Phthalates are plasticizers (a common industrial chemical used to make plastic softer and more flexible) and are found in everything from children's toys and bottles to i-pods and shower curtains, making them virtually impossible to avoid.

Phthalates are also commonly found in synthetic fragrances, though they will probably not be listed on the product label as such. If you see "fragrance", "perfume" or "parfum" listed on your perfume, body wash or laundry detergent, there is a high likelihood that it contains phthalates.

Finally! It has been a long time coming, but organic standards for personal care products in the U.S. are about to take a turn for the better.

On November 5th the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) voted 12 to 1 for the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to confirm that the use of the term "organic" on the label of personal care products is held to the same standards as organic food.

There are a number of ingredients very common in personal care products that we recommend you avoid. These are substances that are known irritants, allergens, carcinogens, endocrine disruptors or otherwise harmful to humans.

We've put together an Ingredient Watch list of substances to avoid. The top ten ingredients are listed below:

Hot off the Press:
FDA confirms prevalence of Lead in Lipsticks!

We've reported in the past that a number of mainstream brands contain lead as a contaminant in their lipsticks, based on a study conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2007. Now a new FDA study finally confirms that conclusion.

According to a Sept 1, 2009 press release by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:
"FDA found lead ...

We all know the benefits of eating organic foods and using organic cleaning products in the home—fewer toxins, environmental responsibility, saving natural resources and more. The same is true for your skincare and makeup. Organic beauty products effectively work in harmony with your skin's natural functions to make you look and feel your absolute best. And they work! Consumers in Europe have bought into organics–Lavera holds 1/5th of all natural skincare sales in Europe—and they are certainly increasing in popularity here in the U.S. as consumers are learning that what you put on your body can be just as harmful as what you put in your body.

All 14 Lavera Trend Sensitiv Lipstick shades rated "very good" by OEKO-TEST

In August 2009, ÖEKO-TEST gave many lipstick manufacturers the "red card". OEKO-TEST purchased one cream lipstick of each shade from 21 different brands in order to cover all shades sold in department and drugstores. (p.73 OEKO-TEST magazine). A total of 306 shades were analyzed in a laboratory to find out whether they contained either problematic or possibly hazardous ingredients. The range tested also included products from organic food stores...

Sun Protection Factor Ratings (SPF)

SPF is a measure of a sunscreen's effectiveness in providing protection against UVB rays.

How much UVB does SPF 15 actually block? How about SPF 30? Based on the Colipa (European) sunscreen regulations:
For SPF 15, 93% of the harmful UVB rays are blocked
For SPF 20, 95% of the harmful UVB rays are blocked
For SPF 30, 97% of the harmful UVB rays are blocke...

Genetically modified organisms are frequently plants that have been modified by scientists working for large corporations to engineer new traits into a field crop. Wikipedia provides a wealth of information on the topic of GMO food. This US PIRG (the national lobbying office of the state Public Interest Research Groups) report provides extensive data on the GMO issues.

GMO crops pose a great risk o...

Below is an English translation of the article published in the ÖKOTEST magazine (translated means Ecological Test), an influential consumer advocate magazine in Germany that evaluates numerous products for public health and safety. It was in this article where Lavera won 1st place, ahead of 2nd place Weleda, 3rd place Wala (Dr. Hauschka) and mainstream brands such as Estée Lauder and L'Oréal a...