In a new era of consumerism, more and more customers are paying attention to what actually goes into the bottles of their toiletries and beauty products. However, rampant greenwashing is still continuing, where companies are misleadingly labelling their products as environmentally sound, organic or ‘clean beauty’, when they actually aren’t.
That’s because the beauty industry isn’t regulated and companies do not have to test products for safety, allowing all sorts of chemicals in beauty and skincare products. Thus, consumers have to be even more knowledgeable about the brands and products that they use on their skin.
Furthermore, the skin is the body’s largest organ and what’s being put on the skin gets readily absorbed into the bloodstream. Most of us however do not acknowledge this fact and are not mindful of what beauty and skincare products we use, that may directly affect our health.
Why Certified Organic?
Being certified organic ensures trust and reliability in the beauty products and brands that we purchase. This means that products go through a rigorous testing process that has been approved by international standards. Any company can label their products as organic, but being certified organic means the company adheres to a strict process from farming to harvesting, storage, transporting and production as a guarantee that the product is 100% organic. The company is subject to stringent audits by an independent third party to verify the purity and integrity of their ingredients. Companies spend a lot of time and effort to comply and maintain this certification to assure customers that they are purchasing pure and natural organic ingredients in their product.
Using certified organic beauty products ensures that you are not putting any toxic chemicals on your face. As this is one of the most visible and delicate areas of your skin, having a negative reaction to chemicals in your beauty products can be detrimental.
Moreover, as the beauty industry is not heavily regulated, you may not know what really goes into the makeup that you are using. Therefore, it’s always best to go for certified organic beauty products, especially if you have sensitive skin, allergies or other skin problems.
Toxic Chemicals To Avoid in Makeup
When buying makeup, it’s important to take note of what’s written on the product labels. Beauty products may contain many toxic chemicals that you want to avoid, such as the following:
Fragrances:
Fragrances are considered a cluster ingredient and can consist of over 4000 different chemicals. As these do not have to be disclosed due to proprietary reasons, as a consumer, you likely remain unaware of the actual ingredients they contain. What’s more is that fragrances are widely linked to allergic reactions, skin conditions, asthma and hormone disruption in the body.
Parabens:
Parabens are harmful chemicals that mimic estrogen and cause havoc on your hormones. They are notoriously difficult to avoid and are found in 70-90% of cosmetics. They can cause redness, allergic reactions and are often linked to breast and skin cancer. They are frequently labelled as methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl, butyl, isobutyl on the product labels.
Formaldehydes:
Formaldehydes are often included in skincare and cosmetic products to prevent the growth of bacteria, although they are known allergens and carcinogens and harm your immune system.
They are often listed as the following:
- DMDM hydantoin
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Methenamine
- Quaternium-15
- Sodium hyroxymethylglycinate
- Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol)
- 5-Bromo-5nitro-1,3-dioxane
Lead:
Lead is commonly found in over 61% of lipsticks, even in big name beauty brands. Lead is a neurotoxin and can lead to learning, language and behavioural problems. It also causes hormonal imbalances and can lead to infertility in men and women. Can you imagine the amount of lead that is being applied to your skin and even ingested, if you wear lipstick daily?
Carbon Black:
Used as the pigment for most cosmetics like eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, blushers, foundation and lipstick, this ingredient is formed from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based products like coal tar. It is also labelled as carbon black, D & C Black No. 2, acetylene black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and thermal black, and is linked to organ toxicity and cancer.
Synthetic colours:
Synthetic colours are also very common in makeup and beauty products. They are usually labelled as F, D or C, followed by a colour or number, and often originate from petroleum or coal tar, which give rise to the same health problems as stated above.
Which Certified Organic Beauty Products To Buy
Purchasing certified organic beauty products can give you a peace of mind. Looking out for reputable beauty brands that uphold quality and integrity in their ingredients can mean not having to worry if a product is safe to be applied to some of the most sensitive parts of your face, like your eyes and lips.
From the start, Miessence is the world’s first brand committed to using 100% certified organic ingredients in their skincare range since 2001. The brand has since developed a wide range of more than 100 products for skin, hair, body, oral and cosmetics. Their products only use 100% natural and organic ingredients and are based on the concepts of purity, potency and freshness.
They are dedicated to using food grade emulsifications, cold extraction therapeutic herbals, with 100% active ingredients, that are chemical and GMO-free.
Made with a few ingredients like sericite mica, zinc oxide and organic rose essential oil, this mineral foundation naturally reflects light, reduces the appearance of pores and provides lightweight but matte coverage. Due to its powdered mineral form, the formulation is breathable and smooth, coverage can be adjusted as needed, and is suitable for a natural, barely there makeup base.
This concealer contains 70% organic ingredients such as jojoba seed oil, beeswax and zinc oxide to cover all blemishes, lines and dark undereye circles for a smooth and finished look. It also provides UV protection to minimise early ageing from the sun’s rays. Apply under foundation and blend to even out skin tones.
Great for everyday use, this lip balm keeps your lips soft and smooth with shea butter, avocado and sunflower oils, that sound good enough to eat! Use as often as needed to naturally protect lips from getting chapped and dry.
Containing jojoba seed oil, mica and beeswax, this lip creme adds a shimmer colour to your cheeks and lips to brighten up your face where needed. This dual-purpose creme incorporates a natural blend of colour without any chemicals.
With the rise of more conscious consumers, many have begun to replace their makeup items with great certified organic beauty products and brands, and there are no shortages of them. However, to really gain from the benefits of organic beauty products, it is imperative to educate yourself on the importance of natural, organic ingredients, the process of how they are derived, and read the ingredient labels of your products carefully.