FEATURE: Anyone for Toxins?

Everyday most of us apply various products to our bodies and hair. We should know what we are putting on our skin and hair even if we are buying organically. More often than not we don't.

Some of the questions I wish I could answer include:

• How much of these chemicals, if any, makes it past my skin and into my body?
• What is the impact of that long-term exposure?
  
• What is the impact of these chemicals on my skin in the long-term?
• Are there any negative interactions with other chemicals I should be aware of?
  

PANIC NOT
Whilst I wait to find out all answers to the above there is at least one alternative. ONE Group (Organic Natural Enterprises) produce an excellent range of certified organic skin, body, hair, oral and health care products. Crucially the ingredients all seem to be substances I already know and trust.

ONE Group claims to be the world's FIRST extensive range of certified organic skin, body, hair, oral & health care products - certified by Australian Certified Organic (ACO) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the highest international food standards.

Their products aim to assist your body in restoring natural harmony and balance to your skin.

ONE Group products are not available in shops and are only sold online or via resellers.

All sounds intriguing so I looked up one of their products to find out what was in them and see just how transparent there ingredients really are:

ONE Group Shaving Gel
Organic rose (rosa damascena) hydrosol, purified water (aqua), d-panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), honeysuckle (lonicera japonica) extract, organic rose (rosa damascena) essential oil, natural gum (sclerotium rolfsii).

Nothing too strange in there. All seems english to me more or less.

I also got the chance to review their Sunflower Body Wash - this is what I thought:

I love suds. Very important to me to have a good lather. After all what is the point of soap if it ain't, well, soapy. I tried the ONE Group Sunflower Body Wash and was pleasantly surprised. Very orangey and very creamy. Lathers well using either your hands or a sponge but worked best with a sponge for sure. Plus it contains safflower oil (cold-pressed organic I might add) and so moisturises at the same time. Lovely. Costs more than normal soap but I guess you get what you pay for.

Ingredients?
Organic aloe vera (aloe barbadensis) leaf juice, coco polyglucose, organic safflower (carthamus tinctorius) seed oil, non-gmo xanthan gum, organic sweet orange (citrus dulcis) essential oil, organic lemon (citrus limonum) essential oil, organic lime (citrus aurantifolia) essential oil, honeysuckle (lonicera japonica) extract, citric acid. 74% Organic Product.

Now contrast those ingredients with the ingredients of a mainstream brand. I found these on the The Ecologist magazines' Behind the Label series.

Radox Herbal Bath with Juniper:
Aqua, sodium laureth sulphate, sodium chloride, cocamidopropyl betaine, parfum, Juniperus communis, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, tetrasodium EDTA, ethoxydiglycol, dipropylene glycol, citric acid, sodium lactate, butylene glycol, butylphenyl methylpropional, alphaisomethyl ionone, benzyl salicylate, coumarin, limonene, linalool, sodium benzoate, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, CI 47005, CI 42090, CI 15985

Mmmm...sounds lovely! Don't you just wanna cover yourself all over in Methylchloroisothiazolinone which according to the Ecologist bind quickly to the skin, remaining there long after use with potential adverse effects listed as nerve damage; potential mutagen; a suspected carcinogen due to its corrosive action on the skin.

Nice. Thanks Radox! Gee which one do you reckon I would buy?

FREEBIE TIME
One of our wee writing collective also happens to be a reseller for ONE Group (she wrote the recent Loving the Ladbybirds post) and she offered to give out some freebies.

To get your soon-to-be soapy hands on a Rejuvenating Mineral Mask or some refreshing Rose Monsoon Mist simply email us and answer the following simple question.

First 3 random entries will win goodies. Closing date is Midnight GMT 8th Feb 2006.

Question: What is the most important issue for you when buying cosmetics?

SPECIAL DISCOUNT:
Not only did we get freebies from our ONE Group friend but I am pleased to say that she has also offered 10% off any order.

Simply decide what you want via the ONE Group site and then email your order (do not place it via the website first) to Rebecca at MiOrganics@aol.com

To find out more about any of these products please visit www.OrganicsNOW.co.uk, call Rebecca on 020 8346 2790 (UK number) or email her at MiOrganics@aol.com

Happy soaping!

Namaste

CH

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