WHAT EXACTLY DOES "GREEN" MEAN?!
Sergeant Josie Friday here (AKA sweetassgal) to get all Dragnet on this columns ass! No...Dragnet is not some kind of Queen in fishnet stockings...it was a TV show in the 50's in which its protagonist asked "Just the facts, Ma'am". Well, I figured it was time I did the same when it comes to natural and organic beauty products here on Megs.
It occurred to me yesterday (thanks Jess182 for pointing this out) how easily we can be duped when it comes to green products. In our zest to simplify our beauty ingredients while simultaneously doing something great for our earth we can sometimes overlook what REALLY constitutes natural and organic. Because lets face it...'shrooms and peyote are both natural...doesn't mean I want them in my face cream! At least not if I want to wind up looking like I'm living Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Hint girls...NEVER put on makeup when you are intoxicated because I did once and thought I looked like one hot mama when I left the house. We took pictures that night and suffice to say I was more HOT MESS than HOT MAMA! HELLO make up police...guilty of makeuping under the influence of Grey Goose! WOOWOOWOOWOO!!! (that's my little siren sound in case you were wondering!).
So how do we go wrong? Well, let's start by informing everyone that there are very few restrictions on the words natural or organic. ONE ingredient in the product can be either Nat or Org and they can put in on the package as a marketing spin. The government simply doesn't regulate it for marketing purposes. That said its buyer beware and KNOW what to look for. For instance...the Alba Sunscreen I reviewed DOES have Organic Lavender, Aloe Vera, Green Tea, etc hence the name Organic Lavender Sunscreen. The lavender and other parts are organic, the sunscreen part not so much. But you can see how misleading that can be and if you were out for a quick shop like I was it would entice you to snatch it up thinking you were making a completely organic choice. It's still a much better choice than standard sunscreens but it is NOT certified organic or 100% natural. So what is you may ask? Well...here are "Just the facts, ma'am"!
#1 - As previously stated an item can have ONE natural and/or organic item in it and put that on the label. READ, READ, READ.
#2 - There are levels of TRUE certified organics which are USDA specified. They are...100% Organic (made up entirely of organic materials only), Organic (up to 95% certified) and Made with Organic Ingredients (up to 70% of the ingredients). Look for the certified USDA organic label on domestic items.
#3 - Look for items that have N&O properties but DON'T stop there! Also check to see that they aren't made with key chemicals such as glycols (especially propylene which is a kin to antifreeze), toluene and formaldehyde (yes the stuff they embalm dead people with), the two L's (lauryl/laureth sulfate), the three P's (petrochemicals, phthalates, parabens), synthetic colors or fragrances, DEA, PEG and TEA.
Knowing these three basic facts can help you make wise choices and prevent you from believing more or less in your products than they are promising on the package. I will try much harder in future reviews to let you know where each item falls on the scale. Just remember that unless it's a DIY like my foot scrub recipe I reviewed a while back, chances are most products aren't going to be ALL natural and organic. However, items that are MORE organic and LESS synthetic are always going to rate higher in my Green Chi Tuesday book! Every little bit helps. Sergeant Josie Friday signing off. Stay safe people and GLAM ON you greenies you!!
WHAT GREEN ITEMS HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE ALL THAT AND A PIECE OF RECYCLED PIE?
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Props for your honesty,makeup companies aren't going to fly under your radar and grey goose vodka,great taste,classy.
PotionPrincess♥
the same rules apply to many so-called organic food items as well....
Good point! I read a similar post about the exact same thing, except for food.
Thanks for the info. I now know to read the ingredient list and not to rely on the label when searching for organic products. One would think the government would regulate these things. But, we our on our own for this one; it's like you said "buyer beware".
Wow. This post has been so very informative. I was one of those people that would read organic on a package and instantly think it was green and great for my skin. I didn't realize that companies could say something was organic if it included any one organic ingredient. That is crazy. I will really have to read the ingredients on makeup now. Putting makeup on when intoxicated is fun, but dangerous. In college I would pre party, before a night out on the town with the gals. My pre gaming would consist of drinking while doing my makeup. Sometimes I would be gutsy because of the alcohol and do great looks....Other times I would be totally trashed and think I look good, only to realize later that I looked nothing short of a adult entertainment star.
Great tips! It's always so hard to make these decisions when you're uninformed or underinformed...I'll have to start toting reading glasses in my purse for skincare shopping purposes. I love my JB, but now I'm wanting to really pick it up and tear it apart. I've always read labels..but mainly just with an eye for those particular products that I know my skin loves and/or hates.
Thanks for my morning laugh! You surely have a flair for writing. Anyway - great info about the organic - or slightly organic products. You have reinforced the need to read the dadgum labels. I just finished reading "In Defense of Food" - which goes through all this stuff about the things we put in our bodies. He says (among other things) that if you can't pronounce the ingredients, then it's not real food. Interesting... and I'm going to try this out with my cosmetic purchases too. Funny how labels as good as "natural" and "organic" can be so twisted by the people who want to sell us something...
Carole
Really helpful post! My daughter has joined the "I OOOOOOOONLY DO ORGAAAAAAAAANIC" bandwagon and has made every second of every day a living nightmare. I really like the idea of organic and when it makes sense I am all for it. Paying 3 to 4 times as much for an organic cotton t-shirt? Maybe not. Looking at the products that go on my face, particularly, yes, I would like to make that part of my routine (Is Botox organic???). Thanks for taking the time to bring this to us.
Caveat Emptor - the one phrase that I have retained from my high school latin class, which means "let the buyer beware". When it comes to buying organic, I believe that every little bit helps. Always read labels, since marketing can be so misleading. My huge organic hot button is with food. I am more petrified of the fertilizers they put on produce and the growth hormones in meat and diary. I always stay away from the "Dirty Dozen" produce items and buy organic meats and milk. There are certain ingredients I try to stay away from in my cosmetics, but I don't buy strictly organic. I love Alba, Dr. Haushka, Suki, Juice Beauty, Avalon and other organic brands, but I still use some of the non-natural brands. It's a balance for me. Thanks sweetassgal for another enlightning and hilarious post!
Really good info,thanks for this! Makeup under the influence of Grey Goose?Priceless,LOL! Organic is very interesting to me: I "try" to be aware of in and in theory believe totally in the concept...my husband has a vineyard and I SEE the absolute expense and effort that's required for something produced to be "totally organic" and in reality,would be WAY too cost-prohibitive for many.Having said that,I embrace smaller and indy-e-tailers who create small-batch products and really DO keep things within these ever-changing definitions of "genuinely organic"I believe in organic and support in whenever I can! :)I also believe in tech and realize that sometime,natural simply isnt' as effective in some situations and treatments.Good we have both options and you to clarify for us!
I have noticed more grocery stores have organic and/or natural food sections but I will have to check closely next time to see how much they are really. I went to a Whole Foods Market once in North Carolina and I really liked it but I wonder if it only meets USDA guidelines as well on what is organic and whatnot. I shop at Trader Joe's frequently and I will have to check out their natural and/or organic products as well. Also MBDC certifies certain products with its Cradle-to-Cradle certification. "This means using environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility. " So if you see that certification you know that that product met environmentally safe guideliness in its production. I haven't recognized any of the companies except Aveda and USPS.
I also try to keep a balance between the organic and the not. At this point in the game it is virtually impossible to be a cosmetics user and be 100% organic. The same goes for animal testing. People can make all sorts of claims on both of these fronts. But until the government has stricter rules it will be virtually impossible to know the full truth with some products. You can only eliminate as much bad as you can. Be an educated consumer. Hopefully, the more "accepted" organic and cruelty free becomes the less it will cost the consumer. The same can be said for the food industry. I highly recommend the book that cac talks about. It is very informative on the subject. Be as healthy and happy as you can be ladies and gentlemen! Thanks for an enlightening post!
I am too eager to try new products to ever be GREEN...sniff, sniff.
Great information! Great post and great laugh! I think I've might of applied makeup too under the influence a few times. Thank god i don't have any pictures to remind me of the disaster. I agree we need to read the labels. I try to buy has much organic as possible but some things I don't shed the extra buck, like for natural nuts it impossible to have 100% organic nuts when the bees goes one tree to another and bring all the pollen from organic and non organic trees. Somethings are just as good Natural, it doesn't have to be organic. Like thick skin fruits and vegetable that you have to peel it's ok to buy non-organic sometimes, like bananas, avocados, etc... I carry a list in my purse of the must buy or the bettter fruits and vegetable to buy organic, it came in my go Green Guide magazine which they recently stop publishing. :( You have to think too of where the produce is from, like another country. With all the travel and fuels, it's not really organic anymore by the time it's reaching us. Same has eggs don't waste your time buying organic. They keep the chicken to coupe up to 5 to 6 weeks inside with a tiny door open for them to go out but by the time they are done "couping??" and ready to go out they have no desire to do so. So cage free sometimes is not really cage free.I'm currently reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan same author has Defense of food that cac recommended. Great Book!!!!! It sure makes you think what foods to buy and what you want your body to consume. ;-) It's definetely an eye opener. For face and body products I try to get natural or organic but I do use some non-natural brands too. For me I like to be in the middle, not too over the top and driving myself nuts with everything "as to be organic" but I don't want a be at the bottom either :)
This post is great..good tips Meg
HEADS UP ladies!!! Ulta has EcoTools makeup brushes on sale this month for JUST $7.99 for the 5 piece set. Which includes a blush/powder brush, two eye shadow, one liner and one lash comb. I LOVE these brushes. SO soft and no breaking or shedding bristles. Just an FYI because they are usually $12 - $15. Available online and in stores. If you were thinking of trying them nows the time. Mine are the best and WHAT a find!http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2160183&productId=xlsImpprod481506&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat120078
Love, hugs and shoes...Angie
Thanks for the PSA, sweetassgal! For anyone on the fence about these brushes, THEY ARE FANTASTIC! I can't believe that they cost as little as they do. My mom returned her Lancome powder brush and was looking for a drugstore replacement--I pointed her to ecoTools because all of the other brands were kind of crappy but cost just as much. She was amazed by the quality. I'm in love with their brushes. The liner brush is particularly fabulous, in my opinion.
♥ Lipgloss and Spandex: a blog for gals who look good and run fast
I am so glad you wrote this post. I like the way you broke it down and made it easy to spot the "nasties" that we are supposed to avoid. Nice work Sergeant! I just bough the Eco Tools makeup brushes yesterday! (Thanks to one of your previous recommendations.) I can't wait to give them a go!Gem, Dr. Hauschka rules! ♥
I loved your informative report. I want to be a better consumer going forward. As I keep saying in almost every post, I am trying to use up what I have. (Yes, I have a HECK of a stockpile!)Personally, I am looking forward to buying some Dr. Hauschka. Plus, I want to make sure I check things out on the http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ BEFORE I buy them. I am trying to do the best I can! I wish some of the items on the cosmetics database were more accessible.
I read another tip once to tell if someone is "organic" or not- if they claim to have some exotic ingredient that grows only on the tops of the great <insert fruit tree you've never heard of here> under the full moon then they are NOT "organic". If the ingredient is truly that rare and exotic there is absolutely NO way they can guarantee it is organically grown or what it comes into contact with as it is shipped from there to the company and how it is harvested, what it does to the ecosystem and so forth. Also, any sea plants, minerals, or waters included in "organic" products are NOT organic, as you can't really control what goes into waters and most cosmetic companies aren't doing a lot of testing to see what's in there. A great deal of factors determines what is in/isn't in a particular area or body of water and a marine plant may be receiving nutrients as well as nasties from God knows where. Use your heads ladies! Don't be dazzled!
so ture and so sad that many companies claim to be green only becasue the prduct was made with less waste. which is great htat is a big step...but as for gree. that doesnt exactly help us get out the hole we are in. but it is a step by step process.
j.baby
Thanks for the tip on the Eco-Tools sale. I just got mine today at Ulta. They were indeed $7.99 and originally $16.99. I printed out a $3.50 off $10 coupon and made out like a bandit. These brushes are devine! So soft!I have even already washed them. I am very excited to use them.
I know, I'm starting to get really annoyed by the obvious gimmicks out there. I think Physician's Formula is pretty legit though, right?? I do LOVE ecotools (see profile and previous comment). I also trust Sephora's green symbol. But my decisions are never based on whether it's "green" or not.
Great post. It's kind of hard for me to go all the way green.EcoTools is a great eco-friendly product!
My Beauty Blog:http://www.glam-morena.com/
Very interesting post. I didn't even realize they could call something organic just because it has ONE organic ingredient. CRAZY!Thanks for reminding us all that marketing can be very misleading. (It's a shame isn't it?)
www.JenniferSuarez.com
I’m turning over a new leaf – a GREEN leaf! When I first read the post I thought about myself and my eagerness to try new beauty products and figured I could never been green. However, as an Avon rep I have to think about my customers and the products they are buying. I found a site called Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database - http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ It allows you to search products by name and lists toxicity levels on a scale of 1-10 plus it’s broken down by ingredient. It's easy to understand too. Amazing how much research has gone into this site. So, you can look up your fave beauty product and see if it's GREEN (I'm using the term green loosely, just to indicate if a product is safe to use).
Thanks SweetAssGal for this post and tuning me in to the ingredients used in beauty products. I’ll go forward with this in my Avon business!
i've definitely tried to become more green in all aspects of my life not just beauty, pets, eating, drinking, dressing, and all. but i've really like the fact that the companies of cleaning products have come out with much greener ways for us. call me a dork but i'm totally digging that. thanks for the post it's always good to learn what others are doing to be more green too. trust me i'm sure my carbon footprint was just horrible!
I always make it a point to read labels on anything I buy! Can't always rely on marketing strategies to ensure safety.
I try. We do eat a lot of organic, when feasible. I try on beauty/personal products, but, have to say I will go for non organic when it is a performance issue. But, thanks for the enlightening post.
thats good info i need to remember
Great post!!! I've been going "green" for several years. It's been hard giving up some of my old faves, like LipSmackers, but now I use Alba Lip Balms. Reading the labels and learning what the ingredents is important, and don't forget to bring your reusable shopping bag with you. Side note: I hate when I tell the cashier at Sephora that I don't need a bag, and then she proceeds to ask if I want my item wraped in tissue paper... what a waste of paper! Sorry, I'll get off my soap box.
Just purchased some Suki Organic products. Can't wait to try. Read the ingredients and it's so pure you can eat it!Artcandy
♥Robyn♥
Everyday Minerals are indeed all natural! : ))
It's actually really scary what are in some cosmetics. Most ingredients have never been tested for their safety. I highly recommend the book Gorgeously Green. It really helped to get me started on informing myself.The cosmetic database is a great tool to. Love it! I wouldn't worry as much about organic though as I would about synthetic ingredients.
I agree - I can't believe the cr@p I've been putting on my face for all these years. Thank goodness I found Everyday Minerals
I wish there wash more restrictions on cosmetics especially the labeling!
Oh my goodness.... It's really really disgusting what some of these companies put in their cosmetics--- well... and brushes.... I dont know, when I think pony hair I just get this visual of my old horse rolling around in his..... well....goats aren't any better either....um... and you're wiping that on your face.... dunno... just my humble opinion.... but that is GROSShere are a few "natural" ingredients found in products that might make you reconsider what you use:Lets examine Carmines for a moment (excerpt from wikipedia)"Carmine (pronounced /ˈkɑrmɪn/, English pronunciation: /ˈkɑrmaɪn/, or /ˈkɑrmiːn/), also called Crimson Lake, Cochineal, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120, is a pigment of a bright red color obtained from the carminic acid produced by some scale insects"Lanolin (also taken from Wikipedia):Lanolin [German : from Latin lāna=wool + Latin oleum=oil] also called Adeps Lanae, wool wax, wool fat, anhydrous wool fat or wool grease, is a greasy yellow substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals, with the vast majority of it used by humans coming from domestic sheep. Chemically akin to wax, it can be used as a skin ointment or water-proofing wax, and is also sometimes used as a raw material in the manufacture of such products as shoe polish."Yup...
Wow... i just checked my "natural lipstick".. it didn't pass your test.. neither did my "natual eyeshadow" .. thank you for pointing this out. I think once i hear something is green i rush to it thinking it must automatically be the best thing. Unfourtunately it is mostly just one big marketing scheme isn't it ? I'll check more throughly in the future. If evr you do another post like this could you maybe include some links to websites with information on the topic ?
I agree very much with this post. Most of the drug store products that claim they are organic or mineral products are actually far from that! A good website to learn about the ingredients is cosmeticsdatabase.com. I went to CVS the other day and took a look at the Wet n Wild All Natural pressed powder that is supposed to be organic and good for you, etc. and it has parabens! Same with all that Maybelline Mineral Power stuff. Quite deceiving if you don't do some research. :/
It's really strange that the labelling of 'natural' and 'organic' products still isn't regulated. People who have the right intention (to look after their health and the environment) can easily be taken advantage of. As long as the situation remains "buyer beware" I think it puts some people off changing to 'green' products. I know myself it becomes overwhelming sometimes - I try to consider the impact of the ingreadients on my health and the environment and also the impact of the processing (eg I try to avoid derivatives of palm oil) and packaging on the environment. That's before even looking at reviews to see if the product works:) It makes the process of trying a new product quite labour intensive.
Definitely YES TO CARROTS products. They use organic natural ingredients and I just love their lip butters. There's no need to use chemicals for things you put on your face/body!
My beauty blog: http://igknowidea.blogspot.com <br> My crafting blog: http://craftyandallthat.blogspot.com
It always irritates me, when I go to the store and something says it's organic and it really isn't. It's hard to find the time to read all the ingrediants and you end up buying something that wasn't quite as great as you thought. (we've all done it). I know there is a website that shows how good things are on a health scale...like that helps you, since I don't remember what that site is. (sheesh, why did I bring it up at all?).
My scrapbook shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elle71125
I know the site you mean elle, it's http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/index.php
http://www.beautifullyglossy.blogspot.com
Love how informative this post is. It's really important for people to know how companies are allowed to market products in a very misleading way. A few years ago in a marketing course, we were told that a company can label a juice as "made with 100% real fruit juice" even if only a few drops or a tablespoon of 100% real fruit juice is used
I studied greenwashing last semester as part of my Marketing course and I found it soo interesting. Some companies are shady and just trying to make a quick buck by slapping the ~green tag on their product, but some are honest companies that aren't completely green because it's so hard to make sure of that as you get further down the supply chain.