If you haven’t used it before, the Environmental Working Group has a great database for cosmetics and skin care products called the Skin Deep Database

It allows you to look up products to see if any of the ingredients are toxic.  They rate products on a scale of 0 – 10. This is one time that being a 10 is bad. You want a number as close to 0 (pure water is a 0) as possible.

I know that the Free & Clear products from Vanicream are free from most of the toxic ingredients such as formaldehyde and parabens that you find in other personal care items, but I wasn’t sure how the ingredients that were in the products rated.

I was very pleased to see ratings of “2” for the Free and Clear Shampoo and Conditioner.  I knew that the products were effective and didn’t cause allergic reactions in most people, its nice to know that they are low on the toxicity scale also.

If you haven’t used the Free and Clear Shampoo before, you should give it a try. It is gentle but effective. It won’t dry your hair out or strip or fade the the color.  It leave your hair soft and shiny.  I like the Free and Clear Hair Gel also.  Unfortunately, it is not included in the Skin Deep Database.  I don’t know if it is a safe assumption, but if the Free and Clear Shampoo and the Free and Clear Conditioner are rated “2”, I don’t know why the other hair care products made by Vanicream would rate higher.

Spend some time with the database and look up some of your favorite brands. I was surprised to find that Aveda, which markets its products as botanicals has products that commonly rate 5 or higher!  Neutrogena Triple Moisture Shampoo, which is supposed to be so mild, rates a 7!

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and what you put on your hair affects your skin.  Don’t you want it to do more harm than good? 

Til Next Time

Cheryl
The Allergy Store