Posts from — April 2008

I know that technically a hair conditioner is not really organic skin care. But it goes on the hair. And hair is on the head. And head has skin. And I bought it. And used it. And it’s organic. And am aching to review it. So here we go.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce:

GPB Glycogen Protein Balancing Conditioner by Aubrey Organics.

What and who is it for:
This is a hair conditioner for all hair types. “Nourishes and strengthens for full, shiny, healthy hair”, proudly proclaims the bottle.

About the brand:
Aubrey Organics is a brand from Aubrey Organics, Inc. They started mixing up their first products in 1967. (Isn’t it amazing, Dr. Hauschka also started in 1967. Coincidence? Or was there something in the air that year?) The company site states that they were the first to list ingredients (1967), and the first to be certified organic (1994). They manufacture everything in small batches, so that the product is as fresh as possible. And they use a natural citrus seed extract preservative which gives the products a shelf life of up to 36 months.

I am a skeptic by nature, and I don’t like to put too much value on official sites. But it’s hard to find external information from unbiased sources. All I’ve been able to ascertain is that it is a private company headquartered in Florida, US. Its 2007 sales are estimated at 4.6$ million. Most of the products are manufactured in Tampa, Florida. The company is “committed to organic certification” and their organic certifying organization is Quality Assurance International of San Diego, California.

They seem to have the right philosophy, so I’m giving them a chance.

Price:
~$10 Canadian for 11 fl oz bottle. And I really gotta start keeping receipts… ( It ranges from $7 to $17 at amazon.com)

Certifications:
Quality assurance international certified organic. This label is on the bottle:

Packaging:
Recyclable container. Looks like a completely regular bottle of conditioner. And is actually bigger in size than many other guys on the shelf.

Other claims:
No animal testing. 100% Natural. Non-vegan. Contains milk protein.

Ingredients:
Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base, Organic Aloe Vera, Wheat Germ Oil, Lactalbumin, Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Sage Oil, Horsetail Extract, Coltsfoot Extract, Nettle Extract, Amino Acid Complex (Cysteine, Methionine), Glycoprotein (from oyster shells), Balsam Oil, Aubrey’s Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E).

Personally I don’t see any dangerous offenders. So, it’s a pass for me. (I got this list from their site. I’m too lazy to type the list from the bottle. Though, the list on the bottle seems longer – more things in brackets and side notes, but I didn’t spot any offenders either.)

First impression:
Help! It’s not coming out! I’m soaked, the water is turning cold and nothing is coming out of the darn bottle!

Oh, wait…

Did I actually open it? Oops… Sorry, bottle. I forgot the little plastic thingy on the top under the cover…

Ok, let’s try this again.

Good first impression. Looks like a regular hair conditioner…

Scent:
The scent is somehow fruity/soapy/nutty. It is actually quite pleasant, though not in a “I want to smell like this all the time” way. It remained on the hair for a while as it was drying. Maybe I didn’t rinse too well.

Texture:
Creamy, just a little bit rougher/thicker than what I’ve used in the past. But that becomes irrelevant as soon as spread on hair.

The effect:
Great! Perfectly normal hair is achieved. In fact, it actually feels stronger then before I showered. Hmm… I’m liking this thingy. Quite comparable in price to that Pantene conditioner I used to buy way back when. (Ok, I confess, it wasn’t that long ago… but let’s move on, shall we?) And it’s actually cheaper. I’m sold. And so is my hair.

Verdict:
The bottle is slightly bigger then Herbal Essences, but has much more herbs. It’s cheaper than Pantene, but just as effective. And it’s organic. Cruelty free. Good for you and the environment. What more could you ask for?

—

P.S.:
By the way, I was looking through some databases, and found a list of ingredients for a Herbal Essences conditioner, my former “herbal” product of choice. The particular one that intrigued me was a deliciously named “Fruit Fusion Purifying Conditioner”.

Here is that list:

Ingredients from packaging: water, cyclomethicone, stearyl alcohol, cyclomethicone, stearymidopropyl dimethylamine, cetyl alcohol, hydrolyzed wheat protein and hydrolyzed wheat starch, actinidia chinensis (kiwi) fruit extract, citrus japonica fruit extract, ficus carica (fig) extract, fragrance, quaternium-18, stearyl alcohol, dimethicone, peg-2m, cetearyl alcohol, hydroxyethylcellulose, glyceryl stearate, oleyl alcohol, polysorbate-60, benzyl alcohol, citric acid, EDTA, propylene glycol, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, potassium sorbate, phenonip, blue 1, yellow 5, yellow 6. (Few… That actually broke my spell-checker…)

Now, doesn’t it just make you feel fused and fruity?

When our skin looks tired and sagging, when our colors loose spark and vibrancy, we search to regain them back. However, there is a categorical difference between natural organic solutions and the synthetic ones, as the naturals have the potential of true healing, while synthetics can only, suppress symptoms or cover up. For what is healing? It is restoration, regeneration, repair. It implies an energy/force that would power and coordinate those processes. Without energy, there is chaos. But there is no life force in synthetics.

Life force is the invisible spark that holds the pieces of our world together. Remove it, disrupt it, and the system collapses. Once it is gone, a being that was vibrantly alive moments before begins to decay immediately. The form falls apart into its composites. It still has all the molecules – but nothing forces them to work together.

Modern chemical cosmetics industry is focused on form alone. It assumes that putting together ingredients that mimic something in nature is just as effective as the real thing. Misguided by profit goals and chasing cheapest production methods and ingredients, it continues trying to replace nature. But in the zeal to efficiently put together vitamins, minerals, colors, preservatives and fragrances, they forget about the life force which is supposed to hold those things together. Synthetic chemicals are essentially cadavers. They may look like the real thing, but they lack vitality. Science is not yet able to synthesize life. Only natural ingredients possess it. And only life can heal.

Our body is a self-healing organism. It knows how much and what kind of life force to extract from environment in order to rebuild and renew itself. It knows, for example, the properties of cucumber, and has systems to extract vitality when they come in contact. But imagine what happens when instead of a fresh cucumber, the skin is confronted with synthetic colors or preservatives. Instead of extracting life force, the body is forced to extend its own energy reserves just to protect itself from the deadly foreign invader.

Our skin is much more sensitive and perceptive than we give it credit for. It is not an impermeable barrier that can be patched up with anything and everything. A skin is a vital organ of interaction with the world. Sun shining on our skin gives us warmth. Fresh water running on our skin discharges negative emotions. A hug, or a soft caress that touches our skin heals our souls. But what do you think a petroleum derived coating does?

Pure organic skin care is more than skin deep. It reestablishes our connection with nature, and replenishes our energy resources from the purest source. It allows us to pamper, enhance and heal simultaneously. The life force that emanates from nature rejuvenates every cell in our being, and reminds us that life is still in our hands.

It also reminds us that we still have the energy to do and learn that which we came here to do and learn. And that this world is a beautiful place and we are part of it.