Toothpaste?

I try to avoid products tested on animals or containing animal derived ingredients.

Generally this is quite feasible here in India but one product I still find difficult is toothpaste!

All the big brands belong to big brands like Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Glaxo, etc. test on animals.

See: http://www.mediapeta.com/peta/PDF/companiesdotest.pdf

Of some Indian brands like Dabur, I do not know if they test on animals but at least some of their toothpastes (e.g. Babool) contain ingredients that I would not like to swallow like formaldehyde.

I have looked in supermarkets but to no avail, I have asked pharmacies but they also do not seem to know.

So is there perhaps somebody on India Mike who can recommend a toothpaste available in India that is not tested on animals, does not use animal derived ingredients and do not use harmful ingredients? Or is this really an impossibly tall order

Vicco Vajradanti, Neem & Mesawak

Lush does 'toothy tabs', and there a few Lushs in India I believe. They are a companies that 100% do not test on animals or buy from anyone who tests on animals. Also 100% vegetarian.

I think what is critical in so-called ayurvedic cosmetics and toothpastes is from what they are sourced (possibly polluted, pesticide/fertilizer ridden plants barks etc) plus the way the ingredients are extracted and treated, perhaps with help of chemicals, esp the essential oils which give taste/smell.

As to the foaming agent in Vicco and probably other toothpaste, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate there is this info here

**This info is most likely derived from animal testing.

A bit safer are perhaps the tooth-powders, except again for spoilt ingredients. At least they have no foaming chemicals which were certainly tested on animals at some point.

I've never used this, but my grandmother used to use baking soda for cleaning her teeth. She had excellent teeth, but part of that could have been her good diet.

I guess you could give it a try and see if that would work for you.

http://www.viccolabs.com/vicco/Ingredients.aspx

I usually bring a mixture of baking soda and salt for toothpowder -- it's non-toxic and doesn't take much water to rinse it off. It works for me!

Now I'll have to try it, too.

There are two wonderful brands that are not animal tested, Vicco and Himalaya. Both easily available at major stores.

But nothing beats the vicco powder. Try it yourself and you will be amazed, plus, it does not have any foaming agents too, if that is a worry.

How many Indian products are tested.?

Exactly the thing I have been using for the past year and half. Have also eliminated Bath soap and Shampoo. Never felt better, cleaner.

Now need a lot of motivation to change the diet.

Interesting! I have used baking soda for my teeth on occasion. Narendra, instead of soap and shampoo, what are you using? Plain water?

Just plain cold water and a wash cloth to rub the body with. Ocassionally use some baking soda mixed in water with the wash cloth to scrub the body.

For the hair, mostly just water again, ocassionally (about once a week) soapnut or baking soda. Sometimes rub Lemon juice or vinegar into the hair and wash after 20 minutes. I shower daily.

Also don't use deo or talc or other products.

Thanks for your reply, Narendra.

My (Greek) hairdresser, who was born in Alexandria, and is elderly now, has never used shampoo on his own hair! Only plain water. I don't follow his advice, however.

[I am guessing that you are pure veg and do not smoke, Narendra? Because whatever you put in your mouth affects the smell of your skin. That holds true for the gentleman I am talking about.]

Thin branches of Neem tree were once used all over India for brushing teeth, some use it even today!