Kendra asks a question: I read your article on Burt’s Bees natural cosmetics but I don’t understand something. How is natural different than organic? The Left Brain Replies:
Kendra’s referring to our post on Burt’s Bees’ plan to develop a universal definition of “natural” for cosmetics. She raises an interesting question because I just found out that Estee Lauder has a similar thought - they’re developing a line of Certified Organic products for their Origins brand. (According to Women’s Wear Daily, 6/22/07).
The problem with saying a personal care product is “organic” is pretty much the same as saying it’s “natural.” There are no rules that say what you have to do to prove your cosmetic is really natural or organic or not.
Food products, on the other hand, are different. There ARE mandated federal requirements that a company must meet before they can label their product as “organic.”
The requirements stipulate that to be certified organic a food product must contain at least 95% organic ingredients. (That means the ingredients are grown with approved fertilizers and pest controls.) The other 5% of the formula must be nonagricultural ingredients that are approved by the National Organic Program.
Lauder’s plan is to follow the food labeling rules for their new cosmetics products, Lauder can legally say that their products meet the USDA requirements for Certified Organic.
Does that mean Origins products work better than “inorganic” products? Not, not at all. It simply means that they follow the governmental guidelines. If buying this kind of “green” product makes you feel better about the environment, that’s fine. But don’t buy them because you think that organic products work better.
The line is scheduled for launch this fall; once the products are available we’ll take a look at them and review their formulation technology.
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Emma Wayne Porter Says:
Interesting. Estee Lauder already has a natural/organic line under its umbrella through Beauty Boutique. The line is Grassroots, available at Kohl’s.
It’s a great line, for the most part. They’ve got everything from bath salts to dog shampoo, and the “happily ever after” face cream, “smile for me” lip balm and “in good hands” hand lotion were standout products with fairly decent price points.
I wonder if this means the line’s proven a good investment on return, or if this is just a market grab.
Beans and Rice Says:
I see Organic as an agricultural (no pesticides) issue, and Natural as a processing (no harsh chemicals) issue.
You can have an organic product with several “synthetic” ingredients, because it only requires 75% of the product to be organic(what’s the other 15%?). Natural should be more Raw ingredients.
Lucia Mancuso Says:
I think I’m just going to stick with eating organic.
I gotta draw a line somewhere.
However - I know so many organic lovers that will just eat up any cosmetic that is organic or clothing or anything at all.
For whatever reason - I think it’s brilliant marketing.
thebeautybrains Says:
It is definitely brilliant marketing. Whole Foods has created an empire on this single notion. But cosmetics are chemicals. Organic or not they can be dangerous to some people. Fortunately, this is a small number of people.
Are biological beauty products worth the additional money? | Diet,Nutrition,Exercise,Weight Loss Says:
[...] there’s a problem: Unlike food, which must follow strict guidelines to wear the label ‘organic’, cosmetics …. biological cosmetics follow basically the same rules that natural cosmetics do, whether it is made [...]
saralee Says:
Try Eminence Organics it is the most wonderful line! They have a range from face to body care. Eminence is a triple grade certified HUNGARIAN line. I love the European standards because they are higher than the Canadian and American standards for organic products.
The Beauty Brains » Blog Archive » The Colorful Secret of Organic Hair Color Says:
[...] Right Brain’s black and white response: As we’ve blogged before, right now there is no specific industry-wide definition of what makes a cosmetic “organic.” [...]
The Colorful Secret of Organic Hair Color | Beauty Secrets Blog Says:
[...] Right Brain’s black and white response: As we’ve blogged before, right now there is no specific industry-wide definition of what makes a cosmetic “organic.” [...]
ncessence Says:
Currently, body care products are not required to comply with the stringent organic food standards maintained by certification bodies such as the BFA and NASAA in Australia and the USDA in America, hence the plethora of so many “organic” body care products now on the market.
Since water is the primary ingredient in many cosmetics, some manufacturers are claiming to use organic hydrosols, or floral water, to green wash their products and make organic label claims whilst using the same synthetic toxic ingredients that would NEVER be allowed in organic food products. We believe this practice has the potential to destroy the integrity of the organic name.
Miessence® is currently the only skin care product on the planet that has submitted to, and complies with, the rigorous processing and labeling requirements for certified organic food products.
http://www.ncessence.mionegroup.com