Essential U Blog

Template Letter You Can Edit And Use for the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act

This week has been all about Colorado here at this Oregon company and so many others across the country.  If you missed any of the blogs that talk about Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act please click here to catch up on the debate.  Donna Maria of the Indie Beauty Network gave me permission to share the text of a draft template you can use to send a letter to the Colorado legislature voicing your opposition to the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act.  Whether you live in Colorado or not the outcome of this bill will impact you. 

    

Note that the letter can be customized to your liking. Insert your name and contact information and, to make it as profesional as possible, please use your letterhead. You can switch the paragraphs around to make it your own. You can also edit them or even delete anything with which you do not agree.

The Business of Bath & Body :: The Story of Sugarloaf Herb Farm

Claudia Zehner of Sugarloaf Herb Farm puts a little bit of herself into every product she makes.  Her love for plants and Sugarloaf Herb Farm is evident in the products she sells.  Claudia uses some of the more exotic ingredients to make her hand cut soap including; babassu oil, macadamia nut oil, cuchin ginger and unsweetened dark chocolate. 

    

How did you get into the spa/aromatherapy/skin care/soap business?
I had a lot of encouragement from family and friends who received gifts of soaps and lotions through the years. After my daughter's magical wedding at our family farm, I had a vision of our family getting the farm growing again and specializing in herbs. When I started the business, it was about 50% plants and 50% body care products. The outlets for the plants shrunk, energy costs rose and now it is more like 20/80% split. We have had a lot of detours in the past five years but my vision is the same. We have started renovations on the Bungalow at the farm. I believe my great grandmother would be pleased.

Research to the Root of the Source of Information

When Keegan was about two years old my parents moved to Whidbey Island in Washington State.  On one particular visit shortly after their transplant to the Northwest Keegan asked me, “Mommy, mommy why does da tide go in and out?”   To which I responded, “It is because of the gravitational pull of the moon.”  He pondered that and asked some clarifying questions as he threw rocks from the beach back into the water.  He was curious because the tide had come up and claimed some of his favorite spots on the beach.  The territorial battle had him miffed.   

    

A few days later when we were back at the beach Keegan said, “I know why da tide goes back and forwth.”  I decided to play along, “Please tell me why.”  Keegan turned to me earnestly as said with fervor, “It is because of the gwavitation pull of da moon.”  I said, “Really?!” to which he responded, “Yep, I wearned that. “ 

The Slippery Slope of Bad Science

I live and do business with green practices.  Organic is part of our business and how we eat and shop.  Natural medicine is a major part of my life, beliefs and history.  My husband and I got into the natural cosmetic industry because of my own allergies and chemical sensitivities.  I am telling you all this so that you understand that I believe in green, naturla and organic in all things. My stance against the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act is due to the fact that even completely safe cosmetics using organic, natural and organic materials will be banned in Colorado with this bill. 

    

The Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act is a misguided social agendas that will harm businesses of all sizes and make personal care products vanish from the shelves of every store in Colorado.  This proposed act will give any sized business (but especially small) 5000+ reasons not to sell products into Colorado if this were to become a law.  

The Business of Aromatherapy :: American College of Healthcare Sciences

Dorene Petersen is the President of The American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) which keeps her busy enough, but Dorene is passionate and manages to fit a lot onto her plate.  I had the privilege of coming to ACHS to work with her and a panel of registered aromatherapists to review exam questions for the ARC registration test.  Dorene is not only surrounded by books, but she is exceptionally familiar with their content.  She was able to quickly double check facts from her vast library of books on any topic.  I drooled over her library of books and added a few books to my library from the Apothecary Shoppe at the College before I left. 

    

How did you get into the aromatherapy business?
I went to university in New Zealand for a traditional education as a social anthropologist specializing in ethnobotany, but was drawn to natural medicine. When I had the opportunity, I attended Naturopathic school, which allowed me to utilize all of the information and skills I had learned about natural medicine as a child growing up in New Zealand. While in Naturopathic school, I was asked to create a distance education division, which ran successfully for two years. American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) grew from this start over the past 34 years.

Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act :: Take Action Immediately

If you live in Colorado or sell cosmetics into Colorado it is time for you to speak up.  Colorado has a proposed a bill before them during this session known as The Colorado Safe Personal Products Act.  This Act is so broad and vague that if it passes in this form the personal care shelves in stores would go bare.  You can read the entire bill here.  To follow the bill as it is updated click here and change the range to House Bills 1201-1250 and then scan down to 1248.   

     

As of February 3, 2010 the bill was assigned to House Judiciary Committee. There is a hearing scheduled March 1, 2010 for sponsors and those opposing the act to be heard.  The committee meets in room 0107 (in the basement of the Capitol) beginning at 1:30 pm.

Cosmetic Info Resource Using Objective Scientifically-based Information

Help end the wide spread science-fiction being spread by the Environmental Working Group, aka Skin Deep, aka Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.  Use real science to determine the safety of cosmetics.  The real truth is that cosmetics are safe.  Ingredients and cosmetics are regulated not only by the FDA but by the industry itself.  No one, and I mean no one, wants to put out an unsafe cosmetic.  Nobody, and again I mean nobody, has ever died from the use of cosmetics, and yet the EWG would have you believe the opposite if you read their Skin Deep report. 

    

Let me introduce you to the informative website CosmeticsInfo.org which provides consumers with an in-depth online resource to learn the facts and the science behind cosmetic and personal care products and their ingredients. The site gives consumers user-friendly access to current, factual, and scientifically-based information on cosmetic and ingredient safety.

The Business of Aromatherapy :: The Story of JennScents, Inc. / Clermont Herb Shoppe & Day Spa

Jennifer Hochell is a Holistic Aromatherapist, Author, Educator and Owner of JennScents®, Inc. & Clermont Herb Shoppe.  There is a common thread that runs through the aromatherapy, herbal, soap, skin care and spa industry.  Jenn, like so many of us, sought to heal herself (or for many a family member), found a cure and fell in love with aromatherapy.  She has used her passion to spread health and well being to her customers. 

 

    

 

How did you get into the natural health business? 

Like many people, I stumbled into the Natural Health arena after suffering from severe personal health challenges and was not getting results with conventional medicine.  I had IBS, Crohn’s and Colitis and was experiencing intestinal and digestive distress as well as mental and physical fatigue.  One of my first experiences with natural health was a creation of 100% pure roman chamomile essential in a base of apricot oil.  I used this blend on my abdomen area to calm intestinal cramping and discomfort as well as combat headaches and fatigue.  To my surprise, the results were immediate.  From here, I was sold on aromatherapy.

Ducks Illustrate Unintential Sabotage Techniques of Small Businesses

Keegan and I spent his second Christmas in Germany visiting my parents.  At the time they were living in a very small village in Southern Germany that we affectionately called Yonder Village.  The picturesque village sat an inspiring view away from the front door of my parent’s home. 

    

The year of our visit it had been a particularly cold winter in Yonder Village.  The hard winter was evident every time we passed by the ducks that lived in Yonder Village’s pond.  Every time we approached the pond the ducks waddled over to greet us with loud complaints as only ducks can do.

The Personal Care Products Council

The Personal Care Products Council is a rich source of information regarding the cosmetic industry. It is based in Washington, D.C., and is the leading national trade association representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. It was founded in 1894 and is committed to product safety, quality and innovation.

  

Product safety is the top priority of the personal care products industry.  The Council works diligently with its members to maintain the highest standards of safety rooted in sound science and cutting-edge research.  The Council works to uphold and often surpass the most stringent U.S. consumer product safety standards.  The Council has adopted a Consumer Commitment Code to formalize many existing product safety practices and to demonstrate members’ commitment to safety.  The Council has a Q&A on the website to answer questions related to the Consumer Commitment Code.