What does 'Natural' mean to you, when it comes to personal care?

Like to have your say about what constitutes a natural personal care product?

Burt's Bees (Natural personal care company from the US), have launched an Australian survey, so you can have your say. It is easy to complete and takes around 5 minutes or a little less. You'll find the link on the Burt's Bees home page. http://www.burtsbees.com.au/

Below is a little information from Burt's Bees on the Survey.

Burt’s Bees and Porter Novelli Adelaide have launched an online survey asking Australian consumers about their concerns and attitudes to ‘natural’ ingredients – what ‘natural’ means to them and what matters to them about ‘natural’ ingredients in personal care (meaning products for body, face, hair etc). Burt’s Bees has done a similar survey in the US but as far as we know, no-one’s done one here.

Essentially, we would like to invite you to take a look at the survey and help us encourage people to participate. If you would like to take it further, we are more than happy to set up an interview with Emma Atkinson, the GM of Burt's Bees here in Australia, to discuss in-depth the ideas behind the survey and the ultimate goals for the results.

The survey process itself is only five minutes long and is just a series of simple questions about/around natural ingredients and natural personal care products. We are aiming to gather as much feedback as possible over the next three months, and will be sharing the results with online communities and health and beauty media. Burt's Bees is committed to transparency about 'natural' in the industry, and was instrumental in the creation of a 'natural' standard in the US - now we're aiming high here too! I think that for many people this issue is confusing and frustrating, and I hope that we can achieve greater clarity for everyone interested in natural personal care.

Why are we doing this? Firstly, because we just don’t want to make assumptions about what Australians think and know about ‘natural’ in personal care. Obviously Burt’s Bees is a ‘natural’ focused company but this survey is about understanding what consumers actually want. All sorts of assumptions get made in marketing and both Burt’s Bees and Porter Novelli Adelaide have decided that’s not enough for us. So we’re asking. We’ve decided to approach online communities because we know connecting online is one way consumers can share their unfiltered views and concerns, and that’s what we want to hear. Yes, you will be talking to a PR company and a manufacturer in the industry - because we genuinely want to know what people are thinking.

We will use the results of the survey in the following ways: we will report back to the blogs and site communities that link to the survey on what we find, we will share the results with the health and beauty media in Australia and we will make the results available via the Burt’s Bees website. We hope the results will help address any concerns or confusions about what ‘natural’ means and how it is presented in Australia. (One result of a similar survey in the US was that Burt’s Bees joined together with other major natural personal care companies to develop a national standard for ‘natural’ via the Natural Products Association.)

The results will be available to you to use and we hope the whole process encourages conversation and education about the topic.

The survey is for Australian residents and will run from August 20 until November 14. You can find it here.

As the results of this survey will be featured in the media, this is a great opportunity for CleanLife readers to have their say about what 'Natural' means.

What's your favourite product? Imse Vimse Nappies

One of the most common questions we get asked at CleanLife is;
'What is your favourite .........?'

In the days when green, natural and organic products were limited in number, it was fairly easy to say which was our favourite nappy, lipstick, sheet set etc. Now however we are blessed to have a bounty of great natural products in Australia, more than the CleanLife team can possibly test individually. So, we have started asking our favourite companies, what their favourite products are and why!

This 'favourite product' entry is from Cassandra, owner and founder of New Age Nappies, an online store that sells a huge range of types and brands of eco nappies and associated items.
www.newagenappies.com.au


Cassandra's favourite product;

IMSE VIMSE All-in-One cloth Nappy

The easiest available
Very easy to use, keeping baby dry through the night, quick-drying and works just like a disposable!

- an All-in-One with a modern design
- soft and stretchy fabric provides a comfortable fit for baby
- signature ImseVimse soft leg-gussets keep everything contained
- soft and adjustable hook and loop closure for quick and easy diaper changes
- fold-back laundry tabs prevent snags when washing
- waterproof, but breathable outer fabric (PUL) is both soft and durable
- diaper soaker layers are made with 100% certified organic cotton terry
- designed with internal flaps to allow thorough washing and quick drying
- flap-style soaker design allows the versatility of either stay-dry micro fleece or certified organic cotton next to babies skin

Gina's comment: while you are checking out www.newagenappies.com.au, check out the Imse Vismse swim nappies; we use them for Lilian and have found them fantastic.

Eco Manifesto: what are you leaving the next generation?

Chrissy Fuda

If you want to know who you are buying your products from, then it is hard to go past a family run eco store such as Eco Manifesto. Chrissy and Simon’s interest in natural products and sustainable living increased after their first child suffered from sensory and allergic sensitivities, including eczema. They found that they could manage their daughter’s condition by reducing the chemical load in their daily lives. This was the catalyst for starting Eco Manifesto, an online store that features everything you need to live a non-toxic and sustainable lifestyle at an affordable price. We caught up with Chrissy to find out a little bit about the ideals behind their company and her ideas on what each individual can do to reduce their environmental impact.


Gina: Part of your inspiration for Eco Manifesto was your daughter’s sensitivities, but you seem to have gone much further than that by providing a real focus on environmental living; what else inspired you?

Chrissy: In my late 20’s I started to question what seemed to be our reliance on materialistic objects as a measure of our success, security and even happiness. I became interested in living more simply and this naturally progressed to living more sustainably. A book that stood out for me was “Affluenza” by Clive Hamilton and Richard Denniss. This book said a lot about what I’d been thinking for some time about our unsustainable lifestyles and the impact it has on our health and the environment. Watching Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” also validated what I’d been thinking for years. My children’s future is my biggest inspiration – in what state will we leave the environment for future generations? I fear that our generation may be remembered for not acting when it could have. We have the opportunity to act now, and that is also my inspiration.

I’m certainly learning all the time and this has motivated me to not only make changes to my lifestyle and be more comfortable in the ethical choices I make (these can be different for everyone – and that’s ok!) but also to be pro-actively involved in showing that anyone can make a difference by just making some small changes! Just getting people to question their actions on how they can live and shop more sustainably is a great start. As consumers start making more ethical choices, they increase their purchasing power to make businesses take on more ethical practices and really make a positive impact to the environment – and that is inspiring!


Your Eco Manifesto online store offers everything from organic toys, beeswax candles, cleaning and personal care products to clothing and pet and gardening supplies, is your aim to be a one stop green shop so to speak?

Our aim is to provide everyday products that are better choices for consumers and the environment. Whether that remains as a broad range of eco-friendly products or evolves into a more specific product range will depend on our customers needs. We also want to attract “mainstream” consumers who may not be “sustainable living” converts yet!!! I feel that all the information we receive about “ethical living” (ie non-toxic products, ethical shopping, greenhouse emissions, fair trade, composting, solar power and water saving options) – just to name a few!!! – is making it more complex and time consuming for consumers who may already be time-poor. I think changing the “convenience” habit we have developed is very difficult – we tend to opt for the less time consuming option in our already busy lifestyles and don’t take the time to research this information when buying a particular product.

So, as well as providing eco-friendly products, we try to provide simple, but relevant information to encourage people to take the time to think about the impact their purchases have on their health and the environment.

It can be difficult for consumers to see that some simple practical, affordable, everyday steps CAN make a difference to the environment. Spending thousands of dollars installing solar panels is great, but not an affordable option for everybody. We want our customers to see that going “green” does not have to be expensive or difficult. We want to raise the profile of eco-friendly everyday items with information on how their small changes make a difference to the environment.


There are so many eco-friendly, natural and organic products coming onto the market now, how to you choose the products you are going to stock at Eco Manifesto (and which products you are not going to stock)?

Primarily we try to stock Australian made products that are also manufactured ethically. We look at affordable and quality eco-friendly alternatives for everyday living. Being a small business we generally try the products ourselves to sample the quality. We don’t want to become just a huge one-stop shop, we want to retain the personal connection with our customers and to help people become more informed regarding their product choices.

It has been a struggle at times, because being a mum with a young family; I know how difficult it can be trying to spend your money wisely, and wanting to do your bit for the environment!

We want to get people interested in and personally care about their impact on the environment. We want to make it convenient for consumers by providing products that are healthier alternatives to the toxic-chemical options. We are always keen to listen and encourage suggestions from people about what they want - whether it’s a particular product or just information.


What are your three favourite items currently in store at Eco Manifesto, and why?

Uniquely Organic shampoos & conditioners – they smell fantastic, the whole family can use them, they are chemical free and offer great value for money.

Ecosilk bags – I love that they are practical, last for ages and have great colours! They are really convenient as they are so compact. I leave a few in the car and a few in my handbag, so they are always handy when I shop.


Our range of natural soaps – we have some new soaps that are truly divine! You can really feel and smell the difference of these natural soaps (the only problem is the temptation to stay in the shower longer :-))


If people are just getting started on converting to a more eco-friendly lifestyle, what would you recommend they start with and why?

Start gradually with things that you can do in your everyday routine. These small changes will hardly be noticed, yet make a huge difference! Here are a few ideas to get started:

- ask yourself if something can be used again before you throw it away!
- replace chemical cleaning products and skincare with natural alternatives as they run out
- take “reusable” shopping bags whenever you can
- before buying, ask questions like “Where’s it from? What’s it made of? Do I REALLY need this?”
- when buying a gift for someone, look at eco-friendly options
- try walking or cycling somewhere instead of driving, even just once a week!
- have a shorter shower
- donate old magazines to hospitals and waiting rooms
- take your old clothes to charity shops
- turn the heater down just 1°C and put a jumper on instead


The perfect day is different for everybody, how would you describe yours?

I would have to say, it would be waking up on a warm sunny day on an Australian tropical island - knowing there are no routines, no cooking, no cleaning…just fun stuff with my family all day!


Check out www.ecomanifesto.com.au for more information and to shop online.

What is a skin crusader? and how can we save our skin?

If you are sick of your bathroom cupboards heaving under the weight of a mountain of mostly unused skincare products, you are not alone. So we bring you this interview with much joy. Imagine if you had just three products to clean and nourish your entire face and body. Reading this could make that dream a reality.

Olive Oil, depression, beautiful skin and inspiration are all part of our feature interview with Save our Skin founder Anastasia Lambadaridis. Whether you are looking for a wonderful new skincare range, needing some words of wisdom to warm your cockles or interested to find out what a skin crusader is, then please read on and enjoy.

GC: What inspired you to start Save our Skin and how has the journey been for you?

AL: I went to bed one day and didn’t come out for about 8 weeks. I was depressed, my grand dad had passed away, my job was unsatisfying and I had pnemonia. I was only 27 and I refused to treat my emotional problem with chemicals (anti-depressants) – so I quit my job and started to focus on me for a while. My life started to change for the better. I found out that I was pregnant and having always suffered from sensitive skin, my skin became hyper sensitive during my pregnancy. I turned to olive oil as my staple beauty product, I would wash with it, nourish with it and protect and heal with it. Then I had a dream and the message in that dream was so loud and clear that when I woke I announced that I was going to launch an organic skin care range. That was nearly five years ago now and along the way I’ve been tested as to how much I actually wanted that dream to come true. The journey has been emotional, inspirational and life changing, I know I’m on the right path now.

You call people who use Save our Skin, Skin crusaders, what do you mean by this?

The products in save our skin’s range are all based on ancient formulas that have been around for centuries, the people that developed them where skin crusaders of their time. One of them was Galen, he Greek doctor to the Gladiators of the 2^nd century and by calling ourselves skin crusaders we are paying respect to those that went before us.

Also, those who use save our skin products are like ambassadors for change. That’s why we call them skin crusaders. Skin crusaders understand that we need to be kind to ourselves and this planet and that less equals more. Skin crusaders care about more than just being clean, smooth and shiny they care about the world that we live in. We are conscious that every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in, the world we want our children and grand children to live in and so on.

What do you think gives your products a unique edge?

Our products are uniquely different, as we believe in less is more and this philosophy is alive in everything we do. Our entire range consists of only 5 certified/organic ingredients, there is only 3 multifunctional products in the range. And most importantly they work! People are having amazing results, especially those with skin sensitivities.

Your range has only three items all of which have multiple functions, was that intentional?

Sure was, I saw these three products in the dream I had. These days we are sold a pot of goo for every inch of body, you can but an eye balm, foot balm, cuticle balm blah blah blah – whereas one balm will do the trick. Save our skin products have been designed to eliminate the need for so many other things most people stock in their bathroom cabinets

Do you have a favourite Save our Skin product?

I love them all of coarse but I do have favourites at different times of the year and for different parts of my body… For instance a magical golden oil is such a nice and effective drink for sunkissed skin, and a powerful concoction is an amazing healer and lubricant for the winter dries, whilst the mildest soap on earth is an all year round staple.

We normally ask people ‘if you could have only three beauty products what would they be and why?’, I guess that is easy for you….but is there any other products you couldn’t live without?

There sure is. It’s called the Supa Smoothin’ Skin Scrub and it too is made by skin crusaders and comes under the label of good enough 2 eat. You guessed it you can eat it and it tastes like something you’d find on cinnamon doughnuts. Used 1-2 a week on hands, feet and body it removes dead skin cells and leaves you feeling supa smooth all over. It’s like magic!

Most people consider starting and running a small business a difficult undertaking, what keeps you going when things get tough?

I have a little mantra that gets me through the tough times and believe me there have been a few so far…I convince myself that they are just hurdles along the way, thrown at me to to test just how much I want this dream to be real.

Also as a single parent to Alexander-Jai and running a start up business, It’s only natural for things to get tricky juggling and managing everything. I consider myself lucky and have an amazing network of family and friends, they all support and inspire me in their own special way. I also take time out to exercise, at the moment I am addicted to running – I find it makes me feel strong and happy, it must release the happy hormones in me and it keeps me sane.

Any advice for those individuals wishing to start their own ethical business?

Think BIG!

The perfect day is different for everybody, how would you describe yours?

I don’t kiss and tell! But it would involve enjoying our gorgeous beaches, sunsets and lots of laughter and HUGS! As they say the best things are free.

If you would like to find out more about Save our Skin products visit Anastasia's website at www.saveourskin.com.au