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What are natural cosmetics actually?
Various care products for skin and hair claim the term natural cosmetics for themselves. There is currently no legal definition of natural cosmetics. Manufacturers who only add natural ingredients to a fraction of their formulation can already call this product natural cosmetics. Each producer can therefore have their products manufactured and certified according to their own guidelines. But where nature is in, the cosmetics can only be good, can’t they?
The good feeling is underlined with appealing pictures on the packaging and trustworthy ecological terms. We help you to see through the confusing natural cosmetics jungle.
Basically, the following applies: In natural cosmetics, natural and nature-based raw materials are used as the basis of the recipe. The focus is also on resource conservation. Thus, value is placed on careful handling in the production of raw materials and in production. The product itself and the packaging should be biodegradable.
These substances should not be found in natural cosmetics:
Even if there are no legal requirements – these manufacturing criteria and ingredients should not exist in good natural cosmetics.
- Synthetic oils, waxes, fats or silicones
- Dyes (aromatic amines) and pH stabilizers (ethanol derivatives and ethanolamines)
- Mineral oil based ingredients
- Few synthetic ingredients such as chemical agents and sunscreen filters
- Preservatives such as formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde releasers, EDTA complexing agents
- Antimicrobial Preservatives (Halogenated Organic Compounds)
- synthetic fragrances
Decisive criteria for natural cosmetics
- Without genetic engineering (raw materials and production)
- Without radioactive irradiation of the ingredients
- Environmentally friendly production and processing of the product and the individual components
What is natural cosmetics?
You can find a large selection of so-called natural cosmetics in every supermarket and drugstore. Natural cosmetics are increasingly being produced with plant-based substances and only a few synthetic substances. Nevertheless, these products are not natural cosmetics that meet the guidelines of the various test seals. It is not legally specified how high the proportion of plant substances must be for a product to be considered near-natural.