I really like this stuff — I was thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if there were a cruelty-free nonpetroleum vaseline? And I found one! This stuff is perfect for dry elbows. It only has one tiny problem — despite the fact that it’s touted as being made from coconut oil, let me tell you, it’s made from hydrogenated castor oil. It has the sticky castor oil texture, and the castor oil smell. I don’t mind it too much, but I’d really prefer something that smelled less . . . medicinal? Or less like a diaper rash cream? Anyway, if you’re a vaseline-junkie, but you don’t want to support (evil) Unilever, or put petroleum-based products on your skin, this stuff is great. Just don’t wear it to formal events because it will really clash with your perfume (just like normal vaseline!).
Alba Botanica claims that their Unpetroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly is “rich in fatty acids, coconut oil, is anti-microbial, deeply moisturizing, and soothing to the skin.” It has “beeswax, moisture rich coconut oil and soothing, protective vitamin E,” is “natural, non-petroleum jelly” that is “perfect as an all-over body moisturizer for soothing, softening skin rejuvenation.” (The Alba Botanica people must be crazy — if you used this as an all-over body moisturizer you’d seriously over-moisturize yourself, this stuff is really heavy, and you’d have to stand around for three hours waiting for it to sink in — it takes forever. Just like vaseline.) “The original, multi-purpose skin moisturizer and protectant is made from only pure plant oils and all natural waxes. Use it daily to moisturize and soothe dry skin, prevent chafing and windburn, gently remove eye-makeup, help protect baby from diaper rash. It’s good for all skin types. Perfect for dry, flaky, or chapped skin.” It’s made “without petrolatum, paraffin, or mineral oil, and it has no synthetic fragrances or colors, no parabens, it’s hypo-allergenic, and is 100% vegetarian (but not organic).
Alba Botanica Un-petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly (3.5 oz) is available for $5.99 from AlbaBotanica.com.
Ingredients: Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, beeswax, hydrogenated castor oil, tocopheryl acetate and tocopherol (Vitamin E).
I love the Alba brand. I think they even sell it at Trader Joes…. I’ll have to check it out…
Comment by Ashlie — November 13, 2007 @ 10:41 am
Oh you’re right! I think I have seen it at Trader Joe’s. Isn’t Alba the best? I buy way too many Alba products. But they’re of decent quality and well-priced. What more could I ask for?
Comment by Emily — November 13, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Okay I don’t understand. Alba is on the CCIC’s list but is not listed as certified to carry the bunny logo because it doesn’t meet certain standards. What standards are those? This seems like an important step here.
Comment by Kim — June 30, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
Hi Kim!
Oh no — there must be some part of the CCIC website or this website that is confusingly worded about standards — could you tell me where you read about the logo and standards?
Alba is on the CCIC’s list because it fulfills all of the CCIC’s requirements and is 100%-animal-testing-free — i.e., it pledges to not commission any animal testing and it asks its suppliers to pledge to not commission any animal testing on ingredients they supply to Alba.
However, Alba does not have the leaping bunny logo because it has not paid the CCIC the (sliding-scale) fee the CCIC requires companies to pay for the privilege to put the leaping bunny logo on their products.
Here is the wording from the CCIC’s website:
“All Leaping Bunny companies must comply with the same Standard. Obtaining the Leaping Bunny Logo is an optional step that some companies choose for marketing purposes. At any point, a Leaping Bunny company may purchase the Logo for a nominal fee; however, there is no cost for companies to apply, get approved, and be listed in our online and printed shopping guides and marketing materials.”
I hope that helps you!
Regards,
Emily
Comment by Emily — June 30, 2008 @ 11:37 pm