Everything about our masks!

Are you interested in this blog? It seems you consider organic certification for cosmetic products very important to you. That's great, because we do too! So much so, in fact, that we've planned to divide this post into several parts to cover the topic properly. It is not always easy to understand the difference between conventional cosmetics, natural cosmetics and certified organic cosmetics. Indeed, through our interactions with the Poulettes community, we have observed this. Everyone's talking about Green Beauty. Natural ingredients are being promoted more than ever. Controversies surrounding preservatives are a well-known topic among the general public… And yet, organic products remain a relatively niche category in the world of health and beauty. To date, organic cosmetics still only represent 5% of total cosmetic sales. So you are part of an elite club of female consumers (still a minority, but demanding and committed). And we thank you for that! Some basic regulations: In Europe, cosmetic products must comply with the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 (and its various amendments). Cosmetic regulations are indeed adapting to the evolution of our knowledge about health and to our ethical and environmental choices. The ban on animal testing in Europe, for example, is quite recent when you think about it: 2013. And the ban on certain parabens (such as isobutyl or phenylparaben) only dates back to 2014. Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a preservative responsible for many cases of chronic allergic eczema, disappeared from the composition of leave-on products in 2017. As for D5 (also called Cyclopentasiloxane), it's a silicone that combines the status of an endocrine disruptor with the characteristic of being bioaccumulative (boo!). It is therefore non-biodegradable and damages the oceans. (Boo! Double boo!). It was banned in January of this year, 2020. The fish are thrilled, and so are we. It should be noted that Europe still has a list of 1300 prohibited ingredients. Whereas in the USA, there are only… 30. So we're not so badly off on this side of the Atlantic, all the same. That said, it's your body we're talking about. So you have the right to demand maximum safety from your products. The "no pain, no gain" mentality is completely outdated, take it from me. The precautionary principle of organic farming: never be too careful European law, however, still allows many ingredients deemed undesirable by various consumer organizations and associations. This is particularly true of many preservatives considered potential endocrine disruptors. This will undoubtedly change, but in the meantime, to avoid taking risks, it's a good idea to opt for organic products. Indeed, the organic labels that certify our products (Ecocert and Cosmos Organic) advocate the precautionary principle. They impose much stricter standards on certified organic brands, such as Les Poulettes Paris, than current regulations and therefore prohibit the following ingredients or ingredient families: This blacklist of certified green beauty products is not exhaustive but gives a good idea of ​​what organic cosmetics do not contain. For more information, see " Fact sheets on toxic molecules to avoid " on the website of Which to Choose But why do non-organic brands still use controversial ingredients? You might ask us: if these substances are potentially dangerous or polluting, why don't all brands require themselves to avoid them, regardless of the organic label? Very good question. This is due, among other things, to the difficulty of formulating an effective preservative system using only a limited range of approved organic preservatives. Furthermore, these raw materials are more expensive! For example, in conventional cosmetics, a good little dose of phenoxyethanol (easy to produce, cheap and radical against many bacteria) and the trick is -almost- done. The organic formulation prohibits the potentially irritating phenoxyethanol. A complex and precisely measured blend of 3-4 active ingredients (often salts of organic acids, sorbic, salicylic, or dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, etc.) will be required in the lab to achieve the same level of effectiveness. The use of mild preservatives, the risk of bacterial contamination, and the risk of rapid oxidation of the formula are out of the question. Note: Ethanol (the base alcohol, the same as in your favorite cocktails) is permitted in organic products. It's not dangerous, toxic, or polluting, but at Les Poulettes Paris, we consider it potentially drying for the skin, so we also prohibit it in the formulas of our certified organic and Made in France face masks . For an aperitif, however, we don't say no!

Today, we invite you to discover the main principles of organic certification. A logical next step, after having presented, Last week, the basics of cosmetic regulations and the controversial cosmetic ingredients that are permitted by law but prohibited by the organic labels and standards that apply to our masks.