Palm Oil, what's the deal?

Palm oil, what's the deal?

What we all need to start understanding about Palm Oil is that the stuff is in EVERYTHING. From biscuits to shampoo to Hot Cross Buns. To make matters worse, it is also being used to produce biodeisel, which is sustainable by definition (as in it can be reproduced as we grow more plants that fruit, that then become processed refined, and turned into oil products. Rather than, say,  pumping oil out of the ground and once it is gone, it's gone...). To make matter even worse than this, we can't tell what products have palm oil in them, as they are generally listed as something else to confuse consumers, because who would buy a product that is killing Orang-utans, right? See below for a list of other names that Palm Oil can be concealed as on a food ingredients label... It's really tough to get around it, and my mission is certainly to reduce it rather my family's intake, and look for finished products that use fair trade palm oil rather than rid myself of it.

So what's the deal with the stuff, you ask? Well basically in many parts of Indonesia it has become much more profitable to burn up existing old wood rain forest, and (Orang-utan's only remaining natural habitat) and replant with Oil Palms. These Oil Palms grow, then  fruit and that is where the oil comes from, and the farmers/investors then sell it more cheaply than our Fair Trade friends, so the larger companies looking for a cheaper option always choose the cheapest oil- no one gives a toss where it comes from,  or what Indigenous tribes or cute, fuzzy primates it's murdering... 

It's our job as a consumer to let them know by spending our dinero on companies that share our values. I also must add here that there are several countries that produce Palm Oil. Malaysia has even gone so far as in 1992 to declare that half of the rainforest's would be protected, and they have built an economy and trade on the bi products of the oil. So it's not all bad, all the time. 

Some  other names or disguises for palm oil on product packaging:

PKO – Palm Kernel Oil

PKO fractionations: Palm Kernel Stearin (PKs); Palm Kernel Olein (PKOo)

PHPKO – Partially hydrogenated Palm Oil

FP(K)O – Fractionated Palm Oil

OPKO – Organic Palm Kernel Oil

Palmitate – Vitamin A or Asorbyl Palmitate (NOTE: Vitamin A Palmitate is a very common ingredient in breakfast cereals and we have confirmed 100% of the samples we’ve investigated to be derived from palm oil)

Palmate

Sodium Laureth Sulphate (Can also be from coconut)

Sodium Lauryl Sulphates (can also be from ricinus oil)

Sodium dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)

Elaeis Guineensis

Glyceryl Stearate

Stearic Acid

Chemicals which contain palm oil

Steareth -2

Steareth -20

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (coconut and/or palm)

Hydrated palm glycerides

Sodium isostearoyl lactylaye (derived from vegetable stearic acid)

Cetyl palmitate and octyl palmitate

Vegetable oil

Vegetable Fat

Wow. So how do you navigate that, right? My rule of thumb is this: If the packaging doesn't clearly state that they are using Fair Trade Palm Oil, then they are not using Fair Trade Palm Oil. It depends on how militant you really want to get. I am simple trying to reduce my family's consumption of Palm Oil that isn't produced ethically- it would be almost impossible to eradicated from your life until product labels clearly identify it. I think this is where the argument is heading. 

Here are a few sites to locate more information if you are interested:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_oil

www.saynotopalmoil.com/palm-oil.php

www.palmoilaction.org.au/shopping-guide.html

www.orangutan.org.au

Found any great palm oil free or fair trade products? Let me know in the comments below!

Beauty Hippy- Ness

Dr. Bronner's Lemongrass Lime Organic Hand and Body Soap- Review

Dr. Bronner's Lemongrass Lime Organic Hand and Body Soap- Review

 

I'm going to start by forwarding you to both Dr. Bronner's websites- here in Australia and in my mother country- the good ole USofA. This is so that I don't repeat information that you can easily find on the site. There is nothing worse than reading a review that is basically an advertisement for the product, and that's what it would sound like by the time I had finished.

www.drbronner.com.au

www.drbronner.com

I tried a few things from Dr. Bronner's- here's my review for the Lemongrass Lime Organic Pump Hand and Body Soap.

Dr. Bronner's Lemongrass Lime Organic Hand and Body Soap met the following criteria:

• Certified by the USDA Organic: Organic integrity in body care means that the main ingredients as well as secondary ingredients in an organic labelled or branded product are certified organic, produced in compliance with the National Organic Program. Our products are certified to the USDA’s National Organic Program, which consumers rightly trust to ensure the organic integrity of organic labelled products. Per Dr. Bronner's USA Website 

•   Fair trade- ("Although no universally accepted definition of 'fair trade' exists, Fair-trade labelling organizations most commonly refer to a definition developed by FINE, an informal association of four international fair trade networks (Fair-trade Labelling Organizations International, World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Network of European World shops and European Fair Trade Association (EFTA)): fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair trade organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.^") Thanks Wikipedia!

• Not animal tested

• Uses SUSTAINABLE Palm Oil:  Here's what Dr. Brooner's people have to say...

"Some customers are concerned that the palm and coconuts oils used in Dr. Bronner’s soaps may come from plantations that were established on recently cleared tropical forestland or otherwise contribute to environmental destruction. They don’t. As with any other crop, it’s not what you grow but how you grow it. For one, all growers Dr. Bronner’s purchase from are certified organic. This means that no agrochemicals are used (chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides) and soil fertility is replenished by natural means - compost, manure, mulching with crop residues. The production of Dr. Bronner’s oils also does not contribute to deforestation. The palm oil comes from about 1,000 acres of smallholdings in Ghana (where there are no orang-utans) that were established decades ago. The coconut oil comes from some 400 small to mid size farms in Sri Lanka, most of which have been in the owners’ family for generations. Dr. Bronner's encourages the growers to intercrop with other beneficial species and supply organic fertilizer at a subsidy. This improves soil fertility, yields and profitability of small farms – and allows them to compete with plantations. By having our entire supply chain certified organic and fair trade we also want to demonstrate that one can produce any crop - and the products made from them –sustainably."

Thanks Dr. Bronner's for clearing that up!

What we all need to start understanding about Palm Oil is that the stuff is in EVERYTHING. From biscuits to shampoo to Hot Cross Buns. To make matters worse, it is also being used to produce biodeisel, which is sustainable by definition (as in it can be reproduced as we grow more plants that fruit, that then become processed refined, and turned into oil products. Rather than, say,  pumping oil out of the ground and once it is gone, it's gone...). To make matter even worse than this, we can't tell what products have palm oil in them, as they are generally listed as something else to confuse consumers, because who would buy a product that is killing Orang-utans, right? Click here for a list of other names that Palm Oil can beconcealed as on a food ingredients label... It's really tough to get around it, and my mission is certainly to reduce it rather my family's intake, and look for finished products that use fair trade palm oil (of which Dr. Bronner's is one) rather than rid myself of it.

So what's the deal with the stuff, you ask? Well basically in many parts of Malaysia and Indonesia it has become much more profitable to burn up existing old wood rainforest, and (Orang-utan's only remaining natural habitat) and replant with Oil Palms. These Oil Palms grow, produce fruit and that is where the oil comes from. The farmers/investors then sell it more cheaply than our Fair Trade friends, so the larger companies looking for a cheaper option always choose the cheapest oil- no one gives a toss where it comes from, or what Indigenous tribes or cute, fuzzy primates it's murdering... It's our job as a consumer to let them know by spending our dinero on companies that share our values. I alos must add here that there are several countries that produce Palm Oil. Malaysia has even gone so far as in 1992 to declare that half of the rainforest would be protected, and they have built an economy and trade on the bi products of the oil. So it's not all bad, all the time. 

Right. So that's enough copying and pasting from websites, to prove a point. The stuff is pretty darned close to making it in your kitchen. I was so excited to get my hands on it.  Particularly after an acquaintance posted on Facebook that she was miffed that her shower gel had palm oil in it. I told her I would get onto it, and so far I would recommend this brand to her. Here ya go Lozza. 

 

I was fully prepared to order it from the USA and have it shipped. I was completely surprised that BerwickGoVita carried a huge portion of the range. The price for 709mls. is $19.99 or $2.82 per 100mls. Lets compare that to a brand called "Original Source" at Woolies which is 250ml, for $4.29 or $1.72 per 100ml. I found this price to be acceptable for all of the benefits, and lack of nasties... My better half, however did not. Mind you, he is using this gel during his showers!

So what IS in it, if there are no pesticides and no palm oil, you ask? Well, here you are:  

Organic White Grape Juice, Organic Sucrose, Organic Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Shikakai Powder, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Lemongrass Oil, Organic Lemon Oil, Organic Lime Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol

Organic Shikakai comes from the seed pods of the small South Asian tree Acadia Concinna, Tocopherol is basically Vitamin E, and Potassium Hydroxide is potash or lye. The Potassium Hydroxide is used to carry out a chemical reaction to create soap called "saponification".

So I love this liquid soap. I have to tell you that it is not clear or even a creamy colour- it's dark brown! Hilarious! I actually panicked a bit, but it is perfectly fine. And no, it doesn't stain grout or tiles, or skin for that matter.

The fragrance is divine. It smells like lemon tea. Sweet memories of summer in the USA as a kid. We drink a LOT of lemon tea. Just beautiful.

The packaging is what it is. You will feel like an enviro hippie just having it in your shower. They are bright, post consumer recycled, and loaded with written claims of amazingness. My acupuncturist told me he used to use Dr. Bronner's in college in California, and then asked me if I was a hippie. I did mention that hippies who used shower gel, were fine by me!

The only criticism I would have is the feel after the shower gel has washed off is different (not better or worse) than that of your average surfactant loaded gel. It doesn't leave a moisturised, lotiony "slick" on your skin. Once it washes off, it's gone. Bearing that in mind, it might be time to start investigating body lotions to recapture that "hydrated" feeling after towelling off. You can bet your buttons I'll be checking out Dr. Bronner's.                 

 Would I but the product again?  Absolutely.

Would I try other products in their range? Yes, definitely.

What am I going to do with the product? Use it and tell everyone I know about it. Somehow, I feel I'm that last one to know about it, however.

If you have tried Dr. Bronner's, please let me know what you thought, comment below!

Happy organic, fair trade, sustainable palm oil showering to you and your family-

Beauty Hippy- Ness

Watch this space!

Hi all!

Thanks for your patience over the last few weeks.

The great news is that I have been very busy researching and trying several different products that I will be reviewing in the next few weeks.

The product lines that I have tried and have a lot to say about are the following-

Dr. Bronners, Sukin, Herb Valley,  and Organic Care.

There are some absolute crackers here, I can't wait to tell you how I feel about them! 

                        Watch this space!

                                                                 -Ness

Review- Hand Soap

Today's review is of a hand wash, from the Selby Soap Company. Selby is local to me (as in say 6 km's away), so I was thrilled to have found this perched on the shelf at my favourite cafe- The General Food Store in Emerald.

I picked it up for $6.50, so it was definitely within what I consider to be an acceptable price range for a hand wash. I have paid more for such things to give as gifts (or even as a gift to myself!) so this made me very happy, and I am well pleased to have this gem sitting by my kitchen basin. Packaging is reminiscent of the brands Grown, Jurlique, or Aesop, but there is no disputing the price difference: you wouldn't even touch the sides of anything from those brands for $6.50...

I chose the Sweet orange and Clove...must be the cooler weather reminding me of Autumn at home in Cincinnati, and it does smell like an American Christmas. The other choices currently on offer are: Lemon Myrtle, Rosemary, Rosalina, Lemongrass, Lavender, Lavender and Cinnamon, Lavender and Star Anise, Spearmint, Peppermint and Clove according to Selby Soap Company's website which can be found at www.selbysoap.com

Their website is worth checking out, it is still under construction although the company itself appears to have been around since 2009. There is a short insightful glossary of terms describing a few hot list chemicals to watch out for. They also very clearly identify their own products and ingredients list.

So here's what I liked about the hand wash:

• Pretty, simple, unpretentious packaging. The pics I have posted are it. There is no box or bag, thank goodness.
• Smells like heaven. Or like spending lots of money in a suburban American shopping mall at Christmas, and then coming home to a warm house full of food and family.
•  All natural ingredients (note, this is not an exclusively organic product- but I actually like the fact that they didn't even go there. "Natural" was just going to have to do. Furthermore, to grow their ingredient list organically in Selby would take a miracle, and a tent covering their property, and a small army of staff picking snails/mites off of plants. I know- I live here, and grow here!
• PALM OIL FREE! Yippee!
• Local! This means I'll have to go into my fave cafe (and order a coffee) to get another one as well!

• It foams beautifully, and cleans well. I'm not going to get all crazy about a hand wash. It's a hand wash. It does hand washing just fine. I even tested it to a pair of after gardening hands, and after staining some polished boards in my en suite- don't ask... It worked brilliantly.

Something that I really liked is that Selby Soap Company has managed to get the wash to foam up. Thanks in part to a foaming pump, but they have also used "Soapnuts". How cool is this? Soapnuts are from plant called
Sapindus.  A genus of about five to twelve species of shrubs in the Lychee family,  members of the genus are commonly known as soapberries or soapnuts because the fruit pulp is used to make soap. Thanks Wikipedia- click here to see more about how this works...



So here I was thinking that the only surfactants (foaming/wetting agents) were likely to come from palm oils/ coconut oils or petroleum based sources, and here we have an example of a product that does the job, without any nasties. Yes please!

I'm sure I'll delve into more details regarding surfactants and foaming agents in future blogs, stay tuned for me to look like a complete idiot whilst trying to understand it all myself and then explain it to you.

Upshot-

Did I love this product- YES!
Would I buy it again- YES!
Would I try some of their other products- YES!

Overall- it's love. And if you have a Birthday coming up then you can count on me spending $6.50 on you! Go me!

Any questions, or if you did or didn't like what I had to say please comment below!

 



 
 

Review - Face moisturiser.

Hi all, thanks for dropping in to to check out my today's review:

Evohe Edelweiss & Nectapure Moiusture 24/7

I purchased this at a health food shop in Berwick, for a whopping $45.90. Pretty sure at that price point we could start off with at least a decent product....

So, here's what I thought:

It met the following criteria- 

• Australian made and owned
• 80% of the ingredients in this particular product are Certified Organic Ingredients 
• The ingredients are 100% naturally derived (which means they come from an animal or plant based source- not petroleum sources).
• Smells gorgeous
• Lovely packaging
• Has a fantastic website with additional information here: evohe.com.au 

First I should say that I wanted to LOVE this product. I could get it at my natural food store, it was mid priced, I love that the percentage of certified organics were listed, and the ingredient list was in clear plain English. I could actually identify each of the ingredients listed as a plant/nut/fruit. I love the packaging and the heavy glass bottle (yes, I'm one of "those girls" that likes to look at my shelf in the shower and see my gorgeous Kerastase bottles, and dream that great hair is only a shampoo away!) I love that it is Aussie, and I wanted to love it enough to send it overseas in little packages for my sisters... but, I just didn't.

I didn't love it because it left my skin feeling taut and dry. I had to apply some coconut oil over the top by Saturday (after starting to use the product twice daily the previous Wednesday), just to keep my skin from flaking and burning! Not too attractive when you have 4 bridesmaids to make up on the same day... I had to excuse the condition of my skin and explain that I was doing "industry research"! Additionally, remember that lovely smell I mentioned previously? After a few minutes it reminded me of Kava. Yep, that smell of drinking Kava in Fiji. Beautiful memories, but the stuff is basically muddy water- and the products smells vaguely similar. I couldn't really blame a single product in the ingredients list for this, maybe a combination of a few, who knows?

Now, I have combination sensitive skin, oily T-zone, and dry cheeks- like 90% of the women in the world. I promised myself that I wasn't going to blog about how a product might work if someone was a different skin tone, so I won't. I think this is a common case of a very plant active product that is just all a bit too much. I would often see women at counter that would come looking for a new skin solution because their "organic products" failed them. I had to explain that although the company I worked for was lab created, I do feel that they took the sensitivity of skin in mind, whereas organics/essential oils are sometimes so active that they can independently cause alarming reactions on some skins. I wouldn't say I'm have a "reaction" as such- but it's certainly not the dreamy luminescent skin I'm aiming for.

Would I but the product again?  Sadly, no.

Would I try other products in their range? Yes, definitely.

What am I going to do with the product? Probably use it as a hand or body cream.

If you have tried Evohe, please let me know what you thought, comment below!

Welcome, welcome!

Hi there!

Thanks for popping in to have a look. I will be blogging about my journey into eco friendliness, cosmetically speaking, that is!

First a little background...

I am a 37 year old, mostly stay at home Mom in the gorgeous green hills called the Dandenong Ranges, East of Melbourne, Australia. I moved to Australia almost 10 years ago and have created a wonderful life with my husband (and certainly better half) B. We have a Physio Practice, a beautiful home, 2 cats, a bird and a two year old son who, naturally, is the light of our lives.

Prior to Mommyhood, I worked with a major Cosmetic company in a major Australian retail department store. I did this for about 6 years, before that I graduated from The University of Cincinnati, with a BFA in Makeup and Wig Design, Theatrical Design and Production. Yes, I literally have a Uni degree in Makeup, how cool is that? I am still currently a practicing makeup artist, and work many weekends creating gorgeous brides and bridesmaids (and even some beautiful grooms) in the Yarra Valley and surrounds.

Here's the deal. I've had a few heath scares and illnesses over the last year, most of which I have chalked up to having a toddler in daycare 2 days a week. I am absolutely fine, but it got me thinking about what I should be doing as a Mom and Wife, and limiting our exposure to chemical nasties in MY environment, the place I control! 

Look, I'm not saying I'm going to save the planet, or even the Orangutans- but I'm thinking 

that with my skincare knowledge and cosmetic background....what if I could compare a few skin and body products (maybe some home products too) and just let you know what I have found. Maybe save you from spending $60 on a moisturizer that sucks?! 

My goal is to research skincare and cosmetics that are hopefully organic, really hopefully not made with palm oil (a whole other post), certainly not loaded with things I can't pronounce, AND here's the biggie- they MUST perform as well or better than the cosmetics that you would find in those big stores. I'll let you know what I find as I go- k?

Please feel free to comment. Let me know of a brand that you'd like to know about, or if you have used the products I review. Tell me what you thought about it, and why you agree or disagree with me. I can take it :) 

Let's go!