Image via Terralina

Awhile back we wrote about the all-natural skincare line, Terralina, and one anonymous commenter had this to say:

Hi Erin,

Thank you for writing about Terralina. We are a new line of naturally based skincare created by two women entrepreneurs for those who care about what goes into their bodies. We believe that the best skincare comes from the deliberate and careful combination of nature and science. We spent two years formulating our effective, safe and luxurious products using only natural and gentle alternatives to harsh or synthetic ingredients.

First, I'd like to make an editorial correction to point out that we are not "chemical-free" and have never claimed to be, so your chemist commentator is correct in his/her assertion. As you can see from our website and in any materials we've ever published, we have never claimed this. We do claim to be 98.89 percent natural, and in doing so, we are simply following the strictest standards used in the industry--in "natural," we include ingredients that are naturally derived.

There are no lines of skincare that are truly all natural, because they wouldn't preserve well. Because we didn't want people to have to keep our products in the refrigerator, and to prevent any possibility of contamination, we chose to formulate with low levels of preservatives. However, the ones we use are good alternatives to harsh, drying alcohol or controversial synthetic ingredients such as parabens or formaldehyde. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that all products undergo preservative challenge testing to insure that the product will be safe for the consumer to use over a reasonable timeframe. The FDA also requires safety testing be performed to insure that the product is not irritating and non-allergenic. All Terralina products follow FDA guidelines and testing criteria for microbial safety and irritation potential. Needless to say our products pass these tests without incident.

I can tell you that not all companies follow these guidelines and it is incumbent for consumers to ask cosmetic companies about their product testing protocol. As a company, we have always strived for transparency and honesty, which is why we fully disclose all our ingredients, provide a glossary of terms, articles, and a wealth of information on our website. This says something about our credibility and transparency as not all companies, large or small, go to the extent that we do at Terralina to divulge such information.

In responding to the comments of the second writer who is pushing for Realfaces, we must really take issue with much of what she/he says. Firstly, we cannot find a thing on Realfaces. We searched everywhere and found nothing. If there is a real website for this product line, please pass it on. It sounds very suspect to us. There is no full disclosure of ingredients and we hardly doubt the line has gone through the necessary rigorous safety or efficacy testing. The comment on hydrogenated oils is ridiculous, as there are no concerns for topical use of these ingredients, which are generally more stable and less prone to oxidative damage than non-hydrogenated alternatives.

As far as the cease and desist order from OCA, this is a non issue for Terralina. The OCA is an organic industry association of companies that has sent letters to various large, mass-marketed product companies to cease and desist selling products that are purported to be organic, as OCA feels that they do not comply with the USDA requirements for organic cosmetics. There is a great deal of confusion about who has authority to determine the standards for organic cosmetics and OCA member companies are trying to stake their claim and protect their markets. Stay tuned for more shakeup in this area. For the record, Terralina products contain some organic ingredients, but we do not claim to be organic products.

Lastly, there are no fragrances that are used in personal care that have thousands of synthetic components as stated by commentator. Natural essential oils actually can have hundreds of chemical components, many of which are allergens and some which can even be carcinogenic. The problem is that most consumers think that if it is natural, it is safe and better for you. That is an unfortunate misconception and lack of understanding that likely will not go away. Terralina products utilize a fragrance made up of natural elements. We decided to use a fragrance as an alternative because we thought some customers might prefer it to the scent of the olive oil in our products. However, we do offer a fragrance-free body lotion, for those who prefer it. "Fragrance" is the correct name and fully compliant with labeling guidelines.

It is hard to argue with a commentator who has no facts or other validity--we can only say what is true and move forward. We can also never be everything to everybody, but rather try our best and continue to strive to bring a healthy, luxurious products for our customers to use every day with trust in their safety and efficacy.

Sincerely,
Patricia Bazán Garrubbo and Gina Garrubbo

So there you have it, folks. Actually, we love it when you comment, so we don't want to discourage you from expressing your opinions. But to be fair, this commenter may have been an "anonymous" Real Faces shareholder, and in the interest of arguing all sides, it's ON. Any rebuttals?