The surprising truth about natural and organic beauty products
<p>Natural, organic, certified organic. These words are becoming more prevalent by day. And one area in which they are getting a lot of airtime is when it comes to beauty products. So what exactly does natural, organic and certified organic mean in the land of beauty? That’s a very good question. Over60 sat down with the founder of new beauty e-tailer, <a href="http://www.floraandfauna.com.au" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Flora and Fauna</span></strong></a>, Julie Mathers to sort fact from fiction.</p><p>With a curated collection of nourishing and failsafe natural and organic beauty products, Julie has lived a natural and vegetarian life for years. It was after shopping for a lipstick in early 2014 that spurred her to launch Flora and Fauna. “I realised that retailers make it hard for you to know what is in products and whether it has been tested on animals,” she explains, continuing, “I walked out of that particular store without a lipstick and with an idea.” <br> <br> Before Julie reveals her favourite natural products, let us explain to you a little bit about the green beauty industry in Australia. <br> <br> Australia does not have a government standard specifically for organic or natural claims in cosmetics. This means companies can theoretically place all sorts of “natural” and “organic” promises on their labels without having to prove them. However, we do have the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which offers some justice for false or misleading claims. But it’s up to the consumer to make a complaint before it can act, which places the burden on them rather than the manufacturer.<br> <br> As Mother Nature has a cure for almost everything, many beauty brands are now keeping their ingredients list as close to the earth as possible. But you’d be surprised at the amount of labels that use the words natural and organic and are neither of those things. So what really counts is what they don't use. “There are lots of nasties in beauty products and it is quite confronting when you know what is in what you use,” Julie advises. So what to avoid? Well, skip anything with unnecessary chemicals, fillers, parabens, or additives. “[At Flora and Fauna] we ensure there are no parabens and SLSs (sodium lauryl sulphates) in our products,” she enthuses. “These are two of the worst processed ingredients. SLS and SLES are known irritants; research has been done which has some links to carcinogens although other research says no.”</p><p><br> In any case, before you buy, it's important to know the rules and regulations around claiming to be natural, organic and certified organic. Julie warns, “If something is described as organic check the certification with the Australian Certified Organic. The guidelines are strict and they look at percentage of organic ingredients, processing, auditing, animal testing amongst other factors. Natural doesn't have the same strict criteria although it should indicate natural ingredients and minimal processing. Vegan must exclude certain processes and ingredients such as beeswax.”</p><p><br> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Here’s what you need to know about each green description:<br> </span></strong><br> Natural: As we stand currently, there are no regulations around the use of the word natural in the Australian beauty market. Saying that, truly natural beauty products should feature at least 90 per cent of naturally-derived ingredients and be free from all synthetics, but as there is nobody policing it in Australia, you need to be careful. <br> <br> Organic: A product is allowed to call itself organic should it be formulated using all natural ingredients, be free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, genetic modification and petroleum derivatives and contain between 70 to 95 per cent of organic ingredients. Only then should it carry a "Made with organic ingredients" statement, according to <strong><a href="http://www.australianorganic.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Certified Organic</a></strong> (ACO), one of the certifying bodies in Australia that grades organic cosmetics. If there is no endorsement logo, be wary about the validity of the claims.<br> <br> Certified Organic: In order for a product to receive certified organic accreditation, it must meet strict guidelines from a national or international governing body. It's important to note that, while very stringent rules apply, there is no one overriding accrediting body so all standards differ. According to ACO, in Australia, for a product to be able to call itself certified organic, it must contain at least 95 per cent organic content. Again the formula should be free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, genetic modification and petroleum derivatives. If in doubt, always check for the logo from an accredited certifier.<br> <br> Accredited organic certifiers: <strong><a href="http://www.australianorganic.com.au/" target="_blank">ACO</a></strong> (Australia), <strong><a href="http://www.organicfoodchain.com.au/" target="_blank">OFC</a></strong> (Australia), <strong><a href="http://www.ecocert.com/en" target="_blank">Ecocert</a></strong> (Europe), <strong><a href="http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome" target="_blank">USDA Organic</a></strong> (US), <strong><a href="http://www.nasaa.com.au/" target="_blank">NASAA</a></strong> (Australia), <strong><a href="http://www.demeter.org.au/" target="_blank">Demeter</a></strong> (Australia), <strong><a href="http://www.tasorganicdynamic.com.au/" target="_blank">TOP</a></strong> (Australia) and <strong><a href="/http:/www.soilassociation.org/" target="_blank">Soil Association</a></strong> (UK).</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Quick Q&A with Julie Mathers:</strong><br> <br> </span><strong>Why are non-natural and non-organic products so bad for you?</strong><br> <br> Sunscreen is a perfect example of where natural is best. Standard sunscreen is made from chemicals and designed so that when UV rays hit the sunscreen the molecules absorb the radiation through their chemical bonds. The components of the sunscreen then slowly break down and dissipate heat. In summary, you have a chemical reaction taking place on your skin! Whilst this happens, there is the possibility that your skin – your biggest organ – absorbs some of these chemicals and these have been linked to cancer and hormonal issues. However natural sunscreen contains zinc oxide that is a reflector and much better to use. <br> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> </span><strong>Natural vs. organic – what team are you on and why?</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span>I think it is crucial to understand what is in your beauty and skincare products. Some amazing brands are not certified organic because they are so small and the fees too high for certification. However they use some of the best ingredients. Always read the labels and always ensure you know the ethics of the company; research will pay off.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span><strong>What are you favourite products that you use and why?</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span>Vanessa Megan Blood Orange Body Wash is amazing. It has wonderful smell, gorgeous ingredients and it works. I also love Ere Perez's make-up range in general but the Almond Oil mascara is great. I have sensitive eyes and this does not irritate plus, my lashes look great. Another amazing product is Trilogy's Nutrient Plus Firming Serum.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span><strong>Since using these products, what changes have you noticed?</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span>My skin is less itchy and sensitive. I also find with Trilogy that my skin feels more hydrated yet moisturised. The products really do work. A lot of the changes I’ve noticed are on the inside. It’s great to know where my products are from and gives me assurance I'm doing the right thing.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span><strong>A lot of people think to go organic and natural, is expensive. Is this the case?</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span>You can spend a fortune on chemically engineered products whereas some of the natural ones aren't as expensive. Vanessa Megan creates some amazing perfumes. My favourite is Darling Natural perfume and this is $29.95, a lot cheaper than other perfumes you will find, and no alcohol. Of course some products are on the higher side but there is always a range.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span><strong>What products would you recommend to over-60s and why?</strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br> <br> </span>It depends on your skin type and your preference. We have a huge range of anti-ageing products on Flora and Fauna but there are lots of other beautiful products such as make-up, body washes, lip balms that are all wonderful for anyone. One product I would recommend though is rosehip oil – it’s great for lines, revitalisation and skin tone. It’s my secret weapon at night. </p>
