To the customer who posted this in our feedback inbox, I'd like to let you know that you don't have the correct information about the form of silica used in *our* products. I'd like to reassure you and anyone else unsure about this ingredient, that there are different forms of silica. Some are potentially harmful, some are not. Our Silica ingredient is not harmful. It's frustrating to see inaccurate perceptions about ingredients perpetuated on the internet. Unless you formulate and research the product, you don't know exactly what goes into it. You can only assume. So before anyone arrives at conclusions that Aromaleigh is producing an unsafe product, we love it when people write and ask us first before thinking the worst.

Your concern was:
"Dear Kristin, You will want to remove Silica (Silicon Dioxide) from your foundation powders after you read this. I was searching for safe play sand for my little one when I came across the new California warning label that crystalline silica is known to cause cancer. I first read about it from a very reliable source: CHEC (Childrens Health and Environmental Coalition) at http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/articles-detail.asp?Main_ID=949. When I searched the internet for safe play sand, I came across more information at the Safe Sand Company, which shows the actual warning label (it not only causes cancer but birth defects and reproductive harm!) and provides more details: http://store.yahoo.com/safesand/imsasaandpls.html. I know that your foundation powders like Voile contain Silica (Silicon Dioxide), which is crystalline silica. Anyway, I hope you will do the right thing and remove this ingredient from your foundation powders. Thanks for your time."

Here is my response.

There is no need for me to remove the silica from our foundation powders, because there is crystalline silica and there is amorphous silica. Amorphous silica is not harmful due to it having an entirely different surface characteristic than crystalline silica. It is this surface characteristic that researchers believe could *possibly* be harmful to cells.

We do not use crystalline silica, rest assured that our cosmetic ingredients are well tested and that we only use cosmetic grade pigments and ingredients. We would never use an ingredient specifically known to harm our customers.

I just wanted to make this clear since you left no email address for me to contact you at to provide you with the accurate information about the silica that *we* use- very different than play sand used in sandboxes, or other forms of crystalline silica used for industrial purposes. I also wanted everyone to know that when you go to the beach, that sand- is silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide makes up the majority of the earth's crust.

Thank you.

Kristen

Wow. That e-mail from that person was presumptuous to say the very least. I think you are showing great restraint.

Thank you for the info, Kristen. The internet has been both a blessing and a curse, nowadays everyone is a PhD.

Marathoner, you'd be surprised at the emails we get like that, regarding all sorts of different ingredients. Someone believes that because she prefers to avoid an ingredient, for whatever reason, that we should automatically stop using it. People don't seem to stop, think, and realize that Kristen does an amazing amount of research before she decides to use a particular ingredient and that she would never use an ingredient she thought could be harmful in any way. Of course, some may also just be thinking they've come across some new research that she might not yet be aware of that might make her change her mind.

You are right about the internet being a curse in many ways. Just because something is posted on the internet doesn't make it true. Just because one research study found a certain result doesn't mean that the study itself was well-designed so that its results would be unquestionable. Unfortunately, there are many poorly designed research studies that result in inaccurate results. Not just in the field of cosmetics research, but in all fields.

When reading research studies on the internet, it's very important to also have the skills to determine whether the study was well-designed, whether it was conducted by reputable sources, and there are many other factors to consider as well. The vast amount of information can make it very difficult to determine which sources should be believed and which should be taken with very large grains of salt.

Kristen does have the skills required to objectively judge the studies, and I'm sure many of our customers and forum members do as well. Her skills, knowledge, experience, and background will lead her to certain conclusions when reading the studies available. Others may come from a different background and reach a different conclusion. There are many issues in which you'll find highly-trained and competent medical personnel on both sides of a fence, so coming to different conclusions doesn't place blame or fault at anyone's feet. It just means that some people may end up preferring to avoid the use of certain ingredients. In that case, they can either choose to use the Aromaleigh products that don't contain those ingredients or they can choose not to purchase from us at all because we do use those ingredients. There's nothing wrong with either choice, it's just whatever a particular person is most comfortable with.

quote:

You are right about the internet being a curse in many ways. Just because something is posted on the internet doesn't make it true. Just because one research study found a certain result doesn't mean that the study itself was well-designed so that its results would be unquestionable.

This curse also applies in the medical field. In some ways people are able to educate themselves on disorder/treatments. But in other cases it turns into a "little bit of knowledge is a scary and dangerous thing". Or people find alt. treatments and switch to them without discussing it with their doctor first.
Lisa

I actually had a similar concern when I saw that silica is in your foundations. This stems not from internet research, but from doing a lot of pottery and constantly hearing about the dangers of inhaling free silica dust. So, I'm really relieved that you've already answered my question and that I can stop worrying about it and continue to use your wonderful Voile foundation.