course), then have the nerve to charge an arm-and-a-leg for their products because it contains cold-pressed elderberry vapors & monkey tears
erplexed.
Quality all natural products will cost more, but they shouldn't kill your pocketbook. Just read the label to make sure you're paying for the real deal and not the hype.
I found this great pdf loaded with thorough guidelines for buying natural and organic products:
https://www.onegrp.com/resources/General/OandNatLivCosmeticsarticleOct05.pdf
excerpt:
"As the number of people who are concerned about toxins in our environment grows, more and more cosmetic companies are seen to be jumping on the natural and organic bandwagon. But what does natural and organic mean when we see it on a product label? How do we know what we are buying is really natural and organic? What are the natural
alternatives to synthetic chemicals? And is natural really better for us?
Our skin is the largest eliminatory organ in the body. It is a two-way membrane. Toxins are eliminated through the skin via perspiration and absorbed through the skin, into the body's systemic circulation, through
hair follicles and sebaceous glands (not through sweat glands). One square inch of skin contains 65 hairs, 100 sebaceous glands, and 650 sweat glands.
Cosmetic manufacturers are not supposed to claim that their products penetrate our skin. If they did, the products would then be
labelled a 'drug' and henceforth be governed by much stricter regulations. This is both good and bad. Good because it means your skin can be nourished from the outside with some wonderful ingredients. Bad because it
means some cosmetic manufacturers can put into their products what would never be allowed to be taken orally, but are still absorbed into our system, through our skin.
Fortunately, there is a very simple way to differentiate between hype and truth in cosmetics - and that is to read the ingredient list on the label. It is a legal requirement that all skin care products must be labelled with the ingredients in descending order of their quantity in the product. A good rule of thumb is to divide the ingredients list into thirds: the top third usually contains 90-95% of the product, the middle third usually contains 5-8% and the bottom third, 1-3%.
WHAT ARE THE NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS?
EMOLLIENTS
Emollients serve two functions; they prevent dryness and protect the skin, acting as a barrier and healing agent. Water is the best emollient, but
because it evaporates quickly it is ineffective. It needs to be held on the skin by emollient oils in what is called an emulsion.
Some Natural Emollients
Plant Oils (eg. Jojoba, Avocado, Rosehip)
Shea, Cocoa and Jojoba Butters
HUMECTANTS
The main purpose of any cream is to keep the skin moist. Many conventional creams form a suffocating film on the skin to prevent moisture loss. Even a natural humectant, glycerin, actually attracts water from the air and surrounding tissue. It keeps the skin moist as long as there is sufficient moisture in the air. In a dry climate it actually draws moisture from the skin.
Some Natural Humectants
Lecithin
Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5)
Glycerin
EMULSIFIERS
Emulsifiers hold two ingredients together that normally don’t mix. This can either be a physical substance (like a wax) or a physical action (shake well before use!). Synthetic emulsifiers are usually petroleum/hydrocarbon derivatives and can be allergens. Natural emulsifiers are obtained from various nuts, berries and leaves.
Some Natural Emulsifiers
Plant Waxes (eg. Candelilla, Carnauba, Jojoba,
Rice Bran)
Xanthan Gum
Quince Seed
SURFACTANTS
Surface-active-agents are substances capable of dissolving oils and holding dirt in suspension so it can be rinsed away with water. They are used in
skin cleansers and shampoos.
Some Natural Surfactants
Castile Soap
Yucca Extract
Soapwort
Quillaja Bark Extract
PRESERVATIVES
The decaying process is natural and happens with or without preservatives. Skin care products do not (and should not) last for ever. Just like food, all natural skin care products will eventually deteriorate and go rancid. The effectiveness, not safety, of synthetic chemical preservatives has only been “proven” by animal testing. Synthetic chemical preservatives are generally used because they are much cheaper than, and extend the shelf life of the product more than natural alternatives. Storing natural products in the fridge will help extend their life.
Some Natural Preservatives
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Thyme Essential Oil
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Bitter Orange Extract
I love all natural products. They are great for your hair, skin & body. Here are some guidelines i use for buying real organic and natural products:
1. read ingredient labels. this is the most important. the ingredients are absorbed into your body through your skin/follicles, so be mindful of what you're taking in. manufacturers are required by law to tell you what's in their products and the ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration on the label.
2. do some research. alot of cosmetics companies have jumped on the natural/organic bandwagon and have gotten slick about their marketing. like adding shea butter, carrot or olive oil to their product, but when you read the label the first or second ingredient is mineral oil (hidden as paraffin oil/liquid paraffin), and somewhere down the line you find the "magic organic ingredient" -- that's not cute. some good books to start with are what's in your cosmetics and natural organic hair and skin care by aubrey hampton.
3. if it has methyl paraben, or propyl paraben (PHBs) its not all natural. these are synthetic preservatives used in most commercial hair & skin products. look for natural alternatives like grapfruitseed extract (GSE), essential oils, vitamins A, C, or E, rosemary extract, salt, raw sugar and honey:
http://allnaturalbeauty.us/allnaturali.htm
this is not to say that synthetic products/ingredients can't be incorporated into your regime -- most cosmetics contain synthetics. some of my fav cheapies (aussie moist & trader joe's nourish spa) have botanical & synthetic ingredients -- it is to say be aware and be informed about what you're purchasing:
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/about/dictionary/a_diction.cfm
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/about/treat_10synth.cfm
I've ultimately settled on a regime that incorporates natural & synthetic products. i tried doing all all natural products but i found that:
1. natural products are usually more expensive because of higher quality ingredients, and i go through a lot of product
, so i had to find a suitable compromise. no-pooing with my aubrey conditioners was just washing money down the drain i now mainly use my all naturals as leave ins. (aubrey organics rosa mosqueta or white camellia, burt's bees, sheago ... looking for more) i found botanical, cheapie alternatives in retail stores like target (aussie moist), sally's (aura) and trader joe's (nourish spa) for no-pooing or leaving in.2. all natural products can be harder to find. you usually have to go to a health or specialty store, or order online (shipping/waiting) -- which can make it less convenient. but it's definitley worth the time and effort it can take to get them.
... but when i do buy all natural products i want the real deal. i hold a special dislike for products that are marketed/touted as natural, yet contain all kinds of synthetic ingredients (subtitled in french or latin of course), then have the nerve to charge an arm-and-a-leg for their products because it contains cold-pressed elderberry vapors & monkey tears
erplexed. Quality all natural products will cost more, but they shouldn't kill your pocketbook. Just read the label to make sure you're paying for the real deal and not the hype.
I found this great pdf loaded with thorough guidelines for buying natural and organic products:
https://www.onegrp.com/resources/General/OandNatLivCosmeticsarticleOct05.pdf
excerpt:
"As the number of people who are concerned about toxins in our environment grows, more and more cosmetic companies are seen to be jumping on the natural and organic bandwagon. But what does natural and organic mean when we see it on a product label? How do we know what we are buying is really natural and organic? What are the natural
alternatives to synthetic chemicals? And is natural really better for us?
Our skin is the largest eliminatory organ in the body. It is a two-way membrane. Toxins are eliminated through the skin via perspiration and absorbed through the skin, into the body's systemic circulation, through
hair follicles and sebaceous glands (not through sweat glands). One square inch of skin contains 65 hairs, 100 sebaceous glands, and 650 sweat glands.
Cosmetic manufacturers are not supposed to claim that their products penetrate our skin. If they did, the products would then be
labelled a 'drug' and henceforth be governed by much stricter regulations. This is both good and bad. Good because it means your skin can be nourished from the outside with some wonderful ingredients. Bad because it
means some cosmetic manufacturers can put into their products what would never be allowed to be taken orally, but are still absorbed into our system, through our skin.
Fortunately, there is a very simple way to differentiate between hype and truth in cosmetics - and that is to read the ingredient list on the label. It is a legal requirement that all skin care products must be labelled with the ingredients in descending order of their quantity in the product. A good rule of thumb is to divide the ingredients list into thirds: the top third usually contains 90-95% of the product, the middle third usually contains 5-8% and the bottom third, 1-3%.
WHAT ARE THE NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS?
EMOLLIENTS
Emollients serve two functions; they prevent dryness and protect the skin, acting as a barrier and healing agent. Water is the best emollient, but
because it evaporates quickly it is ineffective. It needs to be held on the skin by emollient oils in what is called an emulsion.
Some Natural Emollients
Plant Oils (eg. Jojoba, Avocado, Rosehip)
Shea, Cocoa and Jojoba Butters
HUMECTANTS
The main purpose of any cream is to keep the skin moist. Many conventional creams form a suffocating film on the skin to prevent moisture loss. Even a natural humectant, glycerin, actually attracts water from the air and surrounding tissue. It keeps the skin moist as long as there is sufficient moisture in the air. In a dry climate it actually draws moisture from the skin.
Some Natural Humectants
Lecithin
Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5)
Glycerin
EMULSIFIERS
Emulsifiers hold two ingredients together that normally don’t mix. This can either be a physical substance (like a wax) or a physical action (shake well before use!). Synthetic emulsifiers are usually petroleum/hydrocarbon derivatives and can be allergens. Natural emulsifiers are obtained from various nuts, berries and leaves.
Some Natural Emulsifiers
Plant Waxes (eg. Candelilla, Carnauba, Jojoba,
Rice Bran)
Xanthan Gum
Quince Seed
SURFACTANTS
Surface-active-agents are substances capable of dissolving oils and holding dirt in suspension so it can be rinsed away with water. They are used in
skin cleansers and shampoos.
Some Natural Surfactants
Castile Soap
Yucca Extract
Soapwort
Quillaja Bark Extract
PRESERVATIVES
The decaying process is natural and happens with or without preservatives. Skin care products do not (and should not) last for ever. Just like food, all natural skin care products will eventually deteriorate and go rancid. The effectiveness, not safety, of synthetic chemical preservatives has only been “proven” by animal testing. Synthetic chemical preservatives are generally used because they are much cheaper than, and extend the shelf life of the product more than natural alternatives. Storing natural products in the fridge will help extend their life.
Some Natural Preservatives
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Thyme Essential Oil
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Bitter Orange Extract
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i just wish they carried more products like them at sally's & such. but i'll go out of my way to get them. i used to go to ricky's naturals in soho, but they closed it
I may try out some more of their stuff when I finish what I have.
i had to remind myself it's going on my hair too.
!
So you like Oyinhandmade Whipped Pudding? That's what I want to get soon. Burnt Sugar is the pomade, I just couldn't remember the name. Well, I most definitely have to try those out then.
