It is claimed that women who use make-up daily are absorbing nearly 5lb of chemicals a year into their bodies.

Many use more than 20 different beauty products a day to look their best while 9 out of 10 apply make-up which is past its use by date.

Such use of cosmetics and toiletries means that a concoction of 4lb 6oz of chemicals a year is absorbed through the skin.

Richard Bence, an advocate of organic beauty products, believes that absorbing chemicals through the skin in more dangerous than eating them, he said:

‘We really need to start questioning the products we are putting on our skin and not just assume that the chemicals in them are safe.’

‘If lipstick gets into your mouth it is broken down by the enzymes in saliva and in the stomach. But chemicals get straight into your bloodstream, there is no protection.’

Warnings over using out-of-date make-up have also been issued by the Royal College of Optometrists which believes such items are a “hothouse” for harmful bacteria.

Among the chemicals under scrutiny are parabens which are preservatives that have been linked to cancer.

Also sodium lauryl sulphate, used to help create lather in soaps, shampoo, shaving foam and bubble bath, which can cause skin irritation.

Theorganicsalon.com knows how important the products you put on your skin are, that’s why we only retail completely natural and organic ranges.

 Through extensive research the founder of Pai found that a lot of the personal care products available today contain harmful ingredients and were causing her to have a bad skin allergy.

It was this that encouraged Sarah Brown to start up Pai, a completely natural range of skincare.

Pai believes because up to 60% of what you put on your skin enters your body, the skin cream you use is as important as the food you eat.

That’s why their products are made from the highest grade, certified organic ingredients - free from artificial colours, fragrances, parabens, petrochemicals and phthalates.

Pai was recently voted Number 1 organic beauty product in Grazia and its really no surprise!

Theorganicsalon.com only retails the best quality organic and natural beauty products. For our full range of Pai organics please click here. 

As one of the world’s first companies to produce skincare without the use of synthetic preservatives or parabens, Living Nature is simply, passionate about nature.

Their products work to naturally protect, nurture and enhance the skin without any adverse chemical side effects.

Historically, the ancient southern landmass, Gondwana in New Zealand has been isolated for over 80 million years, in which time a unique flora has evolved. Over 80% of New Zealand’s plants are found nowhere else in the world. It is these rare plants that form the basis of the exceptional Living Nature beauty range.

The natural formulations are developed by a Research and Development team who work with six external scientific organisations to identify, extract and purify plant compounds for use in the products. Living Nature’s products are tested for efficacy by Abich Laboratories, in Italy, who have an international reputation for product testing.

Product safety has been assessed to EU guidelines and Living Nature is accredited by the world’s leading independent auditor of natural cosmetics, Germany’s BDIH.

Living Nature firmly believe that healthy skincare is skincare free of potentially harmful synthetic ingredients and preservatives.

Theorganicsalon.com agrees with Living Nature’s mantra and this is why we choose to retail their products. You can find our full range of Living Nature beauty products here.

Spiezia Organics skincare have carried out a very interesting survey, highlighting a huge gap in consumers’ understanding how to ‘read’ the labels on skincare products.

Spiezia Organics commissioned an independent survey of 100 customers.

Over half of those asked, were unaware that the ingredients on skincare products are always listed in % order of constituents.

49% thought pure, organic and natural statements on packaging meant that these products didn’t contain any chemicals and 11% were not sure.

39% did not know what % of natural ingredients must be used to make a ‘natural’ product and a further 24% guessed at 100%.

Fact: Pure or natural products need only contain 2% natural ingredients – the rest can be anything, chemicals included.

71% believed organic meant that no chemicals had been added to the product and 6% believed it meant the product was handmade.

Fact: In skincare there is no legal definition of organic and there are no EU guidelines to be followed.

Spiezia Organics suggest a couple of tips:

• Look for the Soil Association or Ecocert logo on the label- these ensure the ingredients have been sustainably produced and can be traced right back to the farmer and even the field.
• Read the ingredient list – this is a good measure of how natural or botanically based the product is.

Amanda Barlow, Managing Director of Spiezia, says: ‘At Spiezia Organics we produce skincare products which are, where possible, 100% organic – in fact they are so organic you can eat them.’

Speizia Organics products are available to buy at the theorganicsalon.com, for information please click here. 

Name any type of beauty product, and the same concerns pop up: toxic ingredients - sometimes unlabeled - linked to cancer, and other health effects, and ingredients that have not been tested for safety. And it’s all completely legal!

The FDA is in charge of cosmetics, but doesn’t have the same regulatory authority over these products that it has over pharmaceuticals, medical devices and foods. The $50 billion cosmetics industry in fact regulates itself through its industry-funded Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel.

The cosmetics industry is one of the least-regulated industries in this country and they have been fighting to make sure it stays that way.

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee is currently drafting a bill that would overhaul food, drug and cosmetic safety, but the current cosmetics provision isn’t as strong as it needs to be.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are willing people to sign their online petition to tell them that you support strong health and safety standards for cosmetics. It shouldn’t be left up to consumers or the cosmetics industry to figure out what’s safe and what isn’t.

Here at theorganicsalon.com we understand the importance of safe and pure cosmetics, and you can be sure that all the products we retail are 100% natural.

Triclosan, is a widespread antibacterial pesticide. But antibacterial soap made with triclosan isn’t any better than using regular soap, according to the FDA. And the American Medical Association recommends not using products containing triclosan because it can cause resistance to antibiotics.

So why is it virtually unregulated, and still so widely used? Well the answer is that The Environmental Protection Agency has failed to evaluate it in the past but is looking into it right now. In the meantime, EWG is keeping the pressure on EPA, calling for manufacturers to stop using it, and recommending that consumers avoid it.

Triclosan can be found in your soap, toothpaste, and even children’s toys.

It’s also a hormone disruptor that ends up in mothers’ breast milk and is toxic to aquatic life.

You won’t see any of these nasty chemicals in the brands we retail at theorganicsalon.com

BBC Learning has launched StyleSearch, a competition to find the UK’s most stylish and ethical dressers. The competition is part of the BBC’s online ethical fashion magazine which shows people how to get an eco-glam look through a unique mix of affordable fashion, videos and other features.

The online magazine named Thread is challenging fashion lovers to style an ethical look from a mixture of organic, fair trade, vintage, recycled or customised clothes. The winner will have the opportunity to spend a day with a top stylist at London Fashion Week in September.

Entrants are to submit one photograph of either themselves, or a friend, that they have styled, together with a short explanation of why the outfit is ethical.

Konnie Huq, ethical fashion fan and former Blue Peter presenter said: ‘Style Search is for everyone, no matter what their style or budget. It is all about being creative, eco-glamorous and expressing yourself through ethical fashion.’

A panel of industry professionals will judge the entries on their originality and creativity as well as the eco-credentials of the clothes which must contain some organic, fair trade, vintage, recycled or customised items.

StyleSearch is running on Thread, the BBC’s online ethical fashion magazine until Tuesday 26th August.

What a great opportunity to encourage organic, ethical clothing to fashion lovers, theorganicsalon.com only retails all organic and natural beauty products.

An Organic Consumers Association report has revealed that 40% of ‘natural’ products it tested contained 1,4-dioxane, the same carcinogen EWG found can contaminate 28% of all cosmetics.

Many products that are labeled organic or natural still contain many toxins. The average consumer who is unaware of the potential danger would find it difficult identify which ingredients are toxins and which are genuinely natural.
 
On average each of us uses between 5-15 personal care products a day including deodorant, shower gel, and shampoo. The list goes on and so do the toxins.  This wouldn’t matter if the skin did not absorb 60% of what is applied to it.  Unfortunately natural does not mean natural, and organic does not always mean toxin free.  It is up to the consumer, to identify which ingredients to look for.

Here at theorganicsalon.com you can be sure that all the products we retail are completely free of any toxins and nasty chemicals.

Switching from conventional products to organic and natural products can be an important decision for you and your skin. Organic Cosmetics are a totally different ball game compared conventional cosmetics; they differ in almost everything, the way to use them, the amount to use and many other things, so here are 5 tips to get the most out of your Organic Cosmetics:

1 Organic Cosmetics may take longer to get used to in terms of how you use the product. Let the product work for you, going organic means changing the way you use your products.

2 A little goes a long way, organic cosmetics are more concentrated and contain essential oils, which can be very powerful in small amounts.

3 When it comes down to shampoos, using organic shampoos can be a little trickier than using conventional shampoos due to the fact that conventional are full of chemicals and are easier to apply. Start by putting a little amount in your hand, transfer a bit to the other hand and spread through the hair before you start to massage it and use water to help it spread. It might take more time and a bit more effort to use organic shampoos but believe they are as effective as conventional and you hair will thank you.

4 Ditch the cotton wool and get yourself a few face cloths you will not only be helping yourself but the environment too. Take off your organic cleansers with a face cloth, this will give a little bit of exfoliation and better results from your products. Remember to change your face cloth every 2-3 days and your face cloth should be used only by you.

5 If you just switched from conventional to organic cosmetics, your skin could come up with pimples and spots, DON’T PANIC, this happens because your skin was addicted to the chemicals and by stop using them the skin will start to de-tox and cleanse itself, give it a month or so for you skin to settle and get used to natural products.

Hopefully this list will help get the most out your Organic cosmetics and Organic and Natural Skincare Products, if you have any questions feel free to contact us at The Organic Salon.com.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware about what they put on their bodies as well as what goes inside. So it is no surprise that natural and organic products are the fastest-growing segment of the cosmetics industry.

According to a London consulting company, sales of natural and organic beauty products are soaring, with revenues projected to approach $7 billion this year in the United States, up $1 billion from last year.

Retail sales have climbed from $51.6m in 2004 to $88.6m in 2006. Projected retail sales for 2008 are $120m.

Interest in natural and organic cosmetics can be attributed in part to social responsibility - preserving the environment using sustainable ingredients and biodegradable packaging.

According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of women’s public health, and consumer-rights groups founded in 2002, ingredients like parabans, are widely used in the beauty industry. Environmental groups warn of the risks, and manufacturers assure consumers the ingredients are safe in small doses, but now even the big retailers are making changes.

Marketing Insider, of an Ohio firm, Colette Chandler, said:

‘As companies realize this marketplace exists, and that more consumers are gravitating in this direction, all of a sudden they say this is where I need to be, as consumers become more knowledgeable, she added, they want to know what’s in their bodies.’