How To Choose Organic and Natural Cosmetics Products?
What are natural organic skin care product certifications? What do all these signs stand for?
1. EWG VERIFIED™
EWG stands for Environment Working Group, founded in 1992. EWG VERIFIED ™ recognizes products that meet the strictest EWG standards for your health. This means that they use safe ingredients with no harmful "unacceptable" and "restricted" ingredients and operate with full transparency that we can trust.
- Products must score a "green" in EWG's Skin Deep® database.
- Products cannot contain any ingredients on EWG's "Unacceptable" list, meaning ingredients with health, ecotoxicity and/or contamination concerns.
- Products cannot contain any ingredients on EWG's "Restricted" list, which do not meet the restriction set by authoritative bodies and industry institutions.
- Products must follow standard ingredient naming guidelines.
- Products must fully disclose all ingredients on the label, including ingredients used in fragrance.
- Product manufacturers must develop and follow current good manufacturing practices.
- Products must follow the European Union's requirements for labeling fragrance allergens.
- Products must follow the European Union's labeling guidelines for nanomaterials used in cosmetics.
- Product labels must indicate an expiration date or a "period of time after opening."
- * Criteria do not concern sun protection efficacy.
For more information, you can refer here.
2. COSMOS
The COSMOS standard is a new cosmetic certification that was developed to harmonize various certifications and labels in order to create an internationally recognized standard for natural and organic cosmetics.
COSMOS-certified products are manufactured according to the highest standards for organic and natural cosmetics and are safe, effective and easy to use.
- Physically processed agro-ingredients – may be plant, animal or microbial origin but no GMOs, no critically endangered species, only products of (not a part of) animals;
- Chemically processed agro-ingredients – same as above, and the chemical treatments must respect the principles of Green Chemistry with the resulting ingredients complying with strict limitations of toxicity and biodegradability;
- Water – must comply with hygienic standards;
- Minerals and ingredients of mineral origin – must be of natural origin and may be modified with simple chemical reactions;
- Other ingredients – a very limited list of preservatives and some other ingredients and petrochemical moieties are temporarily allowed and are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account the availability of acceptable alternatives.
**The COSMOS-standard association consists of five founding members who now authorize and oversee the certification, including the Soil Association (UK), Ecocert (France), Cosmebio (France), BDIH (Germany) and AIAB/ICEA (Italy)
For more information, you can refer here.
3. ECOCERT
ECOCERT has specialized in the certification of organic agricultural products and was the first certification body to develop standards for "natural and organic cosmetics". It is a rigorous process consisting of an independent and impartial certification body that assesses the conformity of a product, service or system with environmental and social requirements set out in a standard.
- Environmentally-friendly production and processing processes respecting also human health.
- Development of the concept of green chemicals
- Responsible use of natural resources
- Respect of biodiversity
- Absence of petrochemical ingredients (except for authorized preservatives): parabens, phenoxyethanol, perfumes, and synthetic colorants
- Absence of GMO
- Recyclable packaging
For more information, you can refer here.
4. USDA Organic
The National Organic Program (NOP) develops the rules & regulations for the production, handling, labeling and enforcement of all USDA organic products. The organic standards describe the specific requirements that must be verified by a USDA accredited certifier before products can be labeled as USDA organic.
For a clear “organic” claim, the products must contain at least 95% organic content. 70% content required for “made with organic” claims. Water and salt are not included. The remaining 5% of the ingredients are subject to the "National List" of approved ingredients.
*Please note that the USDA organic seal does not specifically test for GMOs. In Europe, GMO’s are not allowed and the BDIH rules against its use.
For more information, you can refer here.
5. BDIH
The BDIH is the non-profit association of industrial and trading companies for pharmaceuticals, health products, dietary supplements and personal care products.
The criteria in the BDIH label are very strict - they must use high-quality ingredients from controlled organic cultivation or controlled organic wild collection and meet regulated packaging and production standards.
- Raw materials of plant origin: Raw materials of plant origin must originate from certified organic raw material, provided they consist of or are obtained from plants
- Raw materials of animal origin and animal protection: It is allowed to use substances that are produced by animals (e.g. milk or honey). It is not allowed to use raw materials obtained from dead vertebrates (e.g. emu oil, mink oil, marmot fat, animal fats, collagen or living cells). It is prohibited to carry out or commission another party to carry out animal testing – not only when manufacturing products, but also when developing and controlling the end products.
- Animal testing and raw materials: Raw materials that were tested on animals after December 31, 1997 must not be used.
- Raw materials of mineral origin: The use of inorganic and mineral salts, acids and bases (e.g. magnesium sulphate or sodium chloride) is generally allowed.
- Production processes allowed: Alongside physical processes – including extraction with water, vegetable alcohol, carbon dioxide, vegetable fats and oils, and glycerine obtained from these – enzymatic and microbiological processes as they occur in nature are also allowed for the production of natural cosmetics.
- Substances not allowed: Organic-synthetic dyes, Synthetic fragrances, Ethoxylated raw materials, Silicones, Paraffin, and other petroleum-derived products
- Preservation: For the purpose of consumer protection, the following nature-identical preservatives may be used if required: Benzoic acid and its salts, Salicylic acid and its salts, Sorbic acid and its salts, Benzyl alcohol, Dehydroacetic acid, and its salts
- Fragrances: Natural fragrances that comply with ISO 9235 are allowed. Fragrances of biotechnological origin may also be used.
- Radioactive irradiation: It is not allowed to treat raw materials of plant and animal origin or end products with ionizing radiation.
For more information, you can refer here.
6. Soil Association
Soil Association Certification is the UK's leading organic certification body - it certifies over 70% of the growing organic market, covering everything from organic food to textiles and organic health and beauty products.
The Soil Association is now working with the COSMOS-Standard Association to harmonize organic standards worldwide, so all products must be certified according to the COSMOS standards
For more information, you can refer here.
Certified organic and natural Korean cosmetics
1. Aromatica
1. Natural Coconut Cleansing Oil
A facial cleanser contains cold-pressed coconut oil from certified organic cultivation to gently dissolve makeup and impurities without drying or tightening the skin.
This hypoallergenic make-up remover is made with natural oils to nourish and replenish dry, tired skin and leave the skin silky soft and refreshed. It consists of 10% organic ingredients and 96.7% natural ingredients.
This is an organic moisturizer made with USDA approved organic aloe extract to soothe and rejuvenate irritated, damaged skin caused by sun exposure or free radicals.
Made from ceramide and naturally derived ingredients such as organic rosemary and lavender hydrosol. Made from 85.9% organic ingredients and 95.1% natural ingredients.
A high-potency serum is enriched with Bulgarian rose oil and USDA Approved organic aloe vera to protect the skin with antioxidants and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving uneven skin tone.
This anti-aging product smoothes and hydrates dull, exhausted skin. Made from 80.4% organic ingredients and 97.3% natural ingredients.
2. Benton
1. Goodbye Redness Centella Gel
A soothing gel calms and reduces redness, irritation and inflammation on sensitive, problematic skin.
Formulated with Centella asiatica extract that improves collagen synthesis and skin elasticity to help heal acne and blemishes, and prevent scars and future breakouts.
This skin-friendly vegan essence contains 500 ppm Ceramide Np to lock in moisture, soften skin and strengthen natural skin barrier.
Powered with fermented ingredients Galactomyces, which lighten uneven skin tone, and hyaluronic acid to retain hydration and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
This facial cleanser gently removes sunscreen, impurities and excess sebum while controlling sebum production.
Enriched with 70% tea tree water and tea tree oil, which has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties to help soothe acne, blemishes, redness and inflammation.
3. Chobs
1. Oganic Tea Tree Cleansing Water
This organic facial cleanser refreshes, brightens and rejuvenates tired skin and naturally removes make-up, dirt and dead skin cells without drying out.
This versatile product can be used as a facial cleanser / makeup remover or as a facial toner.
2. Organic Rice Bran Face Mask Pack
This sheet mask is formulated with organic rice bran extract, organic chamomile flower water, and organic rose extract.
Rice bran is very rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, which hydrates the skin and helps it retain moisture while chamomile flower water soothes sensitive and dry skin.
The rose water works as a natural astringent to help tighten pores, restore the suppleness for a glowing complexion.
3. Organic Aloe Vera Peeling Lotion
An ultra-gentle exfoliator contains only vegan ingredients— organic aloe vera extract, organic lemon exact, organic sweet almond oil.
This physical exfoliating product helps smooth, soothe, and nourish dull skin while gently removing dead skin cells without stripping the skin of natural oils.
4. Olivarrier
1. Emollient Extra Comfort Cream
A mild moisturizer helps nourish the skin and create the skin barrier to protect the skin from the harmful factors caused by stress or free radicals, for smooth and soft skin.
USDA-approved 20% organic shea butter, olive squalane oil and 5% vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) promote the reduction of inflammation, pimples and skin roughness and balance oil production.
2. Fluid Oil
Made from 100% natural EWG green verified olive squalane oil which is an excellent natural emollient that softens and smooths the skin.
This face oil helps restore the skin's barrier to prevent dryness and roughness without clogging pores or oily sticky residue.
3. pH 5.5 Dual Moist Toning Lotion
Formulated with only plant-derived ingredients such as olive squalane and micro-hyaluronic acid that moisturize the skin, increase skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
This slightly acidic formula helps restore the skin's natural pH balance and reduces irritation and redness.
