Should I buy Natural or Organic?
In the last decade, we have been bombarded by many food adverts saying organically
grown produce is better for us than those ingredients grown with the assistance of
chemicals. The same can be said for cosmetics; many people, daily use products without
actually knowing what they are putting on their skin. Why do you use it? Because
you are told that it will do this and that and we believe what the advertisers say.
However, in the last 5 years, more and More Cosmetic Companies Large and Small, like
myself have opted to change the way people see cosmetics. I run a small Cornish based
company called Tamar Valley Organics, formed in 2008. My ethos was to allow my customers
to know what was in my product. My products contain Natural and Organic ingredients.
Many people think that organic and natural means the same thing and to some extents
and in many instances it does. If something is billed as organic, then it is also
natural; but if it is a natural ingredient it does not mean it has been grown in
an organic way.
The current law does not require cosmetic companies to meet any formal
standards when it comes to using the term “natural” on their products. Unfortunately
this has led to many companies marketing their cosmetics as natural to cash in on
people’s desire to use healthier and chemical free cosmetics.
If you wish to market
your products as certified organic in the UK there are a few ways to do so. The Soil
Association will certify Cosmetics as Organic as will The Organic Farmers & Growers,
Obviously these will cost the manufacturer and that cost is then passed on to you
the consumer. However the other way is the way that my company, Tamar Valley Organics
use, as a small, one woman run business, I cannot afford to either raise my prices,
nor cover the outlay for certification, So I buy already certified ingredients from
my suppliers and list my ingredients as “certified at source” This means that all
of my organic ingredients that I use have already been certified organic, at some
point in their manufacture. However, it does not allow me to use any symbols such
as the soil associations logo on my products. Does that really matter! I think not.
If you have the product knowledge and can trace your ingredients back to source,
you are able to inform your customers if required to do so.
So what are natural cosmetics? Natural Cosmetics are a product that is free from parabens, synthetic preservatives, sulphates, animal products, or anything with suspected potential human health risks. All of Tamar Valley Organics products use natural Plant and Mineral Extracts, removing the need for Artificial Fragrances, Colourings, Parabens or Palm Oil, even though Palm Oil is a natural ingredient, unless you can guarantee that it comes from a renewable source, it is likely that it’s manufacture has impacted on the deforestation in the rain forests. Therefore to use palm oil in any cosmetic would have an environmental impact, so Tamar Valley Organics have eliminated its use in any of its products.
So how do you avoid all the scam products and only choose the real deal when it comes to natural and organic cosmetics, well look for the logos of The Soil association or Organic Farmers and Growers. If these logos are not visible, but the product says Organic, look at the ingredients and see if it states “Certified at Source”.
A good company, will be happy to talk to you and explain their ingredients. I have
made a list of all of my ingredients available on my website www.tamarvalleyorganics.co.uk
this lists all of the ingredients that Tamar Valley Organics use, their benefits
and whether or not they are natural and organic.
Remember Natural and Organic Cosmetics
do not have to cost you a fortune! Do not be drawn in to statements such as Organic
Natural Eye Cream will defy nature and make you wrinkle free! They will not, Large
Cosmetic Companies are looking for a profit, small companies such as mine and many
others are out there to help inform the customer that they have a choice! Tamar Valley
Organics products will help rehydrate the skin, help form a natural barrier and help
cleanse the skin by moisturising, using natural butters and oils. But they are not
an amazing miracle cure for wrinkles, but by keeping your skin rehydrated, you yourself
can prevent the skin from drying out and wrinkles forming. There are many of us out
there to choose from, smaller businesses such as my company Tamar Valley Organics,
make in smaller batches, so our customers get the freshest products on the market,
you get a one to one shopping experience and we can give you detailed information
on our products that large multi-
So Buy Natural or Buy Organic it doesn’t really matter which, just make sure that all of the unnecessary chemicals, have been removed and you really are buying a Natural product. But if there is one thing you should do and that is buy Local!
Written by Laurinda Taylor
Tamar Valley Organics, Cornwall, 01566 770860, www.tamarvalleyorganics.co.uk