Our customers are awesome. You come in to the store, call our 800 number (888.327.4137) or order online and you give us great feedback on Twitter and on Facebook. When you walk into an Organic Soap and Spa store, we greet you like this:
“Welcome! Have you ever been in our store before? Just so you know, all of our products are 85 – 100% organic. We don’t use dyes, perfumes, sulfates, SLS, parabens, waxes, harmful chemicals or preservatives. Let us know how we can help you today!” And then we pretty much leave our customers to browse and enjoy the experience. (More on that in another entry!)
Many people have questions, comments or express their concerns at this point. Because we have an extensive training program, we love to share our experiences and research sources. While browsing the Organic Consumers Association website (http://www.organicconsumers.org/), I came across a repost of Ronnie Cummins’ Huffington Post article: Top 10 Reasons to Use Organic Cosmetics, from August 12, 2010. I think this article is great, but to me, it doesn’t explain the why behind these facts. Maybe Ronnie didn’t have the luxury of space that I do, so I’d like to share with you some of my thoughts and research notes with regards to the article.
Non-Organic Cosmetics...
10. Fuel Oil Addiction
There's an oil spill leaking from U.S. bathrooms that's roughly the same size as the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. It's coming from the petrochemical-based cosmetics we're rubbing into our hair and skin and rinsing down the drain.
Wow, that’s pretty self-explanatory. Let’s move on.
9. Spawn Superbugs
The widespread use of products containing the antibacterial agent triclosan is promoting the growth of dangerous superbugs. The use of nanosilver will also lead to the development of antibiotic resistance among harmful bacteria.
Triclosan is the active ingredient in many of those antibacterial washes, sprays and gels. It was developed for use in hospitals, but ended up in many of those hand sanitizers we buy and put in our purses without another thought. It’s time to toss those products and replace with an organic alternative. I suggest our nice, thick 100% organic cleansing gels.
6. Make Us Fat
Exposure to phthalates, endocrine disrupting chemicals found in perfumes, nail polish and other cosmetics, is linked to childhood obesity.
Let me know if you would like our extensive article on this subject. At a high level, this is extremely worrisome since phthalates aren’t something you can find on a label. They hide in perfumes, especially, since those formulas aren’t revealed on labels.
Why I find this extremely disturbing is this: When you purchase so-called “organic” soaps or products at fairs and food markets, most of these companies are very small, cottage industries. Essential oils are extremely expensive, especially when purchased in small quantities. So, to save money and be competitive, most of these “farmers’ markets” soaps are crafted with perfumes, not essential oils. How ironic that you could end up with harmful phthalates using a product that seems to be of organic origin. Ask the question: How is this soap scented?
Organic Soap and Spa does not use perfumes in our products.
5. Speed Up Puberty
As girls are showing signs of puberty at younger and younger ages, researchers are beginning to examine the link between cosmetics ingredients that mimic the effect of estrogen and premature puberty.
Girls younger than 10 with early onset puberty show a high rate of exposure to endocrine disruptors found in nail polishes and other cosmetics.
Phthalates, triclosan, musks and parabens are all known to alter the hormone system.
This is so disturbing. As a mother, aunt and sister, I have heard so many tales of early onset of puberty amongst my friends and family. When we’re talking about this reality, even without the research, you come to realize something is going on here. And then the research confirms what we already are seeing in our elementary schools and in our homes. Children are being exposed to body product chemicals at an alarming rate. (see my previous post for in depth discussion on this). What you can do: Limit exposure to body products. Choose chemical free body products instead for your babies and children.
4. Increase Infertility
According to a report on the health risks of secret ingredients in fragrance, hormone-disrupting chemicals commonly found in perfumes may be a factor in infertility, which increased by 20 percent in American couples between 1995 and 2002.
I believe we are still discussing phthalates here. I recommend discontinuing use of perfumes, period. Our employees may not wear perfume in any of our locations. The odor interferes with our customers experience and we don’t want to expose our customers to any known health risks. Read on:
3. Cause Birth Defects
Nail salon workers exposed to solvents without proper ventilation, face an increased risk for miscarriages and birth defects similar to fetal alcohol syndrome.
Endocrine disruptors have been implicated in birth defects of the male reproductive system, such as undescended testicles and a penile deformity called hypospadias. Incidence of both conditions appears to have risen in recent decades.
Pregnant women with higher levels of phthalates commonly found in fragrances, shampoos, cosmetics and nail polishes are more likely to have children who display disruptive behavior years later.
Cancer? Read this warning below carefully.
2. Give Us Cancer
The President's Cancer Panel warns that nitrosamines found in cosmetics are implicated in brain & kidney cancer, phthalates found in cosmetics, hair conditioners, and fragrances, increase the risks of breast and testicular cancer, and nanomaterials found in cosmetics, personal care products and suncreens "can be extremely toxic."
22% of all personal care products are contaminated with the cancer-causing impurity 1,4-dioxane, including many children's products.
Extremely toxic. That’s very alarming. 1,4-dioxane is the off-label chemical that Johnson and Johnson put in baby shampoo and baby cleansing products sold in the US. (But not Canada, Japan or the UK.) Phthalates have shown up in breast cancer tissue. Johnson and Johnson has been the subject of aggressive organic consumers efforts to change this, and in the fall of 2011, they acquiesced, agreeing to remove this harmful chemicals in the US formula. But phthalates have no such effort underway. You have to be diligent in avoiding shampoos, cosmetics and sunscreens with perfumes, and therefore, phthalates. This includes virtually every shampoo on the market today. Even some labeled “organic”.
If you want my next newsletter on Organic Cheaters, click here. These are companies that use terms and advertising to lead you to believe they sell organic products that are good for you and safe to use. But guess what? Not so!
Lastly, products are not currently regulated, as you can see below:
1. Aren't Regulated or Safety Tested
The Food and Drug Administration has no authority to make cosmetics companies test products for safety or recall products that are found to be harmful.
The President's Cancer Panel recommends research on toxins and endocrine disrupting chemicals in personal care products and cosmetics, noting that only 11 percent of the ingredients in these products have been tested for safety.
You, dear consumer, have to be your own best advocate to avoid these harmful products! Till next month.
Best,
Joan
Our Best Asset, the Next Generation, deserves protection from these harmful chemicals
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