Links to Make You Think: About Body Care Products

Buying better-for-you-and-the-planet body care can be confusing at best.  And keeping on top of the latest news about the subject can be even harder.  Here are a few recent news links to help you make more sense out of what you're picking up on the shelves.  Or if you just can't hack it, make your own beauty products instead! 

Meaningful Labels - Whole Foods has announced it is raising the bar for organic personal care and cosmetic labeling by requiring that all products labeled 'organic' be certified to the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (NOP) standards.  Isn't that already the case, you ask?  No!!  Currently, any company can plunk the word organic on the label, even if only a couple of ingredients in the product are actually organic.  The NOP standards were developed for food and because the USDA does not have authority over personal care products, the certification is not legally required for non-food products.

According to the Organic Consumers Association, who launched a boycott of mislabeled organic products; a few other major companies, including Kiss My Face, Jason's and Aveda have also agreed to stop marketing non-certified body care products as organic.  Score!  It's high time we are able to trust the word organic on body care!!  (BTW - this change won't happen immediately - Whole Foods new policy will be required by June 1, 2011.  Not sure about when the other companies will change.)

The World's Worst Beauty Products  - This top 10 (no make that 11) list from Mother Nature Network calls out the worst beauty products for the planet.  Did you know that some facial and body scrubs contain plastic beads and that nail polish contains formaldehyde? It's not all doom & gloom though.  Be sure to click on the links for deets on greener alternatives and positive ideas!

50 Beauty Products You Can Make Yourself - A big thank you to Colleen Vanderlinden at Planet Green for rounding up this stellar list of DIY beauty products!!  The only thing that would have made it better is if she had included my recipes for a scrumptious Chocolate Facial Mask or super fun Fizzy Bath Balls!!  Recipes on my list to try:  homemade shaving cream, natural stick deodorant and avocado mayonnaise hair conditioner.

{image from Mother Nature Network, CREDIT: CathyK/sxc.hu}

Comments

[Micaela]

Just found out about a NYT article that talks about the new Whole Foods decision. It's definitely worth a read. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/fashion/15skin.html

[Lynn from OrganicMania.com]

Great post, Micaela! I didn't know about the "worst" list...almost afraid to read it!

[Nursing PJs]

Worst Beauty Products?? Worst!!? Hmm by the way Micaela thanks for the link..

[Ecover Blog]

Thanks for the post! We like to see people using ecological products in their homes and for their personal care. Nature and beauty go hand in hand!
-Deb for Ecover

[Abbie]

Love the DIY link!
Thanks for sharing that.

[Anti aging formula]

I didn't know that some beauty products contain plastic beads. That tells us to be choosy of what we use specially if it is for our body.

[Max]

Hi,Thanks a lot for your article i really liked your blog,have a good day.

[Best Mineral makeup]

Yes I always prefer herbal products. The cosmetics trade has come full circle in the 21st century. It has returned to its roots, using herbs, natural vegetable oils and common household pantry products to produce beauty treatments.
Best Mineral makeup