Arbonne Company--Mislead information!!!!
I am 50 yrs. old and I had decided that I
wanted to switch all my cosmetics to an organic cosmetic line for
health reasons. I read that chemical laden products that we put on our
bodies act as xenoestrogens and can affect/disrupt your hormonal
balance. I am menopausal and have menopausal side effects still and felt
that changing to an organic cosmetic line would not only be more
healthy, but help decrease the possibility of my menopausal symptoms. I
was also interested in changing all my house cleaning products, lotions,
soaps to an organic line as well. Personally, I know someone who works
for the Arbonne Company and she highly recommended their products since
she stated that they were organic, and did not have the chemical laden
toxic ingredients in them that the other non-organic companies have in
their cosmetic line. She gave me the Arbonne Catalogue which is very
detailed and has a lot of information in it about their “pure, safe and
botanical” products. The first sentence in the Arbonne catalogue states
“Arbonne is a highly regarded, premium brand with a Swiss heritage. The
products are healthy, botanically based and inspired by nature.” To me
this sounded impressive and inspiring, and gave me the encouragement to
invest in what I thought was a highly reputable company that offered
non-toxic, chemical free, natural, safe, pure products for their
customers. Initially the representative of the Arbonne Company in my
area gave me free samples of some of the Arbonne products—Facial
Cleanser, Restorative Day Crème with SPF 20, Regenerative Toner, Night
Repair Creme, Intensive Renewal Serum. I loved the fruity smell of these
products and they felt so refreshing on my skin and I thought that I
was putting healthy non toxic chemical free organic products on my face.
These cosmetic products are extremely expensive, but I felt that it was
worth spending the extra money since I thought I was investing in
myself and providing the best high quality of non toxic, chemical free
pure safe organic products for my face and body, and as a result I would
be healthier. The ingredient list of the Arbonne products are an
amazing array of healthy pure safe ingredients such as sea buckthorn
oil, marine lavender extract, beech tree bud extract, algae extract,
alfalfa seed extract pineapple, papaya enzymes, orange fruit extract,
and on and on. The list of healthy organic ingredients for the Arbonne
products is more than impressive and there is a list of all of them on
three pages near the back of the Arbonne Catalogue. There are a total of
211 healthy non-toxic chemical free botanical substances that Arbonne
uses in their products, some only have three or four of them in one
product, but this list entails all the different substances that may be
used in certain products. Plus, on page 10 of the Arbonne catalogue,
they state that their “PRIOMISE is to deliver pure, safe and beneficial
products in line with our botanical tradition.” On this particular page
they state that their products are formulated without: animal products
or animal by products, parabens, formaldehyde-donating preservatives,
petroleum-based ingredients such as benzene, mineral oil, petrolatum,
phthalates, toluene, and no artificial colors, artificial flavours,
artificial sweeteners, animal products, animal by-products, cholesterol,
tans fats.” All of this from a consumer’s point of view sounds enticing
and I felt encouraged to invest in their products. I informed the
representative of the Arbonne Company from my area that I wanted to
order the following products for myself--Makeup Primer, Concealer, Sheer
Pressed Powder, Blush, eyeshadow,and eyeliner. During the next two
weeks I started to investigate further about the ingredients listed in
the Arbonne Products. One thing I noticed was that most of the Arbonne
products only list their KEY ingredients which of course was all the
healthy botanical, pure, safe, non toxic chemical free substances, but
no other ingredients which I found odd. Secondly, in most of the SPF
products the KEY ingredients and the ACTIVE ingredients were listed, and
that’s when I noticed in the ACTIVE ingredients certain substances that
not only was it difficult to pronounce the words, but difficult to
remember how to spell them as well. This is when I began to investigate
what these particular ingredients were, and what affect they have on our
bodies and our health. I discovered that The Arbonne SPF products have
toxic carcinogenic ingredients in them which are known as oxybenzone,
homosolate, octinoxate also known as octylmethoxycinnamate, and
octocrylene ingredients, and will be further discussed below.
The following information about this
particular toxic chemical—OXYBENZONE was obtained from the internet, and
I was surprised to read about its deleterious effects on our bodies.
Remember, that this is only ONE out of the four harmful substances that
the Arbonne Company uses in their SPF products. According to an article
on the internet “Avoid Oxybenzone when Buying Sunscreen” it states “of
additional concern is that the surface area of a child’s skin relative
to body weight is greater than that of adults, meaning they stand to
absorb more of the chemical.” April 8, 2009.
A new study by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) in May 18, 2009 reveals that 97% of Americans are
contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called OXYBENZONE
that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. A
companion study published just one day earlier revealed that this
chemical is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are
exposed during pregnancy. Oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a
chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.
View name-brand products that contain OXYBENZONE
• Sunscreens (588 products)
• facial moisturizer/treatment
• other products with SPF
• lip balm
• lipstick
• moisturizer
• anti-agin creams
• conditioner
• fragrance for women
Although oxybenzone is most common in sunscreen, companies also use the chemical in at least 567 other personal care products.
Environmental Working GroupEWG identified
nearly 600 sunscreens sold in the U.S. that contain oxybenzone,
including products by Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Banana Boat (see
the full list of 588 sunscreens here) as well as 172 facial
moisturizers, 111 lip balms, and 81 different types of lipstick.
The Food and Drug Administration has
failed miserably in its duty to protect the public from toxic chemicals
like oxybenzone in personal care products. At the request of industry
lobbyists, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who
represented the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association, the agency
has delayed final sunscreen safety standards for nearly 30 years. FDA
issued a new draft of the standards last October under pressure from
EWG, but continues to delay finalizing them at the behest of the
regulated industry.
EWG research shows that 84% of 910
name-brand sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun,
or contain ingredients, like oxybenzone, with significant safety
concerns.
The last safety review for oxybenzone was
done in the 1970s, and does not reflect a wealth of information
developed since that time indicating increased toxicity concerns and
widespread human exposure. A recent review in the European Union found
that sufficient data were not available to assess if oxybenzone in
sunscreen was safe for consumers.
Environmental Working Group again calls
on FDA to review the safety of oxybenzone, given this new data on
widespread contamination of the U.S. population, and to finalize its
sunscreen safety standards so that consumers can be certain that
sunscreen products they purchase are safe and effective.
CDC study of oxybenzone signals concern
Top scientists from CDC published results
March 21, 2008 from a national survey of 2,500 Americans, age 6 and up,
showing that oxybenzone readily absorbs into the body and is present in
97% of Americans tested (Calafat 2008). Oxybenzone, also known as
benzophenone-3, was detected in the urine of nearly every study
participant. Typically, women and girls had higher levels of oxybenzone
in their bodies than men and boys, likely a result of differences in use
of body care products including sunscreens.
A companion study released a day earlier
revealed that mothers with high levels of oxybenzone in their bodies
were more likely to give birth to underweight baby girls (Wolff 2008).
Low birth weight is a critical risk factor linked to coronary heart
disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases in adulthood
(Lau 2004).
Oxybenzone damages and penetrates the skin
Among common sunscreen chemicals,
oxybenzone is most likely to be associated with allergic reactions
triggered by sun exposure. In a study of 82 patients with photoallergic
contact dermatitis, over one quarter showed photoallergic reactions to
oxybenzone (Rodriguez 2006); another study reported 1 in 5 allergic
reactions to photopatch tests resulted from exposure to oxybenzone
(Bryden 2006).
Sunlight also causes oxybenzone to form
free radical chemicals that may be linked to cell damage, according to 2
of 3 studies (Allen 1996; Serpone 2002; Hanson 2006).
A less visible but more alarming concern,
this chemical absorbs through the skin in significant amounts, as
indicated by the CDC study. A previous biomonitoring study reported that
96% of 6 to 8 year old girls had detectable amounts of oxybenzone in
their urine (Wolff 2007). An earlier study detected oxybenzone in the
urine of all 30 adult participants (Ye 2005).
Studies on human volunteers indicate a
wide variation in the level of oxybenzone absorbed into the body, with
some individuals absorbing at least 9% of the applied dose, as measured
in excretions in urine (Hayden 1997; Janjua 2004; Sarveiya 2004;
Gonzalez 2006). Volunteers continued to excrete oxybenzone many days
after the last application of the chemical, an indication of its
tendency to accumulate in fatty tissues in the body (Gonzalez 2006).
In addition to its ability to absorb into
the body, oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that
helps other chemicals penetrate the skin (Pont 2004).
Oxybenzone may disrupt the human hormone system
Studies on cells and laboratory animals
indicate that oxybenzone and its metabolites, the chemicals the body
makes from oxybenzone in an attempt to detoxify and excrete it, may
disrupt the hormone system. Under study conditions, oxybenzone and its
metabolites cause weak estrogenic (Nakagawa 2002; Schlumpf 2001, 2004;
Kunz 2006; van Liempd 2007) and anti-androgenic (Ma 2003) effects.
Oxybenzone displays additive hormonal effects when tested with other
sunscreen chemicals (Heneweer 2005). Laboratory study also suggests that
oxybenzone may affect the adrenal hormone system (Ziolkowska 2006).
One human study coapplying 3 sunscreen
active ingredients (oxybenzone, 4-MBC, and octinoxate) suggested a
minor, intermittent, but statistically significant drop in testosterone
levels in men during a one-week application period (Janjua 2004).
Researchers also detected statistically significant declines in
estradiol levels in men; other hormonal differences detected could not
be linked to sunscreen use due to differences in baseline hormone levels
before and during treatment.
Outdated health protections do not take into account these and other adverse effects
A 2006 European Union review concluded
that a rigorous exposure assessment of oxybenzone was impossible, due to
lack of information about the levels of absorption into the body (SCCP
2006). The levels of contamination reported in this latest CDC study
indicate that absorption may be significant, consistent with previous,
small-scale biomonitoring reports. A decades-old evaluation by FDA, as
well as more recent review by the cosmetics industry’s own safety panel,
do not consider concerns regarding hormone disruption, nor the
implications of the ability of oxybenzone to penetrate the skin (USPC
1975; FDA 1978; CIR 1983, 2002). At present, no health-based standards
exist for safe levels of oxybenzone in the body.
Additional cautions must be employed when
considering the effects of oxybenzone on children. The surface area of a
child's skin relative to body weight is greater than adults. As a
result, the potential dose of a chemical following dermal exposure is
likely to be about 1.4 times greater in children than in adults (SCCNFP
2001). In addition, children are less able than adults to detoxify and
excrete chemicals, and children's developing organ systems are more
vulnerable to damage from chemical exposures, and more sensitive to low
levels of hormonally active compounds (NAS 1993; Janjua 2004). Children
also have more years of future life in which to develop disease
triggered by early exposure to chemicals (NAS 1993). Despite these
well-documented concerns regarding children's sensitivity to harmful
substances, no special protections exist regarding ingredients in
personal care products marketed for babies and children.
The fraction of oxybenzone that is not
absorbed into the human body often contaminates water, washed from the
skin during swimming and water play or while bathing (Lambropolou 2002;
Danovaro 2008). Wastewater treatment removes only a fraction of this
sunscreen chemical (Li 2007), resulting in detection of oxybenzone in
treated wastewater, in lake and sea waters due to recreational use or to
discharges from water treatment facilities, and even in fish (Balmer
2005; Cuderman 2007; Li 2007). Studies show oxybenzone can trigger
outbreaks of viral infection in coral reefs (Danovaro 2008), and can
cause feminization of male fish (Kunz 2006). Despite significant
ecological concerns, there are no measures in place to protect sensitive
ecosystems from damage caused by this contaminant.
EWG Environmental Working Group to FDA: Oxybenzone investigation is long overdue
FDA last reviewed the safety of
oxybenzone in the 1970s (USPC 1975), republishing its evaluation in
1978, at the same time it announced plans to develop comprehensive
standards for sunscreen safety and effectiveness (FDA 1978). 30 years
later, the Agency has yet to issue final regulations. Instead, it
encourages manufacturers to follow draft guidelines that the Agency has
delayed finalizing at the behest of the sunscreen industry. As a result,
sunscreen manufacturers in the U.S. are free to market products
containing ingredients like oxybenzone that have not been proven safe
for people.
Found in over half of the 910 name-brand
sunscreen products we reviewed, oxybenzone is tied to significant health
concerns that must be scrutinized. Instead, FDA’s refusal to re-examine
this ingredient keeps sunscreens containing oxybenzone on the market.
Petitions for review of newly developed sunscreen ingredients approved
for use in other countries, and with far fewer health concerns, have
been met with similar inattention, blocking Americans’ access to better
products.
Urine tests show that it sticks around.
In 2008, the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention conducted a
similar experiment on a national scale, and found the chemical compound
to be present in 96.8% of the human urine samples surveyed. As a
result, it is recommended that parents keep their small children from
using products containing the ingredient oxybenzone.FDA foot-dragging
has left the U.S. without enforceable standards for sunscreen safety and
effectiveness for decades. EWG demands that FDA finalize the latest
version of its monograph on sunscreen products immediately, and launch
an investigation into the safety of the sunscreen ingredient
oxybenzone.”
Safety measures/side effects from the article: Truth in Aging
As a photocarcinogen, it’s demonstrated
an increase in the production of harmful free radicals and an ability to
attack DNA cells; for this reason, it is believed to be a contributing
factor in the recent rise of melanoma cases with sunscreen users. Some
studies have shown it to behave similarly to the hormone estrogen,
suggesting that it may cause breast cancer. It has also been linked to
contact eczema.
For many years, the dangers were ignored
on the assumption that oxybenzone didn't get absorbed by the skin. A
team of researchers in Australia, led by Cameron Hayden, demonstrated
otherwise using commercially available sunscreen with a 6% concentration
of oxybenzone. Haydon's conclusion: the use of oxybenzone is
inadvisable for large surface area application for extended and repeated
periods.” May 18, 2009.
Another chemical laden product that is
found in the Arbonne SPF products is HOMOSOLATE which is a :synthetic
sunscreen ingredient and UVB protector. Research indicates it is a weak
hormone disruptor, forms toxic metabolites, and can enhance the
penetration of a toxic herbicide.” found on the internet: EWG.
OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE: third component in SPF Arbonne products
• Topical octyl-methoxycinnamate is
absorbed by the body, as indicated in a study conducted by the
Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen and published in the July 2004 issue
of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. When used topically for two
weeks, octyl-methoxycinnamate was detectable in urine.
Cancer
• Octyl-methoxycinnamate increased proliferation of breast cancer cells
during a study conducted by the
University of Zurich in Switzerland and published in the March 2001
issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
Hormonal Activity
The Zurich study also found evidence of
estrogenic activity associated with octyl-methoxycinnamate, along with
increases in uterine weight in rats. The Bispebjerg Hospital study noted
minor differences in testosterone levels associated with
octyl-methoxycinnamate use. Side Effects of Octyl-Methoxycinnamate.
Octyl-methoxycinnamate is a common active ingredient in topical
sunscreen products. Also called ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and
octinoxate.
OCTOCRYLENE:
This organic compound, Octocrylene can
penetrate into the skin where it acts as a photosensitizer. This results
in an increased production of free radicals under illumination.[2] Free
radicals are known to induce indirect DNA damage and an increased
concentration of free radicals might have contributed to the increased
incidence of malignant melanoma in sunscreen-users compared to non-users
found on Wikipedia
Other HIGH concerns: Biochemical or
cellular level changes; Other MODERATE concerns: Persistence and
bioaccumulation; Other LOW concerns: Ecotoxicology
About OCTOCRYLENE: Octocrylene is a
synthetic UV absorber and sunscreen agent; may be used in combination
with other UV absorbers to achieve higher SPF formulas. It produces
oxygen radicals when exposed to UV light.
Safety Measures/Side Effects:
Octocrylene can penetrate into the skin
and act as a photosensitizer, resulting in an increased production of
free radicals. Free radicals can induce indirect DNA damage and
potentially contribute to the increased incidence of malignant melanoma
in sunscreen-users compared to non-users, according to Wikipedia.” The
CosmeticsDatabase finds Octocrylene to be a “moderate hazard, due to
potential reproductive toxicity and the above mentioned potential
carcinogenic side effects.”
After further investigation I also
noticed that the full ingredient list for Arbonne products is not in
their catalogue nor on their web site. However, when you check their web
site the Arbonne Company does list MORE of the ingredients in their
products than in the Catalogue, but I did notice that there are EVEN
MORE ingredients listed on the box that the product is packaged in. I
did call the representative that I dealt with in my area, and she
informed me that the FULL list of ingredients is listed on the boxes
that the products are packaged in which is not very useful, considering
that most customers would throw the boxes out. Personally I would rely
on the actual product container for information about the ingredients or
the Arbonne Catalogue, and/or the Arbonne web site which all fail to
enlist ALL the ingredients. However, I still had some of the boxes and
that was when I noticed a chemically toxic harmful ingredient in some of
the facial products after further investigation, in particular with the
Arbonne Makeup Primer and Sheer Pressed Powder. The chemical in
question that I investigated on line in both of these Arbonne products
is known as PHENOXYETHANOL. “According to a warning by the FDA of 2008
"Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics
and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may
cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants".
“Phenoxyethanol is made out of
carcinogenic and toxic compounds, phenoxyethanol is an ingredient that I
would suggest avoiding. Oftentimes it's found in "natural" products.
They'll use phenoxyethanol as the preservative and then tout that
they're "paraben-free." In addition it's commonly used as a fragrance
ingredient. Many of the natural companies still use synthetic fragrance.
Some companies may claim that their phenoxyethanol is extracted from
natural sources. So, while this is better because it lessens the risk
for ethylene oxide contamination, it is still the same chemical
structurally, and would pose the same risks. They'll tout that they're
"phthalate-free" but still contain phenoxyethanol. So, just because
something's "phlalate-free" or "paraben-free" doesn't mean it's safe.
Any time you see "fragrance" listed, phenoxyethanol could be present,
along with any number of harmful synthetic chemicals. Phenoxyethanol is
structurally similar to parabens on a chemical level, so its toxicity to
the reproductive system is not surprising.” Chemical of the Day:
Feb.28,2011. However, in the Arbonne catalogue they state: “As part of
our ongoing commitment to ingredient excellence, we have been successful
in replacing parabens by using other safe and effective preservation
systems. We will continue to bring to market top-quality products that
are carefully reviewed to meet our high standards of purity.”
What we put on our bodies is very
important and can have either a positive or negative effect, especially
when it comes to applying topical products to our bodies. Applying
nutrient rich natural skin care products to our bodies instead of
chemically toxic products will allow us to have healthier skin and make
us have healthier bodies as well. Our skin absorbs 60% of these
nutrients - that's a better absorption rate than what you'll get from
your daily vitamins which is only about 10-20%.
The following was on the internet-Eco
Voice.com and the article was titled, How much does the Skin absorb?
“Our skin, the largest eliminatory organ in the body and our first line
of immunity, is permeable to all chemicals. Medical research shows that
significant amounts of cosmetic ingredients, including carcinogenic
substances, penetrate the skin and end up in the blood stream. Many
chemicals in cosmetics don’t cause obvious signs of toxicity on the skin
but slowly poison us thorough repeated use. Today, the administration
of drugs and medicines is often through transdermal skin patches. This
has been shown to be up to 95% more effective than oral medication.
However, cosmetic manufacturers are not supposed to claim that the skin
absorbs their products. If they did the products would be labelled a
drug and governed by much stricter regulations. This is both good and
bad for us. Good because it means our skin can be fed, nourished and
treated from the outside with some wonderful substances.Yes! Like fresh
goat’s milk soaps, Jojoba-Shea lotions without petroleum products…Bad
because it means we can absorb commonly used cosmetic ingredients that
would never be allowed to be taken orally as a food or drug, through our
skin.” May 31, 2008.
Personally, I feel that consumers should
NOT have to go to the lengths that I did to find out what is REALLY in
the Arbonne products. Companies should be held accountable for their
statements especially if they are stating that their products are safe,
chemically free, non toxic, botanically healthy and pure which is NOT
true after my investigation into some of the Arbonne products. On page
10 of the Arbonne Catalogue, they state: “Arbonne rigorously adheres to
the regulations for all natural health products and non-prescription
drugs including pre-market notification, strict labeling requirements,
mandatory adverse event reporting, and ensures that Good Manufacturing
Practices GMP as well as appropriate facility registration are followed.
Before Arbonne brings any products to market, we ensure all ingredients
undergo rigorous safety assessments, and finished formulas pass strict
safety testing to ensure their highest quality. These safety tests
include irritancy and allergy testing for all products, ophthalmology
testing for eye products, dermatologist testing for all beauty products
and additional pediatrician testing for baby products. Arbonne offers
premium quality beauty, health and wellness products with targeted
results.”
On Dec.1, 2012, I had e-mailed a
representative named Stacey from the Arbonne Company web site and I
asked her what organic percentage the Arbonne products are and she
e-mailed me back and stated, “100% organic.” This is someone who is a
representative of the Arbonne Company, and her statement is totally
false and very misleading. I did send another e-mail on Dec.4, 2012 to a
different representative, Melinda Gibson, Arbonne Customer Service who
responded with the following information with regard to my
questions---What is the organic percentage of your products, are you
Ecocert certified, and thirdly, where is the full ingredient list for
each of your products? Melinda Gibson responded with the following
e-mail.
“Thank you for your interest in Arbonne.
It is my pleasure to assist you with your inquiry regarding full
ingredient lists and the organic percentage of our products. Arbonne
Product Development’s line of thinking along these lines is to heighten
our environmental awareness. When available, and sustainable without
shortage issues, organic will be better, especially in our commitment to
avoid GMO. Note that this is only part of the pure, safe, beneficial
“picture”, if you will. Organic does not guarantee purity or safety, but
is more beneficial to the farming environment. Science, and testing to
ensure purity and safety, is critical. So we need to proceed forward on
many fronts. Certain ingredients will never be Organic. They are wild
crafted, such as, for example, Eucalyptus in Australia. So in short,
Arbonne will continue our plant-based science enhanced commitment. The
key is traceability from soil to our bottle. Some Arbonne ingredients
are organic, but not the finished products. These ingredients are found
mainly in the cosmetics, where organic plant extracts are used. We are
pleased to offer product information, including ingredients to all
potential Clients and Preferred Clients who access the Arbonne website.
Potential Clients and Preferred Clients may access this information by
following the steps below:
1. Access the Arbonne website at www.arbonne.com (or www.arbonne.ca for Canada
2. Click on The Products3. Select the Product Category
Access to the Product Line will be displayed with information about the product and its ingredients.”
For those of you who are not familiar
with the abbreviated GMO, I have a definition which was obtained from
the web site called, “Shop Orgnaic & ShopGMO Free.”
What is a GMO?
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a
plant or animal whose genetic material has been altered using genetic
engineering (GE) techniques. This technology combines DNA from different
species, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral
genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.
Nearly all commercial GMO’s are designed to withstand direct application
of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide, resulting in using more
pesticides as weeds and bugs develop resistance to them.”
As I had already mentioned earlier the
full ingredient list is NOT on their website. It is on the boxes that
the products are packaged in and that’s where I found more of the toxic
chemicals in the Arbonne product line so this comment by the Arbonne
Customer Service is false and very midleading. Secondly, she did not
even answer my initial question which was --What is the organic
percentage in the Arbonne product line? I sent another e-mail on Dec.5,
2012, again requesting the organic percentage in the Arbonne products,
and I received another e-mail from a different Arbonne Customer Service
representative which is entailed below from Pam A.
“Thank you for your e-mail. We can
appreciate your concern about the percentage of organic ingredients used
in our products. I am happy to address your concerns. Arbonne is unable
to provide the information you have requested. The botanical
ingredients used in Arbonne's products are organic, from the perspective
of having been grown without harmful chemicals or pesticides. Not all
ingredients are available as organic which is why we cannot make such a
claim that all ingredients are organic or that our products are
certified organic. Arbonne Cosmetics are not genetically engineered, nor
are they 100% organic; however, the botanicals that were used in the
formulas are organic. Below are the ingredients that are Eco-cert
Certified and Organically Cultivated Plants certified by Bio-Suisse:
Marrubium Vulgare Extract
Buddleja Davidii Extract
Thymus Vulgaris Extract
Scutellaria Alpine Flower/Leaf Extract
All of our other products cannot be
claimed to be 100% organic - our policy is to use organic ingredients
whenever possible. Sometimes, we find that the best quality ingredients
are not the organic ones, so we use the ingredients of the higher
quality which are not organic in those cases.
Regards,
Pam A. Arbonne Customer Service”
______________________________________
reading the e-mail from the Arbonne Customer Service Representative, I
went on-line to inquire about the requirements to be considered
Bio-Suisse and Eco-Cert Certified. Below are the standards and
requirements that I obtained on-line to be considered Bio-Suisse
Certfied.
BIO-SUISSE
“THE BUD LABEL STANDS FOR
• Natural diversity on the organic farm
• Ethologically sound livestock management and feeding
• No use of chemically synthesized pesticides or fertilizers
• No use of genetic engineering
• No use of unnecessary additives such as flavourings and colourings
• Non-aggressive processing of foodstuffs
• inspection of organic production and processing
REPRESENTATION OF INTERESTS
As the body which represents the
interests of Swiss organic farmers and awards the label, Bio Suisse has a
demanding dual role, which strongly shapes the Association's
activities. Communication within the Association is therefore very
important.
LABEL PREMIUMAND MARKET ACCESS
The principal benefit for organic farms
is the label premium, i.e. the 15 - 50% higher prices that organic
farmers earn for their produce. Secondly, they benefit from the
measurable progress in improving market access for the Bud: a new
Bud-labelled product appears almost daily, continuously expanding the
position of Swiss organic products in the food market.
GROWING BRAND RECOGNITION
Thanks to extraordinary efforts (TV
advertisements, trade fairs, posters, public relations work, improvement
of product quality) the Bud label has pulled into second place, and now
ranks directly behind Coop's own Naturaplan label for brand
recognition.
A representative survey by the market
research institute IHA showed that by the end of December 2003, over 70%
of Swiss citizens were familiar with the Bud label.”
Bio Suisse
Margarethenstrasse 87
CH-4053 Basel
Switzerland
Telephone: ++41 (0) 61 385 96 10, Fax: ++41 (0) 61 385 96 11
Email: bio at bio-suisse dot ch
Furthermore, I also obtained information
from on-line that outline the requirements and standards to be
considered Eco-Cert Certified.
ECOCERT CERTIFICATION
“Ecocert was the very first certification body to develop standards for "natural and organic cosmetics".
Introduced in 2003, the specification was
drawn up in conjunction with all stakeholders in the value chain, i.e.
experts, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, consumers and
development organisations. Ecocert currently supports and guides more
than 1,000 companies through their certification processes.
The basic principles of the Ecocert standard
To ensure an environmentally friendly cosmetic product, the Ecocert standard lays down:
1. The use of ingredients derived from
renewable resources, manufactured by environmentally friendly processes.
Ecocert therefore checks:
• The absence of GMO, parabens,
phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicon, PEG, synthetic perfumes and
dyes, animal-derived ingredients (unless naturally produced by them:
milk, honey, etc.).
• The biodegradable or recyclable nature of packaging.
2. A minimum threshold of natural ingredients from organic farming to be reached to obtain certification:
• For both labels, Ecocert Standard imposes that a minimum of 95% of the total ingredients come from natural origin.
• For the natural and organic cosmetic label:
A minimum of 95% of all plant-based
ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 10% of all ingredients by
weight must come from organic farming.
For the NATURAL COSMETIC LABEL:
A minimum of 50% of all plant-based
ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 5% of all ingredients by
weight must come from organic farming.
/!: Some ingredients very frequently
found in cosmetics (water, salts, minerals) cannot be certified as
organic because they are not sourced from farming. For example, shampoos
and some creams, mostly composed of water, contain between 10% and 40%
organic ingredients, and always 95% natural ingredients. An essential
oil, which does not contain water, can be up to 100% organic
ingredients. On site audit is performed by Ecocert auditor.
CONTACTS
Eastern Office
71, St-Onesime
Levis, (Quebec) Canada
G6V 5Z4
T: (418) 838-6941 (418) 838-6941
F: (418) 838-9823
• For Information: office.canada@ecocert.com
• Accounting: Nancy Roy nancy.roy@ecocert.com
• Director: France Gravel france.gravel@ecocert.com
• Certification Coordinator: Darie Lavigne darie.lavigne@ecocert.com
• Customer Service: Caroline Levesque caroline.levesque@ecocert.com
Ontario Office
42 Preston Street
Guelph, ON
N1H 3C3
T: 519-265-3319 519-265-3319
F: 418-838-9823
• Simon Jacques: simon.jacques@ecocert.com
Western Office
# 1 Silver stream road Box 2293
Tisdale, SK
S0E 1T0
T: 306-873-2207 306-873-2207
F: 306-873-4941
• Russell Plamondon : rusty.plamondon@ecocert.com
• Useful information:
- Ecocert practical guides
- The natural and organic cosmetics certification procedure
- The certification process for natural and organic cosmetics
• Standard:
- Ecocert standard
• List:
- Ecocert Greenlife operators
>> List of approved raw materials for natural and organic cosmetics
>> List of raw materials certified by Ecocert according to Ecocert and Cosmos standards
Contacts:
Ecocert Greenlife SAS, Cosmetic Department
If you wish to apply for the
certification of your products, please fill in our contact form, call
our customer service at + 33 (0) 5 62 07 51 07 or send us an email:
contact@ecocert.com
For any other requests, please call +33 (0) 5 62 07 51 09 or send us an email: cosmetiques@ecocert.com
Below is an e-mail that I sent to France
Gravel, Director of Eco-Certified with my concerns and issues with
regard to the Arbonne Company who are stating that they are
Eco-Certified which seems questionable, considering the above standards
and requirements.
To France Gravel, Director of Eco-Certified, Dec. 6, 2012
I was reading about your web site,
Eco-cert Certified, and noted that you have strict regulations with
regard to being labelled as certified by Eco-Cert with regards to
allowable ingredients in products which I think is very commendable and
makes me as a consumer feel safe and protected. I was wondering if it is
possible to award a Cosmetic Company the Eco-cert certification label
when they not only have healthy safe pure natural organic ingredients in
their cosmetic line, but have also added unsafe unhealthy toxic
chemically laden ingredients in their cosmetic line such as
phenoxyethanol, avebenzone, homosolate, octinoxate, and octocylene. I
personally have been doing a lot of research and investigation into the
various ingredients in the Arbonne Company's cosmetic line who stated
that they are Eco-Cert Certified and Bio-Suisse Certified, and yet they
have toxic, chemically laden unsafe, not pure and very unhealthy
ingredients in their products, but yet the Arbonne company states in
their catalogue that their 'Promise is to deliver pure, safe and
beneficial products in line with our botanical tradition." I attached
the letters that I sent to the Arbonne Company and the Arbonne
Representative’s responses as already indicated earlier. My letter to
Frances Gravel futher stated the following----Just to let you know they
do have some amazing incredible healthy ingredients in their cosmetic
line as well like kiwi, beech tree, aloe, pineapple, mango green tea,
grape seed, cucumber, and on and on up to 211 different healthy
ingredients are mentioned, but they also have some of these other toxic
unhealthy ingredients in their line. Unfortunately, the Arbonne company
has very misleading information when it comes to listing their
ingredients in their products. First of all when you check the
ingredients in their catalogue, they list the KEY ingredients only in
most of them which is of course, all the healthy pure safe natural
ingredients, and then in other products they will list the both the Key
ingredients and Active ingredients. In their SPF product line where they
listed the Active ingredients, I discovered that there are toxic,
chemically laden unsafe and not pure ingredients, but they also list the
pure safe non toxic ingredients as well. However, if you go to their
web site to check the ingredient list, then there is a more extensive
list of ingredients, but these tend to be very healthy and not
chemically laden nor toxic. And yet, when you compare the ingredient
list on the packaged box that their product line comes in, then there
are even more ingredients listed and that is where I noticed that the
Facial Primer and pressed powder cosmetic products also contained toxic
chemicals in them as well such as phenoxyethanol. I did talk to a
representative who informed me that the box has the full list of
ingredients of their products, but yet another representative told me
that the full list of ingredients is on their web site which is
incorrect. So personally I am confused, and wonder how a company can be
awarded the Eco-Cert Certified label when they are very misleading and
secondly, when they fail to provide us as the consumers with a pure,
safe and healthy non toxic product line.
I would appreciate your response to my
concerns. Thank you. Just to let you know, I was only able to research
the SPF products, pressed facial powder, and facial primer since I had
thrown out the other boxes which most consumers would do from the
mascara, blush, concealer, and eyeshadow. I have not researched any
other of their products. I am interested in your response. I would have
rather talked to you in person but I don't want to pay the long distance
phone call. Please respond to my concerns about this matter. Personally
I think its a shame that I had to go through so much research and
investigation to find this out when this particular company is very
misleading and is in essence not telling the truth. The worse part is
that they are claiming that they are Bio-Suisse Certified and Eco-cert
Certified which I don't think they should be. Please address all my
issues. I would appreciate it. Thanks.”
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