Did you know that the U.S. FDA and Health Canada only bans or restricts around 11 chemicals compared to the 1,328 banned chemicals by the European Union? You would be even more worried if you learned that many of these poorly regulated substances are associated and linked to all kinds of harmful side effects, including skin irritation, birth defects, and even cancer. Source.
These toxins and cheap, man-made synthetic fillers started to be allowed in our products in the 1930s when the pharma and cosmetics industry switched from natural to synthetics.
These substances are absorbed directly by your skin, building up over time. Some stop your skin breathing naturally, can cause or worsen skin conditions such as acne and eczema and many have even been listed as having carcinogenic properties.
Worse yet, many of these compounds sit on the surface of your skin (like your hands and lips) and can be easily ingested by you or the people you come into contact with.
So why do companies use them?
It's cheap. It's easy to convince consumers they are getting value for money by giving them more - even if it's full of harmful chemicals!
It's faster to produce. For companies looking to mass-produce, there is no time for slow mother nature. Why wait for plants to grow naturally when you can create an artificial alternative in a lab and pump out a million bottles from the factory pipeline?
It adds volume. By using the bare minimum of effective ingredients it helps companies profit at your expense. Thickeners, gelling agents, and foamers add weight and volume so you feel you are getting more for your money and you use and buy more to get the effects you are looking for.
It (almost) lasts forever. Companies don't like short-shelf lives. That's why they often use, cheap preservatives so strong that you could use the same bottle 5 years later and not notice the difference. The trouble is, these artificial preservatives often counter any beneficial effects the products claim to have. We don't use synthetic preservatives although the life of a product is the same - but the price of that natural preservative is higher
It looks 'perfect'. We are used to seeing identical products with a uniform look and feel. But nature doesn't work that way. No two leaves are the same, the colors are influenced by the seasons, rains, and natural variety of the plants. We aren't used to seeing products with natural bits inside, clouding, or anything that is 'unusual'. We are blinded by what the ads tell us things should look like, including ourselves. With us, there are no colors, fragrances, or anything your skin doesn't need.
Because they can. Poor regulations = no consequences
We know this can be completely avoided and isn't necessary in any shape or form. From artificial fragrances and colors to synthetic foamers, thickening agents, and gelling compounds, you'll never find any of these in ANY our products.
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