If you were thinking all-natural was the answer to your skin care woes, “organic” has now taken over and has become the new cosmetics buzzword. Consumers are inundated with organic claims on all manner of products, and with frequent media stories surrounding the potential health risks and unknowns of anything remotely synthetic, it’s no wonder that curiosity about organic products is at an all-time high and that product sales are skyrocketing. Celebrities and cosmetics companies are launching skin-care products labeled organic faster then you can say “But is this really good for my skin?”!
Organically speaking, what does the term “organic” mean in the world of cosmetics, and principally for skin care? Shockingly, it doesn’t really mean anything because there is no comprehensive definition, and so different organizations and businesses have sprung up, each trying to become the authoritative source giving the stamp of approval—for a fee of course. Then there’s the battle the organic lines have with other lines, each saying theirs is the real deal and everyone else is fibbing. Is it any wonder that many consumers looking for genuine organic products are completely bewildered? As it is, you can basically call your product organic and there is really no one to stop you, no matter what it contains. That’s expected to change as organic harmonization details are hammered out, but as this book goes to print, the term is still used loosely.
Mostly those using the term “organic” or “all natural” are perpetuating the myth that synthetic ingredients are automatically bad and natural ingredients are automatically good. Today it seems that only organic ingredients are good and even natural ingredients are now bad unless they are obtained organically. Making people afraid of something, whether it’s a single ingredient or an entire category of ingredients, is part of the way natural and organic products are marketed.
The truth is more complicated. Consumers are waylaid by the labels, trusting (albeit blindly) that the one they’ve chosen is the right brand. In reality, what ends up happening more often than not is just an exchange of one marketing scheme, as with traditional cosmetics companies, for a new one where products are labeled to say they include organic plants.
As you venture out to shop for a great skin-care routine, thinking that healthy-sounding product labels mean the products will take the utmost care of your skin, let me help you with some background. Arming yourself with the facts surrounding organic products will give you the best balance for your budget and your skin.