According to ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy), a natural cosmetic is a preparation containing active substances parts of plants or plant products (juices, resins, fatty oils, essential oils and other similar substances) or their combinations, both in natural and processed.
In turn, the Committee of Experts in Cosmetic Products at the Public Health Committee of the Council of Europe distinguishes between 2 concepts:
- a natural cosmetic is a product made of natural ingredients obtained by physical methods, i.e. pressing, extraction, filtration, distillation, drying, microbiological or enzymatic methods. This product does not contain any impurities that could endanger human health
- an organic (ecological) cosmetic is a product whose natural ingredients come from organic farming and / or from a controlled wild harvest
How do I really recognize that a given cosmetic is ecological and natural?
We often come across various labels for cosmetics, such as Bio, Eco, 100% Organic, etc. However, the use of the name itself by the manufacturer does not mean that a given cosmetic is actually ecological or natural.
Is there a label that guarantees that we will find a natural, ecological product inside the packaging?
Yes, there are such markings (organization logo). They are broadcast by special organizations. These organizations define standards (requirements) for cosmetics, and compliance with them allows you to receive a certificate. Cosmetics (and product) or individual cosmetic ingredients can be certified.
What logos can we find most often on cosmetics packaging?
The logo of the certifying organization on the cosmetic packaging is a guarantee that the product complies with the standards of a given organization !!!
What logos can we find most often on cosmetics packaging?
COSMOS (COSMETICS ORGANIC STANDARD) means uniform standards for natural and organic cosmetics, in force since 2010. According to the COSMOS – standard, the cosmetic:
- natural contains min. 95% natural ingredients and max. 5% of synthetic substances. However, it does not have to contain organic (ecological) ingredients
- organic contains mini. 95% natural ingredients and max. 5% synthetic substances. In addition: at least 20% of all -natural ingredients must be of organic (ecological) origin, min. 95% of agro – ingredients processed by physical methods must be ecological, and min. 30% of the agro-ingredients processed chemically must be of organic (ecological) origin
SOIL ASSOCIATION (Great Britain, 1946) This organization certifies COSMOS standards, which is known all over the world as a certification body for organic and natural cosmetics.
ECOCERT (Organisme de controle et de certification) France (1991) – according to this organization:
- ecological and biological cosmetic consists of at least 95% of natural resources, of which at least 95% must come from organic farming
- biological cosmetic contains at least 95% of natural resources, of which at least 50% must come from organic farming
COSMEBIO (Association professionelle de cosmetique ecologique et biologique) France (2002) according to this organization, an ecological and biological cosmetic must contain at least 95% of ingredients of natural, natural or organic origin.
BDIH (Bundesverband Deutscher Industrie und Handelsunternehmen) Germany (1951) According to this organization, Kontrollierte Natur-Kosmetik, i.e. controlled natural cosmetics are those in which plant raw materials from controlled organic farming are used and certified wild harvest.
NA TRUE (Brussels 2007) certifying organization in 3 different categories:
- real natural cosmetics – meet all the basic requirements for natural cosmetics
- natural cosmetics with ecological ingredients – min. 70% of the ingredients must come from controlled organic production and/or controlled “wild” harvesting
- ecological natural cosmetics – min. 95% of the ingredients must come from controlled organic production and/or controlled “wild” harvesting
Other well – known certificates
What does the rabbit symbol or the abbreviation BWC mean on cosmetics packaging?
These symbols mean that the cosmetic and its ingredients have not been tested on animals. Moreover, such a cosmetic does not contain ingredients from dead animals. However, it may contain raw materials derived from live nimals, e.g. honey, milk, lanolin, beeswax. In addition, the symbol above means that the cosmetic has been certified by the IHTK (Internationaler Herstellerverband gegen Tierversuche in der Kosmetik), which means that:
- no animal testing has been performed from design through production to the finished product
- raw materials that were first tested on animals after 01/01/1979 were not used
- no raw materials were used, the acquisition of which would result in fatigue or killing of the animals
- no cooperation with companies that carry out animal tests or order them from other laboratories
What does the symbol “Vegan” mean?
It means that none of the ingredients used in the production of the cosmetic are of animal origin and have not been tested on animals.
Don’t be fooled, these logos are fake !
