Natural vs. Organic Skin Care - What Does It Mean?

There is a lot of confusion in the cosmetics industry about organic skincare, natural skincare and the like. Unlike the food industry, regulated by the FDA - cosmetics are NOT regulated. Did you know that if a product has just one organic ingredient in it, it may be called "organic" in the cosmetics industry? The product may contain many bad chemicals, but it can still be called organic.

Natural is another designation that can mean the product has excellent quality ingredients - just not grown organically. Natural products can be every bit as good or even better than Organic products. In fact, if a product is 100% organic or 100% natural without a preservative, it would have little shelf life and would spoil very quickly. Bacteria can grow in that product from repeated contact with your skin! It can become very smelly or at the least very unsafe quite quickly. A local spa in my town was featuring some home-made "organic" products with no preservatives that they had out for people to try. I was alarmed that they had no idea that they could be spreading bacteria by letting anyone just dip their hands into each product.

Today many companies self-regulate. Hopefully soon the cosmetics industry will be required to meet standards just like the food manufacturers. Our company follows the guidelines of the Natural Product Association which means that at least 95% of our product ingredients (excluding water) are all natural. Our ingredients are all natural with a preservative - but the preservative is one on the approved list of the Natural Product Association.

So what's the bottom line? Read the label, understand that 100% organic or 100% natural may mean you are buying a science experiment if there is not a preservative that inhibits bacteria growth in that product. Ask questions - if you aren't sure, don't buy it. A reputable business will be happy to let you know what their ingredients are, why they chose those ingredients and whether or not they meet good guidelines such as those fostered by the Natural Product Association.