Are Organic and Natural Cosmetics Really As Good As They Claim?

Organic and natural cosmetics usage is on the rise. AsHigher Standards in Europe
these products become big business, it is important forIt is extremely important to note that European
consumers to protect themselves against falsecountries such as France and Germany as well as
product labeling. That is why it is essential to have aother countries like Australia already hold their natural
third-party certify that a product is indeed an organic orand organic cosmetics to an even higher standard
natural cosmetic product.than the United States.
Natural or Organic?In Germany, for instance, only natural cosmetics
In the United States, a product that claims to be acompanies who have proven to adhere to the strict
natural cosmetics product does not have to goBDIH guidelines are able to put their seal on their
through any government testing to put the wordpackaging. These guidelines ban petroleum-based,
"natural" on their packaging. Even most chemicals cansynthetic or genetically modified ingredients. They also
be traced back to their natural roots, so technically therequire packaging to be ecologically conscious and
term "natural" can apply to just about anything! Thisprohibit any animal testing among other rules. These
term has become a marketing tool to sell moreguidelines only apply to natural cosmetics companies,
seemingly natural cosmetics to unsuspectingnot organic ones.
consumers.The Future Of Certification
In order to use the term "organic" on labeling in the US,Recently, some strides have been made to hold
however, there are strict government regulations thatcompanies responsible for mislabeling their organic and
must be followed. Most importantly, an organicnatural cosmetics when they contained non-organic
cosmetic company must prove that the majority of itsand petrochemical materials. The Organic Consumers
ingredients have been grown and processedAssociation (OCA) publicly attacked popular
according to strict, government-controlled, organiccompanies such as Jason's Pure Natural, Kiss My
agricultural standards. Depending on whether theyFace and Nature's Gate Organics for using known
claim to have 100% organic, organic or "made withcarcinogens in their products.
organic ingredients" an organic cosmetics company'sUnfortunately, the landscape of certified and natural
products can contain varying degrees of organiccosmetics in the United States is only going to get
ingredients.more uncertain in the months to come as certification
There are multiple regulatory agencies that canagencies, industry groups and retailers implement their
determine if a cosmetic company can call themselvesown regulations.
"organic." The most stringent organic cosmeticsHowever, with the Natural Products Association
regulations actually come from the United Stateslaunching its bid to tighten regulations in the US on
Department of Agriculture (USDA.) Organic cosmeticsnatural products with what amounts to a near
that feature the USDA label on their products meetreflection of BDIH guidelines, there is hope for the
the strict ingredients and processing criteria infuture provided these tougher rules are adopted and
accordance with the USDA's National Organicsupported broadly by the natural personal care
Program.products industry and its leaders such as Lavera, Dr.
Unfortunately, it costs money to become certifiedBronner's and Dr Hauschka.
organic, so many small organic cosmetic and soapAt least for now though there is USDA and BDIH for
companies choose to forego the pricey governmentthe European-produced brands. No products certified
certification and opt for the term "natural" to sell theirby either body earned any black marks from the
products. In the end, this only serves to hurt theirOCA.
reputation and confuse the consumer.