Becky Striepe
Texas-based Agape & Zoe Naturals offers phthalate-free moisturizer, perfume, and deodorant.
Conventional beauty products are often loaded with toxic ingredients linked to health problems from skin irritation to cancer. When Agape & Zoe owner Patricia Malemes learned about these toxins, she decided to launch her own line of scents that are free of dangerous chemicals.
I’m very wary of any natural cosmetic products. Since “natural” is not a regulated term, it can really mean anything. Take a look at the ingredients of some “natural” beauty products on store shelves, and you’ll get the idea. When Patricia reached out about her line of natural beauty products, she was very quick to respond when I requested a full ingredients list. Check it:
In our liquid perfumes: organic grain alcohol and essential oils (phthalate-free)
Solid Scented Moisturizers: organic almond oil, organic beeswax, essential oils
Deodorants: aluminum-free baking soda, natural cornstarch, organic beeswax, organic coconut oil, organic shea nut butter, essential oils
Now that is natural! She kindly offered me some samples. Since I’m vegan, I skipped the beeswax products and went for the liquid perfumes, and I’ve got to say that her scents are lovely! The sampler included what I believe is her whole line, and there’s a nice range from spicy to earthy to sweet. I really dug the Beauty scent. It was mellow, flowery, and a little bit musky. Just my style!
Patricia produces all of the Agape & Zoe Naturals in her “home laboratory/office,” so you can feel good about supporting a small business, too!
What Are Phthalates?
Phthalates are the toxic chemical additive that struck the strongest chord with Patricia and led to her quest to develop clean, green beauty products. My package came with a brochure explaining just what phthalates are and how they behave in our bodies.
They’re a petroleum product used mainly in plastic production but are also pretty ubiquitous in beauty products these days. They’re endocrine disruptors and are linked to birth defects and to changes in hormone levels.
Of course, phthalates are just one in a long list of the toxins in conventional cosmetics. The key to finding truly natural cosmetics is careful label reading, and it’s refreshing to run across a company like Agape & Zoe that’s as natural as their slogan and branding would have you believe!
