The bad news is phthalates are unavoidable but with some education and awareness this chemical’s effect on your body and environment can play an incredibly small role. Pronounced THAL-ates, this group of chemicals are linked to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and cancer. They have been completely banned from cosmetics in the European Union, but still remain prevalent in U.S. and Canadian products. We firstly want to define phthalates, how you can avoid them and also give you the tools and knowledge of what to look for in a product that is safe.

What are Phthalates?

Phthalates come in a variety of shapes and forms but the ingredients most discussed in the chemical family are DBP, DEP, DEHP, DMP. “They are typically used in plastic food and beverage containers, as well as in food production, perfumes, insect repellents, hair sprays, nail polish, deodorants, fragrances, air fresheners and laundry detergents, carpet, vinyl floors, shower curtains, raincoats, plastic toys, plastic car parts, and hospital IV tubing and bags. Meats, cheeses, and other dairy products can also have high levels of phthalates, (source).” As you can witness they are essentially impossible to avoid but by being aware and limiting exposure negative repercussions on your health will be greatly diminished. Those most at risk are pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers as foreign chemicals can greatly impact their children.

How to Avoid Them:

Precautions can be made to limit phthalate exposure while also being aware of what ingredients to look for and what products have the highest levels. “A significant loophole in federal law allows phthalates (and other chemicals) to be added to fragrances without disclosure to consumers, (source).”

Below is a list of some of the easiest ways to limit phthalate exposure while also providing a loose guide of what to look for:

1. Anything labeled with fragrance or perfume on the label, contains phthalates. Most individuals find these ingredients to be the most prevalent in their body care products. Instead look for “phthalate-free” or “no synthetic fragrance” instead.
2. Switch to glass water bottles and food storage containers.
3. Check the code on your plastic bottles—3 and 7 may have phthalates.
4. Throw out old baby and children’s toys. Anything before 2008 is particularly at risk for higher phthalate levels.

Phthalates are a growing concern especially for vulnerable populations but progress is being made to raise awareness and educate companies along with consumers. “With a mountain of scientific evidence piling up on phthalates, it can’t be long before consumers begin to put pressure on retailers and retailers in turn push their suppliers to find both alternatives to phthalates and ways to remove the chemicals from their products altogether, (source).” Phthalates can simply be removed altogether from products, with no replacement and have little affect on the overall product. The only area that faces significant challenges is making soft, flexible plastics. With research going into polymers this group is not fair behind. “There are flexible polymers that don’t require a plasticizer – they exist, (source).”

Overall phthalates are a cause for concern but effects can be greatly reduced if not eliminated through eliminating some of the worst offenders. Consumers should ask questions and read labels to expand their understanding of the presence of phthalates in products. Positive change is taking place in growing markets and can be witnessed through green beauty movements and non toxic products. More questions about phthalates? http://thesalonmovement.com/

 

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“Organic,” “vegan,” and “natural,” are currently some of the beauty industry’s hottest buzzwords. We want to examine the discussion around the word “sustainability,” and how this word is applied to beauty markets. “Sustainable is the synonym of GREEN which refers to manufacturing processing as opposed to Natural and Organic ingredients that are categorized by agriculture, originating source or the lack of synthetic ingredients, (source).” The global demand for organic personal care products is rapidly growing and has given way to conversations about individual beauty products origins and impact on the environment. “Labels such as “100% Natural,” “Organic” and “Environment-Friendly” are no longer enough to convince consumers of a beauty product’s sustainability, (source).”

Greenwashing: The growing demand for sustainable beauty products has led to some beauty brands and marketers resorting to something called “greenwashing.” Green washing is the false advertisement of a product to be “green,” or “sustainable,” when in reality the ingredients don’t reflect that.

Consumers must be aware of what makes a beauty product truly sustainable in order to make informed purchasing decisions. “Green washing is when a company, government or other group promotes green-based environmental initiatives or images but actually operates in a way that is damaging to the environment or in an opposite manner to the goal of the announced initiatives, (source).”

Terminologies: This is one of the most important sections we want to emphasize. Do your homework when it comes to terminology used on and in personal care products. Just because a company labels themselves as “green,” “organic,” or “sustainable,” this may not be entirely true. “A manufacturer, for instance, may label its shampoo as “Made from 100% Natural Ingredients” without presenting evidence that it is, in fact, made entirely from natural substances, (source).”

Sustainable Products + Formulating: The ingredients are the basis for what makes a product truly sustainable. When looking for sustainable beauty pay close attention to the toxicity level of the product. Parabens and Sulfates are the two biggest offenders that are commonly found in a variety of products even “green,” ones. Parabens are listed as methyl paraben, ethylparaben and isobutyl paraben, which are proven carcinogens. Sulfates ont eh other hand are commonly listed as sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate which are both known allergens. Another important aspect to sustainable products is their formulation.

“Cold process formulations save time and energy, (source).” One of the best ways that companies can produce sustainable products is formulating powdered products that require customer’s to simply add water. “This saves on shipping costs since water and carriers are heavy, use more energy to store, and do not have as long of a shelf life as freeze dried or powdered materials, (source).”

We strongly encourage consumers to investigate the brands that they are using on their bodies and also ask important questions about the origins of their ingredients. The deeper more probing questions that should be asked after that are is the product’s packaging sustainable? Were the ingredients responsibly sourced? Is the product tested on animals? Was the product created under safe working conditions? “Sustainability aims to address environmental issues as well as social and governance issues, (source).” Davines is one of the leaders of the sustainable beauty movement and hopes to inspire other companies to take the leap and go truly green as well. More questions about sustainable beauty? Email us at kurtis @ designhousesalon.com or info @ thebhivesalon.com!

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Did you know that salons and sustainability can go hand in hand? Enter Green Circle Salons who make it their business to address the waste of the styling industry. Founder and CEO, Shane Price, was appalled at the amount of waste that was being generated by salons “not only is it bad for the environment, in Canada, you pay a fee for every bag of trash you need picked up,(source).” This led him to further investigate into how the waste generated in salons could be put to good use. “Founded in Toronto in 2009, the organization has quickly expanded across the country and into the U.S. and set up a regional office in B.C. two years ago, (source).” More than 3200 salons are already on board and Price wants the entire industry on board by 2020. Green Circle Salons focus on three pillars: helping salons be genuinely green, helping them build revenue and helping them gain new clients through its green salon directory.

Going Green

Green Circle Salons truly saw a basic need and facilitated a positive change to benefit the environment and salon owners themselves. If you’re a salon owner and you walk into a recycler with one big bag of foils, that recycler will refuse to recycle them. “Many salon owners keep their businesses “green” through recycling, LED lighting, energy conservation and other eco-friendly practices. But there are still a lot of materials that go to waste every day, including hair, leftover color and foils, (source).” According to the Green Circle Salon they “collect, recycle & repurpose your salon or spa’s hair, foils, colour-tubes, papers and plastics, glass, spa waste AND divert excess hair chemicals from being rinsed down the drain, (source). Green Circle makes weekly rounds to collect hair, paper, plastic, metals, and chemicals. The foils and plastics are then cleaned and recycled, while the chemicals are sent to a chemical-waste plant. What about the hair you might ask? It’s being diverted from the landfill and being made into oil-absorbing booms for oil-spill containment by inmates at the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women in Maple Ridge. They are paid to stuff the hair into used stockings which not only benefits them but also is an amazing resource for oil control .

After a salon signs on with Green Circle Salons a representative from Green Circle Salons will come in and do a 45-minute orientation with the team. “We explain that being green means you’ll recycle hair clippings, foils, chemicals, paper, plastic, batteries, lights—that’s 85 to 95 percent of salon waste we’re able to divert,(source).”

The Salon Movement understands that as an entrepreneur you understand that every interaction with a client or a potential client is a chance to leverage towards fulfilling your goals. So whatever the reason you want to be a eco-friendly salon … it is a great one! Contact us to find out more on how you can become a Green Circle Salon and how you can join the conversation about the sustainable movement!

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Perfume and cologne can be two of the worst culprits when it comes to detoxifying your body since they are not natural fragrances. They may be your favorite way to freshen up or cover yourself with an intoxicating aroma, but did you know they contain phathlates? Phathaltes are a group of chemicals that are added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. Perfumes are full of these groups of chemicals and the Canadian Cancer society encourages consumers to check their labels. “Check the ingredients list for dibutyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate, (source).” Just checking your labels may not be enough as “it is quite worrisome that fragrance companies don’t have to list their ingredients because they’re considered trade secrets, (source).” Phathlates have been linked to interfering with hormone function, insulin resistance, kidney and liver failure and also cause reproductive defects. Fragrance can mean a cocktail of up to 3,000 different ingredients and most have not been tested for safety. We’ve taken some of the guesswork and fear out for you as doing your own research can be incredibly difficult. We choose to stick to essential oils blends as the most natural and stress-free options. “If only more people knew just how toxic these stinky perfumes are to their bodies, (source).” Below are a list of fragrances that not only smell amazing but are also great for the mind+body connection:

 

Lavender: Is a go-to scent for relaxation, and restoring calm to the mind and body almost instantly. “In a study of 42 college women, research found that the fragrance effectively eased sleep problems and depression in the participants, (source,).”

 

Citrus: This is one of our favorite scents to wear all over. Lemon, key lime, and pink grapefruit combinations are uplifting and energizing. “Simply sniffing the fruit can help boost energy and alertness, (source).”

Peppermint: “If you are shocked, stressed out or nervous, peppermint oil may help restore feelings of normalcy and balance (source).” You can easily add peppermint oil to body lotions, carrier oils such as sweet almond oil or to the bath to repair imbalance and stimulate mood.

Jasmine: Jasmine has been found to have a  “stimulating effect and can aid in the relief of depression and lead to an uplifted mood, (source,).” These tiny flowers pack a big floral punch and can be worn alone or with wild orange or sandalwood.

 

A great place to start is to choose a blend of essential oils that appeal to you and then choose a carrier oil (such as sweet almond or jojoba) to dilute your desired scents. When you apply essential oils topically you always want to ensure you dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil as to avoid possibly burning your skin. This is especially true if you already know you have sensitive skin. Using a roller ball application is another added benefit as makes the transition over from conventional perfumes easier than ever. Here at the SalonMovement we believe in natural alternatives that are healthy for not only your body but for our planet as well.

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