Every day we are more aware that our consumption must be healthy, respectful of animals and the environment. The demand for organic, ecological or bio cosmetics is increasing dramatically. Fewer and fewer consumers are willing to expose themselves to the dark masses of synthetic ingredients that make up conventional cosmetics.
What do we expect from cosmetics today?
Clearly, today we pay much more attention to where ingredients come from and how they are processed. We expect ethical and sustainable practices from manufacturers, we are wary of misleading claims, and we want reliable and transparent labelling to aid in decision-making.
Most popular beauty and skincare products no longer rely on synthetic ingredients. We want to know where the ingredients or materials for the products are sourced, how they are made, who they are made by, and whether they will protect or harm our health in the long run. Beauty products are placed directly on the skin and we are naturally interested in knowing where they come from.
It seems that as the world changes, a new form of consumerism is emerging, based on the principles of awareness and concern for people and the planet. We want our purchases to be good for our bodies and our planet. So far, everything is correct, but the problem begins when we are not clear about the difference between natural and organic and their impact.
Considering that the demand for cosmetics, known as natural, is increasing dramatically, we believe it is necessary to first clarify concepts before going into organic cosmetics. Let's be clear:
Natural cosmetics
Natural cosmetics is not a proprietary term, so it should be treated in a similar way to plant-based cosmetics. Producers are obliged to include a certain amount of raw materials of natural origin. However, this does not exclude chemical derivatives of natural raw materials and animal by-products may also be included. Beeswax and lanolin are often used in natural cosmetics. If the raw materials come from conventional agriculture, they may contain substances that are harmful from a production point of view.
Organic, Eco or Bio Cosmetics
In America or Australia, the term organic cosmetics is more commonly used, while in Europe it is called biological and specifically in Spain, the term is used organic cosmetics. These types of products contain plant active ingredients from organic farming where pesticides and petrochemical fertilizers have not been used. In addition, they are products without colorants, preservatives, synthetic perfumes, silicones, mineral oils derived from petroleum or animal substances and their transformation process does not pollute the environment.
They are also not tested on animals. Organic cosmetics also avoid non-natural fillers in their formulations and thus considerably increase the content of active ingredients that serve a function. Note that if instead of paraffin, we add a vegetable oil or butter to the formulation, we will be achieving long-lasting skin hydration by incorporating fatty acids that are natural components of the skin and will nourish it, instead of paraffin, which will give us a momentary feeling of softness that will disappear in a short time.
So what is the line that differentiates organic, bio, eco products from natural ones?
We can say that natural is everything that comes from nature, but not organic. Organic, bio, eco comes from nature, but is completely free of any chemical or hormonal alteration. Although many times the word natural is used as a synonym for organic, Not everything that seems organic is so. The main feature of the organic, bio or eco cosmetics is that it uses ingredients that, in addition to being natural, have been produced following the criteria for organic farming established by the European Regulation or other equivalent standards in other countries for organic production. These criteria include the non-use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, among others. Organic ingredients must be certified to be recognized as such.
So how do I know I'm not being tricked? In the organic, eco, bio cosmetics The entire process, from the raw materials used to the final product for sale, is approved by control mechanisms that certify the quality of the product by giving it a distinctive mark or representative logo. And it is through certifications that you can be sure that you are really buying what you want.
Source: https://webvella.labellacarmela.com