by madhvi on 01/30/08 (1 of 1 people found this comment informative)

Some good beauty companies that I've found in my research : (note, burt's bees uses 1 or 2 chemicals in its shampoos, but trust me, I've conducted an exhaustive search of shampoos and this is one of the least chem-free brands I've found; also, afterglow is phasing out some of their titanium dioxide stuff but still has it.) http://www.sheaterraorganics.com/ omg, i LOVE shea terra. i have the rose face cream, rose toner, and bourbon vanilla body cream. so yummy. note: it's an adjustment getting used to these products. b/c they don't have chemicals their texture is thicker. http://www.pangeaorganics.com/home.html love pangea!!!!! they're so excellent, even their packaging is earth-friendly---you can plant it in the earth and it sprouts!!! and the products smell so darn good. http://www.afterglowcosmetics.com/ i have yet to order from afterglow but only b/c i haven't had time to make a phone call and talk to them. i am hoping to do that in the next week or so considering i'm almost out of face powder. http://www.purebodysolutions.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=FAQ&Store_Code=PC pure body has lots of products. definitely need to spend time sifting. most of their products are what they claim, truly chemical-free, but all are not. the good thing about them is they allow you to purchase sample sizes. i got a variety of cleanser, toner, face cream and lotion samples from them so i can decide what i like best. no result yet. and for shampoo i'm happy w/ burt's bees for now. i have to buy their extra deep conditioner to get the kind of conditioning i want but o/w it's good. don't compare to chemical products--not like pantene where hair feels instantly smooth and silky. also not like pantene in that it doesn't contribute to hair loss over time. (the chemicals in pantene do.)

Reply to this comment | Was this comment informative to you?

by stuart on 01/31/08 (1 of 1 people found this comment informative)

Also of interest to note that the American Cancer Society is well aware of bath product preservatives that are known carcinogens. Examining the ACS annual budget shows that, after their chunky overhead, they spend quite little on prevention and education. Think of what a health difference could be made if an organization of this size and financial power let people know a few simple things they could do to vastly reduce cancer risk.

Reply to this comment | Was this comment informative to you?

by Goodstuff on 01/31/08 (0 of 0 people found this comment informative)

Very useful article. I often wonder why even the most educated and aware people buy overpriced products based on ridiculous beauty claims and don't even look at the label for ingredients. I've used shea butter for years (thanks to my daughter's search for a natural skin creme) and that's it! One ingredient in it. I'll pass on the petition.

Reply to this comment | Was this comment informative to you?

by madhvi on 01/31/08 (0 of 0 people found this comment informative)

wow, that's pretty pathetic. mismanaged pork-barrel nonprofits...sounds like blasphemy just writing that. there's a website that actually rates non-profits and how well they spend their money. i'll have to post that next. what exactly does ACS do w/ their funding exactly? i mean, how are they fulfilling their mission stmt?

Reply to this comment | Was this comment informative to you?

by Laura on 02/01/08 (2 of 2 people found this comment informative)

Shampoo, conditioner and make-up are hard to create at home, but most other cosmetics and bath products are easy, safe and cheap to make yourself, chemical-free. I've been doing it for years. And if you have any allergies to perfumes or chemicals, like I do, home-made products are a boon. I don't make my own soap, but order it in blocks by the pound, 10-20 pounds at a time from here: http://www.soapsaloon.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=soapsalon&Category_Code=GMPS It's completely natural, perfume & dye free and ordering it in bulk saves money and packaging. People around the world have created their own beauty products for thousands of years. Looking for a good scrub? Blend 1 cup dry oatmeal, 1 cup almonds, 1/2 cup corn starch and 1 cup dried flowers (lavender, chamomile or roses) in a blender until they're powdered. Mix a little with water and rub it directly onto your skin. Cocoa butter and shea butter are fantastic emollients for dry, chapped skin. Apple cider vinegar mixed with distilled water and some dried herbs makes a super toner. Milk, applied topically, is a great wrinkle reducer. Mash an avocado with banana and honey and smear it on your skin for a super-rich moisturizing treatment. Spend a fraction of the cash you'd shell out for expensive commercial products on a few home-made, organic cosmetics books: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-1587075-5764460?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=natural+beauty&x=0&y=0 With a little experimentation you'll find the recipes that work best for you. Your skin, your wallet and the environment will thank you.

Reply to this comment | Was this comment informative to you?

by madhvi on 02/01/08 (0 of 0 people found this comment informative)

nice! i've actually been thinking more and more about making homemade products such as the ones you listed. i esp. have been looking into tooth powder instead of the expensive $7 organic toothpaste that i use. thanx 4 this!

Reply to this comment | Was this comment informative to you?