The line Origins has organic products, but after reading all the articles on your website I am confused whether to go with Origins or not. Can you please inform me about this company or suggest something else?

You are wondering about the purity of Origins organic line and rightly so. When a cosmetic manufacturer does not display a full product ingredient list on their website (as is the case with Origins organic products) it should raise your suspicions that the products may include ingredients that you may not want to use. The next concern is when there is no mention of the product being free from harmful ingredients – i.e. “this product contains no sulphates, petrolatum, parabens…”.

I could not find an ingredient list for the Origins organic products online (and I did a lot of searching) and that in itself is enough to make me skeptical. Skin care brands who are made without toxic ingredients are proud to display their full ingredient lists on their website. So, I took a trip to a local department store that carries the line so that I could get a look at the ingredient list first hand. The cleanser is reasonably safe as is the toner (toners by nature have very few ingredients), but the moisturizer contains a few not-so-virtuous ingredients (benzyl benzoate and magnesium aluminum silicate). The deodorant contains benzyl salicylate and most of the products had “iln 33107” at the very end of the list, which I am assuming is their preservative, but who’s to know what it actually consists of. Origins falls under the category of yet another big name beauty brand advertising “organic” products in an attempt to make their loyal customers feel that these products are safe and nontoxic –otherwise known as greenwashing. Adding a few organically grown or herbal ingredients to a product that otherwise contains harmful ingredients does not make it a safe product.

It is important to read the labels on products that you are unsure about, whether they are advertised as safe or not. This can be time consuming and confusing and, when in doubt, it is always a good idea to ask a reputable source. Shop at online stores that are committed to safety in cosmetics like; Saffron Rouge, Caren Online and The Nature of Beauty. If you go to a site that touts their love of green cosmetics and skin care but also advertises for brands like Victoria’s Secret, you had probably better not trust what they deem as safe to be so.

If you are looking for safe organic brands off-line, Weleda can be found at many supermarkets and drug stores and is free from toxic ingredients. They make affordable products for face and body. Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soaps come in a range of scents and are a big bang for your buck (a 32 oz bottle for under $10). Dr. Hauschka is another high quality, non-toxic skin care line that is carried in some stores and offers a makeup line too.

Unfortunately, at this time a 95% organic cosmetic product does not mean much on its own. It’s that last 5% that we need to be concerned with.

Yes, Tina, searching through products labeled “safe”, “natural” and even “organic” can be daunting. You really do need to know which ingredients are harmful and be able to pick them out of an ingredient list on a product label.

One misconception of organic beauty products is that you have to pay more to get a product that is truly nontoxic. Not true! There are several terrific safe organic skin care brands on the market that are not only affordable but effective and a pleasure to use.

Some of my favorite affordable safe organic skin care brands:

Weleda – This versatile line of cleaners and lotions for face and body come in a wide range for different skin types and issues and cost anywhere from $10-$25. You can find Weleda online and I have seen it at Target and Walgreen’s.

Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soaps – This pure castile soap is a cult favorite and can be used on hands, body and even baby. I’ve even washed my dog with it. You can choose from several scents (like Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Mild Unscented) and a huge bottle is around $10.

Basis Family Skin Care – Though Lavera has some higher-end product ranges (which, admittedly, are some of my favs) their Basis line is affordable and something my family has on hand at all times. Basis Cleansing Gel is a gently lathering face wash that leaves skin super clean for just under $17, follow up with Basis Face Cream Moisturizing for a light, refreshing moisturizer. Basis includes a body wash and shampoo and conditioner, all mild enough even for baby.

These should get you off to a good start. As for hair products, I have never had good experiences going on the cheap in this department, nontoxic or otherwise. My favorite shampoos and conditioners are John Masters Organics, especially Evening Primrose Shampoo and Citrus & Neroli Detangler . As for styling products, Hamadi products are super pure (just a few ingredients in each product), work like a charm and last forever.

Another way to cut costs on beauty products is to find what you like, stick with it and only buy what you really need. This ensures that your products are super fresh and you aren’t throwing stuff away. Another tip, don’t go overboard on your regimen. Most of us use too many products and too much of the products we use. A simple cleanser, moisturizer, eye cream and maybe a treatment oil or gel are all most of us really need for maintaining healthy skin. I always say, skin isn’t happy when it gets too much attention. A healthy organic diet and lots of filtered water also go a long way in the heatlh and radiance of your skin.