Have you tried organic skincare? If not, here’s why you should!

This is a sponsored article from SustainabilityTracker.com member VOYA.

VOYA give the low down on organic skincare, the benefits and how you can be sure that the beauty products you are buying are the real deal.

What is organic beauty?

According to the Soil Association “Organic Beauty is the formulation of cosmetic products using organically farmed ingredients. These ingredients are grown without the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GM), herbicides, synthetic fertilisers and more”.

When you choose organic beauty, you are saying yes to:

• Sustainably sourced organic ingredients
• Using natural colours and fragrances from plants and flowers
• Transparent manufacturing processes
• Biodegradable ingredients
• Minimal packaging with maximum recycled content

And no to:

• Animal testing
• GM ingredients
• Controversial chemicals
• Parabens and Phthalates
• Synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances
• False Labelling 

Have you ever bought a product after been enticed by the labelling professing that it is ‘Natural’ or ‘Organic’ only to discover that the product isn’t actually what it seemed to be? You’re probably not alone, a survey by the Soil Association reveals that some 76% of consumers have felt misled by the labelling on beauty products and as part of the research into their Campaign for Clarity, they found that 72% of people would lose trust in a beauty brand that made misleading claims about being organic. 

Greenwashing

So how do you know if a product is truly organic? Unfortunately, unlike EU and AU food standards, there are no such rules for using ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ in the labelling of beauty products, therefore many brands are greenwashing their labelling to claim standards they have no basis for.

Look for the label

With so many brands claiming to be organic, how do you cut through the noise? Keep an eye out for certification logos that show a brand has had to prove its credentials. In 2002 the Soil Association launched the first standards for organic cosmetics, their certification process is independent and rigorous.

To reach the Soil Association standard, the entire manufacturing process of a company including the sourcing of ingredients, formulation procedures and premises, as well as the packaging are reviewed. Once a brand has passed the certification process they are given the Soil Association ‘stamp of approval’. Check out the Soil Association logo on products, so that you can be assured the products are fully organic!

Sustainable Beauty

Most truly organic beauty brands are incorporating an eco-conscious standard into their manufacturing processes. Organic farming is better for the environment because it works with nature, not against it. There is zero animal testing, no synthetics fertilisers or herbicides, and the ingredients are sustainability sourced. Choosing organic has many benefits from supporting biodiversity, protecting wildlife and combating the climate crisis.

Benefits of going organic

Are you aware that the skin is your largest organ? Therefore, being more informed about the products we put on our skin should be a top priority because anything we layer onto our skin has the ability to be absorbed into our bloodstream. A recent study showed that some people in some countries are using 18 cosmetic products per day* on average. 

Here are some of the benefits of incorporating organic products into your beauty regime: 

1. Be more Eco Friendly: Parabens and other chemicals found in daily cosmetics not only destroy the beneficial properties of seaweed but can also have a negative environmental impact. When ingredients are farmed and manufactured in a sustainable and organic way, fewer chemicals are put into the air and water.
2. Less irritation: Organic extracts are anti-microbial and have a solid reputation as a natural healer, therefore they are less likely to cause irritation compared to products that contain harsh chemicals, artificial colours and synthetic fillers.
3. Natural Scents: Organic products are created using only the most natural colours and fragrances from plants and flowers and not artificial fragrances. Therefore, the aroma is less harsh and gentler on the senses.
4. Less side effects: Organic beauty products use natural preservatives, and while some people may have slight reactions to some natural plant-based ingredients, the effects are much less severe than the ones from synthetic ingredients.

Study References: Ficheux, A. S. et al. (2015). Consumption of cosmetic products by the French population. *https://www.soilassociation.org/organic-living/beauty-wellbeing/*https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/why-organic/better-for-wildlife/

This is an article from a SustainabilityTracker.com Member. The views and opinions we express here don’t necessarily reflect our organisation.