| Beauty with Eyes Wide Open | | | | preventing manufacturers to throw in some other |
| Who doesn't want to look fabulous? Regardless of | | | | ingredients that you don't want on top of something |
| how you think of beauty, it is a thing that consumers | | | | "organic". Certified products don't permit this, and |
| worldwide are willing to pay a lot of money for-and | | | | usually proudly display their certification label on the |
| with a smile! But what should you be searching for | | | | package. |
| when shopping? | | | | Reputable Manufacturers: Of course, just because a |
| One thing that is popping up more and more, though, is | | | | product isn't certified organic, doesn't necessarily mean |
| whether or not the products we use are truly safe? In | | | | that the product is not safe. The natural and organic |
| 2007 and 2008 we experienced numerous cases of | | | | products industry is still very young and growing, and |
| consumer products like toys, toothpaste, lipstick, and | | | | there are a whole range of small and innovative |
| dog food making it to store shelves in the U.S. and | | | | companies out there making great safe cosmetics. |
| elsewhere with harmful ingredients or other unsafe | | | | These small companies are often not able to afford |
| features. Who can help but be worried about the | | | | the costly process of earning organic certification, yet |
| things we buy in this new global economy? All the | | | | are selling products that use only safe ingredients and |
| more important are the products that we eat and drink, | | | | sometimes even meet all the certification requirements. |
| or put directly on our body, such as cosmetics and | | | | Most of these companies are banking their future on |
| bath products. So, are you wondering what you need | | | | the integrity of their products and are surely working |
| to know about the countless products you use to | | | | towards earning certification. They would love to earn |
| make yourself look and feel better? | | | | your business, but you will (of course) need to know |
| How can I tell if my cosmetics are safe? The full | | | | who they are. This may require some homework on |
| answer can be a bit mind-boggling! How many of us | | | | your part (browsing the natural and organic brands |
| are chemists or physicians? This article isn't about all | | | | sold at specialty stores is a good place to start). Once |
| those details, though. Instead, we'll focus here on how | | | | you have found a few brands you trust, you may be a |
| a "regular person" can be confident that their beauty | | | | customer for life! |
| products are safe. There are a few easy ways you | | | | Specialty retailers are the third way to take the hard |
| can have some peace of mind that all those | | | | work out of being sure your products are safe. With |
| unpronounceable words in the ingredients list aren't | | | | the growth of the natural and organic cosmetics |
| going to harm you. Of course, there is no substitute for | | | | industry, there are a growing number of retailers |
| being educated on the topic, but let's be reasonable | | | | (physical and online) that are specializing in carrying |
| here. It can be quite complex, and cutting through all the | | | | products that use only safe ingredients, are |
| chemistry and health stuff is probably better left to the | | | | manufactured responsibly, and are not tested on |
| "authorities" anyway. There are three easy ways to | | | | animals. These retailers want to earn your business by |
| look beautiful with an easy mind. | | | | offering you their expertise in addition to the products. |
| Three easy ways to be confident your beauty | | | | If you see something in their store, you can rest |
| products are safe | | | | assured that it meets their standards. This way, you |
| | | | relax a bit and don't need to fuss so much about |
| 1. Buy products that are certified organic | | | | reading the ingredients list-although it is usually there if |
| 2. Buy from manufacturers who have a reputation for | | | | you want to. |
| using only safe ingredients | | | | Until the day when all cosmetics are made to the |
| 3. Buy from trustworthy specialty retailers who do the | | | | same high standards, you should approach your |
| hard work for you and sell only carefully-selected safe | | | | beauty with your eyes wide open. There are many |
| products | | | | ingredients you should avoid, and even more where |
| Certified organic cosmetics (and bath, and body care | | | | the jury is still out. If you are like everyone else, you |
| items) are manufactured using strict guidelines | | | | probably don't have the time to keep up on all this, so |
| governing the ingredients and quality-control processes | | | | keep in mind these three easy ways you can stay |
| for the product. The standards used by differing | | | | beautiful without the risks of harmful ingredients. The |
| certifying bodies do vary, but products certified by | | | | cosmetics industry is changing rapidly. Major brands |
| government agencies in the U.S., U.K., E.U., Japan, and | | | | are experimenting with new organic formulations, and |
| Australia (among others) are generally accepted to | | | | new, innovative companies are making an impact on |
| meet fairly-uniform high standards. It is important to be | | | | what you can buy today and tomorrow. Don't be |
| careful in looking at product packaging. The words | | | | afraid to take the plunge and try some organic bath |
| "natural" and "organic" are often found on products | | | | and beauty products. They are every bit as good as |
| that have not earned certification, and there is nothing | | | | yesterday's products, yet also give peace of mind. |