Organic, Natural, Vegan, Cruelty-free: Beauty Product Labels Simplified

In pursuit of eliminating toxins from our daily routine and diet, and having a conscience about our impact on the environment, we are seeking out beauty products that reflect our values.  Every year more and more products hit the market claiming to address these ideas, but what do these labels mean, and who or what actually regulates them?  How does the normal consumer differentiate between these claims and how do we know they are true? 

Carefully reading the ingredient lists is often difficult when you are standing at a beauty counter, but doing a bit of research ahead of time can help you to know what brands to look for that are in line with your own values. 

Organic:  USDA Certified Organic means that a product contains 95% to 100% organically produced ingredients, and has been officially certified in the USA by the United States Department of Agriculture.  This means products that are formulated without parabens, pthalates, sulfates, or any synthetic ingredients.

Vegan / cruelty-free:  these products are not tested on animals and contain no animal by products including honey, dairy, or beeswax.  The ingredients may or may not be organic, so look for a separate certification on the label if you are looking for both cruelty-free and organic.  You can search by brand name and product type on www.leapingbunny.org, or download their app to search on the go. 

Other labels that confuse consumers are gluten-free and natural.  Just because a product claims to be natural doesn’t mean it doesn’t contain chemicals so be sure to read the label carefully, and don’t confuse natural with organic.  Gluten-free is another confusing label and not an issue unless you intend to eat your beauty products.  Buyer beware. 

There are brands that really do respect our health and the environment, and they are worth seeking out and supporting.  They are growing and expanding their products and are beginning to have an effect on the skincare and cosmetic marketplace, which is great news for consumers.  Using products that have less impact on our health and the environment is a win-win situation and makes the beauty industry more – not less – exciting. 

                                                          XOXO  Shelley

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