Organic vs Natural Beauty Products
The terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ are hot topics within the beauty industry these days. I want to help you decode the main differences between these terms.
‘Certified Organic’:
Is a term that is legally binding. A company can’t put the word ‘organic’ on their label without having the certification. This ensures that when you buy ‘certified organic’ the products have been farmed without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and that at least 70% of the composition of the product is from organic sources.
My favourite organic lines are:
Juice Beauty
Juice Beauty is USDA certified organic. Their goal is to make the cleanest makeup and skin care while having formulas that are as efficient as their more synthetic competitors.
Some of my favourite products from the line are:
– mineral sunscreen
– Illuminating primer. This product gives the skin a natural glow while soothing it with organic aloe vera juice
– cc cream. It boasts so many benefits for the skin while giving you the perfect amount of coverage
Dr. Hauschka
Dr. Hauschka products are natural and organic, and they also have added medicinal plant essences that are meant to improve your skin.
The Dr. Hauschka makeup line is one of my favourites in the organic category and they have a phenomenal skin care line as well.
Products are available at the Bay or well.ca.
Bite Beauty
The Bite Beauty line is organic and hand-made here in Canada.
Bite is known for their amazing lipsticks and their lip lab where you can go and formulate your own unique lipstick colour.
‘Natural’:
is a bit of a looser term and we do need to be a bit more wary of how it’s used. Companies do not have to outline the origin or percentage of the naturally derived ingredients they use to make their products with. Typically we see the word natural as a marketing tool because if we take a closer look at the ingredient list the natural ingredients used are just a tiny fraction of a percent.
There is no real information or guideline as to who can use the term Natural on their labeling and I really do urge you to please read the ingredient list before purchasing. As lovely as “all natural” sounds when buying a new beauty product is we have to make sure we aren’t just buying synthetic fillers.
Another difference between Natural and Organic is the origin of the naturally derived ingredients. The ingredients don’t have to be of the same quality as organic ones. Synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and GMO ingredients can be used.
A few of my favourite brands from the Natural category are:
Burt’s Bees:
I am loving the new all natural Burt’s Bees makeup line. Burt’s bees has really gone all out with trying to get their makeup line as natural as possible. The Burts Bees powders are mainly mineral-based and their website lists the ingredients for each product and the % of natural ingredients.
I was invited to the launch of the line and it was so interesting to hear their chemist Sabine talk about the process of making the makeup. They mainly use ingredients like olive oil and bees wax while ensuring it looks as good as competing synthetic brands.
If you want to check out my full review of the line click here : https://www.simplyshira.ca/burts-bees-makeup-line-review/
Bare Minerals
The Bare Minerals tagline is “makeup so pure you can sleep in it.”
Their makeup doesn’t just look good on your skin it’s also good for your skin. They prioritize the use of natural ingredients and are transparent if they have to use any synthetic ingredients. They don’t test on animals or work with any manufacturers that do.
Lise Watier
is an example of a company that adds a natural ingredient to synthetic ones to strike a balance between the two. Labrador Tea Extract is an extremely potent antioxidant that combats free radicals caused by pollution and UV rays and it also makes the claim of reducing the visible signs of aging. The Université du Québec à Chicoutimi compared the antioxidant power of cosmetic ingredients. They found Labrador Tea proved to be 3 times more active than Vitamin C and grape seed extract.
Here are three of their products that use Labrador Tea Extract:
Teint Age Control Supreme Foundation, $49 – This medium-to high-coverage foundation, with the power of skin care, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and visibly improves the skin’s elasticity. Its velvety and ultra-comfortable formula blends perfectly to reveal a matte, natural, and luminous finish.
Rouge Intense Supreme, $27 – One swipe gives an intense colour payoff and an incredibly comfortable feel.
Ombre Soufflé Supreme, $27 – This eyeshadow has an exceptionally silky and airy texture. Its long-lasting iridescent formula instantly brightens the eyelids for a luminous look.
If you have any more questions about the differences feel free to message me. I hope you found this helpful <3
Shira xo
