About Organic Cosmetics
In Organic skin care products, as far as we're concerned, there really should be no middle ground. When it comes to your skin, we think you’ll agree there shouldn’t be either.
As of May 2008, the term organic for use in cosmetics is not regulated by government standards. Organic cosmetic products that are certified by independent agencies are permitted to have up to 5% non-organic ingredients in them. Industry abuse of the term organic is rampant and misleading.
Though far more difficult, we chose for Jiadé, an avenue of no compromise. We don’t invoke the 5% rule, we do not employ synthesized chemicals, nor ‘naturally derived’ ingredients. After almost a year of research in formulation and preparation, we have found a way to make completely organic cosmetics. With this we hope to restore some of the trust in the term organic skin care.
We take what is given to us by nature, from the lavender fields in France, Rose blossoms in Bulgaria, Tamanu nut from the Tahiti, Safflowers from Mexico, Orange blossoms from North Africa and Grape seeds from South America, and blend them together by hand.
Why Organic Skin Care?
There are many good reasons to choose organic skin care. Modern technology has provided us with many conveniences, which unfortunately come at a cost. Over the past few years, more and more evidence has come to light that our food, the air, our water, our clothes, our cookware and our personal care products contain many additive and contaminants that either pose a know health hazard, or have never been adequately tested for their effects on our health.
Cosmetic products are readily absorbed through the skin. Many toxic chemicals, used in cosmetics and personal care products have been found in the blood, urine and fatty deposits, as well as in tumors.
Government regulations in North America have been reluctant to force manufacturers to test their products, and usually only react to new toxicology data by banning specific substances that have been very clearly shown to be hazardous.
Although not all organic cosmetics are the same, ethical producers take specific care to avoid many, or all of the hazardous chemicals.
So why organic cosmetics?
As dedicated producers of organic skin care products, we avoid all synthetic chemicals, and select ingredients from organically (free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers) grown and processed plants. The extraction of essential oils is done using steam distillation. The oils are extracted using cold press methods. No chemicals are used in the extraction or preparation of our skin care products.
The ingredients are carefully selected for their benefit of the human skin, and for their complementary action.
What can you do?
- Educate yourself. Learn everything you can about reading ingredient declarations and avoid things that are known to be hazardous.
- Educate your friends and loved ones. Make them aware of the products they are exposing themselves to and help them make alternate choices
- Lobby your government representative. Let them know you want safer and healthier choices. The government can help ban dangerous chemicals, and provide regulations that allow you to have confidence in the products you buy.
- READ THE INGREDIENT LIST. Although there are great products on the market, even products labeled as organic may contain only minute amounts of organic ingredients and still be filled with traditional synthetic chemicals.
- Keep an open mind and a healthy skepticism. Very few label claims will really substantiate that you will actually look younger, lose years, fill wrinkles or otherwise make you into someone else.
What should we avoid?
There are many areas of chemicals and cosmetic ingredients that pose a hazard, and for many different reasons.
Some of these areas include:
- Products containing animal tissue or extracts, specifically human(!) or bovine placenta extracts. These ingredients can contain high levels of hormones that can interfere with the normal function of your endocrine system
- Products containing heavy metals, including mercury (found in thimerosal - eyedrops), lead (found in hair dyes) many of which are neurotoxins.
- Other animal derivatives - mink oil, whale oil, emu oil, collagen. Many ingredient that end in the words -tallowate are based on animal fats.
- Phthalates- found in many products including fragrances. Phtalates are known to cause damage sperm and feminize boys
- Antibacterial soaps and detergents, toothpaste, deodorant, clothing and plastics containing Triclosan. Triclosan is found to be responsible for increases in microbial resistance, skin irritation, allergic reactions and is suspected of links with contamination with dioxins.
- Petroleum products, including petrolatum, petroleum distallates, butadiene, naphtha, petroleum wax, liquid parrafin.
- Cyclic Silicanes (D4,D5) - Currently Environment Canada is considering banning D4 and D5 because of issues of bioaccumulation and inherent toxicity to non-human life forms.
- Ceteareth (PEG Ceteareth) - Classified as emulsifiers, these chemicals are also penetration enhancers, these chemicals can facilitate the accumulation of toxins through the skin. They have been implicated in non-reproductive organ toxicity.
- DMDM Hydantoin - Known to be toxic to the immune system and strong evidence for contact allergy reactions.
- Fragrance - It's a little known fact that fragrance is a collective name for groups of synthetic chemicals that can number into the hundreds in any one product. Fragrance manufacturers are not required to declare ingredients. Frequently fragrances have been found to contain phthalates.
- Nanoparticles - nanotechnology, a new science is rapidly being incorporated in the cosmetics industry. Their health effects are unknown and mostly untested. See also: nanosomes, fullersomes, fullerenes and buckyballs.
- Benzophenone-3 / Oxybenzone - This chemical is used in sunscreens, because of its ability to absorb UVA and UVB. In reality, it penetrates the skin and acts as a photosensitizer, and likely contributes as a photocarcinogen. Now found in the urine of more that 95% of people
- Sodium Methyl Paraben / Propyl Paraben / Paraben - Parabens have been found to disrupt hormone function, which in turn has been linked to breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.
Where do you get information?
Organic Beauty Source www.organicbeautysource.com
Green People: www.greenpeople.org
Organic Consumers Association: www.organicconsumers.org/
Organic Monitor: www.organicmonitor.com
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: http://www.safecosmetics.org/
EcoBusiness Links: www.ecobusinesslinks.com
OrganicForMe: www.organicforme.com
EcoIQ Magazine: www.ecoiq.com
Organic Trade Association: www.ota.com
Geofeat: www.geofeat.com
Cosmetic Database: http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/splash.php?URI=%2Findex.php