With a rising number of products now labeled “organic”, there is more confusion than ever about what this term actually means and how it applies to skin care products.
 
At its most basic level, the word “organic” refers to products that contain ingredients grown and harvested without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or plant growth regulators. Instead, organic farmers rely on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manure and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity to control weeds, insects and other pests. Worldwide, about 75 million acres of land are devoted to this type of farming, according to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture.
 
Unfortunately, many skin care products and cosmetics that are promoted as organic still contain harmful ingredients and so are not 100% natural. This is because in most countries, including the United States, there are no government-approved certifications or guidelines for beauty products so any product can claim to be natural or organic. In fact, the U.S. government cannot mandate safety studies of cosmetic products or ingredients, and only 13% of the more than 10,000 ingredients in personal care products have ever been reviewed for safety by cosmetic industry reviewers.
 
Because of this, a rising number of “organic” skin care products contain only a single-digit percentage of organic ingredients.
 
For example, one common ingredient used in “natural” beauty products is Sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate (SLES/SLS). Used often in anti-freeze and engine de-greasers, this ingredient can irritate the eyes and skin. However, because it is derived from coconut oil, some products simply list “coconut oil” on their labels when they actually contain SLES/SLS.
 
Other harmful ingredients often found in “organic” skin care products include ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben and isobutyl paraben or E216; these substances are commonly used as preservatives, even though they have been linked to different types of cancers.
 
Many consumers don’t understand that the word “organic” on a product label doesn’t necessarily preclude such ingredients. In the Organic Consumers Association’s January 2007 survey of 5,500 purchasers of organic products, nearly half of respondents said they thought that a product labeled as “Made with organic ingredients” contains either “all” or “nearly all” organic ingredients. In reality, however, most personal care products using this label are made up of 70% or fewer organic ingredients.
 
To help inform the public about the true composition of beauty products, the Environmental Working Group has established the industry’s first comprehensive online database of cosmetic ingredients. Called Skin Deep, it rates products based upon their potential health hazards and the degree to which those risks are unknown.
 
Skin Deep includes details on almost one quarter of personal care products currently sold, including 22,722 products with 6,771 ingredients. Since it was launched in 2004, consumers have used Skin Deep to perform more than 23 million product searches. Product categories covered include: makeup (blushes, concealers, mascaras, bronzers, glitters, eye shadows, eyeliners, foundations, lipsticks, lip liners and powders), skin care products (cleansing products, deodorants, feminine care products, hair removal products, medicated products, lip balms, lotions, sunscreens and sun care products), hair care products (shampoos, conditioners, scalp treatments, hair sprays, hair colors, relaxers, styling lotions, hair loss products, styling mousses), eye care products, nail care products, baby care items and oral care products.
 
© 2008 Paul Penders