Organic Cosmetic - How Do You Choose?

Buying an organic cosmetic? How do you know you’re getting organic? What ingredients should you look for in a natural beauty product or certified organic skin care?

How to Read a Cosmetics Ingredient Label

If you're baffled by all the chemical names you see on your cosmetic label, you are not alone. In fact, most people don't care. But if you knew that 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body wouldn't you want to know what it is and if it's safe? That happens to be true. So here's some guidelines on using an organic cosmetic product.

All skin care products contain ingredients that serve specific functions.

Emollients prevent dryness, protect the skin and act as a barrier and healing agent.

Humectants keep the skin moist.

Emulsifiers hold 2 ingredients together that don’t typically mix together well.

Surfactants (Surface-active-agents) are substances that can dissolve oils and hold dirt in suspension so it can be washed away with water.

Preservatives stop the ingredients in the skin care from decaying to quickly.

Water is the best emollient but it needs emollient oils to hold it onto the skin. That’s called emulsion. Synthetic emollients will coat the skin and won’t allow it to respire, which can cause skin irritation. Natural emollients are metabolized and absorbed into the skin. Since they are edible, they actually nourish the skin so they are much healthier for you to use. Some natural emollients include plant oils like Jojoba, Avocado, and Rosehip.

Synthetic humectants keep skin moist by trapping the moisture under a suffocating layer of cream. Natural humectants like glycerin attract moisture from the air onto their skin. Collagen, elastin and keratin are humectants that come from animals which can be a problem for some people. Plant phospholipids from lecithin draw their moisture from the air and don’t leave a film. Some natural humectants include Lecithin, Panthenol, and Glycerin.

Synthetic emulsifiers are usually derived from petroleum/hydrocarbon and can be allergens. Natural emulsifiers come from berries, various nuts and leaves. Some natural emulsifiers include plant waxes like Carnauba, Jojoba, and Rice Bran.

Surfactants are most commonly used in shampoos and skin cleansers. Remember, they remove dirt and oils so they can be washed away. One class of ethoxylated surfactants can be contaminated with dioxane, a potent carcinogen. Some natural surfactants that you can use safely include castile soap, yucca extract, soapwort, and quillaja bark.

Preservatives are necessary because everything will eventually start to decay and deteriorate. Synthetic preservatives are cheaper than natural preservatives and extend the shelf life of the product longer. Some natural preservatives include tea tree essential oil, thyme essential oil, grapefruit seed extract, and bitter orange extract.

Important Note: It’s a legal requirement that all skin care products must have their ingredients listed in descending order. So when you look at an ingredient label, divide the list into 3 categories; the top third contains 90-95% of the product, the middle third contains 5-8% and the bottom third, 1-3% of the produt. If the natural products are listed on the bottom of the ingredient list, it’s a safe bet that it's not an organic cosmetic.

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