Earlier in the week, Margo Marrone, co-founder of The Organic Pharmacy, shared her story with us. Now she's back and giving us her advice on ingredients to be wary of if you're looking to lead a greener lifestyle and sharing her personal favourite organic buys, as well as tips for being eco chic.
What are the top toxins that you warn customers to be wary of?
Parabens: Preservatives used in toiletries and cosmetics. Experiments show that parabens can be absorbed through the skin and enter the blood stream and mimic oestrogen in the body.UV filters: Eg. benzophenone and octylmethoxycinnamate, 4-methylbenzylidene, octyl-dimethyl p aminobenzoic acid. These chemicals used in sunscreens are able to disrupt oestrogen.Polycyclic musks and nitro musks: Found in fine fragrances, household fragrance, candles, toiletries and cosmetics, polyclyclic musks have been found in human tissue and in aquatic life and disrupt our hormone systems. Artificial fragrances can also cause allergies and affect our moods, too.Aluminium: From deodorants, sunscreens, makeup and aluminium pots and pans. Aluminium is associated with Alzheimer's.Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives: In cosmetics and toiletries including nail varnish. They release formaldehyde on the skin and formaldehyde is carcinogenic. They are listed as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,2-Diol; Diazolidonyl Urea; DMDM-Hydantoin; Imidazolidinyl Urea; Metheneamine; Quaternium-15; Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate.