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

Today, organic and natural cosmetics have become more popular. As these products become big business, it is important for consumers to protect themselves against false product labeling. That is why it is essential to have a third-party certify that a product is indeed an organic or natural cosmetic product.

Natural or Organic?
In the United States, a product that claims to be a natural cosmetics product does not have to go through any government testing to put the word "natural" on their packaging. Even most chemicals can be traced back to their natural roots, so technically the term "natural" can apply to just about anything! This term has become a marketing tool to sell more seemingly natural cosmetics to unsuspecting consumers.

In order to use the term "organic" on labeling in the US, however, there are strict government regulations that must be followed. Most importantly, an organic cosmetic company must prove that the majority of its ingredients have been grown and processed according to strict, government-controlled, organic agricultural standards. Depending on whether they claim to have 100% organic, organic or "made with organic ingredients" an organic cosmetics company 's products can contain varying degrees of organic ingredients.

There are multiple regulatory agencies that can determine if a cosmetic company can call themselves "organic." The most stringent organic cosmetics regulations actually come from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA.) Organic cosmetics that feature the USDA label on their products meet the strict ingredients and processing criteria in accordance with the USDA 's National Organic Program.

Unfortunately, it costs money to become certified organic, so many small organic cosmetic and soap companies choose to forego the pricey government certification and opt for the term "natural" to sell their products. And in the end, this only serves to hurt their reputation and confuse the consumer. So, be wise to choose the right cosmetics.