Friday, February 13, 2009

Natural + Synthetic = Natural?

Is a 'Natural' product laced with synthetic ingredients still 'Natural'? We don't think so. Is soap marketed as Natural really natural if it includes ingredients like Sodium Stearate, Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS) or Ceytl Alcohol? We don't think so.

Here a few definitions of ingredients found in products marketed as Natural:

SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). It is an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent made by mixing sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, and sodium salt

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE is prepared by esterification of sulfuric acid with dodecanol (lauryl alcohol, C12H25OH), followed by neutralization with sodium carbonate.[1] It is used in both industrially produced and home-made cosmetics.

TETRASODIUM ETIDRONATE is used as a water softener in soaps to prevent soap scums and bathtub rings by locking up the calcium and magnesium in the water.
Compounds with similar functions are sodium carbonate, sodium edta, sodium citrate, phosphoric acid, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate.

CEYTL ALCOHOL is a nonionic surfactant used as a hair coating in shampoos and conditioners.
It is used as a water based lubricant for fasteners such as nuts and bolts.
Cetyl alcohol is used as an emollient (skin softener), emulsifier, and thickener in creams and lotions.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL and butylene glycol are often used as humectants (moisturizers) as they are hygroscopic (they draw moisture from the air).
Propylene glycol is what is used in artificial smoke or fog machines. It is also used as a preservative.

The point is floating some natural olive oil or coconut oil in a base of the synthetics listed above don't for a natural product make.

So look at the label. Latin names are usually listed for all botanical and natural ingredients but they will look completely different than chemical names of manufactured ingredients.

We think Natural means simple and real. Adding a little natural oil to a synthetic base shouldn't be marketed as natural because it's not. That is simple and real.