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T R A N S P A R E N C Y F O R T H E C O N S U M E R . . .
During the collection and production of raw materials, nature is to be disturbed as little as possible. Particular care to protect endangered species is mandated. Genetic manipulation and modifications are rejected. The transformation of raw materials into cosmetics is to be accomplished with care and with few chemical processes. Renewable and biodegradable materials are preferred because their ecological impact is substantially lower, especially when they come from controlled biological sources or other responsible means using natural resources.
With natural ingredients, one deals with botanical substances that have been used and studied for ages, so there is a minimal toxicity potential. Natural products most easily fulfill the requirement of accountability and socially responsible production. The choice of technical production methods is limited. Technical methods cannot be fully eliminated especially when the user's expectations for purity and performance cannot be met by raw materials in their natural state. Environmentally-friendly production methods, renewable and biodegradable materials and minimal use of packaging are expected.
The following IntelCosmet guidelines define the concept of natural cosmetics in a sensible and clear manner, with the consumer's expectations of safe and ecologically sound products in mind...
 Our G U I D E L I N E S . . .
1. Raw materials obtained from plants: As far as possible, raw materials obtained from plants are used from:
- controlled biological cultivation, taking quality and availability into account, or
- controlled biological wild collections
- controlled traditional cultivations respectful of the environment, integrity and purity of the plant (chemical fertilization, pesticide and GMO free)
2. Animal Protection
- No animal testing is performed or commissioned when end products are manufactured, developed or tested.
- Raw materials that were not available on the market before 01.01.1998 are only used if they have not been tested on animals. This does not include animal testing performed by third parties who neither were ordered/prompted by the ordering party to do so nor are associated to the ordering party by company law or by contract.
- No use of raw materials obtained from dead vertebrates (e.g. spermaceti, terrapin oil, mink oil, marmot fat, animal fats, animal collagen or living cells).
3. Raw materials obtained from minerals: The use of inorganic salts and raw materials obtained from minerals is generally permitted within the manufacture of natural cosmetics, except for those listed in point 5.
4. Raw materials with restricted use: For the production of natural cosmetics, it is permissible to use components which are extracted through hydrolysis, hydrogenation, esterification, transesterification or other cleavages and condensations from the following natural materials:
- fats, oils and waxes
- lecithins
- lanolin
- monosaccharides
- oligosaccharides and polysaccharides
- proteins and lipoproteins
The actual raw material use is regulated by the positive list for development and production of certified natural cosmetics.
5. Deliberate rejection of ...
- organic-synthetic dyes
- synthetic fragrances
- ethoxylised raw materials
- silicones
- paraffin and other petroleum products
The criterion which determines which aromatic substances are permitted in formulations of natural cosmetics is ISO 9235 and is followed in strict production guidelines within IntelCosmet.
6. Conservation: To ensure that products are microbiologically safe, many manufactures use certain nature-identical preservatives or naturally derived preservatives which are allowed in addition to natural preservatives. These are:
- benzoic acid, its salts and ethylester (dry distillation of gum benzoin)
- salicylic acid and its salts (natural primary immune hormone found in plants)
- sorbic acid and its salts (naturally derived from organic mountain ash berries)
- benzyl alcohol (hydrolysis of benzyl chloride in the presence of soda ash)
- methul paraben (naturally derived from grapeseed)
- glucose peroxide (naturally derived from honey)
- lactose peroxide (naturally derived from milk)
- glucose lactose peroxide (naturally derived from honey and milk)
When these preservatives are used, products must be labeled “preserved with ... [name of preservative]” IntelCosmet products do not contain any non-natural origin preservatives.
7. No radioactive radiation: It is forbidden to disinfect organic raw materials and completed cosmetic products using radioactive radiation.
8. Natural Cosmetics Certified or Not: Health Canada has amended the Cosmetic Regulations Act to require that cosmetic ingredients be disclosed on the product label. The safety of the Canadian public will be enhanced by making this information available to consumers and medical professionals.
The amendment requires all cosmetic products to be identified on labeling in accordance with the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) labeling system. This Latin-based nomenclature is known worldwide and is considered to be multi-lingual and multi-national. It is currently being used in many countries including the European Union and the United States. These new requirements will be mandatory on November 16th , 2006.
IntelCosmet has employed the INCI standardization prior to these new laws coming into force. IntelCosmet also lists ingredients used in each product following following INCI rules.
In order for a product to become certified organic, all of these typical guidelines must be applied and verified. A certified natural or organic product does not imply a superior product, it simply means that the product has met strict guidelines via a certified organization such as Eccocert or other recognized government approved body. A neutral third party "control group" checks that the above criteria are complied with if certification is a need for a given manufacture. The association's label is used to indicate that the criteria has thus been complied with.
IntelCosmet uses only ingredients that can be certified within these criteria. IntelCosmet is also part of the organic consumers organization and both supports and endorses organic farming cultivation practices along with the " Coming Clean " act towards non-toxic natural cosmetics.
Further Raw material requirements
- traceable production using clear processes
- traceable raw material origins
Disapproval of genetic engineering
As genetic engineering is a controversial issue in agriculture and is not justified ecologically, biological cultivation is supported and genetic engineering is actively rejected.
Ecological compatibility
- Only natural sources of raw materials, if possible certified by the EG-Bio-VO (EG regulation of ecological cultivation)
- Environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes
- Optimal degradability of raw materials and finished products
- Economical, environmentally-friendly and recyclable packaging
- Maintenance of natural life principles
Social compatibility
- Raw materials from fair trading and Third World projects
- Use and disposal
- Conscientisation and sensitizing of the overexploitation of raw materials in process of extinction with a policy of purchase adapted to supply and demand
Education
- Consumer education
- Certified Trained IntelCosmet Affiliates and Professionals
- Professional education courses and seminars
Metamorphoses by Nature
IntelCosmet is strongly committed towards education of natural skin care using natural cosmetics and strongly believes that the awareness of the consumer towards healthy choices is a most important part of today's needs.
With these guidelines at hand, IntelCosmet is proud to offer high quality natural cosmetics that meet the individual needs of each consumer. Nathalie has spent well over 25 years within the beauty industry along with constant research into the world of botanics towards use in skin care. Her wisdom and practical knowledge have created IntelCosmet, a company built on the needs of each consumers individual needs “ au naturel ”
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