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Emily
Oliver
A company blog for Ursa Major Natural Care LLC, based in Vermont. (Btw, Ursa Major means "Great Bear" in Latin and refers to the constellation containing the Big Dipper. If you've never heard of Ursa Major or the Big Dipper, you're overdue for some quality time outdoors!)
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The Crew
Emily
Oliver
More "Crew" photos coming soon...
Preamable
Greetings
Thanks for visiting the Ursa Major blog - we appreciate it. Pretty soon we'll have our web site up & running. 'Til then, we'll post updates here...
Our Vision
Ursa Major's mission is to become the favorite personal care brand for men and women who insist on living vitally. We've chosen to do this because we're totally committed to providing a spirited natural alternative to EVIL* personal care. We hold our core values dear and they are Compassion, Responsibility, Excellence, Courage and Awareness.
* EVIL: toxic, deceptive, socially & environmentally irresponsible, bland, sexist even!
Our Products
All of our products are formulated for normal to oily skin. They are highly effective, toxin-free and a pleasure to use - a robust natural alternative to chemical-ridden, impersonal care. We use high doses of nature's most powerful ingredients to get the job done, avoid the use of any suspect chemical ingredients and take care to design products that smell and feel great on application. The end result? Your skin will look and feel great and you'll have a kick in your step! (see bottom for more details on how we define 'natural').
Launch Update
We're launching with a potent face care system this coming Fall '10, including a Face Cleanser, Face Toner, Shave Cream and Face Lotion. You'll be able to buy the products on our web site and at select retailers nationwide. Keep an eye on this blog for additional launch updates.
$10 Off Early Bird Special
Interested in trying our products? Send us an email with "Early Bird Special" in the Subject field to be notified when we launch and to receive $10 off your first order.
Retailer Inquiries
If you're a buyer/retailer of natural skin care products and you're interested in learning more about Ursa Major, please drop us a line.
Contact Us
Send Us An Email
Thanks for visiting the Ursa Major blog - we appreciate it. Pretty soon we'll have our web site up & running. 'Til then, we'll post updates here...
Our Vision
Ursa Major's mission is to become the favorite personal care brand for men and women who insist on living vitally. We've chosen to do this because we're totally committed to providing a spirited natural alternative to EVIL* personal care. We hold our core values dear and they are Compassion, Responsibility, Excellence, Courage and Awareness.
* EVIL: toxic, deceptive, socially & environmentally irresponsible, bland, sexist even!
Our Products
All of our products are formulated for normal to oily skin. They are highly effective, toxin-free and a pleasure to use - a robust natural alternative to chemical-ridden, impersonal care. We use high doses of nature's most powerful ingredients to get the job done, avoid the use of any suspect chemical ingredients and take care to design products that smell and feel great on application. The end result? Your skin will look and feel great and you'll have a kick in your step! (see bottom for more details on how we define 'natural').
Launch Update
We're launching with a potent face care system this coming Fall '10, including a Face Cleanser, Face Toner, Shave Cream and Face Lotion. You'll be able to buy the products on our web site and at select retailers nationwide. Keep an eye on this blog for additional launch updates.
$10 Off Early Bird Special
Interested in trying our products? Send us an email with "Early Bird Special" in the Subject field to be notified when we launch and to receive $10 off your first order.
Retailer Inquiries
If you're a buyer/retailer of natural skin care products and you're interested in learning more about Ursa Major, please drop us a line.
Contact Us
Send Us An Email
Labels
- at work (24)
- brand evolution (10)
- company news (2)
- FAQ (2)
- gratitude (4)
- help wanted (1)
- influences and inspirations (21)
- lessons learned (3)
- marketplace (11)
- Not at work (12)
- on the road (7)
- press coverage (1)
- product update (3)
- sustainability efforts (5)
- team (5)
- testimonials (2)
- toxin alert (7)
- vermont (10)
- vision and values (3)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(85)
-
▼
January
(34)
- Stumptown coffee's inspiring us
- The cardinal sins of the "beauty biz"
- Having courage as a core value
- What exactly do we mean by "better personal care"?
- Trucker and Bonna Skis
- Upper Old Camp Trail
- That's local beer in that glass I swear!
- A well-deserved pint (or two)!
- Gotta love Vermont winters
- Inspired by backcountry skiing
- Norse marauders on skis inspiring us this morning
- Ursa Major on the pulse
- The obscure language of personal care
- Marketing out in the wilderness
- Lots to do this week
- Sky Top Trail
- Dutchy Originals Organic Ale
- Making the most of our weekly trip to Burlington
- Sometimes it feels good to work on a Sunday
- Starting down the sustainability path
- Short-sighted brands
- Product development update
- Ursa Minor
- Vision strategy brand workshop
- Aaahhh New York
- Can you guess where?
- Fleshing out the Ursa Major brand...
- Honing in on a brand identity
- Big bear stationary in the house!
- Product development update
- Keeping the genesis of a brand alive
- Finding our pace and rhythm
- Influences and inspirations: Velo Orange and Field...
- Drafting our strategic plan for 2010
-
▼
January
(34)
Natural Standard
Clean, Safe Natural Ingredients
We're formulating our products to meet the Natural Product Association's stringent 'Natural Product Standard', as summarized below:
95-100% Natural. "Natural" means ingredients that come or are made from a renewable resource found in nature (Flora, Fauna, Mineral), with absolutely no petroleum compounds. Ursa Major's products will be 100% natural or very close thereto (within 1-2%).
A synthetic non-natural ingredient can be used only when a) there is not a readily available natural alternative ingredient or b) there are no suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature.
Prohibited ingredients include ingredients that have suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature or incorporate synthetic silicone or petroleum compounds.
The following is an illustrative list of suspect/snarly ingredients prohibited by NPA (but prevalent in most personal care items available on the market today):
• Parabens – Synthetic preservatives that are potential endocrine disruptors
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Harsh cleansing agent that can potentially damage the lipid layer of your skin and cause irritation
• Petrolatum/Mineral Oil/Paraffin – Non-renewable byproducts of crude oil with potentially dangerous impurities
• Chemical Sunscreens (Avobenzone/Oxybenzone) –Synthetic sunscreens that get absorbed and potentially disrupt hormone balance
• Glycols – Petroleum derived synthetic chemicals that can potentially draw other chemicals into the bloodstream
• Phthalates – Synthetic fragrance components that are potential toxins
• Ethoxylated ingredients like Sodium Myreth Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEGs or PPGs –Ingredients that are made in part with the petrochemical ethylene oxide, that results in 1,4 Dioxane as a trace contaminant, classified as a possible carcinogen
• Ethanolamines like MEA/DEA/TEA – Foam and viscosity boosting ingredients that can interact with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, a known carcinogen
• Synthetic polymers (PVP/ Acrylates) - Synthetic stabilizers that may contain residual PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons); most widespread organic pollutant
• Formaldehyde Donors (DMDM Hydantoin/Diazolidinyl Urea/Methylisothiazolinone) – Preservatives that work by releasing formaldehyde
We're formulating our products to meet the Natural Product Association's stringent 'Natural Product Standard', as summarized below:
95-100% Natural. "Natural" means ingredients that come or are made from a renewable resource found in nature (Flora, Fauna, Mineral), with absolutely no petroleum compounds. Ursa Major's products will be 100% natural or very close thereto (within 1-2%).
A synthetic non-natural ingredient can be used only when a) there is not a readily available natural alternative ingredient or b) there are no suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature.
Prohibited ingredients include ingredients that have suspected human health risks as indicated by peer-reviewed third-party scientific literature or incorporate synthetic silicone or petroleum compounds.
The following is an illustrative list of suspect/snarly ingredients prohibited by NPA (but prevalent in most personal care items available on the market today):
• Parabens – Synthetic preservatives that are potential endocrine disruptors
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – Harsh cleansing agent that can potentially damage the lipid layer of your skin and cause irritation
• Petrolatum/Mineral Oil/Paraffin – Non-renewable byproducts of crude oil with potentially dangerous impurities
• Chemical Sunscreens (Avobenzone/Oxybenzone) –Synthetic sunscreens that get absorbed and potentially disrupt hormone balance
• Glycols – Petroleum derived synthetic chemicals that can potentially draw other chemicals into the bloodstream
• Phthalates – Synthetic fragrance components that are potential toxins
• Ethoxylated ingredients like Sodium Myreth Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEGs or PPGs –Ingredients that are made in part with the petrochemical ethylene oxide, that results in 1,4 Dioxane as a trace contaminant, classified as a possible carcinogen
• Ethanolamines like MEA/DEA/TEA – Foam and viscosity boosting ingredients that can interact with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, a known carcinogen
• Synthetic polymers (PVP/ Acrylates) - Synthetic stabilizers that may contain residual PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons); most widespread organic pollutant
• Formaldehyde Donors (DMDM Hydantoin/Diazolidinyl Urea/Methylisothiazolinone) – Preservatives that work by releasing formaldehyde
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