Difference between organic and natural cosmetics?

We must differentiate between organic & natural cosmetics. Natural cosmetics contain natural ingredients but may also contain synthetic ingredients. It may also contain ingredients not authorized by the organic cosmetic charters. Thus, a natural product may contain 95% of natural ingredients but 5% of controversial ingredients such as phenoxyethanol or parabens, silicones or PEGs.

An organic cosmetic is by definition a cosmetic made of natural ingredients to which a minimum percentage of ingredients grown according to the principles of organic agriculture is imposed. This percentage may change from one certification to another and the charters are more or less strict. An organic cosmetic is therefore a natural cosmetic, which goes even further in the search for naturalness with the integration of organic ingredients in its composition.

Apart from the composition, organic cosmetics favors as much as possible a manufacturing method that respects humans & the environment: dangerous and polluting ingredients are banned. In terms of ecology, organic cosmetics will not use non-renewable resources such as petroleum (and plastic derivatives) to create its products.

Organic cosmetics = more “real” for the consumer

The standards of the organic cosmetic charters being stricter than in natural cosmetics, and even more so than in conventional cosmetics, the manufacturers of organic cosmetics focus on useful ingredients. You will often find in organic cosmetic products vegetable oils, plant extracts, essential oils, or hydrosols.

When a conventional cosmetic uses water in its formulations, an organic cosmetic generally uses hydrosol. Also, when a conventional cosmetic uses petroleum derivatives to form a protective film on the skin (silicones, mineral oils such as kerosene), an organic cosmetic uses natural ingredients more useful for the skin: vegetable butters and oils, beeswax or vegetable wax, aloe vera gel. Thus, the ingredients used in organic cosmetics are more expensive but with more benefits for the skin.

In conventional cosmetics, emulsifiers (which bind the aqueous phase and the oily phase together) are generally PEG (extremely polluting plastic derivatives). On the other hand, in organic cosmetics, emulsifiers are of natural and vegetable origin (sugar esters for example).

Organic cosmetics without any labels?

With the advent of organic cosmetics in recent years, greenwashing is becoming more and more present. Many brands do not hesitate to play on words, even if it means confusing the consumers. To make your choice, we advise you to trust the many certifying labels that exist.

At Ayda, we have several certifications :

• Cosmos Organic and Slow Cosmetics for all our products
• Nature & Progrès for our soaps and solid shampoos

As a certified brand, we offer you the best possible products, associated with the know-how of French cosmetics. We guarantee this thanks to the recurrent controls of our entire production chain carried out by independent and qualified auditors. Thus, the auditors control the packaging unit, the producers of the ingredients used, the packaging elements and also the labeling. In addition, we participate in the development of the organic farming sector.

List of organic labels to trust

Each certifier has its own charter and its own specifications. For example, there may be differences in the minimum percentage of natural and organic ingredients. Also, the manufacturing methods or the list of non-authorized ingredients are different between the charters.

The two most famous certifiers are Ecocert and Cosmecert. For example, most of our products (such as prickly pear oil) are certified by Ecocert.

In addition, to obtain the Cosmos organic label, the product must contain at least 95% natural ingredients or ingredients of natural origin (water and minerals are considered natural). Also, the cosmetic product must contain at least :

• 95% of plant-based ingredients from Organic Agriculture
• 20% of the total ingredients from Organic Agriculture (excluding water and minerals, which are not certifiable) and 10% for rinse-off products

For the rest, there are other French labels, with other requirements and specificities.

Other organic labels & mentions

The Slow Cosmetics label, for example, is based on 4 pillars, which go beyond the composition of the product. In its charter, it also has a list of prohibited ingredients. But it will also focus on the ethics of the brand and its marketing practices.

The Nature & Progrès label has the strictest specifications.

100% of the plant-based ingredients must be organic and the cosmetic must contain a minimum of 95% of ingredients of natural origin. The cosmetics must not contain ingredients of synthetic origin or synthetic colorants. Also, they must not contain ingredients from petrochemicals, palm oil and derivatives.

There are also other labels in Europe: BDIH (Germany), Natrue (Germany), Soil association (United Kingdom). But also in the United States : USDA organic.

Good to know : A certified organic cosmetic product may contain up to 5% of ingredients of synthetic origin, depending on the label. That is to say obtained by transformation. These ingredients are not harmful. They must be part of the ingredients authorized in the specifications of the certifying bodies.