What's in a label?

Are you slathering stuff on your body that would probably make you sick if you ate it?  Think about it!  What about all that stuff that's in your shower?  Or your makeup bag?  Could you really eat it?  Read the ingredient label.  Do you recognize any of those words?  Maybe a few,  right there at the very bottom of the list...that stuff looks familiar.  But what about the other stuff.  WHAT IS IT? 
I've noticed a lot of products lately that label themselves as "Natural", "Handmade", or my favorite one..."Vegan Friendly".  So what!  What does that really say about the product?  Sadly, many consumers look at those words and immediately assume that those labels mean the stuff is wholesome, organic, good for you.  I'm sorry to burst the bubble, but that is simply NOT the case.  Now, certainly some items that define themselves as natural, handmade or vegan friendly are, in fact, good and wholesome products.  But not always.  You, the consumer, need to educate yourself!  Read the ingredient label! 
Hey, my stuff is natural and handmade...a few things could even be called, "vegan friendly", although you won't catch me labeling anything that way.  It would be a bit hypocritical since I've built my business around goat milk and other ingredients like honey, beeswax and lanolin, things that true vegans won't touch.  What I'm trying to say is that while some "vegan friendly" shops are also dedicated to using organic and wholesome ingredients, too many of them are selling chemical concoctions that smell great, look fun, but basically poison the body and interfere with the delicate balance of the male and female hormonal system.  But, because they are not using any ingredients derived from animals (milk, honey, lanolin, beeswax, etc...) they are technically friendly to vegans.  Most true vegans are pretty well educated on what's healthy and what's not, but a lot of people don't really understand veganism.  They jump on board because it seems like the cool thing to do.  I really have issues with people who do that! 
What about "natural"?  That seems like an obvious term, doesn't it?  Well, unfortunately it is not.  The best example that I can give to this would be all of the processed foods that contain ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, gmo soy and corn, cottonseed oil, etc.  These are often labeled as natural.  Well, corn might be natural, but high fructose corn syrup is NOT.  And as far as the genetic engineering of non-organic soy, corn, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, etc., that pretty much disqualifies any product with those ingredients from my shopping list. (Note: I said non-organic.  As of now, organic ingredients must be identity preserved, meaning not gmo.)
Handmade is great.  I love handmade!  I love that an actual person put time, care, and love into making a product for sale.  I love the idea that a person or an individual family can benefit from my purchase rather than a corporation.  But, handmade does not mean that something is of quality.  Common sense tells us that!

Please pay attention to what is in your products.  It really does matter what we eat, what we put on our skin, what we breathe, what we drink.  It ALL affects our health.  Your skin, your body, your family, your children, your future is counting on you to take the time to educate yourself!