Shopping for natural beauty products can be downright confusing, with many cosmetic brands claiming to be safe and all natural while still using harmful ingredients.
The simple truth is that many beauty products are advertised as natural and organic when their ingredients are far from it. Here is a helpful, simple table that shows the difference:
Components |
Wanna-be Green |
Truly Green |
|---|---|---|
Oil |
Petroleum/paraffin/silicones |
Certified organic plant oils, e.g. jojoba, almond & avocado oils. |
Water |
Water in high concentration to keep product inexpensive. |
Highest percentage of organic plant extracts which serve as active ingredients. |
Emulsifier |
Petroleum based: PEG = polyethylene glycol. |
Lecithin, fatty acids, plant based Glycerin. |
Scent / Aroma |
Synthetic or nature-identical aromas and fragrances. |
Certified organic plant essential oils and extracts, e.g. Vanilla, Rose, Lavender. |
Preservation |
Methyl, Butyl, PropylParabens, Urea-compounds. |
Natural or certified organic essential oils combined with vitamins such as Tocopherol (Vitamin E). |
Detergents for Foaming |
Sodium Lauroyl Sulfate |
Bio-degradable, plant based and mild. |
Sun Screens |
Synthetic sun screens, such as Oxybenzone, Cetylcinnamates. |
Natural Minerals Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide |
Packaging |
Made from PVC, PVDC and halogenated plastics. |
Made from recyclable and bio-degradable materials. |
Certifications |
No recognized certifications on products. |
NaTrue, BDIH, Ecocert, Demeter, NPA & Vegan Society are all reputable certifiers. |
