Ingredients that make our products bubble and get us clean:

My True Nature™ uses only natural ingredients free from the harmful chemicals that have been identified with health problems. Among the ingredients we use are:

My True Nature™ uses several different natural raw materials to help make our products bubble and get our bodies squeaky clean. We consulted with herbalists and other natural product formulators to choose ingredients that are natural and organic and yet still perform close to the way we’ve grown accustomed to bath products working, like producing the kind of lather we’re used to seeing from conventional mainstream products. We also sought ingredients that would produce an irritation-free experience. The organic ingredients we chose may not give you quite as much lather you may be used to, but you’ll notice that after a few weeks of use, your baby’s hair will become healthier, shinier, silkier and softer and will certainly be every bit as clean. All the ingredients we chose are naturally derived from corn & sugar.

Our sodium coco-sulfate comes from pure certified organic coconut oil. It is extremely natural & mild. (Note: Despite the similar-sounding names, sodium coco-sulfate is in no way related to sodium laureth sulfate which is an ingredient used in conventional mainstream products that has been found to be a skin irritant and in some cases, carcinogenic. See list of “Ingredients to Avoid,” below,)

We also use lauryl lactyl lactylate - a vegetable-based cleanser that is the reaction product of lauryl alcohol (a reduction of coconut oil fatty acids) and lactic acid. 

These raw materials are certified organic by ECOCERT (the European organic certification organization) and pass the stringent American National Standard for body care products NSF/ANSI 305 certification process.

Ingredients that extend the shelf life of our products:

Personal care products are like food. Without some kind of preservative, they would last for perhaps a week (at best), before getting moldy or turning bad. Preservatives have sometimes gotten a bad rap because some commonly used preservatives, such as parabens (see below for more information), have been found in some studies to be harmful to your health. But natural preservatives can perform the same function as chemical ones, without endangering your health.

We currently use the ONLY preserving system approved by the American National Standard for body care products NSF/ANSI 305 and that is a combination of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.  Both are extremely common food-grade preservatives.  Take a look at the ingredients of your cottage cheese or yogurt and you will likely find these names there.

Ingredients that give our products that little “extra”:

The rest of the ingredients we use in our products are designed to add nourishment to skin and hair.  We use certified organic ingredients whenever possible.   Our plantain extract, white peony tea extract, aloe vera, olive oil and essential oils are all USDA Certified Organic and come primarily from local farms. 

Our bubble bath has a very unique scent formulated specially for us.  It was created by taking natural aromatics (single molecules contained in an essential oil) which are extracted by distillation from the essential oil without any alteration and combining them to make unique scents.  It is 100% natural and in no way irritating to skin, eyes or hair.  The fragrance has been approved as compliant with the American National Standard for body care products NSF/ANSI 305. 

Packaging:

The 100% recycled PET bottles that we use are completely free from PCBs and phthalates and are manufactured in Saint Louis, Missouri. They are made from post-consumer resin that is FDA-approved for food contact and thus are great for any products coming into contact with our bodies. The resin comes from used soda bottles and milk containers. Our bottles may be reused (we sell big jug refills) or recycled.
 

10 ingredients to AVOID:

There is growing awareness that many of the ingredients used in conventional mainstream bath products contain ingredients that may have long-lasting health implications. At My True Nature™, we don’t use any of these in our products.

What is NOT in My True Nature™ products:

1. Harmful Sulfates. These are often used in shampoos and listed in the ingredients as either sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). These harsh chemical cleansers are foaming agents that give shampoos a thick “luxurious” foam that we have grown to associate with getting hair cleaner. In fact, however, they have no impact on a product’s cleaning power. Wikipedia reports that SLES has been shown to produce eye or skin irritation in experimental animals and in some human test subjects. In addition, some products containing SLES have been found to contain low levels of the carcinogens 1,4-dioxane and or/formaldehyde (see wikipedia.org).
    
2. Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl). According to the FDA, parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetic products. They are used to inhibit microbial growth and extend the shelf life of products. But they also have been found to cause allergic reactions and skin rashes, and in one laboratory study, parabens were found in breast tumors. This controversial study has fueled the belief that parabens in cosmetics migrated into the breast tissue and contributed to the development of tumors. The cosmetic industry and the FDA maintain that parabens are safe for general use at this time. But because parabens’ hormone-mimicking properties have proven enough of a “what if”, some wary consumers are opting now for paraben-free products and cosmetics (see The American Cancer Society website: www.cancer.org).
    
3. Phthalates. These additives are widely used in plastics and other materials, primarily to improve flexibility; in cosmetics they are used to bind fragrance to the product. It is thought by environmentalists, however, that the adverse health effects of phthalates could potentially include: early puberty in girls, premature delivery of newborns, impaired sperm quality and sperm damage in men, genital defects and reduced testosterone production in boys, and testicular cancer (source: www.environmentcalifornia.org). In addition, the authors of a 2008 study "observed that reported use of infant lotion, infant powder, and infant shampoo were associated with increased infant urine concentrations of phthalate metabolites, and this association is strongest in younger infants. These findings suggest that dermal exposures may contribute significantly to phthalate body burden in this population." Though they did not examine health outcomes, they noted that "Young infants are more vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of phthalates given their increased dosage per unit body surface area, metabolic capabilities, and developing endocrine and reproductive systems." (Source: Sathyanarayana S, Karr CJ, Lozano P, et al. (February 2008). "Baby care products: possible sources of infant phthalate exposure". Pediatrics 121 (2): e260–8. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-3766. PMID 18245401 (see wikipedia.org for additional information regarding phthalates).
    
4. Dioxane. According to the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic database, the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane contaminates up to 46% of personal care products tested (OCA 2008, EWG 2008). The chemical is an unwanted by-product of an ingredient processing method called ethoxylation used to reduce the risk of skin irritation for petroleum-based ingredients. Though 1,4-dioxane can easily be removed from products before they are sold, its widespread presence in products indicates that many manufacturers fail to take this simple step.? Dioxane has been found to be present in cosmetics as well as personal care products like deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes and mouthwashes. 1,4-dioxane is a known eye and respiratory tract irritant. It is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. Dioxane is classified by the IARC as a Group 2B carcinogen: possibly carcinogenic to humans due to the fact that it is a known carcinogen in animals.
    
5. Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a by-product of a number of cosmetic preservatives, including diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium-15. According to reviews by the industry-funded Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel, these cosmetic ingredients can release formaldehyde at levels as high as one-tenth that of the original ingredient. The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as “carcinogenic to humans”, and the U.S. National Toxicology Program has classified it as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”, based on emerging evidence in humans and robust evidence in animals (see www.safecosmetics.org and www.cancer.gov for additional information).
    
6. Propylene Glycol. This synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant to help skin and hair retain moisture, has been known to cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema. PEG (polyethylene glycol) and PPG (polypropylene glycol), which also appear on ingredient lists, are related synthetics. According to the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Database, Propylene glycol is practically non-toxic when taken orally, i.e. added to food. However, it has been found to provoke skin irritation and sensitization in humans as low as 2% concentration, while the industry review panel recommends cosmetics can contain up to 50% of the substance (see wikipedia.org).
    
7. Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA). Often used in cosmetics as emulsifiers or foaming agents, these ingredients can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. According to the Cancer Prevention Coalition, DEA and TEA can also result in the formation of carcinogens in products containing nitrite preservatives. Chemical reactions between nitrites and DEA/ TEA occur during the manufacturing process and while products are stored in their containers. This reaction leads to the formation of nitrosamines. Most nitrosamines, including those formed from DEA or TEA, are carcinogenic (for more information, see www.preventcancer.com).
    
8. Petrolatum, Mineral Oil Also known as petroleum jelly, this mineral oil derivative is used for its emollient properties in cosmetics. It does not appear to have any nutrient value for the skin and can interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping. It often contributes to creating the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Petrolatum is extremely inexpensive and easy to incorporate into products, so is widely used (see wikipedia.org).
    
9. Synthetic Colors. Synthetic colors are often used to make cosmetics "pretty," and seductive. According to the Cancer Prevention Coalition, some artificial colors, such as Blue 1 and Green 3, are carcinogenic. In addition, impurities found in commercial batches of other cosmetic colors such as D&C Red 33, FD&C Yellow 5, and FD&C yellow 6 have been shown to cause cancer not only when ingested, but also when applied to the skin. Finally, some artificial coal tar colors contain heavy metal impurities, including arsenic and lead, which are carcinogenic. Colors are often labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6 (for more information, see www.preventcancer.com).
    
10. Synthetic Fragrances Because synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have hundreds of different ingredients, there is no way to know exactly which chemicals were used in their formulation. Labels simply list them as "fragrance”. Some serious problems caused by some chemicals used in fragrances include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper pigmentation, and skin irritation.

For more information, check out the Skin Deep website, SafeCosmetics.org or Wikipedia.