Ever pick up a face cream only to realize you have no clue what is being said on the bottle? Yes, the words are in English but you find yourself wondering “formulated without what?” or pondering terms such as “derived from natural origin.” You’re not alone. Understanding terms and ingredients will help you make decisions next time you’re in the skincare aisle without wanting to run to the nearest dermatologist for help.
Know the difference between natural and organic
Believe it or not, natural and organic are not interchangeable. Each carry their own claims. A natural product is one made from ingredients in nature which are not synthetic or created in a lab. With natural products you will often see “derived from natural origin” specified in the ingredients list indicating that the natural ingredient may have been altered or combined with another ingredient. Also, there may be a claim as to how much of the product is natural. For instance, 98.8% natural could mean that there is a small percentage of preservatives used to extend the life of the product.
Organic products use natural ingredients that have a lot more weight to their claims. Organic ingredients are grown, manufactured and preserved without the use of any chemical herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or antibiotics.
Recognize organic labels
There are no country-wide regulations for skin care companies when putting organic claims on their labels. They may simply state that the ingredients are organic and label the item as such. However, companies can get their ingredients certified for use of seals that prove and represent their ingredients have passed strict regulations. There are several seals all with different standards. When choosing organic it is best to go with a product that has been certified, passed regulations and can bear a seal.
USDA Organic
This seal issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture can only be on products which are 95-98% organic (excluding water) and the product must provide the name of the certifying agency.
COPA: California Organic Products Act
Products must be at least 70% organic excluding water. Any items with organic claims that do not fulfill these requirements are not permitted to be sold in the State of California.
NSF: National Science Foundation
Products with this seal must have 70% organic ingredients and must also state the exact percentage of organic product on the label.
Familiarize yourself with harmful ingredients
Familiarizing yourself with ingredients is probably the most important thing to do when switching to natural products. Knowing which ingredients to avoid will help you identify truly natural products. Reading the ingredients of a product is the first thing I do at the store. In a truly all natural product you will recognize probably all of the ingredients as food items. If it sounds edible, that’s what I go for! You’d be surprised to find that sometimes labels are misleading and may boast natural ingredients but are still full of toxic chemicals. Many popular products found in stores contain harmful or harsh elements that can damage or irritate skin. Some can even lead to some serious health risks, such as causing allergic reactions or affecting hormones. These ingredients are synthetic, lab made and are found in your average face wash or cream. What makes natural or organic products different is that they are made without such ingredients. The products listed in my previous post here should be absent from the ingredients list on products claiming to be natural or organic.
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