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Karen’s Botanicals Ingredient and Product Information
Animal Testing:
As of 5/29/09, Karen's Botanicals is certified by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as a Cruelty Free Company and is a member of their Caring Consumer Program.
We do not use any animal testing whatsoever and never have. All of my products are developed with the cooperation of friends, family and customers who work with me to test and refine formulas. That said, I would like to offer some thoughts:
- Tesing of toxic or potentially hazardous body care prodcuts or ingredients should not be done on anything, animal or human, because there is no need for them in healthy, effective skin care. While consensual human testing of potentially dangerous materials may be necessary in medical research, we simply do not need to take risks with daily skin care. Fabulous products can be made with the most safe, basic and ancient of materials. My products are made with plant derived, unadulterated raw materials that human beings and animals have been living with and using safely for thousands of years (olive oil, beeswax, nut butters, and herbs, for example.) You could eat most of them safely, although they would not taste very good:)
- Many products at Karen's Botanicals are excellent for use on animals! Pennyroyal Ginger Oil is a safe and effectice flea repellent. Other oils, such as Deepease Oil, can help with muscular pain. Repair Balm is good for a dry nose and friends of mine use Stimulating Rosemary Cream on cracked footpads.
Ingredients: I am continuously examining the ingredients with
which my products are formulated. Companies striving to
create effective natural skin and body care products
with truly clean ingredients must do continuous research
to insure the purity and quality of raw materials. Based on recent
research, I have made several changes that I am
excited about.
My creams used to be emulsified with the ancient and wonderful combination of beeswax nd borax. This made for a very thick, rich cream. However, as the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database became fully functional earlier this year, poor ratings for borax as an ingredient caused many natural manufacturers of creams to eliminate borax. I now use no borax in any formulas, and use vegetable based emulsifing wax to emulsify my creams. While I sell no products with borax, some jars may remain on the market with other retailers as of 10/09.
I am now
using only Mixed Tocopherols in the form of Tocobiol, a
non-GMO certified form of Vitamin E Oil. All beeswax and lecithin is now certified organic.
Grapefruit Seed Extract has long been eliminated from
all of my products. This
is due to ongoing controversy about the material.
Studies show that many of the available GSE products are
not pure. As I cannot be absolutely certain, the use of GSE has been dicontinued.
Benzoin Gum is used in Melissa Rose and Fennel Sage
Facial Toners for its soothing and healing properties.
Careful research indicates that most commercially
available Benzoin gums may be extracted with synthetic
solvents. We are now formulating our own Benzoin extract
with certified organic grain alcohol.
Karen has endorsed the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, The Truth
in Labeling Pledge, and the Coming Clean Campaign.
Please see more about these programs through links on
left.
A
note about product labels: While it is easy to update
website information, labels and printed material take
more time. Some orders will arrive with updated
ingredient information printed on a separate label or
enclosure.
Thanks for your
interest,
Karen
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