Are your beauty products really “organic?”
The package says “organic,” but how do you know for sure?
In the world of beauty schools, beauty products and beyond, “organic” has become one of today’s hottest buzz words. As more and more consumers learn about the importance of Earth-friendliness, an “organic” label can make or break many people’s purchasing decisions.
But who decides what exactly makes a product “organic?” In Europe and the United States, consumers are still trying to decode the organic certifications they find on the labels of their favorite brands.
Amarjit Sahota, the managing director of Organic Monitor, explains that the one word that defines the organic certification process in Europe and the United States is “confusion.”
Companies and manufacturers that produce organic beauty products want their customers to feel confident in the product’s organic certification. But with three different organic certifications in the United States and two different certifications in Europe, many companies don’t know which standard to choose.
Unfortunately for consumers, beauty schools and salons, this means confusion for them as well. Each beauty product on the shelf may carry a different certification logo, and many consumers are torn between trusting that logo, or trusting a brand name.
Like many professionals in the organic product industries and the beauty industry, Sahota would like to see one global organic standard. He believes that uniformity and cohesion within the industry will benefit everyone involved – not to mention, planet Earth!
What are your thoughts on the organic issue? Do you work at a salon or beauty school going green? How do you choose your organic beauty products when you’re standing in front of that shelf in the beauty aisle?
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Tags: cosmetology school, go green, going green, green salon, organic, organic beauty products
May 26th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Organic and all-natural cosmetics may be a healthier choice. True that organic and all-natural guidlines aren’t clearly defined.
If you had the choice between a lip gloss that was 60% all-natural that lasted 3 hours+ after you applied it on your lips or a lip gloss that was 99% organic that lasted 30 minutes on your lips after you applied it which would you buy? Just curious?
May 26th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
April – You pose a really good question!
Last year I started making the effort to substitute my beauty essentials with organic and natural versions. A few things have been a seamless transition, but a few things, like my tinted facial moisturizer, I could not find an organic version that worked as well. The organics I tried left my face greasy, so I ended up going back to my tried and true Neutrogena brand that I’ve used for years.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
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June 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 am
I think a global standard for organic certification is a wonderful ideal but unlikely to happen anytime soon. We don’t have global standards for anything yet, although the world is probably moving closer to that as it becomes “smaller” due to the advent of the internet, international travel and social networking. That will be a good thing.
In the meantime, we work very hard at our blog to identify ingredients that can be considered truly organic and non-toxic as well as promoting beauty. To that end, we’re not only promoting products but disclosing their ingredients, reviewing their effectiveness compared to other organic and all-natural products, publishing lists on toxic ingredients (including those that sound organic but may still be harmful–look for an upcoming expose on grapefruit seed extract and its potentially harmful effects) and decoding the ingredient list on many of those names that are too long to type and too hard to pronounce.
To answer April’s question, I’d always buy the organic product, even if it’s less effective. Organic products are still products, and products always undergo innovation. Keep supporting the organic products and someone will keep finding ways to make them better.
And to Lori O, we invite you to challenge us to find an organic tinted facial moisturizer that works as well as your beloved Neutrogena one. Give us the details at http://organicbeautynow.blogspot.com/ and we’ll do our best!
September 9th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I prefer the organic products so they are useful from any other products