Make a stand. Demand a choice!

Do you remember when you were younger and you scraped your knee or had a rash, or burned your hand really bad and grandma would run to the kitchen and come out with some ointment or herb to put on the area. She would most likely continue the treatment for a few days and then one day you would look and the area would be like new again. Back then, you thought it was magic. That grandma had some special kind of powers. Well, grandma knew something that most people are learning about today. It's called "Mother Natures greatest gifts".

Back then, our grandparents had a knowledge of herbs and plant extracts that, because of mass production and chemical manufacturers of today, has become lost to most of us. That knowledge is that you can have soaps, creams and ointments that sooth, and smooth, cleanse and heal all made from natural ingredients.

Fruits, herbs, vegetable oils, plant extracts and minerals were all used to treat both common and uncommon issues and to beautify. There is evidence of this dating back to the Egyptian era and the Chinese Dynasty. From American Indians, Africans, Aborigines and others across the world, many cultures used natural ingredients to treat and beautify themselves. Why shouldn't we use them today?

What has changed?

With the advancement of technology and mass production processes, large companies can make face creams and soaps in a matter of minutes and it will last up to 3 years or more on the shelf (now would you want to put something on your body that has been sitting on the shelf for 3 years?). Why are they able to make a product that will last that long? Because they load it with chemicals and other by-products. Is that what you want on your skin? Or do you want a choice?

Now is the time to take a stand!

There is a new legislation that is being drafted and presented to congress now that will take your options to buy "natural cosmetics" away from you. It's called, "FDA Globalization Act" (read the full document here: http://energycommerce.house.gov/FDAGlobalAct-08/Dingel_60AXML.pdf

Who will be hurt by this?

Small business owners and YOU! That's who! This is a legislation designed by large corporations to push small "Independant (Indie) " businesses out of business. You see, larger corporations don't have an interest in producing and selling you natural products. It cuts into their profits. They might say they are using natural ingredients, but read the labels. You may see one natural ingredient in the 15 ingredients that are listed on one product. It is cheaper for the manufacturers to produce 100 bottles of lotions using chemicals and fillers, add chemical preservatives and sit it on the shelf for the next five years until it sells, than to make 10 bottles of lotion using natural ingredients that will only have a shelf life of 3 to 6 months. These over the counter (OTC) cosmetics are the same products that later you find are not good for you and contain cancer causing ingredients. So why use them? Is this what you want on your skin, going into your skin?

You have a choice! Use your voice!

There are many small independent (Indie) cosmetic and beauty companies out there that offer superb products using natural ingredients, but if the FDA passes this law, companies like The Essence of You and many more will be out of business. In order for us and any Indie cosmetic companies to survive the passing of this law, every one of our products, like our Norwegian Kelp Facial Cleanser or our Shea and Sugar Body Polish would be treated like a drug, not a cosmetic and would have to go through FDA licensing for each product. The fees could cost us up to $12, 000 per year, which small companies like The Essence of You could not withstand, let alone the process it would take to file each product before it could come to market.

Join us

The Essence of You believes is safe comestics and will do what is needed to to continue to offer great (animal cruelty free) products using high quality ingredients and an above standard of professionalism. Join us in the fight to oppose this law. Watch this video and sign the petition. Let them know that they can't make choices for us. We have a voice. After signing the petition, check out this link: http://www.indiebusinessblog.com/indie_business/2008/08/preparing-for-a.html to see the steps that are being taken to save small Indie cosmetic businesses. Lastly, spread the word and tell a friend.