Certified Natural - What does this mean?:
• Free of Synthetic Preservatives e.g. parabens
• Free of Synthetic Chemicals e.g. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphate
• Free of Synthetic Colours e.g. FDC colour Red
• Free of Synthetic Fragrance
What’s so Bad about Parabens?...
Parabens have been linked to breast cancer as they have the ability to mimic natural Oestrogen in the body. There are approximately 26 known parabens. The body finds it very difficult to break down these ingredients so they collect in pockets in the lymph system. Over time this loads the lymph system which is there to clean the body – one cannot live without a well functioning lymph system. The more toxins in the body the more toxic one feels.
Parabens are relatively inexpensive to use in cosmetics! In the 1950's, while Dr.Rudolf Hauschka and Elisabeth Sigmund were searching for vitality and life enhancing plant ingredients to use in the Dr.Hauschka skin care range, other synthetic based skin care companies were searching for more parabens to use in their products...
"I will not touch a product with a paraben of any form on the ingredient list, even a lovely smelling hand cream in an expensive hotel or spa".
SLS:
And what about other Synthetic Chemical ingredients like SLS? (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphate). This ingredient was first used in car garages to strip the grease off engines and floors! SLS strips the lovingly produced good acid mantle from the surface of the skin. A good and healthy acid mantle is necessary for a correct pH to fight germs, bacteria and protect the skin from pollution. It also offers support for the skin/face movement during the day. The oils support movement of the skin and thus would help to prevent premature ageing of the skin. When your skin is dry and you smile you can feel the skin almost crack –
What is so bad about synthetic Colour?
These ingredients irritate the sebaceous glands and as a result can cause blackheads – teenagers and acne prone skins will be most affected by this. Remember the vicious cycle – the more you have blackheads and pimples the more you want to cover – rouges and foundations are the most common products to contain these ingredients – so many young girls have blackheads and pimples on the cheeks purely from the rouge they use. The main cause of acne amongst girls and women is because of the inferior make-up they wear. We can also point the finger at cosmetics containing mineral oils – skin care and sun care. We must not forget that food also plays a big part in healthy skin. A good diet will keep the digestive system eliminating regularly. Constipation leads to toxic build up in the body – these toxins love to come to the surface of the skin via the sebaceous glands.
It is not law to specify on a product if it contains natural or synthetic fragrance, so as the consumer it is not possible to establish the source unless of course there is a label saying "Certified Natural" or "Organic" for the entire product. Synthetic fragrance results in sensitivity of the skin and also sun sensitivity and then perhaps PIGMENTATION! Not good in our Southern African Climate. Dr.Hauschka for example has the logo BDIH – Certified Natural, for the entire product, so that means that the fragrance is also included in the ingredient listing and is Certified Natural.
Organic - what does THIS mean?:
There are many Organic Certification bodies all over the world and they all represent different standards so it is quite confusing for us all.
Basically it means:
1. A
2. This is mainly because some plants that are used in large quantities for cosmetics are just not available organically or from the wild, in the world.
3. The criteria for being Organic is usually very strict and there are approved lists of what is allowed in a product that is considered "Organic".
This does protect us as the consumer.
4. We do however, need to ask the Question: What is in the rest of the product? Do Organic products contain parabens? Read the ingredient listing!
Some (uncertified) self proclaimed "Organic" product houses DO!... So what is the point of calling yourself Organic? Isn't ORGANIC suposed to make us feel better about using a product? We need to ask these Q’s…. and hopefully they are honest enough to put the entire ingredients list on the product packaging.
Different boards that Certify:
1. BDIH - criteria are:
- Free of synthetic preservatives, chemicals, fragrance, colours.
- Predominantly Organic, bio-dynamic or wild crafted plant ingredients are used.
Excellent Certificate to have.
2. Ecocert:
Also an excellent Certification to have.
Bio-dynamic farming: What is this?
What about Bio-Dynamic farming? This is a more specialised form of Organic farming. All sorts of farming methods are used. Companion planting (garlic and roses), lady birds are breed to eat the bad bugs, earth worms aerate the soils, the health and nutrition value of the soil is the most important way to start. The phases of the moon are considered. Etc. Parceval Farm in
What about misleading marketing techniques?