By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-08-27 08:08:40 | Word Count: 664
Certified Organic Cosmetics
Many cosmetic companies are following the organic cosmetic trend and trying to market their own products as such when in reality they are not. These manufacturers might adhere to just one or a few aspects of the organic cosmetic-making process. For example, a company might refrain from using preservatives in its products, but it uses laboratory animals to test out its products. The more regulations skin care products are required to adhere to, the more peace of mind the consumer can gain that he or she is using the most natural products on his or her skin. Certified organic cosmetics are products that adhere to the strict standards set forth by certification boards. In the United States, the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) typically oversees products that wish to gain organic status, but there are several other boards that govern the safety of health and beauty products. Four notable certification boards include ECOCERT, Cosmetique Bio, Bio Suisse, and Organic Soil Association.
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ECOCERT is actively involved in every step of the skin care product creation process. From the mixing of formulas, to the packaging of the products, this governing board sets forth strict regulations prohibiting the use of several specific chemicals commonly found in non-organic health and beauty products. A few examples include parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and propylene glycol. ECOCERT has a presence in 80 countries, so many of the products sold online from overseas distributors are also monitored by this certification board.
Cosmetique Bio is a relatively new organization created to promote ethical, certified organic cosmetics. This board heavily emphasizes the environmental impact of the products created, as well as the packaging in which they are sold. Cosmetique Bio, or COSMEBIO for short, does not allow animal testing for the products that it oversees, and it also requires that the packaging for the products is biodegradable or recyclable.
Bio Suisse is a private-sector, Switzerland-based certification board that goes beyond the government regulated mandates imposed on organic products. One noteworthy standard it upholds is the requirement to convert farm operations. Organic certification requires a minimum of two years which allows farmers ample time to convert their operations to Bio Suisse standards.
Organic Soil Association oversees not only cosmetics but also foods, medicines, and other products that benefit from organic farming. Since 1946 this organization has promoted education and policy supporting organic farming.
Organic personal care products have been around for quite some time, and fortunately, cosmetics are following that trend as well. Makeup products including mascara, powder, foundation, and lip color are worn by millions of women every day, so it is up to these certification boards to oversee the safety of the products marketed to these women. To ensure that the organic label on cosmetics is true, the consumer is advised to look for a label indicating that the product has passed strict inspection to earn its organic status. In a competitive cosmetic industry where many companies are passing off their non-organic products as certified organic cosmetics to expand their profit margins, knowing how to identify the authentically organic products is absolutely essential to the consumer’s health and safety.
