many of us are becoming concerned about toxins in our environment and most skin care companies are, as a result, promoting natural and organic products for cosmetics.

natural products are not, however, necessarily organic. A natural product will usually contain natural ingredients, e.g. herb oils, but it does not mean that the product is safe and non-toxic. An organic product, on the other hand, is a product that is meant to be produced without the use of pesticides, artificial fertilizers or synthetic chemicals. The entire process involved in the manufacture of organic cosmetics is important, from how the product is grown, harvested, stored, transported and processed.

it is only when a product is good enough to eat, that it is good enough to be put on to your skin. Your skin is the largest eliminatory organ in the body and it absorbs many ingredients in skin care preparations. This is both good and potentially harmful. Good, because it means your skin can be nourished from the outside with some wonderful ingredients, but when cosmetics contain unsafe ingredients that are absorbed into your system, this may be harmful.

because there are no universal guidelines yet for labeling cosmetics as organic, care should be taken when considering to buy organic cosmetics. The term “certified organic” is governed by a number of internationally recognized bodies and it would be wise to search for products with the logo of a certifying body on the label. This is really the only way that you are guaranteed of organic integrity and authenticity in every ingredient in the product.

many cosmetics contain emollients, which prevent dryness by acting as a barrier and healing agent; humectants which attract and retain water that keep the skin moist; cleaning agents which are substances capable of dissolving oils so that it can be rinsed away with water; and preservatives.

in which way may these ingredients be bad for your skin when they are synthetic?

synthetic emollients are occlusive by coating the skin and preventing respiration (much like plastic wrap). Apart from causing allergies many are also not bio-degradable. Natural emollients nourish the skin and are of edible quality.

many humectants in cosmetic products are sourced from animals, e.g. collagen and lanolin. They are not necessarily harmless, because the animal may have been dipped with chemical pesticides and the product derived from it may then contain traces of the pesticides. Many chemical humectants also form a suffocating film on the skin to prevent moisture loss, whereas a natural ingredient attracts water from the surrounding air and holds it where an increased level of hydration is needed.

chemical cleaning agents in skin cleansers and shampoos often contain potent carcinogens and strip natural oils.

synthetic cosmetic products on the market are largely formulated for shelf life of over three years and in order to achieve this, they contain large amounts of preservatives to prevent spoilage. These preservatives fall in the group of usually four synthetic parabens which are cellular toxins that penetrate the skin and have been shown to cause allergic reactions and dermatitis. Natural preservatives include tea tree essential oil or grapefruit seed extract.

organic is not only a lifestyle choice but a methodology whereby the purest possible products (whether food or cosmetics) are grown, harvested and processed. It is only when organic beauty products comply with these standards that, we believe, the notion of an organic lifestyle will retain integrity.