Organic Certification
Why organic skin care?
Many high-street brands use large amounts of synthetics and chemicals in their products, which over the past few years have been increasingly linked to health scares. The skin is the largest organic of your body and is able to absorb everything put on it which can then be transported to the blood vessels and around the body. Whilst only small amounts may be absorbed; with use of several non-organic products daily over a lifetime there is an obvious cumulative effect, which may lead to skin sensitivities such as eczema, psoriasis, and worst of all may contribute to cancer.
Babies and children are much more susceptible to developing skin allergies and therefore adopting an organic skin care is vital for skin care and health. Check out our organic children and babies section
In choosing organic and natural skin care you are also supporting the environment, flora, wildlife and the water pollution.
Soil Association (UK)
Organic skin care beauty products that possess the Soil Association symbol are subject to stringent criteria. All products must contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients. Some products with less than 95% organic ingredients may carry the symbol but must state what the percentage of organic ingredients are, and that percentage may not be less than 70%.
Non-organic ingredients must be non-GM or from a restricted list of synthetic chemicals that have been assessed for safety and minimal impact to the environment.
Mild naturally derived anti-oxidants such as tocopherol and asorbic acid are permitted under organic food standards to aid the preservation of the product.
However, water-based organic skin care products must have some minimal preservatives to stop bacteria forming. Again naturally derived anti-oxidants, grapefruit seed extract and decly glucoside are all-allowable.
Products with soil association certification can be found in Green People, Kristin Bailey and Organic Pharmacy.
For more information on the Soil Association and their standards please click on the following link. www.soilassociation.org
Ecocert (Europe)
Ecocert is the leading certification body in Europe servicing more than eighty countries. Products must contain a minimum of 95% natural ingredients, 10% minimum certified organic ingredients and 95% certified organic plant ingredients. There are strict standards for packaging and manufacturing which includes a full plant inspection.
Products with ecocert certification can be found in Barefoot Botanicals and Elysambre.
For more information on Ecocert and their standards please click on the following link. www.ecocert.com
BDIH (Germany)
The BDIH have strict criteria for certification. Consideration is given not only to organic ingredients but products must be cruelty free and environmentally aware. The BDIH encourage social responsibility with third world and fair-trade support.
For more information on BDIH and their standards please click on the following link. www.kontrollierte-naturkosmetik.de
Products with bdih certification can be found in Lavera and Dr. Hauschka.