Labeling Games

How many times have we all picked up one product or another because the label says "Enriched with Vitamin E" or "100% pure Shea Butter"? If you are a label reader, as I am, you will notice the order of predominance on the ingredient panel. Somewhere, down at the bottom is listed Tocopherol. Tocopherol is the INCI name for Vitamin E. Usually used in formulas for its anti-oxidant properties, aiding in the prevention of other oils going rancid.

My favorite is the one brought to me by a customer, asking if we carry a specific product. We do not sell any commercially manufactured products. Her question was fine with me, she wouldn't know if she didn't ask. This product claimed 100% pure Shea Butter. Opening the jar I could see immediately it was an emulsion, without looking at the ingredient panel this product was indeed not 100% pure shea butter. The shea butter used in the product I'm sure was 100% pure but the finished product most certainly is not. If this were true the ingredient panel would read "Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) fruit. Nothing more. However, this was not the case. Shea Butter being listed 7th in the list of ingredients does not qualify this as 100% pure. How sad is it that a large manufacturer has to use deceitful marketing tactics in order to sell their products? Pretty pathetic, in my opinion.

Manufacturers that use these labeling tactics are targeting an uninformed market. My daily encounters with the public leads me to believe these particular manufacturers will soon be changing their game. People are asking questions, very good questions. They are becoming more and more informed as the days pass by. Information is a powerful tool, provided you have accurate information.

To list an ingredient on the front label the only requirement is that there be a minimum of 1% of that specific ingredient in the formula. Since most of us formulate in small batches of 5 gallons or less that would be a grand total of 6.4 ounces in a 640 ounce batch. Not very much at all. Not enough for me to use that ingredient as a selling point.

The best advise I can offer is, become informed. Ask questions. If you don't feel as though your answer is satisfactory or informative enough ask for literature, research on the web, be satisfied with the information you receive and ask more questions. Information is a wonderful thing as well as very important. After all, we are talking about the health of your skin, the largest, most abused organ of the body. I spend a good part of the day answering questions and offering information that people don't even realize they want or need. I am guilty of getting a bit to technical at times but I know when I've gone that far. People get a look in their eyes, its that "HUH?" look. Thankfully, I'm quickly forgiven. I can't stress enough the importance of asking questions about the ingredients you are considering putting on your body and the bodies of your loved ones.