What is the difference between “Natural/organic” cosmetics?

Organic” strictly refers to ingredients that are farmed without pesticides, chemicals or artificial fertilizers. You can safely assume that an- organic product will have between 95-100% chemical-free ingredients while for a natural product; this is usually around 50-70%. 

Organic Skincare: The term ‘organic’ refers to how an ingredient is farmed i.e., it must be prepared and grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, GMOs, sulphates/parabens or antibiotics. However, just because the product is labelled ‘organic’ doesn’t mean it is 100% organic.As per the guidelines set by ACO (Australian Certified Organic association), a product should contain 70-95% organic products to fall under the category of organic products.

Natural Skincare: A ‘natural’ product can be defined as something that is derived from plant, mineral or animal by-product. Brands can use this term on their product labels as a tactic because there is no governing body that has laid down the guidelines to specify a product as ‘natural’.In order to clear any doubts regarding the authenticity, checking the ingredients of the product is the best way. Ingredients are listed in order of percentage from highest to lowest, so all the synthetic products are listed towards the bottom.Sometimes, people might get confused on reading the scientific names of natural ingredients like benzyl alcohol too (a natural preservative, produced naturally in a number of plants). It is always better to use products made from botanicals that are tailored to meet the requirements of your skin, like water-based and Vitamin C enriched serums.

Top 7 key Differences Between Natural And Organic Skincare Products

Here are the top 7 key difference between natural and organic products.

1. Natural skincare products have natural ingredients

2. Organic skincare products have stricter standards

3. ‘Natural’ can be just a marketing trick

4. Natural skincare products don’t adhere to the same guidelines as organic products

5. Lookout for organic logos on organic products

6. Terms ‘vegan’ and ‘cruelty-free’ are not synonymous to ‘natural’ or ‘organic’

7. Prices of organic skincare products will be higher

Here are a few basic differences between organic and natural skincare products:

• Organic

• None of the following are ever used in the production of organic products

• Manufactured herbicides/artificial pesticides

• Preservatives, sulfates, parabens, synthetic colors or any other chemicals

• Routine antibiotic use

• Growth regulators

• A limited number of pesticides are permitted

• The farming method should take care of sustainable land management

• Natural

• Ingredients should be naturally extracted i.e., from plants, flowers, or any other mineral source

• Prohibition of

• Sulfates/Sulphates, parabens or other environmentally unfriendly substances

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

• Petrochemical constituents

• Never tested on animals

• Quality of the ingredients should be retained during the manufacturing process

So, there you go, now you know how you can identify skincare products before you buy and use them!