Massage Cream Ingredients

[enveem]

I'd like to start a thread where we share the complete list of ingredients for various massage lotions and creams. I've been shopping for new creams (I prefer them to oils). What I've discovered is that many supplier websites only advertise the partial list of ingredients (they advertise what's natural and don't mention additional chemical ingredients). Since some of us want to avoid certain ingredients due to allergic reactions or simply personal preferences, I thought we could help each other out by having a thread that contains all the information.

Please list the name of the product and then copy the complete list of ingredients directly from the bottle. (Don't trust websites or ads). Thank you for your help! I'll start us off:

Biotone Dual-Purpose Massage Creme
(sold by http://www.biotone.com)
Purified Water, Coconut Oil Ester, Cold Pressed Sweet Almond Oil, Vegetable Derived Emulsifying Wax, Arnica Extract, Ivy Extract , Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Vegetable Glycerine, Fragrance, Methyl/Proply Paraben, Carbomer, TEA.

Lotus Touch Organic Naturals Massage Cream
(sold by http://www.newlifesystems.com)
Aqua (deionized water) infusion of certified organic botanical extracts of Malva Flowers Blue, Chamomile, Marigold, certified organic Aloe Vera, certified organic Sunflower Oil, certified organic Shea Butter, certified organic Olive Oil, certified organic Flax Seed Oil, certified organic Jojoba Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Octyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Vitamin E, Carbopol, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea and Iodopropynyl Butylcarbanate.

Elta Paraffin Massage Cream
(sold by http://www.buyelta.com)
Purified Water, Petrolatum, Paraffin, Diethanolamine Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbopol, Phenoxyethanol (and) Methylparaben (and) Ethylparaben (and) Propylparaben (and) Butylparaben, Disodium EDTA. Vitamins A, D and E.

What do your bottles of creams and lotion say?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Massage Ingredients

Don't forget about us and we are not hiding anything!!

Sombra Natural Massage Crème® is soft and rich with the versatility to be used with many massage techniques. The light creamy texture liquefies quickly for easy application. Provides controlled glide without any oily or waxy residue. Sombra Natural Massage Crème contains no parabens, silicones, harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances that can dry and damage skin.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Soybean Oil, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate, Decyl Polyglucose, Avocado Oil, Sunflower Oil, Sesame Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Vitamin E, Rosewood Oil, Carbomer

Sombra Natural Gel Oil® provides a smooth silky glide in an easy-to-use gel formula. This light, all-natural gel combines the benefits of seven oils to create the ideal balance of glide and absorption. Formulated with fractionated coconut oil to easily wash out of sheets. Sombra Natural Gel Oil contains no artificial fragrance or silicone and is preservative-free.

Ingredients: Soybean Oil (and) Corn Starch (and) Silica, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sesame Oil, Vitamin E, Rosewood Oil

Sombra Therapeutic Massage Lotion® provides gentle penetrating heat to tight, strained muscles. Capsaicin and Menthol give a warming effect to aid in deep tissue release techniques. This light formula provides deep hydration and controlled glide. Great for Therapeutic Massage! Sombra Therapeutic Massage Lotion contains no parabens, silicones, harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances that can dry and damage skin.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Soybean Oil, Decyl Polyglucose, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate, Aloe Vera, Avocado Oil, Sunflower Oil, Sesame Oil, Jojoba Oil, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Yucca Extract, Rosewood Oil, Capsaicin, Vitamin E, Carbomer

Which was taken right off our website: http://www.sombrausa.com And is listed exactly the same on our containers.

 

[theone78]

Nutri-Naturals Massage Creme

Ingredients: Purified Water, Coconut Oil Ester (Octyl Palmitate), Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil (Helianthus annuus), Expeller Pressed Avocado Oil (Persea americana), Expeller Pressed Wheat Germ Oil (Triticum vulgare), Expeller Pressed Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinenis), Expeller Pressed Carrot Oil, Vegetable Derived Emulsifying Wax, Vitamin Reinforced Extracts of Avocado (Persea americana) and Carrot (Daucus carota sativa), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (d-alpha Tocopherol), Behenic Acid (vegetable softening agent), Glycine and Glycinates (amino acids), Grapeseed Extract (Vitis vinfera), Methyl/Propyl Paraben (traditional mild preservatives), Sorbitan Laurate (emulsifier), Citric Acid (natural pH balancer), Dimenthicone, Aromatic Extracts and fragrance.
Contains NON-genetically modified oils.
Cruelty Free

 

[HELP!]

massage cream ingredients

Santa Barbara Massage Cream

Olive Oil
Bees wax
coconut oil
essential oils

 

[Suzy]

Tui Massage & Body Wax

The base ingredients are for the Unscented:
Organic Biogro Beeswax, Almond Oil, Olive Oil, Arnica Oil, Vitamin E.

Then Essential Oils are added to others, all of which are listed on their website.

Mat xxx

 

[Callisto]

Massage Cream Ingredients

Kudos to Massage Warehouse. Although their website only lists partial ingredients, they promptly replied to my email request for the complete list of ingredients for the following massage creams:

TheraPro Multi-Purpose Cream
Sold by http://www.massagewarehouse.com
Water, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Sesame seed oil, Cetearyl alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Grapeseed oil, Sweet almond oil, Jojoba seed oil, Brassica capestris/aleurites fordi oil copolymer, Avocado oil, Capryl methicone, Imidazolidinyl urea, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Triethanoloamine, Fragrance.

Massage FX Cream
Sold by http://www.massagewarehouse.com
Water, Octyl Palmitate, Sunflower Oil, Soybean Oil, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Almond Oil, Triethanolamine, Botanical Extracts of: Wood Mallow, Ivy, Pellitory, Cucumber, Elder Flower, and Arnica, Aloe Vera Gel, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, BHT

Soma Multi-Purpose Cream
Sold by http://www.massagewarehouse.com
Water, Octyl palmitate, Cetearyl alcohol, Sweet almond oil, Grapeseed oil, Jojoba oil, Avocado oil, Sesame oil, German chamomile extract, Aloe vera extract, Caprylylmethicon, Arnica oil, Ivy extract, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Imidazolidinyl urea, Propylparaben, Treithanolamine, Fragrance

Soothing Touch Balancing Cream
Sold by http://www.massagewarehouse.com
Octyl palmitate, Aloe vera gel, Cetyl alcohol, Tea stearate, Propylene glycol, Glyyceryl stearate, Almond oil, Sesame oil, Basil oil, Sage oil, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Chamomile extract, Ginger oil, Comfrey root extract, Castor oil, Arnica extract, Gotu kola extract,
Peg-100 stearate, Diazolidynal urea, Methyleparasept, Propylparasept

Earthlite Multi-Purpose Creme
Sold by http://www.massagewarehouse.com
Water, Octyl palmitate, Almond oil, Sterayl/cetyl emulsifiers, Pure lavender essential oil, Aloe vera, Vitamins A, E and C, Menthyl/propyl paraben, germal/dowicil, Carbomer 940, TEA

Interestingly, these 5 creams I just listed are advertised as being hypo-allergenic, even though they contain nut oil, parabens and chemical additives.

Pure Pro Touch Massage Cream (Contains no nut oils, but has parabens and other additives).
Sold by http://www.purepro.com
Purified water, Apricot Kernel Oil, Golden Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Vegetable Wax Emulsifiers (Cetyl/Stearic), Aloe Vera Gel, Vegetable Glycerin, Dimethicone, Arnica Oil, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Methyl & Propyl Parabens, Imidazolidinyl Urea, TEA.

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion - Unscented (Very natural, but does contain parabens)
Sold by http://www.massagewarehouse.com
Certified organic herbal infusion of Chamomile, Echinacea, Green tea, and Lavender; Plant oils of Safflower, Jojoba, Sesame, Grapeseed and Avocado; Vegetable glycerin; Certified organic Aloe; Glyceryl stearate; Isopropyl palmitate (from Coconut Oil); Stearic acid; Cucumber extract; Organic sea kelp extract; Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5); Lecithin; Silica; Methyl/proplyparaben; Tocopherol (vitamin E).

Evo Solutions Olive Massage Lotion (100% Natural, but only sold in 8 ounce bottles)
Sold by http://www.evosolutions.us
Olive Oil, Distilled water, Beeswax, Shea butter, Jojoba oil, Organic Cocoa butter, Vegetable glycerin, Borax (Sodium borate), Grapefruit seed extract and Vitamin E.

 

[koba]

Ingredient Definitions

INGREDIENT DEFINITIONS
Some of the ingredients listed above are very long words that can seem like a different language. I did some internet research to translate:

Allantoin — Botanical extract of the comfrey plant and is used for its healing, soothing, and anti-irritating properties.

Behenic Acid — A natural fatty acid used as a thickening agent. No adverse effects.

BHT — Preservative derived from petrochemicals. Can cause skin & eye irritation. Toxic/carcinogenic.

Brassica capestris/aleurites fordi oil copolymer — Blend of two plant oils: rapeseed (canola) and tung nut.

Capryloyl Glycin/Undecylenoyl Glycin — Lipo amino acids derived from coconut, with antiseptic & anti-microbial properties. No known adverse effects.

Carbomer/Carbopol — Used as emulsion stabilizers and thickening agents. They can be plant-derived or synthetically produced. Potential allergen/irritant.

Ceteareth-20 — An emulsifying wax designed to hold a lotion together. No adverse effects.

Cetearyl Glucoside — Emulsifying Wax extracted from Corn and Coconut. Mild with no known adverse effects.

Cetyl Alcohol/Stearyl Alcohol/Stearic Acid — Fatty alcohol used as an emollient and to help hold a cream together. Can be derived naturally or synthetically. Potential allergen/irritant.

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate — Derived from coconut. It serves as a lubricant, skin conditioner and anti-microbial emollient. Mild with no known adverse effects.

Decyl Polyglucose — Cleansing agent derived from corn, coconut & palm kernel oils. No adverse effects.

Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea (Brand name = Germal) — Used as preservatives. Can cause contact dermatitis. Potentially toxic.

Diethanolamine (DEA)/Triethanolamine (TEA)/Tea Stearate — Used as emulsifiers and/or foaming agents. Potentail allergen/irritant. Toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

Dimethicone/Caprylylmethicon — An oil derived from silicone (a substance extracted from rocks and sand). Used to facilitate smoothness to the skin. Potential allergen/irritant.

DMDM Hydantoin — Preservative that works by releasing formaldehyde into the product. Potential allergen/irritant.

EDTA — Abbreviation for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It is a stabilizer used to prevent unwanted changes such as texture, odor, and consistency problems. May cause allergies, rashes, asthma.

Fragrance — The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply read "fragrance." Can cause headaches, dizziness, rash, coughing & nausea.

Glycerin — Can be made naturally or synthetically, but this ingredient is generally considered good for the skin.

Glycerol Stearate — Can be made naturally or synthetically. Used as an emollient and thickening agent. No adverse effects.

Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate — Used as a preservative. Potentially toxic.

Isopropyl Myristate — Used to reduce greasy feel caused by the high oil content of other ingredients. Can be derived from natural or synthetic sources. Can clog pores. Also a potential allergen/irritant.

Lecithin — Phospholipid found in egg yolks and soybeans. Can be derived from either source. It is used as an emollient and water-binding agent. 100% natural.

Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Paraben (or Methyleparasept, Propylparasept) — Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Potential allergen/irritant.

Octyl Palmitate/Ethylhexyl palmitate — Used as a thickening agent and an emollient. Can clog pores. Potential respiratory irritant.

Petrolatum/Paraffin — Also known as petroleum jelly, this mineral oil derivative is used for its emollient properties in cosmetics. Clogs pores and can interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping. Potentially toxic.

Phenoxyethanol — Synthetic ether alcohol preservative. Potentially toxic. Can cause contact dermatitis.

Polysorbate 60 — Fatty acid used as emollient and thickening agent. Can cause skin irritation.

Potassium Sorbate — A polyunsaturated fatty acid salt. Functions as a preservative. Potential skin irritant.

Propylene Glycol — Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Synthetic creations of this ingredient, however, can cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema.

Silica — Mineral found abundantly in sandstone, clay, and granite, as well as in parts of plants and animals. It is used as an absorbent powder and thickening agent. No adverse effects.

Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate — In water, this ingredient decomposes to sodium glycinate and Formaldehyde. Glycine is an essential amino acid, and does not appear to be harmful. Formaldehyde, however, can cause skin irritation and is potentially harmful. (Updated definition 11/3/06).

Sodium Isostearyl Lactylate — A lactose based moisturizer. No adverse effects.

Sorbitan Laurate — Used as a stabilizer to prevent unwanted changes such as texture, odor, and consistency problems. No adverse effects.

 

[sj_red]

WOW guys, thanks for sharing and thanks Blisss, for the definitions!

Steph!

 

[Maribel C]

Massage Ingredients

Sombra Therapeutic Massage Lotion® provides gentle penetrating heat to tight, strained muscles. Capsaicin and Menthol give a warming effect to aid in deep tissue release techniques. This light formula provides deep hydration and controlled glide. Great for Therapeutic Massage! Sombra Therapeutic Massage Lotion contains no parabens, silicones, harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances that can dry and damage skin.

i use this lotion, but i've never noticed the warming effects. if anything my clients sometimes feel cold from it. :? i love this lotion. t023

 

[helpme]

Massage Cream Ingredients

Radiant Massage Cream
(sold by http://www.twelvecorners.com)
Ingredients: Sweet Almond oil, Safflower oil, Apricot Kernel oil, Coconut oil, Aloe Vera oil, Jojoba oil, Vitamin E and Beeswax.

Sweet Pea Botanicals Calendula Massage Cream
(sold by http://www.sweetpeabotanicals.com/product_Calendula%20Cream.htm)
Distilled water, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera gel, lecithin, calendula extract, beeswax, grapefruit seed extract, lemon juice, essential oils lavender, orange, geranium, vitamin E.

BioEntopic Massage Creme
(sold by http://www.bioentopic.com/pro)
Ingredients: Certified Organic Aloe Vera Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coco Caprylate/Caprate, Ceteatyl Glucoside, Hemp & Evening Primrose Oils, Natural Beeswax, Capryloyl Glycin Undecylenoyl Glycin, Potassium Sorbate, Vitamin E, Vitamin C Ester, Allantoin, Vitamin A, Certified Organic Rosemary Oil Extract, Calamintha Extract, Certified Organic Thyme Leaf Oil Extract.

Natural Formulations MC-10 Massage Creme
(sold by http://www.natural-formulations.com)
Purfied water, Isopropyl myristate, Vegetable emulsifying wax, Sodium isostearoyl lactylate, Aloe, DMDM hydantoin, Lecithin, Vitamin E, Methyl & Propyl parabens, Arnica extract, Cats claw extract, White willow bark extract, Oils of Clary-sage, Bergamot, Cinnamon.

Natural Formulations MC-5 Extra Rich Massage Creme
Purified water, Isopropyl myristate, Vegetable emulsifying wax, Grapeseed oil, Jojoba oil, Sodium isostearyl lactylate, DMDM hydantoin, Green Tea Extract, Chamomile extract, Methyl parabens & Propyl parabens, Vitamin E, Arnica Extract, White willow bark extract.

Amber Lavender Aphrodisia Massage Cream
(sold by http://store.amberproducts.com)
Water, Octyl-palmitate, Soybean Oil, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, TEA, Imidazolidinyl Urea, French Lavender Essential Oil, Patchouly Essential Oil, Damiana Extract, Glycerin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Aloe Vera Gel, Vitamin E Acetate, Citric Acid, BHT.

 

[wonny435]

Muse Massage Creme

http://www.musemassage.com

Here is the ingredient list for the creme.
Contains: Purified water, isopropyl palmitate (coconut oil derrived) , coconut oil, vegetable based emusifying wax NF, sweet almond oil, shea butter, grapeseed oil, macadamia nut oil, tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E) , diazolidinyl urea and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (gentle preservatives). Cruelty Free.

Here is the list for their lotion.

Purified water, isopropyl palmitate (coconut oil derrived), coconut oil, vegetable based emusifying wax NF, sweet almond oil, shea butter, grapeseed oil, macadamia nut oil, tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E), diazolidinyl urea and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (gentle preservatives). Cruelty Free.

 

[Meganne M]

For more ingredient info and definitions, check this out: http://www.tfbasics.com/learning_more.html

For a somewhat/rather-costly but VERY ethical and natural alternative, see: http://www.smbessentials.com/ (No animal testing, no animal ingredients, NONE of the toxic parabens/DEA/glycols/etc.)

Hope that helps
~Jyoti

 

[Leonardo]

Does anyone have the ingredients list for Soothing Touch Jojoba Unscented Massage Lotion? Thanks.

Edited: Never mind, I got it:

SOOTHING TOUCH JOJOBA MASSAGE LOTION INGREDIENTS
ALOE VERA(ALOE BARBADENSIS) GEL, OCTYL PALMITATE, CETYL
ALCOHOL, TEA STEARATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, JOJOBA (SIMMONDSIA
CHINENSIS) OIL, ARNICA (ARNICA MONTANA) FLOWER EXTRACT, KAVA
KAVA (PIPER METHYSTICUM) EXTRACT, VALERIAN (VALLERIANA
OFFICINALIS) ROOT EXTRACT, ST. JOHN’S WORT (HYPERICUM
PERFORATUM) EXTRACT, ALLONTOIN, VIAMIN E (TOCOPHEROL),
CHAMOMILE OIL (CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA), GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG
100 STEARATE, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, METHYL PARABEN, PROPYL
PARABEN.


Why do they do this?

Does anyone know of a Jojoba lotion that doesn't have all of these chemicals in the first few ingredients?

 

[Olivia D]

Does anyone know of a Jojoba lotion that doesn't have all of these chemicals in the first few ingredients?

Evo Solutions sells two lotions that contain jojoba oil as one of the ingredients, and neither lotion has any chemical additives. I've never tried them, so can't give a review. But here's a link to their website:

http://www.evosolutions.us

 

[Annie R.]

Solace Pro Lotion:
Water, Octyl Palmitate, Safflower Seed Oil (Carthamus Tinctorius), Sunflower Oil (Helianthus Annuus), Grape Seed Oil (Vitis Vinifera), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis), Polydimethyl-Siloxane, Paraguay Tea Extract (Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract), Imidazolidinyl Urea, Carbomer, Pro Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), Triethanolamine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate), Vitamin E Acetate (Tocopherol Acetate).

i don't use this, but checked them out from Blisss' post about them.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi Jillith,

Thanks for letting me know about Solace. When I first started this thread, they didn't have a "Solace Professionals" line. They only had a "Solace Naturals" line, and that included a cream that was truly all-natural with ingredients similar to Santa Barbara Massage Cream. Now, I just looked at Gotyourback.com's website and see that they now only offer oils through their Natural Line, and the Professionals line contains lotion, gel & cream that's the typical blend of natural ingredients & chemical preservatives like most of the other companies. Thanks for the update! (I edited my first post, removing the outdated Solace Cream listing).

Also thank you, Breathe, for adding Soothing Touch Jojoba Lotion complete list of ingredients.

 

[m.i.s.s.]

thank you for starting this thread! it's one of my favorites. i'm seriously thinking about switching from Sombra Massage Lotion to something else. i emailed them on 10/19 about why they use these two ingredients in their lotion. no response.

PEG (4-200): Abbreviation for polyethylene glycol, polyoxethylene, polygocol, polyether glycol. A manufacturing by-product. Dangerous levels of the toxin dioxane has been found in this product. Many allergic reactions, as well as hives and eczema are known to occur from these synthetic plant glycols...

Carbomer 934, 940, 941, 960, 961 C: Used as a thickener and stabilizer in creams, toothpaste, eye makeup, bathing products. It is a known allergen that has a high acidic PH in 1% water solution. Synthetic emulsifier that can cause eye irritations and should be avoided.

 

[Lola]

Evo Solutions, mentioned above, Grapeseed Lotion:

Grapeseed oil (vitis vinifera), distilled water, beeswas, shea butter (butyrospermum parkii), jojoba oil (simmondsia chinensis), cocoa butter (theobroma cacao), borzx (sodium borate) as a preservative, grapefruit extract, vitamin E.

For very pure purists, one might want to follow up on the processing of the shea butter, what exactly "grapefruit extract" is, and the processing of the vit. E. Otherwise this looks very clean, and it is TOTALLY unscented. It has a bit of a thick, oily finish and stays on the skin a long time. It's not my first choice (I prefer 12 Corners), but if you like that between-oil-and-lotion feel, this one is really nice.

 

[Early Cuyler]

i hit the motherload!! http://texasherbalbodysolutions.com/thbs_website_2_021.htm

i ordered the terlingua creek massage lotion and cold water creek sports/muscle massage gel. both are full of good stuff and cheaper than my gallon of sombra!! local mom and pop is an added bonus.

terlingua creek - water, sweet almond oil, kosher vegetable glycerin, emulsifying wax NF, palm stearic acid, aloe vera juice, black willowbark extract, Vit E, sodium bicarbonate, shea butter, avocado oil, jojoba, allatoin, olive squalane, citric acid, Vit C, lecithin, roman chamomile extract, rosemary extract, kelp extract, neem oil, biopein natural preservative.

cold creek - water, aloe juice, sweet almond oil, aprict kernel oil, jojoba, shea butter, witch hazel distillate, aloe oil, kosher vegetable glycerin, evening primrose oil, rosehip oil, Vit E, carbomer (not thrilled about that one, but it's at least far down on the list), rosemary extract, oleoresin (??), neem oil, black willow bark, biopein (natural preservative).

gallons go from $38-48.50 depending on type. ultra fast shipping. 8)

edit:
oleoresin -A naturally occurring mixture of an oil and a resin extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir.

Allantoin is a botanical extract of the comfrey plant and is used for its healing, soothing, and anti-irritating properties. Allantoin helps to heal wounds and skin irritations and stimulate growth of healthy tissue. This extract can be found in anti-acne products, sun care products, and clarifying lotions because of its ability to help heal minor wounds and promote healthy skin.

 

[imaghost]

For a sampling of a perspective from a cosmetic chemist:

neither lotion has any chemical additives

Every ingredient is a chemical. Even the purest water you drink and the air you breath are chemicals. Borax (sodium borate) and grapefruit seed extract are chemicals. See below for details.

PEG (4-200): Abbreviation for polyethylene glycol, polyoxethylene, polygocol, polyether glycol. A manufacturing by-product. Dangerous levels of the toxin dioxane has been found in this product. Many allergic reactions, as well as hives and eczema are known to occur from these synthetic plant glycols

The ingredient in Sombra is PEG-100 Stearate. Here is what the official report says on PEG safety, published just last year by the expert scientific review panel: "PEG compounds are used in a great variety of cosmetic applications because of their solubility and viscosity properties, and because of their low toxicity. PEG compounds produce little or no ocular or dermal irritation and have extremely low acute and chronic toxicities. They do not readily penetrate intact skin, and in view of the wide use of preparations containing PEG and PEG derivatives, only few case reports on sensitisation reactions have been published, mainly involving patients with exposure to PEGs in medicines or following exposure to injured or chronically inflamed skin. On healthy skin, the sensitising potential of these compounds appears to be negligible... Taking into consideration all available information from related compounds, as well as the mode and mechanism of action, no safety concern with regard to these endpoints could be identified."

You simply do not get a more glowing report than that. Many years ago there were concerns that some manufacturers of PEGs and PEG derivatives failed to remove impurities and by-products such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane during manufacture. This was well-publicized and the FDA took action to insure proper manufacturing methods were practiced. It is now standard practice that such impurities are stripped during manufacture and measured for certification purposes to insure the product is safe. The remarkable present day safety of these products is made quite clear in the expert panel's report.

Carbomer 934, 940, 941, 960, 961 C: Used as a thickener and stabilizer in creams, toothpaste, eye makeup, bathing products. It is a known allergen that has a high acidic PH in 1% water solution. Synthetic emulsifier that can cause eye irritations and should be avoided.

Common table salt causes eye irritation as well, but people shake it wildly when sprinkling it on food. The carbomer in a cosmetic product is much like salt which has been added to a soup. It is used in very small amounts and is greatly diluted. Furthermore, during formulation the acidity of carbomer is neutralized so that it's no more a threat than an artichoke. As to allergy concerns, carbomer is widely used in dermatologist recommended products, precisely because there is no valid history of allergy concerns surrounding carbomer use.

what exactly "grapefruit extract" is

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) is a commercial product industrially derived from the seeds and pulp of grapefruit in the presence of chemical catalysts such as ammonium chloride and is often presented as a "natural" antimicrobial preservative on the basis of its natural sounding name. However, testing of some commercially available GSE products have found them to contain artificial agents, such as benzethonium chloride, triclosan and methyl paraben. The antimicrobial efficacy of GSE products not containing these artificial agents is a subject of much controversy.

borax (sodium borate)

Borax is natural, but borax can also be used as an herbicide and pesticide. It is also toxic to people, with signs of chronic toxic exposure including red and peeling skin, seizures and kidney failure. The estimated lethal dose (ingested) for adults is 15-20 grams; less than 5 grams can kill a child or pet. For this reason, borax should not be used around food. More commonly, borax is associated with skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. Exposure to borax may impair fertility or cause damage to an unborn child. These are all risks of borax exposure, but none of these risks mean that you shouldn't use borax. If you do a bit of research, you will find risks associated with all cleaning products, whether natural or man-made.

Sodium borate and boric acid are used in cosmetics as preservatives, antiseptics, water softeners, pH adjusters, emulsifiers, neutralizers, stabilizers, buffers, or viscosifiers. Investigators have reported that sodium borate and boric acid are poorly absorbed through intact skin; however, both compounds are absorbed through abraded, denuded, or burned skin. Based on the increased absorption of boric acid by damaged skin as compared to intact skin, as well as the testicular atrophy observed in experimental animals, the concentration of sodium borate and boric acid in cosmetics must be controlled. Professional cosmetic chemists are aware of this and formulate accordingly.

Allantoin is a botanical extract of the comfrey plant

While allantoin exists naturally in comfrey plants, it is commercially produced from things like urea (which is made from ammonia and carbon dioxide).

Allantoin helps to heal wounds

The FDA does not recognize allantoin as a wound healing agent, nor does the FDA permit cosmetics to make drug claims.

biopein natural preservative

"Biopein natural preservative" is not a valid ingredient declaration. Biopein is extracts of Thyme (Origanum vulgare), Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Golden Seal root (Hydrastis canadensis). This combination contains fragrance allergens and would require specific notification/warning in various regulatory environments. For example, cinnamon bark contains cinnamic aldehyde, a sensitizer even in minute amounts.

While "natural" sounds nice, the fact is there is no massage lotion tree in nature and there is no valid evidence that "natural" means safer or more effective than man-made.