Organic cosmetics: What are they all about?

Published: 23-Mar-2021

What do you need to know about organic cosmetics, as outlined by 7 Hopes

Organic cosmetic manufacturers in the UK are increasingly popular nowadays, in many sectors, from food to beauty products.

Many women and men in recent years have opted for organic cosmetics, as they represent both an environmentally friendly alternative and a wise choice for skin health.

Organic cosmetics are formulated with vegetable raw materials from organic farming, which also means that they must always be accompanied by a valid certification that verifies their safety.

If you want to buy private label beauty products, we recommend that they are suitable for both face care, body care and beauty.

What is the difference between organic cosmetics and natural products?

Certified natural cosmetics are made from raw materials, work with natural processes and are not tested on animals. These cosmetics must not contain:

  • Paraffin
  • Silicones
  • Synthetic dyes derived from petroleum
  • Parabens

Organic cosmetics are products containing ingredients of vegetable origin but are grown biologically and without using synthetic elements or GMOs.

To be defined organic, a cosmetic must contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and there must be no compounds of petroleum origin, paraffin, formaldehyde and dyes of synthetic origin. Organic cosmetics are not only such in composition but also in packaging, as they are all made with recyclable and biodegradable materials.

Choosing an organic, private label cosmetic product means preserving your skin from premature ageing caused by chemicals, of which all the others on the market, i.e. non-organic, are composed.

Organic cosmetics are safe and effective because they help you to look beautiful and at the same time keep your skin healthy.

How do I recognise an organic cosmetic?

Organic skincare manufacturers formulate their products with vegetable raw materials, coming from organic farming, which also means that they must always be accompanied by a valid certification that verifies their safety.

The best-known certification bodies are:

1. Ecocert Greenlife

  • Min. 95% of the ingredients are natural or derived from natural sources
  • Min. 95% of plant ingredients are produced by organic farming
  • At least 10% of entire product contents (including water) must be produced by organic farming.

2. COSMEBIO

Same as Ecocert Organic.

3. BDIH

  • Natural source raw materials or those produced by permitted ecological processes
  • Some requirement for listed plant materials to be organic
  • Only certain synthetic preservatives are permitted.

4. Soil Association

  • Min. 95% organic ingredients by weight (of the agricultural ingredients) and only permitted non-organic ingredients, processing aids and water
  • Water is excluded from the organic calculation
  • Products that contain 70-95% organic ingredients can be labelled with the phrase “product containing X% organic ingredients.

5. ICEA

  • Plant/animal materials used must be organic
  • Prohibited list of ingredients/chemical reactions.

6. COSMOS

  • Min. 20% organic content (except rinse off/powders 10%)
  • 95% of physically processed agro ingredients must be certified organic
  • Only permitted chemically processed agro ingredients (CPAI).

7. NATRUE

  • Specific levels of required natural and “derived natural” substances quoted by product type in tables provided in the standard
  • Most products – min 20% of natural and max. 15% of derived natural substances
  • Min. 95% of the natural substances of plant and animal origin must be organic.

Always check the label: if the product has the certification of these bodies, you can be assured of their origin. Start taking care of your skin, using organic cosmetics.

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