I just avoid "natural" products because there is no real regulation. It's not like kosher stuff with someone standing by to strictly regulate. You can have just one "natural" ingrediant and call it natural, then charge twice what you'd charge for the same product without that "natural" ingrediant. It's just a ploy to get people to spend more. Period. I feel sorry for those ignorant enough to fall for it instead of learning to read and research first.

Designer - that's why I don't believe in buying "organic" makeup. No regulation. At least kosher has to go through a strict regulation. Not government, of course, but religious. Rabbis trained in making sure things are kosher. There's even different types of makeup you have to use on the Sabbath as opposed to regular days so as to avoid "work."
I don't keep kosher, mind you, but I know kosher stuff is cleaner then even stuff approved by the FDA or USDA. The rules are so strict that with kosher products you can be sure you're getting what you're paying for. Organic stuff, you're not. You're just getting a catch phrase to steal your money.

Hey Left-
I apologize, you are correct in that free for all was an incorrect statement. Thanks for the links. They are helpful in describing exactly what the FDA is currently doing, which in my opinion is not nearly enough.

This is from the first link you sent, the second section down from the top:
"Cosmetic products and ingredients are NOT subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives. However, FDA may pursue enforcement action against violative products, or against firms or individuals who violate the law."

So essentially they are reactive, not proactive with product safety. I think that should be the other way around.

that's interesting I didn't know about the governmental seal thing placed on products? But as far as all natural products go, I try to avoid chemicals in products if I have an alternative that is of the same quality and price, but if there isn't i'm not afraid of using products that could be "harmful" according to a couple of studies out there. Until there is concrete proof these products are harmful to us or our environment I will continue to use them.

It's impossible to avoid chemicals.  Everything is a chemical.  Even organic and all natural products.
What do you think is not a chemical?
 

One of the biggest drivers for cancer in modern society is tobacco. Perfectly natural, used for centuries.

FACTS THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW

1-Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA (Food and Drug Administration) premarket approval authority. Only six out of more than 1500 dangerous ingredients are banned for use in cosmetics by the FDA, the other 1494 ingredients can be and are used in most lotions.

Although there are literally hundreds of ingredients used in cosmetic lotions that are potential irritants, toxins and cancer producing, the FDA lists only a few color additives and just six substances which cannot be used in beauty lotions or oils. Those six volatile substances are bithionol, mercury compounds, halogenated salicylanilides, chloroform, methylene chloride and cattle intestines.


2-If you read the ingredient list and most of the names are terms you never heard of; do not use the product.

With little regulation, you have little protection. Many beauty product manufacturers fill their bottles with low cost synthetics or waste products that can have harmful side effects, especially with long term use of the product.


3-The ingredient list, by law, is always shown in descending order of volume content. The further down on the list: the less of that ingredient is in the lotion. In too many cases, most of the good ingredients are at the bottom of the list. One trick used to avoid listing a good ingredient in the order of actual volume in the lotion is by listing it separately as an Active Ingredient. That way it can be removed from the standard listing requirements and even allows the manufacturer to list the rest of the ingredients alphabetically. Active ingredient listing for a medication makes sense, but for a beauty lotion it usually means they do not want you to see where it fits in the volume list. The only exception may be the sunscreen ingredient, of which most are harmful to your skin anyway.

In many cases, to get the customers attention the manufacturer will highlight a particular ingredient as part of its advertising. If that item is not at or near the top of the ingredient list, you can be sure that it represents a very small portion of the total content. Most beauty products use low cost synthetic chemicals and water as the major components of their lotions. They will highlight an in-vogue component to attract and draw in the customer. However, since there are no FDA regulations as to how much of a percentage of the product has to contain a certain ingredient in order for it to be highlighted, the manufacture can take an expensive ingredient or two, put a fraction of a percent of it in the lotion and still lay claim to its benefits.



4-The number one ingredient by far, in over 90% of beauty products, including even the most expensive beauty creams, is plain old fashioned water with no cosmetic value. Your $20, $40 or even $60 bottle of beauty lotion can be up to 50% water.

In order to keep costs done and thin out their product, most beauty cream manufacturers use water as a major ingredient. There may be times when small amounts of water are helpful in bringing the lotion to a smooth flowing consistency. However, if water is the first ingredient in the list, and therefore the highest percentage by volume as compared to any other ingredient, you can be sure you are paying too much for too little.

Your body is already over 50% water by weight. Women have a slightly less volume of water as do men. Yes, the water content decreases as you get older which accounts for some of the drying out of your skin. However the small amount you would add by using a lotion with water in it is relatively insignificant. As stated earlier, this added water can actually be harmful if it is not locked into the body via the use of a humectant ingredient. Humectants both lock in water and attract it from other sources such as the atmosphere. Many body lotions do add a humectant, but that does not require the need of additional water to be smoothed onto your body. There is enough water in the air or already on your body to satisfy the needs of most. Many companies use urea and/or glycerin as a humectant ingredient. Urea can either be derived from animal urine or synthetic ammonia and carbon dioxide. In either case, even though your body produces its own Urea, a foreign produced Urea added to your body can serve as an irritant, and even as a toxin to your system. It can also be damaging to body organs and reproductive systems. Another common Humectant is glycerin. Glycerin can be derived from animal by products or plants such as coconut and palm. Glycerin has been linked to cancer and irritations. A natural Humectant is honey and appears to have no known side effects.

"If you read the ingredient list and most of the names are terms you never heard of; do not use the product."

Rozy - I totally agree with you about people making decisions to buy a product based on their ability to read/recognise a product name. I'm not sure people should base the products they buy on how literate they are... On that note, I wonder how many people recognise tocopheryl acetate as Vitamin E.

I personally do not strive to use all natural products. I believe if you want to be all natural, you should LIVE all natural - find a nice cave to live in (No electricity! Harnessing electricity is not natural unless you are an eel) and live naturally there. :)

I'm sticking to the middle like glue, of course ingredients should be processed exactly enough to work best in whatever different uses they may be applied to.  So I hate what I call hard core hippie stuff (and always say no one ever buys it again).  But part of what I don't like there is sad, like making a good essential oil seem like it's trying to attack you.  I do love the natural stuff for what it really can do, like the way natural oils may lack the smoothness of mineral or synthetic (mineral isn't natural how, again?), but make up for it with fatty acids that can help with cell regeneration and softening, and other things like ellagic acid and phytoestrogens, etc.  So, you know, use both. 

I do believe firmly that most things work better closer to their most natural state, as much as practically possible, and that includes knowing that natural state can have downsides too (I do think banning comfrey is hysteria, but then people who know far more science than I do have been accusing the EU of that a lot lately - and it can be an irritant for a few people).

Anyway, I love this place, and guess I found an odd place for a first post - thanks for having an awesome resource for those of us with endless questions!  

Just chipping in on the preservatives issue - there are more interesting 'natural' preservatives coming onto the market all the time now which have had the necessary testing undertaken to demonstrate their efficacy at halting microbial growth in water-based products. I personally prefer the 'natural' skincare and beauty industry because I do have a greater understanding of those particular ingredients, but that doesn't mean I want rampant microbial growth in my moisturiser either. :)

I think it's unfair to tarnish the entire natural beauty industry as not caring about preservatives because you can formulate some very clever products that will be based on predominantly, if not all, natural ingredients and still address all safety concerns. Furthermore, I live in the EU and under the EC Cosmetics Regulations (or the EU Cosmetics Directive) you need to have safety assessments undertaken for every product you intend to bring to market - be that mainly 'natural' or 'synthetic'. If a product contains a lot of water, you'll need to undertake further testing to demonstrate its stability. Just because something is 'natural' doesn't mean that it's formulated by some quack in a room chanting homeopathic slogans over a bottle. :D

Parabens are natural! (at the least they can be) and biodegradable! Personally I am not willing to pay extra to get a product with a "special" preservative when there are perfectly good parabens for cheaper. (quote) 'natural' preservatives coming onto the market all the time' I think they are so stupid when we already have something that works and I think its a waste of time when they could be innovating and making things that dont suck and actually have evidence to work. Please dont attack me this is an opinion thread.  kbai.