BUYER BEWARE! Pseudo Stalking Stuffers

New low-grade knock-offs are being sold as stocking stuffers FOR THE SAME PRICE as the originals.  

You've probably seen the real thing recently.  They come in cute and ergonomic packaging.  If you've tried them you know they taste amazing too.  I'm referring to the original, ingenious EOS™ lip balm of course.  EOS™ stands for Evolution of Smooth.  But they are so much more than just smooth!  They're revolutionary!  If you read the labeling before you tear into these bulbous beauties you'll learn that the ingredients are 95% organic and plant based.  Most people don't know that EOS™ is organic.   Well the local, farm-to-table movement has been growing.  That, effectiveness, and great marketing strategies have made EOS™ very popular in recent years.  But now their competitors WANT IN.  Walgreens, CVS and Stop & Shop have all come out with their own similar looking, yet very different versions.  Watch out!  

In an effort to capitalize on the ignorance of consumers while simultaneously sustaining the petroleum industry these knock-off competitor brands are using similar packaging and tasty flavors to reel in customers.  But when you read the label the main ingredient is mineral oil (refined petroleum) with artificial dyes, flavors, and other petrol-based additives as secondary ingredients.  One of the less obvious dangers of petrol-based ingredients in cosmetics is that they are likely contaminated with carcinogens like benzene and butylene.  Then there is of course the obvious danger of supporting an outmoded, corrupt industry that is destroying the world.  But, you know, we'll save that for another post.  Even if you're a fearless bravado living life on the edge and laughing in the face of danger you'll probably find that EOS™ works way better than any petroleum based lip remedy anyway.

In conclusion make sure to always read labels.  Make sure your lip balm is plant based and contains at least 95% organic oils.  The price for the imitations were about the same.  But even if it's slightly cheaper the risks are not worth the money you'd save.  Don't get duped into paying more for a lesser quality product.  My favorite flavor is Summer Fruit.  But they're all amazing.  Check out THIS 2014 limited edition Holiday 4-pack from American designer Rachel Roy.  You can also save by buying in bulk!  Happy Holidays from The-Regular.com!  #ConsumeConsciously

Store Brand Ingredients:  (This one is Walgreens, but the CVS and Stop & Shop brands are very similar.)  Mineral Oil, Ozokerite, Petrolatum, Microcrystalline Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax (Candelilla), Di-PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Adipate, Flavor, Isopropyl Myristate, phenyl trimethicone, Tocopherol, sucralose, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf extract, Bismuth Oxychloride, Red 6 Lake (CL 15850)

EOS Ingredients:   Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax (Cire D'abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor (Aroma), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract*, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract*, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract*, Linalool**. *Organic. **Component of Natural Flavor. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.

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