Most cosmetic products contain unhealthy chemicals that pose a threat to our health. Whether they are bought from the chemist or the supermarket, and whether or not they feature the mention “hypoallergenic,” “paraben free” or “dermatologically tested,” many cosmetics contain chemical and allergen substances, preservatives and especially endocrine disruptors, which can have an effect on the hormonal system. It’s time to change our cosmetic behaviour. How can we get it done? Products that have been made with entirely natural and certified organic ingredients are going to be your safest bet…
“If your bar of soap is 100% natural and uses organic ingredients, then you know you’re in safe hands. So, if you feel confused it’s always best to opt for the most natural alternative.”
However, ‘we need to be intelligent shoppers when seeking out clean beauty, as there is no legal requirement for beauty brands to be completely transparent when using labels’, says, organic hairdresser, Tabitha James Kraan.
“Companies tend to add a lot of useless products, like preservatives, containing lots of endocrine disruptors, and I think that not only are they unnecessary, they are harmful to health, for adults and even more so for young babies.”
A product can still be labelled as organic, even if its organic ingredients tally up to only 1%, so Lisa Bronner advises, ‘When shopping for green cleaning products, there are quite a few labelling traps which will ensnare an unwary shopper – and their money. Words such as “natural,” “non-toxic,” “hypoallergenic,” and “organic” on their own have no regulated definition and can mean anything or nothing.
Be sure to check ingredients lists rather than merely marketing claims – even with “green” products. Look for proof through certification seals such as the Soil Association seal, as these indicate credibility.
She adds, ‘It is good to use things that are close to nature: plant-based ingredients and minerals like salt and baking soda. Another easy tip is to “clean from the pantry.” If you use things that are edible, or nearly so, you know they’re going to be safe: lemon juice, soaps made from vegetable oils and essential oils.
There are three side effects of cleaning that we want to bear in mind: the vapors released into the air, the possible residues left on the surfaces, and the run-off into the environment. We want to be mindful that we aren’t damaging these three areas in our effort to clean our homes. With close-to-nature cleaners, vapors, residues, and run-off are not a problem.
3 tips for shopping clean beauty
Frustrated? Here’s how to bypass the false claims…
- See past smart marketing and always check the ingredients list to spot any of the red alert chemicals listed above.
- Do your research and get to know companies that sell organic and natural beauty and uphold a strong ethos when it comes to the environment. Some examples of this are Content Beauty, Whole Foods Market, and Planet Organic.
- Look for logos which certify organic brands, a great example is the Soil Association,which regulate all of the brands listed on their site. And seek out the COSMOS logo, which is a globally harmonised standard for organic and natural cosmetics.
Natural versus chemicals
So why don’t manufacturers replace chemicals with natural materials? Some say it’s because they do not want to change their process; others say it’s because chemicals are very effective.
But it seems that there are alternatives. After a career in the chemical industry, Celine Couteau became a mum and launched a range of natural cosmetics for babies. Typical nappies contain 80 percent plastic. But she has some that are 100 percent natural. “We assume that today natural materials are as good as a material derived from petrochemicals,” explained Couteau, Co-Founder of Love and Green
“It delivers exactly the same efficiency, the same care results, the same cleaning qualities as a petrochemical molecule.
“You can achieve exactly the same efficiency results and performance with a natural product as a product derived from petrochemicals. “
The European Commission has given its definition of endocrine disruptors, describing them as substances that have adverse effects on human health, which act on the hormonal system – and the link between them is proven. But it’s not enough for the consumer associations, who also want more debate over industry lobbying and animal testing.
