Sunday, February 22, 2015

How To Select Organic Skin Care Products Online

By Olivia Cross


Organic has become a politically correct word. It is commonly linked to environmental causes as well as many manufactured products, and is loosely associated with the concept of living in harmony with the natural world. Substances with that label should contain no artificial or synthetic ingredients considered to be health hazards, and buying organic skin care products online allows consumers to make well-informed choices.

Simply calling a product natural does not necessarily make it better. Advertisers capitalize on well-founded fears that humanity is systematically destroying its own habitat, and use that apprehension to sell cosmetics. Petroleum is a naturally occurring substance produced by decayed vegetation, but few people consciously think of gasoline or jet fuel as being good for the skin. When buying any product, it pays to read the label.

Carefully reading product labels gives consumers more of an advantage. In the food industry, the designation means that vegetables, fruits and animals have been grown and harvested in a pesticide-free environment. In cosmetic manufacturing, the definition begins to blur, and can mean nearly anything the manufacturer desires. There are no governmental agencies dedicated solely to regulating cosmetics, and few standards guaranteeing purity or efficacy.

Certification is not an exact science. Most companies set their own standards regarding the quantity and quality of natural substances, and the term is often applied to cosmetics containing only trace amounts of a featured ingredient. Most manufactured cosmetics are a combination of synthetics and natural substances, and few can claim to be completely free of all potentially harmful chemicals.

Even formulas containing naturally grown and produced plant extracts can be harmful to some individuals. Although names such as rosemary, sandalwood or eucalyptus sound warm and inviting, they can produce discomfort for those with sensitive skin. Some users actually experience more benefits and less irritation when using cosmetics made with synthetics, and a lockstep condemnation of those substances is not logical.

Before buying any product any consumer should carefully examine the list of ingredients on the label. Substances advertised as being all-organic are required to contain no additional ingredients besides salt or water, and must have been grown without pesticide use. The United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for regulating foods labeled in this fashion, and having its seal is a good indicator of a genuine product.

Substances that are not completely natural can still carry a similar label, but are allowed to contain ingredients grown using pesticides. A list of allowed materials in a particular product is usually available upon request. When buying cosmetics, a label may claim the product is made with natural substances, but in reality that means that up to thirty percent of the ingredients can be legally synthetic.

Purchasing these products on line gives consumers the advantage of being able to perform instant research regarding advertising claims. Having a particular designation or name does not mean that a product is well-made, or even as good as one produced using synthetics. If a product does not live up to its claims or actually causes damage, simply changing the label does not alter the consequences.




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