(05-28-2013, 09:11 AM)PrecisionNails Wrote: Marketing tells you a lot about the integrity of a brand, and whether it respects your intelligence and professionalism.
Do yourself a favor and watch Doug Schoon's video about "organic" products: http://www.dougschoon.com/video-Give-Me-...ganic.html
Doug's article is actually very misleading. He focuses on the definition of the words "organic" and "natural", and yes, he is obviously correct in everything he says, but there is a much deeper story. The use of the word "organic" is commonly also known to refer to agricultural goods grown without the use of pesticides and that are not genetically-modified and organic goods are created using these products. The USDA (not FDA) has applied new regulations to using the word "organic" in cosmetics made of agricultural-based ingredients during the 6 years since this was written. A product must be made with 70% or more organic ingredients to use the term, and USDA labeling, and then it varies from "made with organic ingredients" to "organic". That said, there are other private labelers that the USDA and FDA do not regulate - so if a company wants to slap a label that says "Organic, per the Santa Clause Society" on a box, it is free to do that - we as consumers just have to know that it is not USDA certified. Doug poo-poos the whole idea of using natural and organic ingredients by claiming they can also be toxic, attempting to destroy the credibility of using these products. He fails to bring in the concept of organic and natural (properly labeled, of course) being healthier because they do not contain toxic synthetic ingredients like parabens, phthlatates, etc.
Also, as far as the "regulation" of our cosmetics industry, the US is a joke. "Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives." Cosmetics companies can put whatever they want into their products as long as it has not been deemed hazardous for humans at certain percentages - of one product. Most consumers do not take into account the sheer number of potentially toxic chemicals they put on their body each day. A 2% concentration in your face cream won't hurt you, but add on the shampoo, conditioner, lipstick, deodorant, body lotion and perfume, and guess what - you've just put a toxic dump on your body.
That's not to say that organic or natural are the best or only options. There are many synthetic and lab-made ingredients that are perfectly fine for our use - it's about understanding which ones are good and which ones are harmful. In Europe, companies must prove an ingredient is safe before they can use it; in the US, it can be used until it is proven unsafe. Phthalates, for example, have been banned in Europe for ten years, yet US companies can still add them to cosmetics sold in the US. In fact, multi-national companies will sell different formulas of the same product in the US and Europe to comply with this ban.
The Environmental Working Group is my bible for understanding ingredients in products.
