FAQ's on Organic Matters

• What can I expect if I am using natural products for the first time?
  
• Do natural and organic products feel, smell or look different?
  
• Are all natural ingredients safe?
  
• What are synthetic chemicals?
  
• How do you know if organic is really organic?
  
• Why is organic better for you?
  
• Why is organic better for the planet?
  
• What do you mean by organic?
  
• What is greenwashing?
  
• Why are Handmade Soaps better than Commercially Manufactured soaps?
  
• What are the main types of ingredients in skin care?
  
• What does Non-Comedogenic mean?
  
• Are there any ingredients that should not be used during Pregnancy?
  
• Are their any natural ingredients that should not be used by those with epilepsy?
  

What can I expect if I am using natural products for the first time?

If you have been using products that contain synthetic chemicals and then switch to natural ingredients your skin will go through a natural detox. While some skin will show no physical reaction to this, other skin could break out in spots. The reason many be that you have too many toxins that the body is trying to release at once, or it may be that your skin has literally become addicted to synthetic chemicals and needs some time to settle – at most a month.

Do natural and organic products feel, smell or look different?

Yes actually some of them do. The cleaning products for instance work so well but it took me a while to get used to the dishwashing liquid as it is does not foam in water. Rather you get a great foam but by pouring it directly onto the sponge. It does mean however that the dirt in the water is more visible as it is not being hidden by the foam. The cleaning products are also darker and they don’t have a chemical smell.

Many of the natural and organic liquids are also thinner and some may not lather as well but this is because many of the thickening and foaming agents used in today’s commercial products are not at all good for the skin.

Remember that different is not necessarily worse or less effective. Different in this respect is intelligent.

Are all natural ingredients safe?

No they are not. Some plants can kill you. These plants would not, of course, be used in any product. Some natural ingredients like tea tree could cause allergies for very sensitive skin. It is for this reason that organic products are categorised by sensitive skin, dry skin and problem skin. In most cases however, the healing properties of the oils can be of great benefit to a variety of different skin conditions and disorders.

What are synthetic chemicals?

Synthetic chemicals are man made chemicals. All products contain chemicals but some are natural and others have been manipulated.

How do you know if organic is really organic?

When it comes to food you can rely on organic certification, however, for skin care there is no certification and the word ‘organic’ can be very misleading. The only way to combat this is to become an ingredient detective.

Why is organic better for you?

By using organic products you can minimise the amount of synthetic chemicals that are absorbed into your skin. It is not necessary to use synthetic ingredients and in most instance, natural ingredients are more effective and powerful than man-made (synthetic) ingredients.

Why is organic better for the planet?

Organic farming is about sustaining the environment. Artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides are not used and thus pollutants are released into the environment. Organic farming encourages bio-diversity. Animals are raised without being exposed to or fed harmful synthetics or hormones.

Using organic skin care (ie skin care that does not contain harmful synthetic ingredients) means that you will not be flushing down pollutants into our water reserves.

What do you mean by organic?

For us at Faithful to Nature it is more than just about being certified by a third party or abstaining from using synthetic ingredients. It is about sustainability and responsibility. It is about being aware that we put in, is what we get out. Simply put, we believe that organic should be good for you. This means that we will not sell any products that to the best of our knowledge are harmful to you or the environment. It does mean however that there is a mix of certified organic, organic and natural products on the website. Some certified organic products do contain synthetic (man made) ingredients as do a very few natural products, but I have individually read up on each ingredient to ensure that it is not harmful to you. If there is a certain category of product that you prefer then always check the ingredient lists in every product detail page for more information.

What is greenwashing?

The term comes from the expression brain washing. It refers to corporations that try to deceive customers by giving their brands or products a positive environmental image, when in fact there is no truth in the claim. For more info go to our section on greenwashing.

Why are Handmade Soaps better than Commercially Manufactured soaps?

There is no shortage to the evidence of the benefits and healing properties of a handmade bar of soap. Those who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as people that have sensitive skin or are hypoallergenic often find immediate relief by switching to handmade soap. Handmade soaps are much milder than store bought soaps as they are made from vegetable-based oils, such as olive, coconut, and palm and do not contain the potentially harmful chemicals found in conventional bar soap. Commercially made soap usually contains detergents, fillers, chemicals, petroleum, high animal fat content, and irritants. Commercially made soap tends to be less eco friendly as well. While commercially manufactured soap usually costs less, the impact on your skin and the environment is less than desirable. Natural soaps also have a high glycerine content which is so good for your skin that many soap manufacturers actually remove it from the soaps (opting to rather use the by-products of glycerine in the soaps) and add it to the more expensive lotions.

What are the main types of ingredients in skin care?

DETERGENTS are used in shampoos, shower gels and soaps to allow oils to be washed away with water (this process is called emulsion.) Unfortunately string detergents can strip away too much of your natural oils leaving your skin and hair dry or irritated. It is for this reason that it is always best to avoid petrochemical-based detergents and rather use plant based ingredients that are gentler. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is an example of a synthetic detergent, whilst Soapwort is an example of a natural detergent.

OILS lubricate the skin and act as binders. Mineral oil is derived from petroleum and can block pores diminishing the skins ability to function. Plant oils on the other hand are rich in vitamins, anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids and are much more easily absorbed assisting the skins ability to function.

PRESERVATIVES keep the products free from bacterial contamination during use and increase a products shelf life as a result. Parabens are probably the most commonly used preservatives but unfortunately they have an estrogenic effect, which means that they mimic the estrogen hormone and high levels of estrogen can cause breast cancer. Parabens can also cause allergic reactions in sensitive skin. Natural preservatives like tea tree, thyme or rose essential oils or the propolis extract do not have harmful side effects. They do have a shorter shelf life than synthetic preservatives, but like food skin care products are not meant to last forever. You can extend the shelf life of your products by keeping them in the fridge, out of the sun, or in a glass container. The shelf lives of natural products are still reasonable however, ranging from 6 months – 24 months.

SILICONES (listed as cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone) are found in some products to create a silky feel to the skin or hair. In reality however, they just create a synthetic layer blocking pores and thus prevent the skin from releasing toxins. I would recommend that you just avoid products that have them altogether as there is no real sustainable advantage to using silicones.

COLORANTS, as the name suggests are used to give products “pretty” colours. Synthetic colours may be carcinogenic and irritate the skin and should be avoided at all costs. On the other hand, natural ingredients like rosehip or avocado can automatically give a product a nice colour.

FRAGRANCE (also listed as parfum) can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply read "fragrance." There is a catalogue of nasty side effects that can be caused by synthetic fragrances. The use of natural ingredients in a product will automatically give it sensual and therapeutic properties.

What does Non-Comedogenic mean?

"Non-comedogenic" means that a product does not exacerbate or contribute to acne. Some of the side effects of nasty synthetic ingredients are that they block pores and cause acne as the skin can no longer effectively get ride of toxins.

Are there any ingredients that should not be used during Pregnancy?

Yes there are some essential oils that should not be used during pregnancy. The list below has some of the more common oils that should be used but I recommend that you always ask your doctor first. Also, be aware that some of the oils that are not safe to be used during the first trimester may be safe to use later on during the pregnancy.

• Basil
• Cedar wood
• Cinnamon
• Clary Sage.
• Clove
• Cypress - This is okay after the fifth month
• Fennel
• Hyssop
• Jasmine - Not During labor
• Juniper
• Lemongrass
• Myrrh
• Parsley
• Pennyroyal.

Are their any natural ingredients that should not be used by those with epilepsy?

Epileptics can be sensitive to the following oils:

• Fennel
• Hyssop
• Rosmary
• Sage

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