What makes organic and natural different from conventional products is a varying percentage of certified ingredients, depending on the label. They do not have synthetic raw materials, petroleum derivatives (such as silicone and mineral oils), or products genetically modified and tested on animals.
Organic products are also free of pesticides. According to manufacturers, they are less harmful to nature along with the production chain for example waste is softer than that of traditional industry. In addition, there is a call to value the life of the communities involved in the production.
As if more evidence were needed about the organic food industry and its overwhelming popularity with its consumers. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released recent data justifying the interest in organic food.
Recently, that agency released a report that indicates a 13% increase in the number of certified organic farms and businesses in the United States; giving continuity to the trend of constant growth with double digits since 2002. Now there are almost 25 thousand certified businesses to sell organic in the United States, and more than 37 thousand worldwide.
It is clear that organic is gaining massive popularity, but what does this label really mean?
Let's consult the USDA one more time to understand its elaboration: Organic edible plants are grown without conventional pesticides, and without fertilizers made from synthetic ingredients or wastewater, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.
Organic meat, chicken, eggs, and dairy are derived from animal products that have not received growth hormones or antibiotics. These farms are inspected by a government-approved certifier to ensure these standards are met. There are also USDA standards for the handling and processing of organic products.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics presents a concise guide to understanding the three levels that state when a product is organic:
- 100% Organic: Products are completely organic or made with only organic ingredients, which qualify them with the USDA seal.
- Organic: When the ingredients of the products are at least 95% organic, which makes it possible to claim that the product is organic and can use the USDA seal.
- Made with organic ingredients: When at least 70% of the product inputs are certified organic. The USDA Organic seal cannot be used, however, the product may say: “Made with organic ingredients”.
Recognizing the differences between organic and non-organic products is easy — It is basically about favoring the use of clean, natural ingredients, rather than man-made herbicides, insecticides, and hormones.
Environmental Working Group, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization advocating for human health and the environment, has established a helpful guide to buying organic produce at the grocery store.
Why buy organic lifestyle products?
The organic beauty is more and more followers, and even put them stars! If once we go organic we rarely go back, the most difficult is often to take the plunge.
Whether it is to convince you or to help you convert your loved ones to organic, discover 5 good reasons to choose natural beauty products .
1. No More Toxic Products For Me And My Family!
No carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting component in organic cosmetics, so no risk of compromising your health by applying your creams.
We must not forget that our skin absorbs all the care that we apply to it, so it is important to be particularly vigilant about the composition of the products used in order to prevent harmful ingredients from entering our body.
When you become a mom, using natural cosmetics is a good way to ensure that no dangerous ingredients are passed on to your baby. By going organic you are opting for healthy beauty products, without toxic components or irritating additives.
2. Beauty In The Green Version Is Better
Organic cosmetics rhyme with ecology! Unlike traditional cosmetics from petrochemicals, organic cosmetics have production methods that are designed to be as harmonious as possible with nature.
Choosing organic beauty products means choosing cosmetics that respect our planet, made with natural ingredients, not or little processed, and excluding the synthetic and polluting components present in traditional cosmetics.
The manufacturing processes aim to limit the production of waste and the packaging is generally designed to be easily recycled.
3. I Boycott Products Tested On Animals
Another reason to adopt organic cosmetics is the question of ethics with regard to animals.
Unlike traditional cosmetics, organic cosmetics are not tested on animals and exclude components of animal origin except those produced naturally by animals such as honey, beeswax, milk, etc.
To put an end to the cruelty imposed on animals by cosmetic tests, it's time to go organic! There is also a wide choice of organic and vegan cosmetics.
4. Bye-bye Skin Problems
Free from irritating chemicals, mineral oils, and pore-clogging silicones, organic beauty products are much better for your skin.
Whether you suffer from acne, eczema, psoriasis ... you will finally find an effective solution to all your little worries thanks to the benefits of natural ingredients such as vegetable oils, aloe vera, honey, or essential oils, that work miracles on all skin types. If you have already tried everything in conventional, do not despair, organic cosmetics can save your skin!
5. Organic Products are Fun!
Who said that organic cosmetics are not fun to use? No more scents and textures that leave something to be desired, today the offer has grown enormously and technology has progressed to offer natural beauty products with pleasant smells and textures, and refined packaging. Whether in skincare or makeup, organic cosmetics are definitely more and more glamorous and efficient.
The price of a cosmetic, a value difficult to compare
“Organic cosmetics are expensive”. But expensive compared to what?
If you really want to compare the price of a conventional cosmetic versus an organic cosmetic, it can be done but you have to look at everything:
- The packaging: is it glass? in plastic? bamboo? recycled? recyclable? rechargeable? biodegradable?
- The assets used: Natural assets? Difficult to extract/create? Is the first ingredient water or rather vegetable oil?
- The composition: are they natural ingredients? synthetic? pollutants? questionable for health? Knowing that what we reject can end up on our plates with the water cycle and the food chain ...
- The size of the company: a multinational will have economies of scale and the cost of the same ingredient will be much higher for a small company.
But then, are organic cosmetics more expensive or not?
After reading this article, you will understand that it is not possible to say that organic cosmetics in general are more expensive than conventional cosmetics. Quite simply because the two are difficult to compare.
Setting a price depends on a lot of variables. They should all be taken into account to make a comparison worthy of the name.