Higher standards, lower prices

With so many manufacturers embracing sustainably and ethically sourced, fair-trade and natural ingredients today, it’s easy to forget the pioneering companies who led the way.

Way back in 1978, The Body Shop brought community trade into the mainstream. Here in Canada, the company has also raised awareness about whaling, prisoners of conscience, climate change and violence against women.

On a skin-deep level, The Body Shop introduced the fruit, food and flower-scented soaps, shampoos, scrubs and body butters that have become ubiquitous today. (But ask yourself: Is your big-box knockoff cruelty free?)

Take The Body Shop’s Coconut Body Butter –it’s been paraben-free and chock-full of community trade shea butter from the get go. (I slathered the stuff on during my two pregnancies.) But now even mainstream manufacturers are getting on the bandwagon. Jergens naturals, for example, is a new line of premium skin care lotions made with more than 90 percent natural ingredients. They’re not tested on animals and are petro-chemical and paraben-free.

Now I’m really hoping The Body Shop is about to start a new trend. That’s because they’re lowering product prices in Canada, to be on par with U.S. prices. That means you’ll save big bucks on some of their most popular products, such as Vitamin E Eye Cream (now $17/15 mL) and Satsuma Body Polish (now $20/200 mL).

I’m all for lower prices, without sacrificing quality or my health! How about you?