Comments on: Wonderful Whale Washup http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/11/14/416/ Cosmetic chemists answer your beauty product questions! We are a group of cosmetic scientists who understand what the chemicals used in cosmetics really do, how products are tested, and what all the advertising means. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:42:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: MoxieHart http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/11/14/416/comment-page-1/#comment-45293 MoxieHart Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:55:06 +0000 http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/22/416/#comment-45293 Argh, sorry about that bad link textblock of death. Argh, sorry about that bad link textblock of death.

]]> By: MoxieHart http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/11/14/416/comment-page-1/#comment-45292 MoxieHart Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:54:22 +0000 http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/22/416/#comment-45292 @ Curses: I use the <a href="http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml" rel="nofollow">CITES appendex</a>, which is pretty useful when a new trend pops up. It's basically an agreement between governments to ensure that trade in specimens don't threaten species' survival. I used this when I was curious about hoodia after Oprah started talking about it. A great book regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine is <i>Tiger Bone and Rhino Horn</i> by Richard Ellis. It's about how TCM's use of endangered animal body parts is decimating species. @ Jami: I get your point but you shouldn't throw out all conservation because of poor laws. Ambergris has been found in sizes up to 100 lbs, that's a possible profit of $90,000. With the increasing loss of biodiversity in the ocean, especially among large mammals, we really need to be conservative and discourage any use of a product that can lead to an animal's death. We're not the only organisms on this planet and our survival is linked to the biodiversity of the planet. @ Curses: I use the CITES appendex, which is pretty useful when a new trend pops up. It’s basically an agreement between governments to ensure that trade in specimens don’t threaten species’ survival. I used this when I was curious about hoodia after Oprah started talking about it. A great book regarding Traditional Chinese Medicine is Tiger Bone and Rhino Horn by Richard Ellis. It’s about how TCM’s use of endangered animal body parts is decimating species.
@ Jami: I get your point but you shouldn’t throw out all conservation because of poor laws. Ambergris has been found in sizes up to 100 lbs, that’s a possible profit of $90,000. With the increasing loss of biodiversity in the ocean, especially among large mammals, we really need to be conservative and discourage any use of a product that can lead to an animal’s death. We’re not the only organisms on this planet and our survival is linked to the biodiversity of the planet.

]]> By: Jami http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/11/14/416/comment-page-1/#comment-45288 Jami Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:43:21 +0000 http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/22/416/#comment-45288 Maybe I just want too much to believe that 95% of the human population are honest folks whom wouldn't even think of that. I still think it's silly to outlaw the stuff that washes up on it's own. But I think most of the laws in regards to the environment are over regulated to the point of being more harmful then helpful. Like how environmentalists wouldn't allow the removal of dead, diseased trees here in California, which led to massive wild fires. Maybe I just want too much to believe that 95% of the human population are honest folks whom wouldn’t even think of that. I still think it’s silly to outlaw the stuff that washes up on it’s own. But I think most of the laws in regards to the environment are over regulated to the point of being more harmful then helpful. Like how environmentalists wouldn’t allow the removal of dead, diseased trees here in California, which led to massive wild fires.

]]> By: Curses http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/11/14/416/comment-page-1/#comment-45287 Curses Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:24:13 +0000 http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/22/416/#comment-45287 Couldn't you just stage a photo then? It's like having protected bird feathers. Yes, it's entirely possible to find molted feathers, but it's better to be safe and just outlaw them all. This leads me to a bigger question: How much of an impact does wildharvesting cosmetic ingredients have on the environment? I found a study from UC Davis that examined the effect of the argan oil craze on forests and indigenous people in Morocco, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info on the subject that's available to someone without a uni library card. By the way, the UCD study found that people were more interested in the health of argan-containing forests overall than before the boom, but focus had shifted to the short-term. Basically, they wanted to protect the argan oil more than the forest itself. Harvesting methods had become much more aggressive and potentially damaging, too. Couldn’t you just stage a photo then? It’s like having protected bird feathers. Yes, it’s entirely possible to find molted feathers, but it’s better to be safe and just outlaw them all.

This leads me to a bigger question: How much of an impact does wildharvesting cosmetic ingredients have on the environment? I found a study from UC Davis that examined the effect of the argan oil craze on forests and indigenous people in Morocco, but there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of info on the subject that’s available to someone without a uni library card. By the way, the UCD study found that people were more interested in the health of argan-containing forests overall than before the boom, but focus had shifted to the short-term. Basically, they wanted to protect the argan oil more than the forest itself. Harvesting methods had become much more aggressive and potentially damaging, too.

]]> By: Jami http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/11/14/416/comment-page-1/#comment-45286 Jami Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:33:05 +0000 http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/22/416/#comment-45286 @MB - Obviously with cellphone cameras and stuff the law can just say "you must have visual proof you found it on the beach." When even homeless people have cellphones there's no excuse to not be able to take pictures of it on the beach. @MB – Obviously with cellphone cameras and stuff the law can just say “you must have visual proof you found it on the beach.” When even homeless people have cellphones there’s no excuse to not be able to take pictures of it on the beach.

]]>