topic Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe? in Beauty

Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

lovesallanimals — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:07:47 GMT

I use a ton of Josie's products. I just read a review of one of her body creams and the reviewer said it contains Comfrey Leaf and that is very harmful when absorbed into your skin. I thought all her products were completely natural and safe so I did some research on CL as I never heard of this before. Sure enough, it said to avoid using body products containing this as over time it can cause liver damage (which the reviewer also mentioned). I was shocked and now I don't know if I should just get rid of all my JM body butters.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Trix — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 23:16:03 GMT

I copied the piece below from a website called Healthline. I would assume that the risk management team for Josie Maran Cosmetics has done a lot of research and testing of their products ingredients because no one wants to be sued. I'll bet the amount of comfrey leaf in the body butter is minuscule compared to the amount your skin would have to absorb in order for it to be harmful.

"The roots of the leaves of the comfrey plant contain chemical substances called allantoin and rosmarinic acid. Allantoin boosts the growth of new skin cells, while rosmarinic acid helps relieve pain and inflammation. Extracts are still made from the roots and leaves and turned into ointments, creams, or salves. These solutions typically have a comfrey content of 5 to 20 percent.

While comfrey is well-known for its health benefits, it also poses some risks. It contains compounds that can harm your liver. It may also be carcinogenic. As a result, many countries have banned the sale of oral comfrey preparations. Many experts also advise against using topical comfrey on open wounds.

But comfrey may be acceptable for short-term use on your skin and closed wounds. You can purchase topical comfrey preparations from many health stores. Talk to your doctor before using them to learn more about the potential benefits and risks."

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

MG Chris — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:48:52 GMT

This was under the Q&A on the recent TSV:

Answers

Thank you to those who brought it to other customers attention about comfrey as a possibly toxic ingredient. That made me look it up to find out what I could about it and have to agree it made me very concerned. Concerned enough to email Josie's company. Below is the response I received. It made me feel a little better about it, but I still have my doubts and not sure I will continue to use the body butter. I wanted to share the answer I got so other customers can make their own decision....
"We include a small amount of Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract in our Body Butter formulations because of its topical benefits.

Overall, the small amount of comfrey leaf extract in our Body Butter is beneficial; in synergy with other natural extracts, it helps to moisturize and soothe dry irritated skin, contributes to skin renewal, and supports a healthy skin barrier.

The substances of concern in comfrey are called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The primary concern with pyrrolizidine alkaloids is potential toxicity from ingestion of large amounts over time. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are present in greater concentration in the comfrey root than the comfrey leaf.

Body Butter is applied to the skin, not ingested.

We’ve done multiple toxicological assessments, safety assessments, as well as patch testing on our Body Butter formulas, and there have been no concerns regarding toxicity or irritancy. Our safety assessors determined none of the ingredients are known to contain any impurities or residues at levels that would be toxic, corrosive, irritating to the skin, eyes or mucous membranes, or cause a sensitization reaction in a consumer.

However, if you continue to be unhappy with the product in any way, or have any concerns regarding any ingredient in our products, we welcome you to consult your doctor or dermatologist directly to determine whether or not the product is a good fit for you and your own individual needs."

Answered 5 days ago

blueeyes1

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Harpa — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:56:47 GMT

Body Butter is applied to the skin, not ingested.

JM and her team are the ones constantly saying that "whatever you put on your skin goes into your skin.....clean, clean, clean....." (which is untrue, of course!)

I, myself have nothing against comfrey, since I learned of this herb years ago. It is known as "knitbone," and is reputed to have healed broken bones. I grew it for the flowers. My rabbit ate the whole plant down to the stubs, with no harmful effects. But that was the rabbit!

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

MG Chris — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:11:02 GMT

@Harpa wrote:

Body Butter is applied to the skin, not ingested.

JM and her team are the ones constantly saying that "whatever you put on your skin goes into your skin.....clean, clean, clean....." (which is untrue, of course!)

I, myself have nothing against comfrey, since I learned of this herb years ago. It is known as "knitbone," and is reputed to have healed broken bones. I grew it for the flowers. My rabbit ate the whole plant down to the stubs, with no harmful effects. But that was the rabbit!

Lol. Nothing gets those rabbits.

I have noticed Comfrey is in some of my Beekman products as well. When this all started I did a quick search and comfrey leaf is widely used in the beauty industry.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

PINKdogWOOD — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:12:00 GMT

Body butter applied to skin, not ingested - well it is absorbed into the skin which then I have to think eventually into your (body) system.

So is it okay to use or not? This is the question.

Perhaps they/JM thinks this makes her body butter okay to use. And if you use this all over your body every day, just how much IS being absorbed into your system?

Not sure about this. I don't think I'm convinced it's okay.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

SilleeMee — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:22:32 GMT

According to the NIH:

"Safety of medicinal comfrey cream preparations (Symphytum officinale s.l.): The pyrrolizidine alkaloid lycopsamine is poorly absorbed through human skin"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32941922/

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Icegoddess — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:27:47 GMT

@lovesallanimals wrote:
I use a ton of Josie's products. I just read a review of one of her body creams and the reviewer said it contains Comfrey Leaf and that is very harmful when absorbed into your skin. I thought all her products were completely natural and safe so I did some research on CL as I never heard of this before. Sure enough, it said to avoid using body products containing this as over time it can cause liver damage (which the reviewer also mentioned). I was shocked and now I don't know if I should just get rid of all my JM body butters.

Completely natural does not translate to safe. However, have you ever looked at the ingredient list of her products? I wouldn't consider them all natural.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

MG Chris — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 13:03:54 GMT

I looked up the I ingredients on my TSV purchase from May 2022. Comfrey was in there as well. This is not a new ingredient in her body butter.

Personally, I don't buy her products because they are natural. Her products work for me and I feel comfortable using them.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

TwinBE — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 13:58:27 GMT

My sister bought 2 of the usual (8oz?) over 3 years ago. The boxes were a floral design and I kept the boxes thinking I would use them to put new 8 oz jars in and gift them. The boxes have the ingredients on the bottom and CL was in there back then. I don’t know when the “clean beauty” started.
I know JM is a sales person but I hope the company has tested this and it’s safe because looks like we have all been using this with CL included for several years now

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

SilleeMee — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 14:14:59 GMT

Comfrey leaf is not included in the 'clean beauty' list of ingredients for Qvc.

"The QVC® Clean Beauty seal designates that a brand formulates products without sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, methylisothiazolinone/methylchloroisothiazolinone, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, petrolatum, mineral oil, chemical sunscreens, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban, and talc.

It also indicates products contain less than one percent of synthetic fragrances and are certified cruelty-free by a third-party source." - Quoted from Qvc website.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

lovesallanimals — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 16:06:40 GMT

Now I know why they say do not put it on broken skin. I have been using this on my feet during the winter and I do have rough spots on the soles of my feet - I will no longer be doing this. I am still undecided what to do. I guess everything has its drawbacks, and I am sure Josie's team did their research, as stated by other posters but it still makes me a little uneasy.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Roscoe the Rascal — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 16:21:00 GMT

Well I learned something new. I will be looking at ingredients more closely on all my products I use.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

geezerette — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 16:31:35 GMT

A QVC customer emailed Josie's company about this and here is the response she says she received:

"We include a small amount of Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract in our Body Butter formulations because of its topical benefits.

Overall, the small amount of comfrey leaf extract in our Body Butter is beneficial; in synergy with other natural extracts, it helps to moisturize and soothe dry irritated skin, contributes to skin renewal, and supports a healthy skin barrier.

The substances of concern in comfrey are called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The primary concern with pyrrolizidine alkaloids is potential toxicity from ingestion of large amounts over time. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are present in greater concentration in the comfrey root than the comfrey leaf.

Body Butter is applied to the skin, not ingested.

We’ve done multiple toxicological assessments, safety assessments, as well as patch testing on our Body Butter formulas, and there have been no concerns regarding toxicity or irritancy. Our safety assessors determined none of the ingredients are known to contain any impurities or residues at levels that would be toxic, corrosive, irritating to the skin, eyes or mucous membranes, or cause a sensitization reaction in a consumer.

However, if you continue to be unhappy with the product in any way, or have any concerns regarding any ingredient in our products, we welcome you to consult your doctor or dermatologist directly to determine whether or not the product is a good fit for you and your own individual needs."

You can find this under Questions and Answers for item #A600351.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Mustang Shar — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 18:48:02 GMT

So much for clean Beauty... I'll stay with my natural products that are hand made in my town. I'm done and thank you for this important information

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

KKJ — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 19:48:14 GMT

I echo everything @Mustang Shar posted. I've used a lot of Josie's bb in the past but am done now. Why would they put something in it that is not good for you? I don't need something that may cause more health issues for me. And am annoyed whenever JM makes misleading statements like her bb is "just argan oil whipped up" and totally clean with no chemicals. Looking at the label you can see it's hardly just argan oil and nothing else.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Applecakes — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 21:31:32 GMT

I guess what bothers me about this is Josie and her team always talk about your skin as your largest organ and what you put on goes in, but yet her team’s response says the topical comfrey is not ingested and it’s safe to use so this makes me question the whole clean Beauty thing which I did anyways and it contradicts her statement saying what you put on goes in and so clearly they are hypocritical to what they claim. I believe her company is more focused on turning out new products constantly and being a business in lieu of quality etc! I also believe something went down with Luciene, and she was let go for whatever reason and her company’s values are much different than she portrays on QVC etc!

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Itsjustme4 — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 03:07:23 GMT

After long time use of Josie's body butter, I threw all of mine away and suggested to family and friends that they do the same. Until and unless she removes this ingredient, I'm done buying it. I have research other body butters and could not find one that contains comfrey leaf.

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

beach-mom — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 03:34:24 GMT

When I read this post I asked DH about it. He had heard of comfrey leaf and right away said he didn't think it was a good idea for pregnant women or nursing mothers because of possible liver damage. He did some more research and a while ago said it was probably OK if I didn't ingest it.

We have kitties who like to lick my arms when I cuddle with them! After reading this and talking to DH, I won't be using any of Josie's products that have comfrey leaf in them. I'm just glad my favorite Milk doesn't have that in it.

Thanks @lovesallanimals for bringing this to our attention! I hope QVC addresses this!

Re: Josie Maran Body Butter - Safe?

Oldfaithful — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 11:36:17 GMT

Bottom line is she's lying to us! I don't even know where the term clean beauty came from but I believe it's a sales tactic. I actually have used the body butters and thought they did wonders for my skin. Never heard of comfrey until I came to this forum. Thank you to the persons that brought this to light. Shame on Josie for not being honest.