Phthalates are softening agents added to many toys, lotions and creams for all age groups especially in industrialised countries. Recent studies have shown that when a baby is exposed to these chemicals, even in topical products, that the phthalates and their derivatives are absorbed into the blood stream and also present in the urine. One of the better known effects of phthalate exposure in babies is an underdeveloped male reproductive system. There is an indisputable link between high phthalate exposure either in utero or after birth, and several developmental abnormalities such as those listed below.

Some Recognised Symptoms of Moderate to Severe Phthalate exposure in Babies

• incomplete dropping of the testicles
• reductions in the masculinsing hormone dihydrotestosterone
• reduced distance between the anus and the base of the penis (AGD) – which is used to predict abnormalities in adult reproductive development. The AGD should normally be twice as long in males as it is in females, however studies have shown that significant phthalate exposure to male infants may shorten this measure. The shorter the anogenital distance the more feminised the body in question.
• the development of proliferative lesions in Leydig cells, which are located in the testicles

Mineral oil is a by-product of commercial processes involving crude oil, and when applied to the skin will produce an oily coating. As a moisturiser it is barely effective, because it is so poorly absorbed and does not allow the skin to breathe. This hasn’t stopped many commercial manufacturers from using it in their baby ranges though because it is cheap to produce. Natural emulsions such as beeswax, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and sesame oil are a much better alternative. Knowing that just about anything that sits on a babys skin, is likely at some stage to enter their mouths via the fingers also should discourage one from purchasing products containing mineral oil.. On ingredient lists you will find mineral oil listed also as petroleum, paraffin or paraffin oil.

Oestrogenic chemicals and derivates in the environment, processed foods and in skin care products are part of the phthalate controversy. So when purchasing any products, be sure to choose those that use natural organic and biodynamic ingredients. These are less likely to contain environmental hormones.

With a better understanding of the ‘baddies’ in commercial baby products you can reduce the risk of toxicity, allergy and discomfort for your baby. In summary, here are some tips to help you select better and healthier products for you and your baby:

• Read labels
• Choose natural skin care products that use organic and biodynamic ingredients, ensuring top quality raw materials that are free of nasty chemicals
• Avoid mineral oils and petrochemicals
• Avoid any products that contain artificial fragrances. Most naturally derived fragrances from flowers and herbs are fine.
• Look for organic and pure products that may also contain the label “Phthalate-free”. Also avoid placing plastic bottles in the microwave, as transmigration of plastics under heat leads to chemicals being passed into the contents of the bottle.
• Patch test new products for potential allergic reactions by dabbing a small amount on the inside of your baby’s elbows.
• Live an organic lifestyle. A recent study showed changing to a biodynamic, organic diet can virtually eliminate all traces of phthalates in the body!

References
1. Norman J. Barlow, Barry S. Mcintyre and Paul M.D. Foster 2004,
Male Reproductive Tract Lesions at 6, 12, and 18 Months of Age Following in Utero Exposure to Di(n-butyl) Phthalate , 32; 79 Toxicol Pathol
2. Sharpe RM., 2001, Hormones and testis development and the possible adverse effects of environmental chemicals, Toxicol Lett. Mar 31;120(1-3):221-32
3. Chensheng Lu,1 Kathryn Toepel,2 Rene Irish,2 Richard A. Fenske,2 Dana B. Barr,3 and Roberto Bravo3 2006, Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children’s Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides, Environ Health Perspect. February; 114(2): 260–263.
4. Wasmuth HE, Kolb H, 2000, Cow’s milk and immune-mediated diabetes, Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 Nov;59(4):573-9.
5. Harrison LC, Honeyman MC. 1999, Diabetes. Cow’s milk and type 1 diabetes: the real debate is about mucosal immune function, Aug;48(8):1501-7
6. Berthold Koletzko, MD, 2000, Complementary Foods and the Development of Food Allergy, PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 5 pp. 1285
7. AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, (1997), “Inactive” Ingredients in Pharmaceutical Products, PEDIATRICS Vol. 99 No. 2, pp. 268-278
8. Burks, W, (2003), Skin Manifestations of Food Allergy, PEDIATRICS Vol. 111 No. 6, pp. 1617-1624.

By Su-lin Sze, 2011, Naturopath and Consultant to Weleda, manufacturer of holistic products for mother and baby.

After researching and trialling natural skincare products its time for a bit of cosmetic enhancement to make the most of those natural assets. We’ve moved our focus to sustainable, natural makeup. It’s clear that finding natural and dare we say it, eco-friendly cosmetics is a difficult task. However, the demand for more natural products, has lead to the emergence of a new breed of cosmetic company like Zuii Organic. With a focus on ‘love, nature and organics’ Zuii use Australian grown certified organic ingredients blended using their unique manufacturing process. We’ll be profiling Zuii Organic over the coming weeks and putting their products to the test.

Zuii products are free from Talc, parabens, petrochemicals, genetically modified ingredients, preservatives and have not been tested on animals. The range has been developed using certified organic flower petals, essential oils, plant extracts, vitamins and minerals.

The range includes:

• Flora powder foundation produced from organic rose petals, chamomile and jasmine flowers.
• Flora powder eyeshadow, the organic rose, chamomile and jasmine are blended with vitamins and minerals to deliver a range of colours.
• Flora powder blush using the organic rose, chamomile and jasmine flower base.
• Flora moisture liquid foundation provides medium coverage, and contains calendula, aloe vera, vitamin E and antioxidants.
• Flora lipstick, contains jojoba and sunflower rich in vitamins, whilst protecting and moisturising the skin. It also contains aloe vera for extra hydration.
• Flora lip tint is colour blended with organic rose petals, beeswax and aloe vera.
• Flora mascara is a unique blend of coltsfoot, nettle, horsetail extracts plus vitamins E and D. No petrochemicals in sight.

We can’t wait to try them out!

For more information visit http://zuiiorganic.com/

The number of products a woman uses on her face in a day can run into double figures when you add them up. Starting with cleansing, toning, moisturising, you then move onto makeup which may include foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, powder, blush, lipstick and more. Not to mention perfume which can contain a mixture of anything up to 400 chemicals. The new generation of cosmetics and the use of nano particles, means that women carry more chemicals than ever before and it is often difficult to decipher what exactly you are putting on your face. Companies may claim that their products are natural but what does this mean? New standards have been introduced to help to spot the real green options from the wannabes.

So in order to help you to identify more natural cosmetics standards such as COSMOS-standard and NaTrue have been introduced.

As part of the bid to reduce chemical use and environmental impacts the concept of ‘green chemistry’ has been developed. This considers the whole lifecycle of a product, starting at the raw materials which ideally comes from renewable resources and is grown without pesticides and herbicides. In the processing of those raw materials sustainable resources should be used. Once prepared, the transportation and packaging of those products should be minimal and efficient.

In-use the product should leave a minimal effect on the environment. That means it does not pollute waterways when rinsed off and packaging should be recyclable or biodegradable. Ideally the product should be effective so that less overall product is used.

Luckily for us the area of green chemistry is receiving more attention, which means that we are likely to see greater variety in the natural cosmetics available, including home-grown companies. Watch this space.

The Green Beings Unico product trial results have now been posted. After several weeks of shampooing, conditioning and scrutinising our hair, we have given our verdict on this natural range. The panel members enjoyed using an Australian salon grade product, but did the products perform? Interesting results. To read our verdict check out our product review page.

Their ‘minimised comprehensive range’ means that the products are potent so that they can be used sparingly and are suitable for many skin types and conditions. That way you don’t need to buy different sets of products for yourself, your partner and your kids.

The range of products is extensive and includes daily skincare, Evohe essence, body-hair care, treatments, eco tools and accessories (think recycled steel and bamboo) as well as the Evohe colours range or mineral makeup. What’s more they will soon be offering a spa range.

We have a bit of mutual love going on here, we love their products and business philosophy, and we want to share the love around. So we’ve got half a dozen Evohe trial packs to put out to our testing panel as we are keen to find out what you think.

Inside each pack you’ve got:

• Cleanse
• Mist
• Moisture 24/7
• Omega 369
• Silica mask
• Exfoliate
• Body mist
• Repair intensive
• Omega body
• Body polish
• And finally a trial size sample of their mineral make up.

So if you fancy a bit of sustainable luxury, email us back when you see our product panel call out email.

Well, here at Green Beings we are keen to find out more in our quest for eco-friendly beauty. We’ve got a selection of Unico’s shampoos and conditioners for our panel to try out. I know, its a tough job, but I’ve already put my hand up for it…..

The Unico haircare range has been developed by professional hairdresser Sofia Basille. Sofia has 22 years in the business and owns a small thriving chain of award winning hair salons in Melbourne. Tired of using overly commercialised international products, she saw there was a gap in the market for a homegrown, eco-friendly professional haircare range that actually worked. She wanted a product that was locally made, high performing for the Australian climate and based on a solid foundation of pure plant ingredients, vitamins and essential oils. The range she developed ticks all these boxes and is also free from ingredients such as parabens and sodium lauryl sulphate. All products are packaged in recyclable bottles, which you can get refilled at a 10% discount at any of the Unico salons.

There are 11 products in the Unico Haircare range. We’ve got our hands on a selection of the shampoos and conditioners.

• Shampoo and conditioners, RRP $21 (available in maintenance, volumising, sensitive and intensive formulations)
• Protein treatment, RRP $28
• Hair serum, RRP $23
• Leave in spray-on conditioner, RRP $23

We’ll be pampering ourselves with this salon range of shampoos and conditioners for the next few weeks and reporting back.

]]> http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/05/20/eco-beauty-product-trial-haircare/feed/ 0 http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/05/07/eco-beauty-tips/ http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/05/07/eco-beauty-tips/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 06:11:13 +0000 admin http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/?p=566 Lets face it we are all intrigued by the claims made by beauty products that they will make us look smoother, more toned, younger or brighter. The ingredients lists are hard to decipher, so how do we work out which products are best for our body and the environment? We have been investigating what to look out for when buying beauty products and what you can do to go green and look great.]]> Lets face it we are all intrigued by the claims made by beauty products that they will make us look smoother, more toned, younger or brighter. The ingredients lists are hard to decipher, so how do we work out which products are best for our body and the environment? We have been investigating what to look out for when buying  beauty products and what you can do to go green and look great.

Ingredient lists are often as long as your arm, with numerous unpronounceable terms. There are some ingredients that are a regular feature of soaps, perfumes and deodorants. Ingredients such as pthalates, parabens, sodium laureth sulphate and triclosan are currently subject to some controversy.

Pthalates, chemicals used in fragrances and parabens derived from petrochemicals are widely used in cosmetics and deodorants. These are hormone disrupters. Switch to a natural deodorant without these chemicals.

Bubbles and foam is created by sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulphate (SLES). SLS and SLES have a negative impact on the layers of skin cells, so avoiding products with SLS or SLES will benefit your skin.

Triclosan and triclocarbon is an antibacterial agent used in many hand washes and lotions. It is a pesticide and part of a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. It is also a persistent bioaccumulatory organic pollutant. Animal tests have also shown that it is an endocrine disrupter affecting thyroid hormone metabolism.

The Environmental Working Group identifies specific ingredients and products to avoid to minimise the impact to your health. You can download their quick guide.

What about the impact of our beauty choices on the environment? We’ve come up with our own quick guide to reduce the price to the environment.

Packaging – many products are double packaged, make sure it is reusable (choose products from companies that take back the empties e.g. Origins), recycled or recyclable.

Reusables – use a bamboo facecloth or ordinary flannels instead of disposable wipes, and get hold of a reusable razor.

Ingredients – look for products containing natural or local ingredients.

Company – support companies that actively consider the environment, such as BodyShop, Burts Bees etc.

Essential oils – don’t underestimate these natural fragrances that can be applied to clothes, bodies, laundry, in the home, and more.

Products we put on our skin can be readily absorbed into our systems. Everyone’s skin type is different so finding the right product is usually the result of trial and error. The Environmental Working Group’s ‘Skin Deep cosmetic safety database’ is a great resource. It investigates the ingredients used by hundreds of beauty products and provides information on potential associated health hazards.

There are now dozens of cosmetics companies claiming “natural” or “organic” products, grown without the use of pesticides, fertilizers and GMOs. Unfortunately, with little regulation on how the word ‘natural’ may be applied to beauty products, the term is used very liberally for products which have done little to genuinely earn the title.

Also using “natural” ingredients is not always good for the environment. The cosmetics industry uses 6-7% of the world’s palm oil*, which is the main ingredient in many soaps. The demand for palm oil has led to the clearing and burning of rainforests in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea to develop new plantations, devastating the orangutan populations.

Fortunately a number of major companies are taking this issue very seriously. In 2007 the Body Shop became the first cosmetics company to use sustainable palm oil. In 2008 Unilever committed to buying 100% certified sustainable palm oil by 2015. In response to these issues, the handmade cosmetics company, Lush, developed a palm free soap base formula which is now widely used.

You can take total control of the contents of your cosmetics by creating your own. If you are game, check out http://www.makeyourcosmetics.com/ for recipes which are good enough to eat such as softening oat milk bath and whipped vanilla butter. And the best news I’ve had all day – strawberries are a natural teeth whitener (it’s the malic acid in them apparently). Perhaps not dipped in chocolate though.

*Palm oil in cosmetics is usually labeled Elaeis guineensis. For more information visit Australia’s Palm Oil Action site.

Firstly, receiving the trial pack was fabulous! There was so much more than I had expected, and the mini sample-sized bottles were great for handing out to friends and family. I kept one for slipping in my handbag and it’s great for a quick, fast-absorbing moisturise on the run! I love that I can throw some of the Daily Moisturising Lotion on at a red light and my hands aren’t too greasy for the steering wheel by the time the light changes! This is also really handy with an active toddler, as my hands always need to be ready to catch her when she falls, pick her up when I miss, and dish out constant snacks to her growing little body! I’m washing my hands constantly throughout the day (after nappy changes, before preparing food, etc) and I was finding it difficult to keep my hands from drying out, but this product really seems to do the trick!

I have made the Daily Moisturising Lotion part of my regular routine now, and I love to apply it after a shower. It doesn’t take too long to be absorbed by my skin (meaning that I can get dressed sooner instead of wandering around in the nude, waiting for my moisturiser to soak in, as has happened in the past) and the soft, moisturised feeling really does last all day.

Unfortunately, with my sensitivity to SPF the Pure Radiance didn’t suit my skin. However, apart from my adverse reaction to the SPF in the product, I found it quite pleasant to use. The consistency was lovely and it seemed to soak into my skin really quickly. It was really easy to apply make-up over the top of it. I think it would be a great everyday moisturiser for someone with less sensitive skin.

Overall, I was quite pleased with the Aveeno products and I am keen to try out some more in the range. I noticed at Priceline the other day that they also make a baby skincare range, which I am also interested in trying, as I am always on the look-out for natural products to use on my daughter’s skin. I will probably buy the Daily Moisturising Lotion again when my bottle runs out, as I really enjoy using this product. It’s encouraging and refreshing to see a big company like Johnson’s taking consumers’ ecological concerns and environmental responsibility and sustainability seriously. I would still prefer to support smaller businesses when purchasing natural skincare, however I will be happy to buy Aveeno products when it’s convenient. I find I often choose where to shop based on my loyalty and reward program membership, so I usually purchase skincare from Priceline (Club Card) or Coles (Flybuys). So long as Aveeno is readily available from these retailers, it will consistently be among the products I consider when purchasing skincare.

Author: Amelia

The Green Beings panel has just completed the two week trial of Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturising Lotion and Positively Radiant. Being a beauty product aimed at moisturising and evening skin tone, it requires you to spend some time in front of the mirror to try to see if it has benefited your skin. It means getting acquainted with new wrinkles, or as I prefer to call them ‘life experience features’. Anyway, we had some fantastic feedback from our pampered panel. So find out how they got on.

The vast majority of panelists loved the daily moisturising lotion, finding it the perfect solution for dehydrated and dry skin. Some members raved about its effects, with Amelia giving this testimonial.

I LOVED this product! It’s nice and light and easily absorbed into the skin. I love its light fragrance and found it really moisturising on my skin. It even gave me some temporary relief from my dermatitis! I’ll definitely buy this product in the future and I’m keeping one of the little sample-sized bottle to keep in my hand bag for hand and elbow moisturising on-the-go!

The Positively Radiant moisturiser suited some facial skin types more than others. Around half of the panel thought it was a good choice as part of their daily beauty routine, whilst it did not suit others as well. Emily in particular found the product was a great choice for her, providing the following testimonial.

I really like this product a lot. Not only does it leave my skin feeling soft and supple – it’s a real pleasure to put on! As you are applying you can feel that lovely radiance within the moisturiser. I would absolutely recommend it to my friends and I will buy it again.

We have bared all in our Aveeno product testing page. Overall the testing was a great success and the panelist did appreciate the environmental credentials and aims of the manufacturers.

I actually found them by accident as they started following Green Beings on Twitter. The name eco conscious optics got me curious. The company uses recycled metal (with a minimum of 95% recycled stainless steel) and plastic and ‘eco reinterprets the whole product lifecycle in an environmentally sustainable way, starting with its recycled content‘. Other  company initiatives include planting a tree for each frame sold and providing easy access to facilities to donate unused frames frames to people in developing countries.
Well, that all sounds great, but the most important thing about specs is whether they look good, and even better, can they make you look more intelligent? One things for sure it makes a good talking point. The collections on the website look cool, but if they are unique frames with a uniquely high price tag then they are likely to only be affordable to those with oodles of cash. The prices on first glance seem reasonable where they retail in the US, Europe and Japan….The next question is will they be available in Australia?

We’ll find out.