1. Formaldehyde: a toxic substance with carcinogenic effects, induces skin sensitization, is corrosive to the skin, tissues, and mucous membranes. It is allowed and used in limited quantities in conventional cosmetics of chemical origin. We recommend and prefer to completely avoid exposure to this substance by opting for BioNatural treatments where this ingredient is completely banned.
2. Toluene: extremely common in conventional cosmetics of chemical origin. It is an ingredient extracted from petroleum and contained in petrol, used in glazes as a solvent to guarantee fast drying and coverage. This evaporates easily and ends up being partially inhaled party perhaps also absorbed by the nails as well. Allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and skin irritations are attributed to this as well. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy because of the possibility to damage the fetus. It is however tolerated at limited concentrations, but, as we say it is good to be aware and to allow everyone to decide whether or not to expose themselves to these substances.
3. Camphor: It is a poisonous substance used as an anti-moth, induces allergic reactions on the skin and mucous membranes as well as being associated with a series of side effects due to continuous exposures. Exposure during pregnancy is not advised.
4. Phthalates (DBP): very harmful substances for the reproductive organs, have a high penetration in the skin and are absolutely not to be used during pregnancy due to the potential harm to the fetus.

Today we are talking about the use of silicones in hair treatments, their effects, and how to identify their presence in the ingredients of cosmetics. 

Silicone is a substance of chemical origin used often in construction (insulation, lubricant, etc), in cosmetic surgery (breast implants now no longer use this because of the health effects), and in conventional cosmetics.

But silicone also effects the hair as well. Applied through shampoos, masks, balsams, and conventional lotions, silicones give apparent aesthetic advantages: silkiness, shine, and softness, without weighing the hair down. 

These are, however, deceiving because they actually create a sheath that surrounds the hair and isolates it, altering its normal humidity, inhibiting its external interchanges and the nutritional flow necessary for their well-being.

The result is that, over time, the silicones are deposited on the hair, as they are not easily removed with the shampoo, weighing them down, depriving them of body and nourishment.

Low concentrations are tolerated in cosmetics while high percentages are not derma-compatible.

We recognize their concentration by looking at their position in the INCI (ingredients). The closer to the beginning, the higher the concentration will be.
Silicones are recognized in the ingredients because there end with -one. The most frequently used are dimethicone, cyclomethicone, and amodimethicone.

Our advice is always to read the labels before buying a product, and even when it claims to be free from silicones, verify that there are no other aggressive and non-compatible eco as many chemical surfactants that we will talk about in the next post.
If you want to simplify the search for the safest products, the solution is to switch to eco bio shampoos and masks where silicones and other aggressive chemical ingredients are banned completely in favor of completely vegetal substances.

In our selection of hair products. we have chosen those of Sante, Weleda, and of course our shampoo (Shop here), for their particularly green INCI and their beneficial effects on scalp and hair.

Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, Helena Christiensen, and Erin O’Connor, are just some of the celebrities who love and use Weleda’s Skin Food Cream as a beauty secret! But what makes this cream so special? First of all, it is a natural bio cream.

This guarantees a greater affinity and effectiveness on the skin, allowing its active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. A part of this composition is the chamomile flower and calendula. Skin Food represents an effective, intensive, nourishing, and moisturizing treatment for face and body, completely natural, particularly used in case of dry, rough, and chapped skin.

It deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and protects the skin.

Other reasons to try this product:

– Soothing and nourishing after depilation, especially if you use a razor blade
– Deep reconstituting compress for feet and hands, applying a generous layer of cream to the skin before going to sleep, and to be massaged until completely absorbed.

ToBeOrganic offers this product at an extremely intriguing price with a 15% discount. Don’t miss this opportunity!
Shop our organic, vegan products now!

About 60% of the creams that we use on our children are absorbed by their body. This happens because children’s skin is much thinner and more sensitive than adult skin, a high and continuous exposure to chemicals in children can cause negative effects in the short and long term.

Protective creams and wet wipes for diaper changes can put children especially at risk. 

A major concern in the cosmetic field is the use of Phenoxyethanol in products used for newborns and children. A preservative of chemical origin, which following recent toxicology studies by the ANSM (French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products) is suspected of having toxic effects on reproduction and development.

Following the results of these studies, the ANSM in France has asked cosmetic manufacturers to NOT use phenoxyethanol in products for infants and children under 3 years.

Another note from the French agency, on the basis of the toxicity studies and the effects continuous exposure to phenoxyethanol, now requires the use of this substance with only concentrations lower than .4% to .1% allowed, and unfortunately allows wide spread use in most cosmetics.

But, before a substance is declared officially toxic and eliminated completely by law from the products, it takes many years and clinical studies.

A well known example, that many mothers will remember, is that of BPA (bisphenol A) chemical substances widely used in the past years, especially in baby bottles and in many other products for newborns. This was then banned by law from all products for children as a result of the demonstrated toxic effects.

Just to give you some examples of the most famous products with potentially toxic substances: Johnson’s Baby Oil, composed with a chemical concentrate of liquid paraffin, a substance derived from oil and banned by bio-natural cosmetics.

Attention also to shampoos and commercial creams such as Garnier, Nivea, Dove, Fissan, etc which contain substances such as aggressive surfactants that dry the hair and create allergies, and the silicones and paraffins that clog the pores and dry the skin.

I am the mother of a child in doubt and especially waiting for decisive confirmations so that we can be able to avoid the exposure of newborns and children to the potentially dangerous chemicals in cosmetics. 

These principles are increasingly supported by pediatric operators who suggest to use only pure water and soap for the cleansing of children; natural, free of phenoxyethanol, and other hazardous chemicals such as parabens, petrolatum, mineral oils, silicones, synthetic dyes, etc.
Therefore, rely on bio-natural products to guarantee the complete absence of potentially hazardous substances. Nature, in its ingredients already contains everything that we need for our skin and our well-being. This is why OLGA COLA Cosmetics products are made to be safe for both children and mothers alike!

Choosing the most delicate and safe products for children is a very delicate and difficult choice. If you have and doubts, or what more information on this topic, write to us at info@tobeorganic.com

Olga Cola (for ToBeOrganic)

Do we really know what we spread on our skin every day?

More and more products show up in the market that appear to be natural and organic, with gale advertising messages that include nothing natural or organic. Instead, they have chemicals that are potentially harmful to the skin and health. Not all consumers, however, can have the technical knowledge necessary to decline the sometimes complicated terms used in the ingredients of cosmetics.

How can you protect yourself in such a vast market?

The answer is in the use of certified or very high quality products, which, as such, have the obligation to respect stringent regulations of naturalness, eco-compatibility, derma-compatibility, and, when possible, the biology of raw materials. Thats why, at ToBeOrganic, we offer not just the best cosmetics in terms of safety and free from harmful chemicals, but also the most effective cosmetic, of the highest quality, organic and natural, certified by the most prestigious and rigorous industry such as Natrue, BDIH, and Ecocert.

It is also possibly that you will find bio natural cosmetics without biological certification this is because some companies prefer not to request it while guaranteeing formulations of the highest quality, saying they are in line with the bio specifications.

This is why all of our OLGA COLA Cosmetics products are natural and biologically certified! Shop our line of products here!
Making your shopping experience safe, serene, and happy, is our mission!

Klamath Algae is a seaweed with extraordinary antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, stimulates the immunity, energizing, toning, and hematopoietic properties. 
It is considered the pearl of blue-green edible algae because it is the only one to grow spontaneously in a completely uncontaminated environment, rich in volcanic minerals, the Klamath lake in Oregon, from which it gets its name. 

It reproduces at an extremely fast pace and its extraction is strictly controlled by the US government. To make it so unique is not only the extraordinary nutritional content, complete and optimal for man, but also the very high bioavailability that makes its nutrients perfectly assimilable.

In particular, the actions carried out by the Klamath Algae are:

·    Natural Anti-Inflammatory: Through the high concentration of phycocyanins (about 15% of dry weight)
·    Powerful Antioxidant: Due to the high concentration of carotenoids, especially high-assimilated beta-carotene, essentially fatty acids, Omega-3, Omega-6, enzymes, and chlorophyll
·    Energizing and Anti-Stress: Counteracts tiredness and promotes vital energy through the optimal and complete content of 13 vitamins, in particular, thanks to the high concentration of vitamin B12, mineral salts, and highly assimilable trace elements.

•  Slimming: prevents energy loss and stops nervous hunger. Through the high content of vanadium (a trace element) it also modulates the metabolism of sugars and fats.
• Depurative:through the high concentration of chlorophyll
  ·     Toning: contains a complete and unique protein profile with all 20 highly assimilable amino acids.
  ·     Stimulating Brain Activity: Through phenylethylamine and phenylalanine.

On the market, it is available in various forms including fresh, diluted fruit juices, dried, flakes, and tablets.

Klamath Algae is an extraordinary concentrate of natural and uncontaminated energy.
Stay up to date with more information about natural ingredients from ToBeOrganic!

It is no surprise that conventional foods are widely treated with a variety of pesticides, many of which accumulate in the body because they can not be eliminated, therefore inducing likely harmful effects such as carcinogenicity and damage to the nervous system.
The foods that most should be avoided in the conventional version, because they contain a higher concentration of pesticide residues, are apples, melons, pears, strawberries, tomatoes and courgettes, and green beans.

A study conducted by RMIT University, which will be published in July 2014 in the “International Journal of Environmental Research” journal, showed that a single week of organic food is enough to reduce the concentration of pesticides in the body by 90%.
A similar study conducted by the University of Washington had demonstrated similar data on preschoolers, where the Bio food decreases the risk of accumulation of pesticides by 6 times compared to being fed conventional foods.
The results of this study are even more relevant if associated with those of another study published by the renowned journal Pediatrics that reveals that children fed with conventional fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticides in the blood have a 93% increase in their probability to suffer from ADHD (attention-deficit disorder).

It is therefore recommended for both adults and especially for children to eliminate or reduce as much as possible the intake of conventional foods, especially those known to have greater residues of pesticides, and replacing them in your everyday life with fruits and vegetables grown organically.