Regarding Cosmetics, Safety and Fear Mongering

A completely non-soap related memory came up today on Facebook, and got me thinking!  This was regarding nutrition, and these were the points:

1. Whether you can pronounce an ingredient or not has absolutely no bearing on its nutrition.  If you can’t pronounce something, learn about it.

2. A short list of ingredients doesn’t mean it’s safe or nutritious.

There’s so much fear mongering out there, and so many people who base their whole brand around being “all natural”, “chemical free”, or “non-toxic”. I’m here to tell you, there’s no such thing.

The term “Natural” is not regulated by any governing body.  You can slap the word natural on anything and no one can say different. There are many “natural” ingredients that are terribly dangerous to ingest or put on our bodies, at the wrong dose.  Conversely, at the right dosage, they can very safe and beneficial.  For example, Sodium hydroxide can give a person life changing chemical burns or blind them, but it’s also used on pretzels!

One of my favourites is essential oils being used because they are all natural and safe.  I studied aromatherapy.  Essential oils are volatile chemical compounds, and can be very dangerous in the right concentration or with prolonged exposure.  If applied directly to the skin without dilution, can be irritating, causing rashes and be phototoxic.

One case study we read was about a massage therapist who used essential oils as part of the therapy on her clients.  She did not use gloves, and did multiple massages a day, every day.  She became sensitized to the compounds over time, and ended up with organ failure from the exposure, and was sensitized to these oils for life.

That is an extreme case, but it is also a cautionary tale.  Just because you think something may be natural, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to use without taking necessary precautions and at the right dose.

Lots of soap makers will only use clays for colourants because they are “natural” dug out of the earth.  The problem is that these clays may contain heavy metals and other compounds that again, used in the wrong concentrations, may be harmful. I’m not saying don’t use clays, I’m saying natural doesn’t equal safe.

Next, and I say this ALL THE TIME, everything on this planet, including humans, are built of chemical compounds.  This has to be something taught in Grade 4 science.  Water is H20. 2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen atom. So, if someone says their products are chemical free, they either don’t understand science, or they’re using buzz words and fear mongering, etc., to build their client base.

“My products are toxin free”, or “don’t buy those commercial brands that are full of toxins” also bothers me. So many things can be toxic in the right circumstance, and depending on how they are used they can be very safe or very dangerous. I will never trash talk any commercially sold soaps.  Period.

The problem with all these terms is that they are misleading, and since they are either subjective, like saying something is natural, or in the case of chemical free, completely false, I get my knickers in a knot when I see them being used!

So! That being said:

1. Whether you can pronounce an ingredient or not has absolutely no bearing on its safety (or nutrition).  If you can’t pronounce something, learn about it. Your ignorance promotes the fear mongering.

2. A short list of ingredients doesn’t mean it’s safe, better for you, or healthier. Oftentimes, especially with skincare, that means you’re missing out on key components your skin needs.

There’s lots of great, skin nourishing ingredients added to cosmetics, and if the maker is following the proper guidelines for labeling, you may not be able to easily identify the ingredient by its INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient).

So, use that magic miniature computer most of us carry around and learn about all the great things in foods, cosmetics, etc., if you want to know what you are putting in and on your body!  That is how informed decisions are made. 

And as always, look for independent, scientific research & peer reviewed studies.  Crunchy Mommy Bloggers and people trying to sell you something are not it. And don’t believe me either, do that research yourself!