Free Herbal Essences Sample (first 5,000 only!)

[PinkyPunky]

Hi guys, this is my first thread, so I hope I'm doing it right, and that this hasn't been posted before...

If you go to http://www.herbalessences.co.uk/ you can get a free sample from their new range! :)

[JaneDoe]

Thanks for this PinkyPunky :A, I was keeping an eye on this website as I knew one was coming, their website went off a few days ago and just said "Index of".
Thanks again! :beer:

[PinkyPunky]

That's ok! :D

I got the "Index of" thing again too, but they seemed to have changed the site address - the name used to have a hyphen in it. Glad it's working now!

[Helsibob]

thanks :T . I love their shampoos

[Pip26]

Thanks for this - have just sent of for mine - nice freebie!

[imogenkate]

thank you.

[Happy shopper]

Fab find, thank you. :) They're nice sized samples too (75ml shampoo and conditioner). People wanting this freebie should act fast though - 1st 5,000 applicants only. (Perhaps you should add that there are only 5,000 samples to your thread title, PinkyPunky.)

JaneDoe: how did you know the sample was coming up? Do you have insider info? Is there something I'm missing? :eek: ;)

[PinkyPunky]

I found it on my bottle when washing my hair this morning! So maybe JaneDoe saw one too!?

Happy shopper: How do I add 'only 5,000 samples' to my thread title?

[JaneDoe]

Hi Happy shopper no I'm afraid not I wish I did lol, I was on their website ages ago and noticed a sample was due to come out so I just kept checking their site. I sit with pages of companys and regularly go through the lot checking when I have spare time.:j

[snuzzy]

thanks for this,although the web page is really slow. cheers.

[Happy shopper]

Thanks for your replies PinkyPunky and JaneDoe. I was afraid that there was some kind of freebies hotline that I was missing out on. ;)

PinkyPunky: click on the 'edit' button on the first post, then on 'go advanced' and that should let you edit the title. :)

[youngie]

did you notice upto 45days before you may get your sample we will all have forgotton we applied still it will be a nice surprise among the bills !!haha!!

[iloveme]

thanks op!

[waptext]

i tried to order another at the same address under a different name it said your sample has already been ordered or something like that .

[mdyer1]

Thnaks, just ordered my sample :)

[Noswor]

Thank You!
Your request has been
successfully submitted.
Please allow up to 45 days
for the delivery of your
product samples

Thanks :D

[freebie-fan-jen]

Thanks for that! I love their shampoos! How do you find out about the freebies?! Jen x:confused:

[Tulip]

thanks,just applied for my sample and one for my mum

[KittyPryde]

This looks like the same stuff I had to test more than a year ago. I had a huge shampoo and conditioner from herbal essence, it was the blue one and was in a bottle which looks like the one on the sample link which says 'hello hydration', was different to their usual bottles. Smelt nice too but the hole in the lid was so small that the conditioner was so hard to squeeze out. Hopefully they would have changed that with all the feedback :D

Thanks for the link, wondered why i hadn't seen it in the shops.

[nips]

Great free sample find, thanks
Thank you all so much for my birthday wishes, im having a lovely day! x

[greenpixey]

Nice find. I've ordered one for me :j

[littlelu2008]

Brill find OP, ta :D

[Reverbe]

EXCELLENT find. I adore Herbal Essences and have been using them for years.:D

[Flickering Ember]

Notice how the confirmation message says sampleS!! Note the plural *big grin*

[anta]

Hope their products are much nicer than their irritating ads, lol! :)

[Ashropshirelady]

Unfortunately they are not. :mad:

What they claim: A totally organic experience......:mad:

But watch out: It looks and smells appealing because it is coloured using four potentially cancer-causing dyes (CI 17200, CI 15510, CI 42053, CI 60730) and perfumed with synthetic fragrances that are known neurotoxins and skin irritants. Among its detergents, sodium lauryl sulphate can irritate skin and permanently damage eye tissue, and sodium laureth sulphate and cocamide MEA can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a hormone disrupter associated with breast cancer. Cocamidopropyl betaine, another detergent, is a penetration enhancer, as is the solvent propyelel glycol and the preservative tetrasodium EDTA; all allow other chemicals to penetrate more deeply into skin and bloodstream.


Not to mention they test on animals.

The cries of passion in the Herbal Essences ad hide the real agony of deadly poisoning tests on defenceless animals. Despite widespread revulsion at animal testing of shampoos, Herbal Essences have massacred more than a thousand pregnant animals and their offspring to test a common chemical ingredient already known to be safe to humans...

http://www.hurtfulessences.org/about-herbal-essences.php

[tillytat]

Thanks Pinky, great link. Just ordered mine.

[Happy shopper]

All the samples have gone now:

"Thank you for your interest in the Herbal Essences free samples.

Unfortunately we have reached the 5,000 application limit and the site is now closed.

Please check back again soon for further product samples."

[Eliz22]

Just tried but samples all gone now. Thanks anyway.

[manila]

its gone...

[Ashropshirelady]

I really cannot understand why people use products that have been tested on animals, despite the obvious health risk personally. These commercial shampoos contain some really nasty chemicals, as do a lot of baby products. Here are just a sample.......

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES)
Hair shampoo, Hair conditioner, Face Wash, Shower Gel, Toothpaste, Bubble bath, Baby wipes, shampoos and bubble baths

These are strong detergents and are found in pretty much everything in your bathroom that creates foam. SLS is a surfactant - a chemical which reduces the surface tension of a liquid, allowing it to foam or to penetrate solids.

It is used as an industrial-grade detergent and degreaser in car wash cleaners, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. It is used in cosmetics because it is a cheap foaming agent. This alone should be enough to make you wonder what it is doing in your cosmetics. There is absolutely no difference between the detergents in your household cleaning products and those you use on your skin. It's simply a matter of concentration.

These are the most dangerous of all ingredients in toiletries. Research has shown that if SLS combines with certain other chemicals used in the manufacture of toiletries, they can produce carcinogens that stay in the body. SLS readily penetrates the skin, building up in the heart, liver, lungs and brain, potentially it could lead to cancers of all these organs. A single drop stays in the brain and body for 5 days. During this time it also causes damage to the immune system, and causes the separation of skin layers, resulting in severe irritation of the skin.

SLS and SLES have been connected to skin irritation, diarrhoea, breathing problems, depression and eye damage (especially in small children where SLS has dissolved eye protein and the eyes have not developed properly,) skin rashes, hair loss, flaking skin and mouth ulceration. You may see a warning on hair shampoos containing SLS to keep the product out of your eyes and to rinse thoroughly with water if you do get it in your eyes.

SLS strips the skin of natural oils (remember it has degreasing properties), leaving it dry and rough. SLS used in shampoos corrodes the hair follicle and impairs its ability to grow hair.

A study at Tohuku University, Japan, as long ago as 1980, found that it is a mutagen - it can change the information in genetic material found in cells.

SLS used in toothpaste causes microscopic damage to the mouth tissues, which could lead to gum disease, and is linked to recurring mouth ulcers. It can irritate the mucous lining of the mouth, leading to increased absorption of other harmful substances such as fluoride. Research in Japan has shown that SLS in toothpaste would not rinse out properly after 8 rinses of fresh water, even in small quantities.

Look for milder detergents in toothpaste such as sodium lauryl sarcosinate. It is also worth noting that Triclosan, a common antibacterial agent used in toothpastes combined with SLS become an even more powerful irritant. Triclosan is also associated with the rise in anti-biotic resistant "superbugs".

SLS reacts with other nitrogen-bearing chemicals found in cosmetics to form Nitrosamines and 1,4 Dioxine - both are known carcinogens. As a result of this finding, the American Food and Drug Agency classifies it as a drug when used in cosmetics.

SLS is used in clinical studies to irritate and sensitise skin tissue. This is why the label on your washing up liquid bottle instructs you to rinse and dry your hands thoroughly after use. (The label does not tell you to rinse your dishes thoroughly even though any residue of soap suds on the dishes will be ingested.)

A close relative of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES). SLES is SLS chemically combined with ethylene oxide to form large molecules, making it less able to penetrate the skin. It is considered a milder version of SLS. However, it is still classed as a drug by the American Food and Drug Agency, for the same reason as SLS, and it is still implicated in contact dermatitis, hair loss, systemic retention and eye damage in young children.

Propylene Glycol (PG)
Material Safety Data Sheets warn users to avoid skin contact with this substance, and protective clothing should be worn at all times. It is the cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic break fluid, hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze, yet is also found in make-up, hair and skin care products, deodorants, and aftershave.

[jenza8]

Mine arrived today - a sample bottle of shampoo and one of conditioner, in orchid and coconut fragrances.
Thanks op.

[imogenkate]

Mine arrived today - a sample bottle of shampoo and one of conditioner, in orchid and coconut fragrances.
Thanks op.

mine arrived too.they smell really lovely.:D

[gypsyroseloz]

Got mine too! Thanks again OP! x

[DUKE]

Mine came too thanks :D

[Pip26]

Mine arrived today - lovely! like getting a present in a nice pink box, nice sizes and was very pleased.

Have to say did not know tested on animals until reading this thread so thanks for info as am usually careful about this.

[judy2357]

Received mine today as well thank you OP

[Happy shopper]

Received mine - great freebie! Many thanks, PinkyPunky. :)

[TinyPablo]

Received mine today, thanks OP.

[naomi_collins]

Hi,

Big thank recived my sample today, gona pop them in my hubby stocking.

Thanks, Naomi :beer:

[Reverbe]

Mine arrived today thanks. Larger box than the sample needed but still a nice size. :)

[princess loki]

got mine today!! lovely surprise as i had forgotten about applying!!! many thanks to op :A

[NorthernLass]

Received this morning - thanks OP :)

[davester]

got mine yesterday, didn't even think I signed up for it

[heggied]

I really cannot understand why people use products that have been tested on animals, despite the obvious health risk personally. These commercial shampoos contain some really nasty chemicals, as do a lot of baby products. Here are just a sample.......
[followed by a load of FUD re. very common cosmetics ingredients]

I agree with you wholeheartedly on the unneccesary use of animal testing in cosmetics. There's no need for cosmetic testing on animals, and it's completely unnacceptable. I don't know if and to what extent these products are tested on animals, so I can't comment on that.

However, as a chemist, there's an awful lot I don't agree with you about, and there's a lot more in your two posts in this thread that are little more than ill-informed FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt).

I'm not going to go through each and every one of your points, as there are far too many to deal with here, which isn't really the place for it. They mostly fall into the same type of argument anyway, which is probably best illustrated with this:

It is used as an industrial-grade detergent and degreaser in car wash cleaners, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. It is used in cosmetics because it is a cheap foaming agent. This alone should be enough to make you wonder what it is doing in your cosmetics. There is absolutely no difference between the detergents in your household cleaning products and those you use on your skin. It's simply a matter of concentration.

Yes, surfactants are used to clean your car, your drains and your windows. Why this alone should be enough to worry you, I don't know. You'd be hard-pressed to find something that worked as an effective cleaner (whether it's cleaning your hair or your floor) that wasn't a soap or a surfactant. That's what they do. They make non-water soluble things (like oil, dirt particles etc) more amenable to being washed away. That's all.

The long, scary list of properties of one specific surfactant that you list would give lots of people nightmares. Fortunately, I wouldn't worry about it.

Firstly your "research has shown ... certain other chemicals ... carcinogens" is so vague and unspecific that I'm inclined to dismiss it out of hand. Usually the "research" is one or two poorly performed studies that show little of pratical consequence.

Yes, sodium lauryl sulphate is an irritant. Which is why you keep shampoo and the like out of your eyes. And which is why it's in very low concentrations in common cosmetic products. Yes, it'll cause nausea or diahrrea but only if you ingest fairly large quantities of it. And if you go around eating large amounts of shampoo, you probably have bigger problems.

It doesn't cause cancer though. This is an old scare story that goes way back to the 1970s when a known carcinogen was found to have contaminated some shampoos. This was traced to ethanolamine lauryl sulphates used in these shampoos which had been contaminated with nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. That's it. In the mists of time this has been twisted into the "shampoo causes cancer" story that so many people still trot out. It's complete bunk.

Likewise the "study that showed it's a mutagen" is a similar load of old tosh. You can show pretty much anything's a mutagen if you want. Creating completely unrealistic conditions in a lab (*huge* concentrations of the product, very specifically chosen tissue samples, lengthy exposures etc) will show anything. Completely meaningless.

The scientific-sounding mention of MSDS data sheets in the "horrors of Propylene Glycol" section of the post is particularly disingenuous. MSDS sheets are intended to point out to workers and emergency personnel proper procedures for handling and working with substances. They are not for consumers. They represent the possible hazards associated with dealing with a substance in an occupational setting. If you read the MSDS sheets for products that you use regularly, you'd probably be so scared you'd go and live in a cave.

When I wash my hair, I'm careful not to get it in my eyes (just like I keep most things out of them) or to drink it. If I find it dries my hair or irritates my skin, I'll use less of it, or try a different brand. That's it.

Sorry for the length of this post, but this type of conspiracy theory-come-scaremongering nonsense *really* annoys me.

[alexandrite]

Thanks OP - Received mine samples yesterday.:beer:

[sweetnskint]

love my samples they came today!- so pleased with them! smell lovely! thanks op!

[Ashropshirelady]

Firstly your "research has shown ... certain other chemicals ... carcinogens" is so vague and unspecific that I'm inclined to dismiss it out of hand. Usually the "research" is one or two poorly performed studies that show little of pratical consequence.

Sorry for the length of this post, but this type of conspiracy theory-come-scaremongering nonsense *really* annoys me.

Being a chemist a expect it does REALLY annoy you.........after all without chemicals you would be out of work.

Its all very well saying that you are careful when applying these chemicals that they don't go into your eyes but anything you smell, put on your skin etc is going directly into your bloodstream.

Skindeep cosmetic safety database
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?maincat=haircare