We all want to do what's best for our bodies, including ensuring that what goes onto our skin and into our bodies is natural. But sometimes knowing what is truly natural isn't so easy. Because of this, we recommend reading your personal care labels as you would your food labels. To help you become label savvy, we've put together a few tips on what to look for.
Does it claim "All Natural" or "100% Natural"?
If a product claims "All Natural" or "100% Natural," it may not be. Look for declarations of percent natural like the percent natural bar that we use on our products. If you don't see them, call the manufacturer consumer help lines. Be sure to ask how they define natural and what percent natural their product formulas are.
A natural ingredient does not equal a natural product.
A product containing a single natural ingredient doesn’t make it a natural product. We encourage you to read personal care labels and ingredient statements. Especially important is to look for ingredient order - if cucumber extract is the last ingredient on the list, chances are your Cucumber Melon Lotion isn't very natural.
A natural product should not contain these ingredients.
Certain ingredients are giveaways that a product is not natural. The following ingredients should never be used in a product labeled "natural": Sulfates (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Parabens (Methyl-, Propyl-, Ethyl-, Butyl-), Petrochemicals (petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin), Chemical Sunscreens (Oxybenzone/Avobenzone) and Phthalates. You will never find any Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates or Petrochemicals in any Burt's Bees products.
Be leery of products named "natural" or "botanical."
There are currently no regulations on what a product can be called – only on how a product is used. Products with "natural," "botanical" or even "organic" in their names don't always contain natural ingredients. To be sure that a product labeled “natural,” is truly natural, make sure your products meet the Natural Standard for Personal Care Products.
What do "nature inspired" or "natural origin" mean?
Watch for language like "nature inspired," "natural origin" or "made with" natural or organic ingredients. Be wary of this wording because it doesn't necessarily mean there are high levels of natural or organic ingredients inside. In fact, it may mean that the product contains a synthetic form of a previously natural ingredient after it's been processed.
Certified "organic" still requires careful label reading.
A product can be certified "organic" even if not all of its ingredients are organic. In fact, it may be surprising to know that current regulations for "organic" labeling require that only 70% of the product must be organic – and the remainder can be anything. However, there is a small subset of natural personal care products that are organic and only include ingredients or processes approved by The Natural Standard. Educate yourself on the FDA’s Definitions of Organic and requirements for using the USDA Seal. Also be sure to look for asterisks next to the ingredients, as these may be the only ingredients in a product that are organic.
Rubus Ideaus oil is a good thing!
An ingredient with a long or scientific sounding name isn’t necessarily a chemical. FDA regulations require the use of Latin and scientific names for ingredients. This means that even natural raspberry oil is called rubus idaeus oil on a label. To familiarize yourself with the scientific names, look up ingredient names right here in our ingredient glossary or at reference websites such as www.cosmeticdatabase.com.
Be wary of non-industry endorsed seals.
These may mislead you into believing a product is endorsed or meets certain standards when it really doesn't. We’re proud to announce that along with the Natural Products Association and several leading natural personal care companies, there is now The Natural Seal to help you to easily identify truly natural products.
More info, visit: http://global.burtsbees.com/
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Venue: The Royal Bintang Hotel, The Curve
Date: 24 Apr 2010
Time: 10.00am - 2.00 pm
No of participants: 35
Organized by: Nuyou Mag & Burt's Bee in collaboration with Bobbi Brown and carmen Soo Fitness
Fabulously Fresh Peppermint & Rosemary Body Wash 350ml
Soothingly Sensitive Aloe & Buttermilk Body Lotion 235ml
Coconut Foot Creme with Vitamin E 123g
Beeswax lip balm with Vitamin E & Peppermint 4.25g
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Bobbi Brown's samples
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