Why Choose Organic Skin Care Products?
by Jayne Koedding T
oday, there is no need for even the most
skeptical individual to hesitate when introducing organic skin and hair care products into a daily routine. Organic products, which deliver corrective results comparable to those of cosmeceuticals, now use organic ingredients from whole foods and other natural sources. More effective due to the ratio of vitamins and other nutrients they contain, truly organic skin and hair care products and makeup are not only more likely to work in harmony with, but also provide healthy, safe and ultra-nutritious meals for the skin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) offers a special USDA Organic seal for skincare products that meet their specifications. Guidelines state that ed- ible plants must make up the majority of the ingredients and must be grown in ac- cordance with the Organic Food Produc- tion Act. This means that all USDA-certi- fied organic botanicals must be produced without conventional pesticides, fertiliz- ers made with synthetic ingredients, sew- age sludge, bio-engineering and ionizing radiation. As an environmental perk, all botanicals used must be cultivated in ways that minimize air, soil and water pollution, and cultivation methods must seek to restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.
According to the National Organic
Program (NOP), product labeling rules that must be followed in order to use the USDA Organic seal, a product claiming to be “100 percent organic” must use only organically grown plants. An “organic” product must contain at least 95 percent organically produced plant ingredients; the remaining 5 percent may be synthetic substances. A product “made with organic ingredi- ents” must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients; products contain-
28 Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
ing less cannot display the USDA Organic seal, nor can they use the term “organic” on the display panel. While reading
labels, avoid syn- thetic chemicals and ingredients that con-
tain petroleum derivatives from crude oil; artificial fragrances that can contain toxic chemicals, including benzene derivatives, aldehydes and other known toxics and sensitizers; and synthetic preservatives such as parabens. Two major ingredients to avoid in shampoos, as well as in face and body lotions and creams, are methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone. Skincare products are best when made in small quantities that are sold and used within six months. Although mass- produced commercial lines are generally preserved for one year, fresh, handmade specialty products can be preserved for six months. Boutique manufacturers can more easily produce a line of products that meet these requirements. We are faced with skin care choic- es that are similar to those involved when choosing our food: do we want a spongy loaf of bread preserved with chemicals that make it last for a long time, or do we prefer a nutritious and freshly baked loaf made with organic ingredients that tastes better, but hard- ens in a few days? Doing due diligence before choosing an organic skin care line, including spray tanning and hair care products, will help us to not only understand how the creams and lotions work, but also help us discover what we are feeding our skin.
Jayne Koedding is a licensed estheti- cian and owner of Organic Skincare & Bodyworx, 13240 Tamiami Trail, Ste. 207 (Royal Cove Shopping Center), in Naples. For more information, call 239- 514-4494. See ad, page 15.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72