10 All-Natural Makeup Brands to Fall in Love With
If you’ve ever considered making the switch to natural or organic beauty products, you’ve no doubt experienced a bit of confusion as to what these terms truly mean. Though “eco-friendly” cosmetics have been increasing in popularity over the past few years, the jargon surrounding them can be misleading. Despite their differences, natural and organic are frequently used interchangeably — and ambiguous packaging often fools consumers into buying something that wasn’t what they’d hoped for.
As with many things, being an informed consumer is key when buying cosmetics. Let’s take a closer look at the terminology surrounding the multiple “all-natural makeup brands” flooding the market.
Natural, Organic & Everything In Between
For cosmetics to be considered “natural,” their ingredients must be sourced from nature rather than created synthetically. Unfortunately, the term natural isn’t currently regulated by either the USDA or FDA. As such, products with low concentrations of natural ingredients can still be advertised as being “natural.” When buying products with this label, you’ll want to study the ingredient list. Since ingredients are listed from highest percentage to lowest, set your sights on products that have synthetic ingredients at the bottom of the list (if they’re included at all).
Organic cosmetics are another beast entirely. To advertise as organic, companies must first have their products certified by the USDA. Products featuring a USDA Organic Seal denote an organic content of 95 percent or higher. Products containing 70 percent or greater organic composition can be labeled “Made with Organic Ingredients.”
It’s important to be aware that cosmetics made with “organic” ingredients aren’t necessarily any safer for consumers than those made with ingredients from other sources. There are many naturally occurring substances that are toxic and synthetic substances that can save lives. As it currently stands, every single ingredient in all cosmetic products is subject to the same safety requirements under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).
During your hunt for consumer-friendly cosmetics, you may also encounter the terms cruelty-free or vegan. Though these are not synonymous with “natural” or “organic,” there can definitely be some overlap. Cruelty-free cosmetics are those that have not been tested on animals. “Vegan” cosmetics are free of animal products and byproducts. Though all vegan cosmetics are cruelty-free, not all cruelty-free cosmetics are vegan. It is possible for both vegan and cruelty-free products…
