19 February 2020

The market is full of cosmetic products, from supermarkets to perfumeries, beauty salons, hairdressers and pharmacies. Consumers are increasingly looking for healthy products. On the other hand, I know there's a lot of confusion in most people's minds about natural cosmetics. After reading this article, you'll know a lot more about the differences between natural, organic and vegan cosmetics. Although it may seem to the unaware that they are all the same thing, there are big differences between them! First of all, I'd like to give you a warning about this topic and article: the legislation has not yet fully defined what constitutes a natural or organic cosmetic, and therefore everything I'm writing here may change. What's more, we feel that some companies are taking advantage of the lack of legislation to make certain types of advertising, saying that their products are natural/organic, when in fact they only have a few natural/organic compounds... What you should realise right now is that you're unlikely to find a natural 100% cosmetic produced and distributed industrially. Generally, these products always contain synthetic substances. There are some organisations that regulate this market and certify this type of product. I'll use Ecocert's definition to explain what each type of cosmetic is, although this classification may differ slightly from organisation to organisation. What is a natural cosmetic? According to Ecocert, a natural cosmetic is a cosmetic in which at least 95% of its raw materials come from natural sources. The remaining 5% can be of synthetic origin, although these ingredients are regulated. Only some of the synthetic ingredients can be used. What is an organic cosmetic? An organic cosmetic is a cosmetic whose composition is at least 95% based on organic substances, and the remaining 5% can be synthetic in the same way as natural cosmetics. Therefore, an organic cosmetic is necessarily considered natural. The opposite is not true. A natural cosmetic may not be organic. Have you already visited our online shop for natural cosmetics? Click here and discover our wide range of products at exclusive online prices! What's the difference between natural cosmetics and organic cosmetics The point is that a natural cosmetic has at least 95% of natural products in its composition, but these materials are not necessarily organic. For something to be considered an organic raw material, it has to be produced in accordance with international directives on organic farming products. I'm sure you've seen those BIO products in the supermarket. That's right, they are! To be considered organic, organic cosmetics must be made from raw materials grown in organic farming. What is a vegan cosmetic? A vegan cosmetic is a cosmetic that does not use animal products in its formulation. It therefore has nothing to do with being natural or organic. A Vegan cosmetic may not be considered natural because it uses synthetic ingredients in higher concentrations than 5%. On the other hand, being Vegan doesn't mean it's not tested on animals either! To make sure this isn't the case, you should look for the Cruelty Free certification. In any case, any cosmetic that is produced within Europe is no longer tested on animals, because the legislation doesn't allow it. Allergies and health problems Another of the great confusions on the market is in relation to allergies and health problems caused by cosmetics. If a cosmetic is considered organic or natural, it doesn't mean that it won't cause allergies or be harmful to health. Depending on the person, an organic cosmetic can cause allergies and even be harmful to your health, so be aware of this! On the other hand, it doesn't mean that a cosmetic that isn't organic or natural is bad for your health or causes allergies. This differentiation between natural, organic and synthetic cosmetics is only related to the origin of their ingredients, and not to the likelihood of allergies or other issues. What is important to know is that all cosmetics on the market must be rigorously tested. Preferably opt for cosmetics that have been dermatologically tested. What's more, it's up to Infarmed to regulate the cosmetics market, checking what is or isn't a risk to public health. How to choose a cosmetic when buying If you want to be sure of what you're consuming, you should look for cosmetics with the appropriate certifications from the relevant organisations. However, there are natural, organic and vegan cosmetics that are not certified by any of these organisations. These certifications are quite expensive and there are brands that don't want to pay for them. There are also artisanal productions that don't even have the financial capacity to pay for such certifications. You can also find out about the various ingredients that these organisations allow, and read the labels on the packaging. It's a more difficult task, but it's not impossible! In this document issued by Ecocert, you can see all the ingredients that can be used, as well as the method of obtaining them and other relevant information. All labels must describe the composition of the product, with the first ingredients listed being those that the product contains in the highest concentration, and the last in the lowest. There are several ingredients you should pay special attention to when buying a cosmetic, especially as they may not help the health of your skin or hair. The main ones to avoid are Parabens; Sulphates; Petroleum derivatives. Cosmetic brands I recommend There are many brands of natural and organic cosmetics you can choose from, even in the supermarket. The brands I recommend, as well as being natural or organic, have professional-level results. In other words, they have proven results in terms of their effect. It's quite easy to make a natural shampoo, or