SHOP SMART : Know your CERTIFIED ORGANIC COSMETIC Labels

Looks like every other product on the cosmetic shelf is “Natural” or “Organic” these days. So what’s the REAL thing? With our blog post you’ll master the main Certified Organic Labels and spend your money on the real stuff.

You’re about to buy a product that says “Natural” and “Organic”, hoping to feed your skin the best. Then you flip the tube over and read the ingredients only to discover a couple of beauty nasties, known harmful chemicals and very little of the “Organic” ingredient. What to do?

How to shop for Organic Cosmetics?

Independent International Certification Agents check out the ingredients and the processes that go into creating cosmetic products (the same certification agents also check organic food).

Often, they are checking not only the ingredients themselves, but also the sustainable practices used in the manufacturing and recycling processes.

Shop smart : here are the main international Organic Cosmetic labels and logos that you’ll run into, and all the links to their standards so you can totally geek out!!!

Get into the habit of checking that your favourite face moisturiser or “ooh la la” cream is properly independently certified for organic and natural ingredients. There’s a lot of greenwashing out there but it’s relatively easy for the discerning customer that you are (by the end of the post you will be) to keep a lookout for one of the recognised organic cosmetics labels.

Certified Organic Labels for Cosmetics

Some of these labels are the same for cosmetics AND food.

Ecocert (international)

Cosmebio or Cosmos Organic (international)

Shop our Cosmebio / Cosmos Organic Certified Organic Skincare Range from France

NaTrue (International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association)

USDA Organic (USA Food and Cosmetics)

BDIH (German Food and Cosmetics)

IBD (Brazilian Food and Cosmetics, is main one for South America)

Soil Association Organic (UK Organic Food and Cosmetics)

Demeter (International)

Australian Certified Organic

BioGro (New Zealand food and cosmetics)

We’ve done our best to include all international certified organic labels for COSMETICS that we know of. It may seem pretty ‘euro’-centric, but that’s the reality of the certified organic and certified natural cosmetic market today.

Also, in certain countries, it is interesting to note that the words “Organic” and “Natural” are not regulated. This means that products claiming to be “Organic” or “Natural” could be misleading. We do hear about smaller manufacturers that don’t get certified, because it costs money and they are too small or just starting out. However, for any big brands, we believe it is clearly in the interest of the manufacturer to get their products certified. It shows commitment to be transparent and honest with the customers. It really helps consumers buy with confidence.

By now it should be second nature to you that buying supposedly natural organic cosmetics that do not have proper organic cosmetic labels affixed is a risky endeavour. Either it’s cheap and you’re just buying the plain stuff packed with the usual chemicals, or worse you’re paying top dollars for a poor pretender.

Here are a few extra labels that mainly are for food, but some may also be used for cosmetics, so we’ll add them here too. Great to know if you buy health supplements!