Do you know which ones are safe ingredients?
Over the past seven years, I have learned so much about health. Truth be told, I am a geek at heart. I love research and am constantly reading about health in books, articles, and blogs to learn as much as I can. Imagine my surprise when I really started learning how confusing the safe ingredients vs. toxic ingredients issue is.
Through my quest for knowledge, I have come to realize that eating a clean organic alkaline diet, exercise, attitude, and lifestyle are all very important to our overall health but there is more than meets the eye! Since our skin is our biggest organ, the personal care products we use also have a huge impact on our health. Did you know that most women use an average of twelve personal care products a day while men use an average of six? Considering how many toxins are in personal care products and cosmetics, I now realize the importance of using natural personal care products that only contain safe ingredients.
This realization ignited my interest and my research into personal care products and cosmetics with safe ingredients. What do the product labels really mean? My discoveries still shock me. Manufacturers can say their products are hypoallergenic or natural based on some very loose requirements (“natural” doesn’t necessarily mean toxin free)! I am continuously amazed at how many chemical ingredients are allowed in our personal care products, ingredients that are outlawed in other countries – some under penalty of 10 or more years in jail! Parabens and phthalates are just two of a long list of chemicals that are outlawed in many countries but still legal in the U.S.A.. No wonder we are the population with the largest percentage of chronic illness in the world!
Safe ingredients or toxic ingredients?
This realization leads me to review and research every ingredient in the personal care products that I carry in my store to insure not only that my customers only get safe ingredients but also to share this information with others. I am sure that I am not alone in reviewing product labels. I am also sure that I’m not the only one who thinks that an ingredient that I have never heard of or that has a really long name is probably unsafe when it could actually be totally safe and beneficial. Some people with a sense of humor started a campaign to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide. Sounds ominous right? It isn’t. It’s just another way of saying “water” or H2O. So, to confuse things a bit, while a long name you can’t pronounce may be harmful, it isn’t necessarily so. Being able to differentiate is very important.
Making informed decisions
With so much information and products out there, I want to make it easier for people to make informed decisions and to feel good about the products they are using. I’ve been working on exactly that for the last couple of months and in August, I am proud to announce that I will “go live” with a glossary of all the ingredients in the personal care and cosmetic products that I carry in my store.
This glossary of ingredients is a huge job but what a rewarding one! At the end of the day, it feels really good to share valuable information and safe/natural products with my family, friends, and anyone looking for toxin-free personal care products.
So, I continue along my path of education, integrity, and transparency hoping to help others be happy, healthy, and toxic free!
Resources:
A first step toward my August 2013 release:
Love your story about why you are doing this and look forward to seeing your glossary when it comes out. Sounds like a HUGE job!!
Thanks Minette!!! I will toast to this once the glossary is up and running! 🙂
Kudos to you for aligning your business practices with your beliefs! Must have been a huge undertaking to “go live” with a glossary of all the ingredients in the personal care and cosmetic products you carry in your store. A real boon, especially to those with allergies and sensitivities.