BIOTICA .
ESTABLISHED FROM A PLACE OF THRIVING KNOWLEDGE AND DESIRE TO DO BETTER, THE EDITION TALKS WITH FOUNDER AND OWNER OF BE NATURALLYYOU, SAMANTHA SARGENT.
DISCUSSING THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIC BEAUTY AND THE INTERCONNECTED NATURE OF THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT, WE UNEARTH THE DRIVE BEHIND HER CAUSE AND WHY SHE BELIEVES AWARENESS IS NEEDED ABOVE ALL ELSE.
WHY DID YOU START BE NATURALLYYOU?
BE NATURALLYOU WAS INITIALLY AN INFORMATION SITE WHERE I SHARED INFORMATION ABOUT NATURAL HEALTH AND BEAUTY TIPS BASED OFF MY 15+ YEARS OF WORK AND RESEARCH. IT THEN TRANSITIONED TO INCLUDE A SHOP, ALONGSIDE ALL THE INFORMATION. FOR OVER 15 YEARS I’VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR NATURAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS THAT TICK ALL THE BOXES WHILST ALSO DELIVERING OUTSTANDING RESULTS. FOR MY OWN USE FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT THEN I THOUGHT, SURELY THERE MUST BE OTHER WOMEN WHO DON’T WANT TO COMPROMISE ON INGREDIENTS, COLOUR, CONSISTENCY OR EFFECTIVENESS WHEN CHOOSING NATURAL PRODUCTS.
‘NATURAL’ AND ‘ORGANIC’ PRODUCTS AND ONLINE SHOPS ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT THESE DAYS. WHILST THIS IS GREAT, IT IS ALSO VERY CONFUSING FOR THE CONSUMER, AS MANY ‘NATURAL’ AND ‘ORGANIC’ BRANDS OUT THERE CONTAIN TOXIC AND HARMFUL INGREDIENTS THAT SOUND ‘NATURAL’ OR ‘NATURALLY-DERIVED’ BUT ARE INDEED IRRITATING TO THE SKIN AND INTERNAL ORGANS. IT’S NOT AS SIMPLE AS CHECKING TO SEE IF A PRODUCT HAS AN ORGANIC CERTIFICATION, AS MANY CERTIFICATION BODIES ALLOW FOR A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF NOT-SO-NATURAL AND POTENTIALLY IRRITATING/HARMFUL INGREDIENTS. YES, SAD BUT TRUE. ALSO, THERE ARE MANY NATURAL AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS/BRANDS THAT HAVE A LOVELY INGREDIENT LIST, BUT THE RESULTS / EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PRODUCT IS UNDESIRABLE. SO, I CREATED THE BE NATURALLYOU SHOP TO BE 'THE BEST OF NATURAL BEAUTY'. NO COMPROMISES.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIC BEAUTY?
GOSH, I COULD LITERALLY WRITE A BOOK ON THIS ANSWER ALONE. BUT TO SHORTEN THE ANSWER, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE HAS AN IMPACT. WE VOTE EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH OUR DOLLAR BY SUPPORTING THE KIND OF WORLD WHICH WE’D LIKE TO LIVE IN. WE MAY FEEL LIKE WE ARE JUST ONE LITTLE PERSON, BUT THIS IS SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH. OUR CHOICES MATTER. AND IT’S THE SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT CHOICES WHICH MATTER THE MOST. SUCH AS WHAT BRAND OF MOISTURISER WE CHOOSE TO PURCHASE, OR TOOTHPASTE, OR TOILET PAPER, OR T-SHIRT. BY PURCHASING A PRODUCT WE ARE SAYING TO THAT COMPANY “KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU’RE DOING”. IF WE WOULD LIKE A DIFFERENT KIND OF WORLD THEN THE BEST PLACE TO START IS WITH OURSELF. AND CHOOSING TO SUPPORT BRANDS THAT ARE MADE WITH ORGANIC (OR WILDCRAFTED, OR BIODYNAMIC) INGREDIENTS IS A GREAT PLACE TO START, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS WE AS WOMEN USE ON A DAILY BASIS. BY CHOOSING ORGANIC BEAUTY YOU’RE CHOOSING TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF YOUR BODY, BY AVOIDING KNOWN TOXINS, HORMONE DISRUPTORS AND IRRITANTS. YOU’RE ALSO CHOOSING TO SUPPORT FARMERS THAT DON’T USE PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES AND FUNGICIDES ON THEIR CROPS WHICH HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE LAND, THE WATERWAY, THE BEES AND SO MUCH MORE.
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF HARM CHEMICALS IN SKINCARE CAN HAVE ON THE USER?
IT’S A MINEFIELD WHEN IT COMES TO CHEMICALS IN SKINCARE. SO HERE’S MY LIST OF THE TOP 10 CHEMICALS TO AVOID AND WHY.
UREA
EXAMPLES: DIAZOLINDYL UREA, IMIDAZOLINDYL UREA
COMMON PRESERVATIVES THAT RELEASE FORMALDEHYDE, A KNOWN CARCINOGEN, THAT IS IRRITATING TO THE MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND KNOWN TO CAUSE CONTACT DERMATITIS, HEADACHES AND INTERNAL BLEEDING.
PARABENS
EXAMPLES: BUTYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, ISOPROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN
COMMON PRESERVATIVES THAT ARE LINKED TO BREAST CANCER.
PHTHALATES
EXAMPLES: DI-BUTYL-PHTHALATE, DI-ETHYLHEXYL-PHTHALATE
COMMONLY USED AS A PLASTICIZER IN EVERYTHING FROM SKINCARE, COSMETICS, NAIL POLISH, PERFUME TO HAIR PRODUCTS AND DEODORANTS. KNOWN TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE LIVER, KIDNEYS, LUNGS AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. SUSPECTED OF CAUSING BIRTH DEFECTS, LOWERING SPERM COUNTS AND A BREAST CANCER RISK.
PETROLEUM BY-PRODUCTS
EXAMPLES: MINERAL OIL, PETROLATUM, PARAFFIN, DIPROPYLENE, GLYCOL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, TETRASODIUM EDTA, TRISODIUM EDTA, POLYBUTENE, TRICLOSAN, POLYETHYLENE
PETROLEUM BY-PRODUCTS INTERFERE WITH THE SKIN’S NATURAL FUNCTIONS, CLOG THE PORES, EXACERBATES ACNE, AND ARE HIGHLY LIKELY TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH CARCINOGENS THAT ARE LINKED TO BREAST CANCER.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL AND POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG)
MADE FROM THE SAME CHEMICAL THAT IS USED TO CREATE ANTI-FREEZE, THIS CHEMICAL EASILY PENETRATES THE SKIN AND IS LINKED TO DAMAGE OF THE LIVER, KIDNEYS AND BRAIN.
SODIUM LAUREL/LAURETH SULFATE
COMMONLY USED FOAMING AGENT THAT IS CONSIDERED A SKIN IRRITANT AND CARCINOGEN, AND IS KNOWN TO CAUSE SKIN RASHES AND ALLERGIC REACTIONS. SLS IS ABSORBED INTO THE BODY VIA SKIN APPLICATION AND MIMICS THE ACTIVITY OF ESTROGEN. THIS HAS A VARIETY OF HEALTH IMPLICATIONS RANGING FROM PMS, DECREASED FERTILITY IN MEN AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN CANCERS SUCH AS BREAST CANCER IN WOMEN. IT IS OFTEN DISGUISED IN “NATURAL”PRODUCTS WITH THE TERM “DERIVED FROM COCONUT”. IT IS PARTICULARLY IRRITATING TO THE EYES. SLS IS OFTEN CONTAMINATED WITH DIOXANE, A KNOWN CARCINOGEN.
DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA) AND TRIETHANOLAMINE (TEA)
THESE CHEMICALS CAN REACT WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS IN THE COSMETIC PRODUCT TO FORM POTENT CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS CALLED NITROSAMINES, THAT ARE LINKED WITH LIVER, STOMACH, BLADDER AND ESOPHAGUS CANCERS.
FORMALDEHYDE
COMMONLY FOUND IN NAIL PRODUCTS, THIS CHEMICAL IS A KNOWN CARCINOGEN, ALLERGEN AND IRRITANT. COMMONLY USED SYNTHETIC PRESERVATIVES, SUCH AS DIAZOLINDYL AND IMIDAZOLINDYL UREA, BREAK DOWN TO RELEASE FORMALDEHYDE.
SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES
EG. PARFUM, VANILLYL BUTYL ETHER
THE SIMPLE TERM “FRAGRANCE”ON AN INGREDIENT LIST CAN REFER TO A COMBINATION OF ANY OF THE THOUSAND SEPARATE INGREDIENTS USED TO MAKE UP THE “FRAGRANCE”, MANY OF WHICH ARE PHTHALATES (IE. TOXIC CARCINOGENS AND HORMONE DISRUPTORS). FRAGRANCES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE TOP 5 KNOWN ALLERGENS AND ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE ASTHMA AND TRIGGER ASTHMA ATTACKS.
AND WHILST THIS LIST IS A GOOD START, THESE ARE CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY INGREDIENTS THAT WE SHOULD AVOID. OTHER KNOWN NASTIES INCLUDE: CYCLOMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL, DIMETHICONE, METHICONE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, POLYQUATERNIUM-7, DISODIUM EDTA, EDTA, TETRASODIUM EDTA, TRISODIUM EDTA, SILICONES
WHAT ARE THE TOP FIVE PRODUCTS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
BE GENKI SKIN CARE - THE ENTIRE COLLECTION
SOAPWALLA DEODORANT CREAM
LIVING LIBATIONS BREAST MASSAGE OIL
AEOS SPELT REPLENISH OIL
LA FERVANCE ECLAT EXTRAORDINAIRE
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP FIVE HEALTH REMEDIES?
GETTING OUT OF THE CONCRETE JUNGLE AND INTO NATURE FOR EXERCISE
DAILY SUNSHINE
CULTIVATING LOVING RELATIONSHIPS AND SETTING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES WITH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT AREN’T EXACTLY ‘HEALTHY’
CHOOSING ORGANICALLY GROWN FARM FRESH FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTING WITH CYMBIOTIKA PRODUCTS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL NUTRIENTS THAT ARE OFTEN MISSING FROM TODAY’S DIET
BE GENKI’S BALANCE FORMULA. IT’S A NATURAL SUPPLEMENT TO BALANCE HORMONES, PROVIDE STRESS RELIEF, SUPPORT SKIN HEALTH, AND HEALTHY SLEEP
HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY?
LAUGHING WITH MY HUSBAND. AND SHARING MOMENTS OF LOVING PRESENCE WITH EACH OTHER. HE MAKES ME A CUP OF COLD-DRIP COFFEE WITH HOME-MADE HEMP MILK AND A TEASPOON OF MEDICINAL REISHI HONEY EACH MORNING AND WE ENJOY OUR MORNING BREW TOGETHER ON THE BALCONY WATCHING THE WALLABIES IN OUR PADDOCK, AND LISTENING TO THE BIRDS CHIRP.
HOW DO YOU CURATE THE PRODUCT SELECTION YOU SELL?
I ALWAYS TRY EACH PRODUCT FIRST MYSELF. MOST OF THE BRANDS WE STOCK CAME ABOUT DUE TO ME WANTING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR MY OWN NEEDS. BUT THEN THERE ARE OTHER BRANDS THAT ARE JUST SO GOOD THAT I LOVE STOCKING THEM. THE SHOP IS SIMPLY AN EXTENDED VERSION OF MY BATHROOM AND KITCHEN CUPBOARDS. IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I UNDERSTAND EACH PRODUCT INTIMATELY SO THAT I CAN SPEAK WITH INTEGRITY TO OUR CUSTOMERS. WE DON’T STOCK 10 DIFFERENT SHAMPOOS, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE DON’T WANT TO CONFUSE OUR CUSTOMERS. ALSO, THERE AREN’T 10 SHAMPOOS THAT ARE WORTH STOCKING. WHEN IT COMES TO SKINCARE, THAT IS MORE CHALLENGING AS THERE ARE MANY BEAUTIFUL BRANDS OUT THERE, SO WE WERE EXTREMELY RUTHLESS AND ONLY STOCK THOSE THAT GIVE OUTSTANDING AMAZING RESULTS, THAT GO BEYOND WHAT THEY PROMISE ON THE LABEL. WHAT YOU HOPE FOR IN A PRODUCT, BUT SO OFTEN GET DISAPPOINTED DUE TO IT FAILING IN ONE AREA.
ANY FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM?
OUR BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED, SO PLEASE-PLEASE-PRETTY-PLEASE MAKE IT A CONSCIOUS DAILY PRACTICE TO NURTURE A LITTLE PART OF EACH OF THESE ASPECTS. THIS IS THE KEY TO BEAUTY THAT RADIATES FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND OUTSIDE IN.
