If you were to ask me about a foreign-sounding food ingredient there’s a good shot I would be able to tell you what it is. I can also explain which produce is more pesticide-laden and why you shouldn’t be drinking from a plastic water bottle (if you’re using one right now, you’re busted). Until a couple of years ago there was a large discrepancy between my knowledge of what goes in our bodies and that which goes on our bodies. In many ways “green” changes when it comes to food are easier ones. An organic apple simply tastes better. When it comes to body products, some of the more natural choices do not work as well. I test-drove many lotions and potions and thought I’d share my favorite finds. And because I do not consider myself an authority on these products I interviewed two women who are.
I read about Odacite’ in a magazine and was taken my Valerie’s story. Valerie was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently made many sweeping life changes. She learned that some of the greatest exposure to toxins occurs with our personal care products. Even her expensive French moisturizer was chock full of chemicals. Odacite’s products use only the best, organic ingredients and they are made fresh for each customer. This lotion kept my skin hydrated for the entire ski season last year.
I first tried these products in Sag Harbor at one of my favorite stores Wellnest. This spray is fantastic after you wash your face in the morning and I also use it after hot yoga. Tata Harper’s skincare was founded on the idea “that women no longer need to sacrifice their health to look and feel beautiful.” All of her products are produced on her farm in Vermont.
I’ll admit I feel like a bit of a hypocrite talking about natural hair care. I’m pretty sure what’s making this head blonde is far from organic. I’m not proud of that. Despite the highlights, I was on a mission to ameliorate my chemical exposure. My friend and fellow dietitian Ashley Koff tweeted about Rahua and it caught my attention. I’ll tell you that Rahua isn’t just my favorite organic hair care; it’s the best hair care line I’ve ever used. If only Rahua could make me blonde without bleach, I’d be thrilled.
I don’t wear polish on my nails anymore because it grossed me out when I was cooking. I didn’t want “ballet slippers” in my smoothies or families’ meals. Because my runner’s feet need all the help they can get, I was excited to experiment with Spa Ritual. Spa Ritual’s polishes are free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP.
Valerie and Tata were kind enough to answer some of my questions. Their answers may help you choose better products.
What are your top 3 evil ingredients when it comes to topical products?
Valerie:
- Parabens- are the most widely used preservatives in personal care products. These synthetic chemicals are hormone disruptors. Medical concern is raised as many studies show that parabens are linked to breast cancer. Studies also show parabens react with the sun and accelerate aging. So if you don’t do it for your health, toss them to avoid wrinkles.
- Fragrance- considered a trade secret manufacturers are not required to list ingredients in formulating their fragrance. Most are synthetic chemicals that can trigger allergies and disrupt hormone levels.
- SLS and SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphate)- are cheap detergents in many “foaming” cosmetics. They can cause damage to the heart, liver and lungs.
Tata’s top 3: Hydroquinone, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Parabens.
Note: hydroquinone is a skin-bleaching chemical that has caused tumor development in animal studies. The National Toxicology program is conducting reproductive toxicity studies of this chemical.
Parabens, according to the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer products, may cause reproductive and developmental disorders. The following ingredients indicate paraben presence:
methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, parahydroxybenzoic acid, parahydroxybenzoate. You cannot assume that a product labeled organic or natural is free of parabens some seemingly wholesome brands like Kiehls are paraben parties, sad.
methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, parahydroxybenzoic acid, parahydroxybenzoate. You cannot assume that a product labeled organic or natural is free of parabens some seemingly wholesome brands like Kiehls are paraben parties, sad.
If someone is just starting to consider what goes “on their body” is there one place or product you would suggest they start?
Valerie: Great question, 60% of what you apply on your skin enters your bloodstream. The EWG showed that women are exposed to 200 chemicals every day from personal care products. I would say whatever you use the most of. Body lotion covers most of your skin. Lipstick would be second as women ingest 32 lbs. of lipstick in a lifetime and most are contaminated with lead. Shampoo and toothpaste are important too.
Tata: I would definitely start with body lotion because as women we generally apply it 2x a day and sometimes more frequently.
And finally, what do you say to people who say organic, chemical free products are too expensive?
Valerie: I say choosing organic is the best long-term investment you can make for yourself, your family and the planet. You can choose to support your local farmer who grows his product with care and integrity, you can choose to purchase from companies that make organic products and say no to chemical business or you can chose to support your MD. In the long term it is a lot less expensive to buy organic because your health is priceless.
Tata: High quality natural and organic ingredients are going to cost more than their synthetic alternatives; but when you think about this carefully natural ingredients are more compatible with our systems and don’t pose the potential health risk of the chemical ingredients so there’s really no comparison.
If you’re new to organic personal care products, start to read ingredients and avoid Valerie and Tata’s “evil 3’s”. And maybe start with one product, as they suggested, the one you use most. We also like Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, The Detox Market and Spirit Beauty Lounge.
Where do you stand with personal care products? Any natural companies you’d suggest? Are you willing to read product labels or make one organic/natural switch?
*Valerie from Odacite graciously offered to give away 3 of their discovery kits (includes 7 Odacite’ products) to our readers. Be sure to leave a comment below in order to be eligible.
And Tata Harper is giving one reader her floral essence (too bad I am ineligible).
*Valerie from Odacite graciously offered to give away 3 of their discovery kits (includes 7 Odacite’ products) to our readers. Be sure to leave a comment below in order to be eligible.
And Tata Harper is giving one reader her floral essence (too bad I am ineligible).
I love skin care products and am a sucker for spending $$$$$ on them! Andrew would keel over and die if he knew what kind of dough I drop on my face. But I rationalize that it is well worth it since I have to put it out there every single dang day! Face and hair have always been 2 places I am unabashed when it comes to pampering and splurging.
I want to try Valerie's lotion, do you know where they sell it? I bought the Tata Harper Rejuvinating Serum at Exhale when they first debuted there, and loved it. It's divine! Then, once it ran out I went to my derm and picked up a lotion there, didn't even consider ingredients because, well, he's a doctor so I assumed he'd be selling decent stuff. In true character I bought the most expensive of the 2 offered me by the sales girl. It was on par with Tata's serum, and after a couple weeks of using it and wondering what the odd fragrance was all about, I googled it up. Guess what it's made with? FETAL STEM CELLS!!!
Is that bad? It sounds pretty bad. I am of course finishing the bottle because it was on the upside of $150! But, I feel dirty.
As for the green stuff; I love Origins face masks and for body lotion, the stuff I get at my Natty Food store, "Natures Gate" body lotion.
Thanks Cameo, yes your face is worth it and no just because you get it in an derms office doesn't make it safe. That's a good distinction I'm glad you brought up. Natty Food Store prob safer but you still have to read.
I definitely use this database when I am looking for new makeup!! It helped me choose my foundation and my lotion, face wash, and toner. It's great. Even some of the products I thought would be in the "safe zone" were not. It was rather shocking.
I agree Gina, it's really hard to know what's safe. It's a good database. any great natural finds you want to share?
Thanks for this, i admit i don't know enough about these details! I am more aware of my cleaning products than my moisturizer 🙁
And your kitchen cleaners don't go on your skin. Makes me feel better you don't know enough justine as I know you are so careful about ingredients.
great post, I just found a treasure!!!
thanks for sharing and a big hello from Spain,
elena
Wow, this is really interesting. I've thought about this a bit but never really looked into it, so I really appreciate all the info!
Great post Lauren, and I'll admit, that although I avoid parvenus in skin care products, I'm definitely not 100% pure when it comes to beauty products. I'd love to try the lotion, and also the shampoo/conditioner. It seems all the "natural" products I've tried on my ( not so virgin) hair don't work so well. Will check out Rahua!
Parvenus or parabens? Maybe that was a spellcheck thing. Try Rahua, it's really great stuff.
Admittedly, my only effort in this realm is that I try to shop in the "Organics" section in Sephora. Never look at labels, though. And I get Chanel lipstick BECAUSE it tastes good (just like rosewater). After reading this, I did check the labels of my Caudalie products, and all seem rather clean. I'm terrified about checking the labels of my hair care, though. Can't even consider what hair color is doing to me. (Funny aside, a student asked me the other day about my natural hair color. I laughed and told her that I hadn't seen my natural color since the 1980s.)
Marie- I don't think you're alone and I think if we all start to read labels and ask questions and make gradual changes, there will be more and more food products to choose from. Natural hair color- mine could be green for all I know.
Seven years ago I had a website devoted to this very topic. The most difficult thing to find then was paraben-free mascara. It seems easier to find now, but I'm a skeptic about labels. I bought mine from a small company in Tennessee for years.
Have you tried spiritbeautylounge.com? Wow you were ahead of the curve for sure.
That is something I have been trying to switch over. Also, for me knowing that my products haven't been tested on animals and that the product is green is important.
I will definitely be switching over my lotion to start. Great post!
Great Kristen love to hear it. Let me know which lotion you switch to.
OMG! This is SUCH an important topic and one that I only started to get serious about earlier this year when my husband and I started talking about having a baby. I read a book called the complete organic pregnancy and I was appalled! I realized that most of the crap in my cupboards needed tossed! I first tried making my own shampoo..just baking soda and water. It worked really well but I DO want to experiment with different variations (got some coconut oil and veg. glycerin to try). I also heard a great anti-wrinkle fighter is a mashed banana mask on your face. How simple/cheap is that!? I DO use Aveeno lotion every day bc it's the only thing that keeps my skin from itching AND I hightlight my hair (shameful but I can't give it up). OTher than that…we've switched to bar soaps with no chemicals and burt's bee's products as well. I am not in expert with ALL the chemicals but the dangerous ones mentioned here I DO know to avoid! Thanks for such a GREAT article! I would LOVE To win this giveaway. My mom has been battling cancer for 9 years and while she's fianlly seeing the light with organic foods, it's still hard convincing her to buy chemical free products. I would love to have her sample these! Thanks for the opportunity!
Another realm to pique my interest in taking better care of myself and family! Would love the opportunity ton try these. Thanks again for expanding my horizons.
In general i dont use facial cleansers or products but now that im having " i just hit 30 and have stress/hormone breakouts" im reading up on using natural face products.
i use all natural shampoo's, body washes, moisturizer and toothpaste. I need to start using natural nail polish.
i've tried A LOT of different shampoo's/conditioners. and most of them are pretty horrible for my hair and the amount of gunk/nastiness that comes from working in a kitchen.
still trying to find a good one. will try rahua.
need to find a facial cleanser that works.
Great post Lauren.
I didn't say, but for my face care I've used nothing but water and a Norwex face cloth from http://www.norwex.com/ since last September and I'm 100% happy with the results. My face is clean and my skin feels balanced every day.
Alissa- I like alba coconut cleanser you may like the cloths Caron just mentioned too.
I'm guilty for not paying much attention to what is in my own skin and beauty care products, but I tend to be more diligent about what goes on my son's skin. I think I just need to stop thinking about the initial cost and more about the long-term benefits.
Kind of on the same topic, did you know that most thermal cash register tape (the kind that credit card receipts are printed on) rely on BPA? It's recommended that you wash your hands after you touch them – hopefully this has either changed or changes soon.
Thank you for posting this =) I try to buy products that are unscented, paraben free and SLS free!! I get many of my products from TJ's =)
I'm one of those weirdos that lives for the environmental working groups site and similar things that dish out whats in our stuff and whats toxic vs really natural! I haven't heard of any of the above brands though! omg! missing out!
I try to use natural and organic products whenever possible. my laundry detergents, soaps, shampooos etc are all eco, cruelty free and natural BUT… when it comes to anti aging and wrinkles i want the bad stuff. im vain =( but if I use so may harmless products one bad one is not as bad than them ALL being bad! hehe. such is my lil philosophy!
ahhh ive missed you darling and your posts!!!!! im back and loving my internet! hehe!
Being that I have a skin disease, I have taken gluten out of my diet to see if it will help me. My husband always comments that maybe my skin lotion is not helping my cause, so this post couldn't have come at a better time. I am out of so many products, and so glad to know more. Any suggestions on a clean, good deodorant? Now, I am off to go shopping and start a new for the new year!! Love this post. Many thanks for helping take another new course in my path of healthiness and wellness.
Thanks for sharing this information, more people need to know what they put on their body. I remember when I first discovered this database I was shocked at the ingredients in some of the so called "natural" products. I guess I was mislead the same way consumers are mislead to think that "natural" foods automatically equal healthy food!
Great post, Lauren! I am a huge fan of Brooklyn-based Sprout Skincare (http://sproutskincare.com/).
Pointing this out in case it helps anyone: I have been prone to canker sores all my life, and would get one a few every two months or so. Since switching to toothpastes without SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), that problem cleared itself up. I use the JASON brand.
One great way to make a body scrub, for those of you who make your own almond milk, is to take the leftover almond pulp, mix it with some oats and coconut or olive oil and mix together.
Interesting canker sore tip! My kids use Jason toothpaste. Great scrub idea. I also just love coconut oil as a moisturizer. I've been known to use it while cooking.
Gosh, I've come back. This is a topic close to home for me.
Julie asked about deodorant. Years ago, the database info pointed to Dry Idea as the easiest to locate/less dangerous brand (scoring better than JASON, etc). I bought a bottle to have on hand, but I started to go without. SOME of you might be surprised how little deo you truly need. I say some, because of course, everyone is different. I won't say I never wear it, but over the years I have learned when I can go without.
Caron- I'd be willing to test the no-deo hypothesis in a cooler month. Let's just say you must sweat less than I do. Who knew about dry idea?
great info, can i be entered to win this sweet travel kit?! jk – but i've been really trying to switch to purely organic/quality products. Equally alarming: tampons can have some really bad chemicals. I'm into evanhealy and sprout and will be looking into the ones you mentioned. My fave websites for products and reviews:
http://figandsage.blogspot.com/
http://www.spiritbeautylounge.com/ http://www.saffronrouge.com/
These comments are worrying me, do I have to part with deodorant and tampons? I mentioned spirit (above) will check out your other sites as well.
hell no dont need to part… just stay organic 🙂
We love that you posted about the importance of natural beauty products Lauren! We don't want "Ballet Slippers in our smoothies either;) Oh and we LOVE Soapwalla's deodorant- it's amazing. Enjoy the Floral Essence and thanks for having Tata on- besos!!
Thanks Tata Harper Girls. It seems some people are "in the know" and for others this is new territory. I was at the pharmacy with my son and he wanted chapstick today, I said "let's wait for the good kind" sort of sad what's available is basically poison.
I tried a natural deodorant for about a week. It was all expensive and had nice ingredients and a pretty bottle. I smelled like a rose and rosemary-tinted subway station in the summer. I felt like I needed to send an apology note to everyone near me. I'll go clean and organic in almost every way, but need the chemically deodorant. For the good of everyone.
Very informative post and great giveaway! I don't really use any products on my face but I really want to look into better hair care products. Most of your standard shampoos are so chock-full of chemicals and I am always looking for the most organic hair care products.
I make my own products: shampoo, deodorant, face wash, mask, toner, moisturizer with natural products: honey, baking soda, oils, herb infused apple cider vinegar, essential oils… So many things are absorbed through the skin, I won't take any risks.
can anyone recommend my if burts bees hair and skin products are clean and Mac cosmetics are ok to use or not?
Please Help!
Natalie so impressed with you making your own stuff. It is risky business out there. Samarine, I would consult the database above as even within certain lines there's variety. Burts is a fairy good one though.
I switched to "natural" products over a decade ago but recently found out that some of my "natural" standbys contain nasty ingredients! So now I'm on the hunt for new skincare, body lotion, and shampoo. I'm definitely a label-reader & researcher for sure. It takes more effort to make conscientious purchases but I really think it's worth it on many levels (health, environment, supporting small business instead of huge corporations…). I would love to try some Odacite products, they look amazing!
Wow this is so eye opening! Thank you. Please post more product ideas or brands. Yes, they are very expensive, but I will try to start with one product at a time like the odacite lotion.
Some are expensive and some aren't. I will say, the lack of fillers make these products very potent. The odacite really lasts. Let me know if you find anything "safe" and good. Thanks for stopping by.
This is such a great blog! So much information that I had never know or thought about. Thanks to Odacite and Tata Harper for participating and the great giveaways!
I try to buy organic as much as possible. I read labels and avoid sls.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
Mari, thanks for stopping by. If you're looking for sls you're clearly in the know. I hope others will realize this is something to look for.
That is sad about the chap sticks- so many toxic ingredients! Tata LOVES Burt Bee's chap stick- you can find it at most places, not sure if it's available in all drugstores but hopefully one day soon!
I spent the weekend purging paraben and sodium lauryl sulfate. It's everywhere. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the ewg website but welcome all of the suggestions above for alternatives. Food training, cook training, skin training oh my! You do it all!
The truth is Michele, when it comes to watching what goes into our bodies, we have to look in many places. Well done with your purging. Detox Market and Spirit Beauty lounge are great sources of safe brands as well.
These products are awesome. Janson Beckett, also has a really good line of skin care products
I have normal-to-dry skin at any time of the year, in the night or in the morning and even under make-up. I use Made from Earth's Vitamin Enhanced Face Firming Serum. Its organic. It smells great too.
In fact the delightful-but-not-overpowering scent is what attracted me to the Made from Earth product line in the first place, in addition of course to it being organic and paraben-free. This product has been reigning on the top of my list of facial moisturizers for a while now.
I love Rahua. I buy it at http://www.saffronrouge.com
If you get use to put some lotion every day after the years it is going to be something mandatory for you, I cant leave the house without putting myself some lotion.
I feel like naked if I dont use lotion.
Awesome post! Interesting info to know.
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I mean really, many people forget about the toxic chemicals that their personal care products have. With healthy food, we need to use healthy products to stay away from health hazards.