Questions about natural, green, bio cosmetics
The return to natural things and respect for the environment, have also penetrated the world of cosmetics. The natural and green cosmetics have come strongly to the market, which have been converted from a minor product to be a real trend in consumer habits, and with greater growth prospects than the traditional cosmetics. Even the big brands are targeting green cosmetics.
Faced with this avalanche of products, we have several questions,
like what is actually doing a natural product, is very expensive, has the same properties of a conventional cosmetic …
1. What is a natural cosmetic product?
- Is one that only uses in its composition, natural and untreated elements . They must come from plants and, if possible, certified organic cultivation. Since vegetable oils are essential plant extracts, It allows the use of inorganic salts and raw materials obtained from minerals, except synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, silicones, paraffin and other petroleum products.
Most conventional cosmetic ingredients among numerous artificial components designed to provide a texture, feel, aroma or greater conservation, often used oil, synthetic preservatives and other polluting products for use on the skin.
- Also avoid animal testing, or contain raw materials from vertebrate animals.
- Regarding to the product packaging , the boxes, containers and bottles used are recyclable and biodegradable.
- Preservatives: natural preservatives only permitted as benzoic acid, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid and benzyl alcohol.
- Radiation are not permitted, or in the raw material or in the cosmetics and processed to kill germs or bacteria cosmetics.
2. How to distinguish natural products
Faced with these new products we made a series of questions, and this does not happen with ‘bio’ food , where there is clear legislation.
Referring to natural cosmetic products, there is no European legislation requirements detail permitted and prohibited substances, that proportion of natural ingredients and organic must contain or labeling and packaging.
Sometimes product advertising, just their color or labeling text can provoke confusion. It is important always to look carefully at the label, becausse a product within only one or two natural ingredients can not be considered natural cosmetics.
The main difficulty with which we are consumers in distinguishing between a natural cosmetic product, one green and one that is not any of those things.
In the absence of a law arise different private certification bodies whose task is ensuring the naturalness or ecological cosmetics certified.
These seals or cerficaciones have different criteria and requirements, may also be more of a certification for the same cosmetic product. Some agencies have stricter criteria than others.
The only way to ensure that you buy a natural product or Bio is looking on the label the organic seal. The labeling includes, in addition, the percentage of Bio ingredients included in the formulation, which is identified by an asterisk in the INCI p mandatory listing of all ingredients
The major European label certification are:
In the Spanish market cosmetics certified by Ecocert or Cosmebio are the most common.
Ecocert for example. Difference between natural products (95% of total ingredients are natural or natural) and organic products (95% of the total ingredients is natural or natural origin and at least 10% of the total ingredients derived from organic farming )
Cosmebio is the French Professional Association of Biological and Ecological Cosmetics Others are BDIH in Germany, in the UK the Soil Association, and ICEA in Italy.
3. Natural cosmetics versus conventional cosmetic chemistry, pros and cons
Benefits of natural cosmetics
- The skin is the largest organ of the body, with important functions external protection, protects us from diseases and infections outside agencies, and through it also treat toxins. To apply ourselves cosmetics on our skin is better than the ingredients contain are related to our skin and the highest purity and quality.
- Natural cosmetics are easier to tolerate, so avoid skin problems, and avoid possible allergic reactions. The truly natural cosmetics is providing a much higher amount of active ingredients in its formulation and its effectiveness is much higher than in other types of compositions. And most importantly, promotes natural cosmetics natural regeneration process of the skin, while respecting its balance, leaving it healthy, cleansed and revitalized.
- The chemicals also harm our planet. All waste used in conventional cosmetics pollute the environment, natural products employ recyclable and biodegradable packaging, also using smaller containers to limit the use of paper. Further evidence of our commitment to the environment is that none of our brands experiment with animals.
Cons natural cosmetics
- Higher price. The demanding requirements of organic farming, which involves a special method of cultivation, without chemical fertilizers and pesticides, make its performance is lower, which increases agricultural production.To this we must add the cost to obtain organic certification, which also in developed countries like our hands are a labor cost even higher. Therefore, certified organic cosmetics may be a little more expensive than conventional ones, but the trend in recent years has been toward normalization of prices.
- Textures and smells less achieved in conventional cosmetics.
- Low durability of products in the absence of synthetic preservatives.
If you use cosmetics or natural makeup,
give us your opinion, advice, which makes use …