Why we should all go organic
MANILA, Philippines - Three women, helming three different organic brands, argue for the cause: Why should we go organic? Despite the expense or the lack of convenience (rarely are organic products stocked in every convenience store or mega super mart), they argue that the next generation of beauty products will be poaching from the same well. The future is organic. These ladies explain why.
Bea Misa
What’s the argument for going organic?
“Within allowable limit†is an acceptable statement to most people when it comes to chemicals in cosmetics and food, but very few actually try to figure out what these standards are based on — isolated tests, not considering daily minute levels of exposure, bioaccumulation, whatnot. I don’t buy it. Like, remember merthiolate? It once was an acceptable amount of mercury for human beings. I know I sound like a Luddite sometimes, but no thanks.
Aside from the health effects of junk in cosmetics (which everyone with the Internet knows about already), when you limit your chemicals in terms of cosmetics, you can’t cheat anymore, and you begin to be more honest about your health. There aren’t many natural shampoos that make your hair ultra shiny and slippery in a few minutes, so you actually have to eat well and exercise and whatnot. The products help you along, sometimes in a big way. But you can’t expect to party for weeks and eat McDonald’s and put on a face cream and look like a million bucks the next day. That’s better for the human race, in the long term, I suppose, because we have to get our shit together, we can’t get an immunity boob job, if that makes any sense.
It simplifies your life too, when you see commercials and ads and think, well, damn, I don’t really want to look like that, I’m not buying into that game of exaggerations and quick fixes.
Lastly, with natural cosmetics, you’re also putting your money towards producers like farmers and more direct value-adders, versus petrochemical hawkers.
What should consumers look for when shopping for organic beauty or body care products?
I would say look for simpler formulations. Keep the 20-letter words to a minimum. The funniest is when people think things from Watson’s or whatever are natural because they have a big label that says “aloe†or “virgin coconut oil,†but the rest of the stuff is your regular host of chemicals. Supporting local products is also important. The brands out there might not be perfect, but how will they grow without a bit of understanding and support? They’re not venture-capitalist supported or anything.
Tell me a little bit about your brand. What does it stand for?
Ritual (info@ritualshop.com) is a sustainable, plastic bag/bottle-free general store, and where we try to experiment with what we believe in — biocultural diversity. Sounds a bit wonky, but we like to explore different species of local plants, and how they were used across time and pantropically in everyday living.
The name comes from the idea that people should take pleasure in everyday little moments. Like being more present in your daily life, not saving your joy for some faraway point in time.
What product are you most proud of?
I originally made the jojoba-elemi anti-aging serum for someone I knew to replace her ultra-expensive and creepy facial serum, and it has since gained something of a cult following. The jojoba is imported, but the elemi is something we distill ourselves from pili resin. It’s actually used by international cosmetic companies for anti-aging purposes. We’re lucky to get such a pure and potent version of the ingredient.
Also this skin relief balm, which is based on a modified albularyo formulation for skin disorders, has been getting lots of great feedback. It contains several indigenous/indigenized plants that are easy to grow yet pretty powerful. That is the kind of stuff we really like doing.
Angela Dinglasan
What’s the argument for going organic?
Well, as Miranda Kerr famously said, “What you put on your skin, soaks in!†Very true! Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so you can imagine the kind of chemicals your skin is absorbing, and really whatever your skin is absorbing goes into your bloodstream as if you’ve eaten it, affecting your system in the same way good or bad food would.
What should consumers look for when shopping for organic beauty or body care products?
Read the label and ask your sales person questions. What is it made of? Is it mostly natural or only has a small portion of it natural? Does it look, feel, smell as if it’s in its closest natural form? If the answers to these questions are positive then you’re on the right path.
What does your brand stand for?
Zen Organic (zenutrients.com.ph) is a proudly Pinoy brand that makes world-class organic products. We want to bring nature alive in every product you use, so you can really see/feel/smell the difference!
We try as much as possible to give to you the ingredient we used in its most natural state. Maybe that’s why our buyers often say our stuff is just yummy, and we agree!
What product are you most proud of?
Gosh, this is like asking a mother who her favorite kid is! I have my top three: Gugo Hair Care (because it’s something so proudly Pinoy, our lolas used to wet the hugo bark and rub it onto the head directly!); Tea Tree deodorant (I can’t explain how well this works); and any form of the All is Well range (roll-on oil, balm, massage oil) because the uses go on and on (for coughs, colds, headaches, travel sickness, muscle aches, etc).
Neva Talladen
What’s the argument for going organic?
In a word: mindfulness. We’ve seen how the excess and overly consumerist culture stemming from the 1980s has led to the collapse of major financial institutions and economic depression (not to mention giving rise to many dysfunctions and social ills). There has to be a mindfulness, a self-accountability — more people taking responsibility for themselves and what they do. And going organic is part of this. Sure, you alone may not save the whole world, but you can certainly save yourself. And part of that is being mindful of what you put in your mouth, what you put on your body, what you choose to consume and buy, how you dispose of your waste, etc. So really, choosing organic products isn’t just about “saving the planet†but it’s about improving your own life, remembering that you don’t exist in a vacuum, that you’re actually part of the whole thing that’s happening around you. And if you make a change, it will affect everything in the long run.
What should consumers look for when shopping for organic products?
Learn how to read ingredients. It’s not as difficult or daunting as it seems. Anything with sulfates and parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben), if you can, don’t consume it. That includes shampoo and toothpaste brands. There are more alternatives now that don’t use these ingredients, both local and imported. But of course, choose local whenever you can. Think of how countries like India, Indonesia and Malaysia are economically stronger — it’s because they choose to make and buy more of their own products than imported brands. It also helps if the product is manufactured by the company itself, and not outsourced. It’s good to patronize a company that has accountability and doesn’t operate separate from the products it advertises.
What does your brand stand for?
Leyende (leyende.com) is a skincare brand that emphasizes lifestyle and quality of life –– the products adjust and suit your life and your skin, and not the other way around. If you’re a domestic diva who revels in long, luxurious skincare routine every now and then, we have products for that. If you’re always on-the-go and skincare is more of a chore, then we have multi-taskers like Clean Slate facial cleanser just for you. It’s not just about the type of skin –– no two types are exactly alike. Two people with oily skin might still have differing needs because of the climate they live in or the work they do. Our brand doesn’t ascribe much to commercial “wisdom.†Leyende doesn’t claim to solve every skin problem, and it is not a derma-grade product, but it will give you the most essential and basic skincare that you need without the fuss.
What product are you most proud of?
For me, it’s always been Clean Slate facial cleanser. I’m not claiming anything other than it does its job: takes off dirt and makeup at the end of a long day, doesn’t overdry skin and saves so much time! This was the second product I developed because I was so sick of having four to six steps to my face routine every morning and evening. Now I just have two steps (three over the weekend when I exfoliate). And guess what? I survived. I haven’t had a derma-grade facial in about five years, and I have fewer to almost no breakouts even when I’m PMS-ing. I’m not saying we don’t ever need a good facial, I’m just saying sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones.
