The one simple rule we have at Re:think Beauty is all of our products must be safe enough to eat. If you can't put it in your mouth, then why put it on your skin?
We often get asked why we don’t include essential oils in our products, namely the doTerra essential oils brand as this is marketed as food grade. Here's why;
Essential oils were used and experimented with extensively through the development stage of Re:think Beauty products...until my deodorant burnt my armpits. Skin absorbs essential oils. At the time, our deodorant included all but a few drops of 'food grade' essential oil. I heard alarm bells, closed development down and headed straight back to the drawing board and this is what I found:
A very popular company uses the term 'certified pure therapeutic grade' in its marketing. Well, it’s exactly only that – marketing. There aren't any certified essential oils because there isn’t any recognised organisation or agency that certifies essential oils.
So, this company coined the term, put it on their bottles and trademarked the term. What does it mean? Nothing as their oils are not certified. They use the term as their way of letting others know that they test their oils (like most good providers do). But, it makes for good marketing that their sales reps and users most often than not misunderstand this trademark to mean that the oils are certified.
Consultants of this company are taught to recommend internal use of essential oils to the general public. However, this contradicts the respected advice and scope of practice recommended by Aromatherapy and Herbal associations, organisations and health care providers (including both mainstream and alternative medicines). Essential oils are quite potent. For example one drop of an essential oil is the equivalent of 25-75 cups of the herbal tea of the same plant. Essential oils are very powerful and there have been reported cases of poisonings and fatality due to the self-dosing of essential oils. It is not something to do lightly.
We talk a lot about synthetic chemicals to avoid, but did you know that even some natural ingredients can be dangerous? Like certain essential oils. And, without the proper knowledge (or concern) of these risks, companies can make potentially dangerous products.
Take, for instance, a popular Deep Blue Rub. According to the company's website, it is a blend of "wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, blue chamomile, helichrysum and osmanthus".
Wintergreen contains methyl salicylate, a toxic compound that's also used in Icy Heat, Tiger Balm and BenGay. While it does provide that soothing feeling to aching muscles, it can be toxic if applied to more than 40% of the body in a typical concentration used. There have been cases of death from the over-application of creams containing this ingredient. Camphor essential oil is a neurotoxin and convulsant, as well as containing higher amounts of safrole, a potential carcinogen. Blue Tansy also contains up to 18% camphor.
The most dangerous thing about essential oils is the misconception that if something is 'natural', it is safe. This is simply not true. There are many toxins found in nature. Essential oils can be effective remedies for a variety of ills but they should always be used with caution.
In general, essential oils are marketed as safe when used externally (not ingested) in low concentrations. But my armpits are proof that your skin eats what you put on it.
And, we kind of like the smell of our products in their natural state - without the need to apply potentially poisonous substances for the sake of our product smelling more like flowers than food. It's not worth the risk to your health.
It's just the facts and our intention at My Sister's Pantry is to educate and promote a healthier you in a responsible way.
Excellent article. Thank you!
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