And I really needed a mascara. No room for error.

So I went to Wal-Mart. Because they have the best return policy. Just in case.

And I bought a regular big-brand mascara as well. Just in case.

So yah, I was one biased customer.

But I worried for nothing. The mascara IS good. For me, at least. But if you want to know more details, here is the really detailed review:

Product Name:

Organic Wear Mascara, by Physician’s Formula, also referred to as Natural Origin Mascara

About the brand:

Organic Wear is a Brand created by Physician’s Formula. You can read my Physician’s Formula brand overview here.

Price:

I paid just over $14 Canadian. It is about 10US dollars in the US.

Certifications:

EcoCert Certified Organic.

Packaging:

This is one of the most innovative packaging to hit the mascara world in a long time. The tube and handle are stylized with the handle looking like some kind of leaf. The brush itself is very flexible, which I think is a pro – it was easy to reach all the lashes. The brush is also 100% recyclable, which is a bonus.

Reading the ingredients:

The packaging says that 100% of ingredients are of Natural Origin and 47% are Organic. Which is commendable given that EcoCert requires only 10% of ingredients to be Organic and 95% to be natural. Basically, Organic Wear is taking its “natural” and “organic” claims seriously.

Reading the insert (or Other claims):

The back of the box is dedicated to 100%. It list a whole set of features for which Organic Wear Mascara scored a 100:

100% Natural Origin Mascara
100% Free of Synthtetic Solvents
100% Natural Origin Biopolymers – for clump free lashes
100% Natural Origin Preservatives
100% Natural Origin Rice Protein & Organic Tapioca Starch – naturally boost volume. Organic Beeswax 00 for a buildable formula.
100% Natural Origin Color Pigments
100% Free of Petroleum By Products.

It’s also 100% Cruelty Free.

It’s also hypoallergenic and fragrance free.

Scent:

I’ve read some other reviews where users have complained about the smell. Granted, it doesn’t smell like roses. It is fragrance-free, after all. But it doesn’t smell awful either. And it’s going on your lashes, not your nose. (Though I did smudge my nose while doing the smell test – it still didn’t bother me.)

Performance:

I applied it very carefully and had no clumps or smudges. It looked very natural on my lashes. I didn’t even feel the need for a second coat. After I applied it I accidentally hit the lashes with my finger and a couple of them stuck together – I used the brush to separate them without any issues. I didn’t smudge – I wore it for most of the day and didn’t have any problems. The next day I did two coats (very nice lashy look) and even a few time scratched my eye (carefully) – still no smudging.

Tip: to ensure perfect distribution and no clumping use an eyebrow brush or a toothpick to separate lashes you accidentally stuck together… But make sure you don’t poke your eye!

Verdict:

For such a low price (as far as organic mascaras go) this mascara is outperforming all expectations. No, it’s not water-proof – no does it claim to be. If you are going out in the rain or are headed for a serious sweat at the gym, this might not be for you. But for an everyday normal application it’s perfect.

I liked it. I liked it a lot. I’m keeping it for sure. The mainstream brand backup package is going back to Wal-Mart…

P.S: If you live in the USA, for a limited time (till the end of 2009) you can get a rebate on this mascara. Here is a rebate form from the company’s site: http://www.physiciansformula.com/rebates/2009/ow-mascara-rebate.pdf

But then the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released a report in October of 2007. 61 percent of brand named lipsticks tested contained lead! And of course, none of them listed it as an ingredient.

How’s that for busting the “myth” part of this “urban myth”?

Among the top brands that were found to contain lead where L’Oreal (with L’Oreal Colour Riche “True Red” coming in with a whopping 0.65 particles per million), Cover Girl (Incredifull Lipcolor “Maximum Red” – 0.56 ppm), Christian Dior (Addict Positive Red – 0.28 ppm) and others…

Lead is a proven neurotoxin. It also easily crosses the placenta, making pregnant women and their children especially vulnerable. But how many women stop using their favorite lipstick when they are pregnant?

Health Canada followed up the study with their own tests. The lipsticks in their samples contained levels of lead from 0.079 to 0.84 ppm. One lipstick had 6.3 ppm! Though, naturally, the brand was not disclosed. Go figure.

The Canadian government had the audacity to claim that the amounts were safe. Despite the fact that there is a growing amount of scientific evidence that there is no such thing as safe amount of lead. Because lead builds up over time. It doesn’t disappear. And when it comes to lipstick – women don’t apply it once in their lifetime. Some estimate that women eat about 4 pounds of lipstick in a lifetime.

As “safe” as lead is supposed to be, the acceptable level for candy is 0.1ppm. But there isn’t much regulation for lipstick.

And when somebody tries to regulate it, the big lobby guns come out. Despite passing the full California Senate, a bill that would ban lead in lipstick was defeated in the Assembly Health Committee, caving to the mega pressure from the cosmetics lobby. The swarm of lobbyists and big name executives from the likes of Revlon, Estee Lauder and Johnson & Johnson proved to be too much.

What a brave new world we live in. Where a few dollars here and there trump any health concern. Cause dollars must be so much more important…

So where does it leave the consumer?

Doing our own homework. Searching, sharing information, supporting those who try to do well by us.

Seeking out organic makeup and organic lipstick is a way to protect ourselves, our friends and our kids. Chasing the mighty dollar these companies forgot that their customers are human with biological bodies and health concern. They feel no responsibility towards us, but feel secure that we’ll let it stand and use their products cause we need it.

They are wrong. We value our health more than their over marketed poison tubes. And we know there are better options. Truly organic and natural makeup products are popping up everywhere. It’s just a matter of doing some digging to find the right product. But when it comes to health – digging is worth it.

What I’m trying to say is that I went to one of my favorite “health” stores and saw a display of travel-sized tubes of Weleda products for a buck or two. Before I could stop myself, the Weleda Skin Food has found itself in my shopping cart, and a day later all over my face… Which is the basis for this report… As I’m sure you’ve already figured out.

But enough of the intro. Let’s get down to business.

Product name:

Weleda Skin Food (it doesn’t actually say “cream”) in English, but does in French…

What and who is it for:

The package states that it’s “for dry and rough skin”, which is ME! ME! ME!

About the brand:

Please consult my epos on Weleda. I can’t think of anything else to add to that monumental work and I can’t think of a reason why you shouldn’t read it!

Price:

Usually around $20 for 2.5 oz. 

It is frequently on special here:
Weleda Skin Food
(they also have a smaller 1 oz tube
Weleda Skin Food – Small
though it is significantly bigger than the one I got).

Certifications:

BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetic

Packaging:

My sample tube is a “mini-me” of the real aluminum tube with lining (so no, you’re not putting aluminum on your face…) The tube is then in the box… Waste of material, if you ask me, but hey – it’s the industry standard. And the box and insert are fully recyclable, so don’t sweat it. I just like writing about it.

Reading the ingredients:

Water, sunflower seed oil, lanolin, sweet almond oil, alcohol, beeswax, glyceryl linoleate, hydrolyzed beeswax, fragrance, viola tricolor extract, rosemary leaf extract, shamomilla recutita flower extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, cholesterol, limonene, linalool, geraniol, citral, coumarin.

The fragrance and the last five ingredients are from natural essential oils. Of course, in the ideal world we’d have no alcohol… But the world is not quite there yet, so I’m not gonna be too picky.

Reading the insert:

“Weleda Skin Food nourishes, restores and protects the skin, maintaining the skin’s moisture levels and keeping the skin feeling smooth and supple. This intensively nourishing formula made with extracts of organic Pansy, organic Chamomile and biodynamic Calendula, is ideal for both children and adults. Skin Food is the natural choice for everyday care of the face and body. It is especially recommended for dry skin, particularly on the hands, feet and elbows.”

Scent:

When you apply it, you can smell a shot of orange. At least that’s what I think it is. A very potent shot of something citrussy.

Texture:

This took me by surprise. The cream is thick. I mean really thick. It doesn’t spread out the way all my previous creams do. It feels waxy when applying (which wouldn’t have surprised me had I read the ingredients first – beeswax!). Not moist at all. But once it’s on the face, it feels totally normal. So I think the texture basically means that you need more of it per application then you would of something like Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream, or you need to rub harder, which is not always a good idea when it comes to face. Perhaps that’s why they recommend it for hands, feet and elbows…

What does it do on the face:

Nourishes it. Plain and simple. No fluff. If your face is dry and rough (after a dry and windy day, for example), it will make you feel human again. This is also good for other body parts. I heard people rave about the miracle work it does to dry elbows… I haven’t tried it on my hands, as they have been surprisingly normal lately.

Verdict:

One of the more reasonably priced organic ventures. Hard to go wrong here. I think it’s a necessity – not for daily use, though, but for those extra dry and rough moments. Unless, of course, your dry and rough moments are a daily occasion.

But let’s not jump ahead. Allow me to present you with a pretty thorough analysis of two of Aubrey Organics shampoos I’ve been especially addicted to.

Product name:

Aubrey Organics GPB Shampoo (Glycogen Protein Balancing)

and Camomile Luxurious Volumizing Shampoo.

What and who is it for:

GPB shampoo is for all hair types and it “cleanses and strengthens for full, shiny, healthy hair”.

The volumizing shampoo is for normal hair, and it “cleaneses & tones for bouncy hair and brilliant shine”.

About the brand:

For a review of Aubrey Organics, please see my “about the brand section” in the Aubrey GPB hair conditioner review.

Price:

The price is the most reasonable price for something of such quality. It’s somewhere under 10 Canadian dollars for an 11 oz bottle. But most stores have the two-for-one deals where a shampoo and conditioner are sold together. I’ve been going with that system and getting both (shampoo and conditioner) for about 12 dollars. Really worth it, in my opinion.

Packaging:

Regular bottles, as far as I can tell.

Claims:

GPB Balancing Shampoo:

Volumizing Shampoo:

Reading the ingredients:

GPB Balancing Shampoo:
Pure Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Orange Pith Juice, Coconut Oil-Corn Oil Soap with Quillaya Bark, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (from organic, non-GMO soybeans), Carrageenan, Organic Shea Butter, Lactalbumin, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, balsam Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil, Aubrey’s Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamis A, C and E).

Volumizing Shampoo:
Deionized Water, Coconut Oil-Corn Oil Soap, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (made from organic, non-GMO soybeans), Organic Aloe Vera, Carrageenan, Roman Camomile Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Sage Oil,; Extracts of Camomile, Nettle, Horsetail, Coltsfoot, Fennel, Hops, Balm Mint, Mistletoe and Yarrow; Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Inositol, Niacin, Aubrey’s Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E), Carrot Oil.

Scent:

GPB:
I find the smell a bit sweet. Very pleasant and subtle.

Volumizing:
The camomile volumizing shampoo does a good job of smelling like chamomile. In fact, it smells very much like my favorite chamomile tea.

Texture:

GPB:
This one has an unusual texture for a shampoo. It’s a bit watery and feels like there are tiny particles dissolved. So be careful when pouring it on – more comes out then you’d expect. It lathers without any issues though.

Volumizing:
A regular shampoo texture. Just the right amount of gooiness…

What does it do:

It does miracles on your head, without any suspects and side effects. My hair is healthier and stronger than it’s been in ages. I tend to rotate the shampoos, as most of the times I reach for them with my eyes semi-closed. Combined, though, they definitely resulted in a healthy strong and quite volumy hair…

Verdict:

These are both great shampoos. As far as I’m concerned, Aubrey Organics shampoos are the best bang for your organic buck. You get great ingredients, and a fully effective product. So, buy whichever one is on special, and you won’t regret it

Yes. I admit it. I haven’t before. I thought the price was way too prohibitive. But there I was, in front of a whole isle of all things Dr. Bronner, and I just couldn’t resist. After all, organic skin care is my passion. And those bottles were sooo organic.

Which is why I didn’t buy just one bar of soap. No. I went all out and bought two bars And a bottle of liquid soap. I had to see what all the fuss is about.

And thus, faithfully reporting to you once again, here are my reviews:

Dr. Bronner Magic Soap Bar and Liquid Soap: Unscented Baby-Mild Hemp Pure-Castile Soap.

This is the bar:

And this is the bottle:

About the brand:

The story of this brand and it’s founder is abundantly scattered thought the web for anyone curious to research. But for those who just want a bird-eye view, here is the gist:

The company was founded by an eccentric German immigrant castile soap maker Emanuel H. Bronner. He was a third generation soap maker, and upon arriving to America continued on working his family trade. The actual company was founded in 1948 and the first products where peppermint soap and healthfood seasonings. The company has since expanded into skin care and various other natural products.

(The company site has a very easy to follow time-line of its evolution here.)

Emanual Bronner died in 1997 and the company is presently run by Ralph Bronner (his son) and David Bronner (his nephew). It is a family owned operation.

The company’s soaps have been certified organic since 2003 (under USDA) and the company itself is certified Fair Trade since 2007.

According to the company site Dr. Bronner Magic Soaps make about $9 million in annual sales.

Dr. Bronner Magic Soaps have recently been in the news for the Organic Lawsuit the company filed against other brands and some certifying bodies. The company is alleging that rivals use misleading labeling to confuse consumers into thinking that products are more organic then they actually are. (There is a good article about the lawsuit here . Also you can read a press release about their requests from the industry here.)

Price:

I paid $4.49 Cdn for the bar and $9.99 Cdn for the bottle.

I think the bar is overpriced. At least psychologically paying that much for a bar was a challenge. However the price for the bottle is very reasonable and is comparable to other body washes. And the bottle is sufficiently big (16 oz, 472 ml.

Certifications:

Both products are certified organic by Oregon Tilth (USDA).

Packaging:

The bar is wrapped in Living Tree Paper (10% hempflax / 90% post consumer waste). The bottle is 100% biodegradable.

Reading the ingredients:

Bar: Saponfified Organic Coconut, Organic Palm & Organic Olive Oils (w/ Retained Glycerin), Water, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, salt, Citric Acid, Vitamin E.

Bottle: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Organic Olive Oils (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, citric Acid, Vitamin E.

I have no idea what “saponified” is. I tried to read the explanation on Wikipedia, but got even more confused. Some kind of process to make soap. Sounds normal and natural. Just a bit too technical for me. Dr. Bronner’s site explains it better , so feel free to read all about it.

Reading the packaging:

There is so much written on the bottle, that it would take me a whole post just to list it all. Ingredients, instructions, certifications, and numerous quotes and commandments.

Here is a typical example:

Knowing the full-truth that unites the human race, and not teaching all is deathly guilt”, learned carpenter Jesus from Mason Rabbi Hillel! But Marx, innocent grandson of 2 rabbies, learned only half truth! As Mao wrote in Redbook ’51: “Marxist-Communism, once in power, is utterly unworkable, has less value then cowdung. Its power is the gun!” What an apology we Rabbis owe Israel, Marx, Mao, all mankind, for not teaching Astronomy’s great All-One-God-Faith, that with just 6 words eternally unites the human race! As teaches African-shepherd Astronomer Israel for 6000 years, “LISTEN CHILDREN ETERNAL FATHER ETERNALLY ONE!” For on God’s Spaceship Earth, with Bomb and Gun, we are All-One or none! All-One! All-One! All-One! Exceptions eternally? Absolute none!

There… The message on the soap bottle.

Honestly, the benefit of this bottle is if you keep it in the bathroom, you won’t need to invest in any additional bathroom reading material This quote is just one of what looks like gazillion quotes written in different sized fonts and directions.

Other claims on the bottle: “Enjoy 1 soap for 18 different uses!”… This left me confused. I only know of one way to use soap: for cleaning…

And more statements:

100% Vegan.
Guaranteed no synthetic peppermint oils.
Not animal tested.
“For All Major Ingredients we are going FAIR TRADE.”

The paper on the bar was much more succinct. “FAIR TRADE”, “Vegan”, “Not animal tested” plus ingredients list and a note on importance of recycled paper and use of soy ink.

Scent:

I found the bar’s sent to be basically non-existent. The liquid soap, however has a hint of wet-burned-paper scent. The first time I used it I thought there was fire somewhere and panicked for a second. But once I realized the source, I found it oddly pleasant, in a quirky kind of way…

Texture:

Bar: A perfectly regular soap bar. Nothing unusual to report.

Liquid Soap: More runny/watery that regular body wash. So don’t tilt the bottle too fast.

Effectiveness:

I haven’t tried the “18 different uses”, but it does the regular washing (hands and body) job pretty well. It lathers up quickly and evenly — a little goes a long way.

Verdict:

The bar is nice, but overpriced. The liquid soap is a way better value – you literally need just a drop or two.

Both products get high marks for organic content. But the liquid soap gets extra bonus point for the fun read

So, buy the Liquid Soap and be merry!

Yes, it boggles my mind that a company that has been creating top quality products since 1920s is still largely unknown outside of Europe. I feel the situation must be rectified… And on that note, here is your definitive primer on all things Weleda skin care…

First Some History:

Weleda was founded on the pioneering anthroposophical ideas of Rudolf Steiner in 1921. Rudolf Steiner provided the “spirit”, the philosophy for the company, while a Dutch medical doctor Ita Wegman was the medical foundation. Together they launched anthroposophical medicine, and Weleda was the pharmaceutical laboratory developing medicines that were in line with that philosophy. (Ita also founded a clinic and a home for mentally handicapped children, among her other accomplishments.)

Anthroposophy views humans as indivisible beings consisting of body, mind and soul. Thus in the context of healing, all three had to be taken into consideration. Which also applied to the preparation of medicines. And since humans are intrinsically connected to living nature, only pure natural remedies could provide true healing. And nothing tops organic and biodynamically grown ingredients. (Read my article about biodynamic).

But back to our story… In 1924 the then called “Internationale Laboratorien Arlesheim AG” acquired its first subsidiary, a German company, which in addition to medical preparations made cosmetic preparations. The company was officially renamed Weleda AG in 1928.

Weleda company has miraculously survived World War II, despite the fact that Hitler has banned Anthroposophical Society, and in 1945 the company resumed its operations with about 150 employees.

Since the mid 1950s the company has been using organic and biodynamic ingredients. This was accomplished through both setting up their own farms and developing an extensive supplier network, which have to comply with Weleda’s stringent requirements.

Note: I heavily sourced this article and I owe them credit…

Now for Some Mythology:

WELEDA
[Wa-lay-da]

WELEDA was first registered as a trademark in 1923. Rudolf Steiner chose the name himself, for “Weledas” were Celtic women healers. These were wise women with deep knowledge of nature.

There was also a known historic “Weleda” — a prophetess and a priestess of healing living at the beginning of Christian Era. According to the Roman Historian Tacitus, she lived by the Lippe River of modern day Germany. She belonged to the Brukturer tribe, and under her influence, her tribe united with other Germanic tribes to repel Roman invaders, until eventually captured. The peace was established eventually, but the Romans feared Weleda’s influence and took her captive in Rome, where she remained until her death, though she was treated honorably.

The Business Side:

As for the technical nitty-gritty of the modern corporation (I’m an accountant by training… I can’t help myself ), The modern Weleda Group is based in Arlesheim, Switzerland, and is the leading manufacturer of anthroposophical medicines and natural cosmetics in the world. As of August 2007 the company had 17 regional companies, and products available in 50 companies worldwide.

The company mainly specializes in natural cosmetics, over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements. All Weleda body care products are manufactured in Switzerland, Germany, and France, using more than 400 organic ingredients from 30 countries. In 2005 the company had $295 million in sales, with cosmetics generating roughly two-thirds of Weleda’s revenues.

Weleda Products:

Where do I start? There are literally tons of great products. But let’s highlight a just few that got a well deserved media and user attention:

Wild Rose Intensive Eye Treatment — Winner – Beauty Awards – Best Eye Treatment, Lifescape Magazine, 2007

To make the skin around your eyes soft, supple and young…

Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash — Highly Recommended – Best Body Wash — Natural Health & Beauty Magazine, 2008

Refreshing and revitalizing shower with an antioxidant… Now that’s a win-win situation! It has an orangey smell, which is a great way to wake up in my books.

Wild Rose Body Lotion — Winner – Best No-Guilt Eco Chic Body Lotion — Essentials Magazine, 2007

Perfect gentle and light lotion for a after bath…

By the way, the whole Wild Rose line have been getting tons of accolades. For example, the line was voted Best Beauty Range by Here’s Health Natural Health Awards in 2004.

Skin Food — Highly Recommended – Best Intense Moisturiser — Natural Health & Beauty Magazine, 2008

Skin repair for dry patches and winter protection. But please, use sparingly! Cause we are talking “DEEP MOISTURIZING” here! This tends to be a hit with eczema crowd.

Weleda Products Winner — Best Value for Money — Natural Health & Beauty Magazine, 2007/2008

As in, they are touting the whole brand.

The “Weleda Wild Rose Oil” won the prestigious “Product of the Year” award at the BioFach trade show in Frankfurt in 1996. In the realm of natural products, this is the award everybody covets…

Oh, and dear mommies, did I mention the Weleda Baby Range? The one that TIPS recently selected as Tips Top Brand? The one that was mentioned in Vogue, Country Living, You Are What You Eat, Prima Baby, Allergy, Mother & Baby, That’s Life!, etc.?

Finally something gentle for the tender skins and bums.

Packaging:

Most Weleda products are packaged in glass bottles and metal (aluminum) tubes. Please note that all aluminum tubes have inert resinous lining, and thus aluminum does not come in contact with the product inside. The reason for the packaging is that it is best for retaining the product qualities. Glass, is inert, and thus does not react with the volatile “living” substances inside. And the beauty of metal tubes is that upon squeezing the necessary amount, the tube contracts, and thus air does not come inside – making the product stay fresh longer. Since Weleda does not use synthetic preservatives, it must take even simple things like packaging method and material into account in order to prolong the life of the product.

The glass bottles and aluminum tubes are, of course, perfectly recyclable.

Other interesting facts:

Why is the company’s head office located in Switzerland, and yet it’s considered German by many?

The answer is that when it was registered, Germany was coming out of World War I, and money and freedom were much safer in Switzerland. Thus the company is legally Swiss. However today the production is focused in three countries: Germany, France and Switzerland.

Certifications:

BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetics

NPA Certification (Natural Products Association’s certification).

Fair Trade:

Weleda also practices Fair Trade. Which basically means that they offer support to communities from which they source ingredients. They set up long-term relationships with suppliers, and make sure that the workers are treated ethically.

In Conclusion:

In conclusion of this grand epos, which is much longer than I anticipated (but hey, the company is pretty old to fit in a paragraph!), I must say that I’m envious of those living in Germany who can just walk into a local store and buy any Weleda (or Dr. Hauschka for that matter) product any time. It’s no secret that Germany and France, and Europe in general, are way ahead of us (North Americans) in terms of embracing organic skin care.

But girls of the rest of the world – do not despair! The tide of nature cannot be slowed down, and the fact that you now know about wonderful brands like Weleda proves it. We may not yet be able to get it at our local drug-mart. But hey, we’ve got internet!

Update: You now can get the entire Weleda line at SkinBotanica.com