Organic Verses Natural
The term “natural” and “organic” are not the same. The market today is full of body care products labeled “natural.” Natural is merely an illusory marketing term which is not regulated in any way by the government.
A lotion, potion, shampoo, etc, labeled as natural does not necessarily mean it is mainly comprised of natural ingredients. Products labeled “natural” can often use synthetic preservatives and other un-natural chemical ingredients alongside plant ingredients. I believe I read somewhere that they only need to use 5% natural to label something “natural.”
Organic products, on the other hand, are made with ingredients grown without any synthetic chemicals, sewage sludge or GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) and are third-party certified. Organic products typically do not contain synthetic ingredients because a synthetic cannot be certified as organic. “Certified organic” means that an official certifying agency has approved that the producer has grown and handled the ingredients adhering to strict procedures. Only products which are grown according to the organic standards and verified by an approved certifier may be called organic or “certified organic.” All organic products must be certified as such to be called “organic.”
There is yet another term and that is biodynamic. Biodynamic is a method of agriculture, and a term coined by a Swiss organic skincare line. It is a holistic practice where all things are considered living inter-related systems- animals, plants and the solar system. Biodymamics is a sustainable form of ecologically responsible agriculture that predates the organic movement by replenishing the soil and adding vitaility to the plant, and or livestock. Unless you are looking at this particular line of Swiss skincare, my guess is that you are not going to come across the term “biodynamic.” But, in the event you do, now you know what it means.!
What does all of this mean? Make sure if you want pure, you go with organic as opposed to “natural.” The natural is probably going to be cheaper, but there’s a reason for that. It’s more than likely going to have ingredients in it that you don’t want to be putting on your skin.
