Chemicals ~ Scientist vs Naturalist

When it comes to the types of chemicals used in skin care scientists and naturalists tend to disagree.  

Naturalists have their concerns.  How bad is fluoride?  How does it work?  What does it mean when parabens are found in cancerous tissue?  Why are toxins being found in the bloodstream of newborn babies?

Scientist: just because parabens are found in cancerous tissues doesn’t mean parabens caused the cancer.  While the gathering of parabens in cancerous tissues seems ominous (to say the least) tests and studies still do not confirm that parabens create cancer – and may have in fact congregated in that area for other reasons unknown.

Scientist: they only tested the bloodstreams of 10 babies out of an entire population of human beings.  The findings (toxins in their systems) are indeed frightening yet this is not a fair representation of the world as a whole and the impact chemicals are having on newborn babies.

For the most part the scientist’s point of view differs from the naturalist.  However scientists are highly trained in their field and like most scientists what they says sounds logical and plausible.

Ok, so let’s assume for a minute that chemicals in skin care are in such low doses they’re perfectly safe…

Would it seem JOLI are fighting a battle not worth having?  I say NO.

Let’s focus on one chemical today to make our point. 

Propylene Glycol [PG] 
What we do know is propylene glycol in its pure form is considered so toxic it has to be handled with protective clothing: gloves, mask, boots, coveralls.  PG can only be disposed of by burying it in the ground (and one can only image what this does to our environment).  If ingested PG can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, itching, burning, scaling, hives and blistering of the skin.  PG alters skin structure allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin, increasing the amounts of other chemicals and toxins that reach the bloodstream.  PG is also responsible for contact dermatitis.

Propylene glycol is one of the most HIGHLY used chemicals in skin care therefore each time we purchase a product with PG in it we are buying into this chemical being manufactured, handled, used and disposed of.

Why use this when there are safer alternatives?

PG is a product stabilizer and highly effective synthetic preservative.  Meaning manufactures can make huge quantities of products and ship them world wide, have them sitting in cargo holds for long periods of time and then leave the product to sit around on store shelves until a consumer decides to purchase the product.  It is a really great invention for many manufacturers.  When it comes to using alternatives the financial rewards are just not the same.  PG is cheap to use and means companies can make and sell more products than ever before with bigger profit margins.

JOLI use natural preservatives made from a blend of herbal extracts.  An effective preservative that breaks down naturally, doesn’t need to be buried in the ground to be disposed of and doesn’t have the same adverse effects on your skin.

Whether chemicals in skin care are safe or not remains an open debate for the vast majority.  So why don’t JOLI bend with the times and use chemicals in low doses?  Aside from the impact these chemicals have on the environment we do it for one main reason:

We cater to consumers with Sensitive Skin

We do it for customers who cannot use mainstream products containing propylene glycol (and other synthetic or harsh chemicals).  We do it for customers who want to avoid toxic chemicals in their skin care.  We do it for consumers who are struggling to find products that do not cause contact dermatitis and other skin conditions.  We do it for babies and their tender skin.

Let the debate rage on.  We know where we stand.  What about you?