The differences between organic and natural cosmetics
Have you ever had to choose between organic and natural cosmetics, without really knowing the difference between the two? And yet the two names are very different. So, are you ready to become an expert on the subject? We’ll explain everything:
What are “natural” cosmetics?
A natural cosmetic is made up of ingredients of plant origin (plants) and mineral origin (clays). However, some brands have taken advantage of this growing demand to use the “natural cosmetics” label, even though the composition of their products is questionable, in particular due to the presence of petrochemical ingredients such as silicone and phenoxyethanol. So you’re probably wondering how you can tell the difference between a natural product that’s really good for you and a product that’s just been greenwashed? Don’t panic, we’ve got two tips to help you make the right choice!
To begin with, you can turn over the product you are interested in and look for the percentage of natural ingredients init. Be wary of this figure, because although it is reassuring, it is possible in some cases for the product to contain 95% natural ingredients, but for the composition to be questionable. This is where the second tip comes in: to protect consumers from these petrochemical components, you can look for the “COSMOS NATURAL” logo on your natural product. This certification makes it possible to: guarantee that production processes respect the environment and human health, certify that the company incorporates the concept of green chemistryinto its processes, guarantee respect for biodiversity with the absence of petrochemical ingredients and recyclable packaging (Source : Ecocert.com).
What are “organic” cosmetics?
As we have just seen, natural cosmetics are not necessarily organic , unlike organic cosmetics, which are 100% natural ! Organic cosmetics contain at least 95% of ingredients of plant or mineral origin, and 10% of the plant ingredients must be organically grown. Once again, it’s difficult to identify an organic product at a glance, so you need to pay particular attention to the product label. Organic cosmetics may sometimes carry a green logo certifying the composition and traceability of the product. You can find the logo of an approved body such as Comsos Organic (issued by Ecocert). The packaging also contains a list of organically produced ingredients and their respective percentages of the product’s total composition.
The quality of active ingredients and extracts: a challenge for manufacturers to meet the growing demand for organic and natural cosmetics
According to a study by Xerfi, the annual growth rate of the organic and natural cosmetics market will increase by 12% between now and 2023. This rise can be explained in part by an increasingly widespread concern: consumers are more and more concerned about the composition of the products they apply to their skin. This is why manufacturers are faced with the challenge of reassuring customers by communicating the origin and traceability of the products they offer. Groupe Berkem, a specialist in plant extraction, offers a range ofactive ingredients, plant extracts and floral waters of natural origin, which fits in perfectly with the challenges involved in formulating natural cosmetics.