Have you ever thought about how much work and energy goes into making glitter, color, fragrance and other additives that their sole purpose is to attract consumers to a product? Well since I started formulating as clean as possible, I realized how much junk is added to topical products for no reason other than creating a fake spark in a consumers mind. What do I mean by clean formulating? It means when almost all of the ingredients in your formula that has created a soap, lotion or a cream has a purpose and usefulness for your skin. Artificial colors, fragrance and fillers do not have any benefit for your body, but are so often used in all edible and topical products. 

In a perfect world where our air and water are always safe and there is never any fear of climate change, making all sorts of fun products is no problem . BUT when our waters are filled with oil from spills, hazardous chemical waste and our air is not always good to breath and sea water levels are rising WE NEED TO STOP INCLUDING UNNECESSARY INGREDIENTS IN OUR PRODUCTS.

When I first started formulating, I did think it would be fun to make soaps with all sorts of colors and I went ahead and ordered samples of different type of dyes. Right away I regretted buying fake color as I realized, assuming this dye is harmless to your body (which it usually is not the case), it has absolutely has no function in helping to clean your skin any better, but it actually is taking away from the percentage of active ingredients. Also in the synthesis process (manufacturing) of this unnecessary artificial color, phthalates and other additives, large amounts of energy and resources is consumed and large amount of waste (usually hazadouse) is created of which needs to be disposed.  So when you think about the before and after life of an ingredient, it really puts things in perspective and that's not even mentioning how much energy is used in the transportation process.

There are many artificial ingredients such as phthalates and dyes that are even harmful to your body and are endocrine or hormone disruptors. So overall the existence of an artificial ingredient costs our planet and our health. Why do we need a soap, a lotion, a cereal or chips that has fake color, taste or scent? Consumers have been trained to find joy in glitter, colors and scents. By knowing how much artificial ingredients are unnecessary and unsustainable, can you find a ways to shift your mind from finding spark and joy in fake ingredients? It is not an easy job to think deeply about every product we use daily, but we can start with one product at a time. Look at your favorite products and if you find artificial ingredients or flavors, write the company and ask them to not include any artificial ingredients in their product. Companies listen to their consumers and if they don't listen find a company that puts your health and our planet's health first.