Should that Ingredient Be in Your Organic Shampoo?

By Anna Lynn Sibal

To keep our hair healthier without drenching it in chemicals and without leaving a huge impact on our environment, many of us choose to substitute organic shampoo for the more conventional brands. That is because organic shampoos contain as little of the harsh chemicals that make up conventional shampoo brands as possible.

In addition, organic shampoo is supposed to be sustainable. It means that the materials and processes used in manufacturing organic shampoo do not harm the environment, and it will not harm the environment or us when we use it or wash it down the drain.

The problem here is that with the growing demand for organic shampoo and other organic products in the marketplace today, the big manufacturers that are responsible for giving us conventional shampoo have also begun to release the so-called organic versions of their product. But are these so-called organic shampoos truly organic? The easiest way to know is to check the list of ingredients on the shampoo’s label.

Organic shampoos are not supposed to have petrochemicals in them. Petrochemicals are substances derived from petroleum that may be toxic to the body, enough to cause cancer and other diseases.
Some of the chemicals that have no business being in a bottle of an organic shampoo are listed below.

1. Sodium laureth sulfate. Sodium laureth sulfate is the second largest ingredient used in shampoos. While it is supposed to help create suds in shampoo, it is also a synthetic detergent that causes skin and eye irritation, not to mention damage the hair follicle.

2. Cocamide DEA. Cocamide DEA, along with PEG, MEA and MIPA, is an alkyloamide, a group of synthetic fatty acids. It is meant to act as emulsifiers and foam boosters in shampoo, but it can also cause skin irritation at the least and cancer at the worst.

3. Cocamidopropyl betaine. Some shampoos would have cocamidopropyl betaine instead of cocamide DEA in their list of ingredients. That is because cocamidopropyl betaine, a synthetic chemical derived from coconuts, is meant to be gentler to the skin and eyes. However, research has shown that even cocamidopropyl betaine may also be toxic and cause allergic reactions.

4. Phthalates. Phthalates are chemical agents in shampoo whose role is to make shampoo more viscous and make it smell good. It can, however, disrupt the production of hormones in the body, damage a woman’s reproductive system, cause obesity, and lead to birth defects in babies.

These are just some of the chemicals that really should not be in the gunk that we put on our hair every time we wash it. They especially should not be included in the list of ingredients of any organic shampoo. We will only be wasting our efforts to go organic and live healthier lifestyles if we do not read the labels on our shampoo closely enough.

So, before you buy a bottle of organic shampoo, make sure that you read the list of ingredients on the label first. If the label does not tell you much, then you should go online and research the brand. Always make sure that your organic shampoo is really organic and not a synthetic shampoo masquerading as one.

Also see: Organic soap benefits and Organic Hair Products

By Anna Lynn Sibal

Your skin is the largest and most hardworking organ of your body.  It is very important that you keep your skin healthy because it is your body’s first line of defense against diseases and infection.  Besides, as you know, dry and blemished skin is not really pleasant to look at, much less to feel.  You cannot deny that it feels really good to have soft and smooth skin.

However, commercially produced soaps are not really as safe for the skin as they are reputed to be.  Many of these commercial bath soaps are made from synthetic chemicals that make the skin dry and even cause allergies.  Have you ever come out of the shower with your skin feeling so dry and stretched out?  That is one sure sign that your commercially manufactured soap is not really doing good for your skin.

If you want to keep your skin healthy and beautiful, it would be better for you to switch to organic soap.  That is because organic soap is made from all-natural ingredients and do not contain any harsh or harmful substances.  The ingredients used in making organic soap are also grown organically, meaning that they were grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

What benefits can you get from using organic soap rather than commercially made soap?  Here are the five most important benefits that you can get from using organic soap.

1. Organic soap is good for sensitive skin.  As mentioned above, only natural ingredients are used in making organic soaps, and these ingredients themselves were grown organically.  Thus, they do not have chemicals that are harsh to the skin.  This means that you can use organic soap even if your skin is sensitive or allergic to certain substances.  In fact, your dermatologist will advise you to use only organic soap if your skin is easily irritated.
2.  Organic soap will give your skin a true silky feel.  The chemicals in commercially produced soap can make your skin feel dry and stretched out.  That is the effect of synthetic substances in soap.  They rob the skin of moisture and leave a layer of residue on the skin.  With organic soap, on the other hand, the natural ingredients in the soap act directly on your skin to make it soft and smooth.  More often than not, you do not have to apply lotion on your skin after washing it with organic soap. 
3. You can use organic soap in aromatherapy.  Aromatherapy is an alternative healing process where certain smells produce certain reactions in the body to stimulate self-healing.  For example, some scents help you relax while others energize you.  There are a lot of organic soaps made exactly for this purpose.  These organic soaps contain essential oils that were naturally extracted from the plant source.  These essential oils are safe and harmless, and they can help in inducing the body’s natural power to heal itself. 
4. You can make your own organic soaps.  If you know what your skin needs and you prefer certain scents in your soap, why not make your own?  You can easily make your very own organic soap right in your kitchen.  There are dozens upon dozens of places where you can download instructions on making organic soap on the Internet.  You can also buy soap-making kits, essential oils and other soap-making ingredients from craft stores and specialty stores.  Not only will you have the opportunity to make your very own soap, but you can also give them as gifts and even make money out of selling them. 
5. You help save the environment when you use organic soaps.  Organic soaps are made using organic ingredients.  The plants used in making organic soaps are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers that are harmful to the environment.  The process of making organic soap itself is safe and leaves very little impact on the environment.  So, when you use organic soaps, you can enjoy a clean conscience along with your clean skin. 

If you want to keep your skin healthy and beautiful, try to switch from your commercial soap brand to organic soap.  You will immediately see the difference in how your skin feels, and you will make a difference by helping to save the environment.