Unique Original Articles » Ingredient Disclosure Regulations Ignored by Hair and Skin Care Companies

As health and safety distinctions like “natural” hair care or “organic” skin care continue to be reduced to little more than buzz words, one hair care product company is stepping up to help create a safer, more informed public. Salon Naturals, is an environmentally conscious hair care manufacturer that not only discloses the ingredients of its complete line of products on its website, but also discloses the ingredients’ purposes in their formulations and any research related to safety. Customers are also provided links to outside sources of information so they can get verify this third-party information and research.

According to this company transparency & honesty concerning ingredients are go a long way in compensation for the lack of mandatory pre-market testing for cosmetics ingredients in the United States. In fact, only one of every 10 cosmetic ingredients is tested for safety, and the testing that is done is conducted by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, which is a group founded by leaders in the very industry it is intended to regulate. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration has no power over cosmetic companies other than ingredient disclosure protocol on product labels. Unfortunately, a lack of FDA resources results in many companies - large and small - ignoring even these regulations and not properly disclosing product ingredients. The FDA requires ingredient testing only once an ingredient has been reported as causing sickness or injury and even then the suspected connection must be virtually proven beyond all doubt to prompt changes in policy. Relaxed regulations such as these are why terms such as “organic” skin care or “natural” shampoo must be considered very cautiously. The term “natural” is completely meaningless and even though the National Organic Program, which is a branch of the USDA, now regulates the use of the term “organic,” many of these regulations aren’t fully enforced yet. Words such as hypoallergenic, non-toxic, mild and gentle are also undefined. Products making these claims can do so without any accountability concerning truth.

“People think terms like ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are strictly regulated by the government or the FDA, but they’re not,” says Lorrie McBee, director of customer education for Salon Naturals. “Most people don’t know the European Union has banned nearly 1,200 ingredients from being used in cosmetics, but the United States has only banned 11. People think they’re getting natural or organic products, but the truth is they have no idea what chemicals they’re coming into contact with every day.”

This is a big problem for people with health conditions, skin sensitivity, allergies, or people who just want to live a healthier lifestyle. One Salon Naturals customer was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a painful medical condition that causes skin irritation and overall chemical sensitivity in the body. The customer didn’t think she’d ever be able to find safe, natural hair products, but she found the Salon Naturals website, saw the hair care product ingredient breakdown, and contacted McBee for more information. Lorrie went as far as to send the customer an MSDS (material safety data sheet) so she could have as much ingredient information as possible.

“We want our customers to know exactly what’s in each of our products, how the ingredients were harvested or manufactured, where they originated, and what you should expect from them,” says McBee. “This level of disclosure gives them the truth not only about the products we create, but all the products they use whether on themselves or on their children. When our customers find us, they find not only a great hair care system, but a resource that we know can encourage some needed changes in this industry.”

The healthy hair care product company’s website provides consumers with a database of not only the ingredients it uses in its pure shampoos and nutrient-rich conditioners, but also the most controversial and commonly used ingredients in other cosmetics. If an ingredient is not listed on the site, Salon Naturals invites you to contact them and they will research it for you. Salon Natural's fundamental philosophy is simple: all products must perform beyond the customers' expectations, they must be easy and enjoyable to use, and most importantly they must be nurturing to the hair, safe for the body, and completely respectful of the environment. Jeffery McBee, Salon Naturals founder, is convinced that the best way to accomplish this is through the use of non-toxic, gentle ingredients and to insist upon an ever-expanding level of transparency and honesty with his products and his company.

Learn more about personal products ingredients at Salon Naturals' Ingredient Basics.

Get a Unique Version of this Article Article Marketing
Article Source: JS2 Article Spinner