Indigo Wild

There are a handful of ingredients we simply avoid when it comes to hand making our products. These ingredients are not just dirty, they are downright disgusting. We don’t and will never use the following ingredients in our Zum Products:

1,4-Dioxane is a chemical byproduct of ethoxylation, an ingredient processing method that reduces the risk of skin irritation to petroleum-based ingredients. It is found in roughly 46% of body care products on the market, and poses high concerns for skin, eye and lung irritation, organ system toxicity and is a potential carcinogen.

Artificial colors labeled as FD&C are believed to be cancer causing agents.

Animal Tallow or Sodium Tallowate, comes from rendered animal fat. Many rendering companies get their animal lard from road kill.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a surfactant, giving detergents their manufactured cleansing and lathering properties. It is a known irritant to skin, eyes and lungs. It has been shown it could be a possible carcinogen.

Coal Tar Dye is a mixture of chemicals made by combining various aromatic hydrocarbons that are obtained from the distillation of bitumonious coal. It is generally found in personal care products an artificial coloring agent and its exposure to humans has been linked to skin reactions, hyperactivity and learning difficulties in children, as well as lung and skin cancers.

Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin, thus also absorbing the harmful UV light and can cause skin damage, irritation and increase the risk of cancer.

Diazolidinyl Urea is a preservative that acts as a formaldehyde releaser in body care products. Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen by the EPA.

DEA/TEA is a chemical wetting agent and emulsifier for shampoos, lotions and creams. They can react with ingredients in cosmetic formulas to form NDEA, a potent carcinogen. NDEA is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked to stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder cancers.

Parabens are chemical preservatives found in many body care products and cosmetics. They are linked to breast cancer as they have been found in breast cancer tumors and they mimic estrogen, a hormone known to aid in the development of breast cancer.

PEGs/PPGs are synthetic ingredients processed with ethylene oxide which is associated with reproductive effects, central nervous system depression  and is an EPA classified carcinogen.

Petroleum by-products/Mineral Oil are by-products of the distillation of gasoline from oil. They coat skin like plastic, clogging pores and interfering with the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins. They slow cell development and skin function. You’ll find this inexpensive ingredient in a lot of baby products and lotions.

Phthalates are use in perfumes and beauty products to make fragrance last longer. They interfere with the endocrine system, which regulates your body’s growth, metabolism and sexual development and function.

Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier used in cleaning and personal care products as it helps other ingredients dissolve in a solvent in which they normally would not be able to dissolve. It has been known to cause skin, mucosal and eye irritation, as well as respiratory distress.

Propylene glycol is a chemical derived from natural gas that acts as a penetration enhancer. It can alter the structure of skin by allowing chemicals to penetrate your skin and increase the likelihood chemicals will enter the bloodstream.

Sulfates/Soldium lauryl sulfate and its extended family are used in products as an inexpensive foaming agent. They are eye and skin irritants. Products containing laureth chemicals have been found to contain levels of 1,4 dioxane, which the EPA has classified as a carcinogen.

Tetrasodium EDTA is a preservative made with carcinogens; formaldehyde and sodium cyanide. It’s a penetration enhancer that breaks down the skin’s protective barrier and allows chemicals to be absorbed into the blood stream.

Triclosan is an antibacterial, antifungal chemical used in many consumer products. Studies by the FDA show it may contribute to bacteria resistance to antibiotics and alters hormone regulations. It is registered as a pesticide with the EPA.

Click here to shop all-natural, non-toxic Zum Products.

For our 3 o’clock snack we love it when Keelia pops up a batch of her special popcorn.  To mix our afternoon delight up a bit we asked our Zum Lovies on Facebook what their favorite recipes were.  Coconut oil seems to be a very popular choice.  Here are some that sound way too delicious to keep to ourselves.  Bon Apetit or shall we say Bon ApePOP!

Sara Neben- fresh popcorn mixed in a tablespoon or two of melted butter with a handful of melted marshmallows.

Dodie Jacobi-her magic popcorn dust includes a blend of nutritional yeast (the vegan’s parmeasan) and spices.

DeNomy Dage-fresh popped corn tossed with melted coconut oil and brewer’s  (or nutritional) yeast flakes.

Kim Fallen- tajin chili lime seasoning on popcorn.  So good and salt free.

Brook Bartels Lawrence-Fresh popped corn drizzled with melted real butter and parmesan cheese.

Kristina Koerner-Jessop-kernels popped in coconut oil and light salted with Herbmare seasoning.

Jenna “Rieger” Vavra-Franks red hot or sriracha drizzled on with blue cheese crumbles.

Carolyn Anderson-Popcorn + drizzled truffle oil + 1 glass red wine = recipe for happy times.

Laurie Troppito-equal parts oil and brown sugar, 2X as much popcorn add a little butter and cinnamon and the end and stir like crazy.

Denise Tucker-Pollock-popped corn with butter parmesan cheese and garlic powder.

Patti Hale Bartholomew-popped corn lightly sprinkled with Good Seasonings dry zesty Italian dressing.

Soap, detergent…the same thing… right? Ehm… no, sorry slick. Here are a few dirty secrets your clean-promising detergents don’t disclose and the bare-naked facts you deserve.

Big Detergent is primarily made of petroleum products with synthetic surfactants, foaming agents, and alcohol.

• Laundry soap is primarily made of naturally occurring coconut oil, borax, and vegetable oil.

Big Detergent is heavily scented with cheap, synthetic and artificial fragrances.

• Laundry soap naturally freshens clothes with 100% pure essential oils.

Big Detergent emits carcinogenic chemicals out of the dryer vents and into your household.

• Laundry soap emits good juju and ‘aromatherapizes’ your home

Big Detergent saturates water with chemicals, and when that water is released into the environment it creates hazardous living environments for plants and animals that live in or around water.

• Laundry soap is synthetic chemical free, so it is biodegradable and rated #1 by the environment, the fishies told us themselves.

Not that we are counting, but there are over 50 different chemicals in Big Detergent.

• We counted, there are 5 all naturally-occurring ingredients in Zum Clean laundry soap.

So… what would you rather wash your clothes with, put on your skin, and emit into your household?

Shop Zum Clean Laundry Soap

Many people go straight to the Big Detergent brand names when they need their cleaning fix. Unfortunately, they have no idea how nasty those products really are for your clothes and your largest organ…skin. Turns out, your clothes are generally worse off after being washed with laundry detergent than they were before, and we ain’t lyin’. Here’s why.

Big detergents contain phosphates, petroleum distillates, phenols, ethanol, pthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates and on and on and on…

We thought we would zum up a few of the nastiest words on this list so that next time you will be able to make an informed decision when it comes to how you treat your clothing, your bod and our BFF Mother Nature.

Dirty word #1: Phosphates

Phosphates are a family of chemicals used in products varying from toothpaste to fertilizer. The main purpose of phosphate use in detergents is to form soluble and strong complexes with magnesium and calcium ions to create “hard water,” that is supposedly better for washing. However, after each wash the contaminated water is released into the environment and stimulates growth in certain marine plants, contributing to an unbalanced ecosystem.

Dirty word #2:Petroleum Distillates

These chemicals are petroleum bi-products linked to health risks such as cancer, lung damage and damage to mucus membranes. When clothes are washed with this product it remains in the clothes and is able to be absorbed by your skin or evaporated into the air and inhaled.

Dirty word #3: Parabens

Parabens are chemicals used as a preservative in many shampoos, soaps, laundry detergents and moisturizers. They are man-made, inexpensive and very easy to manufacture, so most companies compromise the integrity of their products for a cheap way to give them a longer shelf life.

Dirty word #4: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

SLS is a chemical used as a foaming agent in most soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and detergents. Studies have shown that even concentrations as small as 0.05% can cause irritation. Higher concentrations caused skin corrosion and severe irritation…yuck! While this chemical is used in most cosmetic products, it is also used to degrease engines. In the same way that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate degreases the engines of cars, it dries up the naturally occurring (and healthy) oil on our skin.

We met one-on-one with Mother Nature herself and came up with a solution. Laundry soap made with all-natural ingredients cleans clothes, softens fabric and leaves contamination of the earth out of the equation.

Zum Clean Laundry Soap is made with coconut oil soap and 100% pure essential oils. The natural ingredients like vegetable glycerin will cling to dirt and remove those pesky stains, while the coconut oil will keep clothes feeling zuper soft. Baking soda removes the unpleasant odors.

I’m sure you’re feeling a little irked by what you’ve just learned, and even more antsy to go out and get yourself some handmade, healthy and clean-conscience laundry soap. Go get ‘em, tiger!

SHOP ZUM CLEAN

Ever heard of a little thing called phthalates? If not, settle on down for the low-down on this no-good chemical that likely resides in your shower, under your sink, or worse, in your body.

First, a little background. Phthalates are a family of compounds, which are colorless, odorless, oily liquids. They are the primary plasticizer used in cabling, wiring, children’s toys and wall coverings. Doesn’t sound like something that should be in products for your body, does it? However, many brands of lotions, perfumes and soaps use phthalates as an additive to make fragrances last longer.

Now for the nitty gritty. The Environmental Protection Agency put phthalates on a list of chemicals that may present a risk to the environment or human health. Their main concern is this chemical disrupts the endocrine system in the body, and thus hormone activity. Studies have shown there is a high correlation between infants with developmental abnormalities with mothers who have high phthalate levels in their bodies.

Normally, we would tell you to keep an eye out for this chemical on the back of the label, but the oh-so-deceiving part of the whole shebang is that companies are not required to disclose the use of phthalates in their products. And most companies don’t.

Lucky for you, we’ve got nothing to hide. When it comes to our ingredients, we give it to you straight. Something about moisturizing your body with a plasticizer doesn’t sound appealing to us, so we use all-natural ingredients to keep our bodies (and yours) smooth, sleek and sans-phthalates.

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