With reports of rising illness rates, environmental concerns and frequent product-scares, it is perhaps not unsurprising that more of us are taking a keener interest in the goods we use everyday and their impact upon our health. Terms such as 'natural', 'organic', 'pure' and 'hypoallergenic' now roll easily off the tongue as the natural revolution takes a firm hold.

But what exactly is a 'natural product'? Good question. The term 'natural' is defined in the dictionary as:

"...existing in or produced by nature; not artificial or imitation; existing in or in conformity with nature or the observable world; functioning or occurring in a normal way..."

Seem straightforward enough. One problem though - many of the chemicals used to create artificial products and synthetic ingredients are ultimately derived from natural sources. In practical terms this means that many products labelled as natural are anything but.

To confuse matters further, there are also some natural ingredients which behave just as badly as many of their chemical counterparts, causing allergies, skin sensitivity and irritation. Admittedly too, there are some synthetic or artificial ingredients which work much more effectively and are sometimes needed to guarantee the integrity of a product (so you are not greeted by a layer of mould when you pop open that tub of gel).

Seems like a minefield? You would be right in thinking so. Which is why at Foundationz, we are working to establish our own product criteria which places safety first. More information coming soon....