Product Review: Avalon Organics “Vitamin C Vitality Facial Serum”

After yesterday’s eye-opening expedition down facial moisturizing product lane, I thought it was long past time for me to review some of my other daily-use applications.

Today’s product review is for Avalon Organics “Vitamin C Vitality Facial Serum” from their “Vitamin C” product line.  It’s a serum I use fresh out of the shower and under my other face moisturizer on a daily basis.

Avalon Organics Vitamin C Vitality Serum

Feels great going on, and I find it’s good for making those dark circles under my eyes less prominent – especially in combination with one of Avalon Organics’ other face creams in the Vitamin C line.  Plus, unlike products in the lavender line, it doesn’t tend to make me break out – a definite plus.

So here is the catch: the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety database gives it a 6/10, or “moderate hazard” rating.

What I’m trying to figure out is why, given that the highest warning number for any of the ingredients listed on their site is a “4″.

Curious to find out more?  You can go here to see the rating on the site.  See if you can figure out why they’re slamming this product, because I’m stumped.

Product Review: Avalon Organics Co-Q10 Wrinkle Defense Cream

Sometimes I feel like finding and using a good quality cosmetic product is a losing battle.

A couple of nights ago, while waiting for a prescription to be filled at Shoppers Drug Mart, I came across a face cream by Avalon that I’ve been wanting to try.  It regularly runs at more than $20-$25 per unit, even at my favourite lower-priced health food store; Shoppers was selling it off for $16.99.  So what the heck.  I got it.

Today (filed under the heading “why do I do this to myself??”) I checked on its rating in the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database online.  A rating of 4 – “moderate hazard”.

Although a breakdown of the individual ingredients show none at a high hazard level – most of the ingredients are at a low level, in fact – the kinds of hazards cover the complete list: cancer developmental/ reproductive toxicity, “violations, restrictions & warnings”, allergies/immunotoxicity, as well as “Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous,Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards”.

I suppose it could be worse. 

In case you also picked it up, here are the key ingredients to be concerned about:

  

For more information on this product from the Avalon Organics web site, go here.

To see the complete product review breakdown on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database (online) site, go here.

Product Review: Germ-Force by Prairie Naturals

Today’s product review (after a relatively lengthy hiatus, natch) is for something I picked up over the weekend to replace the Purell bottle on my desk prior to the start of the hard-core flu season.

Product: Germ-Force, produced by Prairie Naturals.

Sub-Heading: “moisturizing hand sanitizer | antibacterial | paraben free

Ingredient List:

1.  denatured grain alcohol

This ingredient is not specifically tagged in the Skin Deep database.  The closest matches I could find were for either “alcohol denatured” (weighing in at a hefty 4/10) or “alcohol, denatured 38F” (weighing in at a much more comfortable 0/10) or “alcohol, denatured 3A” (also at a nice 0/10 on the hazard scale).  

If we’re talking about the 4/10 rating, the specific risks were:

• Cancer
• Developmental/Reproductive Toxicity
• Strong Concern:Multiple, Additive Exposure Sources
• Strong Concern:Enhanced Skin Absorption
• Moderate Concern:Organ System Toxicity (non-reproductive)
• Moderate Concern: Irritation (skin, eyes or lungs)

2. aloe vera gel

This ingredient was ranked at 1/10 on the hazard risk scale, which classifies as a “low hazard” risk.   Specific risks based on the SkinDeep ranking system include:

• Developmental/Reproductive Toxicity
• Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
• Lesser or Emerging Concerns:  Organ System Toxicity (non-reproductive)
• Lesser or Emerging Concerns:  Data Gaps

3. vegetable glycerin

This ingredient was ranked at 1/10 on the hazard risk scale, which classifies as a “low hazard” risk.  The specific risks are listed as follows:

• Moderate Concern: Organ System Toxicity (non-reproductive)
• Lesser or Emerging Concern: Data Gaps

4. natural fragrance of green apple

No match was found for this ingredient.

For more information on Prairie Naturals in the Skin Deep Database, here is where to go.

Summary: 

Out of four ingredients, two rated a 1/10, one rated either a 0/10 or a 4/10 (so I’m going to split the difference at 2/10), and one contained no information for the substance so I’m not going to include it in the ranking.

Based on the above, it looks like this product nets out at approximately 1.333 on the hazard rankings on a scale from 0-10.  Low hazard.

What do you think?  Are you comfortable with this?

Safety Check: Avalon Organics CoQ10 Facial Cleansing Milk

Switched to a new face wash a couple of days ago with my fingers crossed. Avalon Organics — usually a good company. Right?

I happen to like this product. My previous facial cleansing gel (also an Avalon product) was making my face red if I left it on for more than a couple of minutes in the shower. Not this one. Either it’s the creamy nature of the cleanser, or maybe it’s because the weather is starting to get cooler out again so my face isn’t as oily. After all, the CoQ10 product is billed as being for normal-to-dry skin … which mine tends to be only when the weather cools and the humidity level drops. It also smells reasonably nice if you like lavender and it doesn’t leave that greasy layer of yuck that many creamy cleansers do.

The SkinDeep Cosmetics Database rates it at 4/10 or moderate risk.

Whew.

For the full product report, you can take a look here.

Except that … well, the list of ingredients detailed at the Avalon site doesn’t match the list found on the SkinDeep site. Starting to wonder about the accuracy of the database when it comes to having the most current formulations now, so I’m going to go with the list of ingredients on the Avalon site. Then compare them against the ratings for the individual substances myself in the database and see where things net out.

Here is what you’re getting into if you choose to use this product:

INGREDIENT LIST:
1. angustifolia (lavender) flower
0/10 (low risk)

2. chamomilla recutita (chamomile) flower
0/10 (low risk)

3. camellia sinensis (white tea) leaf extract
0/10 (low risk)

4. organic arnica montana flower extract (aqueous)
2/10 (low hazard risk)

5. vegetable glycerin
1/10 (low hazard risk)

6. stearic acid
2/10 (low hazard risk)

7. glyceryl stearate SE
0/10 (low risk)

8. glycine soja (soybean) oil
1/10 (low hazard risk). NOTE: One of the hazard risks is for cancer.

9. stearyl alcohol
1/10 (low hazard risk)

10. cetyl alcohol
1/10 (low hazard risk)

11. phenoxyethanol
4/10 (moderate hazard risk)

12. tocopherol (vitamin E)
2/10 (low hazard risk)

13. emulsifying wax
0/10 (low hazard risk)

14. ubiquinone (CoQ10)
1/10 (low hazard risk). NOTE: Developmental/Reproductive Toxicity is one of the risks.

15. butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)
0/10 (low risk)

16. sorbitol
1/10 (low hazard risk)

17. caprylic/ capric triglyceride
0/10 (low risk)

18. organic helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil
0/10 (low risk)

19. polysorbate 20
1/10 (low hazard risk)

20. prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil
0/10 (low risk)

21. citric acid
4/10 (moderate risk)

22. sodium PCA
2/10 (low hazard risk)

23. sodium carbomer
0/10 (low risk)

24. dimethicone
2/10 (low hazard risk)

25. tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E)
4/10 (moderate risk)

26. L-ascorbic acid
2/10 (low hazard risk). NOTE: Risks include Cancer, Reproductive/Developmental Toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Data gaps

27. ethylhexylglcerin
1/10 (low hazard risk)

28. organic citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil
2/10 (low hazard risk) NOTE: Risks include violations, restrictions & warnings, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), irritation (skin, eyes or lungs) and data gaps.

29. other essential oils
4/10 (moderate risk)

Looks to me as though Avalon has changed its formulation to decrease its risky ingredients. My average risk rating, based on the total of all rankings out of ten then divided by the total number of ingredients, has this product with a final risk rating of 1.31/10.

What do you think? Is this product safe enough for you to use?

Safety Check: Avalon Organic Botanicals Lemon Clarifying Shampoo

Product: Avalon Organic Botanicals Lemon Clarifying Shampoo
Skin Deep Rating: N/A (not listed in the database)

This is a product used by two out of the three members of my household on a regular basis, as well as by at least two other extended family members. We’ve had it in the bathroom for at least two years now … thought it was time to check out the ingredients and do a bit of a reality check here.

Based on the ingredients listed on the Avalon web site, what follows is a rating on an ingredient-by-ingredient basis following an itemized search on the Skin Deep database.

Ingredient List:
1. Purified water
Skin Deep Rating: N/A

2. cocamidopropyl betaine
Skin Deep Rating: 5/10 (moderate hazard)
Ouch …

3. disodium cocoamphodiacetate
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard)

4. sodium cocoyl sarcosinate
Skin Deep Rating: 2/10 (low hazard)

5. coconut acid
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10

6. babassuamidopropalkonium chloride
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10 (low hazard)

7. organic citrus limonum (lemon) peel)
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10 (low hazard)*
NOTE: The rating for this is based on the listing for “CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) PEEL”

8. calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard)
NOTE: The main hazard rating for this one is a link to Cancer. Damn!

9. chamomilla recutita (chamomile) flower extract
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard)*
NOTE: The rating for this ingredient is based on the listing for “CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT” since there wasn’t an exact match in the SD database.

10. butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10 (low hazard)

11. vegetable glycerin
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard)

12. bisabolol (chamomile)
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard)

13. ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard)

14. arginine (amino acid)
Skin Deep Rating: 3/10 (moderate hazard)
Concerns: Cancer, Developmental/Reproductive Toxicity etc.

15. panthenol (pro-vitamin B5)
Skin Deep Rating: 2/10 (low hazard)

16. tocopherol (vitamin E)
Skin Deep Rating: 2/10
NOTE: Cancer is one of the concerns with this ingredient

17. organic citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard)

18. other essential oils
Skin Deep Rating: N/A

Ingredients to be concerned about:
1. cocamidopropyl betaine –> 5/10
2. arginine (amino acid) 3/10

Average rating of all listed ingredients (with “N/A” products counting as “0″): 1.17/10

Safety Check: Avalon Organic Botanicals Therapeutic Facial Cleansing Gel Lavender

Well this is disturbing.

A couple of years ago I made the switch from the more conventional facial products from the drug store to using something I *thought* would be safer. It said “organics”. It’s sold at the health food store. Should make it safe. Right?

Here is the product in question:

Avalon Organic Botanicals Therapeutic Facial Cleansing Gel Lavender.
Frequency of use: daily with my morning shower.
Skin Deep Rating: 5/10 (“moderate” risk)

So, according to the Skin Deep database, this product contains ingredients which rank as high as 5/10 on the toxicity scale. However, I went and looked at the ingredient list that Avalon has listed on the site for this product. It doesn’t match the one in the Skin Deep database.

Here is what is on the site label:

Organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender), chamomilla recutita (chamomile) and camellia sinensis (white tea) extracts (aqueous)(1), organic arnica montana extract(2), cocamidopropyl betaine, disodium oleamido succinate, sodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, vegetable glycerin, organic aloe barbadensis(1), glycereth-7 cocoate, citric acid, phospholipids, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), sodium PCA, allantoin, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (licorice root), organic borago officinalis (borage) and linum usitatissimum (flax) oils(1), phenoxyethanol, rosa canina (rose hip) oil, benzyl alcohol, organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil(3) and other essential oils.

So … since it doesn’t actually match what’s in the Skin Deep site … I’ve decided to break it down ingredient by ingredient.

1. Organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender)
Skin Deep Ingredient Rating: 1/10 (low risk)

2. chamomilla recutita (chamomile) extract
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10 (no risk)

3. camellia sinensis (white tea) extract (aqueous)
Skin Deep Rating: 2/10 (low risk)

4. organic arnica montana extract
Skin Deep Rating (based on “flower” extract): 2/10 (low risk)

5. cocamidopropyl betaine
Skin Deep Rating: 5/10 (moderate hazard)
Well, that’s not good …

6. disodium oleamido succinate
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10 (no hazard)

7. sodium cocoyl glutamate
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10

8. sodium cocoyl isethionate
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low risk)

9. vegetable glycerin
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10

10. aloe barbadensis
Skin Deep Rating (aloe barbadensis – general): 2/10
Skin Deep Rating (leaf extract): 1/10
Skin Deep Rating (gel): 1/10

11. glycereth-7 cocoate
Skin Deep Risk: 0/10

12. citric acid
Skin Deep Rating: 4/10 (moderate risk)

13. phospholipids
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10

14. panthenol (pro-vitamin B5)
Skin Deep Rating: 2/10 (low hazard risk)

15. sodium PCA
Skin Deep Rating: 2/10 (low hazard risk)

16. allantoin
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10 (low hazard risk)

17. dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (licorice root)
Skin Deep Rating: 1/10 (low hazard risk)

18. organic borago officinalis (borage) oil
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10

19. organic linum usitatissimum (flax) oil
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10

20. phenoxyethanol
Skin Deep Rating: 4/10 (moderate hazard risk)

21. rosa canina (rose hip) oil
Skin Deep Rating: 0/10

22. benzyl alcohol
Skin Deep Rating: 6/10 (moderate hazard risk) –> yikes!

23. organic lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil(3) and other essential oils.
Skin Deep Rating: 2/10

So … based on an ingredient by ingredient rating breakdown, taking the highest of all possible options (if there is more than one score on a particular item), then averaging them all out … I get 1.52/10 as an overall score for this product. Which leads me to wonder about the Skin Deep rating system and/or whether or not Avalon improved its ingredient list between the original examination done by Skin Deep and now.

For what it’s worth, there are clearly a few ingredients here to be concerned about. But I’m feeling a bit better now than I was when I first checked the rating for this product.

What I’ve learned from this exercise is that the following ingredients are ones to watch for in “natural” products:

1. benzyl alcohol (6/10)
2. cocamidopropyl betaine (5/10)
3. phenoxyethanol (4/10)
4. citric acid (4/10)

What do you think?

Product Recommendation: Lafe’s Natural & Organic Deodorant Spray

I stink.

I admit it.

At least, I generally smell if I don’t use deodorant. I’ve had lousy luck with most conventional deodorants and — up to this point — ALL of the alternative and less toxic options found in the health food store.

Until now.

Lafe’s Natural and Organic Deodorant Spray (with aloe vera) has no scent. It’s not an aerosol. What it is is a pump that sprays (5-6 times, as directed on the label) a very cool and non-sticky mist under your arms. I suggest that you hang out in front of a fan for a minute or so to let it dry. But once it’s dry … it works. In the summer. It’s even reasonably effective into day 2 without a shower (if you were so inclined) but you might want to do something with a scent in your pits by then (a.k.a. wouldn’t recommend it for public consumption. LOL)

Even the ingredients are mind-relieving:
= purified water
= naturally occurring mineral salts
= aloe vera
= potassium alum

The only question I really had was about the potassium alum, so I looked it up on Skin Deep as an ingredient report. SD gave it a “1″ on the toxic scale, which is almost as good as it gets (other than 0 of course!).

I bought it at Tutti Frutti in Kensington Market, but you can also order it online if you’re not able to find it in the stores by going to Lafe’s site directly.

My rating: @@@@@

Organic Coffee: Rich Flavour, A Little Strong

Coffee: Fair Trade & Organic Island Reserve Dark
Rating: @@@@
Found: Casa Acoreana & Luis Coffee Stop, Kensington Market

This coffee is darker and stronger than the Rainforest blend from yesterday. Island Reserve Dark is a mid-week coffee, harsher and with a kick that may help get you over the humpday blahs. Eminently drinkable, it’s a pale substitute for you espresso drinkers and yet a bit on the concentrated side for medium-roast blend palates.

You can drink it on an empty stomach, but you might want to add milk and sugar; you’re also probably going to need something food-like to follow it up with within an hour or two of ingesting the liquid caffeinated goodness.

Definitely worth trying. If I hadn’t had the Rainforest blend and loved it, I would probably be reasonably content with this coffee on a daily basis.

Adventures in Organic Coffee

Coffee: Rainforest Alliance Peru Organic
Rating: @@@@@
Found: Casa Acoreana & Luis Coffee Stop, Kensington Market

Took the day off yesterday and went down to Kensington Market in the afternoon on a search for, among other things, some organic coffee. My favourite place is Casa Acoreana & Luis Coffee Stop, the spice and candy and coffee store at 235 Augusta Avenue (right on the corner).
View Larger Map

Day 1 in my quest for good organic coffee starts me off today with the Rainforest Alliance Peru Organic blend. I believe it’s also a Fair Trade coffee.

Yum. I’m definitely liking this.

The flavour is light (it’s definitely not an espresso type blend) and rich, with a slightly sweet roasted aftertaste. It’s a great morning coffee. Not as harsh as a much darker roast on an empty stomach, and very very smooth.

For context, I also take my coffee with organic rice milk (Presidents Choice Organics or YU brand) and organic sugar. We use a metal filter in a Cuisinart stainless steel drip coffee maker.