What to look for in an organic skin care product

With the hundreds of natural and organic brands currently on the market worldwide, how do you really know which is the right product for you? Well, there are several things to look for and by following these guidelines, hopefully you’ll find the product that suits your skin and your budget!

1. Look for organic certification. If a product is truly organic, it will contain over 97% certified organic ingredients PLUS be manufactured in a facility that is also certified organic. The label will display the logo of the certifying body. There are many products out there that claim to be organic, but may just contain a large percentage of organic ingredients. Some brands only contain one or two organic ingredients, but still claim to be organic. However, this organic certification comes at a price. Fully certified organic products are usually twice to three times the price of conventional skin care.

2. Look for products that contain a fairly natural preservative such as sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, tea tree preservative or citrus seed/grapefruit seed preservative, potassium sorbate. These preservatives are refined from natural botanicals and are just as effective as traditional preservatives such as parabens – but without the bad press!

3. Look for products that have not been tested on animals or that use animal ingredients.

4. Look for botanically-based or ‘vegetarian’ products.

5. Look for products that use recyclable packaging or that use minimal packaging.

6. Look for products that use ingredients that have been sourced locally, or traded fairly.

7. Look for products that list ALL ingredients.

Finally, if a fully certified organic product is out of your price range or budget, there are several brands out there that may not be certified organic but that use largely organic ingredients, are vegetarian and contain a natural preservative. All you really need to do is research your needs and research the market to find a product that meets them.

Gabrielle Edwards is a work-at-home Mum, teacher and small-business owner with an interest in organic and natural living. She owns her own eco-store which specializes in organic and natural skincare, babycare, cosmetics and bodycare. www.skinorganicsonline.com