Why to choose organic beauty product
First, let’s be clear about what the terms actually mean. Organic refers to something that was produced without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage, ionizing radiation, as well as antibiotics and growth hormones. Natural means something that originally “existed in” or was “derived from” nature. Additionally, if something is “certified organic” or “certified natural,” then you’ll need to look at how that specific certifying agency defines those terms.
Natural Vs Organic Skincare Products: What Makes Them Different?
Organic Skincare: The term ‘organic’ refers to how an ingredient is farmed i.e., it must be prepared and grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, GMOs, sulphates/parabens or antibiotics. However, just because the product is labelled ‘organic’ doesn’t mean it is 100% organic.
As per the guidelines set by ACO (Australian Certified Organic association), a product should contain 70–95% organic products to fall under the category of organic products.
Natural Skincare: A ‘natural’ product can be defined as something that is derived from plant, mineral or animal by-product. Brands can use this term on their product labels as a tactic because there is no governing body that has laid down the guidelines to specify a product as ‘natural’.
In order to clear any doubts regarding the authenticity, checking the ingredients of the product is the best way. Ingredients are listed in order of percentage from highest to lowest, so all the synthetic products are listed towards the bottom.
Sometimes, people might get confused on reading the scientific names of natural ingredients like benzyl alcohol too (a natural preservative, produced naturally in a number of plants). It is always better to use products made from botanicals that are tailored to meet the requirements of your skin, like water-based and Vitamin C enriched serums.
Organic
- None of the following are ever used in the production of organic products
- Manufactured herbicides/artificial pesticides
- Preservatives, sulfates, parabens, synthetic colors or any other chemicals
- Routine antibiotic use
- Growth regulators
- A limited number of pesticides are permitted
- The farming method should take care of sustainable land management
Natural
- Ingredients should be naturally extracted i.e., from plants, flowers, or any other mineral source
- Prohibition of
- Sulfates/Sulphates, parabens or other environmentally unfriendly substances
- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
- Petrochemical constituents
- Never tested on animals
- Quality of the ingredients should be retained during the manufacturing process
So, there you go, now you know how you can identify skincare products before you buy and use them!
Benefits of using organic skin care products:
If you’re still using non-organic products, it’s time to reconsider. Read on to learn the benefits of organic skincare products to see how they can be better for you.
1. Non-organic skin care products contain harmful ingredients:
Pick up a bottle of any non-organic skincare product and read its ingredients label. How many ingredients can you actually recognize?
Non-organic skin care products contain synthetic, man-made chemicals such as sodium laurel, mineral oils, Laureth sulfate, and toxins that could be residues of pesticides. Studies have also found that they can contain mineral oil, petroleum, parabens, and other chemicals that, with long term use, can cause skin irritation, hormone imbalance, organ toxicity, and even cancer.
2. Organic skincare products are made of natural ingredients:
Now read the ingredients label of any organic skin care product. You’d probably recognize most, if not all of the items there.
Certified organic products are derived from plants and other naturally occurring ingredients. More importantly, those organic ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other additives or chemicals. With that, you can be sure your skin and body absorb only real, natural ingredients that aren’t harmful.
3. Organic products are non-allergenic:
Without harsh chemicals, organic skincare products are less likely to cause allergic reactions, inflammations or irritations. If an allergic reaction does occur with the use of organic products, it would most likely be due to a natural ingredient (such as peanuts or strawberries), which would be easier to identify.
4. Organic skincare products work better:
Plants grown organically are found to contain a higher level of vital antioxidant vitamins than non-organic plants. Because they are grown without herbicides and pesticides, their organic ingredients are also free from that contamination, which means the same for your skin and body.
Moreover, up to 95% of an organic skincare product’s contents are active ingredients. In synthetic skincare products, on the other hand, active ingredients only make up 5 to 10% of its contents.
5. Going organic is better for your skin:
The synthetic ingredients found in non-organic products may be fast-acting, but they are also invasive, causing harm that cannot be seen. Their chemical ingredients may provide instant gratification and visible results, but most of this only helps you aesthetically by smoothening out wrinkles, removing sunspots, and diminishing blemishes.
With prolonged use, these chemicals may damage and weaken your skin as your body tries to cope with these foreign substances. As a result, oxygen exchange to the skin is reduced, causing premature aging and increased risk of developing sunspots.
6. You’re supporting cruelty-free skincare products:
The beauty industry has received backlash for conducting animal testing for their products to ensure that they are safe for human use. Organic products don’t need to, because, with natural ingredients, they’re safe and harmless!
When you buy organic Skincare products, you are buying cruelty-free skincare products and also supporting the move towards abolishing animal testing in the industry.
7. You’re helping to preserve the environment:
Because organic products use naturally grown ingredients that are free from toxic pesticides and fertilizers, they don’t leave a harmful footprint on the planet, particularly the soil, water, and air.
Organic farming is also better for wildlife, causes lower pollution from pesticide and fertilizer sprays, and produces less carbon dioxide and less dangerous wastes. By using organic products, you’re helping to minimize your environmental impact and support the sustainability of our environment.
When you use organic beauty products, you can help minimize your environmental impact. First, you won’t have to worry about chemicals going down the drain because there won’t be any in the bottle. You can also look for organic beauty brands that obtain their ingredients from Fair Trade sources or from local farms and suppliers. And, be sure to check out companies that package their products in glass or biodegradable packaging. Better yet, going organic is sustainable and better for the environment, too. So invest in your health today and make the change to organic skincare products if you haven’t already done so.