Organic Skin Care Myths
Organic skin care and organic makeup are the fastest growing segments in the beauty industry. They seems to be popping up everywhere as everyone wants a piece of the pie. No wonder that this phenomenon has produced a whole load of mythology around what organic means when it comes to skin care. Which is why I decided to go over some of my favorite organic skin care myths. I think it’s about time that we separate them from reality.
If it says “organic” or “natural” on the package, it’s a natural or organic product
Not necessarily. Especially when it says “natural”. First of all, the term “natural” bears no legal responsibility whatsoever, so plenty of unscrupulous manufacturers put it on concoctions full of synthetics, fragrances, colors, etc. Therefore to make sure you actually get natural or organic skin care, be sure to read the ingredients on the labels. (Here is a list of most common harmful ingredients in makeup and skin care products.)
“Contains Organic Ingredients” means that it is a fully natural product
You wish. It could be a 99.9% chemical cocktail with a 0.1% of extract from something organic. So read the labels carefully. This is a very popular gimmick, especially with the big mainstream companies trying to get a piece of the “green” pie.
“Certified Organic” means the product contains only natural organic ingredients
There are many different certifications. Most only require that a certain percentage of ingredients are organic. They also vary in strictness of policing. In majority of cases it’s a voluntary honor system. However some labels carry more value, such as BDIH from Germany. That is one of the most respected organic certifications for cosmetics in the world. (Read more about organic certifications.)
Organic skin care is way more expensive
Depending on what you compare it to. You can get great organic BDIH certified Weleda creams for the same price or cheaper than many creams at the local beauty counter. Aubrey Organics makes high quality organic products that are often cheaper than the regular drug-store alternatives. Even the top of the line organic creams such as those by Dr. Hauschka are easily comparable in price to department store brands. Plus you can always make your own recipes from seasonal affordable organic ingredients. Not all organic skin care needs to be store bought. Put your “green” on, plus some imagination, and a bunch of parsley may become the organic skin care miracle of the year.
Organic skin care products are always effective
Let’s not fall into the other extreme. Just because something is organic doesn’t make it automatically good for everything. Organic carrot is organic. If I shredded it and sold it as a shampoo, it would be 100% organic, but hardly effective as a shampoo. There are good products and then there are bad products out there. Finding the product right for your specific situation is a trial and error process, just like most things in life.
Organic products do not contain allergens
If you are allergic to almonds and your new organic makeup contains 100% organic almond oil, you’ll be allergic to it. So while it contains far fewer synthetic allergens, if you have specific food allergies, always double check the ingredients.
I don’t need to read the labels because the skin care industry wouldn’t let me put anything potentially harmful on my skin.
Where do I start on that one? First of all, you really need to READ THIS BOOK
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September 9, 2008 9 Comments
Review of Weleda Skin Food
Luckily for my risk-averse wallet, you don’t have to buy a whole bottle of an expensive cream to assess whether you’ll like it or not. Most skin care manufacturers also make those tiny little sample packs that the sales people usually carry (though they hide them behind the counter, and unless you ask, you’ll never know what they have). Weleda, though, has these tiny packs of their actual product in cute little tubes that have all the feature of the real thing (the box, the tube, and the no need to master the logistics of preserving the tinsy amounts of precious cream for future date in a flimsy paper pack…)
What I’m trying to say is that I went to one of my favorite “health” stores and saw a display of travel-sized tubes of Weleda products for a buck or two. Before I could stop myself, the Weleda Skin Food has found itself in my shopping cart, and a day later all over my face… Which is the basis for this report… As I’m sure you’ve already figured out.
But enough of the intro. Let’s get down to business.
Product name:
Weleda Skin Food (it doesn’t actually say “cream”) in English, but does in French…
What and who is it for:
The package states that it’s “for dry and rough skin”, which is ME! ME! ME!
About the brand:
Please consult my epos on Weleda. I can’t think of anything else to add to that monumental work and I can’t think of a reason why you shouldn’t read it!
Price:
Usually around $20 for 2.5 oz.
It is frequently on special here:
Weleda Skin Food
(they also have a smaller 1 oz tube
Weleda Skin Food - Small
though it is significantly bigger than the one I got).
Certifications:
BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetic
Packaging:
My sample tube is a “mini-me” of the real aluminum tube with lining (so no, you’re not putting aluminum on your face…) The tube is then in the box… Waste of material, if you ask me, but hey – it’s the industry standard. And the box and insert are fully recyclable, so don’t sweat it. I just like writing about it.
Reading the ingredients:
Water, sunflower seed oil, lanolin, sweet almond oil, alcohol, beeswax, glyceryl linoleate, hydrolyzed beeswax, fragrance, viola tricolor extract, rosemary leaf extract, shamomilla recutita flower extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, cholesterol, limonene, linalool, geraniol, citral, coumarin.
The fragrance and the last five ingredients are from natural essential oils. Of course, in the ideal world we’d have no alcohol… But the world is not quite there yet, so I’m not gonna be too picky.
Reading the insert:
“Weleda Skin Food nourishes, restores and protects the skin, maintaining the skin’s moisture levels and keeping the skin feeling smooth and supple. This intensively nourishing formula made with extracts of organic Pansy, organic Chamomile and biodynamic Calendula, is ideal for both children and adults. Skin Food is the natural choice for everyday care of the face and body. It is especially recommended for dry skin, particularly on the hands, feet and elbows.”
Scent:
When you apply it, you can smell a shot of orange. At least that’s what I think it is. A very potent shot of something citrussy.
Texture:
This took me by surprise. The cream is thick. I mean really thick. It doesn’t spread out the way all my previous creams do. It feels waxy when applying (which wouldn’t have surprised me had I read the ingredients first – beeswax!). Not moist at all. But once it’s on the face, it feels totally normal. So I think the texture basically means that you need more of it per application then you would of something like Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream, or you need to rub harder, which is not always a good idea when it comes to face. Perhaps that’s why they recommend it for hands, feet and elbows…
What does it do on the face:
Nourishes it. Plain and simple. No fluff. If your face is dry and rough (after a dry and windy day, for example), it will make you feel human again. This is also good for other body parts. I heard people rave about the miracle work it does to dry elbows… I haven’t tried it on my hands, as they have been surprisingly normal lately.
Verdict:
One of the more reasonably priced organic ventures. Hard to go wrong here. I think it’s a necessity – not for daily use, though, but for those extra dry and rough moments. Unless, of course, your dry and rough moments are a daily occasion.
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September 5, 2008 No Comments