WHY NATURAL
We are very passionate about not only ensuring that our own products use only the finest natural ingredients but also sharing our knowledge about making natural choices with our customers.
We believe knowledge is power and being informed on what are truly natural products and how to identify them is very important.
What is Greenwashing?
Companies are now realising that it pays to be seen as pure and clean. Green-washing – or incorporating a marketing message to help boost sales while not really delivering a pure product - is rife in the skincare and personal products industry.
Greenwashing is actually like brainwashing - imagery and wording are used by companies to give the impression that their products are natural while masking the other synthetic ingredients in their products.
Photos of indigenous tribes producing oils; images of herbs or words such as natural, pure, nature-identical all give the impression that the product is safe and good for you.
Putting the word 'natural’ on a product to help double its sales has created a lot of confusion in the marketplace and consumers are becoming skeptical about what they are being told.
The best way to empower yourself is to be armed with the information you need to make good decisions. You can do this using our '10 nasties to avoid' wallet card and our other tips below.
How do you identify what is natural in this marketplace and what is truly good for you?
- Look past the marketing and read ingredients labels (use our 10 nasties cards and there are lots of great resources online and in books).
- If you're not sure about what an ingredient is then ask the company – contact them via email or facebook or ring them up.
- Remember that the scent of natural cosmetics will be more complex and subtle. Synthetics or 'nature-identical' substances are harsh on your skin, strong smelling and long lasting.
- Colours which are naturally derived may fade if exposed to sunlight. Artificial colours usually won't fade – you might have products which are the same colour 5 years later. Alkanet, beetroot, carrot and chlorophyll all yield natural colours.
- Trust your instinct and find a company whose ethics, values and products you can trust.
We have easy to use '10 Nasties to Avoid' wallet cards available, if you would like one please contact us and we can post one to you.
Check out these websites for more information on toxic chemicals in your skin and body care products:
EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
Toxins In, Toxins Out
We believe that it is very important to be aware of what we are putting in and on our bodies and the potential effects on our health and well-being.
We want to help empower people to make choices which have a positive effect on not only ourselves but on the beautiful planet we live on and the communities we live within and create a safe healthy planet for future generations.
Unfortunately we are exposed to many toxins through our environment, cosmetics, health care products, foods and household products.
It can seem overwhelming when you start to look at what we are exposed to but even the smallest changes you make can make a positive impact and it’s never too late to start.
The production of synthetic chemicals not only affects the end-user (us) but it also has a negative impact on the workers who manufacture them in factories and our environment. These chemicals are put into our environment through their manufacture and also by our use – plastics, cleaners, shampoos etc, these end up in our water ways, soil and air and ultimately in our wildlife and animals. Animals have toxic loads too which are passed on when we consume them.
The video below sums up the affects along the production and consumption chain.
Toxic Load Questionnaire
What's your toxic load?
Unfortunately modern living often means that you and your family are exposed to a wide range of potential toxins without you being aware of it.
Science is often still in the process of proving how harmful exposure to some of the scenarios listed in the questionnaire. But here at The Herb Farm we believe in the `precautionary principal’.
That means, taking precautions to protect you and your family’s health – even while the scientific world still argues about what is potentially toxic to human health and what is not.
Take the Toxic Load Questionnaire now and if you feel overwhelmed by the results then please remember knowledge is power and even the smallest changes can have a big impact.