When you see the word ‘organic’ on a bottle of shower gel or shampoo, you will naturally assume that you’re buying a product that’s good for the environment, free of harmful and artificial chemicals etc – think again!
According to the Soil Association, the UK’s largest organic certification body, misleading product labels mean that many of us are covering our faces, bodies and hair with possibly harmful chemicals – and we don’t even know it. There is currently no legal definition for organic cosmetics and beauty products, meaning that any company can describe its products as organic regardless of how the product was made or how much organic material it contains.
Recently the Soil Association introduced its COSMOS natural certification for beauty products, which guarantees:
– NO Animal testing
– NO GM ingredients
– NO Controversial chemicals
– NO Parabens and Phthalates
– NO Synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances
UK based Neal’s Yard Remedies offers the world’s largest collection of Soil Association certified, organic health and beauty products, and use a clear labelling system to detail exactly which products are organic.
The Rose & Geranium Body Polish carries the Soil Association label, together with being cruelty free, approved by the Vegan and Vegetarian societies and being an ethically approved company. Not only that, it smells utterly lovely with aromas of the rose and geranium, leaves skin feeling smooth and doesn’t irritate sensitive skin – a must have product in the bathroom.
Another UK company, Green People, was created by its founder as a response to the lack of gentle, natural products on the market, which spurred her on to create her own organic creams and salves, carefully tailored to her daughter’s allergy-prone skin. The company achieved certification with EcoCert in 2009, making it the only cosmetics company to be independently certified by three different certification bodies.
Its Green People for Men – No. 6 Detox Shower Gel is similarly certified. It is very gentle and calming on the skin (and hair), smells fantastic, with a good lather, making a little go a long way.
