Essential Mineral Anti-Inflammatory Gel Cleanser

There has been much debate about sulfates in cleansers for hair, face & body.  Shalom Organics chooses to use sulfate free cleansers for face & body so that we can offer the most gentle yet effective cleansers possible.  They don't foam as much as ones that contain sulfates, but they do foam, and they (to us anyway) FEEL cleaner after and while using them.  We do however have to use surfactants in order to cleanse at all. 

This blog post will define the few main active ingredients in our Essential Mineral Anti-Inflammatory Gel Cleanser.  We WANT you to know!

Surfactants - chemical used to clean off dirt, build up & make up; all cleansers have them in some form

• Decyl glucoside - a botanical derived non-ionic surfactant obtained from the etherification of natural glucose on natural fatty alcohol. Eco Certified for the production methods and awarded the Bra Miljöval (Good Enviromental Society for Nature Conservation) international seal by the Swedish Government.  It provides high foaming power in the product and is a mild, but effective cleanser that helps to maintain the skins natural biological balance.
• Di lauryl polyglucoside - Naturally derived from long alky chain sugars, this surfactant is made from renewable resources and is an excellent conditioner for the hair and skin. Unlike harsh surfactants which irritate the skin, this ingredient is extremely mild yet increases foam volume and density in many products. Independent studies found this surfactant to be more mild than
  traditional baby care shampoos.

Essential Minerals - those elements that are necessary to proper function but not produced by the body

• Magnesium aspartate, zinc gluconate, copper gluconate - In addition to vitamins, people need a daily supply of inorganic elements in their diet. A multi mineral cocktail comprised of trace elements known for their actions on the skin. Magnesium encourages protein synthesis and phosphates transfer. Copper encourages ATP, or acts as a catalyst for the synthesis of keratin and collagen, the major structural protein of the epidermis, hair, and nails while acting as a powerful cellular anti free radical agent. Zinc plays a role in the synthesis of DNA as it helps combat aging by stimulating renewal of the collagen matrix. Aspartate also plays a significant role in cellular turnover. Through various biochemical reactions, the aspartate stimulates DNA synthesis resulting in increased cell renewal. With all three minerals working in synergy it restores radiant, better tones, and healthier looking skin. The ideal solution for tired and stressed skin, it supplies the elements necessary for cell vigor and vitality

Herbs and Essential Oils - because that is at the root of what we offer in our products; in this product they also happen to be the main anti-inflammatory ingredients

• Centipeda cunnighamii extract: An herb that is a member of the daisy family which is indigenous to the outback of Australia. It is cultivated organically along the Murray River in Victoria, Australia and is processed without the use of alcohol or solvents. For centuries,the Aborigines have used this herb medicinally to treat various skin conditions. The extract contains potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties as well as soothing anti-irritant benefits. A series of clinical tests conducted at the Wellington School of Medicine demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory action was up to thirty times more effective than standard aspirin. The extract also produced 50% more stimulatory growth in skin cell
  fibroblasts, which is the foundation of cell renewal. As early as 1886, this extract has been recognized in Australia for its medicinal uses.
• Bisabolol - is produced from the Candeia tree found in the Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil. The oil obtained from the wood is used primarily as an anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, and anti-bacterial in sensitive skin preparations. Bisabolol has three times the purity than that of Chamomile and is the preferred active ingredient for protection against the recurring stresses of the environment on the skin. It is a natural occurring and versatile ingredient for the natural personal care industry.
• Myrtle Essential Oil (Myrtus communis) - Native to Africa, the leaves of this evergreen bush are hydro or steam distilled for the hydrosol & essential oil.  It gives a fruity clean odor.  It is known to be a skin tonic, good for oily skin, open pores & external skin irritations.  (from 375 Essential Oils & Hydrosols by Jeanne Rose)

Moisturizing agent - yes now offered in a gel cleanser!

• Xylitylglucoside anhydroxylitol xylitol - a naturally-derived ingredient from the sugars found in wheat and wood cellulose. It has been shown to dramatically improve the epidermal water content by increasing the skin’s dermal water reservoirs (GAGs:glycosaminoglycans). Stimulation of GAGs synthesis (hyaluronic acid and chondroitine sulphate) on fibroblasts is significant. Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) is decreased as well. It also shows improvement of the barrier function increasing ceramide synthesis. The effects are shown to be immediate and long-term.

The Essential Mineral Anti-Inflammatory Gel Cleanser will diminish and eventually clear redness in the face (& how many of us have red cheeks!), and irritations including zits, allergies, dermatitis, and much more.  It smells light and fresh, goes on thick and lathers into a fine foam.  Even though we are a seasonal product line, this cleanser is a staple in our Sensitive Skin care regime.  For Spring 2010 it is is our only gel cleanser we are offering. 

Come get it! 
Now offered at Madusalon 300 Divisadero St. San Francisco, CA 94110 
The Shopping Cart will be up soon on the website, thank you for your patience.  Call 415-691-SKIN with any questions or to set up a consultation.  www.shalomorganics.com

Naturally Speaking

I feel it is necessary to first speak on the current 'trendiness' of natural products.  It is wonderful on one hand that we are moving towards a more grass roots, locally supportive, change from all consuming corporatism, however, the nature of the corporate conglomerate is to capitalize off of any and all trends.  This being the case, many products boast natural ingredients or to have natural extracts in their products, but really the amount actually in the product is negligible especially considering the rest of the product is filled with mineral/petrol or overly processed and usually completely synthetic fillers, emulsifiers, and preservatives.  I am talking drug store and mall scores for the most part.  I will never name names as in this case there are many of them, and the point of this is solely to make you more aware and educated on how to tell what is more likely to be authentically natural. 
The word 'extract' for starters is extremely vague.  There are many ways to extract properties from a plant.  Distillation, solvent extraction, infusion in oil or water, specific chemical isolations, & alcohol are some of the basic methods of extraction for botanicals.  Which method used should be determined by the active components desired in the formulation to produce the desired results.  If the ingredients list uses the latin binomials of the plants (i.e. Coconut = Cocos Nucifera) this is a good start.  Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) essential oil, Violet (Viola odorata) infusion, Rose (Rosa Centifolia) Absolute these are more specific and give you a clear idea of how they obtained that botanical extract, which allows you to better trust the integrity of the natural ingredients. 
Science is also in full interaction with the natural cosmetic world in a positive way.  So just because you may not recognize the name of an ingredient, this does not mean it is not natural.  Prefixes and suffixes will give you a good clue on this.  I will be defining alot of the complex botanical isolates in Shalom Organic's collections here in this blog. 
The realm of scent and aroma is another subject I will discuss throughout this blog at length.  Did you know that you could be actually creating positive chemical changes, regulating hormones, and tonifying body systems by using Aromatherapy (educated use of PURE plant essential oils, absolutes, hydrosols)?  You can rest assured that the term 'fragrance' in an ingredients list denotes a synthetic fragrance meaning there is no active botanical components and in fact contain strong chemicals that invade and block your receptors for perceiving natural scent.  Not to mention they give us false hope, sorry strawberry and cherry just aren't scents that can be naturally extracted to have the aroma that is so popular in synthetic lotions and bodycare.  You can however use strawberry (Fragaria vesca) leaf infusion as a rinse for your face and hair, or you can get Cherry Kernel oil (similar to apricot oil or almond oil used as a carrier or base) but it does not have a distinct aroma outside of the common oily scent that accompanies most vegetable oils.  This is in terms of scent that gives a product its signature aroma, as to a trained nose there are many differences in carrier oils.  Also very heartbreaking, is the demise of many Aromatherapy companies, distillers, and small farmers around the globe due to the lack of interest, knowledge, and use of pure plant extracts and oils.  They require a person to grow the plant, then harvest it carefully at the correct time, then process it in the correct way, bottle it and get it to us!!  No easy feat, and prices must be kept so that we can afford them.  Sadly, it is still so much cheaper and easier for companies to just use sythetic fragrance oils, so the choice is simple do that instead.  It is painful to see a killer line up of natural ingredients and then at the end 'fragrance', such a waste.  Some Aromatherapy companies even sell synthetic oils claiming they are pure essential oils!!  It is my goal to help educate people on this, and raise awareness and interest so that we do not loose the Aromatherapy industry all together.  Most people have no idea what a natural perfume smells like, nor have ever used one, this is only the case as of the last 100 years or so.  But there is over 3000+ years of experience in the field of natural perfumery and cosmetics.  How exciting!!

The best way to know what your getting is to ask the maker of the products.  And beware that companies stretch the truth to make money all day long and it is important to be discerning when it comes to what you are putting on and in your body.  I want you to consider your cosmetics purchases as another way to connect with the earth and the people around it.  Do your life, skin, and olfactory system a favor and stop using synthetics.  Shalom Organics aims to make this transition a most pleasurable experience!

Reference Notes:  In general I will quote references as often as possible as it is the right thing to do.  The information in this blog is what I consider to be some of the key points I have learned in my studies with Jeanne Rose, and facts mentioned here are strewn about her Aromatherapy and Herbal Studies courses, and from my notes from her seminars.  www.jeannerose.net  www.shalomorganics.com