The Environmental Working Group joins more than 200 scientists and medical professionals today in condemning the continued presence of triclosan, an antimicrobial that has been linked to endocrine disruption, in thousands of products you may find in your home.

Triclosan and related triclocarban are antimicrobial agents used in everything from over-the-counter mouthwash to hand soap to yoga mats. But these chemicals have been linked to hormone disruption in peer-reviewed studies, such as one 2010 study in Toxicological Sciences and another 2016 study in PLoS ONE. In a 2008 study, EWG found triclosan and 15 other toxic chemicals in the blood and urine of 20 teen girls, showing that they can also build up in people’s bodies.

And here’s the real kicker: according to the FDA, “there isn’t enough science to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water.”

While the FDA banned the sale of triclosan, triclocarban, and 16 other antimicrobials in hand soap and body wash last September, these chemicals are still found in more than 2,000 household products ranging from toothpaste to paper napkins to playground equipment, according to EWG’s review of industry documents and government databases.

“[The ban] doesn’t address other cosmetic products, and it definitely doesn’t do consumer products, as those are under EPA jurisdiction,” says David Andrews, an Environmental Working Group senior scientist.

“The big concern here, and part of this consensus statement, is really calling into question the unnecessary use of these chemical ingredients, especially in places where they’re likely having no benefit on health,” says Andrews.

EWG and other experts are asking the FDA to take action in removing triclosan and antimicrobials from these products, but the group would also like to see clearer labeling in cases where the chemical is currently present.

“Right now it can be really difficult as a consumer to entirely shop your way outside of this product category, just because the use is often unlabeled,” says Andrews. “Many products will say ‘includes antimicrobials’ or ‘antibacterial coatings,’ but it’s not necessarily clear if they use triclosan or some other ingredient.”

This, he says, is especially important information for pregnant women and children to have, as endocrine disruption during these key stages of development can be even more grave, but it’s also key also for people with allergies.

“We have it flagged as increasing sensitivities to allergens or more frequent allergenic responses, from asthma to other allergy exposures,” says Andrews. “When those allergenic exposures are occurring at the same time as triclosan, they seem to be more frequent.”

Today’s statement, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives, unites scientists, health professionals, and government officials from 30 nations as they demand more transparency and tighter regulations on these dangerous chemicals around the globe – hopefully sooner rather than later.

Related on EcoSalon
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The post Yes, We’re Still Fighting Against Triclosan in Soap, Toys, and More appeared first on EcoSalon.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), known for its “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” lists of pesticide residues on produce and its Skin Deep database ranking the safety of personal care ingredients, has filed a lawsuit against the FDA over what it says is a failure to act on issues surrounding popular hair-straightening keratin treatments known as the Brazilian Blowout.

According to EWG’s Scott Faber, the group’s senior vice president of government affairs, formaldehyde, which is present in the Brazilian Blowout products, is a known carcinogen.

The FDA is legally required to respond within a year of requests for an investigation into the safety of a product, Faber told CNN. But the agency has not moved according to the required timeline.

“[T]he petitioner can make the argument of undue delay,” Faber noted, “and that’s what we’re doing here.”

“For years stylists have reported that the application of these hair treatments caused difficulty breathing, eye irritation and nosebleeds,” Tina Sigurdson, EWG assistant general counsel, said in a statement. “The FDA has been aware of the health hazards associated with the products since at least 2008. Despite these dangers, the FDA has yet to take action to remove them from the market.”

Warning letters were sent by the FDA to both Brazilian Blowout and Van Tibolli Beauty Corp., over what it cited as safety and labeling violations. A Van Tibolli spokesperson told CNN that it made label changes per the FDA’s request.

“People are aware that there’s methylene glycol in the product,” a Van Tibolli representative told CNN, “that’s one of the first things they learn about the ingredients.” Usually, customers communicate with the company a lot about how to use the products, but having learned this information from the start, they typically don’t complain.”

According to the Environmental Working Group’s website, formaldehyde, found in high levels of keratin hair straightening treatments, is both a potential allergen and known human carcinogen, putting customers and salon workers at risk for serious health issues. Heating the hair—an essential step in the application of keratin hair-straightening treatments, releases the formaldehyde into the air, making them more absorbable by the body and potentially more dangerous.

“The health risks posed by these products deserved immediate action from the FDA when it was brought to their attention in 2008,” Alexandra Scranton, director of science and research for Women’s Voices for the Earth, a fellow plaintiff in the suit, said in a statement on the EWG website. “Allowing salon workers and their customers to continue to be harmed by these products for over six years is unconscionable.”

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In all, 89 percent of Americans use cell phones and many use a cell phone case to protect their expensive devices from damage. But a new analysis from the Environmental Working Group found that your cell phone case may actually increase radiation on the head and body, while at the same time, weakening the phone’s signal. Phones are not tested for radiation limits with their cases.

The research, conducted by the Pong Research Corp. in Encinitas, Calif., found that many smartphone cases were so poorly engineered that they increased the radiation coming from smartphones because the smartphone antenna was partially blocked. The cases are often designed by a third party manufacturer and they are not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It should be noted that Pong is also marketing a cell phone case that directs radiation away from your head.

According to EWG:

EWG is calling on the FCC to update its testing guidelines to take account of the widespread use of smartphone cases. Such action is critical because mounting scientific studies have raised serious questions about the safety of cell phone radiation exposure over the short and long term. In the absence of meaningful action by the Commission, EWG offers consumers tips on how to reduce their exposure to cell phone radiation.

Researchers looked at three varieties of cases: the thick, rugged Otterbox cases that create a large barrier, a thinner case (Casemate Barely There), which leaves the phone partially exposed, and an in-between case (the Speck Candy Shell case). The purpose was to use a range of cases to see variations. All three case styles increased radiation: the thickest case by 70 percent, the middle case by 50 percent, and the thinnest case by 20 percent.

According to EWG, smartphone cases can have a major impact on your phone capabilities. “It can materially affect signal quality, potentially leading to more dropped calls; increase radiation exposure, raising the risk of adverse health effects; and shorten battery life, forcing a cell phone user to charge the battery more frequently.”

EWG wants the FCC to require that all cell phone case manufacturers test their cases to ensure that they comply with federal standards, even if cell phone cases come from a third party manufacturer. FCC’s standards need to be updated because its 1996 cell phone standards don’t take into account the changing use of cell phones and the widespread use of cell phone cases.

You can protect yourself by getting a headset, keeping the cell phone away from your body and texting rather than talking. Don’t store your cell phone right next to your body when you’re not using it. We all love to accessorize with a super cute case, not to mention the need to protect ultra pricey smartphones from an accidental drop, but who knew that these cases, meant to cushion phones, may dramatically increase the radiation that these phones put off?

Related on EcoSalon

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Image of a woman looking at her smartphone from Shuttershock

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It’s scary to think that so many of the sunblocks on the market today cause much of the damage they’re meant to protect us from. With scary ingredients like parabens, PABA, oxybenzone, avobezone, and octisalate, the sun is the least of your worries. That’s why choosing organic and natural sunscreens is so important.

Thanks to the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Safer Sunscreens, finding good products has never been easier–in fact, all of these products are low hazard in terms of the ingredients used. At the same time, I chose natural sunscreens that are easy to apply, leave your skin feeling soft, and use yummy ingredients like avocado oil and shea butter. Let’s take a closer look.

17 of the Best Natural Sunscreens for Your Favorite Beach Bum

1. Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 26

I live about 10 minutes by bike from the beach so I’m well aware of the importance of natural sunscreens. I’m constantly looking for  naturally effective ingredients like kukui and macadamia nut oils and other plant-based skin hydrators, that’s why I’ve long been a fan of Aubrey Organics because the brands products are both clean and effective. Its natural sunscreens are no exception. Price: $12.76 EWG Rating

2. BALM! Baby SUN!, SPF 30

BALM! Baby SUN!, SPF 30 is thick like body butter and it’s safe for parents and kids alike. Enjoy ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, apricot, and essential oils. Price: $9.99 EWG Rating

3. MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme Sunscreen, SPF 50

With MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme Sunscreen, SPF 50’s excellent UVA/UVB coverage, you’ll be well protected from the sun. This product is really effective and it’s safe. Price: $30.00 EWG Rating

4. Suntegrity

Suntegrity is a natural mineral sunscreen that’s rich while at the same time non-greasy. It’s chemical-free and infused with antioxidants like astaxanthin, red algae, and pomegranate. It’s superfood for your skin. Price $45 EWG Rating

5. All Terrain AquaSport Face Stick Skin Protectant SPF 28

All Terrain AquaSport Face Stick Skin Protectant SPF 28 is free of harmful ingredients, sweat proof, and absorbs quickly. It’s effective but not so thick that it clogs your pores and causes acne. Price $8.99 EWG Rating

6. COOLA® Suncare ‘Unscented’ Baby Mineral Moisturizer SPF 50

COOLA is a mineral sunscreen and moisturizer made with shea butter, coconut oil, and safflower oil–it’s a slew of my favorite ingredients all wrapped up in a delicious sunscreen. Price: $36.00 EWG Rating

7. Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen, SPF 30

Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen, SPF 30 has some great qualities in terms of good sun protection, hydration, and it’s good for acne prone skin. Price: $15.16 EWG Rating

8. Beyond Coastal Lip & Face Screen, SPF 30

Beyond Coastal Lip & Face Screen, SPF 30  is made with aloe vera, shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, and vitamin E. You can’t get much cleaner than that. Price: $5.99 EWG Rating

9. Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer, SPF 30

Juice Beauty Tinted Mineral Moisturizer, SPF 30 is non-toxic and non-greasy. While it’s on the pricier end of the spectrum at $30, it’s both effective and it doesn’t include a single chemical. Price: $29.99 EWG Rating

10. California Baby Super Sensitive Broad Spectrum SPF 30+ Sunscreen

California Baby is a little thick to apply, so it takes a while to work into the skin, but at the same time it’s a high quality sunscreen that you don’t need to reapply as often. Price: 17.99 EWG Rating

11. Sunology Natural Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50

Sunology Natural Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50 makes for great sun protection without oxybenzone, avobezone, octisalate, homosalate or other chemical active ingredients. Price: $14.99 EWG Rating

12. thinksport LIVESTRONG SUNSCREEN SPF50

thinksport LIVESTRONG SUNSCREEN SPF50 is chemical and fragrance free and contains no parabens, phthalates, PABA or 1,4 dioxane. Price: $15.99 EWG Rating

13. Honest Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Honest Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30  is free of parabens, PABA, phthalates, fragrances, petrochemicals, dyes, synthetic chemical sunscreens, and most common allergens.. With no harsh chemicals, it won’t burn tender skin. What’s more, it provides maximum protection for beach bums. Price: $19.99 EWG Rating 

14. Marie Veronique Organics MVO Everyday Coverage

I love Marie Veronique Organics MVO Everyday Coverage because it provides ample protection and it’s easy to apply. It’s ideal for sensitive skin. Price: $48.00 EWG Rating

15. Goddess Garden Sunny Body Natural Sunscreen

Goddess Garden is free of chemicals and made with 92 percent organic ingredients. It’s also biodegradable and includes sunflower oil and aloe vera. Price: $19.99 EWG Rating

16. Thinkbaby Sunscreen SPF 50+ Benefiting LIVESTRONG

Thinkbaby Sunscreen SPF 50+ Benefiting LIVESTRONG is gentle on your skin but tough on the sun’s rays. It’s made with aloe, cranberry seed oil, castor oil, papaya oil, and epsom salts. It’s easy on your skin and the planet. Price: $14.99 EWG Rating

17. Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Sunscreen Stick

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Sunscreen Stick is a great product because when you sweat, it doesn’t run into your eyes and burn like some products. It’s also chemical and fragrance. Price: $7.99 EWG Rating

Check out and shop our top sunscreen picks here:

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Image: Randy Robertson

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Common endocrine disruptors are the focus of a new dirty dozen list of toxins to avoid.

You’re likely familiar the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen–a list of the most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables in the store. Recently, EWG partnered with the Keep a Breast Foundation to develop a report on endocrine disruptors for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“There is no end to the tricks that endocrine disruptors can play on our bodies: increasing production of certain hormones; decreasing production of others; imitating hormones; turning one hormone into another; interfering with hormone signaling; telling cells to die prematurely; competing with essential nutrients; binding to essential hormones; accumulating in organs that produce hormones,” states the Dirty Dozen report.

Here are 5 of the worst poisons on the new Dirty Dozen list (and how to keep them out of your home).

1. BPA

BPA, commonly found in plastics and food packaging, has been linked to breast cancer as well as other types of cancers. Other potential side effects of exposure to BPA include reproductive problems, obesity, early puberty, and heart disease. What’s worse, 93 percent of Americans have BPA in their bodies, including most children.

How to Avoid BPA

• Eat fresh instead of canned foods.
• Say no to receipts because thermal paper is often coated with BPA.
• Avoid using #7 plastics.

2. Dioxin

Dioxins disrupt female and male sex hormones, and research has shown that exposure to low levels of dioxins in the womb can permanently reduce sperm counts. It’s also a powerful carcinogen that impacts reproductive and immune health.

How to Avoid Dioxins

• Unfortunately, the ongoing industrial release of dioxins means that they’re hard to avoid in our food system.
• Animal products are most likely contaminated so reduce or eliminate meat, eggs, fish, and butter.

3. Atrazine

Low levels of the herbicide atrazine has been shown to feminize male frogs. Atrazine is commonly used on corn crops and often contaminates drinking water. It has been linked to breast tumors, delayed puberty, and prostate inflammation.

How to Avoid Atrazine

• Buy organic food whenever possible.
• Filter your water using reverse osmosis filtration.

4. Phthalates

Phthalates, like BPA, are becoming recognized as an endocrine disruptor to avoid. They trigger cell death in testicular cells as well as causing hormone changes and reducing mobile sperm. Phthalates have also been linked to obesity, diabetes, birth defects in the male reproductive system, and thyroid problems.

How to Avoid Phthalates

• Avoid plastic containers.
• Avoid plastic wrap made with PVC.
• Avoid using #3 plastics.
• Choose personal care products that are free of phthalates.

5. Perchlorate

Perchlorate is a potent environmental toxin. When it gets into your system it alters the thyroid, which regulates metabolism in adults as well as proper brain and organ development in infants and young children.

How to Avoid Perchlorate

• Filter drinking water through reverse osmosis.
• Get enough iodine to reverse the impact that perchlorate can have on your thyroid system.

Check out the rest of Dirty Dozen list of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Related on EcoSalon:
BPA and Infertility: What’s Really Going On?
Plastic Hormones: Enviromental Estrogen is Everywhere
14 Fashion Brands Test Positive for Hormone Disrupting Chemicals

Image: EWG

The post The New Dirty Dozen: Avoid These Dangerous Endocrine Disruptors appeared first on EcoSalon.

When the summer heat is on, sun protection is a must. But how do you determine a truly safe sunscreen from the many options out there?

Recently, the northeastern seaboard turned into a giant microwave oven, searing its occupants with 90-degree plus weather and, I’m pretty sure, 10,000 percent humidity. With sunscreen and summer still a novel concept, people frolicked care-free in the sun in madras pants and flowing dresses. I was one of them. Spending almost the entirety of Saturday in the sun, I diligently applied and reapplied my favorite certified organic sunscreen.

What happened? While my sunscreen held up, my applications skills did not. A bright red splotch still beams from the top of my foot. A streak of angry red runs along my neckline. There are actual thumb prints on my knees. I am an excellent walking public service announcement for why sunscreen matters.

Sun safety is paramount, and this includes safe sunscreen options. What do we mean by safe? As we recently outlined, some ingredients in conventional sunscreens might act as suspected hormone-disruptors and support the acceleration of tumors and lesions. Suddenly, a little sunburn doesn’t seem so bad—except sunburns, of course, may cause skin cancer.

Luckily, the safety-conscious sun worshippers among us have options. The Environmental Working Group recently released their 2013 Guide to Sunscreens, outlining their picks of the best sunscreen and SPF products on the market. This list includes 184 beach and sports sunscreen, as well as 22 moisturizers containing SPF.

Which ones to pick? We’d sign off on any of them, as well as these EcoSalon-approved protectors. Here are five of our favorite sunscreens from the EWG’s 2013 compilation.

1. John Masters Organics Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 ($32.00)

From organic specialist John Masters Organics come this lovely, lightweight sunscreen suitable for all skin types. With titanium dioxide and zinc oxide offering a broad spectrum protection, it also acts as an excellent moisturizer. Made with extracts of green tea, shea butter and jojoba oil hydrate, this certified organic product is biodegradable and reef-friendly. The EWG gives it a 2 (a 1 is the highest rating), citing excellent sunscreen stability and a good UVA/UVB balance of protection.

2. Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm, SPF 15 ($29.45)

This mineral sunscreen offers up a solid chemical-free protection. Acting as a physical sunblock that bounces the sun’s rays off your skin (chemical sunscreens absorb it), this balm brings an intense 22 percent zinc oxide protection. It also contains natural vitamin E, the gold-standard ingredient for skin health. The EWG gives it an overall rating of 2, citing an excellent balance of UVA/UVB protection and stability.

3. Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Face Stick SPF 50 ($9.99)

Aveeno—yes, that Aveeno—offers up this easy-to-use sun protection in a handy stick. Using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for its protection, this product is both oil and fragrance free. The EWG gives it a rating of a 2, citing excellent sunscreen stability and good UVA protection. Who knew the aisle at your local drug store could be so EWG-friendly?

4. DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+ ($20.76)

One of the best trends in sunscreen is light protection that doesn’t make you feel like a 1970s lifeguard smearing white streaks of zine oxide on her nose. (Though, 40 years later, said lifeguard likely has a lovely, sun-protected nose.) I, for one, am so adverse to that oily sunscreen feeling that I’d rather walking around in a personal radiation suit. So, three cheers for the moisturizer plus sunscreen from DeVita Solar. Given a rating of a 1 from the EWG, it offers up excellent UVA protection, as well as sunscreen stability.

5. Episencial Sunscreen SPF 35 ($15.00)

For “ages 0-150 years,” this broad spectrum sunscreen offers up a light, water-resistant protection. Made with organic green tea and zinc, it can be worn in the water (or sprinklers!) for up to 80 minutes. The EWG gives it the highest rating of a 1, citing its excellent stability, as well as good UVA and UVB balance.

Photo: Flickr/M00by

FTC Compliance 

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Safe cosmetic ingredients is the name of the game for new body care line, Beautycounter.

“I believe strongly that women should never have to compromise their health in the name of beauty,” says Gregg Renfrew, who describes herself as a mother, wife, and friend. “I know we can do better, and that’s why I started Beautycounter.” Standing among a crowd of rapt women and men in a chic hotel in wintery Boston, Renfrew kicked off the launch of Beautycounter, a new beauty and skin care line designed around the safest cosmetic ingredients. Just how these products plan to save us may surprise you.

Beautycounter offers up the usual high-end face oils, shampoos, and sugar scrubs so popular with the organic set, but it promises its users much more than hydrated skin. It’s a social selling company designed to empower and educate women on the basic products we use daily, which oftentimes contain dangerous chemical ingredients. But Beautycounter also plans to inspire a country.

The Beautycounter launch at The Liberty Hotel, Boston, February 26, 2013.

Renfrew promises that the Santa Monica-based company has “done the homework for you” by using only safe, qualified ingredients that won’t harm your health. Citing high cancer rates, Renfrew points out that “using [traditional] products has a cumulative effect, and it can really influence us over a lifetime.” She notes that the European Union has banned and restricted more than 1,300 beauty ingredients, while the United States has banned only 11. “Even tiny amounts of these toxic chemicals can disrupt your hormone system and impair your ability to lead a health and long life.”

Beyond selling body care products, Beautycounter plans to enact change in the United States. Working together with three non-profits: The Environmental Working Group, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and Healthy Child, Healthy World, the company aims to make a difference for the individual while also promoting a large scale movement towards safe, clean beauty in our country.

And here’s how Beautycounter plans to do this: Styling themselves as “a social selling company,” they offer a $10 membership, with the proceeds allocated to one of the three non-profits working with the company. They also offer positions as consultants, where you can build a business around the products. As Renfrew explains, “You can sell Beautycounter anywhere, anytime—at a wine and cheese gathering, a Twitter or Facebook party, or just offer coffee with a friend.” Just think of your mother’s Tupperware party, but without the plastic and strange orange hues of the 1970s.

“What we all share is our common desire to move the needle in the right direction,” Renfrew promises. And with the right direction promising greater health among high-performing products, it’s a cause from which we all benefit.

You can learn more about the Beautycounter movement at Beautycounter.com.

Photos courtesy of Beautycounter

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H&M takes the lead in eliminating a group of hazardous and hormone-disrupting chemicals from global clothing manufacturing.

According to the Environmental Working Group, global contaminants Perfluorinated Compounds (PFC’s ) are a collection of “highly toxic, extraordinarily persistent chemicals that pervasively contaminate human blood and wildlife of the world over.” Used widely in household and industrial products, the slippery, heat-stable properties of this group of chemicals are utilized in the fashion industry to create water repellent fabrics, stain repellant clothing and high performance rainwear.

Environmental campaigning organization Greenpeace‬ has welcomed H&M’s decision, praising the fast fashion giant’s leadership role on eliminating the hazardous and hormone-disrupting chemicals from clothing manufacturing.

“We expect all other clothing brands that care about their customers’ safety and the environment to respond with equal ambition and urgency and immediately ban all uses of PFCs. This landmark commitment should catalyze wider change within the industry and send a clear signal to global suppliers, such as W.L. Gore, the makers of ‘Gore Tex,’ to create PFC-free alternatives.”

H&M stated in a press release announcing the news that it had been actively working to reduce the use and impact of hazardous chemicals since 1995, and that during 2011 more than 30,000 chemical tests were carried out. “As a brand, we have since some time already worked on restricting and phasing out perfluorinated substances, and a full ban on this has been an important part of our individual action plan.”

H&M is also a part of AFIRM, an international working team of leading companies within the textile and footwear industries, educating the suppliers to achieve good chemical management. The group’s common aim is to reduce the use and impact of harmful substances in the apparel and footwear supply chain.

The post H&M to Ban Toxic PFC’s from products appeared first on EcoSalon.

Your brief guide for safe and eco-friendly shampoos.

A couple of years ago, EcoSalon’s Beauty Editor Kathie Butler posted the (much-read, oft-shared) piece Best Organic, Natural and Eco-Friendly Shampoos for All Hair Types. Who doesn’t want the scoop on better hair products? Well, we have an update for you, below. But first, a note on what has changed—and what hasn’t—in the world of “natural” shampoos.

“Sustainable” cosmetics are the fastest growing segment of the industry. But many companies are using claims like “natural,” “organic,” and “sustainable” without walking the walk. This is called greenwashing. Look for meaningful certifications as one way to back up eco-friendly claims.

And keep in mind that natural doesn’t necessarily equal safe. Personal care products are still the least regulated consumer products on the market. Many companies use harmful ingredients in shampoo and other products we use all the time. This is perfectly legal because of a seriously outdated cosmetics law (from 1938). Environmental health groups like the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group are educating consumers about toxic exposures, and increasingly, people are reading ingredient labels, using the Skin Deep database, and asking companies hard questions about what’s in the products they are putting on their bodies every day.  A lot of companies are responding—check out this list of Safe Cosmetics “Champion” and “Innovator” companies.

I encourage you to learn more about this issue and support the groups working for market and regulatory change. And now, the carefully complied list of some of the best safe, green, effective and enjoyable shampoos:

Best Overall

Acure
My colleagues in the safe and green cosmetics world are raving about Acure. The company is committed to using safe ingredients that are pro-customer and pro-planet. Acure uses revolutionary plant stem cell technology coupled with some of my favorite ingredients—avocado, lemongrass, quinoa protein, acai and argan oil.
$11 for 12 oz

John Masters
John Masters Organics’ Lavender Rosemary Shampoo is a “best of” list mainstay, and for good reason. This shampoo doesn’t have a lot of foam action, but the scent, the lightweight feel, and the high quality ingredients don’t leave anyone missing the lather.
$16 for 8oz

Desert Essence – Red Raspberry Shampoo
This is a great shampoo for people looking for the conventional shampoo elements (lather, fragrance, clarity), without the toxic chemicals.  You’re left with clean, shiny hair that has not been stripped of its own oils.
$9 for 8oz

Best Balancing

Hugo’s Naturals- Tea Tree & Lavender
This shampoo is a favorite of mine—it’s light, smells lovely, and really does help to balance. The company says they use “gentle ingredients that effectively cleanse the hair and scalp and reduce flakiness without stripping away natural moisture.” And that is just how it feels.
$10 for 12oz

Max Green Alchemy – Scalp Rescue Shampoo
Max Green Alchemy was founded on the principle that natural should really be natural, and that hair care products should be safe. This shampoo contains botanicals, vitamins and essential oils to soothe your scalp and reduce itchiness and dandruff. Everyone I know who has tired it, likes it.
$15 for 8.8oz

Best For Curly

Aubrey
My friends with waves and curls of all kinds recommend Aubrey Organics—Honeysuckle Rose is a favorite, and White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Shampoo too. Check out their hair type matrix. Aubrey has an impressive list of certifications, including USDA Organic, NPA and BDIH.
$11 for 11oz

Best Luxury

Rare Elements – Pure Shampoo
Looking for a cleansing experience that is a “journey,” including visits from an African watermelon seed oil, nutrient-rich Black Seed and moisture boosting Marula oil? Then Rare Elements is for you. My makeup artist friend Christy Coleman loves it for her long, often dehydrated hair.
$34 for 8.5oz

Rahua – Voluminous Shampoo
This body-building shampoo contains lemongrass, green tea and rainforest oils. The company says “for centuries, women from the Quechua-Shuar tribes have traveled deep into the Amazon rainforest to prepare a highly potent, restorative oil they call Rahua (ra-wa) – believing it to be the secret to their thick, flowing, lustrous hair.”

Full disclosure: I have yet to try it, but the reviews from friends and hair product junkies are positively glowing.
$32 for 9.3 oz

Best All-in-One

Intelligent Nutrients – Certified Organic Total Body Cleanser
Intelligent Nutrients is the brainchild of the founder of Aveda (which sold to Estee Launder years ago). IN is whole-heartedly committed to making nontoxic, nutrient rich products that are a joy to use. When raw ingredients are not available through the organic certified system, they go the extra mile to materials verified to ensure good growing conditions and safety. This product does it all—cleans from head to toe, reducing shower clutter and packaging waste. (But note: it is not recommended for color-treated hair.)
$29 for 6.7oz

Best for Babies

Earth Mama Angel Baby – Top of Form
The base of this product is a gentle, real castile soap, with added calendula, zero toxins, and no artificial fragrance. A multitasking product for kids, and the whole family.
$10 5.3oz

Best Bar Shampoos

Herban Lifestyle
Interested in washing your hair with a shampoo bar? Then try this one. Herban Lifestyle is a small, woman-owned company doing the right thing. This shampoo contains seven ingredients, costs eight bucks, and will last you up to 60 washes.  Awesome.
$8 for 4oz bar

Best Dry Shampoo

LuLu Organics
An organic, talc-free hair powder to use between washes, or when you need a little refreshing. A favorite of hair product mavens.
$30 for 4oz

Be Green Bath & Body
A straight-forward, super simple product to extend time between washes (and thus prevent stripping hair of natural oils). This is a tiny company committed to safety, and to making affordable products.
$6 for 4 oz

Best DIY Tips

By now you’ve probably heard of people going “no poo,” and others whipping up hair products in their kitchens. Check out these DIY hair tips from makeup artist Todra Payne (including natural, nutrient-rich cleansers like Bentonite clay and coconut oil).

Happy cleansing!

Mia Davis is the former Organizing Director for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and is a founding member of the American Sustainable Business Council’s Workgroup for Women & Business. Mia recently joined a team of social entrepreneurs who will launch BeautyCounter, a company that will bring chic products and higher safety standards to the beauty industry, in Winter 2013.

The post A Guide to the Most Safe, Eco-Friendly Shampoos for All Hair Types appeared first on EcoSalon.

There are pesticides on our food, so we eat organic. There are chemicals in our products, so we buy eco-friendly. There is danger in the sun, so we wear sunscreen. But a new study from the Environmental Working Group shows that skin cancer may be on the rise, partially from the overuse of chemical-laden sunscreens. Now everyone say it with me – “We. Can’t. Win.”

So the real dangers of the sun may not be from overexpose, but from the sunscreen we’ve been told to slather on since childhood? One fact is indisputable – melanoma, cancer of the skin, is on the rise. As we just reported, some experts feel this is because of the overuse of tanning beds.

But now authorities from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) propose that the extensive presence of chemicals in sunscreen may be causing damage on the cellular levels. And that the false sense of security provided by sunscreen may also be complicating the matter. In other words, people put on one coating of sunscreen and then spend the day in the sun sporting around chemically-sunscreen and a false sense of security. (So yes, you can either use too much sunscreen or too little. Your pick!)

Here are the facts as recently reported. Common sunscreens contain cinnamates, benzophenones and amino benzoic acid, which counteract sunlight when it is absorbed by the skin, thus causing genetic-material to damage. It doesn’t stop there. The EWG points out that 60 percent of beach and sport sunscreens contain the hormone-disrupting oxybenzene chemical. Another 40 percent include retinyl palmitate, a type of vitamin A that “may accelerate skin cancer-growth.”

So where is the FDA in all this? As Columbia Doctors East Side dermatologist Dr. Monica Halem told reporters, the FDA is developing a four star rating system for sunscreens – that they have been working on since 1978. Yes, the FDA has been writing this report for 32 years.

According to Dr. Halem, “The FDA is still trying to implement this four star monitoring system and hopefully within the next year or two this will be out so that patients are aware that they’re not just being covered by UVB but they are also being covered by UVA.”

The take-away from all this? It seems that safe guidelines to sun are about as complicated as a Real Housewives of New Jersey’s bank account. (Garden State love!) So we will try to keep it simple. Stay out for ten minutes without sunscreen, but slather on once you’ve gotten your allotment of vitamin D.

Keep your sunscreens and sun blocks eco-friendly. Why? Because they do contain less chemicals that traditional brands. Click here for safer face sunscreens. And here for safer body sunscreens. In the meantime, can someone please come hold my hand while we wait for the next news to break about the dangers of beauty?

For further reading:
Study reveals sunscreen’s darker side.

Image: Tom Purves

The post Now Even Your Sunscreen Will Kill You appeared first on EcoSalon.