I have not mentioned this before, but Burt’s Bees has been a brand I always consistently buy from. And when I don’t buy anything new from them for a while, and then do, I wonder why I didn’t for so long.
Today though, I wanted to mention that their website (www.burtsbees.com) has some great information on ingredients.
For example, there are some synthetic ingredients in natural products that are not the worrisome ingredients. Those are:
- Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) and Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A): Synthetic vitamins with extended shelf life that benefit the skin.
- Alcohol Denaturants: Required by Federal law for products containing alcohol (derived from yellow corn).
- Chelating Agents: Added to soap to provide sudsing action when used in mineral rich hard water.
- Sucrose Stearate: An emulsifier made from sugar and vegetable oil.
- Phenoxyethanol and Chlorphenesin: Paraben free, non-formaldehyde donor preservatives necessary for safety and product stability in our Lemon Poppyseed cleanser and body butters.
Alternatively, here is a list of ingredients to avoid, along with an explanation as to why (also from the Burt’s Bees site):
- ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDRATE – The active ingredient in many antiperspirants. Inhibits the normal bodily function of underarm sweating. The use of aluminum compounds in personal care is currently under scrutiny.
- DIMETHICONE – Silicone polymer used to modify a product’s feel or contribute water resistance. Silicone polymers used in breast implants caused serious health problems and were subsequently banned by the Food & Drug Administration.
- FD&C and D&C COLORS – Petroleum derived synthetic colors can be toxic and cause allergy. The Food and Drug Administration have banned numerous FD&C and D&C colors as emerging scientific data found them unsafe for human use.
- FORMALDEHYDE – One of the most toxic of all personal care ingredients. This irritating and allergenic preservative was commonly used in shampoos.
- METHYL, ETHYL, PROPYL, BUTYL PARABENS – Petroleum derived toxic preservative chemicals, which can be lethal to many life forms beyond their target microorganisms in personal care products. Parabens have a history of causing allergy and irritation in human skin.
- MINERAL OIL – Mineral Oil is inappropriately named since it bears no relationship to minerals. It is merely a synthetic chemical fraction of petroleum.
- PETROLATUM – This semisolid chemical is actually a mixture of mineral oil and paraffinic waxes. Derived from petroleum, and historically used and trusted by millions, this chemical has no justifiable role in the well being of human skin.
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL – Liquid preservative, solvent and antifreeze, this toxic petroleum derivative is known to cause allergy and irritation. (note, this is used in trace amounts in Germall — I will do more research on this)
- SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE – One of the original synthetic ingredients used in personal care products. Very aggressive and irritating, this chemical may have more far reaching toxic effects than previously thought.
- TALC – This insoluble powdered mineral can cause respiratory illness.
Finally, I cannot mention Burt’s Bees without mentioning my newly rediscovered hand cream, the Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème. Check it out at here. Also, at the bottom of the description there is a link to a Burt’s Bees glossary – it does not seem to have a linkable address, but definitely click on glossary and check it out.
General Disclosures & Disclaimers
