Maia Natural Beauty Blog

I am a little sad and disillusioned today, a little like this sad-eyed puppy.  I’ve been ‘benchmarking’; seeing what is available out there in the natural beauty world and comparing the results to our new product ideas Maia for 2009. Primarily I like to make sure I am not inadvertantly calling one of our new products something that is already in use either by any of the big mass manufacturing global conglomerates or one of the smaller artisan businesses like us!

The reason I feel sad and disillusioned is that there seems to be an awful lot of marketing-speak, green-washing, wild irresponsible claims, empty promises and downright lies, and not enough authenticity and genuine care for the customers and natural skin care industry.

So the following are my thoughts based on some of those green, natural, eco, ethical, luxury and organic beauty companies I’ve seen today.

• Just because you say something is luxury, natural or scientific, it doesn’t make it so! .
• Perhaps it was a typo but how can you say you are100% natural if you are using synthetic preservatives? Even if they are not parabens, it just doesn’t add up!
• How can you say your skincare is made with soul when it is mass produced in a manufacturing plant and packaged in plastic? I don’t understand but it feels like marketing-speak.
• Where is the peer reviewed scientific proof that 60% of what we apply topically ends up in our bloodstream? The internet is rife with this one and variations of it, yet all the research I’ve done (asking experts who have done the actual research) shows that there is absolutely no proof for this theory, and no one seems to know where it came from!
• Oh and a big bugbear, If formulations include water and hydrous ingredients such as aloe vera and honey, they need a tried and tested preservative system! No one wants nasties and that includes nasty surprises such as infections from microbes living in insufficiently preserved natural creams and lotions.

And breathe….Ok, let’s start with the last one first.

Preservatives in Skincare

Water is necessary for all of life, and life will grow and flourish in water.

Preservatives prevent contamination from bacteria, fungi and mould.

As yet, there is no safe, proven effective natural preservative available that is approved for use by the EU. And products that contain water, including floral waters, need protection from contamination.

This is why we at Maia Skin Care do not formulate with water. We know our customers want safe, all natural products and we do not want to compromise the safety of the products or have to resort to lying to you. So we produce anhydrous (meaning without water) balms, serums and butters that are 100% natural and safe from the real nasties! One day we may include a water-based spray but we will be honest and up front about the need for and use of a good preservative.

Now that I’ve got that biggie off my chest I realise I’ve not really touched on the original statement of disillusionment. As I’ve got a delivery of new oils and butters to unpack and play with  put away and I’m sure you’ve got other things to do, I will come back to this again tomorrow.  Don’t forget your mug and comfy chair!

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