We are simply interested in a healthy green lifestyle and therefore committed to providing as wide a range as possible of natural skincare and environmentally friendly products in our Eco Store.

Since scientists now suggest that up to 60% of what we apply to our skin can be absorbed into our bodies, there is increasing concern that the use of synthetically produced chemicals in personal care products could pose a threat to our health. However, a growing number of pseudo-natural and organic products often contain harmful chemicals alongside 'natural' and 'organic' ingredients. An absence of official regulations then makes it very difficult to distinguish between legitimate natural products and conventional high street ones - unless compositions are scrutinized in an informed way. So, we aim to do this for you. You can find more information about research and the harmfulness of certain chemicals in our Articles of Interest.

We take 'natural' to mean anything taken from nature that is then isolated and purified by a range of environmentally friendly methods such as distillation, filtration, expressing, fermentation and other similar techniques.

None of our products are tested on animals, and we won't sell anything containing artificial preservatives (like Parabens, Diazolidinyl Urea or Imidazolidinyl Urea), DEA or TEA (emulsifiers and foaming agents), Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (detergent), Petrolatum or petroleum-derived substances (emollients), Propylene Glycol (humectant), Stearalkonium Chloride (emollient), GM ingredients, artificial colours, or synthetic fragrances. We largely follow the advice of Bill Statham in 'The Chemical Maze: Shopping Companion'.

Wherever possible (and eventually for our entire collection) we will choose organic, and certified organic products. Certification means that products are guaranteed a certain organic content and it is stringently ensured that both suspect chemicals such as parabens and phthalates are not used, and that products are never tested on animals.

For example, a product that carries the Soil Association symbol and is labelled organic, must contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients. Products that carry their symbol and are labelled as 'made with xx% organic ingredients' must contain a minimum of 70% organic ingredients. Other permitted ingredients must be proven to be non-GM and can only be used: " if the organic version of that ingredient is not yet available (e.g. decyl glucoside which can be made from corn starch, but is not yet available in an organic format), or " they are from a restricted list of synthetic chemicals that have been assessed against criteria to demonstrate they have no detrimental impact on human health and minimum environmental impact." Of course, not all products use these - some are 100% organic and will say so on the label. (www.soilassociation.org)

Australian standards are extremely rigorous and protective of the environment too. The Nvey Eco cosmetics are certified by the Australian Government and the OFC - Organic Food Chain. The OFC stipulates that products should be primarily composed of certified organic raw materials and be minimally processed to preserve their natural properties. Sulphonation, ethoxylation and propoxylation are prohibited as processing methods, and prohibited ingredients include, but are not limited to: synthetic colouring agents, synthetic fragrances and parfums, silicones, paraffin and other petroleum or petroleum derived products. Where a preservative is required for the safety and/or stability of a product, only preservatives derived from natural sources are to be used. (www.organicfoodchain.com.au)

The criteria in the German BDIH Guideline (www.bdih.co.uk) include ingredients, packaging and production standards:
* Ingredients have to be from a plant or mineral source.
* Plant ingredients should be obtained from organic growth or wild harvest wherever possible.
* Most petroleum based or synthetic ingredients are not allowed.
* Genetically modified ingredients are not allowed.
* Packaging has to be ecologically conscious, so recyclable and minimalist.

Likewise, Ecocert has become a leading figure in organic certification around the world and certifies over 70% of producers in France. (www.Ecocert.com)