poppy organic skincare - birch bark
by Maureen @ 9:00 am 9 comments »
As of right now, Poppy Organic claims to be the first and only organic skincare brand to include birch bark extract in their ingredient mix. Why is this important, or useful, or exciting? For the fair skin-types, like myself, who have to be extra careful in the sun, BBE (birch bark extract) might “prevent and help to treat UV-induced skin cancer.” I know just from looking in the mirror that the sun has caused some damage to my skin, so I’m about to take a closer look at this unique line of skincare.
OK, so I like the philosophy of the company, and their commitment to the environment. Now, what about the fine print? Let’s take a peek at the product ingredients for their cream for sun-damaged skin. There’s one ingredient, a preservative, phenoxyethanol that seems a bit suspect. According the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep study (a great resource for skincare ingredients), over 4000 products contain this preservative, and it’s rated a 1 or 2 (very low risk) on EWG’s safety scale.
If you’re already familiar with poppy organic, let me know whatchyathink. I’ve always loved birch trees; it would be so cool if this beautiful bark actually helped to save my hide:)
find more info @ poppyorganic.co.uk/
click here to review the poppy organic product line
related: beautytruth.net for skin info (beauty facts: preservatives)
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I too would love any follow-up information if anyone’s got it.
When there are chemical free skin care products that are effective and safe out there, I’m amazed that you would feature products that still contain chemicals. Try http://www.carenonline.com
I used Poppy Organic and its great stuff. I actually asked them why they use a chemical as a preservative. They told me that the on advice of a cosmetic chemist Grapefruit Seed Extract perservative is natural yes, but not very effective at preventing bacterial colonisation and would not compromise safety until a much better natural alternative is available.
I used Poppy Organic SDC and it has actually really benefitted my solar keratoses. Its smells a bit medicinally though. Ive not tried any other of the range.
I disagree that you ever need a chemical preservative in face care products.Just use it by the expiration date. The idea that a product should have an unlimited shelf life is like eating bread that is incapable of molding and can last forever. Gross!
I reckon if you ain’t got ANYthing positive to say - maybe say nothing?
I’m going to get hold of some of this and give it a try - being realistic about trying to make a product suitable for distribution further than your immediate doorstep (where everything can be made daily, like bread) - you have to be realistic and if these people are using the absolute minimum of non-natural ingredients they deserve a bit of encouragement…they’re trying - look at all the other ticks they have in their boxes, refilling, good packaging policy etc. If you don’t want to use it, make your own.
Re’ Birch trees, I’ve started using Xylitol based sweetening (from Birch trees) instead of sugar and have nearly knocked my Candida problem on the head - suspect these here Birch trees have a lot going for them
I love this product, I first saw it in an article in Marie Claire in Decemeber, it was the first product on the article over and above Stella McCartney and all the biggies.
I bought it, and have used it ever since. The body cream is my favourtie it is thick and goes straight into the skin, it has a lovely smell and my skin feels great. I also bought the cleanser which is really fresh and clean and the night cream. My skin is noticably softer and feels great. As for the birch bark, if you read on their website all the articles related to brich bark studies going on around the world it has to worth a try. I would use this product as an alternatve to other creams just because it makes my skin soft and looks good. The birch bark is a bonus! It is reasonably priced in comparison to other organic products and is much better than any of the others that I have tried.
I always hate it when a company claims to be “the first”. Hello, birch bark is used in several skin care lines in existence long before Poppy. Dr.Hauschka uses it in Neem Hair Lotion. Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Cream with Royal Jelly also contains birch bark extract. Poppy is begging off of getting organic certified birch bark extract by saying it’s not possible to certify birch bark. Maybe it’s different in England but ethically wild harvested plant ingredients like birch bark can attain organic certification. Unless they’re lying, Giovanni’s Organic line boasts organic birch bark extract in their Cleanse(R) Body Wash
the reason the preservative is there is to do excatly that….preserve. There is currently no natural preservative that does the job properly at the moment.
Sandy - if the preservative wasn’t there the cream would last 2 weeks at the most before turning bad. The reason there is a use by date at all is due to the presevative extending the shelf life until it expires…it isn’t preserved permanently.