Monday 11 August 2008

Cosmetics

Lots of us try to be careful about what we put on our skin for many reasons - our health, the environment and our finances, to name a few. But what are we really using?

A couple of friends have recently emailed me about a cosmetics ingredients site that may interest you as well. There is an American site: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ which tells you the possible effects of ingredients in cosmetic products. Although the site is American, because a lot of cosmetics companies are multinationals, you'll find heaps of familiar brands.

I looked at a few items and it was scary what they contain. My favourite body butter (my main cosmetic indulgence), for example, contains ingredients linked to cancer, developmental / reproductive toxicity, allergies, immunotoxicity, etc, etc. And it is one touted as being "natural"!

Well, it looks like it's back to the kitchen for me - I've never quite managed a moisturising cream that's completely satisfactory, but I'll give it another go.

love and light
naturewitch

11 comments:

The Crone at Wits End said...

Well I have been buying using Decleor facial oil for about a year now seeing as I have run out of another brilliant face oil ;)

it's list of ingredients are

hazel seed oil, what germ oil, avocado oil, rosemary, oelargonium oil, anthemis bobilis fower oil, angelica oil, eitronella oil, geraniol, linalool, d- limonene. Off to google the last three.

The Crone at Wits End said...

make those wheat germ oil, pelargonium and citronella! Poor typing rofl

FiFi said...

Well I find the best moisturiser ever is good old coconut oil. I've also found a local honey producer whose wife makes creams from the by-products, such as propolis and beeswax. Their Propolis Cream is brilliant when my skin gets spotty (spots - at 31!!) as it clears it right out.

I also love Rhonda Hetzel's blog, and have been going there since January. Its only been 6 months but the transformation to my life has been immense - I feel content for the first time in my entire life!!

Good luck with your journey Mara. We are out there, you just have to look for us :-)

Blessings x

FiFi said...

Ahem - I was getting confused as I'd just been to Mara's blog! Although I know you're also a fan of Rhonda :-)

I should pay more attention to what I'm doing!

:-)

Cheryl said...

Now you are scaring me Naturewitch....I always try to find cosmetics, where the ingredients are not tested on animals, but do you know, I have never given a thought to me. Strange really, when my diet is so healthy ......I am very careful with what I put into my body but not on it.......

Now you have me thinking again....what to do, what to do....

Cathode said...

Ive just had a friend put me onto these 2 places, though I havent had a chance to order anything yet
Natural Instinct (which is available at almost all chemists nowadays http://www.naturalinstinct.com.au/) & http://www.sukinorganics.com.au/ ).Both really good & affordable too (apparently).

Anonymous said...

Hi NW, good question to raise. It is scary to think what ppl are putting on their faces in the name of beauty.

About 20 years ago I entered my rebellious phase, deciding I was who I was and I didn't need a mask to make me more acceptable LOL, soooo...to make a long story short, I haven't used make-up since.

My only horror is still deoderant, I have yet to find a suitable replacement!

Every now and then I use a locally produced lip balm with all natural ingredients, usually on the rare occasions that I venture out.

Blessings:)

naturewitch said...

Hi Crone, interesting list of ingredients - might even try modifying my face oil recipe.

Hi Fifi, welcome to my blog and the coconut oil sounds really interesting. Honey is such a good moisturiser and propolis is antiseptic (I think). Some good ideas for a cream . . .

Hey Cheryl, maybe you need to talk to your bee friends. Yes, it is scary what we put on our skin, which is another bodily organ, after all.

Hi Cath, I did buy a Sukin hand and nail cream recently (about $10 for a 125ml bottle) and it contains some long chemical counding names, although it does have "vegetable" beside them. I'll look up the natural instinct site, though.

Hey Molly, I don't use make-up much anymore, either. You can ask the Crone about how she helped me to throw out my 20 year old make-up a few years ago! Although I replaced it, I haven't been shedding it and buying more like I should. Deodorant is a hassle. I use the rock crystal, but find I also need to use a baddie from time to time. Crunchy Chicken had a post about her battle with deodorant a little while ago.

Thanks for all your comments. I'm still going to go back to the kitchen to perfect the body lotion, though. It tends to be so dry here in Canberra that you need to use a lotion all year round. Will let you know how it goes.

love and light

naturewitch said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
flmom said...

I check that site often, especially with the flood of new products I'm seeing in stores that are labeled as "organic" or "natural". I think so many people are being misled by the packaging. When you take the time to read ingredient lists, most contain some pretty undesirable things. It's not even safe to assume skin care and body care products sold in natural foods markets and health food stores don't contain harmful ingredients.

FiFi said...

Indeed. I've also just ordered some stuff from www.beautynaturals.com, based in the UK and their Martha Hill Gardener's Cream is fantastic if you have dry skin. And its free of parabens, and contains lovely things like sweet almond oil, beeswax, and various other plant oils. They have pure organic rosehip oil, brill for scars, and lovely natural glycerine soaps at a reasonable price. Have a look there :-)