Is Organic Beauty Better?

By Maui R. Drilon for Yahoo! Southeast Asia

So many beauty companies have joined the “Green Revolution,” releasing beauty products that they claim are “natural” and “organic”. These products supposedly work just as hard, if not better, than their “chemical” counterparts.

There is, however, a price to getting beautiful the natural way – a hefty price tag at that – as these products cost double or triple. Which makes us ask the question: Are organic products really better, or are they all just hype?

First, let’s look at the facts: our skin is our largest organ, and it absorbs almost anything we put on it. Unfortunately, many of the beauty products we use contain chemicals that could be harmful to our bodies.

Pick up a beauty product and look at the list of ingredients at the back. Chances are, it’s filled with chemicals that you can’t even pronounce – and we’re willing to bet they contain ingredients like ethylparaben or propelyne glycol, which can be toxic in large amounts.

In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are more than 5,000 different fragrances in beauty products, some a combination of chemicals that research has found could be harmful to other organs in the body.

Now if you’re thinking of going the “natural and organic” route, you should know that the two mean different things.

“Natural” products are in theory, made up of ingredients that are “existing” or come from nature. “Organic,” on the other hand, are made of ingredients that are grown or cultivated without the use of chemicals.

But is it really worth the extra dollars?

Well, it really depends on you – although going organic certainly has its benefits, especially if you have sensitive skin. That’s because our skin recognises and identifies with natural products. So, the fewer chemicals there are, the better it is. 

Organic products also assure you that you won’t be exposing your skin to harmful chemicals such as parabens, which is used as preservatives in beauty products. Parabens have been found to cause metabolic, developmental, hormonal and neurological disorders.

There are also some people who patronise organic products for their social and environmental implications. The Mayo Clinic states that organic farming encourages soil and water conservation – non-organic products use petrochemicals that deplete the earth’s natural resources. Organic farming has also helped communities all over the world by providing jobs to locals.

But do organic products make a difference, beauty-wise? Many have said that organic products give the same results as its chemical-laced counterparts, and that it isn’t exactly more effective – which means what you’re really paying for is the peace of mind that you’re not exposing yourself to chemicals, and that you’re doing something good for the environment and society.

Also, organic products don’t have a long shelf life, since they don’t use industry-grade chemical preservatives.

Thinking about going the organic route? If you’ve got the extra cash to spare, by all means, go for it. But before you start grabbing products off the shelf, keep in mind that many companies call their products “organic” just because one or two of the ingredients they use are organic. The product itself however, still contains chemicals.

To make sure you’re getting the real thing, purchase products that are “certified organic.” This means that it has been certified by several international bodies, and follows the standard that 95% of the product must be made of organic ingredients.

However, you don’t really need to go organic just to take good care of your skin. Knowing what you feed your skin is the first step in proper skin care, which means get familiar with the ingredients of the products you use.

The next time you go shopping, pick products with few or no artificial ingredients. Always read the label to better understand what you’re buying –“derived from natural ingredients” obviously means the product is not “natural” at all. And besides, just because it’s “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe (Hey, tobacco and poison ivy are “natural,” right?)