Companies I Love: Arbonne International

When it comes to skin care, the label "organic" doesn't always mean what you might expect. Avalon Natural Products, Whole Foods Market California, Beaumont Products, and Nutribiotic are currently being sued by the Attorney General of California for containing 1,4-Dioxane, a known carcinogen. Jason, Kiss My Face, Nature's Gate, Juice, Giovanni, Head, Dessert Essence, and Ikove are also facing a lawsuit for incorrectly using the word organic to describe their products.

I recently became an Arbonne International independent consultant. I want my readers to know that right up front. But the reasons I decided to become involved are the same reasons I'm featuring the company and its skin care products in my sustainable living blog.

• Arbonne products are botanically based.
• None of their products are tested on animals, and everything is 100% vegan. There are no animal products or by-products in any of the formulas.
• Arbonne products do not contain dyes or chemical fragrances. As my sponsor and best friend Ashley Fuchs explains, "If the product smells like a lemon, it's because it has lemon in it."

The company's motto, "pure. safe. beneficial." really means that. And as the lawsuits I mentioned earlier demonstrate, skin care companies misuse labels all the time. "People get really caught up in words like organic and chemical-free, but even plants contain chemicals. A store-bought product may be pure, but not beneficial or safe," Ashley points out. The Arbonne website adds, "Many botanical ingredients used in Arbonne’s products are organic, from the perspective of having been grown without harmful chemicals or pesticides. Not all ingredients are available as organic which is why we cannot make such a claim. Know that we always choose organic when it is available."

The more I find out about Arbonne, the better I like it. I did have one question for Ashley, though. Why are the products so expensive? "They're actually less expensive than you think," she answered, "because they last for months. There are no fillers; it's pure ingredient." Apparently, many companies use filler ingredients to increase the volume. Ashley explains, "A large bottle of your average lotion may contain a small percentage of pure ingredient, but the rest is waxes and mineral oils, so you have to use a ton of it."

On a personal note, Ashley continues, "I believe in paying for quality. My body is not the place for me to cheap-out. You have to make a conscious choice to honor your body as a precious machine. The skin is the largest organ in your body, so you're saving money in the future by keeping it healthy."

I have to agree. If anyone wants to know more, feel free to email me. I enjoy promoting companies whose products I believe in.

Namaste,
Jenny