Are you one of those who always check the ingredients of skin care products before buying? Do you feel inclined to buy products with no artificial ingredients? If yes, then you should know that there are differences between organic products and natural products, even if the line between them seems to be getting blurry.
Why Choose Organic?
Apart from beauty products, you will also notice food items labeled as “organic,” and they are usually more expensive than other products. But what is organic? Skincare products claiming they are organic have plant-based ingredients that don’t use chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Farmers use a healthier and more fertile soil to grow the ingredients used in the product. They add organic minerals to the soil, such as manure and compost. One of the reasons why there is a rising demand for organic products, like organic hard wax beans for example, is they don’t use genetically modified ingredients. The manufacturers don’t use animals to test their products, and neither do they use petrochemicals. Since they involve minimal processing, the benefits of the ingredients remain intact.
When you are buying organic products, always keep in mind the guidelines associated with organic products:
- 100% organic – apart from salt and water, the product must contain 100% organically produced ingredients.
- Organic – the product must contain at least 95% organic ingredients apart from water and salt.
- Made with organic ingredients – these products can contain 70% of the organic ingredients in addition to salt and water.
Many skin care products will also have additional ingredients such as enzymes, amino acids, essential fatty acids, phytosterols, minerals, and vitamins.
Why Choose Natural?
Unlike organic items, there are no fixed guidelines for natural products. It can include any naturally growing ingredient such as minerals and plants. These products are neither made in the laboratory, and neither do they undergo rigorous tests before they are sold in the market. However, they don’t contain chemicals such as synthetic additives, colorants, preservatives, and artificial fragrances. Experts believe that there is a safety guarantee in organic products which natural products lack.
For example, if you plan to preserve apple pulp and use it on your skin, microbes will attack the pulp in a few hours. That’s why organic preservatives are used that can protect the authenticity of the ingredients extracted from nature. When you are buying natural skincare products, always check if they have ingredients like sodium lauryl, synthetic colors, parabens, laureth sulfates, synthetic dyes, and phthalates. These are harmful to the skin.
Many natural and organic products contain ingredients that can cause skin irritation, blemishes, and allergic reactions. Some of the common ingredients in this category are clove, lemongrass, thyme, ylang ylang, lavender oil, cinnamon, peppermint, and witch hazel. Although they are beneficial in various ways, they may have adverse reactions on sensitive skin.
Those with sensitive skin should stay away from fragrance-based natural and organic products. They may cause irritant contact dermatitis or allergy, and mild edema. So, spending on organic and natural products is okay, but you need to focus on their ingredients too because not all of them are beneficial for your skin.
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