Self-contradicting, August 7, 2009

This book is enlightening — it includes thorough dictionaries of both beneficial and potentially harmful cosmetic ingredients — but the writer seems to be schizophrenic or to have not thoroughly researched the topic, which, as a former journalist, is highly concerning. I was disappointed with her recommendations of products by Avalon Organics, JASON Naturals, Stella McCartney CARE, and Kiss My Face. These brands are hardly superior and were sued by Dr. Bronner’s last year for deceptively using the word “organic” and containing petro ingredients. However, the writer later retracted her recommendation of the Kiss My Face brand on her blog.

The retractions continue. She recommends bismuth oxychloride-containing powders by Bare Escentuals in the book (which I was shocked to read since she claims to be a purist) but later says on her blog that bismuth oxychloride can “irritate sensitive skin like mad.” Half the people who’ve used BE and developed red, itchy skin can tell you this. She spends an entire page on avoiding toners with alcohol (duh), then recommends an alcohol-packed toner by Dr. Hauschka.

Speaking of Dr. Hauschka, Ms. Gabriel recommends nearly every Hauschka product made. (By the book’s end, one suspects her of having too-close relations with the company.) I respect Dr. Hauschka’s biodynamic farming practices, but they use a high amount of alcohol as preservative. Combined with their heavy nut oils (e.g. peanut oil), their pricey products are infamous for breaking people out in milia or causing irritations. There are FAR better organic lines these days.

The book is packed with DIY recipes that require impractical & expensive ingredients, like rose oil, elderflower water, and calendula blossoms. What full-time working woman with a kid has the time or money? And tips like “shampoo your hair with plain egg”? How would that begin to cut oil and grime??

UPDATE: In addition to her questionable expertise, the writer has begun using her blog to bash other organic skincare lines hoping, most likely, of selling her own organic skincare line. There are now retractions on Juice Beauty (certified organic), Jurlique (biodynamic) and L’Uvalla (a lovely new line at Whole Foods). It’s bizarre that she would attack these brands while gushing about Bare Escentuals’ mediocre and conventionally farmed skincare line. Not to mention, this is the same Bare Escentuals that’s being sued in California for making false and misleading statements about its sales. Where are Ms. Gabriel’s allegiances and what is her agenda?

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Contradictions, May 2, 2010

As other reviewers have noted, there are contradictions in this book that undermine it’s overall credibility. Here’s one that’s particularly egregious: On page 189, Gabriel describes lecithin as a “green emulsifier”; yet, in Appendix B (“100 Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients You Don’t Want in Your Beauty Products”) ingredient #55 is–believe it or not–lecithin. This is inexcusable to me.

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A few issues., April 30, 2009

By 

Jeannine Wegmueller (Temple, NH USA) – See all my reviews

  

I found this book to be a bit trendy. Do American women really have the time to mix their own beauty products? No one I know does. Page 57 warns of celebrity endorsements, yet page 75 refers to all the celebrities who use Suki Naturals. She consistently quotes opinions from the makers of natural products, but they are stated like facts. Conventional products do this too, and it is wrong. She loves Dr. Hauschka mascara in the book, but says it runs on her website. Little things like this bugged me. I did learn about ingredients to avoid so all was not lost.

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Self-contradicting, August 7, 2009

This book is enlightening — it includes thorough dictionaries of both beneficial and potentially harmful cosmetic ingredients — but the writer seems to be schizophrenic or to have not thoroughly researched the topic, which, as a former journalist, is highly concerning. I was disappointed with her recommendations of products by Avalon Organics, JASON Naturals, Stella McCartney CARE, and Kiss My Face. These brands are hardly superior and were sued by Dr. Bronner’s last year for deceptively using the word “organic” and containing petro ingredients. However, the writer later retracted her recommendation of the Kiss My Face brand on her blog.

The retractions continue. She recommends bismuth oxychloride-containing powders by Bare Escentuals in the book (which I was shocked to read since she claims to be a purist) but later says on her blog that bismuth oxychloride can “irritate sensitive skin like mad.” Half the people who’ve used BE and developed red, itchy skin can tell you this. She spends an entire page on avoiding toners with alcohol (duh), then recommends an alcohol-packed toner by Dr. Hauschka.

Speaking of Dr. Hauschka, Ms. Gabriel recommends nearly every Hauschka product made. (By the book’s end, one suspects her of having too-close relations with the company.) I respect Dr. Hauschka’s biodynamic farming practices, but they use a high amount of alcohol as preservative. Combined with their heavy nut oils (e.g. peanut oil), their pricey products are infamous for breaking people out in milia or causing irritations. There are FAR better organic lines these days.

The book is packed with DIY recipes that require impractical & expensive ingredients, like rose oil, elderflower water, and calendula blossoms. What full-time working woman with a kid has the time or money? And tips like “shampoo your hair with plain egg”? How would that begin to cut oil and grime??

UPDATE: In addition to her questionable expertise, the writer has begun using her blog to bash other organic skincare lines hoping, most likely, of selling her own organic skincare line. There are now retractions on Juice Beauty (certified organic), Jurlique (biodynamic) and L’Uvalla (a lovely new line at Whole Foods). It’s bizarre that she would attack these brands while gushing about Bare Escentuals’ mediocre and conventionally farmed skincare line. Not to mention, this is the same Bare Escentuals that’s being sued in California for making false and misleading statements about its sales. Where are Ms. Gabriel’s allegiances and what is her agenda?

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Contradictions, May 2, 2010

As other reviewers have noted, there are contradictions in this book that undermine it’s overall credibility. Here’s one that’s particularly egregious: On page 189, Gabriel describes lecithin as a “green emulsifier”; yet, in Appendix B (“100 Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients You Don’t Want in Your Beauty Products”) ingredient #55 is–believe it or not–lecithin. This is inexcusable to me.

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A few issues., April 30, 2009

By 

Jeannine Wegmueller (Temple, NH USA) – See all my reviews

  

I found this book to be a bit trendy. Do American women really have the time to mix their own beauty products? No one I know does. Page 57 warns of celebrity endorsements, yet page 75 refers to all the celebrities who use Suki Naturals. She consistently quotes opinions from the makers of natural products, but they are stated like facts. Conventional products do this too, and it is wrong. She loves Dr. Hauschka mascara in the book, but says it runs on her website. Little things like this bugged me. I did learn about ingredients to avoid so all was not lost.

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Self-contradicting, August 7, 2009

This book is somewhat enlightening — it includes thorough dictionaries of both beneficial and potentially harmful cosmetic ingredients — but the writer seems to be schizophrenic or to have not thoroughly researched the topic, which, as a former journalist, is highly concerning. I was disappointed with her recommendations of products by Avalon Organics, JASON Naturals, Stella McCartney CARE, and Kiss My Face. These lines are hardly superior and were sued by Dr. Bronner’s last year for deceptively using the word “organic” and containing petro ingredients. However, the writer later retracted her recommendation of the Kiss My Face brand on her blog.

The retractions continue. She recommends bismuth oxychloride-containing powders by Bare Escentuals in the book (which I was shocked to read since she claims to be such a purist) but later says on her blog that bismuth oxychloride can “irritate sensitive skin like mad.” Half the people who’ve used BE and developed red, itchy skin can tell you this. She spends an entire page on avoiding toners with alcohol(duh), then recommends an alcohol-packed toner by Dr. Hauschka.

Speaking of Dr. Hauschka, Ms. Gabriel recommends nearly every Hauschka product made. (By the book’s end, one suspects her of having too-close relations with the company.) I respect Dr. Hauschka’s biodynamic farming practices, but they use a high amount of alcohol as preservative. Combined with their heavy plant oils (e.g. peanut oil), their pricey products are infamous for breaking people out in milia. There are FAR better organic lines these days.

The book is packed with DIY recipes that require impractical & expensive ingredients, like rose oil, elderflower water, and calendula blossoms. What full-time working woman with a kid has the time or money? And tips like “shampoo your hair with plain egg”? How would that begin to cut oil and grime??

UPDATE: In addition to her questionable expertise, the writer has begun using her blog to bash other organic skincare lines hoping, most likely, of selling her own organic skincare line. There are now retractions on Juice Beauty (certified organic, solar-powered facilities), Jurlique (biodynamic) and L’Uvalla (a lovely new line at Whole Foods). It’s completely bizarre that she would attack these brands while gushing about Bare Escentuals’ mediocre and conventionally farmed skincare line. Not to mention, this is the same Bare Escentuals that’s being sued in California for making false and misleading statements about its sales. Where are Ms. Gabriel’s allegiances and what is her agenda?

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Contradictions, May 2, 2010

As other reviewers have noted, there are contradictions in this book that undermine it’s overall credibility. Here’s one that’s particularly egregious: On page 189, Gabriel describes lecithin as a “green emulsifier”; yet, in Appendix B (“100 Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients You Don’t Want in Your Beauty Products”) ingredient #55 is–believe it or not–lecithin. This is inexcusable to me.

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A few issues., April 30, 2009

By 

Jeannine Wegmueller (Temple, NH USA) – See all my reviews

  

I found this book to be a bit trendy. Do American women really have the time to mix their own beauty products? No one I know does. Page 57 warns of celebrity endorsements, yet page 75 refers to all the celebrities who use Suki Naturals. She consistently quotes opinions from the makers of natural products, but they are stated like facts. Conventional products do this too, and it is wrong. She loves Dr. Hauschka mascara in the book, but says it runs on her website. Little things like this bugged me. I did learn about ingredients to avoid so all was not lost.

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