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sticky Organicgal's list of Fakies and Not Fakies. *UPDATED 3/10/09

organicgal

posted to Greenwashing, Toxins, & Conventional Products in Green Organic Natural Simple Living
on Feb. 5, 2008 at 1:29 PM

  • 239 Replies
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Organicgal's List of Fakies and Not Fakies:

If I upset anyone, It's NOT my intention. My only request is that if you don't agree with me, then don't utilze my list. 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.

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?

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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • To carry the new Natural Products Association Label the natural product must only contain pre-approved naturally derived ingredients.
  • 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.

The list is just below this last paragraph!


If you work for a company on my fake list and you are mad i put you there, contact your company and yell at them, not me. 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 6 yrs)


THE LIST:


Fake Organics: These companies use synthetics and sometimes very little organics in their finished product. The ingredient names follwoing the brand name are examples 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".

  • Alba Botanica - Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Octinoxate , Oxybenzone, Peg-100, Sodium PCA, etc.
  • Avalon Organics - Cocamidopropyl betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium oleamido succinate, Sodium PCA, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, 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.
  • Jason pure natural organic - Cocamide MEA, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone,
  • Juice Beauty - Retinyl palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl (octyl) palmitate, Cocamidopropyl betaine. Only 4 of over 30 products actually carry the USDA Organic logo, all other 30+ products do not. To me having only 4 certified products, does not make you an organic company.
  • Kiss My Face Organics - Phenoxyethanol (funny their adverts claim they are "Obsesivly Organic". HA! Really?)
  • Lotus Touch organic & natural - PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Bisabolol,
  • Mill Creek Organics a.k.a. Amazon Organics - Cocamidopropyl betaine, Octyl dimethyl PABA, Acrylates copolymer,
  • Natures Gate Organics - Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-120, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, PEG-100, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, PVP, Dimethiconol,
  • Organix - 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.
  • Organix South Inc, a.k.a. Thera Neem - Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Lauramide DEA, PEG-7, PEG-40,
  • Pharmacopia Organic - Phenoxyethanol; Chlorphenesin, Cocamidopropyl betaine
  • 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



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.

  • 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 -
  • 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
  • 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.


      Real Natural: though they might not use all organic ingredients, their finished product has NO added synthetics.


      confusedHit & 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.

        • 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


        Dictionary of most common offenders:

        A-N

        P-Z


        Please check out www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare for a great petition and more info on the bad companies.

        ~ Susanna aka Organicgal 007


        www.HealingWithOrganics.com My online organic shopping site




        Written by on Feb. 5, 2008 at 1:29 PM

        Replies:


        • hermy27
        • by on Feb. 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
        • Wow thank you for your hard work in putting this list together!  I have to say I know a few people who love Tom's of Maine who will be sadly disappointed when I tell them.

          Just as a side note:  I swear by California Baby.  That is some seriously good stuff.  I use the Calendula cream on myself and my baby every single day.

          "I'm not funny. What I am, is brave."--Lucille Ball



           

           


        • avas_mom
        • by on Feb. 5, 2008 at 4:15 PM
        • thanks for the list!

          i feel i need to say that some companies have some natural and organic products but do not claim that everything they carry is. in addition, some chemicals are necessary, even if only for shelf life. without certain chemicals products would begin growing nastiness within weeks, if not days. so what chemicals are in the products on the fakies list?

          i don't think that any product, natural or otherwise can really be labled as safe. nature has lots of poisons.

          these are just my opinions of course. i'm not arguing your list at all! i think it's great that you took the time to research and create this list, just to help educate people! 
           
        • organicgal
        • by on Feb. 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM
        • Please don't take this as me being snippy, as it is not meant that way.

          No you do not need chemicals in any products. They are not required for shelflife.
          The companies I listed on my lists use absolutely NO chemicals to preserve their products and the products can be put on the shelves just like any other product. They are living proof that chemicals are NOT needed.

          Most of the chemicals that are commonly found in Fakie List products are:
          TEA, Dimethicone, Parabens, PEG's, the list goes on and on...

          Quoting avas_mom:
        • KayMMIV
        • by on Feb. 5, 2008 at 8:06 PM
        • what's TEA (i'm assuming it's not tea lol)

          anyways, i'm gonna make this a sticky, we actually had it posted already by another member (giving you all due)  Got this from another group.... but this list is updated. if you want to rename the post link something like Organicgal's List of Fakies and Not Fakies I'll sticky it so people can find it easy and maybe add to it if they come across new ones :)

            Green & Simple Living
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        • organicgal
        • by on Feb. 5, 2008 at 9:54 PM
          1. TEA (Triethanolamine) Laureth Sulfate

          Synthetic emulsifier. Highly acidic. Over 40% of cosmetics containing Triethanolamine (TEA), have been found to be contaminated with nitrosamines, which are potent carcinogens.

          From Material Safety Data Sheet
          Special Hazard Precautions: PRODUCT IS SEVERELY IRRITATING TO BODY TISSUES AND POSSIBLY CORROSIVE TO THE EYES. HANDLE WITH CARE. AVOID EYE & SKIN CONTACT. AVOID BREATHING VAPORS IF GENERATED. IF THERE IS DANGER OF EYE CONTACT, WEAR A FACE SHIELD.

          Explanation Carcinogenicity: AMINES REACT WITH NITROSATING AGENTS TO FORM NITROSOAMINES, WHICH ARE CARCINOGENIC.

          See Anionic Surfactant





           

          1. TEA compounds

          See Nitrosating agents



           

          1. Nitrosating Agents

          The following chemicals can cause nitrosamine contamination, which have been determined to form cancer in laboratory animals. There are wide and repeated concerns in the USA and Europe about the contamination of cosmetics products with nitrosamines.

          • 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
          • Cocoyl Sarcosine
          • DEA compounds
          • Imidazolidinyl Urea
          • Formaldehyde
          • Hydrolysed Animal Protein
          • Lauryl Sarcosine
          • MEA compounds
          • Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60, etc
          • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
          • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
          • Sodium Laureth Sulfate
          • Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
          • Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
          • TEA compounds

           




           


          Quoting KayMMIV:

          what's TEA (i'm assuming it's not tea lol)

          anyways, i'm gonna make this a sticky, we actually had it posted already by another member (giving you all due)  Got this from another group.... but this list is updated. if you want to rename the post link something like Organicgal's List of Fakies and Not Fakies I'll sticky it so people can find it easy and maybe add to it if they come across new ones :)
        • UnAutre
        • by on Feb. 7, 2008 at 2:32 PM
        • I'm new to this board, and am already impressed by this well-researched and presented list.  I'm trying to move towards more green/organic products in my home, and it can be very difficult to sort through the marketing and get to what's real.  I may not strictly adhere to using only all-green/all-organic products but I do like being informed so I can make a decision based on what I know and not what the label is trying to sell me.

          Thanks again!
          Dana (37), DH Seth (37), DSS River (9) and our little Munchkin...Ahleia Rose, born 4-9-07 (7lbs, 8 oz; 21" long)
        • ecosensemom
        • by on Feb. 18, 2008 at 11:29 PM
        • I love it, I love it, I love IT!!  This is the exact information I was looking for.  I am well versed in recycling and air quality, but the personal hygiene issue I have just started researching.  Thanks for the indepth list!
        • doulaforbirth
        • by on Feb. 28, 2008 at 11:33 PM
        • Thanks for the list-Awesome. Saves the rest of us a lot of time and disappointment.
        • Brandie185
        • by on Feb. 29, 2008 at 1:56 AM
        • Okay ... I'm kind of new to all of this ... and of course, we've just started to switch over to shaklee ... and I thought they were pretty good in what they had ...

          Is there another cleaner out there that comes concentrated like their cleaner does. I have to admit, for me, that is one of my biggest draws to the product! I cringe at buying bottle after bottle after bottle and paying for a company to ship me water.
          Thanks!

          Fake Naturals: these companies claim they are natural or "safe" or "wellness" ; but use chemicals and or synthetics in their products.

          8. Shaklee


          Brandie
          married to one super guy momma to three great kids
          my blog




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