What Is Certified Organic?
The ideal certified organic skin care product answers yes to this 8 natural parameters:
8 Natural Parameters:
1) 100% Certified Organic Ingredients – natural ingredients derived from organic farms containing the logo of an international certifying body.
2) 100% Beneficial Ingredients – every single ingredient must be working in your body’s best interests.
3) No Synthetic Chemicals – no synthetic toxins used at any stage of the production process.
4) Cruelty Free – this is the dirty little secret that many “natural” skin care makers keep from their customers, as many non certified companies outsource animal testing to third parties.
5) No Pesticides/Herbicides – no pesticides sprayed at the source (i.e. farm).
6) No GMO – no plant source corrupted with genetically modified organisms.
7) Cold Formulation – This process ensures that the organic ingredients are kept in their original fresh state by allowing no heat during production.
No Artificial Flavors/Additives – nothing unnatural added in the production process.
Organic skin care products also have:
1) No proven or possible cancer links
2) No negative effects on the reproductive system of women and men
3) They’re not tested on animals
4) They emphasize minimal packaging – which means less waste for the landfill
But How Do I Know if a Product is Organic?
Great question! Especially because – Labels can be misleading, as the FDA doesn’t regulate cosmetic definitions.
Organic has become a fairly well-regulated term, but what does “natural” or “derived from plants” mean?
Technically, a company can add two natural ingredients and market the product as “contains natural ingredients”, at the same time filling it with a whole host of synthetic fillers, dyes and fragrances. Or, we have products whose ingredients may indeed be derived from natural sources, but synthetic chemicals are used in the processing… Not exactly what we think of when we hear “pure”.
These are the so called “green-washed products”. They’re green by label, but not by fact.
Unfortunately, with increasing popularity, many green-washed products have flooded our store shelves. Therefore, learning how to read the ingredient list on the product label becomes essential.
Organic, Natural: What Does It All Mean?
Organic means that a product is made without pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, hormones, antibiotics, fertilizers or other synthetic or toxic substances for a three-year minimum. No artificial flavors or colors have been added. The National Organic Program, a division of the Department of Agriculture, is in charge of monitoring that these conditions have been met and assigning the appropriate USDA Organic seal. Look for this seal, as it can save you a lot of headaches.
Products with organic ingredients can fall into three levels:
1) The product specifically says “100% organic” and has the USDA Organic seal.
2) If a product is labeled “organic“, it contains at least 95% organic ingredients.
3) The majority of products will fall into the third category, which is “made with organic ingredients“. These contain at least 70% organic ingredients, and aren’t allowed to display the USDA organic seal.
Organic Skin Care Vs Synthetic Skin Care: Why Natural Is Better
Organic skin care vs. synthetic skin care is a battle that seems to have been going on for years. Proponents of all-natural, organic skin care products insist that natural is better. On the other hand, the makers of skin care products that contain synthetic ingredients insist that their ingredients aren’t harmful, and that the products themselves produce results equal to those found in organic products.
So, who is right?
Well, organic and synthetic skin care products pretty much do the same things. The only question is what kinds of ingredients they use to produce the same results. Are the ingredients natural or chemically based? And, which one is better?
Examining the ingredients used can give you some answers.
An example: Preventing Dryness
Both organic and synthetic skin care products contain ingredients called emollients that are designed to protect the skin from things that can damage it, like harsh weather, sun exposure, and pollution. Emollients form a sort of barrier on the surface of your skin, almost like protective armor.
The problem with synthetic emollients is that they do the job almost too well. Imagine spreading a layer of wax on your skin. True, it would keep things that could dry out your skin, like harsh winds, out. But, it would also prevent your skin from breathing. So, in effect, these synthetic emollients smother your skin.
Natural emollients (like avocado, cocoa butter, and shea butter) manage to protect your skin without smothering it. Not only that, but these organic ingredients have the added benefit of containing nourishing products that will actually make your skin healthier.
Making the Product Last Longer
Synthetic, or chemical, preservatives have gotten a bad wrap, and for good reason. Studies have found that, while they can make a product last longer, some synthetic preservatives can also be harmful to those who use them.
Organic preservatives (like tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, and bitter orange extract) are natural. Not only do they not have harmful effects, they actually have many benefits. For example, tea tree oil has many healing properties.
So, in the Organic Skin Care vs. Synthetic Skin Care debate, which one is the winner? Well, for every synthetic ingredient used in skin care products, there is a natural, organic ingredient that does the same thing. And, because those synthetic ingredients can have harmful side effects, natural, organic ingredients are the safer, healthier alternative.
Want to do some research of your own?
A good source for your research is The Environmental Working Group. Since 2000 The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a team of scientists, engineers, policy experts and lawyers, have dedicated countless hours examining data, scientific studies, and performed their own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to offer solutions. Their web site, www.ewg.org, provides practical information you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones. The EWG analyzed the health and safety reviews of 10,000 ingredients in personal care products, natural or not.
The health and safety of you and your loved ones is ultimately your responsibility. Read the labels of personal care products closely. If there are ingredients that you are not certain about, write them down and do a quick search to ensure they are safe for use by you and your loved ones.
