| Natural organic beauty and health products are more | | | | which represents "Certified Natural Cosmetics" only |
| difficult to find than you think. Even though there are a | | | | utilize natural raw materials like fats, waxes, oils from |
| great deal of products that are labeled "organic" or | | | | plants, essential oils, and herbal extracts from natural or |
| "natural," the true meaning of these words is often | | | | controlled biological cultivation. With these ingredients, |
| misunderstood and misrepresented by the cosmetic | | | | you can be sure that the products BDIH certifies are |
| manufacturers. One must understand that the | | | | really safe to use. |
| Cosmetic Industry is self-regulated and therefore, can | | | | The criteria |
| put anything they want on their packaging, even if it is | | | | In order to earn the organic cosmetic certification, there |
| misleading, simply because no one is watching over | | | | are criteria which must be met. |
| them. Although there are organic cosmetic certification | | | | 1.There should be transparency as to the kind of |
| organizations most US based cosmetic companies | | | | ingredients as well as the process used to make the |
| refuse to be certified. | | | | organic cosmetic products. The process must be |
| On the other hand, we are fortunate that it will not be | | | | non-polluting. |
| difficult to find these natural organic products anymore. | | | | 2.The product must contain ingredients of natural origin. |
| This is because the BDIH or Bundesverband | | | | The whole composition of the organic product must |
| Deutscher Industrie und Handelsunternehmen has | | | | abide by the strict rules and must be meticulously |
| created helpful guidelines that will aid the cosmetic | | | | controlled. |
| manufacturers in manufacturing only certified organic | | | | 3.The use of petrochemical and chemically |
| natural cosmetic products of highest quality. | | | | synthesized materials is totally banned. |
| The BDIH is the union of German industries and trading | | | | 4.The product must be biodegradable. There should be |
| companies for health products, personal hygiene | | | | no bio-accumulation in the body. |
| products, pharmaceuticals, and food supplements. This | | | | 5.Exposure of the products to radiation is strictly |
| association is based in Mannheim, Germany and has | | | | prohibited. |
| coordinated almost 400 manufacturers as well as | | | | 6.The use of genetically modified organisms is also |
| distributors of cosmetics, nutritional foods, food | | | | prohibited. |
| supplements, medications, etc. | | | | 7.The product must have no less than 95% of natural |
| It was in 1996, while working with some top natural | | | | ingredients or must have stemmed from organic |
| cosmetic makers that the BDIH came up with | | | | farming. |
| complete guidelines for certified organic and natural | | | | 8.Animal testing is not allowed, as nature must be |
| cosmetics. And using the guidelines, a private institution | | | | totally respected. |
| had tested over 2,000 products and had published their | | | | 9.Product packaging or wrappings have to be |
| findings so that consumers will be informed about | | | | completely recyclable or biodegradable. |
| them. | | | | 10.The exact amount of natural and organic ingredients |
| What are certified organic and/or natural cosmetics? | | | | must be very visible on all the products' wrapping that |
| These cosmetics are mainly for beautification only but | | | | have the environment-friendly or certified organic logos. |
| they can also provide care for the human body | | | | For people who are in search for genuine natural |
| through their ingredients that come from nature. And | | | | organic cosmetic products, simply look for the organic |
| getting these natural ingredients was made feasible by | | | | cosmetic certification seal and you can be assured |
| the readily available natural raw materials. | | | | that the item passed the strict quality standards of |
| At any rate, the makers of beauty products that use | | | | eco-friendly production. |
| the organic cosmetic certification logo or the BDIH seal | | | | |