Skin is the largest organ on your body. It only makes sense that you want to make sure that everything you put on your skin is good for you. When it comes to organic skincare products, it can get a little tricky.
Many skincare products that you put on your body are filled with ingredients that are hard to tell where they come from.
Marketing
To begin with, marketing is misleading. When I look at a product that says all-natural, I expect it really means all-natural. Unfortunately, these terms are not regulated by the FDA.
That means people in charge of product labels can put them out there wherever they want.
Luckily certified organic has more regulation than the term all-natural. But, I bet you didn’t know that the term organic is only related to agricultural products in the United States. So the cocoa beans used to make the cocoa butter in your facial cream may be organic.
That may be the only part of your facial cream that is organic. If you’d like to read more about organic labelling requirements you can see the national organic program which oversees all organic labelling certification requirements.
When you look at the FDA, which regulates things like facial creams and other skincare products for the term organic, it simply refers you back to the United States Department of Agriculture. So seeing the term organic on any skincare product can be pretty misleading.
If you truly want an organic facial cleanser, you would have to make all of the ingredients yourself from things that you grew organically.
It’s probably more difficult than it’s worth, and no one wants to throw out all of their beauty products.
Therefore, the best bet is to look out for ingredients that are dangerous and unhealthy for your current products.
Fragrance
This is probably one of the biggest hidden chemical caches in any ingredients list. The term fragrance can be used to cover the ingredients that make up the smell associated with a particular beauty product.
This was originally a catchall term that helps companies protect their patented formulas.
Unfortunately for the consumer, it means that you don’t know what chemicals are used to make up that fragrance.
If you want to stay with a more natural product stick with fragrance-free skincare products and creams.
Company Values
Another way to check whether or not it's a good idea to be using a particular skincare product is to check out the company that makes it. Investigate the company further before purchasing their products.
Many beauty and healthcare companies post company values on their websites. Some things to look out for our whether or not they test on animals or if they signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.
Investigating a company’s values can give you some insight into how they source their products. Many companies that choose to do responsible sourcing will have profiles about how they choose where to get their products from.
Renewable agriculture is a feature that most companies will highlight on their website. These are just some ways to choose whether or not you want to put a company’s products on your face.
Check for Common Harsh Chemicals
There are some pretty standard chemicals in many skincare creams that are no good for your face and body.
If you read your ingredients list and find any of the following, it’s safe to say you can ditch those products.
• Parabens
• Sulfates
• Fragrance
• Petroleum Derived Products
• DEA, MEA, TEA
No matter how you choose to treat your skin, making sure the company you purchase from is responsible is a good idea. It's important to be aware that the product labels may not be 100% accurate, and you know the harsh chemicals to stay away from. These are great ways to make sure your skin stays healthy and vibrant while you stay ecologically conscientious.
