Are you looking for an organic skin care product? Before you purchase, know what lurks within that organic product. Labeling can deceive. Sure, there may be some organic ingredients in the container, but are they all natural ingredients? Or does it contain potentially toxic mysteries?
Organic Skin Care Product - Truth in a Label?
The labeling of organic skin care products in the United States is confusing at best and deceiving at worst.
Buyer beware!
Organic Defined
Organic primarily pertains to farming practices. As defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), organically grown crops are produced without...
Conventional pesticides
Synthetic fertilizers
GMO (genetically modified organisms)
Sewage sludge
Bioengineering
Ionizing radiation
No additional chemicals may be used in the manufacture or distribution of the product.
Organic - Prove It
Currently, the best indication of a product is the USDA Organic Seal.
In combination with the green and white circular seal, a label that states:
100% Organic is just that. The product must contain 100% organically grown ingredients and nothing else.
Organic indicates at least 95% of the ingredients in the product are organic.
Carrying no seal and labeled:
Made with Organic Ingredients means at least 70% of the ingredients are organic.
To add another twist, some products are not eligible for a certified organic skin care designation. Certain ingredients, such as water, are not certifiable. Therefore, products that contain a large amount of water, such as shampoos and soaps, are not eligible for the organic classification.
There is another point to consider when choosing natural organic skin care...
Nontoxic or Organic?
Due to inadequate standards, an organically-certified product may in fact contain questionable ingredients. Unless the product is 100% organic, parabens, urea, and other potentially toxic chemicals can be part of the mix. Only the organic portion of the ingredients is regulated.
Who knew?
Some companies offer safe, non-toxic products but may not be entirely organic. Avalon Organics products are an example. Their philosophy is that safe, nontoxic ingredients take precedence over organic ingredients.
Avalon Organics includes no parabens, urea, or other chemicals known or suspected to be toxic in their products. Contrast this with organically labeled products that include potentially harmful ingredients.
While 100% organic is ideal, it's not always an option. The next best choice would be an all-natural product with safe ingredients.
Confusion
So be forewarned... at this time a lack of strict regulations allows a free-for-all among manufacturers. It's easy to mislead consumers by taking advantage of the "organic" craze... implying a superior, safer product. Yet a few organic ingredients mixed in a chemical soup do not produce a better product.
The future is optimistic, however. Currently, the natural products industry is working with consumer groups. They are developing a set of regulations that hopefully will end the ambiguity.
Below is a list of trusted brands. While few of the products are 100% organic, they are high quality, all-natural skin care products.