Green Beaver: Dry skin therapy body lotion

    

     The search for a hand lotion may have finally ended.  Over the past year I have been searching and researching, trying to replace the hand lotion I have been using for years manufactured by Neutrogena.  What sparked my search was not dissatisfaction with the product's performance; but the fact that it contained Parabens, one of the many endocrine disruptors that I am trying to avoid.  For years I have used Neutrogena on my hands and lips in order to keep my skin from cracking and lips from chapping when the air gets dry.  As I am getting older, I'm finding it more challenging to keep my skin moisturized with alternative products.  Determined to find a replacement, I have tested products by Coastal Classic Creations in California, Nature Clean's unscented "Moisturizing Lotion", coconut and olive oil.  Nature Clean mailed me a bottle of their Hand Lotion months ago as a complementary "Thank you" for my customer loyalty; and as a sample for my boyfriend to try, who suffers from very dry skin.  While I was very impressed with their product, it worked well and did not leave an oily residue; unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a store which carries it in Ottawa.  I have looked in Terra 20, Lablaw, and Natural Food Pantry and none of these places which stock Nature Clean products carried their "Moisturizing Lotion".  If any reader has been able to locate it, I would love for you to leave a comment below and notify me where you purchased it.
      After having started my journey of discovery with Coastal Classic Creation's "Hand Nurisher", which is all natural oil based product, I opened up to the use of straight-up olive and coconut oil.  Although, I personally found the usage to be adequate for it's purposes, I was ultimately disappointed.  After years of experimenting with alternative products, I have grown accustomed to the inevitable, "Adjustment period", where you and your skin or hair goes through an awkward transition of getting used to using a new product.  Understanding this reality, I never hit my stride with the "Hand Nurisher", coconut or olive oils because I could not get used to the feeling of oil on my hands.  Many of my friends have had better luck than I with using coconut oil; however, the skin on my fingertips often cracks and bleeds, and it appears that I require something stronger and with more ingredients.  After two weeks of constant use with the coconut oil I became discouraged.  The cracks on my fingertips were continuing to form and I was becoming frustrated.  I would like to add that in no way do I wish to discourage anyone from using coconut or olive oil.  What does not work for me, may work for you and the benefits of using cleaner and more natural moisturizers has many benefits.

     My journey led me to The Natural Food Pantry in Stittsville, Ontario; where, while investigating some of the shampoos they carried, I saw a bottle of Green Beaver "Dry skin therapy Boreal Body Lotion" staring at me on the shelf.  Green Beaver was the company who first introduced me to natural shampoo.  I chose their product because they are made in Ontario and they possess some of the "scent" I was used to using (my transition to unscented has come recently).  They have changed their shampoo/body lotion formulas and packaging over the past four years; and, because of this I decided to pick this bottle up and inspect the ingredients list and what I found surprised me. 

The Good

    
     On the back of the bottle it is clearly advertised that the product does not contain "silicone, petrolatum, paraben, phenoxythanol or formaldehyde releasing preservatives, artificial fragrances, dyes, pthalates, sulfates or ingredients generating carcinogenic nitrosamines".    This product is also biodegradable and gluten-free.

The Bad 

    Beta-sitosterol (ingredient): is a plant based sterol with a similar chemical structure to cholesterol.  They are a white waxy powder with a characteristic odor and are soluble in alcohol.  It most commonly occurs naturally in foods such as avocado and pecans, pumpkin seeds, rice bran, wheat germ, corn oils, soybeans, and dandelion coffee 1.  It is also used as a medication to treat a variety of conditions including high cholesterol and heart disease and to reduce muscular pain and swelling when applied to the skin.  However, due to insufficient testing and knowledge about this product and it's effects on unborn and newborn infants, it has been suggested that B-sitosterol to be avoided during pregnancy and breast feeding 1.

The Ugly

   Green Beaver is not a "Leaping Bunny" approved company and I was not aware of this when I purchased this product.  On the back of the bottle the phrase, "NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS" is printed in capitols.  A phase, according to leapingbunny.org which means that the final product is not tested on animals and that each ingredient in the product might be.  This phrase is often used to mislead the consumer into thinking that the product is completely cruelty free, but in actual fact might not be. Unless it carries the Leaping Bunny seal of approval, be ware.


     Aside from the obvious concern that this product might not be completely cruelty free, it is the best that I have been able to find in the Ottawa area.  However, if you can find Nature Clean's "Moisturizing Lotion", which is Leaping Bunny approved, it is a good buy and will also be effective.

The Dangers of Household Cleaners and Children: Statistics and Mortality Rates

    

     Being a childless adult, I can only begin to imagine the daunting task of "child proofing" your home.  From the time your children are able to bring fist to mouth, until they are old enough to understand complete sentences and comprehend the meaning of the word, "Danger";  parents all over the world must feel like they have to have eyes on the back of their heads in order to ensure their child's safety.  The first thing that the Government of Canada and Poison Control awareness Center's urge parents to do is "lock up" all of their household cleaning, construction, and automobile products.  My Mother told me recently that she had placed handy latches on the inside of the cupboard doors under the sink and were very difficult to open, unless you knew how (and were tall enough).  Later on, I discovered that there was a hidden panel to a cupboard protected by nothing but a "butterfly clip" in the wall leading to our basement which housed many of the more caustic chemicals.  Mind you, I was ten before I saw it open and tall enough to reach inside; however, if you are not as fortunate to have something like that in your home, you will more than likely be storing your chemicals in places where you children could easily get to - especially, if it is accidentally left unlocked.


   A May 2012 article of The Globe And Mail stated:

  "(a) Survey, conducted on behalf of Safe Kids Canada, a national advocacy organization, found that while nearly all parents say it’s important to lock up medications and household cleaners, many aren’t following through.

     About half of parents say they store medication in a medicine cabinet, while 60 per cent keep cleaning products under the sink"

   Margaret Thompson, Medical Director for Ontario Poison Center was added to that statement, "If it’s available, a child will get into it".  This is true, especially when you think of everyday use items such as dish washing liquid which is usually left out on the counter ready for use. 

     After reading this statement, I began to think about the reasons why a child might want to consume any household cleaning product or medication.  The CDC, Ontario Poison Center, and the National Capitol Poison Center all encourage adults to refrain from referring to prescription medication as "candy" around children.  2012 statistics at the National Capitol Poison Center in Washington DC show that 55% of all poisonings in children 0-6 years of age were from prescription medications.  It has been well documented that even though medication have "child resistant" caps on them, it is still possible for children to unscrew and even bite through the bottoms of pill containers in order to open them.  It is also wise to not re-use your pill containers to house different medications.  If you do not keep your medication in it's designated bottle and a child consumes it, medical professionals will have a hard time treating accidental ingestion. The exact amount and type of medication must be produced at the emergency room for quick diagnosis and effective treatment. 

     As for household cleaning products, dyes and fragrances often peak children's curiosity.  For example, Cool-Aid is often brightly coloured and it can resemble most liquid dish soaps and laundry detergents.  Suddenly, your dish liquid looks like tasty juice.  The best example of children and colour association I can think of was one that I witnessed myself when I was working in a book store.  I witnessed a little girl, approximately four-years-old, grab a large bright pink book off the bottom shelf of the "Fiction" section on the "Adult" shelves.  In big blue letters spelled the word, "Porno", and on the cover was a picture of a deflated blow-up doll.  Funny, yes; but soon Mom saw what her little girl had in her hands and quickly put it back on the shelves.  The little girl saw bright pink and she picked it up.  At the age of four, this little girl already associated colour with gender and more importantly, with things that have to do with her.

   While I have not been able to collect any data regarding household poisonings in Canada.  For reasons unknown, Canada does not keep track of such statistics, with the exception of unintentional pesticide poisoning in rural areas - largely farming communities.  I have been able to find an overwhelming amount of information about incidents in the United Kingdom, Unites States of America, and even Saudi Arabia.  Most accidental household poisonings are, thankfully, asymptomatic; however, there are a large number of substances which are consumed which do cause serious harm.  Even though keeping household chemicals and medication out of reach of children may seem to be common sense, this is still a great hurtle which our society still has to overcome.   The case for non-toxic household cleaners is well illustrated in clear sight of the statistics.

United States

     In 1970, US Congress passed the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA).  Under the PPPA, child resistant packaging is required for 30 categories of medication and household cleaning products.  Fortunately, since the PPPA was passed, the amount of accidental deaths due to household poisonings of children 5 and under, has greatly declined from 216 in 1972, to 34 in 2008 3.  In 2011, a total of 1 million, non-medicinal, exposure calls were made to the 57 National Poison Ceneters accross the United States. With the bulk of the calls on behalf of children 5 and under.  The most common exposures noted as cosmetic/personal care products and household cleaning substances accounting for 15% of the total number of poisonings that year.  The most serious of these poisonings came from toilet bowl and drain cleaners, nail glue solvents, and windshield washing liquid 1.  In 2012, the top five most common poison exposures in children aged 5 years or less were cosmetics/ personal care products (13.9%) at #1, and household cleaning substances (9.7%) at #3, just behind analgesics (9.9%) 4.

United Kingdom

      "Between 1 March 2008 and 30 April 2009 the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) collected prospectively 5 939 telephone inquiries relating to household products, approximately 10% of all telephone inquiries received over this period.

     The majority of inquiries (n = 3893; 65.5%) concerned children 5 years of age or less and were received predominantly from hospitals (n = 1 905; 32.1%), general practitioners (n = 1 768; 29.8%) and NHS Direct/NHS 24 (n = 1 694; 28.5%). The majority of exposures occurred at home (n = 5795; 97.6%); most exposures were accidental (n = 5 561; 93.6%). Liquid detergent capsules were most commonly involved (n = 647), followed by bleaches (n = 481), air fresheners (n = 429), multipurpose cleaners (n = 408), dishwasher products (n = 399) and descalers (n = 397). Exposure to household products occurred mainly as a result of ingestion (n = 4616; 75.8%), with eye contact (n = 513; 8.4%), inhalation (n = 420; 6.9%) and skin contact (n = 187; 3.1%) being less common; 5.1% (n = 313) of enquiries involved multiple routes of exposure. The most commonly reported features were vomiting (ingestion), pain (eye contact), dyspnoea (inhalation) and burns (skin contact). In 5 840 of 5939 enquiries the Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) was known. The majority of patients (n = 4117; 70.5%) were asymptomatic (PSS 0), 28.0% (n = 1638) developed minor features (PSS 1), 1.3% (75 patients) developed moderate features (PSS 2) and 0.15% (nine patients) developed serious features (PSS 3). Four of these nine patients made a complete recovery, two died from exposure to drain cleaner and PVC solvent cleaner; the outcome in three was unknown2".

       The most common amongst the household items which children under the age of 5 ingest, include the following:

Aftershaves, Colognes, Mouthwash and Perfumes:  Products consisting of 75-95% Ethanol.
 
Bleach:   Household solutions containing approx. 3-10% sodium hypochlorite or less commonly
                 3% hydrogen peroxide; extremely unpalatable and not likely to cause serious damage.    
                 Industrial bleach up to 50% of sodium hypochlorite.
 
Detergents/Laundry Powders (3 Chemical categories: non-ionic, anionic, and cationic):
                       Non-ionic and anionic are low toxicity. Cationic:  Will cause corrosive lesions if
                       concentrated solution is  involved.
           
Dishwasher powders, liquids and tablets: Older or professional use products which are highly
                                                                         Alkaline could cause severe corrosive injury.
  
Disinfectant and Antiseptics: May contain a number of toxic constituents - Chlorhexidine,
                                                  hexylresorcinol, hydrogen peroxide, ichthammol, iodine, phenol,
                                                  potassium permanganate; usually they are found in very low
                                                  quantities and diluted solutions.

Essential Oils: Volatile mixtures of esters, alcohol, and ketones.  Some, like camphor, are highly
                          toxic.

Nail Care/Nail Varnish Removers: Typically contain scetone or ethyl acetate, but other solvents
                                                            may be used including menthol.  Artificial nail products
                                                            containing methacrylic acid may cause severe caustic injury,
                                                            nitroetherlene may cause methemoglobinemisa and
                                                            acetonitrile may cause cyanide poisoning. (Note: Natural nail 
                                                            polishes are removed by soaking nails in warm water.  Paint
                                                            can then be peeled.  No need for solvents).
                                                          

     For more on these and other household items which may pose a danger to young children please see the following article:  Unintentional Household Poisoning in Children.  On page 256, there is a table elaborating on the substances I already covered.  The table also includes signs/symptoms and treatment.  As always, if your child ingests any household cleaner, even the green ones, contact your local Poison Control Center immediately.

     I believe that in light of the evidence, there should be a larger push for elimination of toxic chemicals from the home.  Where they cannot be avoided, they most definitely should be kept out of reach of children and parents should take special care of either stowing their children away while cleaning, or the bottles of chemicals after opening.  With the low risk of serious injury from ingesting low or non-ionic household cleaning products, like those manufactured by Nature Clean, children and the environment would benefit greatly from a toxic free home.  Hopefully,  with raising awareness, there will one day be no fatalities from ingestion or inhalation of dangerous chemicals. 

What's in your "Pit Stick"?

 

     A few months ago I was preparing for my pilgrimage to San Diego for the Nerd Mecca, Comic Con.  Unfortunately, I have a tendency to do the opposite of packing light and knowing this I set out to find "travel size" personal care products.  When a Canadian thinks about California, they usually think, "hot"; so, naturally I needed to find a travel size deodorant for my trip.  I have been using natural deodorant ever since I started to sweat and my go-to product has always been Tom's of Maine.  My Mom introduced me to Tom's of Maine deodorant when I was very young, and it was explained to me that the reason why she used it was because other brands contained too many chemicals.  I remember quite clearly that the first Tom's of Maine deodorant was a roll-on product with alcohol in it.  Well, I can only assume it was alcohol because it stung when I would apply it after shaving my underarms - Ouch!.  Now that I am older and branching out to discover new products, this has prompted me to looking at the labels with a discriminating eye.  Deciding to leave my Tom's of Maine at home, the question I asked myself when seeking out that travel size pit-stick was, "What are those chemicals my Mom was mentioning and are they really in ALL non-natural pit sticks?".

First up,

Triclosan

     Triclosan is a common ingredient in many deodorants/antiperspirants for both men and women.  It can also be found in hand sanitizers, laundry detergents, facial tissues, antiseptics for wounds, and cleansers as a anti-fungal/antibacterial preservative.  Triclosan can also be found in many items which can be advertized as "anti-bacterial", these may include garbage bags, toys, linens, mattresses, toilet fixtures, clothing, furniture fabric, and paints.

   "On March 30th, 2012,  The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of Environment, and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced that the Government of Canada completed its preliminary assessment of triclosan under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), 1999 and the Pest Controls Products Act.   It has been proven to provide health benefits in some products, such as its use in toothpaste to protect against gingivitis.  The preliminary assessment shows that current levels of triclosan in products such as toothpaste, shampoo and soap do not pose a risk to human health and Canadians can continue to safely use these products.  However as toothpastes, soaps and other items are rinsed off and washed down the drain, the amount of triclosan that is released into the environment can affect plants and animals in lakes, streams and rivers.
     'This preliminary assessment confirms that Canadians can continue to safely use products such as toothpaste, shampoo and soap containing triclosan,' said Minister Aglukkaq. 'The assessment re-affirms that the guidance we have in place on maximum levels of triclosan in a variety of products help protect human health.'
    
     The health assessment took into account a review of biomonitoring data for Canadians, as well as data from the United States. Human biomonitoring provides an estimate of people's exposure to chemicals. 
     The Government also took into consideration concerns that triclosan is linked to antibacterial resistance.  Based on available information, there is no clear link between use of products containing triclosan and antibacterial resistance 1".

   While the Government assessment comity did not find any risk to human health with respect to shampoos and soaps which can be washed down the drain, no research was done on the affects of triclosan on broken skin, for example: On the underarms after shaving.  Further testing needs to be done.

     In spite of the lack of evidence that triclosan does not appear to contribute to the ever increasing problem with anti-biotic resistant bacteria, it does; however appear to definitely affect the chain of microbial aquatic bacterias. Stuart Levy in the August 6, 1998 issue of Nature, stated that, "degradation of an ecosystem may rearrange the competitive hierarchy" 2.  In a 2010 article by Ricart M, Guasch H, Alberch M, et al., entitled "Triclosan persistence through wastewater treatment plants and its potential toxic effects on river biofilms"; it was documented that: "Triclosan inhibits photosynthesis in diatom algae which are responsible for a large part of the photosynthesis on Earth".  Triclosan may also be an endochrine disruptor in amphibians.  A 2006 study concluded that low doses of triclosan act as an endochrine disruptor in the North American Bullfrog.  The hypothesis proposed is that triclosan blocks the metabolism of thyroid hormone because it chemically mimics thyroid hormone and binds to the hormone receptor sites, blocking them, so that normal hormones cannot be used. A human study between 2003 and 2006 concluded that triclosan (as an endocrine disruptor) affects the immune system and showed a positive association with allergy or hay fever diagnosis 2.

Aluminum

     In my efforts to find a deodorant for my trip, I set off trying my best to find a "non-natural" deodorant which does not contain aluminum - and I couldn't find one.  I had heard that aluminum present in deodorants could lead to the eventual development of breast cancer and that it was also found in a higher concentration in the brain's of Alzheimer's patients.  True or False?.

     Aluminum-based compounds (aluminum chlorohydrate) are used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants. These compounds form a temporary plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat to the skin's surface.  In fact, Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly, a common  antiperspirant ingredient, is a cause of "armpit stains" on clothing, reacting with sweat to create yellow stains.  In a recent study published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry found an increase of levels of aluminum in non-invasively collected nipple aspirate fluids from 19 breast cancer patients.  The article states:

     "In addition to emerging evidence, our results support the possible involvement of aluminum ions in oxidative and inflammatory status perturbations of breast cancer microenvironemnt, suggesting aluminum accumulation in breast microenvironment as a possible risk factor for oxidative/inflammatory phenotype breast cells", it goes on, "In 12 invasive cancer nipple aspirate fluid samples we found a significant positive linear correlation among aluminum carbonyls and pro-inflammatory monocyte chemoattractant cytokine".
     In spite of the medical research being done on the correlation between breast cancer an aluminum found in breast cancer patients.  According to the National Cancer Institute, "In 2006, researchers examined antiperspirant use and other factors among 54 women with breast cancer and 50 women without breast cancer. The study found no association between antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer; however, family history and the use of oral contraceptives were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer".  The webpage also ends with this statement, "Because studies of antiperspirants and deodorants and breast cancer have provided conflicting results, additional research is needed to investigate this relationship and other factors that may be involved".

     The jury is still out on testing this metal....HA!.  Keep reading....

Stereth-100 (and up)

     Stereth-100 (or any Stereth with a number attached to the other side of it) is a synthetic polymer composed of PEG (polyethylene glycol) and stearyl alcohol.    The Steareths are prepared by reacting ethylene oxide with stearyl alcohol. The numerical value in the name corresponds to the average number of units of ethylene oxide. For example, Steareth-2 is prepared using an average of 2 units of ethylene oxide reacted with stearyl alcohol 1.  Sereths can be found in a variety of personal care products including deodorants, cleaners, lotions and even food like salad dressings.  Primarily used for their emulsifying properties, meaning, they are placed in products to keep the ingredients from separating. 

     The danger of this product is from the ethylene oxide in the manufacturing of this compound.  Unless otherwise specified, our good friend 1, 4 Dioxane will be accompanying it as a bi-product of the manufacture. Stereth-100 is another ethoxylate like our other friend Sodium Laureth Sulphate.

     This item can also be found in many "natural" deodorants as well.

Propylene Glycol

     Propylene Glycol is an organic compound, a double alcohol, and can also go by the designation:  1, 2-propanediol or propane 1, 2-diol.  It is a viscous, colourless, oudorless liquid with a faint sweet taste.  It's commonly used as a preservative in food or tobacco products, one of the major ingredients in electronic cigarettes as an "e-liquid", and is used in personal care products.  It has a wide variety of applications spanning from industrial food to pharmaceutical production and clinical use.  Like PEG compounds, propylene glycol functions as a penetration enhancer and can allow harmful ingredients to be absorbed more readily through the skin. 

     Prolonged contact with propylene glycol is non-irritating to the skin.  Exposure to mists may cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation. Inhalation of the propylene glycol vapors appears to present no significant hazard in ordinary applications; however, limited human experience indicates that inhalation of propylene glycol mists could be irritating to some individuals.  Propylene glycol does not cause sensitization and it shows no evidence of being a carcinogen.  However, according to a 2010 study by Karlstad University, the concentrations of PGEs (counted as the sum of propylene glycol and glycol ethers) in indoor air, particularly bedroom air, has been linked to increased risk of developing numerous respiratory and immune disorders in children, including asthma, hay fever, eczema, and allergies, with increased risk ranging from 50% to 180%. This concentration has been linked to use of water-based paints and water-based system cleansers3.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

     Polyethylene Glycols or PEGs are petroleum-based compounds used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. PEGs are commonly used as cosmetic cream bases. They are also used in pharmaceuticals as laxatives.  A carcinogen called, ethylene oxide is used to manufacture polyethylene glycol and of course, it's bi-product, 1,4 dioxane, a suspected carcinogen, usually contaminates the substance.  PEGs function as "penetration enhancers," increasing the permeability of the skin to allow greater absorption of the product.  According to an article published in the International Journal of Toxicology This characteristic makes them very dangerous to use, especially on broken skin, as they can cause irritation and system toxicity.  Ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane are prohibited on Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. However, when these chemicals are present in a product as a contaminant (i.e., an unintentional ingredient), the Hotlist restrictions do not apply.  1,4-dioxane does not easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it is rinsed down the shower drain. 1,4-dioxane can be removed from cosmetics during the manufacturing process by vacuum stripping, but there is no easy way for consumers to know whether products containing PEGs have undergone this process.  The OCA (Organic Consumer Association) posted a "Consumer Alert" regarding 1,4 dioxane contamination in products labeled "natural" and "organic" (the organics had not been certified by the USDA).  According to the findings, 1,4-dioxane was a contaminant in 46 of 100 products analyzed.  For more on that research click here.

Parabens

     According to the National Cancer Institute, aluminum is not the ingredient you should be most concerned about in your deodorant.  Parabens are a potent endochrine disruptor and are a widely used preservative in cosmetics.  They are very easily identifiable as: methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, ethylparaben, or benzylparaben.   The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has listed parabens as "Category 1" priority substances, based on evidence that they interfere with hormone function.  The belief that parabens build up in breast tissue was supported by a 2004 study in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, which found parabens in 18 of 20 samples of tissue from human breast tumors.  Another more recent study, July 2008, provides evidence that Parabens also contribute to male reproductive function, for that article click here.  Furthermore, there have been studies in the Toxicology Journal and the New Scientist which state that methylparaben applied on the skin reacts with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage.  Parabens occur naturally at low levels in certain foods such as barley, strawberries, currents, vanilla, carrots, and onions, although a synthetic preparation derived from petrochemicals is used in cosmetics. Parabens in foods are metabolized when eaten, which reduces the potency of the estrogen.  In contrast, when applied to the skin and absorbed into the body, parabens in cosmetics bypass the metabolic process and enter the blood stream and body organs intact.

    Currently, there are not restrictions on the usage of parabens in Canada; however, international regulations are strict as the European Union restricts the concentration of parabens in cosmetics.

      In the end, I did not find any travel size "non-natural" deodorant which did not contain any of the above ingredients.  The product I took with me to California was a travel size of "Secret" antiperspirant which turned the white cloths at the hotel yellow, after I washed my underarms.  In spite of my failure, I hope that I have provided you, my readers, with some more good information which will help you to make better educated choices when choosing your personal care products.  It's best to keep in mind, even though all of these soaps, shampoos, and body care products contain small amounts of these chemicals, over time they will compound themselves in your body and in our environment.  No, I do not believe you can avoid all of them; but, you can at least reduce the amount you take in yourself by limiting your exposure.  For more information about the scents that you come into contact with when using deodorants, please click here.

     My trek continues as I seek out new products and their information - To go boldly where most consumers have not gone before.  

Nature Clean: Made by really nice Canadians

  
    
     In 2008 I decided to make the move and replace Dawn, Ivory, and Sunlight for my liquid dish soap.  At that time, I was still living in apartments and did not have a dishwasher, well, I was the dishwasher.  After I changed brands to Nature Clean, I noticed that my hands were less dry after I would do the dishes.  Slowly, I started to replace Comet, as my toilet bowl and bathroom cleaner, Pine Sol for my floor cleaner, and Windex for my window cleaner.  When I changed bathroom soaps, I noticed that there was no longer any need for harsh abrasive cleaners in my bathtub. The bathroom soap scum was caused by the animal bi-products and chemicals in my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.  For years I had been using brands of shampoo like Head & Shoulders and Herbal Essences.  As soon as I switched and my hair started to adjust to the new shampoo, I found the benefits far outweighed the slight increase in cost of my shampoos.

     Frank T. Ross & Sons, the parent company who owns and manufactures Nature Clean products, was founded in Vancouver, 1928, to make products for the railroad industry1.  In the 1950s the company moved to Ontario, where they began manufacturing of their most popular product, "Weldbond Glue", which is exported to the U.S., U.K., New Zealand, and Australia.  In the early 1960s Frank T. Ross began to develop more natural soaps, free of dyes and fragrances because his wife suffered from allergic reactions to the harsh household cleaning products.  In spite of the many years Nature Clean has been available on the market, their products have only caught international attention in the past few years.  Since the release of Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth", informing people of the ingredients which go into their day-to-day products, Nature Clean product sales have, thankfully, risen. 

     The success of the company continued when Frank T. Ross teamed up with Corus Entertainment's Manager of Corus Kids and President of Nelvana, Doug Murphy, who realized that there was a lack of natural personal care products for children.  Together, they formed Nature Clean's brand "Treehouse", it's namesake is taken from Corus' popular children's television network.  From their partnership they produced "The Backyardigans" line of shampoos, bubble bath, and hand soap marketed to children 1.  With the help of the Treehouse brand, Nature Clean broadened it's demographic thus taking huge steps in increasing awareness about the dangers of toxic chemicals.  This attention has been worked hard for and is well deserved. 

     My personal experience with communicating to this company has been extremely positive.  Whenever I have written to the folks at Nature Clean, I have always received a response within 24 hours and it has always been detailed, friendly, and informative.  Their website is one of the easiest to navigate that I have visited and all the information you need is right there.  From their commitment to 100% disclosure about ingredients, to their detailed explanations about their labeling, Nature Clean is a company truly doing it's best to stand behind their product and making sure the customer is both well informed and happy.

    
     One of the great many benefits to their products is that they are dye free.  Something that you might not think about when examining your household cleaning products.  Food, drink, and soap - There are so many products which contain dyes to the point where people have formed allergies or intolerance's to either specific colours of dye, or even all artificial dyes.  Nature Clean also makes a very large selection of soaps, both for personal and household use, which are fragrance free.  When I say, "Fragrance Free", I mean that they really are free of any scent what-so-ever.  Well, they smell like, soap if you can imagine soap without fragrance.  One of the best selling points about their soaps is that they are biodegradable, safe for rivers and streams, and septic tanks.  The fact that Nature Clean is better for the Environment as well as my own skin makes me feel really good when I purchase their products.

     After visiting Terra 20's website this past week, I noticed that the preservatives they posted about, both Methylisothiazoline/Methylchloroisothiazolinone (which I spoke about in detail in my blog post, "Product Review:  Ecos Magnolia and Lily Laundry Detergent Costco"), are found in Nature Clean's Liquid Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, and Dish Washing Liquid.  Concerned about the use of these preservatives, I contacted Nature Clean to ask them what percentage they used in their products and why they chose these over others.  This was their response to my inquiry, received the same day:

  
     " Good day and thanks for using our Nature Clean products. Really do appreciate your feedback. It is important to us. Since we have changed the preservatives there has been a number of questions/concern, to better understand all the pros and cons, reason it changed etc is fully explained below and see the attached that we have posted on our website.

We believe in complete disclosure and transparency and as such won’t hide any info nor ingredients – we do indicate all on our packaging even though it is not required by law to do so for household cleaners and it gives our competitors an unfair advantage since they know exactly what we do use – and they can make an educated assumption of the %, where as they hide theirs’ under generic names like –anionic surfactant (can be any of a 100), plant derived surfactant etc, generic term “preservative” –there are 1000’s.

  

Concerning the preservative. Preservatives are designed specifically for one reason – to “kill” and prevent the growth/germination of moulds, fungus, bacteria in the rich environment of a liquid that contains water. Water is the prerequisite of life (as we know it) and as such any product that contain water  - is an ideal source or soup for these growth, especially laundry liquids and dish liquids since they are used frequently and although sterile can become contaminated by some other impurities on opening- from cap due to storage, transportation, hands, packaging, refilling, returning unused portion back to the bottle etc- too many variables, once it is manufactured it is then exposed to unsterile environment.

In Canada and the US, for household cleaners – the preservatives legally has to be chosen from an approved list – which is very short and they all have their own negative connotation. Since we have established what they are designed for. It is the responsibility of the company and also the ethical sound thing for a company to make sure the product is adequately preserved before releasing it on the market – microbial growth can cause undue harm – for eg if a product is contaminated (it cannot be seen with the naked eye), and you then use it to clean your dish- rather than actually cleaning it – you will unintentionally be doing more harm – resulting in food poisoning etc. Be very careful of unpreserved “claims” or unlisted preservatives.

Having said that, we have been using Sodium Hydroxymethyl Gycinate (SHG-from glycine), our Research & Development lab is constantly reevaluating all our ingredients and newer ingredients on the market for health issues or any concern – should any arise – we promptly replace. New datas have indicated some negative implication/association with SHG and as such we do believe we need to replace it and after evaluating all the available “legal” preservatives we have found that MIT/MCI is the most effective and the health benefits provided will far outweigh the negatives. Health Canada actually allowed it in personal care products :  

• Methylisothiazolinone (2682-20-4)/ Methylchloroisothiazolinone (26172-55-4), in combination   Permitted at concentrations equal to or less than 0.015% in rinse-off products and 0.0075%  in leave-on products

That is an excerpt from Health Canada. We have indeed evaluated all the pros and cons of using this preservative, one of the good about it – it is only required at a very miniscule fraction – way less than the previous and way less than the “allowable” % in leave in Cosmetic Products that are intended for the hair, body.

Some of the smaller companies do claim to use “potassium sorbate”, etc in these products but chemically they can only be effective at low pH of products like fruit juices, cosmetics etc, which begs the question are these products (dish liquid and laundry detergents from such companies) really preserved? Safe? Highly unlikely.

 We do appreciate your feedback and like you Melina, we too at Nature Clean will like to produce products that are free of preservatives but unfortunately at the moment this is not possible for dish liquids and laundry liquids. We do have many products that are free of preservatives.
 
We are diligently looking for alternatives as new  the natural ingredients continue to evolve.
 
Regards."

  
     What an answer!.  There are two other preservatives that Nature Clean uses besides Methylisothiazoline/Methylchloroisothiazolinone, and they are Phenoxyethanol, which can be found in their shampoos, and Linear Alcohol Ethoxylate, which can be found in their Automated Dishwasher Pacs.

     Phenoxyethanol and linear alcohol ethoxylate are both manufactured by a similar process - using Ethylene Oxide.  The danger of using this carcinogen to manufacture these two compounds is the bi-product of the manufacturing process - 1, 4 Dioxane.  This compound is not biodegradable, is a suspected carcinogen, and is so abundantly used, it has very easily leeched into our ground water supplies.  Even though Nature Clean uses less preservatives than most other companies, if you're trying to avoid all preservatives, then you might want to consider an alternative to the products which may contain Phenoxyethanol.

     Ethoxylates are a major class of ionic surfactants which are widely used in laundry detergents, some household and industrial cleaners, agriculture, paper, oil, cosmetics, textile and other processing industries. The good news is that alcohols containing ethylene oxides of C
6–C
18 length are considered to be rapidly biodegradable.  According to a PDF from the Human and Environmental Risk Assessment on ingredients in European Cleaning Products: Alcohol Ethoxylates, page 144, it states that, "Many high quality studies investigating the acute toxicity of Alcohol Ethoxylates have shown that in terms of oral and dermal toxicity the use of these compounds are of low concern.  From a structural activity point of view, the length of the alkyl chain did not exert any meaningful influence on acute toxicity".  For more on that click here.  The only concern is the potential contamination of 1, 4 Dioxane while using the ethylene oxide to create the ethoxylate.

    Overall, Nature Clean is an excellent company and their products are a low toxicity for your children and pets.  Nature Clean also works with Cottage and Lake Associations in order to help ensure that their products keep our waterways free of harmful chemicals and are constantly working to find new solutions to their preservatives.  Although they do contain preservatives, I can hardly blame them, they need to produce a large amount of product to turn a profit in order to keep the research going; however, if you are concerned with the use of any preservatives, Nature Clean still has a wide variety of products in their lineup which you can view here.  Reasonably priced and widely distributed, Nature Clean products can be found at most major grocery stores, the list of which can be seen here.  I strongly believe in supporting my Canadian companies, especially companies who put in the extra effort to make a positive impact on our environment and our daily lives.  Nature Clean is such a company and they are well deserving of my hard earned dollar as I help support their continuous development and improvement.

Dr. Bronner's and Mountain Sky Castile Soap

     For this blog post, I have decided to promote two soap products from two different countries:  Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, from the United States and Mountain Sky, direct to you from the Canadian Rockies (Rocky Mountains for those of you not down with the vernacular).  Both of these companies manufacture castile soaps which are not tested on animals, nor do they contain any animal fats.

What is castile soap?

     The origins of castile soap can be traced back to the Eastern Mediterranean - Lavant, specifically, which translates as, "The Mediterranean lands East of Italy".  Crusaders are rumored to be the ones who first imported this soap in the 11th Century.  Historically, castile soap imported from the Mediterranean and was made from olive oil, animal fat, and an alkali; however, because of difficult nature of transporting goods cross country, the first documented makings of castile soap in England was not until 16161.  As recoded, the first British made castile soap was created by adding brine to the boiled liquor, the soap was made to float to the surface. The soap-boiler could then skim it off, leaving the excess lye and impurities to settle out. While the soap from the Mediterranean tended to be green, the British process produced what was the first white hard soap in England.  This soap hardened further as it aged, without losing its whiteness, forming what was referred to as jabón de Castilla1.

     Modern day, most castile soap is vegetable based.  Common oils used are coconut, palm, jojoba, hemp, and olive.  Oils are then mixed with an alkali, sodium hydroxide - for example, to produce a solid soap; or, potassium hydroxide for a liquid soap. The result, castile soap is gentle on your skin and the environment because it's free of artificial foaming agents, harsh cleansers, deconstructed fatty acids from vegetable oils or fats (oleochemicals), petrochemicals and/or chemical anti-bacterial agents (triclosan). It's also biodegradable2.               

   Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

     Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Dr. Bronner's is the #1 selling natural soap in North America and Japan.  Born 1908, in Germany, to a Jewish family who had been making soap since 1858, Emanuel Bronner was the third generation certified as a master soapmaker under the guild system of the time. In 1929, he brought his formulas for high-quality liquid and bar soaps to America, starting Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, and the company was officially founded in 1948.  In the 1960's, Castile soaps exploded in popularity and word of mouth made Dr. Bronner's the soap of a generation, their popularity spanning all of North America.  Today, Dr. Bronner’s, still family owned, continues its mission to building and promoting positive social change. From pioneering USDA certified organic personal care products, to creating Fair Trade projects across the world that ensure fair and just treatment of farmers and workers, to creating a socially responsible workplace in the United States.  Dr. Bronner's continues to lead the market and set a standard for ethical business practices and products.

    Dr. Bronner's "All One" philosophy spills over into a literal meaning in it's products.  All of the soaps created, both liquid and bar, can be used for everything.  From household chores like cleaning floors, dishes (not the dishwasher), toilets, railings, wood, bathtubs, and garbage pails, to your hair and body, even your pets! - No conditioner needed, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap does it all.  As a company, they too offer 100% disclosure of their ingredients on their products.  If you are uncertain as to the nature of an ingredient, they have a complete list of the essential oils used in their "Natural Fragrances", as well as a full list of soap ingredients, and they also offer an unscented baby soft line of liquid and bar soap.

    Personally, I have been using Dr. Bronner's as a hand soap and floor cleaner for years.  It does really nicely on vinyl flooring and tile; however, I find that it will not give you that "shine" you are used to on your hardwood.  As you can purchase very large bottles of Dr. Bronner's, the bottle will last you the full year, depending on what you use it for and how often.  Typically, I will re-use a hand soap dispenser and cut 35% Dr. Bronner's with 65% water, and it makes a very good bathroom hand soap.  The only drawback is that it tends to collect around the opening of the spout - so expect using some of that to help wash your hands every once in a while.  Use the liquid soap regularly, because Dr. Bronner's does not use any preservatives it will eventually, "go bad".  I have had bottles last more than a year; however, after that time has expired the ingredients will start to separate.  As for how the soap feels, it is more moisturizing than others because of the amount of hemp oil they use in their product.  So, do not expect to have super dry skin after using some Dr. Bronner's line of soaps (The Lavender and Tea Tree might dry skin out a little more than the others - Because of the Tea Tree oil, of course). 

     Offering a wide range of essential oil infused soaps, Dr. Bronner's will be an easy transition for those of you who "shop by smell".  Versatile, dye free and eco-friendly, these soaps are well worth the investment.  If by chance you want to buy a larger jug, there is a 1 Gallon (3.785L if you speak Canadian) option available on the website.  You and your friends can save a little money by going all in on this "All One" cleaner.  Overall, an excellent product and worth the investment and it is available at many Canadian retailers, Lablaw's, Whole Foods, Natural Food Pantry and Terra 20 all carry the Bronner's line.  Also, check with your local Natural Health Food retailer and for more information, please check out Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps website.

    
Mountain Sky

     Located in Crescent Valley, British Colombia, Canadian owned Mountain Sky soaps began in a family basement.  With a desire to stay at home with their two girls, in 1993, Raynald Losier and Nina George began creating soaps so they could take their children out of daycare.  The name of their company comes from the pairing of their girls' middle names, Malaya Mountain and Rahel Sky.  Living on their family farm where they would grow, and consume most of their own farmed produce.  The families passion for living off the land and as naturally as possible spilled over into their soap making passion.

     Their business grew beyond their 400 sq. ft. basement and expanded into a 7 000 sq. ft. factory.  In spite of expanding their business, their pursuit of quality has not dwindled in order to cut costs and increase profit margins.  Mountain Sky's soap making process does not include boiling the oils and separating the glycerin.  Like Dr. Bronner's, they too use a cold press method of soap making where they keep the glycerin and the fats to make their soaps less drying and retain a silky feel.

     As a company, Mountain Sky puts the workers and their families first.  Recognizing the importance of families and values of all, "stripes, spots, and colours".  The company ensures all of it's workers are paid a fair, living wage for the level of work that they do, provides benefits, and profit sharing.  They do extensive work in their community, as the factory is based in a rural area.  They frequently participate in community fundraising and provide soaps to add to baskets which are then donated to Canadian Food for Children's global hampers. 

    Mountain Sky's environmental and sustainability practices are excellent.  The company purchases unrefined shea butter for their vegetable soaps from an African Women's Collective.  All of the boxes which Mountain Sky uses to ship it's products, are boxes that other companies would send for recycling.  If you order from their website, it is likely you will get a box from another local health food store; and, inside those shipping boxes are plastic bags and shredded paper taken from local businesses.  All of Mountain Sky's Coconut Oil buckets are either donated to the rural community or used to ship their soaps to the Canadian Food for Children organization.  The Canadian Food for Children representatives have informed Mountain Sky that the buckets are then donated to the communities that they are helping. The buckets have been used for rain barrels, to store food, and keeping clothes dry when used to aid relief in disaster stricken countries.  All of Mountain Sky's "reject soap" is donated, so not one scrap is wasted, all food waste from their kitchen is composted, and all recyclables are turned over to the local recycling program.  For more information on the bear which rummaged through their dumpster, please click here.

     All of their soaps are biodegradable and safe for septic tanks.  Although, if you have hard water on your septic system, this soap might not be the best for you as it could cause buildup.  Unlike other petroleum based soaps, none of their soaps contain phosphates which contributes to algae production in rivers, lakes, and streams.  As for people who have problems with dyes and fragrances, this might not be the soap for you as many of their bars contain dyes and essential oils.  It is suggested on their FAQ's page that you test a small portion on your body first.  All of their soaps are tested on people, not animals, and contain no animal bi-products.  Mountain Sky produces a very wide range of soaps including, shampoo bars, liquid castile soaps, lip balms, massage bars, and body butters. 

     Personally, I have no experience with this company; however, after reading about them I think I am more than willing to give them a try.  They have a dry feet moisturizing bar (looks like a deodorant stick),  which has very similar ingredients to that of Coastal Creations Foot Nurisher; but it's 1/3 of the price.  For more information and a complete review of everything mentioned in my blog, and more, please see the Mountain Sky website.