You probably know by now that your skin is the largest, living, and breathing organ on your body. Your skin absorbs up to 60% of what you apply to it. It goes into your bloodstream and ends up circulating in your whole body!
There’s a lot of debate in the industry on what’s considered ‘natural’ and what’s not, says licensed estheticians and beauty, the natural ingredients can be inconsistent in makeup, so it’s hard to measure effectiveness and potency. the natural ingredients, like essential oils, can irritate the skin, that is what some bloggers start to believe in!
Most of us do even not read the ingredient lists and trust the marketing claims and slogans on them. Broadly speaking, as per some certification bodies, the term “natural” stands for:
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- Ingredients that come from plants, flowers, and mineral origins found in nature
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- No genetically modified (GMOs) ingredients
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- No parabens, sulfates, or other harmful substances
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- Limited or no petrochemical ingredients
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- Never tested on animals
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- The manufacturing process is such that it retains the integrity of the natural ingredients
Is any difference between “Organic” and “Natural”? Which is better?
Although these words are being used synonymously, there are significant different differences between organic and natural products. If you see “natural” written on a label that broadly means that ingredients were produced by nature but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are “organic”. Natural products can contain chemicals but that is not the case with organic products. “Organic” strictly refers to ingredients that are farmed without pesticides, chemicals, or artificial fertilizers and it is non-GMO.
You can safely assume that an organic product will have between 95-100% chemical-free ingredients while for a natural product; this is usually around 50-70%.
What are the benefits of organic skincare?
Organic skin care is not necessarily any more or less effective than nonorganic skin care. However, it does have some key benefits. Organic skin care products are:
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- Regulated. Because the term “organic” is regulated in the U.S., people can tell that the product contains what it says it does.
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- Better for biodiversity. Organic farms do not use chemical pesticides, which can harm wildlife and reduce biodiversity.
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- Less polluting. To use the term “organic,” products must either maintain or improve the health of the soil or air where they grow.
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- Biodegradable. Organic ingredients also tend to be biodegradable, which means they break down quickly and do not accumulate in the environment.
Eventually, the term “organic” means that a product contains organically-farmed ingredients. Organic farmers do not use artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals to grow their produce. The idea behind this is that it reduces harm to wildlife.
The exact definition of “organic,” and the criteria brands need to meet to list skin care products as such, varies depending on location. It is not the same as natural, green, or clean skin care. The FDA does not regulate these terms.
People who want to ensure their skin care products are healthy for themselves, the environment, and the communities that farm the ingredients can look for information about what is important to them online.
