Comments on: Are You Confused By Organic Products Too?

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:47:12 +0000

You say organic products are functionally-inferior. This may be true in many cases. But that is usually the last reason people buy organic products. So long as the organic product functions adequately, the main reason people buy organic is because of the stuff they DON’T want going on or into their bodies. They also buy organically-derived products because they are concerned with the sustainable production of goods, the humane treatment of animals, and fair-trade practices. As long as the companies selling these products are being truthful in their dedication to sustainable, eco-friendly production (e.g. Burt’s Bees, Tom’s of Maine, J.A.S.O.N.), I don’t see the case for the latter part of your complaint.

By: Roberson

Roberson — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:09:09 +0000

I have to agree with Nerina , one has to wonder why everybody and the grandmother is getting cancer these days , people just do not understand that the skin is the largest organ of the body and not just a protective shield , apparently beauty brains does not understand hahaha that synthetics used in small doses like shampoo, cosemetics,etc becomes large doses over time of everyday use until cells eventually say ok we have had enough now we are going to mutate and perpetuate , and do not try and tell me that there isn’t proof that FDA hasn’t banned several sythetics in any arena, and have been labeled cancer causeing or labeled with other side effects , and for you to boast about organic chemist or being a chemist gimme a break , let me ask you this can you tell me why drugs on the body have the certain effects that they do , exactly you can’t and neither can anethesiologist , so don’t try and speak your brains with out having one , I can tell you rhat synthetic shampoos cosmetics,ets do have more side effects than organic and or natural, I am very kinethetically aware of what goes on in my body and am in top physical condition to the extreme , I would like you beautybrains to post a picture of yourself and I will post mine so we won’t have to listen to someone preaching about health period when they don’t live the life , organic and natural all the way and I dont take supplements either

By: Nerina

Nerina — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:54:35 +0000

If you feel ok putting a product on your child’s body that MAY have an ingredient that MAY cause cancer well good for you. But try explaining that to them when they are older. I don’t take chances with myself or others. I can’t hold that kind of responsibility when I don’t have conclusive evidence that say yes or no to the question… does that ingredient cause cancer? We’re not certain just doesn’t cut it for me. I trust my ingredients and I need my clientel to trust them to.

By: Ken O

Ken O — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:47:02 +0000

Hey,

Good job bringing up the topic about green/natural products.

To help cut through the greenwash, you might want to check out this green reviews site:

http://www.sustainlane.com

I like using burt’s bees shampoo, but would like to test using lemons and other oils directly instead of through companies. Self sufficiency is a good thing!

Cheers,
Ken

By: ephelba

ephelba — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:13:31 +0000

I have to agree with some of the above comments:
1) When I do bother to buy “natural” cosmetics it is because I’ve researched the company and am confidant that their product is having less of a negative effect on the environment.
2) When I buy any product, I read the label to see whether I can recognize the ingredients and how they work. It feels reckless to me to use a product without knowing how it’s made, how it will degrade, and what it’s going to do in the meantime. I suppose I can look up things like “cyclopentasiloxane” to find out how they’re made. I might be able to find info on how long it takes to biodegrade, although I have less hope about that. I don’t think anyone knows yet what the heck it’s going to do the other chemicals it encounters on its trip through the water system, whether it persists in the environment, what it does to me if it should manage to find its way through my skin. I would feel irresponsible spending my money on a product I was that ignorant about just because it made my hair shiny and slick.
3) There’s a difference between something being deemed safe because it was found to have no acute side effects, and something being proven to have no side effects connected to long term, low dose exposure. What cosmetics company can afford to do the second kind of testing? It is true that just about anything can be harmful in quantity (hell, you can kill yourself drinking too much water), but I don’t believe that the “safety” testing done on most of these newer compounds is anything like as thorough as I want it to be.

That said, I just discovered your site, and I’m very excited. I’m hoping to learn so much. Maybe there are more chemicals that I could be comfortable using…. I really appreciate what you’re doing. Wish other chemists were doing similarly informative things about otc medicines, household cleaners, etc. Actually, maybe they are- must go google now…