Last Saturday I was invited to talk to a group of ladies about natural skin care.  I was quite surprised to find most ladies completely uncertain about the difference between organic, certified organic, and natural. 

I have been working in the field of skin care for 13 years by now... goodness, time does fly!  I mainly serve my personal clients, research the new trends and traditional methods, and write articles... not to mention conducting all the tests on my own skin.  I was a bit unprepared about the vastness of the want of knowledge on this subject among modern ladies.  Though, when I start to think about it, there have been so many different views displayed in the media.  The pharmaceutical companies and doctors who only believe in healing (though, it does not really provide healing, so, I should use another word... fixing a problem short term would suit better) through synthetic medications, firmly hold on to their court, claiming that synthetic is as good as organic... or even going as far as to say that organic doesn't work.  So, who should be believe?

I can only talk through my own personal experience and research... and logic.  No synthetic substance works long term.  It can fix a problem short term, but when we have a problem, it reveals the need to change a habit.  In our modern society we are constantly on the run, having no time to calmly think and change our bad habits.  Unfortunately, this results in more problems and greater need to fix them.

We have to understand that we catch a flu, we catch a cold or a virus, but we ourselves develop a cancer, type II diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease etch.  (Yes, I know that some people are genetically more prone to a certain disease, but we can still avoid it!)  Each of those diseases hide (develop) for a long period of time, about 8 to 12 years, until doctors are able to detect them through their equipment.  When they detect it, the disease is already in full bloom.  So, the greatest favor we can do to ourselves is to change our bad habits.

I know, I did pick a serious subject, but it is very important for us to understand those things.  Our health depends on them. 

What is Skin?
Skin is not a tight stretchy material that holds our organs and bones in place, it actually is a living organ.  Our skin is the largest eliminatory organ in the body.  It is a two-way membrane.  Toxins are eliminated through the skin via perspiration and absorbed through the skin, into the body’s systematic circulation, through hair follicles and sebaceous glands.  One square inch of skin contains 65 hairs, 100 sebaceous glands, and 650 sweat glands.

So, as our skin is a living organ, with the function of eliminating toxins from the body, and also absorbing those substances that are applied to it, we should begin our skin care regime from there.

Do Skin Care Products Absorb into the Body through Skin?
Cosmetic manufacturers are not supposed to claim that their products penetrate our skin.  If they did, the products would then be labeled a „drug” and henceforth be governed by much stricter regulations.  This is both good and bad.  Good because it means our skin can be nourished from the outside with some wonderful ingredients.  Bad because it means some cosmetic manufacturer can put into their products that which would never be allowed to be taken orally, but are still absorbed into our system, through our skin.

What does „Natural” and „Organic” Mean on Product Labels?
Nowhere does the idea of „natural” or „organic” take a more gratuitous bruising than the cosmetics industry.  At present there are no laws that restrict the use of those words on personal care and home care products.  So, they are widely used to describe even those products that hardly contain anything natural.

If we look at the term „natural” we probably define it as „existing in, or formed by nature; not artificial”.  Many labels have long lists of chemical names, some followed by the phrase „derived from ...” (some natural substance).  This is misleading to consumers. 

When chemicals such as Cocoamide DEA or Sodium Hydroxysultaine are followed by the term „Derived from coconut oil” the consumer is led to believe that these synthetic chemicals must be natural.  While this may be true in some cases; it is ultimately irrelevant because what you end up with after the chemical processing is usually anything but natural or pure.

For example, to create Cocamide DEA, a foaming agent in some shampoos, requires the addition of a synthetic chemical and known carcinogen, Diethanolamine – DEA, to the coconut oil.  It is therefore no longer natural, or safe!

If we look at the term „organic”, we usually think it means „grown and cultivated without the use of chemicals”.  That is the conclusion most cosmetic companies would like us to make when we see the term „organic” on a label.  Some of those companies are cynically using the chemistry definition of „organic” – meaning a compound that contains a carbon atom.  Carbon is found in anything that has ever lived.  Bu using this definition of organic, they are saying that a petrochemical preservative called Methyl Paraben is „organic” because it was formed from leaves that rotted over thousands of years to become crude oil, which was then used to make this preservative.

An increasing number of companies are now claiming to use „organic” herbs in their products.  But what about the rest of the ingredients?  Are they safe? 

Isn’t There an Authority That Governs the Use of the Term „Organic” On Labels?
The simple answer is NO.  However the term”certified organic” IS governed by a number of internationally recognized bodies.  In Australia, Australian Certified Organic (ACO) is the largest, in Japan - JAS, in USA - USDA, international - IFOAM.  Searching for products with the logo of a certifying body on the label is the only way you can guarantee the organic authenticity and integrity of every ingredient in the product.  Without this, the organic claim means nothing, as it cannot be verified. 

How Do We Know What We Are Buying is Really „Natural” and „Organic”?
Fortunately, there is a very simple way to differentiate between hype and truth in cosmetics – and that is to read the ingredient list on the label.  It is a legal requirement that all skin care products must be labeled with the ingredients in descending order of their quantity in the product.  A good rule of thumb is to divide the ingredient list into thirds: the top third usually contains 90-95% of the product, the middle third usually contains 5-8% and the bottom third, 1-3%.

Is Organic Really Better?
Organic produce contains several times greater amounts of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements than traditionally grown produce.  Even when You find no synthetic chemicals on the product label, the traditionally grown ingredients still contain synthetic substances from the herbicides and pesticides that the plants have been sprayed with.  To give You an idea, a traditionally grown apple has about 20-30 different toxins sprayed on it, in order to kill all the worms.  Unfortunately the toxins also kill many healthful substances in the fruit.  So, organic product, on top of containing more healthful elements per ingredient, does not contain harmful toxins. 

But Isn’t Organic More Expensive?
No, it is not.  When You buy a "certified organic" product, You actually pay less than for a supermarket bought beauty- or home care product that contains very little natural ingredients.  In a "certified organic" product, You receive many times more vitamins, minerals, enzymes, trace elements in one jar than supermarket products contain in tens of jars together. 

Over and over again people come to me with skin problems that have been created by synthetic preservatives and other substances in their skin care products.  Those problems are most of the time quickly eliminated by a pure product.

Are Those Claims Scientifically Proven?
I recently read an interesting study conducted by scientists in Rutgers University in USA. Before these studies were carried out the idea that organic crops were nutritionally superior was widely accepted on faith alone. People hoped that the effects of organic cultivation were better for the earth. In recent years this has been proven time and time again.

Researchers at Rutgers University in the USA, intrigued by the emphatic claim that "Organic is Better", decided to shop around for some answers. They went to a supermarket and purchased a selection of produce which they analyzed for mineral content. They then went to a healthfood store and purchased the same products but grown organically and carried out the same tests. The Rutgers' team expected the organic produce to be slightly superior in this comparison, but the results were incredible:

So, organic really is better!

My question is: What Does Your Skin Eat?
Remember: all You put on Your skin will be absorbed into Your body or it will stay on top of Your skin as a tight, impenetrable film.  If You do not wish to buy organic personal care products,  I urge You to rather make Your own beauty care product than buy the synthetic.  It does make a difference!

Please, check out the certified organic product range that I have chosen for my own use and to fulfill the strict demands of my clients.  It contains even no man-made emulsifiers nor glycerine, ingredients, that are still present in most organic ranges.  We offer a discount program for our clients.  Even better, You can get greater discounts when ordering a small amount monthly.  If You have questions, send me an email.

You are more than welcome to copy this article, but You are requested to add my name - Eve Juurik- and my website address - http://www.TheSpringOfLife.net - to the article.  All the material is copyrighted.  Thank You!

I wish You many blessings and greater health in Your body and skin,

Eve