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Edited on 4/27/10
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Edited on 9/26/11- Green Pocket Guides
List Of Fakers And Not Fakers
Organicgal007's List of Fakies and Not Fakies:
I am working on updating this list. It was first created back in 2007 and first posted to this website around 2008. Currently the EWG's ingredient database is not available and it is one of my tools for classifying ingredient's tested safety. I promise to work on this list and bring it up to 2012 as soon as the database is back to being available to consumers.
I'm only judging products/companies for their personal body care lines
(ie. shampoos, lotions, cosmetics, etc)
- Body care is not a regulated industry.
- The USDA Organic regulations/laws only extend to food items or body care items that are food grade.
- Because of lax regulations a body care company can use the word "Natural" any way they want, regardless of if they threw in chemicals and synthetics to the final product.
- A company can only use the word Organic (as in the product name, etc) on the front of their packaging if the product contains at least 70% organic ingredients
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For a company to display a label that reads "Made with Organic ingredients" the product must carry 70% or more organics with no restrictions on the other ingredients.
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For a company to display the USDA organic label, it must have 95% or higher organic ingredients with the other 5% being from an approved list.
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To carry the new Natural Products Association Label the natural product must only contain pre-approved naturally derived ingredients.
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The Eco-Cert label has fallen under scrutiny lately, for allowing synthetics in products (which is against it's own rules) with many interest groups now not trusting the integrity of the EcoCert logo. I'll let you decide if you want to trust this label.
THE LIST:
2012 update: These companise have either changed their ingredients since my list was first created back in 2007 or their websites do not have ingredients listed, so I need to contact the companies to have them supply me with ingredient lists... I need to further research them in order to know where to place them. Let's keep fingers crossed these once "bad guys" have tunred in to good guys.
- Avalon Organics - (this is the old list of concerning ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium oleamido succinate, Sodium PCA, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, etc.) Now in 2012 these ingredients are no longer used. I sampled 12 product ingredient lists and saw that many ingredients are certified organic and the preserving agents used have low to no scores of toxicity. The two ingredients that stuck out to me that are being used that are questionable are: Retinyl Palmitate, and Titanium Dioxide. As soon as the EWG data base is up and running I will give final results on where this brand will land. More research is needed.
- Juice Beauty - (this is the old list of concerning ingredients: Retinyl palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl (octyl) palmitate, Cocamidopropyl betaine.) More research is needed before I add them back to the main list.
- Kiss My Face Organics - More research is need. They have cleaned up their act considerably since my list was first created...Now to investigate their products again... No decision has been reached as to wear to place them...yet.
- Mill Creek Organics - (this is the old list of concerning ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine, Octyl dimethyl PABA, Acrylates copolymer) I don't see these listed now, but do see "sage derived" Phenoxyethanol. I need to research toxicity of this Pheno. Plus their website only lists ingredients for their baby line. Adult products have no ingredient lists??? More research needed. Not sure if they have changed their list at all, since I can't find it now.
- Organix - Their website does not offer ingredient lists. I need to do more research. Old ingredients ---> Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Dimethicone, (Behentrimonium 2 of 4 are toxic, they don't notate which of the 4 types they are using..so this one is iffy), Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone, etc.
Fake Organics: These companies use synthetics and sometimes very little organics in their finished product. The ingredient names following the brand name are examples (and may not include a full list) of the exact toxic ingredients these companies use, that landed them on my No No list and the USDA Organic regulations do not condone use of. You won't see the USDA Organic logo on any of these brands, yet, they still try to trick the uneducated public into believing they are an organic product by calling their brand name " ____ organic" or slapping a label stating "Made with Organics". Being "made with" and actually being are two different things.
This list has been updated for 2012.
- Alba Botanica - Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Octinoxate , Oxybenzone, Peg-100, Sodium PCA, etc.
- Babywise Organics - Octyl Palmitate (I'm finding this to be another name for Dimethicone..correct me if I'm wrong), Retinyl Palmitate , Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine , Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, etc.
- Derma E Organic Expressions - PEG-7, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Dimethicone, Peg-175, PEG-200, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, etc.
- Giovanni Organics - PVP (which is vinyl), PEG-40, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Octylmethoxycinnamate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocamphodiacetate, PEG-8, etc,
- Head Organics - PEG-7, PVP (which is vinyl), Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, etc.
- Lotus Touch organic & natural - PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Bisabolol,
- Natures Gate Organics - Old Ingredients ---> Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-120, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, PEG-100, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, PVP, Dimethiconol. New ingredients are free of PEG's, but they still contain: Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, and some others I need to research more thouroghly.
- Organix South Inc, a.k.a. Thera Neem - Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Lauramide DEA, PEG-7, PEG-40,
- Pharmacopia Organic - PEG-120, PEG-150, Phenoxyethanol; Chlorphenesin, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Dimethicone
- Sexy Hair Organics. i can't find even 1 website online, including the company website, that lists the ingredients. next time i'm at the mall i will jot them down, this is where I saw them first and was appalled by the list of toxins.
Fake Naturals: These companies claim they are natural, safe, part of wellness, or pure; but use toxic synthetics in their products. The words Natural, Pure, & Safe have no regulations guiding their use. Any company can make these claims regardless to if the claim is true or not.
This list is still under review for the 2012 update
- 365 by Whole Foods (so confusing to me at to why their body care products contain junk ingredients).
- Alba - Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Octinoxate , Oxybenzone, Peg-100, Sodium PCA, etc.
- Arbonne - Cocamidopropyl Betaine Coconut , PEG-80, Peg-120, Retinyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol , Hexylene Glycol , etc. (their baby line is horribly toxic).
- Arm & Hammer Essentials Deodorant- propylene glycol, tricolsan, (they test on animals, this alone is enough to boycott them)
- Aveda - Many forms of PEG's, Dimethicone, etc. (sorry list not complete. I popped into an Aveda Salon because Aveda does not list online nor will reply to my emails. I did a brief look over of the bottles before it was frowned upon by the salon staff and I left.)
- Aveeno - Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Distearyldimonium Chloride, PEG-80, Trisodium EDTA, PEG-150, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
- The Body Shop - PEG-100, Parabens (1 product alone had 5 different types of parabens), EDTA, Yellow #5, Red #4, PEG-8, Cocamide DEA, Dimethicone, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-18, PVP
- Derma E - Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethyl MEA , PEG-100, Cocamide DEA
- Earth Science - Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, benzophenone-3
- Healthy Times baby line - Parabens
- Huggies/Pamper naturals. "Yeah, right." yes that was sarcasim
- Jason pure natural - Cocamide MEA, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol
- Jackson Reece Herbal baby wipes - cocamidoproyl betaine, phenoxyethanol
- Kiss my Face - Trisodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Propylene glycol, Triethanolamine.
- Korres Natural Products - Propylparaben, Methylparaben, PEG- 8, Aluminium Oxide, PEG-100, Phenoxyethanol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, PEG-60, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol (one product had 5 parabens & pheno. That's just ludacris)
- Lush - Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, (this company is at least 1/2 honest...when listing their ingredients, they color code the natural & synthetic so it's easy to read, but they call them "safe synthetics", I have to disagree)
- Melaleuca - Dimethicone, PEG - 100, Phenoxyethanol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Avobenzone, Ostisalate, Octinoxate, Octocyrlene, EDTA, Triethanolamine, PEG-7, PEG-60,
- Method - Cocamidopropyl betaine, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Cocamide DEA, retinyl palmitate, (gets sneaky & shady by not disclosing the name of their preservatives or what type of color they use. it just says "preservative" "color")
- Mill Creek Botanicals - Disodium-EDTA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Imidazolidinyl Urea
- Nature's Gate - Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Octinoxate; Oxybenzone, Dimethicone
- Pure and Basic - Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-90, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben
- Shaklee - Phenoxyethanol, Didodium EDTA, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, PEG-10, Dimethicone, AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFOACETATE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, PEG-12, RETINYL PALMITATE
- Tom's of Maine - SLS, Proplyene Glycol
- Zia - Phenoxyethanol, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate,
Real Organic: no synthetics; never ever.
This list is still under review for the 2012 update
- Badger Balm
- Bottled Earth Company
- Dr. Bronners
- Merry Hempsters Natural Organic Lip Balm (carries USDA label)
- Earth Mama Angel Baby
- Eco-Beauty Organics
- Eminence
- Essensa
- Gratefulbody Organics
- iLike (i have no idea how to pronounce this one)
- Intelligent Nutrients
- Le FP Green body Care
- Miessence Organics (food grade, carries USDA label)
- Nature's Baby Organics
- Nourish (food grade, carries USDA label)
- Oracle Organics
- Organic Essence
- Pangea Organics
- Perfect Organics
- Sun Dog
- Trillium
Real Natural: though they might not use all organic ingredients, their finished product has NO added synthetics.
This list is still under review for the 2012 update
- Alaffia (* Fair Trade)
- Aubrey Organics, (they are not on my organic list because not all products are fully organic, though they never use chemicals or synthetics in finished product)
- Bon Vital's natural line
- Devita
- Dr. Bronners
- Earth Mama Angel Baby
- Mexitan
- Mychelle
- Rare 2 B
- Suki
- Weleda
- Zum
Hit & Miss/ Murky Companies. These companies have some products that are really clean and other products that are not. Read Labels and know what you are choosing before you spend the $$. be on the look out for: Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, PEG's, Parabens, Urea, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine...if those are in it, stay away.
This list is still under review for the 2012 update
- Aura Cacia - Very Hit and Miss. Their certified organic line of esseintial oils are the bomb though, VERY high grade and very clean!
- Bare Minerals- I found Dimethicone in 1 product out of about 12 that I researched. Seems they have taken out most of their nasty ingredients. I used to have them on my fakers list.
- Beeceuticals - some products carry the USDA logo, other products have phenoxyethanol in the ingredients. I have spoken with the owner of the company and they are working on an enzyme based presevative to replace the pheno. so be on the look out for this positive change.
- Burt's Bees - the good thing, is each product tells you on the front of the bottle exactly what % it is natural. they are a pretty clean company. there's not much i would shy away from.
- Desert Essence - again a truly hit or miss. mostly miss. mostly on my fakers list with the exception of their pure oils and castile face soap, essential oils; those are truly natural and some even organic
- Eco-Bella. All of their body care is 100% clean, but their cosmetic line still carries several ingredients of concern, including parabens.
- EO - Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethicone; mostly on my fakers list, though their lip balm is really organic
- Honey Bee Gardens
- ikove
Please check out www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare for a great petition and more info on the bad companies.
If I upset anyone, It's NOT my intention. My only request is that if you don't agree with me, then please offer polite, supported proof so that I can also become educated on new findings. I'm not a scientist, only a consumer empowering myself and also trying to help others on the journey. Please no hate email or hateful posts/replies. I wouldn't do it to you, so please don't do it to me.
This is not an attack on anyone who works for a company or buys from a company I have put on my Fake Lists. If you work for a company on my fake list and you are mad I put you there, contact your company and be a postitive change, help them become cleaner!
I did my research thoroughly and read ingredient labels carefully. It took me HOURS & Months to put together this list. I also work in the industry and am VERY familiar with many of these companies. (I've worked in the health and wellness field for over 10 yrs)
I do commend the companies who use organic ingredients, because this is great for the planet! I wish all companies used more organics. However, I do not think combining them with chemical synthetics is good for the planet or for people. Some body care chemicals are toxic to create, while others are toxic to our health. So if a company is using organics and synthetics in the same product, one has to wonder...who's interest do they really have in mind?
~ Susanna aka Organicgal 007
Comments (10)
- Homemade Face Masks And Skin Care
Second, may we suggest that, as you've invested so much in this worthwhile project and as it's been some time since you posted here, perhaps you may wish to revisit your Real Organic section as it appears that there are a number of companies on your list (perhaps their presence on the organic list is a typo?) that are not certified organic and/or that have no actual certified organic personal care products. It also appears that there may be only eight companies on this list that are USDA certified organic companies, and not all of these companies have all of their products certified as organic.
For example (please know that we do not wish to make you feel bad and we are not criticizing, we simply wish to contribute some additional ingredient information pertaining to products made by some companies on your "real organic" list), in reviewing some of the companies' hair and skin care product listings, we found the following non-organic chemicals that are not permitted in genuine USDA certified products that are labeled as "organic:" cetearyl alcohol, sucrose stearate, stearylkonium chloride, phenoxyethanol, phenol carbonic acids, glycolic acid, lignins, glycoprotein, kaempferol, titanium dioxide, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, disodium coco-glucoside citrate, behenyl alcohol, glyceryl oleate, cocoglucoside, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, ethyl palmate, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, glyceryl stearate, hyaluronic acid.
One last thing, please, it is quite unfortunate, but necessary to point out that the government has mysteriously failed to enforce the organic regulations in the personal care marketplace, thus the rampant fake organic labeling shenanigans. However, it is interesting to see that consumers are finally fighting back against this widespread mislabeling of personal care products and the degradation of the word "organic" and, at this moment, there are two class action lawsuits pending over this faux organic personal care products issue. To learn more about the lawsuits, read the news release here: http://www.ceh.org/making-news/press-releases/29-eliminating-toxics/528-lawsuit-launched-to-end-mislabeling-of-organic-personal-care-products-
Once again, thanks for your commendable effort!
http://www.bubbleandbee.com/Aboutus.html
In reply to Thetruth's comment above:
Hello. Thank you for giving me the chance to expand on my "negative posts/replies". In past forums, people would get very irrational and nasty. I refrain from that and request that others do the same. I would see a lot of comments bashing each other verbally and it just was not necessary. I don't like it when threads get full of "hate speech", as many I had seen in the past did. Words are so easy to toss on screen when not face to face.
I did do extensive research and did actually research each and every ingredient I listed. At the time I wrote this list, appox 2006/2007 it was widely suggested by all the research I had looked in to that Retinyl Palmitate was of concern. Retinyl Palmitate is not from Retinol, but actually turns in to Retinol after it has been absorbed by the skin. Thank you for adding new findings about the 2010 report, that was released years after I had created this list. That is what positive forums help do.
I am wondering if the companies I listed that you are questioning changed how they make their products from the time I researched. If they were on my "Good" lists, I looked at every single products they made at the time and if they made 1 that feel on a bad list, I tried to mention that. At the time I created this list, very few companies even carried the USDA label, and I was not trying to imply that the company was certified if they were on my Organic Yes list. My apologies if it was perceived this way.
I will definitely take a look at my list and re-vamp it since so many years have passed and many companies have moved categories (hopefully for the better). Since I wrote this, a few years later, I did finally stumble upon your great company, and LOVE their products. I will jump on to getting you listed. :-)
My original post of this list is here: http://www.greenoptions.com/t/121/my-list-of-fakers-and-not-fakers (as you can see it was originally posted in early 2008, before the 2010 report you are kindly offering as new research). This current post that we are replying to seems to have been posted in 2009 (by looking at it's history included at the very top of post), also before the 2010 findings. I personally have not been back to this site in a couple of years to keep track. My apologies. My life has taken me in different directions since first posting this. I would like to add some new findings that came out in 2011, if I may:
"The most recent government scientific study, made public last January by the National Toxicology Program, an interagency group housed within the National Institutes of Health, has demonstrated that retinyl palmitate speeds photo-carcinogenic effects on test animals. The study, entitled Photococarcinogenesis Study Of Retinoic Acid And Retinyl Palmitate and conducted at a federal research center co-hosted by the FDA and NTP, found that mice treated with small doses of retinyl palmitate and ultraviolet light developed skin tumors faster than untreated, light-exposed mice or those treated only with a control cream. There were more numerous tumors on every animal treated with retinyl palmitate."
http://www.ewg.org/report/what-scientists-say-about-vitamin-sunscreen
I also found this:
I did some more research and found this. Would like to share it: http://www.ewg.org/FDA_Should_Wind_Up_Study_Of_Vitamin_A_In_Sunscreens
Again, thank you for giving me the opportunity to expand on my previous research. I'm going to keep RP on my list of things to stay away from.