Beautiful skin, anti-ageing and more - using active ingredients from nature in cosmetic products is becoming increasingly popular. The aim is both to avoid burdening the skin with synthetic substances and to protect the environment from unnecessary pollution such as microplastics. But what should you look out for in natural cosmetics?
First things first: natural cosmetics or organic cosmetics are not legally protected terms. It is therefore advisable to check the respective ingredients very carefully and to use natural cosmetics labels as a guide.
In the case of certified natural cosmetics, manufacturers must adhere to corresponding standards that go beyond the legal requirements. These include the following provisions, for example:
- Petroleum-based ingredients, silicones and polyethylene glycols (often used as emulsifiers or foaming agents) are prohibited
- Many problematic substances for the environment and health, such as mineral oil-based microplastics and many preservatives, are also banned.
- Natural raw materials such as vegetable oils may be modified by defined chemical reactions.
- Only very few chemically produced substances such as some pigments and nature-identical preservatives are permitted.
- There are stricter bans on animal testing than required by law.
- Most seals also require at least some of the ingredients to come from organic farming.
The most important seals:
The NATRUE seal is widely used in Germany. The European natural cosmetics seals ECOCERT, BDIH, Cosmebio and Soil Association Organic have jointly established the COSMOS standard. The "demeter" organic seal also distinguishes natural cosmetics.
