forestsecretsskincare.com :: Guide me Green Articles :: Understanding Certified Organic Cosmetics
Understanding Certified Organic Cosmetics
It is quite easy to simply choose an organic certified product when purity is a priority, but understanding the basics of organic beauty standards can take you beyond the easy choice giving you more awareness in today's world of infinite choice.
Organic calculation: understanding the different grades available
There are two kinds of organic certified products:
the 70% plus, declared as product containing x% of organic ingredients
the 95% plus which can be declared simply as organic
How are these percentages worked out? The percentages are calculated as the percentage of organic raw materials present in a formulation minus the water. For example in a cream you can find 80% water, therefore the organic percentage will be calculated on the remaining 20% of the ingredients as water is excluded. In the case of water free products, such as balms and massage oils, the percentage is referred to the whole system.
Reading the ingredients list can be an easy way to start getting familiar with the organic certification
the 70% plus, declared as product containing x% of organic ingredients
the 95% plus which can be declared simply as organic
How are these percentages worked out? The percentages are calculated as the percentage of organic raw materials present in a formulation minus the water. For example in a cream you can find 80% water, therefore the organic percentage will be calculated on the remaining 20% of the ingredients as water is excluded. In the case of water free products, such as balms and massage oils, the percentage is referred to the whole system.
Reading the ingredients list can be an easy way to start getting familiar with the organic certification
What is allowed
organic vegetable oils
colours only if organic (there are none available at the moment)
essential oils only if organic
organic extracts extracted only with glycerin, alcohol and critical CO2
dry organic extracts or juices
organic alcohol
unmodified mined minerals such as clay
natural gums such as Xanthan gum
preservatives such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol and phenoxyethanol
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherol (vitamin E)
Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide and Silicon dioxide
surfactants of vegetable origin with a good biodegradability profile
colours only if organic (there are none available at the moment)
essential oils only if organic
organic extracts extracted only with glycerin, alcohol and critical CO2
dry organic extracts or juices
organic alcohol
unmodified mined minerals such as clay
natural gums such as Xanthan gum
preservatives such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol and phenoxyethanol
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherol (vitamin E)
Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide and Silicon dioxide
surfactants of vegetable origin with a good biodegradability profile
In essence the certification pushes to use organic ingredients as much as possible. When there is an non organic alternative available, the organic option must be used.
What is not allowed
Petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances
GMO materials,
Hydrogenated fats
UV radiation
Talc
EDTA
Ingredients derived from Nanotechnology
Non organic essential oils
GMO materials,
Hydrogenated fats
UV radiation
Talc
EDTA
Ingredients derived from Nanotechnology
Non organic essential oils
Why Forest secrets is not certified organic
Related Products
Read the next Guide me Green article on What does organic really mean? A look at the origins and organic cosmetics today