Are the many abbreviations and markings on beauty products confusing you? While some brands label  “organically certified” ingredients in their products and classify them as ‘organic’, others may label ‘natural’ and ‘wildcrafted’ ingredients that may or may not be certified organic.

Let’s outline the difference:

Natural

‘Natural’ labels on skincare or haircare products generally mean the ingredients are derived directly from plants or earth minerals. An ideal natural product should undergo minimal processing so that its therapeutic properties are retained and preserved.

While reading the labels, you might get confused regarding real natural ingredients that may sound to be chemical-based. For example, Sodium Chloride is actually Salt, and Citric Acid can be extracted naturally from Lemons, Oranges and other citrus fruits.

Though the term ‘natural’ isn’t regulated by the FDA, it doesn’t mean that all products in the world that are labelled as 100% natural are frauds. Checking the labels is the best bet to choose real natural products. The ingredients are always listed from the highest percentage to the lowest, so choose products where synthetic products are totally absent or are listed mainly at the bottom of the list.

Have you heard about “Greenwashing”?  Greenwashing is deceptive marketing practice by certain manufacturers in which a product is promoted with the perception that it contains natural and environmental friendly ingredients. However, they are actually using either only a tiny/fractionally percent of a natural ingredient listed (not enough to  make any difference) or even simply using a chemical alternative form to make consumers believe they are buying a healthy product.

Organic

The term organic means that crops, herbs or botanicals used in products are USDA certified as ‘organically’ farmed in the USA.  The means derived from non-genetically modified plants (No GMOs), grown in certain ecological conditions and devoid of synthetic pesticides, and chemical fertilizers, which are proven to cause hormonal disruption and systemic toxicity.

Although the term Organic is regulated by FDA, the catch is that only 70-95% (and not 100%) of organic ingredients need to be certified organic. The result is that a certified organic product by the FDA can still have 5 to 30% of chemicals or adulterants. This not only affects the health of your skin and hair, but can also be toxic to the body and the environment in the long run.

What to look for..

The term ‘100% Plant-based’ generally means that the product is made from naturally occurring botanical ingredients. Natural, Organic and Plant based (plus wildcrafted, cruelty-free and synthetic-free) beauty products, such as those from Puraveda Organics, are completely sourced from nature and contain superfood ingredients that work wonders on the   skin, hair and body. These do not contain synthetic/chemical ingredients and do not cause damage to the body, including skin & hair.

It is always our priority to educate our customers  regarding the reality and terminology in the sphere of  natural and organic skincare and hair care.  Read more about  PuraVeda Organics company values on our FAQs page.