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Used to tighten pores, complement cleansers, combat oily spots, and heal post-shave irritation, botanical-based toners and astringents provide 100 percent beauty without the ugly eco- and health-side effects caused by substances like parabens, BHA, and artificial colors and fragrances. Wading through the labels of toners and astringents can be overwhelming, but knowing what to look for can help you be a wise and green consumer.

What to look for when choosing natural toners and astringents

1. Look for plant-based, biodegradable ingredients: Conventional toners and astringents are made from petroleum-derived chemicals that persist in the environment, creating pollution and threatening human health. Toners and astringents that use plant-based ingredients and essential oils for fragrance replace these dangerous ingredients with ones that are healthy for you and the earth. In particular, try to avoid ingredients like parabens and phthalates. Keep an eye out for sorbitol and petro-based polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), plasticizers used in many toners and astringents that contain phthalates.
2. Avoid alcohol-based toners and astringents: Even if a majority of the ingredients are plant-based and non-synthetic, alcohol-based skincare products support the hazards of the petroleum industry.
3. Go organic: Because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spends only a tiny portion of its budget investigating the chemical composition and toxins in skin care products, soaps can tout their use of organic ingredients and still have up to 30 percent synthetic materials, even the ones labeled "organic" or "made with organic ingredients." The only way to be sure that the product you are purchasing is, in fact, organic is too look for the USDA Organic Seal on the label. This seal guarantees that every ingredient is organically produced as defined by the National Organics Standards Board, which bans the use of harmful pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and genetic engineering.
4. Look for toners and astringents that do not contain animal fats or employ animal testing: While you're contemplating green attributes, you may also wish to join the cruelty-free movement. Just keep in mind: a company may claim that they don’t employ animal testing for their products, but without third-party verification, it’s hard to know whether these statements are in fact completely true. So stick to those products certified as cruelty-free by looking for products with the Leaping Bunny Logo or the Certified Vegan Logo. You can rest assured that no bunnies (or monkeys or cats for that matter) were harmed in the making of these non-animal-tested products.

Find it! Natural toners and astringents

Below, we've highlighted some of the cleanest and greenest toners and astringents out there, ranging from increasingly easy-to-find natural brands to prestige selections. Straight, natural witch hazel is also a tried and true facial astringent and can be found at many health food stores.

Before you buy

Inquiring minds want to know: what's the difference between a toner and an astringent? And what in the world is a tonic? These terms are often used interchangeably but there are differences. Essentially, tonics and astringents are both types of toners. The former contains a small amount of alcohol while the latter contains more alcohol along with antiseptic ingredients and is mostly meant for spot treatment of problematic, oily skin. Overuse of astringents can actually cause the skin to become more oily. Astringents and toners are often used as a substitute for aftershave. If you're unsure what to go with, consult your doctor or dermatologist. The SkinCare Guide may also be able to point you in the right direction.

Also keep in mind that if you choose a natural toner or astringent concocted with green ingredients in lieu of an easy-to-find variety, you'll likely be confronted with a higher price tag as chemicals generally come cheaper than botanical, organic-certified ingredients. For example, an 8 fluid ounce container of Aubrey Organics' Sea Buckhorn And Cucumber Facial Toner will set you back $9.39 while 7.2 fluid ounces of Refreshing Toner from Olay cost $4.29.

Choosing natural toners and astringents helps you go green because...

• Like other conventional skincare and cosmetic products, toners and astringents may contain petroleum-derived components. Petroleum is a non-sustainable resource with various eco-repercussions.
• They rely on ingredients found in nature, not health- and eco-unfriendly chemicals, to keep skin clean, radiant, and healthy without stripping it or causing additional derma-woes.
• Many makers of natural toners and astringents also follow green business practices, such as using recycled packaging and harnessing renewable energy sources like wind power.

It's important to keep in mind the eco-effect of alcohol-based toners and astringents, even if a majority of the ingredients are plant-based and non-synthetic. Alcohol-based skincare products support the hazards of the petroleum industry, which include about 2.6 million gallons of oil spilled every month during transportation and about 71 million pounds of toxins released into the air and water during refinement.[1]

The chemicals and preservatives used in conventional toners and astringents are also often petroleum-derived. Supplementary preservatives in some toners include BHA, which has a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems and bioaccumulates in the tissues of organisms, and parabens, known endocrine disrupters that are not only detrimental to human health, but also destructive to animal hormones and development. (Studies have found higher levels of parabens in tumors from human breast tissue, but, because the potential damage to the endocrine system has yet to be proven, the controversy surrounding the toxicity of parabens is still being debated.)

Also take note that sorbitol and petro-based polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), both plascticizers, can be found in some conventional toners and astringents to provide that pleasant tight-skin sensation. Plasticizers, used to make plastics soft and flexible, are members of the phthalate family of chemicals, which have been shown to cause cancer and organ damage, and can be estrogenic or anti-androgenic. Studies conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health reveal a link between monoethyl phthalate, a chemical used to preserve scent in perfumes and colognes, and sperm damage.

Fragrances

The fragrances in toners, astringents, and other facial cleansing products pose risks as well. Fragrances are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which add to air pollution, are persistent in the environment, and contaminate waterways and aquatic wildlife. An estimated 5.72 million Americans have skin allergies to fragrance, while around 72 percent of those suffering from asthma claim that their condition can be triggered by synthetic fragrance.[2] Click here for a breakdown of the leading chemicals found in fragrance products and their related health effects.

Controversies

In a recent study that shook the natural products industry, 100 “natural” and “organic” soaps, shampoos, dish liquids, lotions, and body washes were tested and nearly half contained 1,4-Dioxane, a carcinogenic chemical. This toxin has been found in conventional personal care products but this study, commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), was the first to test green products.

In scientific studies, 1,4-Dioxane has caused cancer in animals; scientists have not yet confirmed the long-term effects on humans. The FDA says current levels do not pose a hazard to consumers but have advised manufacturers to lower amounts in cosmetics as much as possible. None of the products tested that were Certified Organic by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) contained 1,4-Dioxane. In response to this study, some of the affected companies have said they will work toward removing 1,4-Dioxane from their products.

Organic labeling

The personal care industry is in turmoil trying to agree upon a set of standards for organic labeling of personal care products. While the USDA maintains clearcut standards for organic food, the same can’t be said for body care products. Some companies use the USDA certified organic food standard, which requires 95 percent of the ingredients to be organic. Others use the less stringent California state standard for organic cosmetic products, which requires at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients. And still others label their products organic without meeting any external criterion. Fortunately, the guidelines for labeling a soap as "100% Organic" are strict. Products carrying this label must contain all organic ingredients.

To clear up this confusion, a nonprofit standard-setting group called NSF International has released a draft set of rules for organic personal care products and a group of 30 cosmetic companies recently devised their own set of specifications called Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards (OASIS). How it all washes out remains to be seen.

Glossary

• 1,4-dioxane: A petroleum-derived contaminant classified as a probable human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole): A chemical preservative used in cosmetics and certain foods to prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid.
• parabens: This family of synthetic preservatives (which includes methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-parabens) can possibly disrupt the endocrine system.
• phthalates: Additives commonly used in plastics and other materials, mainly to make them soft and flexible, that may damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system, particularly the developing testes, according to animal studies.
• volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Organic solvents that easily evaporate into the air and may cause immediate and long-term health problems.

External links

• Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
• New York Times - Natural, Organic Beauty
• Restroom Critic - Cancer In Your Bathroom?
• The Green Guide - Dirty Dozen SSC: The Dirty Dozen Ingredients In Personal Care Products
• Environmental Working Group - Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Before you break out the cotton balls, check out where your favorite toner or astringent ranks on the hazard scale.