Help Stop Animal Testing PLEASE

Welcome, shoppers! Thank you for being a caring consumer! By purchasing only cruelty-free products, you can help save rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, rats, and other animals.
Hundreds of thousands of these animals are poisoned, blinded, and killed every year in outdated product tests for cosmetics, personal care products, household cleaning products, and even fruit juices. Although more than 700 companies have banned all animal tests forever, some corporations still force substances into animals' stomachs and drip chemicals into rabbits' eyes. These tests are not required by law, and they often produce inaccurate or misleading results—even if a product has blinded an animal, it can still be marketed to you.
Fortunately, scientists have developed sophisticated product tests that are faster, cheaper, and far more accurate than blinding and poisoning tests, which were developed in the 1920s. Human cell cultures and tissue studies (in vitro tests) and artificial human "skin" and "eyes" mimic the body's natural properties, and a number of computer virtual organs serve as accurate models of human body parts.
Please vow never to buy products from companies that use animals. It's easy—just check out our lists of companies that do and that don't test on animals.
And remember to support only compassionate charities when you write that end-of-the-year check! Some health charities ask for donations to help people with diseases and disabilities yet spend the money to bankroll horrific experiments on dogs, rabbits, rats, mice, primates, hamsters, pigs, ferrets, frogs, fish, guinea pigs, sheep, birds, and other animals.
Instead of ravaging animals' bodies for cures for human diseases, compassionate charities focus their research where the best hope of treatment lies: with humans. They understand that we can improve treatments through up-to-date, non-animal methods, and they fund only non-animal research, leading to real progress in the prevention and treatment of disease.
Get a caring consumer pack and learn how to support cruelty-free companies, charities, and colleges. You will also receive a monthly e-newsletter, links to valuable online coupons, and special offers from cruelty-free companies as well as our pocket guides for cruelty-free living and free stickers. Please allow six to 10 weeks for delivery.

Animal Testing & Cruelty to Animals

Where does Desert Moon Bath & Body stand on the issue of animal testing?

We don’t use ingredients that are tested on animals, nor do we use supplies, ingredients or support any company or business who tests its products on animals. Stopping all animal testing is something that we truly care about. In true conscience, we believe there is no way to justify testing cosmetics or any of their ingredients on animals. The only way to see if they’re safe for humans is to test them on humans. We believe this to be the only worthwhile position to adopt, and we encourage all bath & body products companies to adopt the same policy.

Help stop animal testing and cruelty to animals by purchasing products from companies who do not buy or cell any of their products tested on animals. 

How Do I Care for My Natural Soap

How do I care for my Natual Soap?

Our soap is made with no preservatives or chemical hardeners, and in order to keep it fresh and long lasting we have a few words of advice for you.

• We recommend using a soap dish that enables all water to drip through the bottom, this way the soap has a chance to become dry between uses.  That will help it last longer.

• We highly recommend that you use your soap in the shower so you can truly enjoy the aroma of the essential oils and natural base. But, be sure that it is out of the stream of water while you shower or it will disintegrate prematurely.

• Keep in mind that your soap is made entirely of natural materials, and these plant materials and clays will fade with time. It is just the way nature is. 

• The scent from the essential oils may also fade. However, the good news is that once you use a bar and get under the surface of the soap the scent will be stronger. This is because essential oils are 'volatile.' That simply means that they evaporate, but no worries, the oils trapped in the bar can not get out.

• We think it is best to use your soap within a year of purchase so you can fully enjoy it the way it was intended.

Support Safe Cosmetics Legislation (From the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics)

Ask Congress to support safe cosmetics legislation

What are all those chemicals in your lipstick? your aftershave? your child's shampoo? Some of them are linked to cancer, birth defects, infertility and other health problems. We need your help to convince Congress that the beauty industry needs a safety makeover!
The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 gave consumers, parents and environmental health advocates a real chance at national legislation that would eliminate harmful chemicals from the products women, men and children put on their bodies every day.
Now that the 111th Congress has come to a close, the bill will need to be reintroduced in the new 112th Congress. Your Representative needs to know that you expect his or her support on the bill when that time comes!

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Baby Cosmetic Rules

Products For Baby New Born to 12 Months I have conservative views on what products are safe for babies.  Babies are born without a defense system for allergens and develop a resistant as they grow. Product used on babies should have a very low allergy risk, contain the most natural ingredients with no extra perfume or preservatives. Babies don’t need perfume. Although there are a number of products in the marketplace for baby care, many cause problems for babies. Baby products should be as simple and safe and natural as possible. Baby Cosmetic Rules Babies are not dirty, they require gentle and soothing products. Babys skin is perfect apart from the first little while when it may be a bit dry and wrinkly. The natural acid barrier of baby skins is essential for their well being and should not be stripped away by harmful detergents. Babies should never be set in water with bubble baths. This is one of the most common irritants and it well documented to increase the risk of urinary tract infections in babies, toddlers and even grownups Soap will strip away the babies natural protective lipids on the skin. ·         Babies are delicate. Products which are scented or have strong preservatives can cause eczema and allergies. Babies smell sweet enough without extra perfume. ·         Babies do not need to be exposed to ingredients in cosmetics that have fallen under suspicion and are under investigation for possible toxic effects. Products and ingredients which have not been proven safe should not be tested on our children. ·         Babies need protection from the sun. Although babies should avoid the sun, they still go for ‘walks’ in the pram and stroller and may lie under the shade of a tree. At those times, when babies are out and about, they need full-spectrum protection from the strength of the sun. Nano particles also known as “micronized zinc” or “micronized titanium” are currently under scrutiny and may possibly be able to pass the skin barrier and collect in the blood stream and lungs. When choosing a sunblock select the non micronized zinc or titanium until we know for sure the others are not harmful. These are the products that show up white on the skin.  In the summer buy light UV clothing that covers the baby’s arms and legs and get them a nice wide brimmed hat to protect their face. ·         If you feel you must use powder avoid talcum and use Rice, Corn or Tapioca Flour. Talc is chemically similar to asbestos, a known cancer causing substance. It is found in baby and body powders. An American Journal of Epidemiology study found talcum powder to be directly linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer and general urinary tract disorders. I cannot personally say how well documented this is but why take the chance when there are so many other options available to us. ·         Avoid products with Parabens in babies. I mention this group of preservatives because this group of preservatives have been found to be weakly estrogenic. That means that they produce the same effect on the body as estrogen. Although they are inactivated when eaten, they are absorbed into the skin from cosmetics in an active form. They have been linked with changes in the sexual organs and sexual development in rats and salmon. This has raised concern as to the possible effects on humans.

Safe Essential Oils for Dogs

Desert Moon Bath & Body carries a great natural Dog Shampoo and Dog Spritz.  We have done some research to determine which Essential Oils are safe for Dogs.  However, we discovered essential oils are NOT safe for cats. They lack an important detoxification mechanism present in most mammals.The information below was found on http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/essential-oils-for-dogs.html. This site has some great natural remedies you might find useful. Desert Moon Bath & Body only uses pure high grade essential oils that are phthalate free!

Safe Essential Oils for Dogs

Essential Oils	Properties & Uses
Bergamot	Antifungal, soothing. Excellent for ear infections caused by yeast or bacterial overgrowth. Caution: Can cause photo sensitization. Avoid the sun after use.
Carrot Seed	Anti-inflammatory, tonic, with moderate antibacterial effects. Good for dry, flaky, sensitive skin which is prone to infection. Can rejuvenate and stimulate tissue regeneration, thus effective for scar healing.
Cedarwood	Antiseptic, tonifying, circulation-stimulating. Good for skin and coat conditioning and dermatitis of all types. Flea-repelling.
Chamomile, German	Anti-inflammatory, non-toxic, gentle and safe to use. Good for skin irritations, allergic reactions, burns.
Chamomile, Roman	Antispasmodic, analgesic, nerve-calming. Good for soothing the central nervous system. Eeffective for relief of muscle pains, cramps, teething pain. A "must-have" oil for dogs!
Clary Sage	Nerve-calming, gentle when used in small amounts and properly diluted. Sedates the central nervous system.
Eucalyptus Radiata	Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, an expectorant. Good for relief of chest congestion. Effective in repelling flea.
Geranium	Gentle and safe, antifungal. Good for skin irritations, fungal ear infections. Effective in repelling ticks.
Ginger	Non-toxic, non-irritating and safe to use in small amounts, properly diluted. Good for motion sickness, aids digestion. Effective for pain relief caused by arthritis, dysplasia, strains and sprains.
Helichrysum	Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, regenerative effects; extremely therapeutic. Excellent for skin conditions and irritations (e.g. eczema). Effective for healing of scars and bruises. Effective for pain relief.
Lavender	Very safe and gentle, antibacterial, anti-itch, nerve-calming. Good for many common animal ailments, e.g. skin irritations, first aid. A "must-have" oil for your dog!
Marjoram, Sweet	Strong antibacterial, calming, a muscle relaxant. Good for bacterial skin infections, wound care, insect repelling.
Niaouli	Antihistaminic, powerful antibacterial properties, yet less likely to cause irritation than Tea Tree. Good for ear infections and skin problems caused by allergies. A "must-have" for dogs!
Peppermint	Antispamodic, stimulates circulation, insect-repelling. Good for arthritis, dysplasia, sprains and strains. Works well with ginger to treat motion sickness. Another "must-have" for dogs!
Sweet Orange	Calming, deodorizing, flea-repelling. Caution: Can cause photo-sensitization. Avoid the sun after use.
Valerian	Nerve-calming. Good for treating dog anxiety such as separation and noise anxiety.

 

Buying Essential Oils for Dogs

What About Preservatives?

About Preservatives

Phthalate Facts!

There are many questions and controversy about Phthalates. What are Phthalates? What do they do? Are they dangerous? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) studied biomonitoring data from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2001 and found “no reason for consumers to be alarmed at the use of cosmetics containing phthalates.” In addition, a study of participants from a CDC study showed that Phthalate exposure levels used in personal care products were well within the safety levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—levels that already incorporate a number of conservative safety margins. An expert panel—the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)—also reviewed the use of phthalates in cosmetics. In 2002, it completed an extensive review of all the literature on DMP, DEP and DBP and reaffirmed its 1985 conclusion that these phthalates are “safe as used in cosmetic products.” CIR found that exposures to phthalates from cosmetics are “low compared to levels that would cause adverse effects in animals.”

Phthalates are among the most thoroughly studied families of compounds in the world and have been reviewed by multiple regulatory bodies in the United States. Using estimates of the average amounts of DBP found in nail polish, if a person were to absorb all the DBP in almost five bottles of nail polish, or all the DEP in two quarts of perfume, every day, the amount of phthalates he or she consumed would still be a level at which no effect is seen in laboratory animals.

Q. Do phthalates cause cancer?
A. Phthalates are not a known carcinogen.

Q. We are exposed to phthalates every day, in many ways. Doesn’t that add up to trouble?
A. We are exposed to many things every day. But phthalates do not build up in the body. Phthalates begin to break down within minutes and are quickly metabolized.

Get the facts & decide for yourself.

Why Use Natural Soap?

Desert Moon Bath & Body's soap is made using a 200 year ancient traditional cold process method. Each bar is unique and takes about one month to produce, but once cured, the soap is gentle and mild. Our handmade soaps retain the natural glycerin, which is formed during the curing process. Commercial milled soaps remove the natural glycerin before selling. We use only high grade oils and pesticide free botanicals. The essential oils and fragrance oils in our soaps are high grade and phthalate free.

Our soaps should not be confused with glycerin soap or "melt and pour" soap, which are produced from premade soap bases. Our soaps are made on site using fresh, pure, animal free, cruelty free, natural ingredients.

Why Natural Soap?

Adults have about 8 pounds of skin. It is our largest organ, and it's like a sponge soaking up all that we spread on it. So, what do you want your skin to absorb?

We think that only all natural ingredients are good enough because that is what best for you.

We begin making every batch from scratch with olive oil, coconut oil, and organic sustainable palm oil. To this we add special moisturizing oils and butters such as avocado oil and shea butter to make sure that they are luxuriously moisturizing. Our soaps are colored naturally with plants and earth materials such as French clay, and they are scented with pure essential oils. Finally, in order to make soap we add sodium hydroxide (lye).

Without lye there would be no soap. In fact, the definition of soap requires that oils (fats) and lye be combined to cause a chemical reaction called 'saponification.' Don't worry, there's no lye left in the soap after this chemical reaction. Plus, after the saponification occurs the natural by-product is glycerin, a wonderful humectant that helps attract moisture to your skin and keep it soft.

Commercial 'soap' is not actually soap, it is a detergent. It's made with chemicals; if you are feeling brave look at the label of your favorite detergent bar. It is possible that you will not be able to pronounce many of the words. Is that what you want your body to absorb?

Not only is commercial 'soap' made with chemicals, but the natural glycerin that is created is actually removed so that it can be sold separately. We think that's pretty sad because the glycerin is one of the best parts of our soap. It helps make it so luxurious and makes it feel great on your skin.

We are sure that you'll love our handmade soap. It's an affordable luxury, and you deserve it!