As a Love Your Body Card-carrying shopper, I’ve always thought The Body Shop’s stuff treated me pretty nicely.
Cuz according to The Environmental Working Group, “While some companies make products that are safe to eat, other companies choose to use known human carcinogens or developmental toxins….”
I haven’t been eating my shampoo, but I thought I’d look up The Body Shop products I use on EWG’s Skin Deep project (via The Worsted Witch), which rates health and beauty products between 0 and 5 (the lower the better). My research went thusly:
Grapeseed Glossing Serum: score 0.2.
Ultra Smooth Foundation: score 0.8
Manuka Scalp Care Shampoo: score 1.2.
Pretty good :)
Olive Glossing Conditioner: score 2.7.
Could be better.
Seaweed Purifying Facial Wash: score 3.1.
Seaweed Shine Control Moisturizer: score 3.4.
Oh.
Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream: score 3.8.
Vitamin E Facial Day Lotion SPF 15: score 3.9
Uh oh…
The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes: score: 4.0
Define and Lengthen Mascara: score 4.0
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Update, 6/2/06: I’ve replaced my toxic Body Shop stuff with some real earth-friendly goods :)
Heh heh…the picture of the bride on your sidebar couldn’t be more appropriate :)
Hey, didja know that L’oreal is buying The Body Shop?
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=ay4WmH4jgdT0&refer=uk
Not the best of news, IMHO.
Comment by Jasmin — March 17, 2006 @ 6:23 pm
And everyone in the British media seems to view it as just another in a long line of ethical/healthy companies being bought out by their mega-corp competitors. Few people are actually saying its a bad thing but there is concern.
http://csr-news.net/main/body-shop%E2%80%99s-shares-rise-as-its-ethical-rating-plummets/2006/03/17/
Comment by Declan — March 18, 2006 @ 12:49 pm
I became disillusioned with The Body Shop when I saw them selling bath colouring. Yes, concentrated artificial colour in a bottle that you can pour into your relaxing hot bath.
Even if the stuff wasn’t tested on animals, I couldn’t figure out any justification why that product existed (apart from the freedom in market economy to make whatever product people buy).
I didn’t see that on the shelves any more, though. Probably most customers thought the same as me.
Thanks for the link to the toxicity assessment database. Unfortunately the brands I typically use - Dr. Hauschka (http://www.drhauschka.com/), Urtekram (http://www.urtekram.dk/) and L’Occitane (http://www.loccitane.com/) - have no entries in the database.
Comment by avs — March 19, 2006 @ 11:12 pm
I also noticed that your low score for Grapeseed Glossing Serum is wrong, because whoever submitted that data only included 2 of the 6 ingredients, leaving out e.g. INCI “parfum” which is an undisclosed coctail of fragrances. The reality is probably much worse.
Try to add your own data at http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/add_product.php
Comment by avs — March 20, 2006 @ 4:59 am
My skin’s been feeling a lil funny lately, but I’m not sure if that’s cuz of The Body Shop stuff, or cuz I drink too much and sometimes go to sleep with makeup on…
Anyway — With The Body Shop being bought up and all, I’m gonna be looking for greener stuff — Recommendations appreciated :)
Comment by Siel — March 20, 2006 @ 7:24 pm