---
title: Non-toxic Body Lotion
date: 2009-01-26T16:24:21Z
modified: 2009-01-26T16:24:21Z
permalink: "https://elizabethyarnell.com/non-toxic-body-lotion/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 648
categories:
  - Recipes
tags:
  - body lotion
  - Environmental Working Group
  - hives
  - Pangea Organics
author: Elizabeth
---

I’ve been on a search for a good, moisturizing, non-toxic body lotion ever since the [Environmental Working Group](http://www.ewg.org "environmental working group") announced that my old stand-by lotion contained elements that react to make a toxic compounds.

![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/116e-DZw1vL._SL110_.jpg "alba lotion")

For years I’ve counted on _[Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NCV3C4?ie=UTF8&tag=lizoneandmore-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000NCV3C4)![](http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lizoneandmore-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000NCV3C4)

_ as a safe and natural moisturizer. It’s so dry living in Colorado that I must use moisturizer all over my body every day and I’ve been very conscious about not putting things with [petroleum products on my skin](http://elizabethyarnell.com/effortlesseating/2008/03/your-skin-the-largest-organ/ "petroleum products in skin care").

Now I learn that, when [tested by the EWG](http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=71785&refurl=%2Fbrowse.php%3Fbrand_id%3D78%26category%3Dmoisturizer%26brand_id%3D78%26 "alba botanica lotion"), it was found that my favorite _Alba_ lotion scores a 4 out of 10 on the hazard scale and contains things I don’t want. See for yourself:



| **Ingredients in this product are linked to:** |  |
| --- | --- |
| ![yes](http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/images/x_on1.gif) | <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('linked to cancer in government, industry, or academic studies or assessments.', this, event, '150px')">Cancer</a> |
| ![yes](http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/images/x_on.gif) | <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that can range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays for children.', this, event, '150px')">Developmental/reproductive toxicity</a> |
| ![yes](http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/images/x_on.gif) | <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('prohibited for use in cosmetics, or subject to concentration, use, or manufacturing method restrictions, according to industry safety guidelines and government requirements and guidance from the U.S., E.U., Japan, and Canada.', this, event, '150px')">Violations, restrictions & warnings</a> |
| ![yes](http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/images/x_on.gif) | <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('linked to immunotoxicity, or harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissues in the body.', this, event, '150px')">Allergies/immunotoxicity</a> |
| ![yes](http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/images/x_on.gif) | Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('linked to neurotoxicity, or harm to the brain and nervous system, a class of health problems that can range from subtle developmental delays to chronic nerve degeneration diseases.', this, event, '150px')">Neurotoxicity</a>, <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('the body's natural hormones, the chemicals that carry messages across the body to manage growth, tissue repair, and reproduction.', this, event, '150px')">Endocrine disruption</a>, <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('linked to toxicity of one or more biological systems in the body (cardiovascular, stomach and digestive trace, respiratory system, etc.) through laboratory studies or studies of people.', this, event, '150px')">Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)</a>, <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('also found as contaminants in tap water and food, as ingredients in other kinds of consumer products, or in people in biomonitoring studies that measure chemicals in blood, urine, and other fluids and tissues.', this, event, '150px')">Multiple, additive exposure sources</a>, <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('linked to irritation of the skin, eyes, or lungs according to government assessments, industry reviews, and peer-reviewed studies.', this, event, '150px')">Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)</a>, <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('an enhanced capacity to absorb through this skin by virtue of chemical properties like penetration enhancing abilities or small particle size (including nanoparticles), or by virtue of where it is applied on the body (on infant skin, lips, or damaged skin). ', this, event, '150px')">Enhanced skin absorption</a>, <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('may be contaminated with toxic impurities, many of which are linked to cancer, according to government and cosmetic industry ingredient safety assessments or peer-reviewed studies.', this, event, '150px')">Contamination concerns</a>, <a onmouseout="delayhidetip()" onmouseover="fixedtooltip('the ability to affect the body at a cellular or biochemical level that may have larger, but poorly understood health implications.', this, event, '150px')">Biochemical or cellular level changes</a> |

![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41GFSNP64DL._SL110_.jpg)

Eeeeeeuw. This is supposed to be a safe brand, too.

So I’ve switched to [Pangea Organics Body Lotion – French Chamomile with Sweet Orange & Lavender](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GTB2R0?ie=UTF8&tag=lizoneandmore-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000GTB2R0)![](http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lizoneandmore-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000GTB2R0)

, which has a score of 3. I’m still not happy about a 3, but it’s better than a 4. I LOVE the [company](http://pangeaorganics.com/), their philosophy, and their products and know that all of their ingredients are totally natural, so I’m a little perplexed as to why they would still score a 3 from the EWG.

Sigh. Why does it seem that every single thing in our world is bad for you somehow? It’s enough to turn even the most natural optimist into a cynic sometimes. It makes me just want to bury my head in the sand and continue using the products I love, risks be damned!

Until the [hives](http://www.effortlesseating.com/2009/01/happy-2009/) come back to remind me how fragile is the balance I’ve carved out for myself.

Do you have a good natural lotion to recommend? Please let me know!

&amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;lt;img src=”http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=lizoneandmore-20″ mce\_src=”http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=lizoneandmore-20″ alt=”” /&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;gt;