Safe cosmetics and the press
I try to use the minimum of ingredients with all of our products – I’m not big on lotions because they need binders like waxes or synthetic preservatives because of the water in lotions. Now I will state I am a FIRM believer in properly preserved, safe products and believe that synthetic preservatives are the only way to go for water based products. No one wants to end up with an eye infection or rash because of a natural occurring mold or fungus in your body cream. Improperly preserved creams can be a moist environment in which mold and fungus may thrive though you may very well not be able to see them.
There are lots of options today in the use of preservatives, not just one or two. One of the least expensive synthetic preservative blends is made up of parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butylparabens). There is on-going research being done, in both the USA and Europe, that shows possible negative side effects from long term use of parabens. Parabens are in quite a few items, not just a leave-on lotion. They are used help preserve medicines, toothpaste and foods. And depending on what research you read, the results can vary on what scientists think. I just figure, if I can make a safely preserved water base product without parabens, then that is one less place for contact with them. What if they are right about a link to breast cancer? People use to think spraying DDT on your counter tops was ok to stop bugs in 1949.
Botanical Earth signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics a while ago – I wish the list would increase and more companies sign on. It’s really not hard to reformulate products to make parabens and phthalates less of a concern, it just takes an effort. Hopefully more people will read the research and make a decision for themselves as to what is best for them. Besides the effect on people, what happens to the environment when all these things are dumped down the drain?
I know there is interest in the subject of Safe Cosmetics! I was interviewed a few days ago by a local CBS affiliate station, KMOV Channel 4?s Health reporter, Lisa Manzo. She asked some great questions of me as a manufacturer and also interviewed a local doctor to get different views – funny I think both the doctor and I felt the same way – if you can do without parabens and phthalates why use them.
Phthalates are found in PVC piping, which is one of the reasons I will not use PVC molds for our soaps. They are in SOME fragrance oils. Fragrance oils are compounds made up of both natural and synthetic ingredients to produce most scents. If you like the smell of cucumber, bubble gum, or your favorite commercial perfume – chances are it’s a synthetic fragrance. While synthetic fragrances are not terrible, some of them are made with phthalates. Scents like musk tend to contain phlatates – therefore I won’t use them. All of the fragrance oils from the suppliers I use for our sister stores (remember Botanical Earth products do not contain any synthetic fragrances), are documented as phthalate free. It’s not easy getting the documentation, but worth the effort. Most fragrance houses will not give their ingredients as it is a trade secret, but I believe they should state whether their fragrances are phthalate free or not.
Check out some of these sites to read what others say:
Think Before You Pink - Breast Cancer Concerns
Organic Consumers - Concerns regarding children
