Label Reading Truth

Hello, fellow lovers of everything natural!  Have you ever taken the time to read the ingredient label on your personal care products?  That alone was the biggest reason why I made the switch to a more natural lifestyle.  It never ceases to amaze me how the popular mall bath and body care store can seemingly advertise that it’s products contain herbs and essential oils (by putting them in the name), yet they do not even contain them!  For us natural lifestyle lovers, those herbs and essential oils are the reason we would purchase a product!  In addition, most of those products also contain petrolatum.  Petrolatum is derived from crude oil and is a non-renewable resource.  Although many companies refine the petrolatum, there are many other plant-based ingredients that are just as moisturizing and far less harmful to the environment.  Plant-based ingredients are also very safe for your body, compared to cancer linked chemicals.  Although there is generally some effect on the environment when refining a plant-based product, there are many options for unrefined versions, as well.  Ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter and various oils have many advantages over petrolatum as effective moisturizers.  The use of actual herbs and essential oils as ingredients boost the effectiveness of all natural products, as well.  So, if you’ve never taken the time to find out the truth behind those pretty, colorful labels, there’s no time like the present!  They are a daily reminder of why the choice to live a more natural lifestyle is the right one!