In recent years, personal care products advocating for natural & organic ingredients have become the crème de la crème when it comes to what we put on our bodies. We associate these words with the highest quality – and in our self-care routines, we only want the best. But for many, what defines natural or organic is kind of a mystery. And with companies using greenwashing to ride on le wave naturale, who can we really trust? As part of a search for safer & greener cosmetics, this article outlines the differences between natural and organic products in the cosmetic industry.

If you want to see the summary outlined in an infographic, scroll down!

So what is a ‘natural’ ingredient?

The word ‘natural’ in the cosmetic industry is a rather leniently used term; basically it comes down to whatever an individual considers to be natural. At its most fundamental, ‘natural’ can be defined as something found in nature, such as plants, animals or minerals. But this also includes the synthesis of natural ingredients To some, this is not natural. Also, using the strict definition of ‘natural’, something like petroleum would also be considered as such. Again, a lot of people wouldn’t define petrochemicals as natural. Unlike in the USA, natural products found in Europe are free from petrochemical moieties, preservatives and any denaturing agents from petrochemical origin.

Lastly, and perhaps the most suspect thing about natural products: there is no specified amount of ingredients required in order to label a product ‘natural’. So, let’s just say that it really depends on what you deem ‘natural’.

What defines ‘organic’?

Unlike with natural cosmetics, the standards for organic cosmetics come with a certified label that ensures the highest quality – from raw material to finished product.

The EU COSMOS-standard defines ‘organic’ through the adherence of four rules:

• Promote the use of ingredients harvested from organic agriculture – respect biodiversity.
• Use natural resources responsibly – respect the environment.
• Use processing and manufacturing practices that are clean & sensitive towards human and ecological health.
• Integrate and develop the concept of Green Chemistry*.
  * Green chemistry (also known as sustainable chemistry) aims to minimize the use of hazardous substances.

In Europe, this certification forbids organic ingredients or products from including any nano-materials, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), irradiation or animal testing. Using the term ‘organic’ on a product’s label means that it has gone through as little synthetic processing as possible.

Organic vs. Natural

How important is an ‘organic’ seal of approval?

Whenever we see a ‘certified organic’ label on a product, it means that human health,biodiversity and the environment have all been taken into account during the production process – which for many is a major concern, and one of the main reasons for making the switch to organic. This certification also questions how the ingredients have been cultivated.

To recap: as you begin to search for products that are as environmentally safe as possible, be aware of dishonest labeling practices, and always make sure that the product has an official seal of approval. After all, using healthy products tend to lead to a healthy body – and a healthier life for us all. 

Let us know: what’s important for you when it comes to your personal care products?

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Editor’s note: Originally published in October 2015 and updated in October 2018 for accuracy.