Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Blog - AromaTalk

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 May Be Hazardous To Your Health

I refuse to allow anyone to advertise on AromaWeb if I have concerns over their products or ethics, and I'm in favor of legislation that protects consumers against misleading claims and deceitful marketing. I'm also in favor of sensible legislation that protects consumers from purchasing and using toxic or mislabeled products. But my key phrase here is sensible legislation.

H.R. 5786 Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 would make it nearly impossible for honest small businesses that sell products made with safe, natural ingredients to stay in business. It would also harm many ingredient suppliers and wholesalers that sell to small businesses and directly to consumers. The regulations, costs and red tape would make it prohibitive for most to be able to comply or be able to afford to remain in business. This not only will harm small, honest businesses, but will also negatively impact consumers. Safe, natural alternatives would become scarcer. Prices would certainly rise even more in this already stressed economy. To date, it's been smaller businesses that have had a gentle but widespread voice in waking up America to the benefits of using products made with primarily natural ingredients. But now, this act could do far more damage than good for us all.

We do need legislation in place that helps consumers, but this act could be hazardous to your health. Join in learning the details about this legislation and sign the petition to fight it...

Donna Maria Coles Johnson, AromaWeb advertiser and founder of the Indie Beauty Network is aggressively leading the fight against this legislation and has created a OpposeSCA.com to explain the many concerns about this act. The site also provides updated news and additional ways that you can help make your voice heard and make a difference. If you use Twitter, follow the #OpposeSCA hashtag.

OpposeSCA.com

Sign the Petition: Oppose HR 5786: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010

New AromaWeb Article: Guide to Diluting Essential Oils

Adding essential oil, drop by drop, to carrier oil.

As I was recently reading/reviewing a book for inclusion within AromaWeb's Book Shelf, I read yet another blurb from an author that states that it is safe to use some essential oils on the skin, most particularly lavender and tea tree, without first diluting them in a carrier oil. Using essential oils on the skin without diluting them is referred to as applying them "neat."

As I was facebooking about my review recently, Marge Clark of Nature's Gift and I briefly exchanged comments about our mutual concern over the topical application of any undiluted essential oil. It was during this exchange that I realized that I should be expanding AromaWeb's coverage of the concerns and potential consequences of applying neat essential oils to the skin, as well as a beginner's guide to diluting oils. Read Marge's own history with sensitization to lavender within the Guide to Diluting Essential Oils.

In a nutshell, the undiluted use of essential oils on the skin can be harmful and potentially cause severe irritation or sensitization. You don't need to be afraid or avoid essential oils and I'm certainly not trying to scare anyone out of enjoying all the benefits that aromatherapy offers. Aromatherapy and the safe use of essential oils can be an amazing blessing within a holistic lifestyle. Do remember, however, that when working with essential oils, less is more.

If you are new to aromatherapy, are unsure of how to properly dilute essential oils prior to topical (skin) application and/or aren't sure which essential oils are more likely to cause irritation or even sensitization, I warmly encourage you to read AromaWeb's new Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. And please spread the word about this new guide. My hope is that this article can play a part in reducing the number of incidents of sensitization and irritation caused by the neat use of essential oils and of essential oils more prone to causing sensitization/irritation.

Read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils...

Oppose the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act

UPDATE:
The Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Bill failed in hearings today, 3/1/2010. For excellent coverage, read Update: HB 10-1248 Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Bill Fails in Committee on the Winged Seed blog and dM's ongoing coverage via Indie Beauty Network and the Indie Business Blog.

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I'm in favor of legislation that more actively protects consumers against misleading claims and deceitful marketing. I'm also in favor of sensible legislation that protects consumers from unknowingly purchasing and using toxic products. But my key phrase here is sensible legislation. Most anything that we use or consume can be hazardous or carcinogenic if used in excess. Body, mind, spirit and overall well-being is all about balance.

One particular foolish act of legislation, the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, is shaping into a bill that will make it illegal to sell personal care products that contain any cancer causing ingredients within the state of Colorado. Put as simply as possible, a good number of natural ingredients can be considered cancer-causing per this bill's language - simply because they contain very trace amounts of constituents that are considered carcinogenic. But the amounts of carcinogens are typically so tiny that the quantity of botanicals used would never reach the level needed to pose harm, and the benefits of many of these natural ingredients far outweigh these trace hazards. A loose comparison falls along the lines of banning apples because apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide.

Robert Tisserand explains the dilemma well in his blog post entitled Tunnel Vision.

I still have much to learn regarding the intricacies of this legislation, and I have many initial questions. If put into law, it leaves me wondering at the total impact this will have upon the natural personal care industry especially artisans and small businesses. And the problem could magnify if other states follow in Colorado's footsteps. It also leads me to wonder how this could potentially impact the sale of natural ingredients in Colorado. If many natural personal care products can no longer be sold in Colorado (or at least not sold by small artisans who will have more difficulty competing against large scale commercial manipulators), it leads me to wonder if we could see an increase in Colorado consumers purchasing the raw ingredients to make natural products themselves. Those are my raw, preliminary questions.

I don't live in Colorado, I am not a lawyer, and I don't sell personal care products. I love making my own products and sharing recipes via AromaWeb, but I don't offer any products for sale. Someday, I may. If big brother approves (sarcastically speaking).

For more information and views on the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act, read the following blog posts from these valued AromaWeb supporters:

• Oppose the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act
  - Indie Beauty Network
• The Colorado No Product Law
  -Nature's Gift
• Time To Nip It In The Bud: OPPOSE Colorado House Bill 1248, the Safe Personal Care Products Act (also includes a thorough list of many more blog posts)
  - Samara Botane
• Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act :: Take Action Immediately
  - Essential Wholesale

Even if you do not live in Colorado, I encourage all consumers, artisans and personal care businesses to make their voice heard. Donna Maria Coles Johnson, founder of the Indie Beauty Network is a strong voice for indie artisans and small businesses (and is a long time advertiser of AromaWeb). You can keep abreast of the latest news regarding this act by visiting the Indie Beauty Network and the Indie Business Blog.

To Make Your Voice Heard:
Colorado Cosmetics: Template Letter You Can Edit And Use (With Contact Information)

Organic Body Care Recipes by Stephanie Tourles

For the beginning to intermediate body care product crafter, Organic Body Care Recipes is a must-have for your personal library. This 378-page book includes valuable introductory information, relevant facts and tips, an ingredient dictionary, and as the book title implies, a large selection of recipes.

Unlike many recipe books that I tend to come across, Organic Body Care Recipes includes a bit more complementary information, application tips, packaging recommendations and ideas for customizing your own recipes.

Out of 1 million associates, AromaWeb was selected as the Amazon.com Associate of the Month for July, 2001.

The word organic is an adjective that loosely means living matter. It is likely that the use of the word organic in the book's title may confuse some consumers who may think that the book requires the use of certified organic ingredients. Crafters can use conventional (not organic) natural ingredients and do not have to stick with using strictly organic ingredients.

Organic Body Care Recipes is not an aromatherapy-specific book, but it emphasizes all-natural or nearly all-natural recipes and includes recipes that do fit within the definition of holistic aromatherapy.

For beginners, the Ingredient Dictionary portion of the book is worth the cost of the book alone.

Read the rest of the review on AromaWeb or...
Go directly to Amazon.com to purchase

Solid Sugar Cube Scrub Recipe

Natural sugar scrubs are a wonderful alternative to the more synthetic and abrasive products on the market. Scrubs can be found online and in many natural and specialty stores. They gently polish and exfoliate the skin, are luxurious and smell naturally delicious.

Most natural sugar scrubs have the consistency of a thick, grainy liquid. The ingredients often separate over time, and though they have so many wonderful advantages, sometimes it can become a nuisance to work with them. Additionally, fluid sugar scrubs can harbor bacteria rather quickly.

Solid Sugar Cube Scrubs Created at Christmastime

I've just finished adding a new Solid Sugar Cube Scrub Recipe to AromaWeb. I've had fun experimenting with the recipe and my skin is delighted with the end result!

Solid Sugar Cube Scrubs, like the ones that you can make using AromaWeb's recipe are not entirely all-natural, but they have the benefit of being easy to work with, are often more visually attractive than scrubs that separate over time, and they last longer when stored properly.

The customizable recipes make approximately 30 1" square exfoliating sugar cubes. The total number of cubes may vary depending upon your choice of molds and specifically how large you cut them.

The recipe doesn't call for specific essential oils so that you can get creative and formulate or use your favorite skin-safe essential oil blend.

Since it's Christmastime, you may enjoy creating your scrub fragranced with the holidays in mind, as I did. One dilemma, however, is that many essential oils that convey the aroma of the season can be potentially irritating for the skin. The spice, mint and fir oils come to mind as ones that you need to be especially careful of. Below are two blends that you can use as a starting point for fragrancing your holiday solid sugar cube scrubs. The recipe calls for 1/4 oz. total essential oil.

• 4 parts Grapefruit Essential Oil
• 4 parts Frankincense Essential Oil
• 1 Parts Fir Essential Oil

• 4 parts Grapefruit Essential Oil
• 1 part Peppermint Essential Oil
  (Be sure to go very light with the peppermint or the aroma will become overpowering.)

• 4 parts Frankincense Essential Oil
• 1 part Mrryh Essential Oil

View AromaWeb's Solid Sugar Cube Scrub Recipe

Aromatherapy Bath Bombs Recipe

I love bath bombs. Dropped into the tub, they fizz and release their nutritive and aromatic ingredients. They make bath time an even more special occasion to relax and cleanse. Children find bath bombs fascinating and fun to plunk into the tub. Adults love the aroma and visual appeal, and they make beautiful gifts.

Once you have made bath bombs a time or two, you will find them quite easy to make.

By making them yourself, you'll know exactly what's in them. Not all commercial or artisan-made bath bombs are all-natural, but you can make virtually all-natural bath bombs at home that fizz amazingly well. Making them yourself will also save you at least half the price of what equivalent bath bombs cost from artisans and bath bomb specialty stores.

Click here to read the rest and view the Aromatherapy Bath Bombs Recipe on AromaWeb....

Easy and Natural Brush-On Treatment for Cuticles

I am blessed with strong and fast-growing nails. I'm not sure if it's correlated to having strong nails, but my cuticles are a challenge. They'd take over half of the surface of my nail if I let them. I'm exaggerating, but not by much. Wintertime is especially rough on my cuticles, and the skin surrounding my nails becomes tougher.

I love using handmade cuticle balms that are packaged in either small jars or in lip gloss style swivel tubes. There are artisans that make some lovely ones that smell beautiful and work well. The balms, however, can take time to apply and unless I rub the balm in well, it doesn't reach the nooks and crannies between my nails and surrounding skin.

I recently began using a cuticle oil that I prepared myself and store in a repurposed old nail polish bottle. It does wonders in keeping my cuticles and surrounding skin soft and winter-proofed. I haven't yet seen an all-natural cuticle oil, though one might exist... I can make my own, so I haven't actively searched. I have seen brush-on cuticle oils, but they contain synthetics. One mass-market brand also contains alcohol which is drying to the skin.

Click here to read the rest of this article and to view the Easy Cuticle Oil Recipe on AromaWeb....

Aromatherapy and Nutrition

Aromatherapy is a remarkable health modality that can help enhance body, mind and spirit, but our nutritional choices can also dramatically impact our health and emotional happiness over the long term. Even the condition of our skin (our largest organ) and hair is directly related to what we choose to eat and drink.

We can and should integrate the benefits of essential oils and other natural botanicals into our daily routine, but attention to what you eat will work synergistically to help enhance your outlook on life and to effect how your body, skin and hair looks and feels.

I once knew a woman who was thin and appeared to be very fit. She was in her late 40s at the time, and I'll call her Jane. Jane was very energetic, perhaps almost to the point of being hyper. A sweet and attractive lady, Jane had the energy of someone much younger, but the skin on Jane's face, neck and hands made her look like she was in her late 60s. We had a brief but friendly acquaintanceship, and as we got to know each other, I would learn that Jane had severe sleeping problems and an auto-immune skin disorder called Lichen Planus. Lichen Planus is a skin disorder that is somewhat rare and can be much more severe than eczema. In some cases, as in Jane's situation, surgery can be required. Because Jane didn't have to "watch" her weight, she also didn't watch what she ate, and she ate a lot of heavily processed foods. She would eat fast food at least once daily, and I had the impression that many days went by in which she ate at least two of her meals from a drive through paper bag. In Jane's case, she barely ate any fruits or vegetables let alone fresh foods, and she barely ate any foods like salmon that are high in essential fatty acids. I suspect this is why her skin was aged beyond its years and why she may have also suffered from Lichen Planus. My knowledge of Lichen Planus is limited, but in my initial research to learn more about her skin disorder, I found an article that indicated that like eczema, intake of essential fatty acids can prove helpful. Jane's excessive intake of processed foods and minimal intake of fresh produce may have also been directly responsible for her sleeping issues.

Jane has indirectly reminded me of the importance of not just nourishing my skin from the outside, but to be sure to also eat foods rich in EFAs. It's also important to increase one's intake of fresh fruits and veggies and limit processed foods. I have my own personal stories to share about the direct benefits in reducing processed foods/eating raw. I'll share those sometime in the near future.

For more information on essential fatty acids, visit AromaWeb's Essential Fatty Acids article.

Buyer Beware! "Made With..."

Large brand manufacturers are doing their best to take advantage of (1) the increasing health and environmental consciousness of consumers, (2) lax regulation of marketing claims and (3) greater consumer awareness of buzzwords like "aromatherapy" and the benefits of essential oils. More and more popular brand name products are including essential oils and other natural ingredients. But are these products all that they claim? In some cases, it is a buyer's beware market.

Be on guard for marketing claims that state a product is "Made With Essential Oils" or "Made With Natural Ingredients." Claims like these do not state that the product is only made with the ingredient(s) specified. Such products may contain heavy proportions of synthetic fragrance oils and only contain a minute quantity of the touted ingredient. Products promoted as "Made Without Fragrance Oils" doesn't mean the product is all natural.

	Cold Pressed Vegetable Oils

Some large brand manufacturers are deliberately adding the bare minimum of a natural ingredient to their product formulation simply to be able to hype that the product is "made with" that specific ingredient. For instance...

In the not-so-distant past, a large skin care product manufacturer contacted a natural cosmeceutical ingredient supplier and asked if the ingredient supplier would create a custom blend for them consisting of only 1% of an expensive and nutritive Brazilian vegetable oil mixed with an inexpensive and common vegetable oil so that their product could be labeled as "Made with...!" I'm not an expert with cosmetic ingredient labeling laws, but apparently the skin care manufacturer could legally list the blend as if it was just the pure, expensive oil. In other words, because it was blended, they may have planned to rank the oil higher in the ingredient list than if each of the two separate oils were listed individually. The natural ingredient supplier that received this product manufacturer's request refused to give the manufacturer a price quote, but I'm sure the product manufacturer had no trouble finding a different supplier that was willing to comply with its formulation request.

Other common occurrences include large companies buying ingredients based on the cheapest source with minimal concern for the actual quality of the particular ingredient.

As a rule, smaller companies like those that support and advertise on AromaWeb take much more pride in their selection of essential oils, other ingredients and readymade products. Although AromaWeb cannot make any endorsement for any of its advertisers and there is no implied guarantee of the quality of the products they sell, AromaWeb does not knowingly accept advertising from any company that is suspected of being unethical.

For more information on this subject, visit AromaWeb's What to Look for When Shopping for Aromatherapy Products article.