Buy Better Personal Care Products Now
(or make your own)
The skin is a very sensitive organ, and also one of the easiest channels for toxins to penetrate the body. We don't often think about the chemicals in many personal care products which are derived from petroleum. Choose organic skin and hair care products that keep toxins out of your body and our water/waste streams.
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Nationwide organic retailer |
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Online retailer of organic products |
| Greenpeople.org | Comprehensive listing of natural, organic personal care products |
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Consortium of manufacturers and marketers of natural personal care products (endorsed by the Organic Consumers Association - OCA) |
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Wide variety of natural and organic body care and baby care products |
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Organic products are healthier for you and for the Earth. All of our personal, household, and health care products are made with Certified Organic ingredients. |
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Solay Wellness, Inc.- Hand made, award-winning organic personal care, hair and oral care products. Pure, natural products that work beautifully. |
Look for the following brands in co-ops and natural foods stores across the country:
| Alba | |
| Avalon Organics | |
| Burt’s Bees | |
| Jason | |
| Terressentials |
Why It's Important
While some personal care products perpetuate excessive consumption patterns through a luxurious emphasis on beauty and physical appearance, there are basic products, such as soaps, shampoos, moisturizers, and lotions, that help keep our bodies healthy and clean. However, there are both health and environmental concerns surrounding these products. In terms of physical health, there are considerable impacts due to absorption through the skin of toxic chemical residues. The absorption of substances through the skin is particularly disturbing, as the body's normal filters - the kidneys and liver - are bypassed; skin becomes an effective gateway for toxins to enter the bloodstream. Environmentally, these products contribute to our dependency on petroleum and the related environmental destruction associated with drilling and refining; many chemical body care ingredients - such as Propylene Glycol and PVP/VA Copolymer - are petroleum-derived. In addition, when these products are washed off of our bodies, they are released into our environment and require intensive cleaning processes to be removed from water sources.
Fortunately, many companies have addressed these concerns and are committed to making natural and organic body care products. In addition to the health benefits of using products with fewer synthetic compounds and chemical toxins, there are also immense environmental benefits to organic products in general. Organic farming practices do not rely on toxic chemicals for pest and weed control, and thus foster ecosystem diversity and health. Nevertheless, it is very important to critically examine the claims of these companies, for in many cases - as the Organic Consumers Association states - the alleged organic content of the product is in actuality only water, while the remaining ingredients are synthetic, toxic chemicals. Indeed, consumers buying organic body care products are often under the illusion that the products are held to the same organic standards as food. It is important to realize that this is not the case under the current USDA's National Organic Program regulations. Buying natural and organic body care products is better for your health and our environment, and with some critical assessment you can make sure what you are buying is meeting your standards.
Make It Yourself
No need to bust your budget. A number of websites offer recipes for homemade health and beauty products. The following are among those with the easiest to follow and most comprehensive make-it-yourself advice:
| MakeYourCosmetics.com | |
| Care2 | |
| Pioneer Thinking |
Learn More
- The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics - a coalition of public health, educational, religious, labor, women’s, environmental and consumer groups in the United States whose goal is to protect the health of consumers and workers in the health and beauty industry.
- Women's Environmental Network Cosmetics Campaign - a UK site, but still filled with loads of useful info on the effect of cosmetic ingredients and production methods on the environment and women's health.
- A Shopper's Guide to Home Tissue Products
- Skin Deep – From antiperspirant to zit cream, this handy online guide to personal care products tells you which brands are healthiest and which are better left on the shelf.
- Potentially Harmful Ingredients to Avoid - A to Z list of common personal care ingredients and potential hazards.
Learn more about the Conscious Consumer Marketplace.
If you would like for your company to be listed in the Conscious Consumer Marketplace, please email Carolyn Danckaert or call 301.891.3683 ext. 125.