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Soothe the skin and the earth by choosing a natural aftershave that's free of alcohol and assorted harmful chems. Although a dab of alcohol on the skin has been long associated with post-shave healing, plant-based remedies can also be effective in conquering ingrown hairs, infection, irritation, and other dermo-terrors.

What to look for when choosing a natural aftershave

1. Avoid alcohol-based aftershaves: The alcohol in aftershaves is formed from crude oil, an unsustainable resource that poses various environmental dangers, including air and water pollution. Crude oil-based 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]
2. Choose fragrance-free varieties and opt instead for plant-based ingredients: Aftershaves that use plant-based ingredients and essential oils for fragrance replace dangerous petrochemical with ones that are healthy for you and the earth. Fragrances and other cosmetics are loosely regulated and do not require stringent pre-testing by the FDA. Additionally, due to secrecy laws, fragrance companies aren't required to list ingredients on product packaging. Those labeled fragrance-free are the only way to play it safe regarding health-threatening chemicals.
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, aftershaves 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 to 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 aftershaves 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 aftershaves

Make the switch to an aftershave or aftershave balm that swaps skin-drying alcohol for plant-based ingredients and one that's cruelty-free, too.

Before you buy

For the curious and confused: yes, there is a difference between aftershave and cologne (or eau de toilette). While an aftershave and a cologne may carry identical scents, aftershave contains less fragrance and more alcohol than cologne along with additional ingredients to moisturize and heal the skin. Longer-lasting cologne is not meant to be applied to the face but to be "worn," while aftershaves help close facial pores and numb unsightly shaving battle wounds. Essentially, aftershave should be thought of as "cologne with a purpose" and regarded as an astringent, not a perfume, despite some olfactory overlap.

Remember that if you choose a specialty aftershave concocted with green ingredients in lieu of an easy-to-find variety, you'll likely be confronted with a higher price tag as alcohol generally comes cheaper than botanical, organic certified ingredients. For example, a 6.37 ounce bottle of classic Old Spice will set you back $8.23 while a 4 ounce bottle of Aubrey Organics North Woods After Shave costs about $9.59.

Choosing natural aftershave helps you go green because...

• It replaces synthetic fragrances with natural botanicals. Ninety-five percent of the chemicals found in fragrances are petroleum-based.[2]
• The use and manufacture of the synthetic fragrances found in aftershave pose a wide range of health issues, such as allergic reactions.
• Many companies that produce natural aftershaves and other skincare and fragrance products follow sustainable business practices, such as using recycled packaging and seeking out alternative forms of energy, such as wind power.

As reported by the American Academy of Dermatology, over 5,000 fragrances are used in perfume, cologne, and personal care products, resulting in hundreds of potentially dangerous toxic combinations.[3] Fragrances—a compound of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—enter the air with each spray, splash, or spritz. According to the California Air Resources Board, around 265 tons of VOCs enter the atmosphere in California daily due to the use of consumer products.[4]

Fragrances have also shown up in more unlikely places in the environment—the fatty tissues of fish and shellfish. A 1999 review of literature by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that aquatic wildlife host measurable amounts of slow-to-break-down synthetic musk compounds in their tissues; these compounds are considered persistent organic pollutants or POPs. Traces of synthetic musk have also been found in sediment from the Great Lakes and in the milk of breastfeeding mothers. Historically, musk fragrances were extracted from the glands of the Asia-dwelling male musk deer, but are now primarily synthetic-based as these animals are nearly extinct in some regions. An estimated 8,000 tons of synthetic musk are produced annually and added to a wide variety of personal care products.[5]

The health effects of fragrances

An estimated 5.72 million Americans have skin allergies to fragrance, including aftershave, perfume, and cologne, while around 72 percent of those suffering from asthma claim that their condition can be triggered by fragrance.[6] From Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 2001, 20 percent of the 690 cosmetic-related consumer complaints filed with the FDA dealt with skin allergies, neurological disorders, and respiratory issues relating to fragrance products.[7]

Perfume contains toxins—many of them found in tobacco smoke—that can also lead to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, migraines, and sinus problems. Synthetic fragrances also contain phthalates, widely used industrial chemicals that are 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 fragrance products, and sperm damage.[3] Click here for a breakdown of the leading chemicals found in fragrance products and their related health effects.

Controversies

The personal care industry is in turmoil trying to agree upon a set of standards for organic labeling of personal care products. While the US Department of Agriculture (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 maus 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

• persistent organic pollutants: Persistent organic pollutants, or POPs, are toxic chemicals that were, and in some instances still are, used in agriculture for pest and disease control and crop production, as well as in manufacturing. Although many POPs have been banned, they remain in the environment and global food chain, easily traveling via wind and water.[8]
• volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Organic solvents that easily evaporate into the air.[9] VOCs are emitted by thousands of products including paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings and they may cause immediate and long-term health problems.[10]
• phthalates: Phthalates are additives that are widely used in plastics and other materials, mainly to make them soft and flexible. They have applications in industry, in medicine, and in consumer products. There is public concern about phthalates because of their widespread use and occurrence in the environment.[11] Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system, particularly the developing testes, according to animal studies.[12]

External links

• Mindful Mama - Eco-Shave
• Restroom Critic - Cancer in Your Bathroom?
• Grist - Ask Umbra: Stubble Trouble
• Sweet Poison - What Your Nose Can't Tell You About The Dangers of Perfume
• Shaving Stuff A shave-centric weblog for men and women
• Make-Stuff - Make Your Own Aftershave Recipes on how to make your own aftershave using ingredients like herbs, rubbing alcohol, and witch hazel.
• Environmental Working Group - Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Check out where your favorite aftershave ranks on the hazard scale.