Greenwashing in cosmetics is such a tricky subject. Some of the beauty brands I’ve listed below are blatantly misleading consumers through greenwashing practices. Others on this list may be less deliberate in their marketing ploys, but are still worth noting as brands that are often mistaken as fully natural and green, yet are not.
Calling out companies in this way is something I’ve avoided for a very long time. Mainly because it opens a whole can of worms. This is the gateway to a much bigger conversation about unregulated uses of words like “natural” and “organic” among other arguments regarding “safe synthetics” and “science driven” ingredients within formulations.
You can hear me sound off more about this in the Green Divas radio interview I did all about greenwashing.
There’s way too much grey space in the green space.
Too many folks in the green world are fear mongering and too many brands taking advantage of the growing concerns of consumers to have healthy, cruelty-free cosmetics.
So without opening the entire can of worms in this one post, here’s the list of who I consider to be the biggest offenders doing the greenwashing in the cosmetics industry.
Please note that I will be breaking down my research and opinions brand-by-brand in forthcoming articles. If you want to make sure you get them all, sign up for my newsletter here.
I encourage you to research these brands for yourself right now. Just do a search online for the ingredient lists and you’ll see exactly what I mean. You can check their formulations against our Toxic Ingredients Glossary.
22 brands that you might think are green, but really aren’t all that
(In alphabetical order)
- Arbonne
- Aveda
- Aveeno
- Bio-Oil
- Covergirl Natureluxe
- Herbacin
- Herbal Essences
- Johnson’s Natural
- Josie Maran
- Jurlique
- Korres Natural Products
- LUSH Cosmetics
- Melaleuca
- Moroccan Oil
- Natures Organics
- Nivea Pure & Natural
- Organix
- Origins
- Pure and Basic
- Simple Basics
- Tarte Cosmetics [read why]
- The Body Shop
This list will be updated from time to time and I’m sure it will strike up some controversy.
Do you see a brand that shouldn’t be on here, or are we missing one you think is a major offender of greenwashing? Let us know in the comments below (and keep it classy please!).
I really surprised after reading this post, all these products are not under natural or green category.
Hey Kristen,
I’m curious about where you get your information on Arbonne. I’ve been a consultant for about four years and joined the brand after my second bout of cancer had me looking for products that I could rely on to be clean and eco friendly. I’ve been really happy and impressed by the mission of the brand and the way the company walks the walk. I’m curious to know what your specific problem is with Arbonne and where you get your information. Could you clarify that for me, please? Thanks so much!
Check out Meghan Telpner’s article on this. Summarizes it beautifully. The proof has been in the ingredient listing, the marketing lingo and what reps were saying. All incongruent. A few years ago (after articles like mine) Arbonne was pressured to reformulate after a totally lack of transparency (not willing to publicly reveal full ingredient lists upon request) for many years. They still don’t get a pass for that given how they marketed themselves as green incorrectly for so long and fooled people.
I am 45 years old and have been told for years I look 15 years younger than I do. I also get compliments daily about my hair. I have used Aveda for almost 20 years and have never had an issue. I also get facials at Aveda salons. I could use a product you claim is better but probably wouldn’t work as well because you have to consider your skin type, chemistry, age, etc.
What are your thoughts on Poofy Organics?
Thanks for sharing your best practices. I really need this techniques for a healthier and younger looking skin. Thanks!
You should add RMS Beauty to that list of one of the worst green washers. I fell for it & ordered some of their products luckily from a place I could get a refund. I immediately got hives when I used the MOD Pallet & my face turned red like a sunburn immediately after putting the Beauty Oil on. Even scarier is that when I stepped outside the 3 different times I had the uncoverup, luminizer & lip2cheek on I smelled an awful acetone like chemical odor. I thought it was in the air & long story short when my face was free of their products the awful chemical spill smell wasn’t outside & I figured it out that there is obviously some sort of chemical reaction when the RMS makeup on my face hit the outside air. I washed my face & have washed my hands of this brand & all other makeup/skincare brands. As I was packing up the RMS products to return I finally really read the labels. They put a star by each ingredient saying that “denotes certified organic”, yet nowhere on the package is there any third party certification or any certification. No USDA, no QAI- Nothing. Big wake up call for me. I will just use food grade, truly certified organic grapeseed oil, jojoba, & rosehip oil by Fontier Food Co-op/Aura Cacia & my favorite unscented Badger Balm lip balm which are all certified USDA organic & the balm is truly certified gluten free by the gluten free Certification Organization & it’s all clearly on the labels. Hope this helps. I hate to think so many are spending a fortune on these deceitful brands & actually harming their skin & bodies rather than beautifying. I’m done with makeup & serums etc. My focus is on healthy, nourished skin- from the inside out.
That’s a really surprising situation you encountered with RMS. Have you been in contact with them about your reactions? It sounds to me like the products may have been rancid. If the retailer doesn’t store them correctly, that could happen. Hopefully you find what works for you! Thanks for taking the time to share.
Thank you for your response. Most of these companies just get angry & defensive with honest feedback that isn’t positive towards their product. They don’t care. It wasn’t rancid. I’m very sensitive to odors & know the smell when a product is rancid. The products had a very neutral pretty much non-odor in the pots, & on my skin indoors- that’s the strange part- it wasn’t until I went outside & it was such a strong chemical odor that I really wondered if we’d had a chemical spill somewhere. It was awful. Enough to scare me off of anything by them. The way I figured it out was on the 3rd day, my husband & I went out to run errands & I noticed the chemical spill odor (lol, only after the fact) was gone, then we got back in the car & on the way to the mountains an hour & 1/2 away, I applied my new RMS makeup & when we got to our destination, I smelled the same odor & I was like there’s no way it’s in the air so I knew that was the only thing different was what was on my face. Oh & no one else could smell the chemical spill lol- turns out because it was my face. I sniffed my arm- no odor. When we got home, I stepped out on our deck- odor. Went inside & washed my face, then went back out on our deck- no odor. Wild I know.
What do you think about honest beauty?
Everything “natural” isn’t necessarily healthy or safe. If you add water hemlock and death cap mushrooms to your salad, you will have a very bad day, probably your last. Everything “synthetic” isn’t necessarily bad.
Clearly you’ve missed the point of this post and the term “greenwashing.”
Yawn. This “argument” is getting old, and you clearly missed the point.
Hello Kristen (+ Everyone)!
I’m working on a Green Washing Project for my Green Chemistry and Sustainability course at my University. I would love to include information and examples about beauty products from your website, but I haven’t been able to find an article where you explain what it is that these companies each have done to make it onto this list. I realize that the primary reason is for misleading labeling that deceives consumers about the production and ingredients used in their products, but do you have specific information exemplifying the problems with each of these brands?? I would have to discredit this list without proper sources, as it is just as irresponsible to blindly trust in a website stating “these brands are bad” without prove, as it is to believe the greenwashing tactics used to mislead consumers on the part of these companies. As I said, however, if I can find credible information listing the problems with these companies and products I would love the information so that I can better make choices in my own life when it comes to which companies I support and I would really love to be able to share the information from this website with my classmates.
Thank you!
Glad you’re doing research on this topic, and you’re still going to have to dig deeper and understand that they’re on the list based on what is on their ingredient labels and the contradictory claims they’re making. That’s the proof. “I encourage you to research these brands for yourself right now. Just do a search online for the ingredient lists and you’ll see exactly what I mean. You can check their formulations against our Toxic Ingredients Glossary.”
I’ve been told that Arbonne has clean products and I noticed that your article was published in 2015. What did you find and in what products?
No Naturopathica or Eminence on this list? For shame….
What do you say about Mary Kay skincare or cosmetics? I’ve heard they follow the EU guide
Yikes! Mary Kay products contains these ingredients:
Fragrance
Imidzolidinyl urea
Parabens
Petrolatum
Phenoxyethanol
RUN RUN RUN far away from Mary Kay! Here’s what EWG says about Imidzolidinyl urea: “Imidazolidinyl urea is an antimicrobial preservative that works by forming formaldehyde in cosmetic products.”
Fragrance of any kind is terrible and automatically is rated 8/10 on ewg.org. Companies can add literally ANYTHING to “fragrance” because it isn’t controlled by the FDA.
We all know what Parabens are and to stay away from any products that contain them.
Petrolatum has possible contaminants that can be toxic to our organs.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is used in a lot of greenwashed products and there’s not a lot of research done on it yet, but there’s a possible link to this ingredients and skin and eye irritants.
Do you have a list of good quality beauty products you do reccomend? Thanks
Yes! And now that I’m looking, I realize this could be easier to access on the site. Here’s a link to take you to the best-of list. Just click on each category that interests you: https://kristenarnett.com/best-of-beauty-awards/
I thinks it’s very dangerous to name drop companies like that without explaining WHY each company is not green. It’s as misleading as what you denounce.
I know Arbonne reps are super upset that this hasn’t been updated with brand new information. And after receiving YET ANOTHER email from one of them, I thought I’d copy and paste the conversation here –(and please stop emailing me about this unless you can show me actual documentation):
Arbonne rep said:
Just wondering if you are aware that Arbonne has a new ingredient policy. They now don’t include over 2000 chemicals that are in most North American brands. As clean as you can get without growing mould. They also have a huge green commitment and have won many awards for their green initiatives. You do propose disservice by not keeping your info up to date. Arbonne is endorsed by the American Cancer society and is certified gluten free, non GMO, cruelty free, (certified by Peta), vegan, banned substances group approved for their sports nutrition and the nutrition products are kosher certified.
My response:
Arbonne lied about their “greenness” and “naturalness” for a very very very very very long time.
I’m not inclined to update my information simply because these things have now supposedly changed.
If you can provide me with the actual place where it shows the certification for Non-GMO ingredients for each product that may be a start. But as of now, it’s not on the site in a credible way.
The American Cancer Society’s regulations are not something I think are a great definer of safe products.
PETA certification is a wonderful start (again not on the site as a symbol), and it’s a certification that’s based on an honor system through the company’s records but isn’t an independent certifying body.
Kosher means nothing when it comes to safety.
Gluten free is a bonus, but doesn’t qualify the brand as ethical in formulation either.
L’Oreal has won sustainability awards too, doesn’t make them a truly green brand either.
So what you’re sharing with me still comes across as empty promises. Something this brand has been very good at making people believe for many years.
I understand people make a good living at it, and it improves lives for those who do. Yet I’ve seen and read things that are absolutely untrue when it comes to the reality vs. claims reps are making, which is doing a disservice to every single person who believed those claims and spent hard earned money on an untruthful marketing ploy.
Maybe it’s cleaned up recently, but as of just 2015 there was NO public information about what was in each product without having to go through a rep and even they didn’t have it. That is too recent for me to think all of their “sins” have gone away. And to erase that would be a disservice as far as I’m concerned.
And why has the Body Shop been listed?
I recently purchased Arbonne essentials herbal muscle massage pain relieving gel. I thought it had all natural ingredients. My skin started burning I thought this was from the capsaicin, turns out it has butylene glycol in it.
Butylene Glycol is typically from sugar Cane and the safest of all glycols…… did you think it was propylene glycol??
Hi! Does anybody know about cosmetics brand “younique”, i’ve been looking for info but haven’t found much. They claim their products are toxic chemicals free, but they have cyclopentasiloxane among their ingredients. Does anybody has further information??
I knew Arbonne was shady. Thank for confirming my own research. Makes me ill that companies lead us to believe something and there LIAR’s. Thank you for all you do Kristen. Keep up the good work.
I agree with you Kristen that so many companies greenwash! I go to an Intergrative Doctor who tells me this all the time. I use EWG Verified Mineral Fusion cosmetics and some of their skincare. I love Badger sunscreens with no nano zinc. I have 100% Pure stores near me but haven’t loved the things I have tried there even though they are a great super safe company. I love my Mineral Fusion a lot better. Thank you for all your input about safe cosmetics! I have learned a lot and love your videos. My favorite night routine is washing with Dr. Bronner’s Baby Soap. Then I put a few drops each of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Rosehip Oil and Coconut Oil in my hands and mix together and gently smooth on my face, neck and chest. I wake up to gorgeous skin at age 64. You can’t get more natural than that:)
I like 100% Pure and RMS brands for cosmetics and Morocco Method for hair care. No synthetic chemicals, gmo-free, mostly organic.
I have been in the beauty industry for 20 years, I’ve owned my own spa for 15 of those and also have a distribution company that ships nationally across Canada. Your only path to the truth is being able to read and understand an ingredient list yourself, once you are able to do that you own the facts. Making yourself more knowledgeable on third party certifications and brand claims allows you to make an informed decision, not just how you are spending your money, but how safe a formula is that you are directly applying to your skin and therefore entering your bloodstream.
Hey there – given this article is from 2015, I’m curious if you’ll be updating the list to be reflective of any changes made by companies on the list. Seems in the last few years with the rise in consumer education about ingredients and (hopefully) the desire by companies to get on board, this list may have changed. I see there are a TON of comments so maybe the intention is to just update via comments, which are tough to read through in their entirety. Thanks so much!
Younique Greenwashes. They claim to be natural and non toxic yet they use ingredients like Fragrance.
Could you offer advice please on the safety of Ever skin, Modere and Pure Haven? TIA
Hi Abby,
I”m not familiar with those brands at all. So I’d say if you look at the ingredients of the products you’ll find everything there you need to know as to whether or not these are brands you feel comfortable using. If you don’t already have it, download the free Toss the Toxins Toolkit here to make things easier. Also you can check out the course I put together for consumers who want to be more savvy and not be greenwashed here.
Thanks so much! xo
Fragrance does not mean a product is unnatural. It depends on how the fragrance was derived.
MOP hair care products. Originally MOP stood for Modern Organic Products. At some point it seems as though they quietly changed the name to Modern Original Products. Classic consumer deception – their products were never even remotely organic.
Hello! Can you please look into Poofy Organics and let me know your thoughts. Would love to hear a review on it.
Aesop. I have seen SLS, PEGs and phenoxyethanol on their ingredient lists. In their defence, they don’t really claim to be green. For some reason however, most people seem to think they are.
I would also love to see a greenwashing list dedicated solely to hair care products – there are so many brands posing as green.
Hi Kristen,
I’ve been enjoying reading your articles and watching your videos. I also went through your entire Ultimate Beauty Shopping Guide course yesterday, and it was great. Thank you so much! I’ve been emptying my bathroom and kitchen cabinets and shelves of products containing everything from talc to propylene glycol to imidazoidinyl urea (from what???) over the past couple of weeks. I even started using a wonderfully fresh DIY basin, tub, and tile cleaner I made with very simple ingredients.
Reading the tiny print in the ingredients lists sometimes requires a good magnifying glass! Just this morning, on a tube of Burt’s Bees Moisturizing Lip Balm I discovered lanolin (insert sad face here) among the natural sounding plant-based ingredients, not counting beeswax. I’m a vegetarian and don’t mind using local honey for my toast or beeswax for candle making, but lanolin? I was very disappointed.
Thanks again for all your information and encouragement to be knowledgeable about the ingredients we often overlook in our purchases.
Leslie
Have you tried the skincare and makeup range by Annmarie Gianni? Formulated with the help of a herbalist, her products are pure, organic and wildcrafted, and are endorsed by Louise Hay, Kriss Carr, Donna Gates and Mark Hyman.
I particularly love the aloe-herb cleanser, coconut honey mask and the ayurvedic facial scrub.
Living Libations by Nadine Artemis is another great pure and authentic brand.
My aunt got Anna Marie and it all showed up with mold in it.
This was a very useful article… I have used quite a few of these in the past, thinking I was doing something better. Of course many of these are not going to kill you overnight LOL, but with my family history of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, & now cancer… One must be careful of the toxic load.
My friend introduced me to beautycounter, her tween son had stage 4 leukemia that was environmentally caused For the oncologist… Thank God he’s in remission now, but her story & many others inspired me. I joined beautycounter & I will never look back. Not all synthetic ingredients are bad, not all organic natural ingredients are good. It’s all about sourcing, testing, communication, transparency, & safety! I like the fact that beautycounter is also an activist company that is trying to get the FDA to strengthen regulations. I like the fact that I’m a voice for people like me who care about what goes on their bodies. Every day we have choices, this is one choice that gives me that warm & fuzzy feeling of controlling a part my environment as well as for my family & children.
If anyone has questions feel free to ask
I too use BeautyCounter skincare, and I am extremely pleased with their excellent, but extremely expensive, products.
Yes to Beautycounter!! ?? Love all their products so much and their mission/advocacy work that I became a consultant myself! Love sharing and educating others on these horrible industry practices.
Beauty Counter is so expensive and the quality underperformed for me. In addition, I broke out with psoriasis all over my face (which I currently have, but never on my face). Come to find out from the ingredients that it contains talc and phenoxyethanol – which may be linked to skin irritation. So my holistic dr recommended Crunchi makeup and skin care and no more outbreaks of psoriasis! It performs a lot better and it’s not as pricey. Win win! I guess it’s all about finding what works for you and what ingredient standards you live by!
Sorry, I did not read the previous comments but I found that Carol’s Daughter used phenoxyethanol in a product.
Burt’s Bees website says it is also in the products of theirs that are water based, any product that is 99% natural instead of 100% but they claim to be working on an alternative, read more here from their site directly: “Preservation of natural formulas is challenging and we’ve found that natural preservatives simply aren’t effective in some formulas. To ensure the safety, efficacy, and aesthetic of our formulas, we use the synthetic preservative phenoxyethanol at 1% or below in some of our water-containing products. We chose it because it is a non-paraben, non-formaldehyde-releasing preservative and is used broadly in natural personal care products.”
Read more at http://www.burtsbees.com/#VhPYhORW0vXzqtHq.99
Hi Kristen,
Thanks so much for this list. A friend of mine has approached me to join their team at Arbonne, but wanted to know more about the company before doing so. Now I’ve seen it here, I shall not be joining, but I wondered if you could give me more information as to why Arbonne is on the list?
Thanks so much and look forward to hearing from you,
Ceri
I will certainly one day do an article about that. Just worried about the death threats….hahaha! Kidding, but kinda not kidding. I had my site maliciously attacked twice right after originally posting this article. I have my suspicions…
You should really list in detail “what you mean” before making these claims. As Arbonne is CERTIFIED vegan, non-gmo, no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. And working on getting several other official certifications that are taking time. Our scientific board constantly reviews our products and ingredients to make sure that improvements are made if there ever is an actual issue with any of our ingredients. So please do list the issues you have with the Arbonne brand because I promise you they will do everything they can to address the issue and correct it! But right now all I see is an unverified claim and that’s not really fair for the people who love this brand and use it every single day. I personally would like to know. Thanks so much. ❤️
Arbonne has been around a very long time. The company STILL does not publicly make full ingredient information available. Very suspicious. So actually why aren’t THEY listing out their claims and verifying them in detail? Why put the entire onus on me, when it’s practically impossible to find ingredient lists without first contacting a rep? After all these years and scrutiny, they’re getting things certified because they’ve had to make changes to their formulas and that’s what’s taking a long time. They’re playing catch up. Though Arbonne products are not totally natural, there is a lot of marketing from reps and the brand itself that suggests it is. Certified vegan doesn’t mean green. Why would there be artificial sweeteners/flavors in makeup or skin care? Lip products are the only example I can think of. What about endocrine disrupting phthalates? Maybe their scientists are reviewing ingredients for improvements – not sure what that means exactly. The point is, now the proof is on you to show they are actually formulated without controversial ingredients within green guidelines. If you are not bothered by synthetics, then great, just don’t be one of the people saying these cosmetics are natural or truly green.
So very disappointed to see that consumers are still too lazy to do their own research. No one here is indicating that you should ditch products you believe in, support and pay their bills for them. This site is clearly intended to educate. As with any class, you take away what you want, dump the rest. It is very easy to do your own research, based on another persons findings and then: FREELY-decide on your own. If you dont bother to come to your own conclusions, why debate with the findings of another? If you look not-even-really-so-closely- you will find that in most cases, you are ill-informed. Yet, you still have the free will to be just that.
Thank you for chiming in with that, Wendy! I really appreciate you reminding folks that they are still totally responsible to take the most valuable pieces of anything provided with the intention of being educational, adding in other perspectives instead of simply regurgitating marketing materials. I have never professed to be the ultimate source of all knowledge, that’s just not possible. So thank you for your sobering words.
Arbonne lists all of their ingredients right from their website. You just have to click on ingredients when looking at a product. It would be nice if you updated your article because your statement that says they don’t list ingredients is misleading. Thanks!
While I will agree that Arbonne is working towards trying to be better- they still include MANY ingredients that are rated 7-8 on the EWG website that industry has recommended should be restricted in cosmetics. Also, it was very difficult to find a true full ingredients listing on their products – I found they only highlight what people want to hear.
I would trust the list a tad bit more if Eminence “Organics” was on it. I encourage all who are reading this to do their own research into what is safe and effective. Kristin clearly has some bones to pick with certain companies and not others. This list is incomplete, erroneous as well as uninformed. Not to be trusted.
Alexis, the list is not exhaustive. It’s just 22 brands that were most prevalent at the time I created it. Of course there could be more. You could simply offer constructive feedback that you’d like to see that particular brand added to the list. Of course people should do their own research…I always encourage that. I’ve never thought of my site to be an end all be all of information. Please be kind, classy and constructive when leaving comments on this site that may help in many areas of research to find better, safer options, rather than tear down the efforts. Thank you, Kristen Arnett
Hey Ceri,
I wouldn’t let one persons opinion make your decision for you ?
This list is kind of scaremongering
I mean formaldehyde is even found in your own body so in small amounts it’s not even a health risk.. if you’re going to include a list of what you’re basically calling ‘poisons’ you should probably include how much of each thing is actually bad for you, if at all, and how much is used in an example product of the company.
Otherwise you might as well shout dihydrogen monoxide is the number 1 ingredient in most things and in large amounts it can damage internal organs or kill you.
Without extra information that sounds scary as hell! Or what about Sodium Chloride (NaCl). Linked to high blood pressure, heart problems and lots more bad things. But I bet a bunch of you had it on your chips last time.
Dihydrogen monoxide is water. Too much will kill you. (A woman died in 2006 for drinking 6 litres in 3 hours).
NaCl is salt. As in..table salt.
Not all chemicals are bad for you. You are a Carbon Based Life-form made of thousands of other chemicals.
I mean…
Yes, it’s all about consumption…the amount of any toxic you take in and the cumulative burden your body it adds to your body over years of daily use can create a health problem Such as the water, the pollution, food and yes, your beauty products. There’s no fear mongering going on. The language is super neutral if you read the rest of this site, you’ll see that I also acknowledge that natural can be toxic. The folks from fast food restaurants will justify how their food won’t kill you, but we all know that a diet based on fast food isn’t the way to thrive and live a long, healthy life either. I mean…
Ceri, Why don’t you do the research first on their company and look into them more?
I just came across this post and saw the comments. Thought I’d reach out in case the author has not. Arbonne uses ingredients that are linked to health harm and you can find more detailed information by searching the products in the EWG’s skin deep database. It’s a great resource and will rate products 0-10 (0 being completely safe, 10 highly toxic or harmful. I use and sell Beautycounter. After a lot of research and using the products I can say it is truly is the safest, highest performing line on the market. They intentionally ban over 1500 ingredients while US law only requires that 30 are banned. The EU bans about 1400. I’m happy to send you samples if you’d like to try or learn more about Beautycounter.
Has this list been updated at all over the last two years? It seems rather outdated and misleading.
The list hasn’t been updated since all those brands are still considered greenwashers. So what’s misleading about it?
I too would love to see the article about why a company like Arbonne is on the list. They have one of the most strict ingredient policies around. Plus, you have already posted something incorrect about them. They do not claim to be an all natural brand. (“Botanically Based . . . . At Arbonne, we take nature’s gifts as inspiration, and blend it with high science and true innovation. Each and every product is carefully formulated and crafted with potent botanicals to enhance your beauty, health and wellness. And improve your life, inside and out.”
They are very transparent about the fact that they combine the best of nature with the safest of science which is not making an all natural or green statement. I have some info I’d be happy to share with you since I have written to the chief formulators and gotten great replies int eh past. Plus, Arbonne just removed 38 more ingredients from their products last month; they always seem to be striving to become more and more pure. I have come to learn that an ingredient by name and used by company “A” is not the same as the same ingredient as used by company “B”, because of chemistry and other factors. You really have to be a chemist to break down ingredient labels correctly, otherwise, people are rating with systems arbitrarily, not based on actual science.
Well said. I couldn’t agree more! I was shocked to see Arbonne on this list. Without a degree in chemistry, I trust Peter Matravers to deliver the best in science and nature. After all, he has more patents in his industry than any other scientist and spent five years formulating products without the use of mineral oil as a binding agent (among other countless formulas that omit preservatives, perfumes, phthalates etc etc etc). So much to be educated on. I sincerely hope that others reading this will do their research.
Could somebody do a complete review on Doterra personal care, I also saw that they have supplements like the DDR. etc that have carreageenan.
Please not someone who is selling the product!
Thanks
I’m happy to answer any questions you have about Doterra’s products. I am a Doterra Wellness Advocate but that doesn’t mean I make assumptions that their choices in ingredients are sound without doing research. I emailed product support asking about the carrageenan a while back and this was their response about it: “Thank you for your inquiry. Carrageenan is a natural fiber extracted from seaweed. It is used in our vegetarian softgels and beadlets as part of the shell, as well as in our toothpaste to help with the structure. The amount included is more than 500 times smaller than a dose that has been documented to have no effect on the body. As with any well documented ingredient, carrageenan has been studied at very high doses and in different forms to find out at what point it might cause harm, which is where some of the concern probably comes from. Carrageenan has been used in very low levels in ice cream and other foods for decades with no negative effects at the dose used. The dose we use in our products is very small and completely safe. The vegetarian softgels are also more sustainable, are from all natural sources, have less risk of contaminants, and are more stable than the older animal based shell.”
In terms of their skincare and personal care products, I did think there were more ingredients than necessary. While at convention last year I asked the people responsible for formulating the products in that department why there were so many ingredients. They were happy to share a list of where each ingredient is sourced from, why it is in the product, and how it benefits the user. They said that if there were only a couple ingredients like I would have liked, people would complain about the consistency not being high quality. They also pointed out that the ingredient list looks longer than it actually is because in parentheses after each essential oil used is its scientific name, which visually takes up a lot of space on that ingredients label.
Below is an example of our most popular skincare line along with a detailed ingredient list, fully explaining what each ingredient is:
http://media.doterra.com/us/en/brochures/verage.pdf
I hope what I shared was helpful for you. If you have any additional questions about Doterra please feel free to email me!
[admin removed personal contact and MLM site link]
Could somebody do a complete review on Doterra personal care, I also saw that they have supplements like the DDR. etc that have carreageenan.
Please not someone who is selling the product!
Thanks
Is Too Faced makeup a good alternative? Trying to find a good safe beauty brand that’s cruelty free.
I can’t find anything on too faced! They don’t make any claims on being natural, so I’m sure it’s full of all things bad!
Poofy Organics has the cleanest/ safest ingredients with 100’s of items to choose from. 100% organic. Certified organic company, eco-friendly, toxic free!!
[admin removed personal MLM link]Beautycounter doesn’t claim to be natural but they claim to be a safer option because they don’t use any chemical that’s linked to human health issues. They ban over 1500 of the most commonly used, toxic ingredients and are 100% transparent. Super high-performing, ultra lux personal care and cosmetics! And they’re pushing for tougher regulation in the beauty industry too (which is rare!)
They use dimethicone tho…
RE Beautycounter & dimethicone -the problem with this ingredient is if it is absorbed. BC uses a molecule that is to large to be absorbed by the skin- it sits ON the skin – thus eliminating the concern- but EWG will still rate it as high. My experience with Beautycounter has been to always assume the BEST- they are on top of these issues – Yes I’m a consultant and my upline is a founder so I am not far from the “horses mouth.” We have our reasons and explanations – and 99% of the time with details , most clients are ok- for the ones who are not , move on – there are hundreds of thousands of consumers who LOVE our products and are comfortable with that ingredient – and only 1% of the population know about Beautycounter!!!! It’s like offering everyone in the room a cup of homemade frozen lemon sorbet – you keep going til you get a “yes” you don’t try to convince the person who doesn’t like sorbet or lemon to eat it, you ask , accept where they are- and find the next person who does, all the while knowing what you are serving something good, and something where you know where all the ingredients came from.
As for preservatives, they are rated high on EWG BECAUSE their job is to kill … they kill yeast , mold , and bacteria – that can be 100 times more harmful than the preservative itself. Beautycounter uses the least amount of preservative we can. Per the existing law governing personal care, anything that has water as an ingredient – HAS to have a preservative in it – MANY “safe/clean/organic” companies COULD be buying their ingredients pre-preserved and not listing them – that is something to consider. BC is trying new ingredient technologies that will allow using even less preservative in the future – they are all about SAFETY and performance – you want products that are safe and actually do their job! As for animal cruelty, some companies pay an outside source to do the testing for them. I discovered this not too long ago and filed it away with all the other loopholes companies are using to be more appealing. Who is doing it? Lord knows. That’s why I stick with what I KNOW. It’s all about rigorous safety standards, complete transparancy, a company who researches Every Single ingredient’s source, while providing a top quality product that actually works.
Check out websites like Petit Vour and Detox Market….you should find some safer options there. I’m a long time Sephora enthusiast but am slowly learning that most of what you can find there isn’t going to be on the safer/greener end of the spectrum (and loads of animal testing product lines too). PETA also has a cool search engine that helps find cruelty free brands. Good luck
Too Faced is nowhere NEAR natural.
Beauty Counter is only 80% natural. I just read the owner’s interview. Can you give us atleast 3 companies for makeup that are 100% natural? I know 100% pure is.
I would like to know 3 as well
Check out Pure Haven Essentials. 🙂
Pure Haven was previously Ava Anderson – google it 🙂
Ava Anderson told the truth about what happened with her company; that she had a third party for essential oils who she trusted and the bottom line is that she was lied to. The company remedied this problem by dropping that third part and relocating to a plant in Rhode Island where they can grow and harvest their own ingredients so that they know without a doubt the ingredients are pure.
Also, she was a college kid who was trying to make a positive difference in the world for the health of people and was blasted and harassed to the point that she gave up her dream and sold the company to her employees–so yes, Pure Haven was Ava Anderson and is still awesome–I have yet to find another company who offers truly chemical free products. I just attended a class on DoTerra today and was a bit excited and tempted to buy the essential oils kit and possible Deep Blue Rub, hand soap, etc. and was disappointed to find in the ingredient list that there are chemicals, so I will stick with Pure Haven Essentials. Do your research and make a truly informed decision not based on others opinions, but truth–even if you just read the ingredient lists.
It is No longer connected to Ava Anderson. It is Pure Haven Essentials, and it is 100% clean
Check out Poofy Organics. All ingredients listed. We just released a luxurious eye lash serum and high def mascara! Products are made in small batches by hand in NJ!
[admin removed personal MLM link]Also, Beauty Counter doesn’t claim to be all natural. They are about safer and safer doesn’t necessarily mean “natural.”
“Natural” doesn’t mean ANYTHING. Which is why they don’t market themselves as such. Even “organic” ingredients can have poor sourcing, eliminating the benefit.
and also, not everything that is natural is SAFE. That is why Beautycounter does not say they are natural, or 100% organic. BC is a great company with high-performing products.
Are they still doing a Target launch?
Beautycounter was in Target stores for a limited partnership last fall.
I am not affiliated with any of the brands I am listing below. I know from my own research because I have super sensitive skin and eyes (for example, I cannot use talc at all and that product is EVERYWHERE). I personally have used them and know they are good products:
http://www.theallnaturalface.com
http://www.nessasnaturals.com
I am going to throw this out there: be extremely leery of any makeup brand marketed as a direct selling brand. The consultants are trying to sell you something, they (from my experience) are not concerned for your well-being. Generally, they have been duped too.
Hi Cheryl,
I’m so sorry that you have had really bad experiences with Direct Retail Consultants. If you think they have been duped to not be concerned with your well being than you have been dealing with people who are misrepresenting X company. I do work for one for over 4 years, and it IS my job to look out for my clients best interest and to make sure I am letting them try samples, point them in the right direction for specific products that will best fit their needs and budget. I would not be in this business if I did care about women, men, children, and infants and what goes on their largest organ. Again, so sorry.
I am 48; but, get guessed to be in my 30’s. Proof of toxic free for sure!! And effective!
What products do you use, Melanie?
Where was the article on Beauty Counter? I’d love to read it!
Thank you for this article. I was wondering what your thoughts are on Rodan and Fields? They don’t try to say they are organic or green but they do say they don’t test on animals. I know there is a loop hole there, if they don’t test the final product a they can say that even if they have tested individual ingredients
Hi Melissa.
I know for a fact that they do not test on animals. We have had enough stringent testing and collected enough data throughout the decades that these days it is unnecessary and cruel to continue the practice of animal testing. Top scientists already know how ingredients react and how they will respond together. Rodan and fields clinically test and state proven results. These tests are conducted on human tissue samples in the lab.
Hope that helps
Their products rates 4-8 on ewg – but you can;t search them on there so you have to look up the individual ingredeints. They use retinol, fragrance and other questionable ingredients. If you are looking to go greener or natural check ewg.org/skindeep for great recommendations.
What about Bare Minerals? Thanks!
What about Vichy brand ???
What about the brand Kiehl’s? I have been using them for years and Google searched them and it seems like they are NOT non-toxic. Thanks! 🙂
Good question! I did an article on that. Click here to read about Kiehl’s from my perspective!
Thank you! I’m trying to find the truth about BareMinerals. I’ve called and they haven’t really been able to tell me that their products are non-toxic. I have a serious health concern and am very strict about what I’m putting in and on my body. How does Honest Beauty and The Honest Company rate in your opinion? Also, doTERRA’s skincare line? It is all very overwhelming. I thought Tata Harper was supposedly great but I’ve read your article. I just want a few brands I can trust and I will be happy. I have been extremely happy with the results of The Honest Company, Honest Beauty and doTERRA products so if they are all clear then I’m golden! Thank you sooooo very much!!!! Thank you for doing this blog and all the research! I can’t express how calming it is to know that I can come to your site and know you have told the truth. It feels good to know the real truth. 🙂
Have you found the EWG group? The Environmental Working Group is amazing for lots of things. Many things aren’t covered, but it might help a bit. They have a Skin Deep app, and also a Cleaning Guide that I have loved using.
Honest Company is iffy. It depends on what product you’re using.
Good luck!
Thank you!!
Try Beautycounter! It’s non-toxic and the products are high performing.
I can’t speak to the others, but I can answer regarding doTERRA’s skin care products. They have two lines of skin care – Verage and Essential Skin Care. The Verage systems is completely natural and non-toxic. The Essential Skin Care line has mostly natural ingredients, but is for the person who wants a little help from science as well. Of course, they strive to make sure that even the non-plant derived ingredients are safe and non-toxic and I don’t know anyone who has had problems, but I personally prefer to stay with the completely plant-based Verage system and absolutely love it. I also use some essential oils for specific issues (e.g., a dab of Melaleuca for the occasional acne, Frankincense or a blend called Immortelle for wrinkles (e.g., around eyes and mouth). doTERRA’s essential oils are 100% pure with nothing added. I do sell dōTERRA products, but it is because I was a customer first and have been so impressed with the products and the people behind them. [
admin removed personal MLM info]Unfortunately, doterra’s products are not 100% pure.
Thank you!!
Have you Heard of Beautycounter?? Safer skincare for the whole family, and an incredible high performing makeup line! They have bannd over 1500 ingredients linked to health harm and totally transparent! Check them out!
[admin removed personal MLM link]Have you looked at Beautycounter? We have a list of 1,500 harmful or questionable ingredients that we never use. Hair care, skincare, cosmetics, kids and baby products.
Glad to know you are wary of bare minerals.. Any company that sells “mineral powder makeup” that is supposedly talc free, Non Comedogenic and chock full of minerals sounds good, right? Let me tell you, not in my experience. In fact, I believe it is the reason I now have so many issues with my skin, and here is why. Bare Minerals has some interesting claims… make up that helps your skin! Make up that’s so gentle you can and as they say even should sleep with it on. 1, they are crazy for telling customers to sleep in it. But, of course I did hoping for all that skin goodness they claim! Lol… I get the theory and agreed with it at the time. I even purchased a special anti redness make up for damaged skin- it wasn’t pretty. Every pore (ok, it seems) was clogged and I am still getting make up colored ick that keeps coming out a little on it’s own. Whatever it is that they use actually kicked my body and the skin on my face into constant detox mode. Non stop breakout’s and bumps with.. you guessed it- make up colored ick. I am currently using Laura Geller’s baked Balance and Brighten and I do like it. Good luck and I hope my story helps.
Check out Young Living’s Savvy Minerals. They are free of talc, bismuth, parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, or synthetic colorants.
If you are looking for the absolute safest products PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do yourself a favor and check out POOFY ORGANICS. this is a small family owned company that makes boy dress of USDA certified Orgaincs personal care products. They have a complete line of cosmetics and home products as well. Everything is made in small batches, bottled and labeled by hand. No heavy machines mixing and dumping your products into bottles. This company is the real deal! Please I encourage you to read labels and research each ingredient individually and compare.
[admin removed personal MLM link]
Hello,
Thank you so much for all this insight and for facilitating conversations and feedback. I am wondering what you think about these two brands: Elemis and Paula’s Choice????
Thanks!
I use Beautycounter and love it. They are a far cry above what I used to use. Don’t forget there is a reason Target Stores came to us. Our acquisition of Nude Skin and Bono as an investor only further validates the industries need for a wake up.
Since when is Phenoxyethanol and Ethyhexylglycerin which are 2 of the Most Popular Synthetic Chemical Man Made Ingredients found in 99% of ALL Breast Cancer Removals …. above the Rest …. You can find those Ingredients at the Dollar Store !!!!
Thats not quite correct Mike. To say Phenoxyethanol is found in any cancers, let alone in 99% of them is a furphy. Put a link to the study if it has any truth. As for Ethyhexylglycerin, I can see it isnt anything to be concerned about. If it irritates your skin at all, dont use it, simple as that, if it doesn’t all is good………The purpose of this article is pointing out greenwashing…. If you want the worst culprits then check out some ingredient lists on some of the smaller ‘natural’ products and you’ll see things like ‘Naturally derived preservatives’……….. or there won’t even be an emulsifier listed in amongst the ingredients of a cream. It seems to be that the more they claim that their company ‘started in their kitchen because of the chemicals causing irritation on their 2 yr old’s skin’ then the more likely they are to lie to you about their ingredients. Have a look at this one from a deodorant manufacturer in its description / ‘Blended with areated salt’ and then in its ingredient list on the bottle – ‘Saleratus’ (seriously, why not just say that it is Bi -Carb of Soda!! If they are trying to deceive you with that then what else are they lying about?
Hi Kristen, have you looked at the ratings provided by ethicalconsumer.org? It’s good someone is highlighting greenwashing but throwing names in the same category without detailed explanation or rating is also misleading. It might be useful thoughto rate on howich greenwashing they do. So score for their honesty. This in addition to the ethical consumer scoring methodology would be very useful.
Thanks for bringing my attention to that site. It’s difficult to navigate. Got to their beauty section and only a few companies were listed and I couldn’t make sense of their rating system. Rating systems are very subjective anyway. It makes us feel better to have a comparative number to make a fast decision that someone else spent the time doing the research, but look at what EWG has done and all the folks poking holes in their system. There’s not a detailed explanation except for Tarte listed because, as I wrote in the article – the details are in the ingredients. Turn the bottle around an you’ll have all the info you need on products that say they are natural and clearly aren’t. That’s good enough for me to know I don’t need to purchase these brands if what I want is a truly natural product.
I actually appreciate the straighforward list, it is minimalistic and easy to remember. I myself was disappointed when I bought something from Lush with parabens. If the ingredient is questionable, i dont think it should be included in products claiming to be natural, why not be safe until proven otherwise.
I have been using OWAY aka Organic Way. I found that they are the top Natural and Organic Professional Hair Brand. They are open about some of their ingredients being sourced synthetically , but I am ok with that. The company is constantly researching alternatives and seems to become more and more healthier monthly. A good thing to note about when you see the chemical compunds listed on “natural products”, they are called constituents. Constituents are at the molecular level. You can buy essential oils and the only ingredient listed is that oil, when in reality a lot of constituents make up that oil and are not listed. Check where and how ingredients are sourced.
I buy all my OWAY products off of store.revivesalonsf.com
The lady who owns it sells the products cheaper than any other physical or online store.
Just a side note-
OWay also makes a hair color line that I cannot use, due to it’s chemical content. I’m a hairstylist and Organic Colour Systems Specialist. Organic Colour Systems does not use Resorcinol or Napthol due to their aggressive and toxic nature. OWay uses these ingredients. If OWay stands for Organic Way, why is there no mention of organic ingredients in their colors? Organic Colour Systems patented formula contains Certified Organic Standard Ingredients, as listed on all products and certified by The UK Soil Association and/or ECOCERT.
Organic Colour Systems might be the most misleading brand in terms of hair color. The name itself tries to trick us into believing it’s all organic when it only contains 5 certified ingredients. Sorry just because your product has 5 natural ingredients, doesn’t make it organic. They may not contain Resorcinol or Napthol, but the main ingredient in their color line is a very bad PEG which is known to be contaminated with carcinogens (yes, cancer-causing ingredients) and it’s a penetration enhancer, which makes everything bad in it that much worse. It also has PPD (para-phenylidiamine) which is just a bad as resorcinol and naphthol.
Where can I buy Oway hair color? I don’t notice them selling it on the site.
Check out Crunchi – they are new(er) on the scene and are totally transparent. They’ve got a great list of NEVER used toxic ingredients and have also refused to use PHENOXYETHANOL, synthetic fragrances, Japanese honeysuckle, parabens, synthetic dyes, etc. bit.ly/MyCrunchi
Sorry J. Robins, but CRUNCHI misses the mark for having truly natural ingredients. Look at the first 5 items on the ingredients list for their Beautifully Flawless Foundation:
Aqua (Deionized Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone
Dimethicone is silicone & it’s poisonous to my skin — it breaks me out every time so I avoid it at all costs. Glyceryl Caprylate Caprate is described as “a 100% natural thickener for water based cleansing products. It is made from, 100% renewable sources, through the esterification of glycerin from vegetable oil sources and medium chain fatty acids of coconut and / or palm kernel oil. ” – Ingredients dot com. You may classify that as a “natural” ingredient but it doesn’t occur in nature, it’s made in a lab. And why would anyone want a thickener in their foundation?
Then there’s the ubiquitous Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride — it’s a specialized fractionation (technically a specialized esterification of Coconut oil using just the Caprylic & Capric Fatty Acids. (Esterification is when you combine an alcohol with an acid to produce an ester a& water) . I love Coconut oil & use it for cooking & body care daily. It contains Lauric acid, found most abundantly in mother’s milk. But the Lauric acid is removed in the chemical process that fractionates the oil to separate out the Caprylic & Capric acids. I prefer whole Coconut oil in it’s natural form & that’s what I expect in a makeup that is marketed as being natural or organic.
The foundations & lipsticks I get from Vapour Organic Beauty & 100 % Pure don’t contain Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Caprylate or Dimethicone. They are what they advertise themselves to be, which isn’t the case with CRUNCHI.
CORRECTION: My source for the info on Glyceryl Caprylate Caprate was Ingredients To Die For dot com.
Crunchi does not claim to be “natural” a common greenwashing term. Crunchi claims to be made with a combination of safe, certified organic, and eco-cert ingredients. Check out the FAQ section of their website where they address the questions about ingredients including the use of Dimethicone in their cosmetics. At Crunchi safety is their mission, not an afterthought or a popular marketing scheme. They do use some safe synthetic ingredients and are completely transparent about this.
This list is awesome! All these years I have been searching for natural products since I am diagnosed with skin allergy, caused by a type of preservative in products. I also have acne and eczema problems so I am very cautious while using products. I found Kiehl’s to flare up my skin allergies and the ingredients used are not so ‘natural’ that they claim they are. Please keep this list updated and I can’t wait to see more!
Have you heard of Melaluca?
Their intensive Care lotion is great for Eczema and their Acne treatments are the best.
Melaluca is on the list!
I am waiting for someone to tell me why Melaleuca is on this list. I use their products especially this lotion.
They are on the list for all the reasons stated in the blog. They use some pretty crap ingredients ans depend on their customer base not knowing enough about formulation to realize what crap ingredients they use.
Look at their ingredients. I used to love their lotion too. Until I read they use fragrance and a few other toxic items. Check out pure haven essentials. Their lotion is even better and all is organic. Just read the ingredients.
I used to be a Melaleuca member but not anymore (lost some income, had to cut costs years ago) and I recently looked at the soap ingredients on the back of the bottle as we are now huge ingredient readers over here, and noticed parabens!!!! I was disappointed. So make sure to read ingredients or request it from Melaleuca before you place your monthly order.
Have you tried EVER skincare?
Hi
I really love pure haven essential products. Products go through rigorous testing and are truly organic.
We are transparent with all ingredients- including all their benefits.
Emily
Hi there Georgina.
I’d love to be able to help you. If you have a printout of your allergy/intolerance test I can put you in the right direction to help clear your skin. Acne and allergy related eczema is something that I specialise in. Now having said that sometimes I have to resort to other synthesised ingredients as allergy sufferers tend to react more to fully natural products. Here if you would like a solution to your acne and eczema. Guaranteed if you pass the ingredients test to compare with any testing you’ve had done. However I do also look into environmental and foods you consume. ??
What about Younique? I sell Younique products and have people say they are not all natural; due, to chemicals. However, if you research the chemicals, they are only chemicals depending on levels and how they are mixed! So I believe it is all natural and I also believe that your list above is correct! 🙂 I also have sensitive, acne prone skin & these products have helped me tremendously!
I was also curious about Younique.
I was wondering about mirabella makeup! I’m new to this no chemical thing and it’s so frustrating everything has so many of them in it!
Does anyone know about Tropic Skin Care products?
Tropic are 100% naturally derived skin care products. No chemical nasties at all. Susie formulates the most amazing products from natural ingredients. All ingredients are listed in English, total transparency. If I can help, please get in touch. [admin removed direct selling link]
The addition of Lush to this list is false. Lush never has and never will claim to be “all natural” for a great many reasons and I get so tired of people making the assumption that they do. They are extremely transparent in not only the use but also the source of all their ingredients. Their products are insanely well thought out, developed, and then tested on human volunteers, not animals! Furthermore, they take great care to use environmentally sustainable ingredients and are moving toward a self-preserving model and have changed the formulation of many top selling products to do this. They provide income and philanthropy all over the world for small, organic farmers and support hundreds of grass roots charities through the sale of their Charity Pot lotion. I realize this post probably happened before this but last year in their newsletter Lush directly addressed this whole issue yet you insist they are “green washing” and intentionally misleading people? Oh, yes, someone’s doing hat but it’s not Lush.
Most of Lush products contain fragrance which is not Toxic Free. If you ask a Lush employee if their products are Toxic Free they will say no.
She’s never said they WEREN’T chemical free. Reread her post.
We constantly see beauty products in the stores that claim to be all natural, but in my research I have found that there are actually very, very few ALL natural products sitting on the shelves of our stores. From the time it takes a product to be manufactured, stored until the distributor needs it, packaged, shipped to the retail location, displayed on a store shelf until the consumer buys it, to the time the consumer actually uses the product up, can be up to a year very often much longer (I know this because my good friend is in charge of this process for some well-known brands). This product must be preserved during this long period of time so nothing bad will grow in it. So why do bad things grow? Well, most of these creams and lotions contain water, a lot of water, you can tell because usually water is the first ingredient on the label. Water itself is not bad, we need water, it sustains life . . . but, herein lies the problem, water sustains life, where there is water there can be life in the form of bacteria and other harmful pathogens. So if there is water, any kind of water in a formulation, a preservative must be used. The problem here is that there are no all natural preservatives, some preservatives are just less toxic than others. And these preservatives that are being used in many of the skincare products are profoundly bad for our bodies.
Consider this: “It is important to understand that the efficacy of preservatives relies, by definition, on their ability to kill live cells; in other words, their toxicity is an unavoidable component of their reason of being.”
If there is water in a product, put it down, it’s NOT what you are looking for if you want a completely natural product.
Tropic Skincare core range is 100% naturally derived. Susie uses a naturally derived preservative system for this core range. Other products in her range that are required by law to contain a preservative system (due to water content) include a gentle synthetic preservative and, with only a few exceptions, are 99.2% naturally derived.
why is Korres brand greenwashing?
Have you ever looked at Intelligent Nutrients, Naturigin and Natulique?
I am interested in finding all the brands I can find in Canada,
Thanks
Beautycounter is now in Canada!!!!
http://www.beautycounter.com/ [admin removed personal MLM link]
I have my own Canadian made skin care line (in Hanilton, Ontario). It’s 100% natural. I have extensive knowledge on skin care and formulating. Check it out at http://www.rdevineskincare.com
Hello Charlie,
Could you please, please, tell me where Naturigin is available to purchase online in Canada? I am unable to find it…
Thank you so much,
Alexandra
I am using both at my salon! This site has been really positive about intelligent nutrients. I think naturalique is pretty great for a hair color line because of how many organic ingredients it still contains MEA. I still don’t think we can dye hair without toxins.
Intelligent Nutrients, Natulique and Naturigin are sold through PureStem Beauty based in Victoria BC shipping across Canada to salons/spas and retail stores!
Just gotta put in a good word for Lemongrass Spa. We have several 100% natural products and we use phthalate free fragrance. Every ingredient is listed for each item on our website. We also have a good standing with the EWG and PETA.
I’m not saying trade your products for ours now, but check your labels on everything. Labels are just as important in skin care as they are in food.
I love Lemongrass Spa products I use nothing else
This is a great post and such a important discussion, thank you Greenbeautyteam! I think we can add The Honest Company to this list. They are not only being accused of greenwashing, they are being sued. THREE times! And they are a very young company, for shame.
I am also very leery of Beautycounter, given their use of dimethicone and phenoxyethanol. I find that their consultants are fed information and repeat information from index cards, but they are not encouraged to do any research of their own, and in my experience do not know what they are talking about.
And before anyone comes back with a response that phenoxyethanol is necessary—no, it is not. Juice Beauty had a pretty bad backlash a couple of years ago for calling themselves organic and using phenoxyethanol. And guess what—they didn’t fight back. They agreed and they reformulated and took out the phenoxyethanol. So it is possible to find another way to preserve a product.
I use Beautycounter. Do you know what.products they use dimethicome and phenoxyetanol?
Quite a few! If you go to the Beautycounter website, they have an ingredients page, and then they list all the products that have those ingredients in it.
Beautycounter’s consultants do not have to do their own research on their products. Beautycounter’s products have been tested by the Environmental working group and receive a 1 & 2 safety rating on their products…and that is based on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst! Anyone can access their site to search for safe cosmetics, skin care, cleaning chemicals, food, etc. @ http://www.ewg.org. Environmental working group is a reputable company that researches chemicals in products for human safety & is a great resource for anyone to reference when looking for safe products to use.
LOL one of the EWG board members works for beauty counter! EWG is a joke
Beautycounter doesn’t claim to be all natural. They claim to be “safer”. They claim to be doing the best they can with the information available. BC is lobbying for stricter health protective laws in Washington, so you better believe that their T’s are crossed and I’s are dotted. They have Mia Davis who is head of health and safety (she is the one who got BPA’s out of baby bottles). She and her team have done many tests on Phenoxyehtnol and between that and the research they have done with the info available; there are no known negative health impacts associated with that preservative. By law (and there aren’t too many), any product containing water must have a preservative in it. It’s the law. If a company claims their product is all natural and it contains aloe or other water based ingredients; they are lying. Beautycounter is doing the best they can and they are the more trusted beauty brands. If you are looking for all natural; use coconut oil and leave it at that.
Honest Company is not deceitful either. They too are among the more trusted brands out there. The last mishap actually is an issue in the industry as a whole. It’s infortunate they were lied to. I wouldn’t discount them though. They are the good guys too.
Many consultants might be spewing info they are hearing, but many aren’t. You’ll find that with every single job out there. Good and bad. But don’t generalize. I’m a consultant and am very well informed and have been researching this issue and company for the last 2 years. I don’t hold myself in the category you describe. I don’t make people buy products. I educate people on the issues in the industry as a whole. I help people reduce their toxic exposure in their homes period. beautycounter products are that incredible that they basically sell themselves. I’ve never had to “sell” a single thing. They are on the high end spectrum which doesn’t make them affordable to everyone; but that’s what’s so great about Beautycounter. They are working hard to make sure laws are changed so every company out there are forced to ban the ingredients that BC does. And should BC discover through further testing that an ingredient they are using isn’t safe; you bet it will be removed immediately. The sad truth is that most of the ingredients legally being used in the industry have zero safety data, so no one knows their impact on our health.
In an industry where there is little data and regulation, Beautycounter and Honest Company are trying hard and are quite successful.
XxMichele
If you are defending the use of phenoxyethanol you are very misled. Honest Beauty continues to rack up the lawsuits for misleading claims, why would you defend them? Beautycounter walks a fine line, I consider them greenwashing because they are NOT the cleanest company out there by a long shot. Get yourself educated if you are really trying to help people.
http://www.msl.io/insights/phenoxyethanol-safe-in-cosmetics/
You can scratch Phenoxyethonol off your list. It is not considered “toxic” nor linked to serious health issues.
Clearly you are a rep being spoonfed a response by Beautycounter! They want you to believe that is what the research says, why don’t you do some research yourself? Do you not realize that there are many other safer preservatives? Problem is that they are more expensive, and would force Beautycounter to reformulate its products. But your parent company isn’t going to tell that to its reps. Please get educated if you are trying to educate others. My experience has been that reps have NO idea what they are saying and selling. Sad.
I agree about Beauty Counter. They are using ingredients that have been banned in other countries.
What ingredients/ country they are banned are you referring to? Please provide official gov. links to support. Thanks
Typical canned response from a Beautycounter rep. Great way to deflect, I can spot it a mile away. It’s almost…cultish.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/multilevel-marketing-companies-mlms-cults-similarities_l_5d49f8c2e4b09e72973df3d3?ncid=APPLENEWS00001
could i receive your new letter please. Thank you!
Interesting article and the ingredients of the break list of harmful commericals was quite informative, But unfortunately I have to disagree with you when it come to Arbonne. Arbonne is vegan certified, gluten free, No animal by products, free commcials, no article sweeteners, or flavors no phthalates,no parabens , They are certified carbon neutral, forestry stewardship council certified. These products are pure, safe and benefical for your family.
Personal MLM link removed by admin.Chlorphenesin
Phenoxyethanol
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethicone
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
Acrylates Copolymer
Tromethamine
Retinyl Palmitate
Octocrylene
Octinoxate
…Just to name a few chemicals in Arbonne’s skincare products. Look them up, I’m sure you won’t want to be using them anymore. Also, Arbonne products are not 100% natural. Some of the ingredients contained in their products include hydrogenated castor oil, sunflower, safflower, and canola that are not certified to be GMO-free.
Hi, how do I find out more about the Arbonne’s ingredients? I’ve tried looking up these listed above however I’m not finding any of the same info. I use their products right now, but I’m very concerned about continuing! Thank you for any help you can provide.
Geri
I have to chime in. I use their products as well and they have never claimed to be organic or all natural. They are botanically based and formulated using a blend of science and nature. If information comes to light that is proven to be dangerous they take it off the market and reformulate. Much of what I read about Beauty Counter and their philosophy is similar to Arbonne. There is so much to understand about science, nature and organic. It’s mind boggling. Just because something is organic doesn’t mean it is 100% safe or that you will see results. I really hate that women bash network marketing companies without having an understanding of how the ingredients are utilized. If someone doesn’t agree or like the products don’t use them but don’t malign them. I can go into a brick and mortar store to shop…some sales people are more informed and better than others. Network marketing is no different if you aren’t comfortable with the consultants then don’t pursue it but please don’t make blanket statements about everyone who reps a product line.
It would be so nice if people would really do their research prior to putting out false information. Regarding ingredients in Arbonne, you really need to do more solid research on ingredients, specific review boards, sources of ingredients, etc. Concerning GMOs…Arbonne is GMO free. Any oils are certified GMO free, which also includes soil testing. There are many products available that can truly help people. If you truly want to help, then help, even if this requires much greater effort.
Absolutely hilarious! Arbonne is one of the purest companies you will ever find. I have done extensive research on their ingredients. Most importantly, how they are using them. They abide by EU standards and use nothing toxic. Some people have reactions to those ingredients as mentioned because the anti aging line is very potent high grade botanicals. Anyone with a vitamin C allergy will have issues with this line: With that said, these products out-perform because of the science developed using these fine botanicals. I went through my skepticism about this company; then researched from the source. Their ingredients and standards for purity (all based on what, where and how they are derived) are the biggest reason I became a forever client.
Arbonne is horrible! Just read the back of the bottle and choose a few ingredients that sound scary and google them-they ARE scary!! After having a major reaction to their Re9 line, I read the ingredients! I then brought it to my consultant and showed her. She is a friend of mine. She didn’t want to believe it, but ultimately had to when the evidence is right there on the bottle!!
I agree with you. I find their products are highly suspect for health. Sadly because one of my BFF is a REP and I love her
Can you please do a break-down for why Origins in on this list?! It breaks my heart!
I think it’s time for a revised article on greenwashers! When Ava Anderson was caught selling synthetic fragrances, hiding ingredients like emulsifiers from their label, and selling products like dish soap which was not even soap…they quickly googled, found an inexpensive stock image, changed their name and relaunched the company under the new name Pure Haven Essentials. Same company, same owners, same location, same products … still not certified organic. And whether the products are manufactured off site or on site, they’re selling the same formulas. They took ZERO responsibility for all of the fraud they have been guilty of, but instead blamed everything on their manufacturers. They claim their daughter was bullied…but in reality she was just asked to come clean about the ingredients in her products, the same way she challenged her followers to confront other brands about THEIR ingredients. The only ZERO in this product line is zero accountability for their actions!
Yes there were issues with a few products and it is unfortunate that they stepped away from their company, but Pure haven essentials is not owned by the same family any longer. They have a new ceo and products do have new formulations that are better than ever. Being a customer for years and putting my trust in the company is still the best decision I’ve made. These products have helped my family overcome some major health issues and i will be grateful to the family but know the products now are safer than ever!!
Correction…AANT did not hide anything. The outside manufacturers broke the contract by adding ingredients on their own and not telling the company. Those ingredients were hidden by the contracted outside manufacturer and that relationship was ended immediately following this discovery. A very good thing came of those events…Pure Haven Essentials has instituted a strict testing protocol that will not allow for this type of thing to happen again. The company mission is the same as it was from the beginning with the Anderson family and now with it’s new owners, to educate American consumers on the subject of toxic chemicals in personal and home care products while also providing a safe solution.
Note: the Anderson family took full responsibility and took all steps necessary to make sure it doesn’t happen again! They did the honorable thing by making sure the true mission could continue.
They also basically left ALL their reps WITHOUT a Company and IF they wanted to start over with the NEW company, they had to PAY again to join.
that’s entirely not true at all.
Great article, thanks! I use Organic Excellence out of Arizona, they have wonderful skin care and bath products. I order direct online and if you sign up for their monthly newsletter you get amazing coupon offers. website is http://www.organicexcellence.com
Does anyone know anything about Perfectly Posh products? They claim to be natural and vegan and I have fell for this many times and need to know if their claims are true.
Perfectly Posh is naturally based, not all natural and is not completely vegan, either. Yes, there are vegan products available, but some do contain milk, honey or beeswax. The ingredients are all listed on the products, in the Posh paper and on the website for you to review. Hope that helps! If you have any other questions I’d be happy to answer.
I got a sample at a show and it listed different ingridients that I avoid. I believe pegs and fragrance was on labels.
I know some of Perfectly Posh products are not vegan, since they use honey and they had a creamy milk product. But they don’t hide that! they are free of fillers and other junk (parabens/paraffins/sulfates)! they use essential oils and not ‘fragrances’. I have used their products and they are wonderful!! So, if there is anything ‘IN’ them… i also would love to know. They are not crazy expensive which makes them a great option!They list all their products in the catalog and on the products. They are made here in the usa, dont test on animals, use shipping peanuts out of cornstarch – so they melt away in water. I hope they are good! b/c i am using their products now. Keep me posted! Thank you!
They do use fragrances in a lot of their products. It is listed as “fragrance (parfum). The products that state this burn my eyes. I am highly allergic to chemicals and most perfumes are nothing but a chemical mix.
Most of Their products do contain perfumes and toxins. Only the ones that say All natural and vegan on the actual product are all natural or vegan. MOST, though, are not. Especially their masks, I have not discovered one that is. FYI if a company isn’t willing to list all ingredients online, more than likely they are hiding something..
Perfectly Posh doesn’t list all ingredients on their website. I bought a few things and I am disappointed with the actual ingredients list on the products.
Try Sans Skincare (www.SansSkincare.com) completely natural, plant based and is actually good for you; nutrition for the skin!
I briefly sold Perfectly Posh and pushed and pushed for an answer regarding whether or not the fragrances were phthalate-free. I finally got an answer from a leading consultant that they were but I’m not sure I believe it. It wouldn’t be so hard to get a straight answer if it were so, one would think, since they pride themselves on being “naturally based”. I love Posh and indulge sometimes anyway, but I don’t sell it anymore.
On January 12, 2016 Ava Anderson Non Toxic disclosed in an email to their consultants that two of their lines were processed with synthetic fragrances. They have asked the consultants NOT TO SHARE the information on any public forum. They have not informed their customers via Facebook, their website, or on any other social forum. I have access to all of the letters and have requested Ava Anderson come clean to the public. They are sweeping this under the rug and hoping it will blow over so they can continue to blow the whistle on other companies and their toxic products. Several products are on immediate stop sell. I’m curious how many more of the products are toxic and they have not disclosed this knowledge until the time is right on their terms. If they cared about your health, they would have disclosed this information to the public on the day they realized they sold and were selling toxic products. Instead they have chosen to continue the cycle of hiding and silencing their consultants.
Think Twice before you join Ava Anderson Non Toxic. You are not allowed to talk about anything other than positive results and feedback. All consultants must speak to corporate or to their higher up about anything other than favorable feedback. If you are caught talking about anything other than positive reviews, you are asked to delete your comments and call corporate.
Ava Anderson Non Toxic has been hiding for too long and now it is out; toxins have been included in their products. They are only offering a replacement, not money back. However, they are planning to sue the company who placed the fragrance in their products, but will not give you back your money back. This isn’t do unto others as you would want others to do unto you. The term fragrance covers over 3,000 chemicals. Ava Anderson has not disclosed to anyone what “fragrance/chemical/toxin” was found in their products.
Ava has wrote a blog for the Huffington Post on the dangers of fragrance, but is UNWILLING TO COME CLEAN publicly about this toxin in her own company. This company had the opportunity to come clean and do what was right, instead they ask consultants to be silent, do not share the knowledge publicly, and to protect their company. Disappointing.
So what products do you recommend?
Try neals yard remedies https://us.nyrorganic.com/
Agree! Ethical & transparent brand. I use in my business.
Check out Poofy Organics. They have hundreds of toxic-free, organic personal care products for the whole family! Essential oils too!
[admin removed personal MLM link]Weleda. 100% certified (by Natrue) natural.
Agreed 100%. Except for the fact that they are not suing the manufacturer at this time, which for me says they cannot because they knew. They were questioned on this matter (among others) over two years ago in 2013 and only now are they saying anything. Must be getting hot up there in RI.
It was very openly disclosed to the public. They simply informed their consultants first, which is what was the right thing to do. By informing their consultants first, they consultants were able to help customers process refunds and exchanges. Had they released a statement to everyone at once, there could have potentially been customers reaching out to their reps for help and the reps hadn’t even seen it yet. It was literally a matter of just a day or so between when the consultants found out about it and all customers. They simply asked that it not be posted on public forums because they wanted all consultants to be prepared to help their customers. Nothing was swept under the rug and all relevant information has been emailed out and posted on their website.
Buyer beware unless the formerly Ava Anderson Non Toxic now dba Pure Haven Essentials acquires the “USDA Organic” seal which AANT never had, yet claimed organic and built trust upon a young Ava story and family small business with motto “its all about the ingredients” until true ingredients were brought to light and questioned, AANT forced to admit unlabeled ingredients. Everyone has the right to know!
FYI — Pure Haven Essentials is USDA Organic certified.
Remember, it is all about the ingredients!
I have had eye swelling and skin reactions for a year. After many medical guesses, trials, allergic reactions to an antibiotic, eye specialist, and finally an allergist/immuniogist and skin patch testing, I have at least ONE answer: FORMALDEHYDE! Well, the 20 chemical names of it, or chemicals that release it, that I now get to check… It is in EVERYTHING! I went home once confirmed and grabbed a large laundry basket to start gathering all my beauty and household products to start checking. I couldn’t take a shower the next day – not a soap, shampoo, shower gel, or lotion was left that I could use. No WONDER I couldn’t figure it out for this long!
So, long story short, this has led me to better checking, and better support of companies that won’t use formaldehyde or its releasers or resins, AND once I checked on that, I went to the ‘Big 5″ theory – companies that wont’ use: 1) formaldehyde, 2) form/releasers or resins, 3) Camphor, 4) DBP, and 5) Toluene. They are all crap and I believe strongly that if companies are making products more green, safe, and not using these big 5, then I am making progress. For me, if a company even has ONE ingredient formaldehyde-related, then I am DONE supporting them.
This LONG journey has led me to naturally going more natural, green, and better business ethics, etc as well!
From my own personal checking, I have landed on the following companies for more natural and safe products:
– Bare Minerals is in there for me, when I see above in a comment, that it is “Interesting”. They do not have the big 5, use more and more natural ingredients, and make them easy to find one click, up front. I had moved from Mary KAY – HORRIBLE stuff with fromaldehyde in nearly all I had about 6 months before I knew, so I am glad I made that switch.
– Aveda checks out, so far, however, they do NOT make checking ingredients easy to find, or on the site at all, so I had to email in. Not doing that with an allergy, and makes me skeptical, so I am out.
– doTerra Essential oils – LOVE them, wont’ use big 5, better business practices, etc. I have used laundry soap, cleaner, lotions, soaps, and more. I am dabbling in the oils a bit too now and love them!
– Green Virgin Products – SoapNuts – laundry soap, cleaner, all green, USA company, natural little odd things – shells fo a soapberry bush, so this took some getting used to. LOVE their stain remover bar, it got some already-dried stains out!
– CeraVe – when my skin completely was red, hived, painful to even have a shirt touch it, my friend directed me to dermatologist next door immediately. He did do a prescription steriod for 2 days, but wanted me to use the CeraVe line because it has ceramides in it that repair skin cells and help create the barrier our skin should be providing. My skin has never felt better. 1) I got relief, and 2) I can even use the cream on my face, and it is designed for skin issues, sensitive and otherwise, so also doesn’t use parabins, etc. I do not know how ‘green’ they are, however, but I honestly didn’t care at that moment..I wanted relief and it is working. 🙂
– Zoya nail polish, or RGB, but Zoya is more affordable. Stays on GREAT too!
I write a blog and the last 2 are on this allergy issue that has brought to light the green, companies’ business practices and ingredients for me. I strive to meet both green AND without the big 5 . Check out my blog on overall health and well-being, womanhood, parenting, dating and more at: http://www.digitaldivadiaries.blogspot.com/
Except doTerra suggests ingesting oils is safe and it is NOT unless you are under the care of a licensed naturopath!! For that reason, doTerra and Young Living are OUT!
Check the ingredients on their lotions and skincare they are not natural at all. I use the oils and that is it and I never suggest ingesting them period. I also questions the supplements.
Are Young living products bad, or just Doterra? I feel I should look into their lotions/shampoos/ cleaner/ etc because I have been under the impression Also, Young Living asks that you disclose your usage with your physician & do so under their supervision, so just because some of their oils are ingestable doesn’t mean people are doing so irresponsibly, right? They have the highest standards of any company I have seen with regard to their oils & I would be disappointed to find out differently about their other products!
I would like to add this, if anyone uses this shampoo please be aware. WEN
http://fox59.com/2015/12/15/hundreds-of-women-join-class-action-lawsuit-claiming-wen-hair-care-product-caused-hair-loss/
Oh my goodness so many comments! I can’t read them all! I realize that there are TONS of companies, and everyone has allegiances and partialities towards certain ones.
I am really curious to know your thoughts about Beautycounter!! If you have time, would love to hear it!! THANKS!
-Lindsay
If you are interested in learning more about Beautycounter, I would be happy to help. I just joined as a consultant because they are completely transparent… There are no hidden ingredients. The mission is to spread the word about using cleaner products and change legislation that allows companies to deceive us.
[Admin removed personal MLM link.]Have you heard about Poofy Organics? USDA certified organic company. They have hundreds of toxic-free, organic personal care products for the whole family! Essential oils too!
[admin removed personal MLM link]Thanks for posting this! We are happy to report we don’t carry any of those brands on our site and we look for vendors that keep true to their mission of healthy, safe, clean, non-toxic, etc.
Thank you Green Beauty Team! I am just getting over a massive skin/scalp hissy fit (Dermatologist: they don’t know what causes it exactly) and am stumbling around information and products for skin/hair. Love your no BS attitude : )
I am in Australia and would love a review our products after you finish Canada. I am finding People for Plants skincare wonderful. I have found the smaller, family owned businesses care more about everything than the multinationals. Kin Kin cleaning products (house not me, but kinda me cause I use them) are another local who have excellent products. Haircare is impossible. Vegan and irritant free? Ha! Dare you to find one available here : ) MooGoo is not irritating so far and some of their products are vegan, but this the only one that has come close so far. Looking at cosmetics now – Ere Perez, Inika and Zuii. Sunscreen (it’s bloody blazing down here!) I went with Soleo and a huge beach umbrella.
If you or your readers know of any other green products please let me know. Cheers!
Have you tried Beautycounter’s shampoo? http://www.beautycounter.com/body-hair/hair-care/clean-everyday-shampoo.html
I have had a real itchy scalp for months – went gluten free, dairy free, no sugar, green smoothies, etc. Found out it was my shampoo which rated high in allergens on the Skin Deep app. Switched to Beauty Counter’s shampoo and it took about 2 months – but the itching and redness is gone.
I would not pay $22 for that shampoo, for that matter I wouldn’t use that shampoo if I were given it for free. Have you read the label? Really? How anyone can even ask if this company is one they should consider amazes me.
So true!!
I left Younique and a fairly large team of girls to join Beautycounter to not only expand my market but because I loved their mission and the Shampoo and Conditioner!!! It takes a little dab and my hair feels amazing!!!
Reading through the responses and some of the other companies sickens me! I am a consultant for Lemongrass Spa Products and I would love to help any of you find products that work for you w/o the toxins and chemicals in some of the above listed!
Browse my website-read the ingredients for yourselves.
http://www.OurLemongrassSpa.com/
Okay, I just perused the website and the times I clicked on had several questionable ingredients. I would never use those products….ever!
You would need to be more specific on what ingredients you refer to. Each of them can be explained on why they are used and how. Our products only have 3% of preservatives. We are 97-100% Natural.
Try neals yard remedies. https://us.nyrorganic.com/ [personal MLM link removed]
I am wishing to get further away from toxins within my household. I have two daughters and one is approaching her teen years. I have been looking at two skincare companies, Ava Anderson and Poofy. My concern is the cost and if the makeup works well. I would love to switch to organic makeup for myself but would like to know that it will stay on my face in the expected places when I am paying so much for it. I do not wish to have to hunt for my makeup among several companies. Which is the best to use?
I use Ava Anderson products and love them. The products are very concentrated so a little goes a long way.
Shannon,
My choice is Beautycounter. It is luxurious and safe. It’s quality is phenomenal and It was created with safety and transparency in mind. There are over 1500 ingredients that they will not use, called the Never List.
You will love the quality and ethics of this US company. You can find a consultant on their website and ask her to try some products. She can drop them off or give you a one on one. I’m in New Jersey if you are close I would be happy to help you choose also. They have a 60 day money back guarantee but I know you’ll love the products and will fall
Check out
website link removed – MLM marketing not supportedand drop me a line!I’m also looking at these companies! I really like the Poofy deodorant. It smells better than the Ava. I just ordered foundation from both companies and eye shadow from Poofy! We’ll see how they work!
Please be sure to check every ingredient on you own. Don’t just believe what the company tells you about their products. So many companies Greenwash. I particularly think Ava Anderson is not as wonderful as so many have been lead to believe. They continually say their products are Organic yet they are not Certified. They say it’s because of the cost and that it would be redundant. They are a huge company that makes massive profits so the cost argument seems pretty ridiculous to me. Also, the statement that it would be redundant just seems foolish. How would it be redundant to show proof of how safe your products are? Having that USDA Certified Organic Seal would leave us no room for argument about its safety. It just seems suspicious to me.
I have only tried a few of Poofy Organics products and I like what I’ve tried so far. The deodorant is better than any other I’ve tried so far. It did take a couple of weeks for my underarms to “detox” as the rep told me it would! But now I’m on deodorant bar #2 and its holding up even on runs. I do love their lotion and children’s products too. I haven’t tried the makeup yet because I still have some of another brand (I got overseas and Toxin Free). I can say that Poofy Nailpolish is amazing! I don’t have to avoid painting my nails anymore! This company does have the USDA Certification on almost all of their over 500 products. This really does make me feel like I can trust them so much more.
As far as Beautycounter goes, I believe I read recently that some of their ingredients were questionable. So I’d look into them further before choosing them.
I hope this helps you make the decision that is right for you.
They changed management and the brand name to Pure Haven Essentials and are USDA certified now.
Poofy for makeup and cleansing/moisturizing definitely. Shop around for hair conditioners. Google Ava Anderson and greenwashers. They have lots of explaining to do.
Did you look into Younique yet? I know they don’t claim to be green but they seem to fit with all the discussion here ..
Younique uses Toxic Phenoloxyethenol.
Dear Green Beauty Team!
Do you have any information about the brand Lily Lolo?
Excellent article!
bless you for making this list. i am sorry for all the rude comments & attacks. please know, you have helped me tremendously. i am currently very sick from toxins in food/beauty products. it’s very overwhelming & difficult to research companies & products on my own. you are doing a beautiful thing for people. i am sincerely grateful.
First of all thank you for this effort it is great to have some reliable information.
There is a Brasilian brand, very popular in Mexico, that I believe is greenwashing big time. The brand is Natura.
Ah yes, I have heard of them, Celia. They are quite big in South America aren’t they? I’ll have to dig a bit deeper into them. I know they are planning to expand to the US soon. And thank you for your kind words!
Hi Kristen
Please could you update the list at top of post? It is still the same list of companies?
Thanks
Some of the ingredients in some Natura products are chemichals. Just like all the brands that say they are natural products … but they are not. I hope I am mistaken and looking forward to your opinion Kristen !!
Take care 🙂
I believe Beautycounter should be on your list. Have you checked them? Thank you for all that you are doing!
Hi Michelle,
Beautycounter is a company founded on transparency and integrity. Here is a great resource for you to review regarding their stance on greenwashing.
http://primertbr.com/2015/07/28/beautycounter-wants-your-help-reforming-the-beauty-industry/
I have been trying to research the ingredients ingredients in Suzanne Organics makeup. I don’t find what I would consider a complete ingredients list for any product on their website, and I don’t see any of their products in the EWG database. I’m wondering if you have researched this brand, and if so, what you found out? Thanks for a great post! This topic is so important to health.
I have to comment here – I just received the “Top 25 Green Beauty Team Buys” for signing up to your newsletter, and Korres is mentioned as a favorite for lip gloss…
What about Mixed Chicks? They claim they are vegan and cruelty free but have “silk” and “fragrance” in their shampoos and conditioner?
Have you heard of Ava Anderson Non Toxic? I am in love with their products!
I love them, too! They all check out great at EWG. 🙂
Companies can pay on EWG there are better sites to reference. Just an FYI.
What other sites are there?
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to put this list together. There is one though that I do not think should be on this list. Melaleuca does not claim to be all natural or organic because it is not. I think the requirement for being added to the list is that they make the claims but are not, correct? Melaleuca does not make the claim that they are either. They are however nontoxic.
Melaleuca claims to be a leader in green economical living. I checked their site and several ingredients in their products. In their laundry soap they use “fragrance” which is a trademark secret where many harmful ingredients can be hidden (pthalates, etc.), As well as the term “preservative” whatever that might mean. I think a true green company would be more transparent in their labels to back up their claims. I checked a few other things and found “fragrance” and “parfum.”. Huge red flags.
You left out PEG’s and Parabens!!! This is NOT non-toxic!! Most affiliate this company with being “all natural.” It is far from it! It’s all about the Ingredients…look out for the marketing!! Check out http://www.avaandersonnontoxic.com Great products…the ingredients speak for themselves.
May I ask a sincere question? What about Poofy Organics? From what I can tell it is just like Ava Anderson Non Toxic but Poofy is certified organic and Ava Anderson is not. I love Ava Anderson’s stuff but when I found out that their products aren’t certified organic and Poofy is I admit it made me rethink them a bit. Your thoughts?
I think Poofy has one advocate that I would not trust what she says. It is ecofriendlymamausa
Having said that, I LOVE Ava Anderson and trust their products. Check them out on EWG website! 🙂
We are not certified as a brand certified organic BUT every single, 100%, of our ingredients in our products is USDA certified organic. we don’t feel the need to have to pay for it twice.
I agree with you! I also think Poofy has more products to offer and more cosmetics. The Organic certification is a big deal. I’m currently trying products from both companies. I hope Ava will consider getting certified!
I just have to respond to the poster that said AA doesn’t want to pay for Organic Certification twice. The truth is, they haven’t ever paid for it. The farmers/supplier they use are paying for it. As they are with other companies that also go through the process with the end product. Nobody can guarantee what happens to a product in manufacturing. USDA Certification has very strict manufacturing rules as well. There is a lot of paperwork and many inspections yearly by independent verifiers to make sure the products truly meet the USDA Certified Organic Standards. I know you are just repeating what AA has told you. I get it, you trust them. But please consider the possibility that they are using that as an excuse. There is no logical reason for them to not take that extra step to become USDA Certified Organic like other, much smaller companies have done. I am not trying to attack you, just trying to help you take a step back and see what may be happening.
I work with Melaleuca ….. their fragrances come from essential oils….. you should do a little more research or call and actually speak to product development before making accusations. They DO NOT use any caustic or harmful ingredients…..
To your specific point, essential oils can be synthetic and harmful, depending on the extracting processes
http://www.melaleuca.com/ProductStore/Product?sku=1218
Perfect example of melaleuca GREENWASHInGNG. Looking at these ingredients……
Tough and Tender All-Purpose Cleaner
Ingredients:
Biodegradable cleaning agents – what’s the ingredient?
Solubilizer -what the ingredient?
Water softening agent -what’s the ingredient?
Buffing agent – what’s the ingredient?
Fragrance -yikes!
Melaleuca oil
Preservative – what?!
Do you know what a trade secret is? Most of the products that melaleuca sells are Patented. If they posted all the ingredients, say goodbye to the patent and trade secrets.. and hello to copycats.
You don’t get 30+ years of excellence and national awards by “greenwashing” and lying to people. Including Torch Award (Best award to be given by the BBB). The CEO of the company is/was on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and plenty of awards to boot.
And I suppose a CEO gets that far by winning tons of lawsuits against themselves and lying to the general public??? what a joke…..
Learn some Ethics 101..
I wish that before people put negative comments that they would get there facts straight Melaleuca is safe no child prof caps on cleaners That says it all
Melaleuca is terrible. They have horrible requirements for reps and customers and they have artificial flavors and colors and acesulfame potassium and more. Just total garbage for a company that claims to be pure.
It does not clam to be pure just safe. they are helping people get toxic chemicals out of peoples homes. As for how they pay they are 60 day return on anything you buy and up to 4 mo. return on there 19.00 one year membership. We have been buying from them for 18 years and been very happy.
It is shocking what is in the makeup we use on our faces! I firmly believe if I can’t ingest it then it shouldn’t go on my skin to seep into my pores. It’s no wonder that everything I have ever tried gives my face some sort of negative reaction. Good for you for making this list and bringing up a controversial topic. I found you after looking up if my friend was correct in saying her makeup is “all natural.” Well I don’t know how to break it to her BUT she is wrong. Stop adding fragrance and unneeded chemicals to my makeup!
What about Juice Beauty and TaTa Harper?
I have been doing a lot of company comparisons. Juice Beauty and TaTa Harper are VERY expensive for what you get.
I would really like to know thoughts on Beautycounter!
Beautycounter is absolutely amazing! We are completely transparent when it comes to the ingredients we use and have tested every single ingredient for safety. Not only are our products SAFE they are even more luxurious than all of the high end products I used to use. Please message me if you want to learn more! http://www.beautycounter.com/kathleengillespie
I would like to know more about BeautyCounter. I use Ava Anderson and feel that their products contain all ingredients that I can pronounce and mostly organic. I checked out a couple of BeautyCounter ingredients and it looked like a bunch of chemicals? And was double the cost in the few that I looked at. My friend just signed up with BC and it looks like she spent a heck of a lot more signing up with them to. Would love some feedback too 🙂
Your “testimonial” becomes completely irrelevant when you try and get a sale by posting your website. If you want to make an impact just say what you like about the products and direct them to the general website.
I have been using Poofy Organics for sometime now. My family has as well. They are a company I have come to trust. My family and I have tried so many companies looking for the perfect products. I feel we have finally found them! My daughters use their nail polish which to me is major…I always cringed when they slipped the regular chemical laden polishes on. Now I feel at ease with them using nail polish as long as it is from Poofy!
I was wondering about Korres, it made it onto this list as a company that “greenwashes” but the Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Pomegranate is listed as one of Donna Sonkin’s favorite products on the Top 25 Eco-Conscious and Natural Beauty Products list…that’s a little confusing to me! Would you say that some of the Korres products are more natural than others? Thanks!
Hi Lauren, well that is an excellent question. I hadn’t reviewed Donna’s favorite product in a while. There’s a lot a details to keep up with so it takes extra eyes like yours to point out where we can make some improvements. Thank you for being so kind in your questioning. I think back in the day, there were way fewer truly green cosmetics to choose from. Also Korres got bought out. So that may have changed their ingredient deck too. I’ll get on top of changing that document soon! xo – Kristen Arnett
Thank you for the response! I’m sure the fact the Korres got bought out did not help matters in terms of staying truly natural.
Some years back, a scandal erupted in Greece with some unhealthy sunflower oil imported from a european country that the blocked in the port of Pireaus. Korres (a greek company at those days) was one of the costumers. Some 4 yrs back, when I last checked again some products contained chemicals. Hopefully this is not the case today !!
But Kristen my biggest disappointment is that Jurlique is included in the list !!!!! I ve been using them for almost 20 yrs now … I have even met the owners when they came for a seminar in Athens !! But I think that when they sold the company … something changed.
I would love to hear yr opinion on some alternative high quality brands that dont cost a fortune.
Thanks again
Babyganics
Great article!! I used to use several of these products until I learned to become a label reader awhile ago. A friend of mine introduced me to Lemongrass Spa several months ago and I really love their stuff. The skin care line is phenomenal!!
I also love Lemongrass Spa!
I don’t like that they use phenoxyethanol in some of their products.
.5% Optiphen used is per BATCH!
The bottom line with regards to questions re Eminence can be found here:
http://www.ilcsi.com/article/the_current_eminence_products_are_no_longer_associated_in_any_way_with_aunt_ilcsi_molnar_or_her_family_owned_company/
Thank you so much for including that article, Venus! I am so glad you joined in the discussion.
Setting the record straight regarding all questions as to Eminence:
http://www.ilcsi.com/article/the_current_eminence_products_are_no_longer_associated_in_any_way_with_aunt_ilcsi_molnar_or_her_family_owned_company/
Id like to hear your thoughts on Eminence as well! I know that Europe has higher Green standards and have used the line as backbar in the spa that I work at, but have heard mixed things about the company being truly green or not. I love the line, it would be a shame to hear that all of their certifications aren’t entirely valid, but it also wouldn’t surprise me.
Well, the original company seems to have been much closer to the source of its famed natural goodness, but now that it’s changed hands, while the certifications and ingredients may be the same, there are a variety of levels of quality that may not currently be adhered to either. Soooo…maybe we’ll add this to the list of companies to dig deeper into.
I would be very interested to read what you come up with re Eminence. I’ve just been digging around their website and they make the following comments:
“Our ingredients are still hand-picked and prepped and it is part of our eco-philosophy. We employ many farm labourers in Hungary which also has many community benefits.”
“While most of our products are made in Hungary, a small percentage of our products are made in North America with Hungarian formulations and the finest ingredients.”
I was wondering what are your thoughts on Eminence Organics? This line is used in many spas and purported to be all natural and organic. Do they use any toxic ingredients?
I hope I can help you Sarah, as I got pulled into some extensive investigating about Eminence after stumbling upon a forum called, Real Self (www.realself.com), and so here’s what I found:
“…I was directly involved with Eminence from the beginning, even being a part of coming up with name Eminence. Boldijarre was a scammer from the word go and had no intentions of ever dealing honestly with the trust he was given by the parent company, Ilike. BTW, Ilike is not a nickname or newly conjured name, it is their official Hungarian name and has been forever. Ilike dropped Boldijarre because he was copying the products, which they suspected he would do. Boldijarre was not some unfortunate character who lost his distribution rights and had to find another way. He is a born liar and will say and do anything to get what he wants; just ask one of the thousands of women he’s used to get what he wants. Eminence is NOT made in Hungary, this is stupid obvious; if it was, why don’t you find it being sold there? Duhh…Eminence is made by local manufacturers in Vancouver and always has been. Spas in Vancouver are truly being played the fool, thinking they are buying exotic Hungarian products with Hungarian ingredients, when it’s being made in their own backyard with standard ingredients found in any skincare product! All Eminence has going for them is the continued deception of the public and some ripped-off formulas, created over lifetimes of work by the Ilike family. Way to go Boldijarre, steal someone else’s life work and pretend you did it. Like I said, this guy has no ethics whatsoever and should be avoided like the plague along with his phony company.” By Beets /(transcribed verbatim except for some needed punctuation).
Eminence products are wrongly aligned with the 50 yr. old “Ilcsi, Beautifying Herbs of Hungary”. It’s not made in Hungary, it’s made in Richmond B.C. by a company called Vitelle Labs. They use numerous preservatives and non-organic ingredients. If their ingredients were ever tested to compare against the ingredient list, they would be sued.
And last but not least, Eminence Organic Skin Care, [Boldijarre], trademarked the word “Ilcsi”, which is the international brand and the nickname of the creator of the products he/they used to distribute from Ilcsi Beautifying Herbs Hungary until the spring of 2005. For this reason Aunt Ilcsi’s products can not be marketed under her name in the U.S. or Canada and are now called ilike, which is another nickname for her. The ilike organic skin care products are the same Ilcsi products and are not associated in any way with Eminence Organaic Skin Care.
Does that help Sarah?
Hi Sarah, we need to add Eminence to the list of companies to research more carefully. You may be interested in some comments going on a couple of days after you left this on 6/1 where there was a lot info about Eminence shared.
Absolutely brilliant! I am so, so happy to see this conversation taking place and so many wise individuals coming forward with facts. I’d like to {{{ applaud }}} all of you, thank you, thank you and a standing ovation to Kristen.
Ah! Thank you so much, Roxana! That means a lot to me and that you are involved in this conversation too.
Kristen, this is brilliant, thank you! And also to the contributors for offering such great research, information and discussion!
I am also an Arbonne Consultant after a bit of independent research. Until my mid-thirties I did not care less about products. I never wore makeup and still rarely do. Now, two kids later, I can certainly feel and see the benefit in good anti-ageing skin care!! which also snowballs through to diet and lifestyle, of course, making my approach to most things a fairly holistic one, and generally as natural as possible. The holistic philosophy always brings me back to Arbonne. I know it isn’t all natural, but I trust the safety and quality in their ingredients and science.
Furthermore, Arbonne’s Green Commitment goes well beyond their products right through to manufacturing, packaging design, intelligent delivery systems that prevent waste, and totally carbon neutral shipping. And as a few others have already replied, Arbonne have reformulated a lot of their products recently, and they will always continue to as health, safety, science and environmental factors dictate.
To me, the term “green” (and thus “greenwashing”) encompasses a lot more than ingredients. As I said, I’m not a “products person” or big into beauty, I just want something that gives results (otherwise what’s the point?) and doesn’t harm the planet or its beings, and I think Arbonne can tick all boxes.
So I am mostly curious whether ALL the “green” aspects of a brand are considered as part of your research, or whether it is just based on ingredients and animal testing. Looking forward to seeing the qualifications more clearly defined in further articles.
The last I looked Arbonne used parabens as a preservative. At the very least, I hope Arbonne has stopped using methyl /propyl paraben, and, (I think), propylene glycol (anti-freeze); also, for saying the products are made in Switzerland, as they are actually made in Florida! Maybe someone in this forum could clear this up right now.
Anyway, it pays to always take a Sherlock Holmes look at any MLM, as some are honest, but more are only in it for the profits and not for making a safe, ethical and high quality product–And they will stop at nothing for big profits! Pick a company to represent that is transparent, ethical, can back-up all their claims, (has a proven track record) and no negative press. Caveat emptor.
I am an Arbonne consultant and we do not use parabens. Also, we do not claim that the products are made in Switzerland, they were formulated in Switzerland and we use the EU standards. I do admire that you are looking out for consumers, however, I think you are being unfair to network marketing companies by saying that most are in it only for the profits. I’m sure that is true regarding some just as it is for traditional businesses. However, the money that most companies use for advertising and retail space, we use for product research and testing, as well as compensating our consultants.
I have been using Arbonne since 2008 and they have never had parabens in any of their products since I’ve been using it! So not sure where you got your information from. And I’ve never heard them say they are made in Switzerland either, but are Swiss formulated and that is where they were first developed. So happy they do go by the stricter regulations of Europe instead of the lax regulations for products made in the US and Canada!
Arbonne does not use parabens. I CAREFULLY checked that when looking to switch my products. Was very happy with Arbonne.
As a former Arbonne consultant I can only say this….when they say “science” that to me was always code for CHEMICAL…….and their newest eye cream has ingredients found in disposable diapers and the scrubs use micro beads made of plastic….not exactly green.
Another company to be VERY concerned about is Jeunesse…the anti aging cream they tout as the 2 minute miracle uses chemicals that are also found in tile grout….
I will say that Arbonne taught me to LOOK at ingredients. I’ve since looked and I’m disappointed that so much of the “science” was a greenwashed code for chemicals.
Thank you for this list it was incredibly informative if not disappointing in the number of companies on the list.
Arbonne also use phenoxylethanol, which is not listed on their ingredient list on the main page. The only way to get the ‘real’ ingredient list is if you are a consultant and have access to their full website. Not very transparent in my view.
correct term is Optiphen many chemicals have many names but are the same thing.
Hi Kelly, Wow thank you so much for your praise and for offering your personal experience/perspective here too. You definitely did it in a way that benefits the discussion. To answer your question at the bottom, it’s tricky. I think first we look to ingredients and animal testing and if the claims match what’s really in the formula. Then we can try to look at their company practices in terms of carbon footprint, but that would require an entire agency of people to really verify what the brand claims to be doing. Without that funding, it’s just not a possibility right now. Furthermore the same is true about ingredients. A company can have cheap naturals that are basically synthetics and no longer providing valuable benefits…and that would be greenwashing too…but without our own chemistry staff, it’s a little hard to test.
Thanks for your response, Green Beauty Team. It would be a pretty huge investigation, wouldn’t it! It’s taken me a while to get around to add something here that I realised not too long after my last post.
What occurred to me in regards to Arbonne, and what I sometimes see happening because of the MLM structure, is that obviously not every consultant is in it for the same reasons, and there’s very little enforcement of how consultants do business. For example, perhaps some might claim that Arbonne is natural, and it may be quite innocently/ignorantly, before they learn all the lingo. For someone like me who didn’t have a clue about beauty products before, there is quite lot to learn. I can see how some people mightn’t bother with these details (however important!) before doing the sales pitch and getting some cash flow.
Personally I was very careful not to make any claims not supported by the facts and that were approved by official documentation, yet even so, clients would quite often go off believing that the products were natural or organic or simply something they weren’t, from me saying something like, “it’s pure, safe and beneficial.” So I make some retraction regarding Arbonne’s greenwashing. Unfortunately it happens through incorrect inferences from the “word of mouth” system, regardless of the company’s best efforts to be as clear and truthful about their products that proprietary formulating allows.
At the end of the day, people who really care about what they use will do their own homework. In the meantime we can just hope laws change one day so the homework isn’t so difficult! So please keep up your wonderful work and campaigning! It’s getting the info out there.
Kelly
Great comments Kelly, totally agree.
Have you researched Younique? I believe that they should also be added to this list. Thanks!
I haven’t yet, and a couple people have mentioned it. So we’ll dig in soon!
They don’t look very green to me. Dimethicone, fragrance, and phenoxyethanol :(.
I agree everyday I see these consultants saying their all natural and products are all natural like the 3d mascara ($35 really) and their new beach front lotion and spray. Not natural people. Check ingredients and the bad part it’s not listed on their site… What’s to hide?
I am new into looking at toxic-free things, and I’m not saying Younique is toxic-free. But their ingredients ARE listed on the website for each product.
First off, Kudos to everything you are doing! I seriously love it! I am commenting because I have a question about your mentioning of PHENOXYETHANOL on your toxic ingredients list… I am just curious as to your source for “The EU considers this toxic when used in products for the mouth area.” Are you writing this because it is an ingredient clearly not to be swallowed or do you have a specific piece to show this information? Just curious! Because these have been my findings:
The EU has allowed up to 1% usage in cosmetics and they are incredibly strict in comparison to the USA… http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details&id=28157&back=1
They have a further limit for children under 3 years old and the only ban I could find was for products used for children’s diaper areas: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2013-012173&language=EN
Hi Tori, good question. It’s on the list because there is a large community of people (mostly where I am in the U.S.) who are frustrated by this ingredient’s ability to irritate and its links to toxicity. As the U.S. and several other places do not have a limit on the amount or strict controls, it goes into the the “avoid it if possible” list. Oh and THANK YOU for loving what I’m up to! I hope you’ll keep reading, commenting and sharing! xo Kristen
Well done, I understand why you have avoided this post for a while, as I have experienced first hand what happens when you call out companies online. Especially glad to see Natures Organics on this list. They are the epitome of greenwashing. I wish people knew they are being deceived.
Thank you so much for your support and chiming in, Simone! 🙂 That means so much to me that you took the time and you are on board with these call-outs too.
Oh, Simone! I really appreciate your support here. Yeah, the site was actually attacked quite maliciously twice since this article went live. Sigh…At least with articles like this, and people like you, we can make more aware of what’s really going on.
Tropic Skin Care (UK)
Sorry the above comment might look misleading as I meant it to be a reply to someone who was asking about which companies do offer safe skincare products. My answer was offering Tropic Skincare. They are a UK based company that has safe, pure and ethical products – it is very transparent with regards to ingredients and its ethics. All products show the seal of approval from the Vegan Society and the Leaping Bunny logo and use natural plant based extracts. They are one of the few skincare companies who’s products are developed, formulated and manufactured inhouse.
Thank you Marie B. I wonder if Tropic Skincare is sold via http://www.echemist.co.uk ?
I would love to know of a product to recommend for my customers who say they need sun care products. The UK brand I trust and rep for in the US discontinued our skincare line because they said the zinc molecules were too near nano size, and nano is one of the ingredients on their long list of ‘NOs’.
I must check it out.
Thx much!
Correction…I meant SUN care line; not ‘skincare’.
Thank you so much for this article!! It’s so sad and frustrating to see people trying to purchase good products for themselves and their families only to be misled by Greenwashing. By the way another company that develops, formulates and manufactures inhouse is Daisy Blue Naturals. 😀
not only are Tropic Skin Care free from all toxic chemicals, parabens, sls, sles, petrochemicals, formaldehyde and other nasties, they are vegan friendly and approved by the BUAV, carrying the Leaping Bunny logo, definitely not green washing!
Some organic plant-based boutique lines I’ve been hearing good things about are:
Laurel – https://www.laurelskin.com/faq/
Blissoma – http://www.blissoma.com/About-Us_ep_7.html
Roccoco – http://www.roccoco.com.au/
Grateful Body- http://gratefulbody.com/pages/our-ingredients
This EWG’s ‘Skin Deep’ database was a great attempt, and I thought I was doing a good thing when I posted this list on a FB group I started for Holistic Estheticians, and I got a lot of negative feedback about it…not personally, but the database was heavily scrutinized by some high caliber skin care therapists and formulators…supported with articles, so depending on how pure you want to go, you might need to consult with an Esthetician or chemist who has done extensive research to get solid information.
This ‘green beauty’ biz is fairly new territory, and we’re all trying to figure it out ~ but truth is truth, so kudos to Green Beauty Team for taking on this task 🙂
Also, curious what you think about Dr. Haushka and Osmosis products – perhaps too many reformulations? That’s what I keep hearing…
Exactly, you took the words right out of my mouth. I had just looked at a similar blog and had the same concerns, as most of their information was from EWG. As Licensed Skin Care Professionals, it is our duty to be conscious of what we are using on our clients and what they are using on themselves. I have noticed a lot of discrepancy in the information I use and what the EWG has. For instance, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) has a comedogenic/irritant rating of 0/0 but EWG lists it as a 3. What needs to be considered is where the ingredient comes from. Case in point, Talc. Yes, it has the potential of being contaminated which is why you look at where and how it is processed. This is true for all ingredients. Also, not all parabens are negative. Honeysuckle is a paraben source used as a preservative and Vitamin E is also used as preservative. As for Dr. Haushka and Osmosis I would agree with the reformulations but I don’t use them so I don’t know for sure.
Hi Sandra! Sorry it took so long to get back to you. SO many comments on here. You left some really great brands for people to consider in your comment. Thank you for understanding the large nature of taking on the task of trying to uncover truth and the constant influx of information we have to sort through. Ahhh, your questions about Dr. Hauschka and Osmosis. I must say that to really get to the bottom of any of these brands, one must get more on the inside. What I like about Laurel and Blissoma is that I have regular contact with their creators. – xo Kristen Arnett
So happy to see this list!!! Big difference between conventional beauty products and products that are misleading consumers believing they are buying something “green” “natural” “healthy”… but in reality are not. At all. I hope everyone listens to your interview posted above. Well said!
Cheers, Liane!!
Any thoughts on Eminence Organic Skincare?
As the UK’S oldest specialist skin care company pleased to see this list
Ah wow! I had no idea you were! Thanks for sharing and giving us a cheer, John!
Miessence is the company we trust
What about Bare Minerals or Beneficial products? They seem to be marketing their use of natural ingredients but I hesitate to believe that.
Oh yes, Bare Minerals is a very interesting one. I knew there’d be other brands who should be on this list. Honestly I am not really familiar with Beneficial, but now will certainly look into it. Thanks, MCR!
Hello do you have any updates on Bare Minerals?
Arbonne has never claimed to be ‘green’ or ‘organic’. We utilise the best of nature and the very best of science to give you a product that is botanically based and delivers results. As a biochemist it astounds me where companies and products advertise that they are 100% pure or organic? No skincare product can be sold in this state as it needs some form of preserving which comes in the form of chemicals! Otherwise your skincare would not have a shelf life, would be stored in the fridge and go off like fruit and veges in a week…… When you look at a chemical you need to look at 2 different things- firstly its source, where it came from. Whilst some chemicals can be quite harmful source from an animal base, others are not sourced from a plant. Arbonne is one of the very few that has vegan certification. The second thing you must look at is its concentration levels as which it becomes toxic! Just looking at a chemical name is not enough.
As an Arbonne consultant and long time user of these products I am astounded that Arbonne is on this list.
This is laughable. Arbonne markets itself as being a safe and natural and the best option for people looking to use safe products – and they use this excuse for their outrageously high prices. BUT they still use harmful ingredients in their products. It doesn’t matter if they have a vegan certification or not when they still use toxic chemicals. To name a few:
-Retiynl Palmitate – which the FDA even admits to this product increasing the risk of skin cancer lesions by 21% when it’s exposed to the sunlight. Oh, and Arbonne uses it in its SUNSCREEN, so that’s great (and MANY other products)
-Disodium EDTA
-Butylene glycol
-Disodium cocoamphodiacetate
-Cocamidopropyl hydroxyfultaine
-Phenoxyethanol
-Sodium Bennzonate and citric acid are both used in the baby wash – which when used together have the potential to create the carcinogen Benzene
-Cocamidopropyl Betaine – cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB)
-PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate – EWG warns against risks of cancer, reproduction and fertility complications, birth or developmental effects, and other organ system toxicity
-PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
-Cocamide MIPA
-Disodium laurreth sulfosuccinante – which is contaimnated by 1,4 dioxane (carcogenic)
-Dissodium lauryl sulfosuccinate
-Hydrolyzed soy protein
And the list goes on and on! Go check the bottles of your Arbonne products… OH, wait they don’t list the ingredients on bottles. They only list the ingredients on the boxes that the products come in that everyone throws away immediately. Go check the website – oh, nope, won’t find the full list of ingredients there either.
So, yes, Arbonne should MOST DEFINITELY be on this list and I’m glad to see someone finally calling them out. You as a consultant should take a better look at the product you’re selling and using.
As for your comment that no products can be in a pure, natural state – this is not true. I’m not a consultant for them, but Ava Anderson Non Toxic does not use any toxic chemicals in their products whatsoever. I’ve researched their products thoroughly and felt confident enough to use them AFTER I was let down by Arbonne and returned their products when I actually saw the labels. AANT use radish root extract as a preservative in most of their products. Sounds a lot better than the stuff Arbonne uses. Yes, the products don’t last for YEARS, and that’s a good thing! But they do last at least 8 months. I’m sure there are other brands out there that use truly safe ingredients as well, and I’m sure the green beauty team will highlight those brands.
As for now, I commend this article and look forward to seeing your follow ups!
Great insight, Amanda!
Arbonne most certainly claims to be “green.” From their site:
“Arbonne Ever Green Commitment
At Arbonne, we have been on a green journey for 35 years and always will be. From botanically based ingredients to forward-looking green improvements, being earth friendly has everything to do with who we are and how we choose to grow.
Arbonne led the way in the green arena — as far back as 1980 in the U.S. — with pure, safe, beneficial™ products and cruelty–free formulas.” Etc.
If that’s not claiming to be green, I don’t know what is.
I’m definitely going to use this quote for the article on Arbonne if you could provide the exact link to where you found that. Thanks!
http://www.arbonne.com/discover/company/aboutus.shtml
Correction. Arbonne just ‘re-camped their website. Customers can now get an ingredient list on any product with one mouse click.
Just wasted 3 minutes of my time going through the list of ingredients of Arbonne’s sunscreen….Yes, the complete list is easy to find on their website, and Retiynl Palmitate is not one of the ingredients. Since your first claim is untrue I don’t feel the need to continue.
https://www.arbonne.com/us/en/healthy-living/ingredient-guide
Maria don’t be lying now…. trying to save my wife from Pyramid Schemes…
I see a list of harmful ingredients you claim are in ARBONNE’s products, please list the exact products these ingredients are in.
If you are going by EWG’s list, unfortunately, there are a lot of products that are not in ARBONNE’s product lines any longer, and some are from years ago. I give EWG a lot of credit, trying to inform and protect us, but some of the information is outdated – not their fault, though.
As information becomes available, ARBONNE does work to ensure product safety, and remove harmful ingredients.
ARBONNE is the best of Science and Nature, and is botanically based. Never claimed to be 100% botanical. ARBONNE is formulated WITHOUT : GLUTEN * GMO’s * ANIMAL PRODUCTS OR BYPRODUCTS – NEVER TESTED ON ANIMALS
FORMULATED WITHOUT: PARABENS * PHYLATES * PROPYLENE GLYCOL* MINERAL OIL*PABA * PETROLATUM *PARAFFIN * DIETHANOLAMINE
ARBONNE did include fragrance in their seasonal Holiday line until a couple of years ago, now they use essential oils. Check it, PLEASE.
I agree about Arbonne… In regards to Ava Anderson… I only found three products that use “radish root extract” as an ingredient… the Conditioner Item #: CN01, Detangler Item #: DT01 and eye cream Item #: EC01. Am I missing a bunch of items? Also, I think it is misleading to have “organic” listed on nearly every ingredient when there is absolutely no certification of organic ingredients… especially when there are several other companies that do have this certification… I am just quickly skimming their products here and these are things that are standing out to me as very misleading… I feel like they would be more honest by not using the organic term… Last thoughts for now, do you know if they require refrigeration for all of the products that contain aloe?
Okay, I think it was my internet acting weird. This time when I searched it was still only 30 products that contained the term “radish” (which is better than 3 products containing “radish root extract” that you mentioned) but that ingredient is certainly not in the majority of their products… Also, I noticed that zinc oxide is in the foundation which I think can be a preservative (not sure – haven’t looked that up – maybe you can enlighten me) what is the preservative for their remaining products? Since Ava Anderson is so fast to use the term “organic” on so many ingredients without actually having the organic certification they seem sketchy to me… and it seems like they would also potentially not be disclosing all ingredients…
I am an independent consultant with Ava Anderson Nontoxic. Ava Anderson ingredients that are listed as organic means that the ingredient itself IS certified organic. You can ask for certificates if a real concern. The company is working on being their own certified organic manufacturer in the future, but at this point they are still a young company. They use small-batch-production independent manufacturers; not all of their manufacturers are certified organic. It is a concern they are very aware of and they are working on it. Ava Anderson is an amazing company with integrity and outstanding products. You should look into them as a real solution. If the fact that Ava Anderson does not have the organic seal keeps you from trying the products, that is unfortunate. Feel free to contact the company for more information http://www.avaandersonnontoxic.com
Cindy,
You are believing what AANT has fed to you. The term organic as listed within in ingredients list in not regulated. Anyone can say that. They were questioned as to who was their Third Party Certifier and they responded. It was a lie. The USDA ordered them to stop claiming their products were Certified Organic because they ARE NOT! They have just come out and admitted to the years of claims that they had Synthetic Fragrances in some of their products. They kept deleting comments on FB from people wondering how the has Essential Oils that do not exist as their natural fragrance. They also “accidentally” left ingredients off of at least 30 products recently. They did the same a few years back with diaper cream and hand sanitizer. They are Greenwashing plain and simple. Please take a step back and see them for what they are. No company with even an ounce of integrity would have this many issues…especially such a young Company. That’s a lot of issues in 6 years or so. And just think of all of the issues we don’t know about. There are currently claims about colorants in their makeup. Why are their laundry pods and detergent pods currently being re formulated? Will we be told there was another “mistake”? Organic=Tranparency. True Organic Products carry the USDA Certified Organic Label. Please look into the companies that are certified and compare them to AANT. I think you will be surprised and see the reality about AANT.
Amanda, Thank you for the insight on Arbonne. I am a Beautycounter consultant. The company’s mission is to put safe products in the hands of everyone. They are a certified B corporation as well and they march to Washington asking for a change in the cosmetic industry. They are a transparent company who believes the people have the right to know what they are putting on their bodies and their children. Every ingredient is labeled and all products are third party lab tested for background contamination. A far cry from what I’ve experienced with Arbonne. Feel free to view their site at http://www.beautycounter.com/
[MLM/DM links are not allowed in the comment forum]Together we can make a change!
Gretel
It is completely possible to make cosmetics without synthetic preservatives!!
Arbonne and other companies might not want to use all fresh ingredients and risk having a shelf life but don’t claim that IT IS A MUST. Our company uses only food-grade edible ingredients and has a shelf life of 4 months – 2 years on our range of products. We don’t sacrifice our health, the planets health, and your health, to extend shelf life for higher profits. Please know what you’re saying before you make claims about preservatives in skincare!
I forgot to add if you’re curious and want to check out those really clean formulas —->
http://www.gemstoneorganic.com
No green washing there 😉
Indeed! You are speaking the truth here too, Sara. Thank you for your comment.
Add Perfectly Posh to that list
There’s not one thing wrong with Perfectly Posh. At least they list ingredients in the catalog, on the products AND website. There are vegan products. NO animal testing, SLS, fillers, parabens or paraffin.
Perfectly Posh lists “Aroma/Flavor” which is a trade secret and potentially hides a large amount of nasty chemicals. After skimming their site, I liked seeing that they didn’t claim to be organic or anything… but that “Aroma/Flavor” is misleading to me…
Umm…yes that does sound extremely suspicious!
Perfectly Posh has a product key in its catalog that lists whether it has
NF Natural Fragrance
NC No Color Added
DT D*Tox Ingredients
FF Fragrance Free
EO Essential Oils
V Vegan
As far as I can tell they are quite transparent in their ingredient decks even down to what type of fragrance is used.
Perfectly Posh is natural based. Not organic or all natural.
I agree 100% natural based not all natural. I love seeing people educated on the lies that consultant share about their company. If only honest customers knew what we do about each company and ingredients.
I am questioning your accusation of Aveda. They use ingredients from indinginous regions. If an ingredient can not be used and remain a stable source, than the Aveda product gets discontinued until they find another source for that ingredient. Their fragrances are plant extracts, their manufacturing plant is wind powered, and their bottles are recycled material. They also have allowed certain areas of Australia to become a thriving region because of Aveda’s purchase of their Sandalwood. They have also revived a community in Morrocco by purchasing their argon nuts from an area facing desertification. Aveda’s participation has started a business where the WOMAN workers are its shareholders, thus allowing for protection of the argon trees from being destroyed! Aveda was a family owned/ run business until recently and was created by a man (Horst) who created Rosemary mint shampoo in his bathtub w his mother. He traveled the world finding ingredients that would be sustainable and non-toxic. So please, any info you actually have discrediting Aveda would be appreciated. My e-mail is attached and I would appreciate any reply. Ttpoofs@yahoo.com
Just because SOME ingredients are natural and sourced from exotic locations doesn’t mean it’s a natural product.
While visiting Morocco, I was lucky enough to chat with some of the women who are a part of the argan oil cooperatives . It was amazing!
I’ve noticed many Aveda products include “fragrance (parfum),” which is a mystery ingredient in the industry. Sigh.
How lucky indeed! Do you ever use Kahina Giving Beauty? They support similar (maybe the same) collectives in Morocco. Totally in agreement with you on the fragrance thing for Aveda products, sadly.
Oh gosh, I am so sad to hear this about Aveda! I don’t use their beauty products, but have been a fan of their hair products.
All the greenwashing is so frustrating! I just telling a friend earlier that I wish certain companies would say something like, “Listen, to get the results you want, you can’t have it 100% natural, but we are offering you a much better alternative that the very chemical-laden popular brands. So, if you still want to keep your results, you’ll have to accept these few slightly toxic ingredients.”
When Horst Rechelbacher founded Aveda in 1978, the products were among the finest in the beauty industry; but, Rechellbacher sold his company to Estée Lauder, a corporate global brand, in 1997 for $300 million. Even though, (they say), Aveda continues to be run as a separate entity…Now you have to answer the question: “Is Aveda still worthy of your trust”?
I would agree with you, Venus and add, all anyone has to do is turn the bottle around to know. 😉
I’m familiar with Kahina Giving Beauty products but haven’t had a chance to give them a try! Love their ethics.
Oh we are a BIG fan of Kahina Giving Beauty over here!
I realize this is not on every product but there is an asterisk after “fragrance (parfum)” noting: Aveda’s Own Pure Flower and Plant Pure-Fume Aroma. So it appears that many, if not all, of their “fragrances” are derived from natural plant botanicals.
Sorry… *natural plant aromas
“Fragrance/purefume” is listed this way because it’s a proprietary blend.
Aveda is owned by Estée Lauder that alone throws up red flags just like Johnson and Johnson owns Aveeno, Burts bees is owned by Clorox, The body shop is owned my Loreal and tom’s of maine is owned by Colgate. I mean the list goes on. How can u trust these toxic selling companies to keep another bought out company all natural or half natural. U can’t
When Horst sold Aveda, part of the conditions of that sale were that the original founding principles of Aveda would remain the same. I have met people who have worked at Aveda since it’s original ownership. They say it hasn’t changed.
Yes, and unfortunately Horst said to me personally a few years ago (before his passing) that the reason he was so happy to get rid of Aveda was that his scientists had lied to him about how clean Aveda really was. As soon as he could, he opened up shop with the truly clean, organic Intelligent Nutrients.
My salon uses Surface Hair care and Mirabella makeup. What are your opinions on them?
“It is all about the ingredients”, they are using some natural ingredients but you have to check the complete list. We have a whole page dedicated to how to become an ingredient detective on Ava Anderson Non Toxic website.
I used Aveda and Origins for years under the illusion they were safe products, so much to know in this matter. I am glad there are more and more articles coming out warning the public about the ugly truth of greenwashing. If you like more info pls contact me.
Well apparently someone from Ava Anderson didn’t read the list. Since the Andersons supposedly pulled out and now that the company is closing , only to morph into Pure Haven Essentials we never have been given the opportunity to see thier 3rd party test results. We have only been told that they passed with flying colors. There is another blogger who actually paid to have 4 of Ava Anderson products tested and guess what, 3 of them had ingredients that were not on the labels. And they were not good ingredients either. I was a consultant for about 8 months and in the back of my mind I wondered how they were able to create some of the products with the ingredients listed. I have experience in making my own body products so I was stumped but since they came out with how the manufacturers “lied” to them and put in bad ingredients behind thier backs, I then knew how.
Ava Anderson Non Toxic should be ashamed of themselves. They marketed thier products to people with cancer, to new mom’s for thier babies and all of the others…..including me. I tried to stay away from unclean products and then I find out that I have been duped. Not only had I been duped but I had been peddling those products to my friends and neighbors.
Okay, I see all the greenwashing companies & this is very interesting. What I would like to see though is a list of the companies that we can trust & are GREEN. Please. Thanks.
“It is all about the ingredients”, they are using some natural ingredients but you have to check the complete list. We have a whole page dedicated to how to become an ingredient detective on Ava Anderson Non Toxic website. You are welcome to check it out at http://www.AvaAndersonNonToxic.com/CinziaPanetti
I used Aveda and Origins and other products bought at Whole Foods for years under the illusion they were safe products, so much to know in this matter. I am glad there are more and more articles coming out warning the public about the ugly truth of greenwashing. I consult for Ava Anderson so if you have any questions feel free to contact me.
I dislike when consultants from companies flood such forums with their products. It does not make me want to buy products from you or the company.
Yes, Amanda, I was noticing an influx of that too and would have to agree. Cinzia, could you reel it in a bit on the self promotion of your products? You’ve been offering some great resources for people too, so going forward et’s keep the discussion to that. Thanks!
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A LIST OF BRANDS (ASIDE FROM AVA) THAT ARE GOOD GO-TO BRANDS?
Hi Michelle, that list is coming eventually. It’s SO difficult to compile one master list because everyone’s ideas for what is green is so different. As this article highlights another side, green is very vague. What do you consider your must-haves in a product?
Hey Michelle – I found a great place to start with green brands are shops/websites committed to clean, green, organic, non-toxic or natural beauty, skincare etc. A few of my favourites are:
http://www.spiritbeautylounge.com
http://www.citrinenaturalskin.com
http://www.thedetoxmarket.com
http://www.beautifulbecause.com.au
http://www.iamnaturalstore.com.au
These all have great brands that perform AND are contain very safe and natural ingredients.
I use Ava products & love them, I was just wondering if there are others out there that are also natural. Suzanne Summers? How does her products rate?
To be honest, most of these companies, including Ava that so many people seem to think are perfect, aren’t any different than other conventional companies. There are NO regulations about what is labeled on a product. They claim to have organic ingredients and use essential oils but don’t back it up with organic certification. ANYONE can say they are organic but USDA certification is the only way to prove it. If a company has their USDA certification, they can bear the label and it requires tons of paperwork and proof that your products are what you say they are. You can’t be USDA organic and hide ingredients on your label. It’s not legal. So just saying you use organic ingredients and you’re natural and non-toxic or whatever isn’t enough. I know some people will think I’m being sales-y but that’s the reason I choose Poofy Organics for my family and why I choose to sell it. They are small-family owned and make everything by hand and have their USDA organic certification to prove to consumers they are getting what is truly on the label.
Beautycounter is a brand worth checking out! Products aren’t 100% organic, but they are working toward progress, not perfection. They ban over 1,500 ingredients, have strict sourcing & testing and are a B corporation. Plus, they are dedicated toward changing how our government regulates this industry, which right now is not at all. Would be glad to share more if you are interested
Then Neal’s Yard Remedies, awarded Champion and Innovator status by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics should be at the top of the most trusted brand list; awarded top score of 100% for ethics by the Good Shopping Guide: http://www.thegoodshoppingguide.com/ethical-skincare/
…and the list goes on: https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/socal_ukbird/area/our-awards/
Neal’s Yard earned the seal of certification by the Soil Association, the ‘gold standard’ of certification, representing 80% of organic goods sold in the UK.
Neal’s Yard Remedies are available in stores and stockists throughout the UK. They’re a world leader with 83 shops and staffed concessions in 21 countries, across 5 continents, with NYR Organic extensions in England, the USA, Scotland, Wales and Ireland!
I currently USE 3 or 4 products on this list and personally KNOW people who sell other products on it. Can you tell me what brands ARE green products I should consider buying?! I didn’t see It Cosmetics on their. Would they qualify as green or green washing?
The only cosmetic brand that I buy from now is 100% Pure. Their products are super high qualty(think Mac, Urban Decay, Nars, etc.) but everything is completely chemical free and organic when possible. I cannot say enough good things about them! The owner is vegan and a huge animal rights activist, Christian, and sooo down to earth. Another company I like for cleansers and such is Andalou Naturals.
“Environmental Working Group” website has a HUGE database that rates personal care (and home cleaning) products for chemical toxicity. This has been very helpful to me in locating every type of personal care product that is truly chemical free. The website contains information on the toxic chemicals to look for on labels, many of which are contained in the products of the companies included in the Green Beauty Team’s list of green-washing companies.
If you listen to the interview she mentions Beautycounter. They are changing the face of the industry in safety and performance. Msg me if you want more info. www. jeena.beautycounter.com. I am sharing this because you asked for advice and because people need to know options not to promote myself and it was also mentioned in the interview with the author of the article 🙂
Beautycounter doesn’t allow link dropping.
Nerium should be on this list. I was interested, based on their claims to be “all natural” and when I looked at the ingredients list, they had Parfum listed as an ingredient. As someone who has been on a crusade to eliminate toxins from our household products and personal care and beauty products, I decided to ask what the source of the Parfum was. It was like jumping through hoops to get a straight answer! After months of trying to find someone who could truly break it down for me, I finally asked on the Nerium Facebook page. I had to ask several times and in several ways to finally get it broken down to the point that I was finally told it was a chemical fragrance, as opposed to a natural essential oil. Green washing, through and through.
Thanks so much for what you are doing! I am a huge fan of yours and admire the work you are doing very much.
Not to mention that Nerium has OLEANDER extract in it…which is……a poison……even in small amounts it could kill someone with a heart condition.
Ah Becki, Your comments are very much appreciated. I haven’t begun to really get into the Nerium discussion. It’s definitely something that we need to cover…but after I wrote this article on Greenwashing my site was maliciously attacked. I can’t say who it was, but let’s just say I want to make sure I have the hatches battened down before I take issue with another strong MLM community.
Both Nerium and Rodan + Fields consultants are like that. Nerium has at least two lawsuits pending aside from the one Ray Liotta is bringing against them. One of note is for Heart Issues brought on from the use of this brand. It is a smart thing indeed to have all your ducks in a row because they will come out in droves. Nerium is a very toxic brand and have a bad habit of making false claims.
For those who seem to have no issue, it is simply a matter of a slight irritating reaction of the skin which presents as plumping. Later they dry out and begin to see the actual damage. For those who have an immediate moderate to severe skin reaction, it presents as anything from acne to rashes. The consultants tell them it’s ok and common, and that it is the skin getting rid of the junk. Now while this type of thing can occur it is something hat happens within the first two to three times of use not every time. That my friends is an allergic type reaction. For those unlucky enough to have the extreme reactions, it includes heart problems, severe rashes/hives and severe swelling. Consultants call these people liars and tell them that what you put on your skin can not get into your body. We know this to be false, but there you go. There are a couple of good blogs about the negatives available if Nerium hasn’t harrassed them enough to remove them.
You should add Doterra’s personal care products to the list.
Do terra has many ingredients that are toxic. Look at the list of ingredients. I sell oils but DO NOT sell their skincare because they still use many ingredients I do not agree with like Retinyl palmitate.
I totally agree with your comment about dōTERRA’s skincare and haircare. I also sell their essential oils, but wouldn’t touch the other products with a 10′ pole!
Hmm….fascinating. I guess we’ll have to look into DoTerra’s line now too.
I too agree about putting doTerra on the list their skin care products are horrible but yet their oils are not which just gets me thinking. I use the oils but I don’t know.
I agree! Guys, she’s not making this up, trying to offend anyone, or bashing for the sake of bashing. If you’re wondering what is in your products–either look the product up on sites like environmental working group (unbiased 3rd party research site) or download apps like “skin deep” which will allow you to scan your product and will tell you what is in your product.
Chemicals in our products are linked to pretty severe things! Thanks for sharing.
I’d also say Younique. As it claims to be all natural but actually contains ingredients that can mess with your hormones and promote disease— don’t blame us for sharing the info–look at the data and you will be able to see for yourselves 🙂
I’ve known about the EWG site, but totally missed the app until you mentioned it! Thanks for sharing! I’m a new Ava Anderson consultant and trying to educate my self more too. This will be very helpful!
Skin Deep is affiliated with EWG.
Kristen Arnett, who appointed you the Pope of Greenness? How can we find out whether or not you’re getting a kick back from a competing company? What makes you so pure?
I didn’t call myself the pope. It’s odd how by my calling out companies who I think are beguiling customers it somehow makes you feel the need to be rude to me and question my ethics. If you don’t like what I write, you don’t need to read my site. 🙂
I would also love to know what you are basing this list on. Do you have references? I don’t agree with Lush or Aveda for example. So I’m just curious where you got your information that prompted you to add each company to the list (other than just a quick glance at the ingredients list). Thanks 🙂
You can EASILY look up the ingredients yourself which I have done and agree with this list completely. Go into the EWG and create a profile and if they for have a company listed, find their ingredients and put them in and you will see their rating. I have done this for MANY cosmetic lines and arbonne is probably the worst about having access to their ingredients.
🙂 Just had to send you a smile, Debra!
“It is all about the ingredients”, they are using some natural ingredients but you have to check the complete list. We have a whole page dedicated to how to become an ingredient detective on Ava Anderson Non Toxic website.
I used Aveda and Origins and other products bought at Whole Foods for years under the illusion they were safe products, so much to know in this matter. I am glad there are more and more articles coming out warning the public about the ugly truth of greenwashing.
I would like to know more about how Arbonne fits into the greenwashing category? What about their products or what products qualified them for the list?
I didn’t write the article (obviously 😉 ) but I do know that the brand uses ingredients that are linked to cancer, organ toxicity, allergic reactions, etc. Here’s a link that looks at their ingredients used: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/Arbonne/
The ingrediants are listed here i did not find on Arbonne’s ingredient list. I did find panthenol which is provitamin B-5 but other than that
Thanks for sharing this list. It’s so sad to see that so many companies can get away with this. The one company I’ve been able to trust is Healthy Skin for a Happy Life. They are really transparent and have all of their ingredients listed on their website. I like their list of ingredients they’ll never use, too: http://www.healthyskinhappylife.com/ingredients-bad/
hi there,
just wondering about this list and how Arbonne is greenwashing. I understand the term and I know what it means, but can you please tell me what they are *actually* doing that you would classify as greenwashing.
thank you,
Katia
i understand a lot of the others but really not certain why Arbonne is on this list? Could you please explain?
TIA
I can’t read the comments on this article, or any article on this site. Just commenting in hopes that will enable me to see them.
The comments are back up now, Sara Beth! Thank you for your patience and interest.
This is an excellent list. I think Tom’s of Maine is one that also belongs on the list. They might have started out strong, but once they sold out to Colgate they went from green to green-wash pretty quickly. It’s almost worst because a trusted name was used against and unknowing public. People still think of them as a trusted, natural big name brand to go to when you want natural, when they shamelessly include sodium lauryl sulfate and propylene glycol in their products and refer to them as safely from nature.
Oh yeah, good addition! Thanks for that mention.
I agree.
Why is Lush cosmetics part of this? Can someone please tell me??
Lush are on the list because of their use of a generic “Parfum”, among other questionable chemicals. It was a major disappointment to me when I read their ingredients lists and found some non-organic, man-made chemicals on there. Sorry.
Yep!! You got it, Chris. 🙂
I personally don’t think it’s just about the ingredients. I think it whether or not products are ethically produced and sourced is just as important. So the fact that Lush uses “parfum” in a few of their products (oh, the scandal!) shouldn’t really be an issue. You could use ALL ingredients you personally picked from the ground, but if you’re doing it illegally or unethically, etc. then to me it’s irrelevant. The ethical treatment of people and animals is far more important to me.
Not really an issue? The word “parfum” or “fragrance” can lead up to hundreds of toxic ingredients. Fragrance is considered a trade secret so companies DO NOT have to disclose exactly what ingredients are in the word “fragrance”. I know it can be confusing and disappointing but the fact if the matter is, that the personal care and cosmetic industry is not regulated at all and the US only has 11 banned chemicals to where Europe has over 1200 banned. Take a look at EWG.org and the skin deep app when you get a chance!
Thank you so much for all of your great comments, Debra. You are really providing some excellent reinforcement here!!
That article is coming soon, Lisa. It’s next up! If you’re on our newsletter updates, then you’ll be notified as soon as the explanation goes live.
Seventh Generation doe green washing on May of their products, Method and Mrs Myers and what about Clorox Green Work?
These brands are worth talking about in household supplies. This article is just focusing on cosmetics since that’s what we specialize in.
Do you have dates on your articles?
Forever living
How do I read the comments??
The comments are back up now, Lauretta! Thank you for your patience and interest.
How about Younique? Fed up to the back teeth of seeing marketing posters for these products, in particular the fibre mascara, stating they’re 100% natural and organic. The list of parabens tell a different story as do the multitude of man made chemicals
I agree! They have products that contain petrolatum, PEG’s, dimethicone and other toxic chemicals!
I don’t think Moroccan oil has ever claimed to be natural or green, and iv never been left with the impression that it is. I have a salon and I stock everescents haircare and rustic Hyde skin care. Would you be able to tell me if these products are green or not?
Falta kiehl’s
Excellent article! ♥
I can 1000% say that LUSH cosmetics should NOT be on this list!
They barely use packaging, use fair trade ingredients/fair wages, and do not use any animal testing ingredients. They don’t even buy from companies or trade with farms that sell or have any affiliation with animal testing. Even in their shops, their employees are offered to volunteer at the charities that they donate to with their Charity Pot lotion. There are things like blended banana in their blousey shampoo they handmade, of course something needs some preservative.. or else it would rot in a day! Their shops don’t even use green colors to fool you of their “organic” or “earth -friendly” company!
They are 100% green washers. While they may be more eco friendly in packaging the products and thank goodness don’t test on animals, they still contain toxic chemicals. If you ask anyone familiar with lush, they believe the products are safe and non toxic which is not true.
LUSH seems to concern many folks, so I’ll be diving into my reasoning for that in an upcoming article. The short answer is that if you ask the customers in the store, probably 99 out of a 100 will tell you they are getting natural products there. Make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter so you can be updated when it goes live. Thanks for your comment and interest, Nicole!
I am looking for this article–can you please link to it if it’s live? And if not… well, it’s been a year, so maybe it’s time to write it?
There are companies using 100% natural preservatives such as olive leaf extract, bitter orange extract, grapefruit seed extract, colloidal silver and essential oils. It is possible to use natural preservatives that are antibacterial! I know one skincare manufacturer who has a special way of packaging her products so that as long as you use the pump dispenser it will last at least 12 months, but if the bottle is opened, it will go off in a week. Chemical free IS an option!
Lush should be on this list.
The last time I was in their store, the ingredients, clearly listed on their very eco chalkboards (because they dont use packaging), listed different types of parabens, SLS and parfum.
Not having an ingredient list attached doesnt make you non-toxic. Makes you shady.
Oh you are right! Lush SHOULD be on the list. I knew I was going to miss a few!
I have no idea why lush is on here? They never claim to be 100% natural and they certainly don’t test on animals?
LUSH seems to concern many folks, so I’ll be diving into my reasoning for that in an upcoming article. The short answer is that if you ask the customers in the store, probably 99 out of a 100 will tell you they are getting natural products there. Make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter so you can be updated when it goes live. Thanks for your comment and interest, HC!
Hi I’d love more information on lush green washing as I have been a customer for many years because of their ethics. Could you provide me with this please?
Sure thing, Samantha. I’ll be diving into my reasoning for LUSH’s greenwashing in an upcoming article. Make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter so you can be updated when it goes live. Thanks for your comment and interest.
What are your thoughts on Beautycounter?
Check out Beautycounter’s Never List of ingredients they will never use here:
http://www.beautycounter.com/the-never-list/?
And here you can read about their ingredient safety screening process.
http://www.beautycounter.com/our-story/
There is nothing but truth and transparency going at Beautycounter. Not all of the ingredients are organic or “natural” because in reality those terms don’t mean anything, legally, in the cosmetic/personal care industry. Most consumers are unaware of this. Beautycounter prides itself on beautiful products made safe.
Beauty Counter has changed my life.
Beauty Counter is not certified organic. They rely on trusting souls; either that or very gullible ones.
I had an interesting experience with a Beautycounter consultant. Little did she know that I have been researching green beauty brands for over 10 years. She gave me a spiel on how Beautycounter is leading the force in changing the laws, and how they only use green and non-toxic ingredients. When I checked their ingredient list, I found they use both dimethicone and phenoxyethanol. These are two toxic ingredients I avoid, and that companies can also choose to avoid, rating a 3 and 4 on EWG. When I told her this, she had no idea because she is being spoonfed information from Beautycounter. She has not done any research on her own and is blindly trusting that they are being honest. I will not support this company and I encourage all of the consultants who keep posting on this website to stop being brainwashed and look at what you are selling.
Dimethecone is a large molecule that sits on skin and is not absorbed, from what I understsand. It’s used for performance to give products slip, like conditioner and body lotion. Phenoxyethanol is used in very small concentrations, under 1%. Preservatives are needed in products w. water. I’d be more concerned about “green beauty” brands that claim to be preservative free…there’s nothing safe about bacteria and mold growing in products. Preservatives can also be hidden in Aloe, when it comes pre-preserved w. Parabens.
Can you verify the sources of your facts? Are they trusted sources and at least 3 of them?
Many thanks,
Ruth
Ruth-all it takes to know the truth is to learn what ingredients to avoid and why (one good source is ewg but there are many books and articles too) and if you compare ingredients to avoid with the ingredients in the products listed (they advertise themselves as either safe, or natural, organic or botanical), you will see why they are greenwashers. It is really sad. Here is my list I take with me to the store, it is not all the toxic ingredients but it certainly covers the most common ones.
Chemicals to Avoid:
FRAGRANCE – chemical concoctions that are not required to be listed on the label. Manufacturers can legally hide hundreds of ingredients in “fragrance” or “parfum” – it is called “trade secret” in the industry. More than 75% of the time if you have fragrance, you have legally hidden phthalates (THAL ates) which are a known endocrine disruptors, and are linked with birth defects, breast cancer, infertility, liver, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and now with autism and ADHD in first and third trimesters of pregnancy by Dr Landrigan and his team at Mt Sinai, Childrens Environmental Health Center.
PARABENS – are also known endocrine disruptors, and are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Methylparaben combines benzoic acid with the methyl group of chemicals, and is highly toxic . Studies have linked these endocrine disruptors, which mimic estrogen, with breast cancer. While more conclusive studies need to be done, we recommend avoiding all parabens. A study at university of Chicago (Sept, 2011) linked BPA and methyplaraben with breast cancer, and also showed that the combination rendered tamoxifin ineffective.
TRICLOSAN – is the active ingredient in “anti bacterial” products. It is registered with the government as a pesticide, and is a cousin to agent orange. It’s also a known endocrine disruptor. Triclosan (and its chemical cousin triclocarbon) is believed to disrupt thyroid function and contribute to liver and inhalation toxicity.
OXYBENZONE and OCTINOXATE – chemical UV ray filters that are also known endocrine disruptors, found in many sunscreens and spf products. You will want to use zinc oxide based sunscreens instead.
PETROLATUM – is a derivative of petroleum, and is an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen.
Important note- Did you notice that ALL SIX OF THE ABOVE ARE “ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS?” Many products that you use daily have one or more endocrine disruptors, and some will have all of them! They are very important to avoid, because the endocrine system regulates ALL biological processes in the body including development of the brain and nervous system, growth and function of the reproduction system, metabolism and blood sugar levels, ovaries, testes, pituitary, thyroid and the adrenal glands. (Natural News) The World Health Organization and the UN recently released a report that called endocrine disruptors a “Global Threat.” Small amounts of endocrine disruptors matter, especially to the developing fetus.
PEG’s – (polyethylene glycol) – are petroleum byproducts. During manufacturing process carcinogenic contamination is created – 1,4 dioxane – which is a known human carcinogen, with liver and kidney effects.
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are detergents that create suds or foam. Both are considered carcinogens and SLES is sometimes contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which is considered carcinogenic by the FDA. You will never see 1,4 dioxane on your label, as companies are also not required to list contaminants.
INGREDIENTS THAT END IN -eth, like ceteareth, triceteareth, etc. Also carry the contamination concern for 1,4 dioxane.
*Important NOTE – all THREE of the above ingredients carry carcinogenic contaminant concerns created during manufacturing for 1,4 DIOXANE. The government allows 10 ppm (parts per million) in any one product, but no one is testing.
1,4 dioxane can be stripped for pennies, and must be done for any product exported to EU – don’t we deserve the same in US?
RETINYL PALMITATE – the FDA released a report that states the retinyl palmitate in the presence of sunlight enhances skin cancer lesions by 21%. If you look at your labels, you will see this in most sunscreens and many moisturizers.
NANOPARTICLES – Speaking of sunscreens, I just shared with you that #4 of chemicals to avoid are the chemical sunscreens, but it is important to note that most manufacturers of mineral sunscreens are using nanoparticles of zinc and titanium. These Nanoparticles have been known to cross the cell barrier and drive into organs, including the brain in humans. There is no way of knowing what size particle they are using unless they tell you. In Europe manufacturers must list nanoparticles on the label, but not in the US. Ava uses only NON nano particle zinc oxide.
ALUMINUM and metals – these are bio-accumulative, meaning they store in your fat cells and accumulate, and are very hard to get rid of. Many deodorants contain aluminum as an active ingredient.
DIETHANOLOMINE (DEA), (and COCAMIDE DEA, LAURAMIDE DEA)–. DEA reacts with other ingredients in personal care products to become the extremely carcinogenic nitrosodiethanolamine. Beware of other ethanolamines like triethanolamine (TEA) and monoethamolamine (MEA). Found in sunscreens and many other cosmetic products.
FORMALDEHYDE RELEASING NIGREDIENTS – DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, DMDM
HYDANTOIN, QUATERNIUM) – found in most personal care products, formaldehyde can cause symptoms from allergic reactions to dermatitis, joint pains and headaches, to cancer and immune dysfunction. This carcinogenic contaminant has been banned in Sweden and Japan.
MINERAL OIL – found in many moisturizers, mineral oil disrupts your normal skin respiration by blocking oxygen.
TALC – belonging to the same family as asbestos, talc is dangerous to inhale and has been linked to ovarian cancer.
SYNTHETIC COLOR/DYES – Blue 1, Green 3, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 33 – this is coal tar. It is carcinogenic.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL – a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions, and has been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive issues, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption.
Great resource. Checking the EWG.org is where I go to find out if a product is okay. I even downloaded an app for them
Check the individual ratings for EACH ingredient. Sometimes you will get a false green rating since one ingredient is potentially toxic, while 20 of them are rated ok, so your average would come out “green” 0-2.
Lemongrass spa also uses NON nano particle zinc oxide in their products.
This article was meant to be a list, not an in-depth look at the reasonings. So please check back in as each article is released on the specific reasons behind the brands selected. Already one on Tarte Cosmetics was put out. Read it here. Make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter so you can be updated when it goes live. Thanks for your comment and interest, Ruth!
1). The terms, “natural”, “organic”, and “vegan” aren’t regulated, so companies can claim to be “natural”, while pumping thousands of harmful ingredients into their products.
2). “Fragrance (parfum)” mixtures are legally protected “trade secrets” = companies have no legal requirements to disclose the ingredients in fragrance mixtures. Many “natural” brands pump hundreds, or even thousands, of harmful chemicals, such as phthalates, into fragrance mixtures, while still claiming to be “natural”.
Green people…
As a qualified Dr .Hauschka Esthetician, you would say that… http://woolpit-complementary.co.uk/sasha-peggs/
Can you explain where you get your facts from and what evidence you have to back up your claims, please.
Many thanks.
Ruth
I am an Arbonne consultant and I have to say I do not see any of the toxic chemicals listed in our ingredients. I also have celiac as well as my grandson (which is why I became a consultant) and these are the only products that we are able to use safely. For Arbonne to be on this list is doing a disservice to a lot of people that may need these products.
Can you please let me know why Arbonne is on this list???
Thanks
Pam Hall
Those listed are the major offenders, just Fragrance alone can be a disservice since phthalates are just one of the 3,000 chemicals allowed under the word fragrance. In any case check each individual ingredient in the Skin deep database at http://www.ewg.org Don’t enter the product name since formulations vary and rating will give you an average of the whole cocktails so you may have a couple of potentially toxic ingredients that added up with another bunch that are ok will bring the toxicity rating down.
I don`t know of Lush and Body Shop to ever claimed to be totally green,( or i might be wrong?). But some people might think they use only natural ingredients.
When I was uneducated on this matter as a teen and even at college I had no idea the market is so unregulated. So it is extremely important to inform young girls about it. If you are buying Body Shop and Origins and what have you, it is clear you are looking for a safe and botanical only alternative, it is not fair to deceive the public and make them think they are buying something totally safe. Fragrances are the major offenders and I don’t care if they say it is phthalates free, under fragrance there can be a cocktail of 3,000 unregulated synthetic chemicals we have no idea their impact on our body, especially in combination with other chemicals. They should not be allowed to be sold as All natural period.
What are your thoughts on Perfectly Posh?
Another brand that I’ve found to be guilty of greenwashing is the German brand Santé Naturkosmetic. The ingredients in those products are the same as many on your list, but they have never been called out as falsifying claims.
How about Younique. I hear so many consultants for Younique talk about how they are “all natural” – I don’t buy it.
Younique products contain petrolatum, dimethicone, butylene glycol and PEG’s -definitely greenwashers!
If you hear someone say that Younique is all natural that is in fact incorrect. We are naturally based not all natural.
Hm, that’s very good to know. Thanks for putting that out there.
What are your thoughts on Burt’s Bee’s?
The only thing you need to know about Burt’s Bees is that they were bought by Clorox…Oh but, most assuredly, they continue to be run as a separate entity; probably!
Well, they have maintained a good status in terms of the ingredients on the label. Quality is probably debatable since they are so huge now. You might also see how they opted out of selling in China because of animal testing, which I dive into in this article: China’s Demand for Animal Testing
I hear it all the time one rep actually told me her manager told her to say that! Its clearly stated on Younique’s own website they use chemicals.
Just an honest question, not trying to be rude 🙂 how is tarte greenwashing? I actually like their stuff, and 100% pure
Forever Living aren’t completely natural either
How about Burt’s Bees?
Thanks for sharing this!
Its such a difficult subject, because what is the definition of organic and pure products!
That is actually the problem Karina-there isn’t really a concrete definition so when people see those terms used on products, they assume that everything in them is safe and non toxic. Anyone can use those terms because the legal definition is so flimsy. That is how these companies get away with tricking the consumer. The proof is in the ingredients, the rest is just marketing.
Well said, Kim.
oops, nevermind, I missed it on the list!
I think the company Melaleuca needs to be looked at.
I agree Melody-they are greenwashers in my book. They claim their products are so safe and healthy and really market themselves that way. However, the ingredients reveal tons of toxic chemicals. Ugh!
What about Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Are they green?
Bobbi Brown contains mostly synthetic chemicals but they are not greenwashers because they do not claim to be safe, natural, organic or botanical.
Oh not hardly, Shawni! But they never claimed to be so they don’t get put on a list of greenwashing.
Add the “AS I AM” brand. The website states:
“The line consists of wonderfully formulated products…each with an impressive ingredient listing that includes many of nature’s finest organic ingredients…natural ingredients like Shea Butter and Coconut Oil to hydrate define, condition & shine.
This cowash is different from any other because it contains a special blend of natural ingredients that work to promote healthy hair growth from the follicular level.”
The coconut cowash alone contains several synthetic (and harmful) ingredients:
SYNTHETICS (cetrimonium chloride [can irritate skin and cause allergies; pollutes the environment], PEGs, quaterniums [can cause irritation of skin and eyes; eyesight loss is possible after long-term contact], propylene glycol).
Some ingredients can be naturally sourced or made synthetically, which As I Am doesn’t disclose (phytosterols, cetyl alcohol, stearalkonium chloride [can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation; non-biodegradable], C12-15 alkyl lactate, fragrance/parfum [“trade secret”; ingredients undisclosed; often contain large numbers of phthalates], caprylyl glycol [can cause light skin irritation; restricted according to the Cosmos standard], phenoxyethanol).
This best selling, “natural” cowash contains four confirmed, synthetic ingredients, but could contain an additional seven (listed) synthetic ingredients. The fragrance mixture, alone, could contain more than 1000 harmful chemicals, which is a legally protected “trade secret”.
Other “natural” ingredients include:
SYNTHETICS (stearamidopropyl dimethylamine [can irritate eyes; prohibited for use in natural cosmetics according to ICEA standard; can cause environmental pollution (CEPA)], polyacrylamide [may contain toxic impurities], hydroxypropyl methylcellulose).
UNDISCLOSED INGREDIENT SOURCES, (natural or synthetic): (glycerin [can be plant or animal derived], behentrimonium methosulfate, stearalkonium chloride, cocamidopropyl betaine, glucose oxidase).
Alba Botanica is greenwashed!
Interesting list, can’t say I’m surprised by most of the brands on this list.
Thank you!
seventh generation
im curious about Beauticontrol products.
can you tell me what exactly you know/or information you have on Melaleuca? I sell for that company, and I know they do not test on animals, and I know they are non-toxic, non-caustic and nature derived, but not 100% natural – I’d be interested to know what you know – thanks, Tiffany
Tiffany-do some more research. They are unfortunatly far from non toxic. They contain tons of chemicals and are huge greenwashers. So sad!
I am so glad to see that people are paying attention, as so many companies claim to be toxin free, etc. and they really are not. Another company I feel could be added to this list is Younique.
FYI- Arbonne never claim to be natural or organic! We choose the safest ingredients possible and add science to ensure our products give results!!
Our Motto is pure safe and benficial. We extract the purest of
Botanicals, continually strive to make our products one of the safest options
And they are very benficial as they actually work!!!! We are vegan, gluten free and
Don’t use nasties and we have never tested on animals .
Get yr facts straight!!!!
This is exactly how my consultant explained it to me.
I was wandeeing where Nutrimetics should be as it is ha4d to get a list of their ingredients but they do claim to be against animal testing. Please keep my enquiry anonamous. Thankyou x
Thanks for this information – great to see!
Melaleuca made the list. Yes, indeed this company is a “greenwasher”. I have been a Melaleuca customer for a while. Back in the day this company made products which were much better than what was being offered by the likes of Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johson, Colgate Palmolive, Lever Brothers. Today, this is not the case. Today, in my opinion, Melaleuca’s products are only slightly better. Today, there are companies making products that are truly green by a much greater standard than Melaleuca.
Why does Melaleuca use parabens in the highly touted product Renew Lotion? This product also contains dimethicone and petrolatum. Are you serious? How about the only antiperspirant Melaleuca offers. It contains aluminum. Melaleuca even published an article in their monthly magazine explaining why the bad news about aluminum should be ignored. It’s safe according to Melaleuca.
Sucralose is a widely used ingredient in many of Melaleuca’s nutritional and food products. This is a BIG… ARE YOU SERIOUS?? It is even in some of their products marketed towards kids. Surcalose is not a safe ingredient and many consumers avoid products containing this ingredient, so WHY would Melaleuca even use it?
Melaleuca’s toothpaste contains glycerin and acesulfame potassium which is an artificial sweetener with unwanted concerning side effects. On Melaleuca presentation calls the toothpaste is touted as really good since it contains the sweetener xylitol which it does but no mention of the artificial sweetener. Same goes for Melaleuca’s exceed gum. Contains sucralose.
Melaleuca’s Gold Bar and other soap bars have no ingredients list listed anywhere. WhyMan toy of Melaleuca’s cleaning products and body products list “fragrance” as an ingredient. And, those in the know, know this is an issue.
The problem with Melaleuca is they have not kept up with the competition. On a scale of 1 to 10, with ten being USDA Organic certified, Melaleuca ranks at about a level 3. This I sad because the product people at Melaleuca must know this, yet have or will not change.
It is interesting to note that as people enroll with Melaleuca they become more educated using better and safer products and once they learn that Melaleuca’s products are not truly better and safer that many other products in the marketplace, well, they get ticked off and cancel their membership. Melaleuca loses many customers each month and year because of this.
Everything here is based on my opinion as a longtime customer. And, these feelings have really come to the forefront in recent weeks as I have become much more knowledgeable about the GreenWashers amongst us.
Excellent comment!
Are you freakin kidding me?? What is wrong with Dimethicone?? It is a relatively safe ingredient even to EWG.org which you guys like to reference a lot to.
Also there is a huge difference in quality and purity between Petrolatum and Petrolatum-USP which the USP is made in the renew lotion. You should of brought your concerns to Product development or at least talked to your regional director. You would of learned a little bit more.
Natural or organic does not always mean safer.. Bleach in its purest form is a NATURAL INGREDIENT but dangerous as all hell. Melaleuca tests and confirms its ingredients are safe with verifiable and trusted sources. not some 3rd party hillbilly site that fear mongers about ingredients already proven to be safe for the past 20 years… GEEEEEZ people
Dimethicone is banned in Canada for being a suspected environmental toxin. Why take the risk, we’re destroying the planet enough already as it is. On EWG the data is limited but it is a moderate concern and rated a 3.
L’occitane
Yes! Totally agree! The fragrances in their products make me feel ill if I smell it on another person!
Thank you for your commitment to educating people that they do not have to DIE TO BE BEAUTIFUL.
We consider ourselves AGELESS ADVOCATES and educate people that how you age, is a choice.
Toxic chemicals can be eliminated and there are products available that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics that commit to be toxic free, but do not compromise performance.
There are a couple companies that promote they are TOTALY SAFE and free of toxins…
I would love to know how you think they rate
NuSkin skin care
jeunesse skin care
Glimpse skin care
Nerium skin care
Rodan and Fields skin care
And yes, Green consumers are changing the beauty business for the better.
Thanking you in advance
Sandi Cohen
Ageless Advocate
So awesome!! Thank you for sharing this and my thoughts exactly. So frustrating that companies get away with this. Consumers, unfortunately need to be good detectives. ❤️
LUSH
Hi there. Just wondering if you can clarify why you’ve put these companies in this list. It’s all well and good to put a name there but you’re not telling us why? I use Arbonne, why is Arbonne on this list? They don’t claim to be organic, for example,so what exactly is the problem? Thanks
hi there I would really love some I for into your findings on Arbonne?
I’ve been trying to tell clients for YEARS that some of these products are not what they represent! I particularly hate that Arbonne seems to be focusing on stay at home moms to push their products, and encourage people to put them on their babies, to prove how “natural” they are. Yet one glance at an ingredient list tells you otherwise!
I am an Aveda spa therapist, what info do you have to make this claim?
Types of Products in the Marketplace
1
A bit of background on the skin care industry in North America. You may already
know that in North America there is little to no regulation for personal care
products. The drug industry and food industry is regulated but the personal care
industry is not. This is why skin care and cosmetic companies can use any
ingredients and advertise as they like which is often misleading.
Arbonne is Swiss formulated and all of our ingredients are approved by the
European Commission and REACH. The European Commission comes under the
World Health Organization and is known to have the highest standards globally for
personal care products. REACH is a prestigious European certification commission
that DOES not certify just anyone. They will scrutinize the environmental impact,
ingredients and manufacturing standards of a company prior to certifying. Arbonne
is approved in all 3 areas which truly make our products second to none when
compared to most North American brands. Keep in mind that in Europe skin care
and personal care products are regulated and at Arbonne we adhere to those strict
standards, To get REACH certification truly puts us in a class of our own.
Products are divided into 4 categories.
1.Natural
2.Organic
3.Botanical
4. Synthetic
Over 90 percent of North American products that are purchased off of a shelf use
synthetic chemicals from GMOs. Natural products are those products that are truly
made at home and have a life span of 1 or 2 days when stored in a fridge. YOU
cannot purchase natural products from a store. Organic products refer to the
farming practice and how ingredients were grown. To have a truly organic product
both the seed and soil should be organic. In Canada when you purchase a Certified
Organic product it simply means that 80% of the content is organic. 20% can and
will be other ingredients which may include animal derived ingredients orsynthetic chemicals. In the USA a certified organic label simply means only 10%
is organic and 90% other. Canada is much better than our US counterpart but still
miles away of where they should be. In fact, most organic ingredients are either
grown in organic soil or an organic seed is used which is acceptable by Canadian
standards. This is not possible in Europe. To be truly organic both the seed and
soil should be organic. Organic is thrown around so much that people truly do not
understand that organic does not mean natural. It refers to farming practices. It is a
better option than synthetic but is not void of other harmful ingredients. Anything
that is bottled cannot be natural. Finally, botanically based products such as
Arbonne are derived from plant ingredients within the plant kingdom. Botanical
based products have been proven to reduce skin reactions by 95%, by allowing the
skin to heal and continue to breathe. Products that don’t breathe create yeast and
thus fungus which may cause reactions on the skin.
As for Parabens, Arbonne has been 100% PARABEN FREE from May 2010. Any
source that claims we have parabens in our products is 100% incorrect.
Parabens come in 2 forms synthetic and naturally occurring. Strawberries have
naturally occurring parabens and if you think about the fruit that most people are
allergic to, it is in fact strawberries. Even in its natural state it is not tolerated too
well by human consumption. Synthetic parabens, which are made in a lab are
cancerous and hormone altering. They are in fact banned now in Switzerland and
thus we DO NOT have them in our products.
We truly believe in the integrity of our company and products speak for itself
along with our affiliations and certifications. The only people who can truly give
an objective and valid opinion on our products are biochemists and botanists who
test our type of products for a living along with our experts.
Younique
I was really into Tarte but I would put their shadows on my eyes and within a few days my eyes would be red and burning. Once I realized what was in them I understood why!
arbonne has never claimed to be organic or all natural. In fact we educate people that all natural is a marketing term that many companies have created however all natural can include animal renderings and mineral oil which are derived from natural substances. We have also never claimed to be organic. We educated that true organic is hard to prove as one must have complete control over the environment including the soil and water used to actually have a true organic product.
Arbonne uses the best of nature and the best of science to make their products. That has always been the claim. Not sure where you got natural or organic as this is incorrect.
Unfortuantely arbonne advertises that they are botanically (this is greenwashing) derived and pure while all of their products contain numerous toxic chemicals. Here is an email I wrote (after tons of research) I wrote to a friend who sells arbonne.
So I was using products for a long time from Arbonne and Melaleuca as well as products from whole foods and another local health store. All the products I was using claimed to be healthy etc. and I mistakenly trusted their advertising. I actually thought the arbonne products worked well. My cousin Lyndsi gave me some products from Ava Anderson Non toxic and started to talk to me about what was in other brands and what to watch out for. Research mode kicked into over drive. I now have literally thousands of articles, books and videos. What I learned was frightening and powerful.
Any one can say their products are natural, organic, botanical as long as there is one ingredient in there that meets those things. Anyone can say dermatologist tested or safety tested-this can be just testing a chemical to see if it causes a skin irritation not to see if a chemical causes cancer.
From my friends who sell Arbonne, Arbonne or the upline continually trains their reps that because their products follow European standards that they are safe. Yes, the European Union is way ahead of us in that regard. (Although I am still not sure Arbonne actually meets those standards either). The European Unions second amendment has helped ban 1400 toxic chemicals from their products. Companies from the US actually sell cleaned up versions of the products in Europe-because they can. Ugh! However, there are over 85,000 synthetic chemicals on the market today and as may as 10 new ones a week. So Europe is far from perfect-just a little better than the US. The FDA does not regulate the chemicals used in our products and most companies do not safety test except to make sure products don’t cause initial skin irritation.
I have spoken with many doctors who are not even aware of these things and are shocked and what is in the products they recommend!
The average woman use over 500 toxic chemicals a day. This adds up day after day, year after year. We have no studies on what these chemicals do when combined, how long many stay in our system and what they can do in the long term. We are all human guinea pigs. Babies are being born pre polluted with over 200 toxic chemicals in cord blood at birth. These chemicals are crossing the placental barrier. Ugh! On average-a woman absorbs 5 pound sod toxic chemicals a year!! Your private parts and under arms absorb up to 100% of the product put on them and other parts of our body can absorb up to 60% of what is put on them. The products we put on our bodies absorb directly into our bloodstream within 28 seconds. Furthermore, these toxic chemicals are being washed down our drains and cause environmental issues as well.
I am sending you a few attachments and links. The chemicals to avoid list is not all inclusive but the ingredients that are most common in products on the market today and why they should be avoided. You will see that most of these chemicals are in arbonne products.
Red flags to look out for as well: A biggie is fragrance or parfum. Companies can legally hide thousands of chemicals under this term and most have been found to be endocrine disruptors.
Key ingredients or proprietary blends: (arbonne does this). To me that means a company is hiding something. I don’t want key ingredients, I want to know every single ingredient in a product. The truth is, they aren’t hiding their formulas from other companies because other companies can pay only $250 to get a list of every formulation for any other product from other companies. They are hiding that ingredient list from consumers. Not listing ingredients on their site is also a red flag. It isn’t easy finding arbonnes ingredients unless you have a rep who will send them or you have a bottle in front of you. This should always be transparent-any company who is being honest about their products (and proud of their ingredients) shows an ingredient list on their website without having to dig for it.
What we call arbonne and many other brands (like Tom’s of Maine and Burt’s bees) are green washers. They use marketing and advertising to make you believe their products are safe but they still contain toxic chemicals. Arbonne says their products are botanically based. They may contain some botanical ingredients, but the rest are chemicals. Essentially they trick the consumer to believe they are buying safe products.
Here is just a comparison of sunscreens ingredients: Highlighted ingredients are toxic chemicals. Not to mention that many of the other ingredients are synthetic chemicals.
ARBONNE BABY SUSNCREEN –
(active) Octinoxte
(active) Oxybenzone
Water
Glycerin
Cetyl Lactate
Glyceryl Stearate
Isopropyl Palmitate
Sorbitan Stearate
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)
Polysorbate 61
Dimethicone
Stearic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract
Plantago Major Leaf Extract
Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract
Carthamus Tinctorius (Saflower) Seed Oil
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil
RETINYL PALMITATE
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Hydrolized Lecithin
Tocopherol
Panthenol
Oleic Acid
Stearoxytrimethylsilane
Stearyl Alcohol
Cetyl Alcohol
Carbomer
Triethanolamine
Citric Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl Glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Hexylene Glycol
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Benzoate
Sorbic Acid
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil
Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract
Citrus Reticulata, (Tangerine) Leaf Oil
Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil
VS…
AVA SUNSCREEN INGREDIENTS:
NON NANOPARTICLE zinc oxide
organic shea butter
organic cocoa butter
organic jojoba
organic beeswax
organic olive oil
The two active ingredients in the baby sunscreen from arbonne are Octinoxte
Oxybenzone-they are chemicals UV filters that are also known endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors either block or mimic estrogen in the body and affect nearly all biological processes. Including brain development, nervous system, growth and function of the reproductive system, metabolism, blood sugar, ovaries, testes, pituitary glands, thyroid and adrenal glands. The World Helath organization and the UN recently called endocrine disruptors a “global threat”. And that is what is in their baby sunscreen-among a host of other totally toxic chemicals like retyinal palmitate (Retyinyl Palmitate (rated 8 in EWG, as a known human reproductive toxicant, One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at low doses, Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics, One or more animal studies show tumor formation at very low doses!). I have highlighted a few others but other than the oils it contains (which are not even organic so can contain gmo’s etc.), the rest are far from good. Many can contain hidden contaminants too. I highlight baby because our kids are more susceptible to even trace amounts of toxic chemicals because they are still growing and developing.
Not to mention-most of this arbonnes ingredient list is neither plant based, natural or organic and is composed of scientifically created synthetic chemicals.
I could go through every product in the line but I will let you compare the ingredients on your bottles to just my list to avoid and you will see how many chemicals all arbonne products contain. Unfortunately, they are mostly made up of synthetic, toxic chemicals with a few “botanical” ingredients thrown in that are not organic and may contain contaminates.
Links specifically about arbonne:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/290472-chemicals-in-arbonne/
http://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/arbonne-pure-safe-cosmetics/
http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=281#specific-companies
http://www.bebeautysmart.com/2012/08/product-review-arbonne-part-i.html
General Links:
http://www.rodalenews.com/unacceptable-levels-documentary
http://www.drfranklipman.com/what-chemicals-should-you-look-out-for-in-your-personal-care-products/
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2012/04/10/you-have-the-right-to-know-17-chemicals-to-avoid-in-cosmetic-and-personal-care-products/
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/environmental-breast-cancer-links/cosmetics/
http://www.suisskin.com/toxicskincareingredients/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-462997/Women-absorb-5lbs-damaging-chemicals-year-thanks-beauty-products.html
Well said Kim!
Great post! Thank you!! Do you have any information on Beauty Counter?
Wow Kim! I’m throughly impressed at the list you’ve created here. It’s even longer than our Toxic Ingredient Glossary! Thank you for providing all of this great information in the comment thread. -xo Kristen Arnett
Love your work! Anyone else noticing the similarity in the wording of the comments from Arbonne consultants?
I am proud to say that Arbonne’s sunscreen has been completely improved! Using now an all mineral base sunscreen!
Great post!
Thank you!
Pretty sure your ingredient list for Arbonne’s baby sunscreen is inaccurate and for their old formula, I know for a fact that the current baby sunscreen does NOT contain oxybenzone and has been out since fall of 2014 so before you go around smearing a company you should probably make sure your information is accurate.
I used Arbonne regligously and so do MANY a of my girlfriends. We feel safe issuing their products because do they not only prove to have amazing results, but we know that we are using a botanically based product(s) that are fragrance free, vegan, gluten green and formulated without GMOs. I am shocked to see Arbonne at the TOP of this list! I’m curious to know what you know about the product and why it is on the top of this list. Looking forward to hearing back 🙂 Thank you for sharing!!
It’s at the top because the list is in alphabetical order…
This list is very helpful! Can you please share a list if cosmetic/ companies that are actual “green/natural”. Thank you!
Younique should be on the list, they’ve just launched in the UK claiming to be Vegan, they’re not!
In USA They list which products are Vegan and which are gluten free etc. I see a lot of people not realizing that it’s not every product …
I think Younique should be on the list too, they’ve just started over here in the UK and are claiming to be Vegan and green, when you look at their ingredients the aren’t. Love the article.
Hi there! I appreciate your diligence for sure. And full-disclosure here, I am an Arbonne user and consultant. But I actually joined because I did some solid background and research on them and decided they really are a trustworthy company. I was definitely surprised to see them on here and would love to hear more about your specific concerns. We have been around a really long time and for sure as science has improved and our understanding of what’s good/not-so-good has improved Arbonne has responded. One thing that not everyone understands is that some things are harmful at certain levels while completely necessary for life at other levels–think oxygen! Additionally, things can take on completely different attributes depending on what other ingredients they are interacting with–think chemistry! So the simple fact of whether or not an ingredient is present, doesn’t tell the whole story. Thankfully, Arbonne is truly committed to understanding all of these nuances and we are constantly reformulating based on new information. If elegant science with reliable methods reveals something about what’s safe or not safe, you can bet your bottom that Arbonne will start thinking about how to reformulate. Obviously, it doesn’t happen over night. And we always want to make sure that what “science” discovers is actually science too, if that makes sense. All this to say, we are constantly improving and our pure, safe, beneficial motto is certainly what drives our formulations. I hope this makes sense. We were founded with this motto long before it was cool to be safe and long before everyone seemed to demand it. It’s pretty intrinsic to who we are! Thanks for your response! Oh, and I would be more than happy to have a conversation with you about any specific concerns you do have to clear things up or be enlightened myself!
Thanks for posting this! Naturally (no pun intended) as who also pays very close attention to misnomers in the health and wellness / cosmetic industry, and tries to sift through the mess and figure out what I really want to be putting on/in my body, it’s hard to see a list like this without any explanations. I know you said you were going to follow up with some more specific posts or “case-studies”–which might help your readers use some of the same tools/criteria you do as they take a look at what’s IN their containers and not ON them. =)
You asked which of these should be left off, and I would honestly say that I was surprised to see Arbonne on here. I have been using Arbonne for some time and have done pretty thorough research on their ingredient policy and how they market themselves. They aren’t pure coconut oil, but they also don’t say that they are. So, I would perhaps leave them off 1.) because they really actually do their due diligence understanding what is harmful/not harmful/at what levels they are safe/harmful and 2.) I don’t think they say anything in their advertising that is contrary to what’s in their products. Interestingly enough when they were founded in the 80’s they made a commitment to being safe long before the market demand for it. Which would lead me to believe that it’s ACTUALLY important to them. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Reading the ingredient list to each product also gives you a clue who is actually green washing or not.
I shall watch with interest to see why you have Arbonne on the list and your evidence for it given they provide a full ingredients list on their website and provide comprehensive information about what’s in their products.
Hi Lee! Yes, of course. I’m curious if you can share that link with me for the full product ingredient listings. Part of my issue with Arbonne is the difficulty in finding that information. Thank you!
The Arbonne ingrediants list is available at the bottom of the home page scroll down and click “ingrediants guide” there is also a link for research and development and scientific advisory board http://www.arbonne.com/pws/homeoffice/tabs/home.aspx
Can u please tell me why Origins &Tarte are not green co. Please? TiA!! 🙂
I did recently buy a body scrub from one of the companies listed and when I got home I was really bummed out to see not only did it have dye in it to make it the color it was but also had SLS in it. I knew then they weren’t exactly “all natural” as they have stated!
I’d like to know why you think Arbonne is Greenwashing?
THANK YOU Kristen for being so brave to write this article. Can I also take an opportunity to be brave?
TO be upfront: We are manufacturer for a small brand of cosmetics in Canada. I take the risk that this comment will sound like a disgruntled competitor. But I will take it anyway. The frustration I feel as a formulator swells in my chest and I’m going to let it pour out today.
There is yet a deeper, darker sin of greenwashing. This is the sin of dishonesty in labelling. At least the brands you listed above fully disclose the chemicals in their formulas. What about the brands who want so desperately to have a completely “natural” formula that functions like a high-end product, that they are willing to take dishonest measures? The consumer demand for ultra-clean cosmetics is relentless. I feel the pressure too.
I question….
A mascara (for example) without a broad spectrum preservative of any kind? Some ingredient labels I see for “clean” mascara, if they were true, the product would mold in a week. I can prove it.
How about those vibrant, matte lipsticks that are supposedly tinted only with mineral pigments? Not so. Minerals always have either a shine (from mica) or a brown undertone (from oxides). Only FD&C dyes/lakes can produce a clear, vibrant, matte pigmentation. Don’t even get me started about those mysterious 100% pure fruit pigments that don’t seem to be available to the rest of us formulators.
Non-greasy glide without silicones? The list goes on.
Remember how the cosmetic industry isn’t regulated? Truth. Very unregulated. Our factory was recently inspected by an organic certification body on behalf of a contract manufacturing client we are working with. It was a great experience, however I could see how even this process could produce dishonesty. Lots of “cracks” to slip between.
No authority has the time and resources to prove truth in labeling. It simply has to come down to trusting the people and the brand producing your products.
Want to know an interesting fact? Most cosmetic products are NOT manufactured by the brand themselves, although they like to give the impression to consumers that they are. That’s ok though. I discovered this as we began to grow from a hand-crafting operation, to larger-scale manufacturing. I was (and still am) surprised at the inquiries we receive from brands whom I always assumed “made their own”.. There is nothing wrong with this however. It enables the brand to focus on marketing their products as opposed to making it. Wise decision most of the time.
The problem, is that some brands are BEING LIED TO in regards to what the lab is including in their products. It happened to me once with a product we didn’t produce ourselves.
Or the opposite can happen. The lab discloses all ingredients, but when the manufacture sees the packaging, they realize the brand (knowingly) excluding key ingredients from the label/packaging so as to “greenwash” consumers into believing the formulation is cleaner than it is.
I for one, will not be a part of this game. If someone chooses not to use Pure Anada mascara because it contains phenoxyethanol, or if we can’t produce an all natural matte, red lipstick that you were hoping for…it will have to be. You may very well find a cleaner alternative. But now you have the knowledge to ask yourself…is it REALLY greener? Or does the labeling deceive you into believing it is?
Thanks for the opportunity to rant. I’ve been wanting to for quite some time.
This is a really interesting response, and quite eye-opening. So in fact, some brands are being greenwashed as opposed to doing the greenwashing themselves.
You nailed it, Polly. Yes, some brands are given the green reputation because people want to believe that about them.
I think it also must be said though, is some man-made ingredients are done so because the only other source is animal. When I think “green” that has to be taken into account with animal testing. If, for instance, you use lanolin because it is a naturally derived ingredient, I would not consider it “green” because it is derived from the skin of sheep, therefore, making it akin to animal abuse. On the otherhand, people despise beeswax because it is an animal product, however it is made from the hive and not the bee itself. I do agree that there are many chemicals that are harmful and should not be used, but I also think, especially when it comes to skin care since I am a Licensed Esthetician, that some man-made/chemical ingredients are necessary.
Candice and Jenn, you are both right and offering a lot of important education here regarding ingredients. It’s difficult to address these points and not make a consumer feel totally helpless…more than they already do…in terms of products that are truly safe and efficacious. As I move forward with my writing here on Green Beauty Team, I’m sprinkling in more content which addresses this. Thank you for your excellent comments. – xo Kristen Arnett
So, lanolin. It isn’t vegan because it is a by-product of the wool industry but it is vegetarian. It comes off the sheep in the wool (so when it’s shorn). When wool is being washed, the lanolin is taken from that as a by-product. It is produced by the skin of the sheep in the same way sweat is for us. And it makes perfect sense to use it in anything moisturizing because that’s what it does but it is basically inert – it’s also the best thing for breast feeding mamas to use on chapped nipples.
I’m told by a formulator friend (Canadian as well), that if the ingredient added is less than 1% in concentration of the products formula, than it doesnt even need to be listed as an ingredient.
Thanks for the inside info. I am especially interested in the dyes used in green beauty brands. I was shocked to learn that kjaer weis uses harzardous dyes in her products seeing that she has such a respected name amongst beauty bloggers. I had hoped the fruit pigmented dyes were safer. I am wondering why it is not realistic to use fruit plant dyes when they can be used for clothing? Any thoughts?
Hi Deborah, this is a great question. The short answer about fruit pigments in cosmetics is that they are very unstable, so it’s next to impossible to formulate consistent color. Which dyes were you referring to in Kjaer Weis’s products?
She’s pretty transparent about when she uses synthetic colors in my experience. ingredient list
Seacret Must go! They claim to be natural but are NOT!
Hi
A link to a more detailed article stating how each company claims to be green and why it’s are not or you consider it to be greenwashing would be great.
Thanks 🙂
Would be interesting to see the breakdown or “why”!
I appreciate this list and your effort to raise awareness. I shop at Melaleuca. Are you suggesting that only their beauty products are not truly “natural” or does this apply to the company as a whole?
And, are there certain ingredients you don’t approve of? If so, I’m interested to hear what they are. I try to avoid harsh chemicals and I try to find eco-friendly products. I feel that Melaleuca delivers on this.
What are some true green beauty brands that you recommend?
Thanks!
Andrea
Hi Andrea, I haven’t heard of Melaleuca, but I use this Healthy Skin for a Happy Life’s ingredients tab for a listing of good and bad ingredients. It’s a great reference dictionary! I happen to love their products too 🙂
Just google Healthy Skin for a Happy Life and look at their ingredients tab.
Before you get brainwashed here.. (not intentionally, I believe these are good willed people just not fully understanding melaleuca)
Contact your regional director.. or call product information for any concerns with ingredients that you think are questionable. I would love to talk to you if you are convinced on here about anything negative about melaleuca.
[Admin removed personal MLM link]I have been a customer for about 4 years now.Kristin,
I’ve followed you for years and always appreciate your integrity and willingness to call out “greenwashers”. As a former salon owner, I too, have struggled with this issue. I decided to do something about it and created AHNESTI Professional Haircare. Would love for you to review it. Call me out on any ingredient or any claim I’ve made, I’m up for the challenge:)
Keep up the fantastic work!
So what brands are safe and green to use. I know i cant afford
Makeup but i would like to use something safe and green
to cleanse and moisturize.
Organic raw coconut oil can be used for cleansing AND moisturising! A small amount on damp skin is all that is needed to moisturise 🙂
That depends on what kind of skin she has and whether or not she has a nut allergy. Coconut oil is ok for dry skin types but not alone. Mix with one or two other skin safe oils as well.
I LOVE using coconut oil as a moisturizer! Does not make my face oily as other moisturizers I have tried throughout the years!
Hi Kristen I really get upset by green washing what about vegan washing 🙂
using my trademarked name is one thing but I wish the ingredients would match the vegan eco marketing spin..
https://www.truthinaging.com/review/christie-brinkley-authentic-skincare-a-closer-look
Yves Rocher!
I thinks it’s very dangerous to name drop companies like that without explaining WHY each company is not green. It’s as misleading as what you denounce..
3 cheers for Kristen for posting this list! If someone wants to apply something to their skin that they know isn’t natural (we all do the best we can!), then that is one thing, but applying something to their skin that they 100% believe is natural due to marketing claims from the above companies is totally not ok. Thank you so much for posting this list.
Megan,
I completely agree with you! Kudos to Kristen for posting this! I felt SO frustrated and violated when I discovered I was paying extra for products that made claims of being natural only to find out they weren’t. I have been working to make natural choices for my family over the last 2 years and always felt like I was running into hidden roadblocks when it came to personal care products.
I have now found a company that I trust because they are transparent with the ingredients for all their products.
I wish more companies would take note!
Oh my gosh, yes Sarah, isn’t it frustrating! Good for you for sticking with it though.