Have you ever wondered what is really inside the products you use, or turned the bottle over to try and decipher the list of confusing ingredients on the back? Most ingredients these days are just variations of the chemical compounds derived from petroleum, thus forming industrial petrochemicals which are cheap and fast to manufacture.
Have you ever stopped to consider what these product ingredients are doing to us? And have you weighed them up against the health benefits of what is naturally provided to us by the good earth?
Naturalmente chooses to use ingredients and fragrances derived from the botanical kingdom – plants, flowers, roots, seeds, oils, fruit, spices and resins – that are cultivated in their countries of origin using organic and, biodynamic agricultural methods. While fossil fuels are finite resources, plants are annual and abundant They plants also use CO2 instead of creating it, thus reducing global warming.
Our natural products are rich in essential oils(in percentages ranging between 0.8% and 2.5%) adding gorgeous aromas to our products and maintaining healthy scalp and hair. All our essential oils are pure and derived from biological, biodynamic or natural agriculture. These botanical essences are then mixed with pure cold-pressed sweet almond oil. Inhale these gorgeous fragrances – sandalwood will inspire you, citrus will burst as if you just squeezed a lemon, chamomile will soothe and lavender will relax. All we need is provided for us in nature.
What are essential oils?
Pure essential oils are highly concentrated fragrant essences derived from flowers, plants, leaves, spices, fruit, woods and roots. The precious essential oils can be costly, and as a result there are many non-pure products available commercially.
Naturalmente selects the most pure essential oils from all over the world. These oils are then mixed to create a scent that is patented and unique to Naturalmente.
What are the healing benefits of essences?
Natural essences have been prized for millennia for their antiseptic properties. They kill and combat the growth of germs. The essences with the greatest antiseptic powers are, in descending order:, lemon, thyme, orange, bergamot, juniper, clove, lavender, neroli, mint, rosemary, sandalwood and eucalyptus. Their antiseptic properties are valuable because they do not harm healthy tissue.
Glossary of oils and essences Naturalmente use
Almond (mandorla) |
Strengthening |
Aloe |
Moisturising, proteins, vitamins, mineral salts, reduces inflammation and heals sunburnt skin |
Argan oil |
Nourishing, repairing, anti-ageing, protective, concentrated Vitamin E, essential fatty acids serve as anti-oxidant, softens dryness |
Avocado |
High in vitamins A, D, E, lecithin, potassium, healing |
Bay leaf |
Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal |
Bergamot |
Deodorizes, regenerates at the cellular renewal and balances |
Borage |
Healing, therapeutic |
Burdock |
Rich in essential fatty acids, stimulates blood circulation |
Calendula |
Heals wounds, soothes skin, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant |
Castor |
Softens hair fibres, moisture balancing, creates volume |
Centella asiatica |
Improves blood circulation, regenerates, reduces formation of fine lines |
Chamomile |
Soothes skin, antiseptic, antibiotic, calming |
Chinese angelica |
Good for menopause |
Cinnamon |
Strengthens hair |
Clary sage |
Antiseptic, anti- bacterial |
Coconut |
Cleanses, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-ageing, restorative, brightening |
Comfrey |
High in allantoin, stimulates connective tissue, healing |
Eucalyptus |
Anti-bacterial, germicide, good for scalp problems |
Everlasting flower |
Anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, heals acne and dermatitis, anti-ageing |
Fennel |
Soothing, revitalising, restructuring |
Fenugreek |
Removes impurities without dehydrating skin |
Frankincense |
Healing, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, purifying, immune-stimulating, anti-oxidant |
Geranium |
Anti-ageing, moisture balancing |
Grapefruit |
Anti-oxidant, disinfectant |
Helichrysum Italicum |
Heals wounds, scars, acne and eczema |
Honey |
Disinfectant, anti-bacterial |
Horse chestnut |
Astringent, reduces varicose veins |
Icelandic moss |
Soothing, cooling expectorant, antibiotic |
Ivy helix |
Anti-fungal, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, softens, smoothes |
Jojoba |
Nutritive to skin and hair, adds shine, softens, promotes collagen production |
Juniper |
Anti-inflammatory, moisturising |
Kernel |
Rich in vitamin E, prevents moisture loss |
Lavender |
Purifies, heals and soothes skin, prevents hair loss, balancing, clarifying |
Lavender water |
Astringent, refreshes |
Lemon |
Stimulates blood circulation, refreshes |
Lemon balm |
Combats muscular spasms, soothes |
Macadamia |
High in palmitoleic acid (Omega 7) found in sebum of skin, anti-ageing |
Mallow |
Heals damaged skin |
Mango |
Soothing astringent |
Marigold |
Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant |
Mint |
Reduces itching, neutralises infection, prevents hair loss, warming effect |
Nettle |
Moisturising, pH balancing, provides shine |
Olive oil |
Nourishing, treats eczema |
Orange |
Stimulates blood circulation, refreshes |
Orange peel |
Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal |
Passion fruit |
Disinfectant, anti-inflammatory |
Patchouli |
Aids in cellular reconstruction, ideal for dry scalps |
Peanuts |
Ultra hydrating |
Propolis wax |
Powerful natural antibiotic |
Red thyme |
Antiseptic, tonic, healing astringent (substance that causes biological tissue to contract or draw together, shrinks mucus membranes) |
Rice oil |
Moisturising, anti-oxidant |
Roman chamomile oil |
Antiseptic, powerful anti-inflammatory |
Rose |
Calming, anti-inflammatory |
Rose centifolia |
Toning, skin conditioning, refreshing, soothing |
Rosa damascena |
Moisturising, hydrating, antiseptic for dry, mature and irritated skin |
Rosehip |
Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, anti-ageing |
Rosemary |
Helps micro-circulation of blood, stimulates new hair growth, anti-dandruff, degreases and cleans the scalp |
Sage |
Heals skin and scalp, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, controls oily skin |
Sandalwood |
Anti-bacterial, purifying, heals skin and scars |
Serenoa serrulata |
Anti-inflammatory, reduces acne |
Sesame seed |
Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, potent anti-oxidant |
Shea butter |
Moisturising, adds shine, hydrating, smoothing |
Soy protein |
Provides vitality to hair |
Sunflower |
Rich in vitamin E, moisturises, regenerative |
Sweet almond |
Softening, brightens skin, promotes shine, heals chapped skin and lips |
Sweet fennel |
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, decongestant |
Tangerine |
Astringent, tonic, stimulating, deodorant, skin purifying |
Tea tree |
Prevents oiliness, purifies, heals, excellent for sebohrroea (greasy hair and scalp) |
Thyme |
Anti-bacterial, therapeutic aroma |
Vanilla |
Anti-bacterial |
White thyme |
Antiseptic |
White willow |
Anti-inflammatory, purifies, stops dandruff |
Witch hazel |
Astringent, controls blemishing, reduces itching and relieves swelling |
Yellow sweet clover |
Softens, soothes |
Ylang ylang |
Antiseptic, stimulates blood circulation, nourishing, moisturising |
We choose not to use synthetic substances
At Naturalmente we foster ecological consciousness. That’s why we vigilantly, promote products that are free of petrochemical by-products and synthetic substances. Petrochemicals are derived from petroleum production and used as raw materials in the manufacturing of many cleaning products and cosmetics. Widely used because they’re cheap, petrochemicals are not renewable, and can be toxic for people, the environment and all living organisms. They pollute air and water, our bodies and the earth.
What are synthetic substances?
Synthetic substances are created in laboratories from petroleum processing. These substances attempt to reproduce the benefits offered by plant extracts, yet they are devoid of the real active ingredients provided by plants which enhance our wellbeing. They can be harmful for human beings, animals and the earth as they contain high quantities of chemicals that are often then disposed of into the environment, thus polluting rivers and eco-systems. The rise of synthetic substances are the result of market research and profits, not health benefits. Synthetic molecules allow the creation of perfumes that do not exist in nature. While synthetic aromas can be produced in a short time, pure essence cultivation and extraction requires a longer period. For many cosmetic companies, it’s sufficient to add a drop of natural essence to be able to claim all the benefits of plants without really using them.
Why does Naturalmente avoid the use of petrochemicals?
As we derive our food from plants, with which human beings live in symbiosis, we can claim that plants are more consistent with the human body than petrochemical agents. Plants are also a renewable resource, while petrochemical agents are not. Petrochemicals require extraction and manufacturing methods that are harmful to the environment, their residues contaminate the food chain and they increase the risks of environmental disasters. In most cases, petrochemicals are not biodegradable; instead they create harmful waste that pollutes the body and the earth, and polluting the atmosphere during manufacture and combustion.
Why don’t most companies avoid the use of petrochemicals?
It’s all about profit and greed. It’s cheaper to use synthetic products obtained at a lower cost, even if it’s at the expense of the environment. Naturalmente does not use any chemicals, petrochemicals, preservatives, parabens, animal substances, artificial perfumes, formaldehyde, ammonia or sodium lauryl sulphate.
Glossary of ingredients we don’t use
Alcohols |
Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and SD alcohol. While not all alcohols have the same properties, these, which are commonly found in skin care products, are very drying and irritating to the skin. Alcohols such as these strip way the skin’s natural acid mantle, making you more vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses. |
DEA/ TEA/ MEA |
These are cleaning solvents used in many cosmetics which can become irritating to the skin with regular use. |
Essence/ fragrance/ parfum |
These substances add odour or scent to all types of cosmetics, but also to cleaning agents and food. They are derived from petroleum and are rich in allergens. They have nothing in common with botanical essential oils, but are often advertised as such. These perfumed molecules were created during the 50s in chemical laboratories in the USA and are widely used in many sectors due to their very low cost. As a result of the rise in man-made essences, people are losing their natural sense of smell and are no longer able to distinguish though their olfactory nerves between true or false, living or dead, healthy or ill, useful or harmful. |
Imidazolidinyl urea |
A derivative and releaser of formaldehyde. In many countries its use has been forbidden due to its carcinogenicity and link to leukaemia, but it is widely used in cosmetics as a preservative. |
Keratin, collagen and animal by-products |
These substances are mainly derived from the hooves of dead animals like bullocks or horses. They are used in various hair products to give hair the feeling of more body. |
Mineral oil |
This is a petroliferous oil usually used as motor oil for vehicles. Used due to its low cost, it is readily found in fragranced essential oils used to perfume homes and is also used in many hair styling products and oils for body massage. When burned, toxic dioxins are released. |
Parabens |
There are many types of petrochemical preservatives, the most common are methy, propyl, butyl and ethyl paraben. It is stated that approximately 98% of personal care products use parabens as preservatives, to increase shelf life, as it is the cheapest way to control the microbes that would otherwise proliferate. They are used despite the rising number of allergic reactions in people. It has been calculated that in 12 months an average person ingests about 2kg of chemical preservatives and 5kg of food chemical additives. Studies suggest that parabens may cause cancer, allergic reactions and skin rashes as well as interfere with the body’s endocrine system as parabens are known to mimic oestrogen. Sperm counts have fallen by half over 50 years and 18 out of 20 breast tumours have parabens, the increases are almost certainly linked. |
Paraffinum liquidum |
Also called petroleum jelly, this is a petroliferous oil which is mainly used to produce candles and wax. Due to its low cost, it is used on a wide scale in cosmetics of all kinds and in many famous brands. |
Petrolatum |
Petroleum thats been treated in refineries for cosmetic use. Used for its low cost, it is present in both high and low cost cosmetics. It is used in creams for face and body, but also as lip protection. |
Propylene glycol |
A transparent oily fraction, derived from petroleum. Used for its low cost, it is found in thousands of branded cosmetics, professional products, perfumery products, herbal products, and pharmaceutical products. It is also used in hyrdraulic liquids and as anti-freeze in brake fluid. It has also appeared in certain foodstuffs, mostly used in confectionery. |
Silicone |
Long carbon chain silicones such as ciclomethycone, phenyltrimetycone, amodimeticone, dimetyconole, ciclophentazylosane are just some of the silicon substances used by cosmetic companies around the world. These substances are used in products for face, body and hair. The most used ones are those with a long carbon chain, due to their lower cost, but they are not easily photodegradable. |
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) |
SLS is an ester of sulphuric acid. It is also known as ‘sulphuric acid monodododecyl ester sodium salt’, just one of over 150 different it is known by. SLS is a ‘caustic cleanser’ which actually corrodes the hair follicle from shampoos with SLS, and impairs the ability to grow hair. SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application and it builds up in the heart, liver and brain. Once absorbed, one of the main effects of SLS is to mimic the activity of the hormone oestrogen which has many health implications. It may be responsible for a variety of health problems such as PMS, menopausal symptoms, decrease in male fertility and increase in female breast cancers where oestrogen levels are known to be involved. |
Sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) |
SLES is an ester of sulphuric acid. This is tensio-active material derived from petroleum hydrocarbons, widely used in all cosmetics including professional products as it cleans creating a lot of foam. Once in contact with chlorinated water, its pH increases to 10. Its alkaline effect is very aggressive on hair and skin. The damage that it causes to people and the environment is well known, giving rise to allergies and acute dehydration in people who are frequently exposed to it due to constant use, for example hairstylists as it is found in noticeable quantities in colouring and bleaching products. SLES is also commonly contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen. Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than SLS, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and hence its effects are much longer lasting. |
Sodium hydroxide |
This is caustic soda, used for its low cost in products such as hair straighteners and perms but also in shaving foams. It is very aggressive due to its alkaline pH and in reaction to other chemicals can cause severe irritation to the skin, resulting in dehydration. |
Tetrasodium EDTA |
It is a pharmacologically inactive substance used as a carrier for the active ingredients of a product and is often used in shampoos. It is a poison that causes oily fish to become sterile. |
Glossary of ingredients we do use
Alba wax |
Bees wax made vegetable glycerin, coconut tri-glycerine and coconut plant. |
Aromas |
The scents of our products are created by our unique pure essential oil blends. The oils are extracted from plants, flowers, fruit and roots from organic biodynamic cultivations and imported from all over the world to ensure that they are of the best quality. |
Essential oils |
Our products are rich in essential oils (in percentages ranging between 0.8% and 2.5%) that infuse our products with gorgeous aromas and help to maintain healthy scalp and hair. All our essential oils are pure and derived from biological, biodynamic agriculture. They are then mixed with pure cold-pressed sweet almond oil. |
Plant extracts |
All our plant extracts contain active ingredients with natural benefits. We add them to our products to improve results, guaranteeing the product greater cosmetic effectiveness. All our plant extracts are furthermore completely bio-compatible and stable over time. |
Surfactant alternatives |
A surfactant is a surface-active agent, or wetting agent. It is added to products to reduce the surface tension of a liquid. As an alternative to the most commonly used petrochemical surfactant – sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), Naturalmente uses zinc coceth sulphate and sodium cocyl sarcosinate (derived from coconut) and olive amphoacetate (derived from olive oil). |
Silicone alternatives |
Where necessary, Naturalmente uses an extract of sand called silica. Silicium derivatives are extracted from the quartz crystals present in white sand and has |
Alcohol denat |
Denatured ethyl alcohol derived from corn |
Ammonium salts |
Helps locks proteins into the hair |
Ascorbyl palmitate |
Vitamin C derived from palm trees |
Caprylic/ capric trygliceride |
Vegetal oil derived from rapeseed oil or sunflower oil |
Cetilic Alcohol |
Vegetal origin derived from wheat and citrus |
Cetyl palmitate |
Vegetal oil derived from palm oil |
Citric acid |
An anti-oxidant derived from citrus fruits |
Coco glucoside |
Vegetal tenside derived from coconut oil and sugar |
Cocus lucifera extract |
Coconut oil |
Cocoamidopropyl betaines |
Vegetal surfactant derived from coconut |
Cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine |
Vegetal surfactant derived from coconut oil |
Decyl glucoside |
Vegetal surfactant derived from rapeseed oil, coconut oil and sugar |
Dicaprylyl ether oil |
Vegetal oil derived from canola and coconut oil, good for softening and polishing |
Disodium glutamate capryloil |
Vegetal surfactant derived from rapeseed oil |
Ethylhexyl palmitate |
Vegetal oil derived from palm oil |
Glycerine |
Obtained from vegetables |
Glyceryl oleate |
Vegetal emulsifier derived from coconut oil or olive oil |
Guar gum / Guar hydropropil trimonium chloride |
Gives body, moisturises, re-structures |
Hydrolized soy protein |
Protein derived from soy, it re-structures |
Hidroxypropyl trimonium |
Hydrolised wheat protein derived from wheat |
Hydroxyethyl cellulose |
Modified cellulose from plants, natural thickening agent |
Lactide acid |
Lactic acid derived from fruit and milk |
Lauryl glucoside |
Vegetal surfactant derived from rapeseed oil |
Lecithin |
GMO-free soy lecithin, anti-oxidant |
Myristyl myristate |
Vegetal wax |
Olive amphoacetate |
Vegetal surfactant derived from olive oil through laboratory processing. Its cleansing properties are limited if used singularly, but if used together with zinc coceth sulphate it cleans and hydrates. |
Oryza sativa |
Derived from rice oil |
Panthenol |
Pro vitamin B5 derived from wheat |
Polyquaternium-10 |
Static produced from cellulose of trees |
Retinyl palmitate |
Vitamin A derived from the palm tree |
Silica |
A natural thickener extracted from quartz crystals in white sand. It is used in conditioners to add protection and shine. It is photo-sensitive and pulverises in sunlight becoming sand again, therefore it's residue-free. |
Sodium chloride |
Table salt |
Sodium coceth sulphate |
Plant surfactant derived from coconut |
Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate |
A plant surfactant derived from coconut. It's still an extremely new organic surfactant, never used in the professional industry before. This totally natural surfactant is included in the positive list of the most prestigious certifying bodies for bio-ethically compatible cosmetics, such as AIAB. |
Sodium sunflower seed amphoacetate |
Plant surfactant derived from sunflower oil |
Sorbitol |
Sugar hydrating substance, useful for retaining water in shampoos |
Surfactant |
A surface-active agent or wetting/ foaming agent that reduces the surface tension of a liquid |
Tocopherol |
Vitamin E derived from wheat |
Vegetable glycerine |
Adds shine, smoothes, softens |
Xanthan gum |
Derived from the Xanthan tree, it adds body to hair and re-structures |
Zinc coceth sulphate |
Plant-based cleansing base derived from coconut oil and zinc. It is a new surfactant that has never been used in professional hair-care products. Its properties are extraordinary as it is a detergent with a 4.5pH (acid); it is dermo-purifying, anti-oxidising and anti-dandruff. |