Differences between natural cosmetics and organic cosmetics
With the myriad of different labels and terminology out there in the cosmetic industry, it is often difficult to discern whether the ingredients in the cosmetic products you are about to buy are actually as eco-friendly as they appear. Natural, organic, and certified organic are the most common marketing words used to describe products that contain ingredients that come from nature, but they can still be a bit misleading. We want to help you detect the difference between natural cosmetic products and those of
ecological cosmetics.
Natural cosmetics for skin care
A "natural" ingredient is considered anything that is a vegetable, mineral or animal by-product. However, because natural products, or those that claim to be natural, are not regulated by any governing body, brands may use the word natural in their description solely as a marketing strategy. This means that a product that contains a set of natural skincare ingredients can claim to be natural, despite adding synthetic ingredients. The only way to verify this is to read the ingredient list. However, don't let the scientific names of natural skin care ingredients fool you into thinking that they are actually synthetic. Ingredients like benzyl alcohol, a natural preservative, are often synthetic, but this particular one occurs naturally in various plants. However, a little research will clear up any doubts.
Ecological cosmetics for skin care
The term "organic" refers to how an ingredient was grown - without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic cosmetic products are not tested on animals and take into account the protection of biodiversity. The best way to ensure that you buy the purest product possible is to look for the products of
ecological cosmetics with organic certification label. The use of the word ecological or organic in beauty products is highly regulated although the standards and requirements in each country differ slightly. Internationally, there are several certification bodies, including the Soil Association in the USA and the BDIH in Germany. The French Ecocert label certifies that 100% of the ingredients are of natural origin. This does not mean that only products sold in France carry the Ecocert label; in fact, some products that are sold in the EU have this certification. One of the very high standard organic accreditation marks is the German NaTrue label, being more rigorous in its standards than most others. The main distinction between natural cosmetics and
ecological cosmetics is that organic ingredients must pass more stringent purity standards. To be organic, an ingredient must have been grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, petroleum fertilizers and it must not be a genetically modified organism.
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