The area of natural and organic cosmetics ingredients is very complex and it can sometimes be a minefield for customers trying to work out whether products are as natural as they claim. It comes as a surprise to many people that the word organic is not legally protected in relation to cosmetic products in the same way that it is for food, which means that there have been lots of brands jumping on the green band wagon and making organic claims for products that contain very little in the way of organic ingredients.

On the other hand, cosmetic products are very different from food and we expect them to perform and last in a totally different way. You would not expect to open a pot of yoghurt, keep it at room temperature and dip your fingers into it daily and still expect it to be safe to use 6 months later, yet this is exactly what we demand from our skincare. Therefore, some technical ingredients are essential to preserve products, stop the oil and water based ingredients separating and also to make them foam in the case of washes and shampoos.

Generally, it is the number of these technical ingredients (which cannot be called organic as they are not farmed or grown) necessary to make an effective product that determine what % of organic ingredients the product contains.

When choosing whether to recommend products and add them to our website we make decisions on a case by case basis. We always take into account how technically difficult it is to produce an effective product to decide whether to accept a particular formulation onto our website.

For example, it is very easy to make a totally organic lip balm and many brands offer them so we would never recommend a lip balm product that was not organic. However, when it comes to hair styling products or nail polish things are a little trickier. These products are technically very complicated to make and since effectiveness is crucial, we do accept a far greater number of technical ingredients in these products. They are as natural as they can be for their product type, whilst still working effectively. Because who wants hairspray that doesn’t hold or nail polish that peels straight off, it’s pointless, even if the ingredients are pure. We will not recommend products that we don’t believe are good enough to do the job as it is very wasteful and bad use of the planets resources for customers to be buying and throwing away unused bottles of ineffective products.

Many of the products in our range are independently Certified Organic, when they are not, please be assured that we have vetted them carefully and considered that for their product type their ingredients are necessary and in line with our ingredients policy. If you ever have questions or concerns about ingredients, please get in touch, we love talking to people who love organic products and will be happy to assist you.

There is a lot of confusing information going around the internet about the similarities/differences between Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Sodium coco sulfate (SCS) in particular.

We have recently received a number of enquiries about our ingredients policy in relation to SLS and other foaming agents, with some people expressing concern that some of the items that we stock have names that sound similar to SLS – a harsh detergent that lots of people wish to avoid.

Our reason for being is to supply clean, green products that we would be happy to use on our own skin and that of our children.

In choosing the products to stock we always keep this principle in mind. Read on to find out more about the complexities of foaming agents and why you can trust the products in our range.

There are lots of different surfactants (detergents & foaming agents) used in cosmetic and household products, many of which have names that  sound similar to SLS but are very different in terms of their irritancy to the skin. These can be made in similar ways and have similar names but they vary massively in terms of how harsh they are to the skin. Sodium Coco Sulphate, SLES, Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate (ALS), Sodium Myreth Sulphate, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate to name but a few.

If we specifically look at SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) versus SCS (sodium coco sulphate); both ingredients are made in the same way, by treating fatty acids with sulphuric acid and then neutralising with an alkali.  The difference between them is that SLS is made using purified and isolated Lauric acid, whereas SCS is made using whole Coconut oil. 

The result of using these different starting materials is that SLS is a relatively simple molecule and has a small molecular mass enabling it to easily penetrate the outer layers of the skin and cause irritation to underlying living skin cells.  On the other hand SCS has a more complex molecular structure which has a much greater molecular mass.  This prevents it from penetrating the epidermis, and means that it has far less irritancy as it cannot reach the living cells under the skin surface.

This difference is recognised by international authorities, and in fact these two molecules do have different CAS Numbers (Chemical Abstracts Service which identifies all chemical compounds in an internationally approved database).  The CAS Number for SLS is 151-21-3, but for SCS it is 97375-27-4.  This can be confirmed by checking the official EU Cosmetic Ingredient Name (CosIng) website.

We do our own research into cosmetic ingredients as well as taking the advice and guidance of the various organic certification bodies. Sodium Coco Sulphate is permitted by the OFF & Soil Association who certify Green People & Skin Blossom products, some of the brands that use sodium coco sulphate. These brands are very well respected in the organic industry and make highly effective products. They pay very close attention to the ingredients that they permit into their products and we have absolutely no hesitation in selling them and recommending them as we use them ourselves.

There are lots of other foaming agents that natural brands use such as decyl glycoside and cocamidopropyl betaine, which are much gentler on the skin than SLS & SLES; you will often see these ingredients in the body care products that we sell too.

Sometimes, it is worth taking a moment to consider why a source of information might be claiming that a specific ingredient is undesirable. At least one of the pages that we have read criticising SCS comes from a brand that sells products that don’t use this ingredient.

All of their foaming products are soap based (saponified oils are soap) and that is why they don’t need to use any detergents or ingredients such as sodium coco sulphate or its alternatives. These types of products feel different in use and don’t perform in the same way as a regular shampoo or shower gel, soap based products can sometimes feel drying on the skin too as they are alkaline rather than acidic like the skin’s own oils.

If you are concerned about a particular ingredient each of the products on our site lists the ingredients in full so that you can see for yourself and make an informed choice before you make a purchase.

We hope that this has helped to explain this complex area, but of course if you do need any further help or advice choosing products, please don't hesitate contact us or call one of our product specialists on 020 8465 5600. We are here to help.

Shop for SLS FREE SHOWER GEL on Amazon. ]]> Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:18:22 +0000 http://www.soorganic.com/community-blog/home-care-for-your-feet/ Summer may still be far away, but it’s never too early to start taking a little extra care of your feet, ready for when they have to come out on display once more. If the weather turns and we get a lovely warm spring, it could be sooner than you think.

Of course, feet are never better than when fresh from a pedicure at the salon while you lie back and relax. But who has the time (or money?) to make salon spa pedicures more than an occasional treat?

Follow our simple times to take matters into your own hands and you’ll be able stretch out the time between pedicures and to bare all with confidence when the time comes.

Dryness:

Usually at this time of the year, dry skin is the most common problem for feet.  Sadly it’s just not warm enough for hot sweaty feet to be a problem right now! The main reason why feet get dry is that it’s just way too easy to totally forget about them under thick socks and tights. For those of us who use body lotion regularly, this idea that we might forget to apply it to arms and legs is just inconceivable. Tight thirsty skin would soon scream out for what it’s missing. But unfortunately feet are a bit too hardy, they put up with our forgetting to moisturise them, but just build up more and more dry & hard skin until they can sadly become almost hoof-like in their hardness.

Try to get into the habit of applying cream to your feet morning and evening, and you will keep soft happy feet for much longer. Specially designed foot creams are richer than body lotion, so are ideal, but not essential. Just remembering to moisturise with something, even if it’s your usual body lotion or hand cream is better than nothing and will pay dividends in skin softness come sandal season.

Nail Polish:

Be honest, how long have you had that particularly polish on your toes? If it’s grown out half way down your nail and is a lingering remnant of your late summer holiday, perhaps it’s time for a little refresh? Gently remove it and either, allow nails a good few months to go naked and breathe soaking up the benefits of your new foot moisturising habit, or if you must have polish on them make sure it’s a 3 free or 5 free one and seal with a good base and top coat to prevent staining the nail and minimise chips. Even if you are the only one to see them at this time of year, pretty well-cared-for toes will add to your confidence and help you walk out with a spring in your step. 

Until Monday 20th March - Save 15% on Hand, Foot & Nail Care products with code "SMOOTHE". 

If your skin is feeling a little tired, don’t despair. You don’t necessarily have to throw away your whole routine and start from scratch to change things for the better. One or two simple upgrades to your current programme can show rapid improvements in skin condition, leaving you ready to face the spring with confidence.

After months of dealing with rapid temperature changes from toasty centrally heated homes to the icy chill as soon as you step outside, skin is often left feeling tight and dehydrated at this time of the year. A couple of drops of facial oil under your moisturiser, or even applied at the same time (simply pump both onto the back of your hand and mix before applying) will boost the moisturising effect of your current cream and banish tightness.

Cleansing too, can contribute to feelings of tightness, particularly if you live in a hard water area. Change from a foaming facial wash to a cream style cleanser but still use it in the same way, effectively “washing” your face with it, and you will immediately feel the difference in softer, more comfortable skin.

Pamper time seems to be being squeezed all the time (in my life at least), but if you can find 15 minutes to apply a scrub, followed by a mask, your skin will reward you with a beautiful healthy glow.

Scrubs should gently polish your skin, never scratch it, and once or twice a week is plenty. It can be tempting to scrub too hard, or to use a scrub too often, as skin feels so lovely and soft afterwards, but go easy. Overzealous scrubbing will leave skin red and sensitive, whereas a gentle scrub used twice weekly will slough away dull dead surface cells, leaving lovely fresh new cells on display.

Applying a scrub before you apply your hydrating mask means that none is wasted on skin cells that have had their day, and the newly revealed skin gets an intense moisture hit to help it look its very best and protect it from the elements. 

Until Monday 6th March - Save 15% off Skincare with code "CHILLY" - Shop Now >>

After your base coat is dry, apply 1 or 2 coats of your chosen colour. Apply in long sweeping strokes from the nail bed to the tip. Try to leave a tiny gap next to the cuticle and at the sides of the nail. If you flood the nail bed and sides the result will be messy.

Try to have enough nail colour on the brush that you can work quickly and avoid having to re-dip the brush mid-nail.

Allow the polish to dry a little before applying a Top Coat. This will protect your colour and prevent chipping. If you have long nails, an expert tip is to run a little top coat under the free edge of the nail so that it completely seals the colour at the end of the nail too.

For the most professional finish you can then apply 1 to 2 drops of Flash Dry Drops to each nail to aid drying and leave them with a gorgeous high gloss finish.

If you have made any mistakes they can be whisked away easily with the an orange stick wrapped in cotton woll and dipped into Gentle Polish Remover to leave you with perfect, salon quality nails.

You can't currently find toothpaste that is 100% organic. The main ingredient chalk, is a naturally occurring product of nature and cannot be cultivated by man thus will not be certified organic by the certification bodies.

But you can find all-natural products that contain organic ingredients. When searching for a safer alternative to scrub your pearly whites the nasty ingredients to avoid are:

If you would like to avoid these ingredients, then the best option is to switch to a natural toothpaste.  At So Organic we have a wide range to choose from which all avoid the ingredients mentioned above.

One notable exception is fluoride*, because although it can be potentially harmful if swallowed, it does also have the ability to help remineralise the teeth and make them stronger which is why your dentist will recommend that you use a fluoride toothpaste.

We therefore stock a few toothpastes with fluoride for those customers that want it, but lots without it too. We label them clearly so that it's easy to tell the difference and make your selection.

If you need any advice or help choosing please don't hesitate to get in touch or call us on 020 8465 5600, our specialists use all the products themselves and are always happy to help. 

Does it really work? That’s probably the most frequently asked question about organic deodorant, and the short answer is yes. If you choose the right one (we can help with that!) and know what to expect then organic deodorant is great and has a lot to recommend it over its high street alternative.

If you don’t want to bother with the explanation and just want our top recommendations for organic deodorant that works then scroll down  the page, for those interested in why they work, read on…

Sweating & Smelling Are Not The Same:

Deodorants and antiperspirants are not the same thing. Deodorants help to stop us smelling while antiperspirants aim to stop us sweating. The super dry effect that we so often seek is the work of an antiperspirant.

Modern antiperspirants suppress the body’s vital function of perspiration by using aluminium salts like aluminium chlorohydrate to block the pores and prevent the perspiration coming out. Although we like the feeling of dryness under our arms this is actually a signal that we have prevented our bodies doing what they are supposed to. Sweating is one of the key ways our bodies get rid of toxins and blocking up our pores we are hampering this process.  

So perspiration is not necessarily a bad thing, but how to avoid being a smelly billy no-mates?

In fact perspiration does not smell bad; it’s the bacteria that feed on the dampness that cause the unpleasant smell. The way to avoid this is to use ingredients that will not allow the bacteria to thrive. Organic deodorant that works uses ingredients such as potassium alum, or ammonium alum, otherwise known as crystal deodorant to inhibit bacterial growth and prevent smelliness.

Organic deodorants won’t clog your pores or inhibit your body’s natural functions, but they will keep you smelling sweet! We test deodorants thoroughly before adding them to our range, because if it doesn’t stop you smelling then it’s not a deodorant is it?

Our Pick of Organic Deodorant That Works:

Our favourite and the first roll on deodorant that worked well enough to gain our seal of approval was the Gentle Control range by Green People. Rosemary has a warm herbal scent, Aloe vera is sweeter and fresh and No Scent is completely free from fragrance for those with extremely sensitive skin. There are also 2 versions for men, Stay Cool with mint, lavender and eucalyptus or Stay Fresh with thyme, lemon and clove It uses potassium alum to limit the growth of bacteria and essential oils to give a pleasant scent.

Our most recent addition to our deodorant range is the Madara Herbal Deodorant. It has a large and comfortable roller ball and pleasant herbal fragrance and is fast becoming a best seller. 

If you prefer a spray then Weleda’s deodorants are our top recommendation. They contain alcohol which limits bacterial growth and therefore stinkiness and they are great to keep in your bag for a refreshing spritz of the lovely natural scents throughout the day. Consumer trials found that the rose fragrance lasts up to 9 hours.

Why choose an organic deodorant?

• Conventional deodorants contain paraben preservatives which can accumulate in the body. None of our deodorants contain parabens

• Our deodorants are fragranced with essential oils which have skin care benefits rather than synthetic fragrance which can be irritating

• Modern antiperspirants suppress the body’s vital function of perspiration by using aluminium salts like aluminium chlorohydrate to block the pores, our natural deodorants do not.

What are you waiting for? UK delivery is Free on orders over £30 so why not order an organic deodorant that works today?

This is how it works:
Spend £30 + and get Free UK Standard Delivery.
Spend £50 + & get a Free Organic Night Cream worth £20 (+ Free UK Delivery).
Spend £100+ and get a Free Organic Body Lotion (+ Free UK Delivery & a Free Organic Night Cream).

The Free Gifts are added to your basket automatically when your order reaches the right level.

Please note the fragrances and brands we select for your gifts will change depending on the season and availability. We cannot guarantee a particular brand or fragrance.

Other brand and department specific offers and promotions are unaffected and on occasion it may be possible to qualify for multiple gifts from various promotions in a single order.

If you have any questions please contact us or call 020 8465 5600. We’re happy to help and would love to hear from you.

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Conventional lip balms are usually made from mineral oil which is derived from petroleum. It feels soft and silky but doesn’t benefit your skin. It clogs pores and creates a barrier that stops your own skin breathing.

If you or someone you know is a lip balm “addict” with perpetually dry flaky lips no matter how much lip salve you use, it could be that a petroleum based lip salve is to blame.

Truly natural or organic lip balm brands won’t touch petroleum based oils; they use the much more costly but infinitely superior plant oils and sometimes beeswax instead.  These ingredients nourish and condition the skin and because they are similar in structure to your skin’s natural oils these ingredients tend to work better with the skin.

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a stick, a tube or a pot, at So Organic we have an organic lip balm to suit and it won’t break the bank either, even our most inexpensive natural and organic lip balm works like a dream.

If you’re vegan we have lots of beeswax free options too, so do your lips a favour and treat them to a pure organic lip balm this winter, you’ll be so glad that you did.

Once you make the switch to organic, if you're still addicted it will only be to the new found beautiful silky skin and gorgeous natural flavour of your new favourite balm!

When the cold weather hits it’s always a shock to the system, but now the cold snap has arrived with a vengeance, your skin might be feeling the effects.

It could be tight chapped cheeks or a sore nose following a cold, or perhaps cracked lips that don’t seem to improve no matter how much lip balm you slick on. Whatever the issue, when the cold weather strikes, you’ll need to give your skin some serious TLC to get things back on track.

Rehydrate by adding a serum to your usual skincare routine, and protect the skin when you are outside with a rich daily moisture cream.

Boost your routine with the addition of nourishing face mask to add some extra moisture too. Some moisturising masks can even be put on at bedtime and left to soak in all night for a super intensive moisture boost.

If you are under the weather with the winter snuffles, then our cold relief bath oil or bath salt with the decongestant scent of eucalyptus is just the thing to help you breathe more easily.

And if you have fond memories of mum rubbing Vick on your chest for coughs and colds, take a look at our Aromatic Chest Rub, a gorgeous warming & decongestant aroma in a totally organic formulation.

Conventional lip balms based on petroleum oils and synthetic fragrances are usually the chief culprit for cracked and sore lips that never heal. Opt for an organic lip balm packed with natural oils that actively nourish and soothe the skin and see an immediate benefit. From £2.95.

We hope these winter skincare tips; provide a little relief from your cold weather skincare troubles. Hang on in there; it will be spring before you know it (hopefully!)