Natural or Organic?

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 10:47

So you’re in the store looking for the newest, hippest beauty product out there. Many contain lots of additives and chemicals, surely not healthy for the body. So you want to know, natural or organic? Is there really a difference? The answer, yes. Just because a product claims it has natural ingredients does not mean it is “organic”. Natural ingredients are better for your body than other products bogged down with lots of chemicals and additives. Natural ingredients also have little to no processing. However, natural products can contain any plant, mineral or animal sources, so they are not vegan friendly.

By Seraine Page

Organic products refer to how the ingredients were produced, meaning without pesticides or harmful hormones that might otherwise be added during the processing stage.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, are not responsible for approving cosmetics, but do approve of the color additives included in products. According to the USDA Web site, beauty products are put into 4 different categories: “100 percent organic”, “organic”, “made with organic ingredients” and “less than 70 percent organic ingredients” (in which case the term organic may not be displayed on the product). Organic products must be made without the use of synthetic substances and ingredients.

Here is our list of the best beauty products out there. Some are partly organic (I have listed the percentage for each), some are “natural” and one is vegan friendly. Enjoy looking around each company’s website for more healthy and fun products for your body.

1. Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
The winter months wreck hell on cuticles, causing dry and jagged edges along with sensitive skin around the nail beds. When you need something to fix sensitive skin, this cuticle cream was it. With all natural ingredients like vitamin E, almond oil and cocoa butter, this lemon infused cream seals moisture into skin without leaving a greasy feeling. The cute small yellow tin is perfect to carry around in a backpack or purse without taking up too much room. On the tin, it states that the product inside is 95 percent natural. Massage into cuticles and nails daily, and at night before bed to ensure best results.
.60 oz jar for $6 on burtsbees.com

2. Tisserand Aromatherarpy All-Over Skin Wash
This all over body wash is one-of-a-kind, as it is a European product and personally one of my favorite washes. It comes in a convenient pump bottle, and is small enough to fit on a shower ledge or towel rack in the shower. The amber colored gel, deep cleanses and has a wonderful scent — a very refreshing way to wake up with your morning shower. It contains organic tea-tree and grapefruit oils combined perfectly with other natural oils so even the most sensitive skin won’t dry out. It is not tested on animals and is best to keep at room temperature. Because the product contains natural oils, the color may change over time. This product is also vegan friendly!
8.4 fl. oz for $8.78 (USD) on tisserand.com

3. Küdos spa body lotion
While you can’t order it offline because it is a hotel amenity, I still love and recommend this product. The 1.1. oz bottle is perfect for carrying in a purse, totebag or backpack and is ideal for those who have very dry skin and need to moisturize. This is another product that is not tested on animals and contains organic aloe vera and lanolin, so it is not vegan friendly. A downside is the lotion is a bit thick upon application, so rub it in well, but it leaves skin feeling well moisturized and smooth. Perfect for dry spots on hands and elbows.
For more information on Küdos products, check out conceptamentities.com

4. Sudz Bar Soap In the Pink
Talk about heavenly. This small bar of soap makes your shower and body smell amazing after use. Unlike regular bar soap, this brand doesn’t dry out skin and makes skin feel incredibly soft. Lather on a lotion right after showering, and you surely will have the softest skin you’ve ever had. This product is made with organic palm oil and contains grapefruit along with alpha hydroxy acids to brighten skin. This product is 85 percent organic.
8 oz. is $4.49 on smartbomb.com

5. The Body Shop Cassis Rose Eau de Toilette
This cute mini bottle contains your own rose garden experience. A dark red bottle adds to the beauty of a perfume collection and smells just like a fresh rose. The scent is light, not too overpowering for those who are sensitive to perfumes and body sprays. Various notes in this product include raspberry, freshia, rose and violet. As a natural product, expect it to be light and not wear the whole day through.
1.0 fl oz. on sale for $5 on thebodyshop.com