4 'green' claims to be wary of

A Sephora spokesperson said the company stands behind the line and is committed to products that meet all applicable guidelines as well as internal standards. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, was acquired about a decade ago by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMHF, news, msgs), the world's largest retailer of luxury goods.

Sephora scores some points for admitting that the term natural isn't regulated and lacks a specific meaning. What the company fails to do is point out what qualities its "green" products have that make them safer, healthier and more eco-conscious.

Instead, its Web site's list of approved green products is defined by nebulous terms including antioxidants, botanicals, essential oils, fruit extracts, marine bioactives, minerals and vitamins.

• Talk back: Skeptical of 'green' claims on products?

Because Sephora doesn't make any specific claims on its Web site, it's hard to call them out on their misdirection. But describing certain products as all-natural when they're loaded with harmful chemicals takes advantage of unwitting consumers.

'Green' hand sanitizers

Hand sanitizers have long relied on green-centric advertising, playing up the health benefits of protecting consumers from bacteria, viruses and other nefarious characters. Moreover, saving water is an eco-friendly act, and hand sanitizer manufacturers can make the claim that their products let you disinfect your hands without draining your tap.

Yet the hand sanitizer industry has invited dozens of allegations of chemical dangers and poisoning, making it one of the most-under-the-radar health hazards out there.

Children, in particular, are susceptible because they're more likely to ingest the alcohol-based products.

To tap the burgeoning green market, several "all-natural" hand sanitizer options have emerged to address this problem. They promise to provide an "organic, plant-based alternative to chemical-laden hand sanitizers." Their downfall, however, is that many green hand sanitizers still contain alcohol, just like their standard counterparts.

The hand sanitizer industry has remained undercover when it comes to the health risks presented by its products. The media have only recently started paying attention to hand sanitizers' ability to sicken consumers. The organic options might sound better for you, but the reality is that organic alcohol is still alcohol, and that is the biggest threat to safety and health from using these products.

The Food and Drug Administration recommends that people stick to soap and water.

The upside is that consumer watchdog groups are taking a more aggressive stance on hand sanitizers. EcoLogo announced last month that it would define a set of standards for healthy, green sanitizers. While phony, "all-natural" sanitizers abound, the EcoLogo program has the potential to change this. In the meantime, stick to CleanWell, a 100% biodegradable, alcohol-free line.

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