Methyl Ethyl Bad Shit?!

When I went into this whole soap-making venture, it was because of what we called “methyl ethyl bad shit”.  As I continue on with this venture, making more lotions, creams, and other bath and body products, I have realized that our “methyl ethyl bad shit” in an ingredient list might not actually be as bad as it sounds.

Unfortunately, “natural” is a word that is over used and has a variety of definitions.  Natural, in my opinion, is nature made.  Think apples or oranges, and even those are items that have been altered anymore.  “Natural” oils are not “natural” because they need to be processed to be used.  My definition of natural is something that comes directly from nature .  As much as I love the theory of “all natural”, I have learned that there are items that have a lower toxicity rate and higher beneficial properties than even what mother nature provided.  Even all-natural items can pose noxious or deadly results.

In order to make a quality product that actually is benefical and nontoxic, some additives are necessary.  This will be an ongoing discussion, but I will start with hydroxyethyl cellulose or HEC which, according to Skin Deep Safety Reviews, is considered to be a 1 on a toxicity level of 1-10.

HEC is used as a water-phase stabilizer or thickener in lotions, which helps to create a more stable emulsion when combining water and oil.  HEC is a plant-derived amino acid with no adverse side effects or warnings with productgs containing HEC.  This is confirmed from numerous sources and is widely used because of its ability to serve many purposes.  It is a gelling and thickening agent derived from cellulose, an organic compound.  Cellulose is the structural component of the primary cell walls of green plants.  With my research, HEC is a beneficial and nontoxic additive to help structure lotions.  So with its  bad-sounding name, hydroxyethyl cellulose is actually, in its miniscule percentage, an ingredient from which you will benefit.  I wish that these ingredients had a common name, but even those ingredients that are natural have a chemical name that sounds worse than they are.   You, as a concerned consumer, must be educated on what you are purchasing, taking the time to read and understand an ingredient list all while knowing that some of these chemical-sounding names are simply that…chemical sounding and not nearly as horrible as we conjure them up to being.

Cheers!