Organic Beauty Products – The Pros and Cons
Organic beauty products have hit the market by storm. They are highly marketable products and are the next big trend in our society. People want them so manufacturers are working hard to meet the demand. Many women have already gone green in the type of foundation they wear. Mineral foundations are a favorite item by now and we’re hooked!
Because of recent health scares over tainted meats and pet foods, many people are not only buying organic foods, they are also turning to organic cosmetics. It is widely believed that products made without industrial ingredients are generally healthier for us. Organic lovers recognize the importance of reading food labels to weed out those grown with pesticides or synthetic colors, flavors, or preservatives. We’ve already been through the organic food product changes but how much do we actually know about organic cosmetics?
Natural cosmetics market themselves. They contain plant and/or mineral ingredients, and are made with pesticide-free agriculturally grown ingredients. The best selling organic beauty products last year, were Burt’s Bees, Jason Natural Cosmetics, and Tom’s of Maine. (Of course, there are many more organic name brands on the market today.) Sales of organic beauty products reached $350 million in 2007, which was an increase of $68 million over the previous year. The increase in sales speaks volumes about what’s on the minds of most people. People have finally grown tired of buying into the toxic chemical bullcrap that they’ve been buying all these years, especially now when we are learning so much about the long term negative health ramifications of using said products. The number one reason people buy organic products is that they are 'a perceived health benefit'. It seems logical to assume that organic ingredients would naturally be healthier for the skin and body than their chemical counterpart. However, representatives for the government and the beauty industry, as well as some environmental activists, acknowledge that there is no published scientific proof to support the notion that plant-based cosmetics are safer, healthier or more effective.
"In fact, 'natural' ingredients may be harder to preserve against microbial contamination and growth than synthetic raw materials." The confusion over the organic claims stems from a lack of national standards for the products. The FDA (which regulates cosmetics) has never imposed standard definitions for marketing terms like 'natural' and 'organic' as they apply to cosmetics. Manufacturers are free to use these terms on everything from synthetic-based lotions with one plant derivative to synthetic-free powders formulated with only minerals. The agency requires manufacturers to ensure that cosmetics are safe to use. However, the agency leaves it up to the manufacturers to decide which safety and efficacy tests they perform on ingredients and finished products. Most manufacturers would argue that cosmetics are safe, whether their formulas contain synthetic or plant ingredients. Organic beauty products are held to the same legal and regulatory standards as other cosmetics. Organic product consumers would also argue the fact that the sales speak for themselves. If that many people were having allergic reactions to organic products, they wouldn't be flying off the shelves! All that being said, is there an advantage to using green organic beauty products? My answer would be yes. Why? Chemical ingredients are laden with toxic substances that we don’t know a lot about yet. What we do know is that toxins are not good for us. That is a fact. There is no doubt that toxic substances are causing all sorts of long-term health related problems from Cancer to Obesity. Spiking sales of organic products reflect that most people would rather take a chance on organic ingredients than those with chemical ingredients. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check labels. Read the ingredients for everything you are skeptical about or if you are concerned about a product. If you don’t know what an ingredient is, look it up. It is our responsibility to find out about the chemicals we are exposed to. Some dermatologists suggest that even natural ingredients like tea tree oil, chamomile and green tea, can cause skin allergies. Well, I don't know about you, but it seems to me, that I'd rather have an allergic reaction from an organic ingredient than one from a chemical! At least you'd know what you were dealing with. Duh! Chamomile, green tea, and tea tree oil have been used in products for centuries with great success! Organic beauty products have ingredients that have a history. It would be unwise to think that one size fits all! Not all people can use the same products. That's why there is such a wide variety. If you buy something and have a reaction to it, simply return it for a refund. Then don't buy products with that ingredient again. Seems like common sense to me! If you have sensitivities, try products that include "non-allergenic formula" or other like phrases. Most all organic products are eco friendly and will help save the environment. Thats a huge consideration when your shopping for beauty products. The other consideration is that they are probably better for your skin because of this. (unless you have an allergy to an ingredient in them.) I have not read one complaint about the products spoiling, so that does not appear to be something to worry about. Do organic beauty products cost more because they are organic? In a word, no. Most natural and organic cosmetics cost the same as comparable brands that have chemicals in them. Some are cheaper, some are more expensive, so prices do vary. You can find great bargains if you just look for them! Organic Beauty Products Wish ListIf you are looking for a trust worthy mineral makeup, I suggest Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit - Medium Beige/Medium ($181 Value) Shampoos and conditioners I like a lot are Organix Conditioner Vanilla Silk 13 oz. Soft & Silky Organic moisturizers that have my interest are Eminence Organic Skincare. Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream One organic lipstick that stands out is CARGO PlantLove Botanical Lipstick .14 oz (4 g) These are just a few of the thousands of organic beauty products you can try. If you haven't jumped in to the fun, try an organic product today. They really do work very well because they're naturally good for you and your skin! View Organic Skin and Hair Products To go to the next Going Green page, here's the link: Back to Top of Page
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. These products work so great and have the absolute best fragrance. I like to use the soft and silky conditioner and the nourishing shampoo. I've had problems with a dry scalp for many years. Since I've been using Organix, my scalp is back to normal! Seems like a win win for me. 
, (this one sounds good enough to eat!), 
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. They are made from all organic ingredients are are actually good for your lips!
