What is organic skin care and why it might be better for your skin

Organic skincare is skincare that contains natural and organic ingredients grown without harsh chemicals, GMs, fertilisers and pesticides. Read on to discover the difference between certified organic and organic skin care and what they can do for your skin. 

What does organic mean

Organic farming means not using artificial fertilisers or synthetic chemicals. It does not use genetically modified foods, growth promoters or hormones. Usually, a government approved certifier inspects a farm to ensure it meets ‘organic’ labelling standards. 

Certified organic skin care products are the best way to get your hands on truly natural and safe products. Certified organic skin care is an industry that's growing rapidly, and it's no wonder. After all, consumers are looking for more natural ways to stay young and healthy, and certified organic skin care offers the best combination of effectiveness and safety.

What is organic skin care?

Organic skin care is made from ingredients that meet the same standards as organic food – grown without pesticides, harsh fertilisers, and toxic chemicals. Organic skin care ingredients tend to be higher in nutrients and free of chemical residues that can irritate or harm the skin and body.  

Organic skin care products are some of the most sought after in today's beauty market. As they made from ingredients grown without pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, when you use organic skin care products, you're getting a product that is not only good for your skin but also good for the environment.

Organic skin care products are different from their chemical based counterparts in a number of ways. Where chemical products can irritate your skin, organic ones tend to be much gentler and more soothing. They're often made with ingredients like aloe vera and shea butter, which have long been known to have positive effects on skin health (and they smell amazing). This is because chemical companies use synthetic fragrances instead of natural ones - making them less effective at battling bacteria and more likely to cause irritation.The bottom line? If you want healthier, happier skin, go with organic!

Organic skin care products are also certified by third parties such as the Australian Certified Organic Standard (ACO). This means that all ingredients used to make your product meet strict guidelines set out by ACO. These guidelines include being free from any animal testing and being free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Natural versus organic skincare

Is there a difference between natural and organic skincare? A truly natural product means its ingredients are derived from natural sources without any added synthetic compounds. Just be careful as companies can label their products ‘natural’ even if they still contain harsh chemicals or synthetics. They can also use the label ‘natural’ even if they are using animal derived ingredients. To protect our furry friends, make sure the product is also vegan friendly and contains no animal by-products. At Sassy Organics, our natural, organic or certified organic skincare for the body and face is vegan friendly and cruelty free. 

Another thing to note is that not every natural product or brand is also organic. They can contain all natural ingredients that aren’t grown in organic conditions. These products tend to be just as safe, gentle and effective as organic skin care. However, many consumers still prefer to have the extra assurance of organic growing practices.

Here at Sassy Organics, we've been dedicated to providing pure, clean skin care products since our founding in 2016. We believe in transparency - which is why every single one of our products is thoroughly assessed and scrutinised. We also only stock products that have been rigorously tested for purity and effectiveness, so that you can rest assured knowing that when you buy from us, you're getting the best!

Are organic skin care products better?

There are many benefits to using organic skin care products. Firstly, organic skincare doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, and it tends to avoid cheap fillers. Meaning, organic skincare is naturally non irritating and more effective. And it contains higher doses of all natural skin improving ingredients. Did you know our body absorbs 60 per cent of the ingredients we put onto our skin? Yep, which is why organic skincare is also better for our internal health and not just our skin’s. Because organic skincare doesn’t contain endocrine disrupting chemicals such as phthalates, sodium lauryl sulphate and parabens, it won’t disrupt your body’s natural functioning. Another benefit of organic skincare is that the farming processes are better for the environment. There is less risk of harsh chemicals damaging our natural soils and waterways.

Organic agriculture practices are better for the planet because they don't use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides that harm ecosystems and wildlife habitats; they also help support small farms instead of large ones owned by big agribusinesses. By choosing organic skin care products over non organic ones, you'll not only prevent yourself from absorbing harmful chemicals into your body (which could cause cancer), but you'll also help keep our planet healthy!

Organic versus certified organic: is certified organic better?

You might be wondering what’s the difference between organic and certified organic skincare. To be called certified organic, 95% or more of a product’s ingredients must have been certified organic by a regulatory body. Such bodies include Australian ACO or OFC, as mentioned previously. Certified organic means a product is entirely ethically produced – cruelty free, socially responsible, grown without GMO, synthetic pesticides and herbicides, or hormones. When you see a certified organic logo on a product, you can be sure that the company is audited each year to ensure it complies with strict requirements. Some of our favourite certified organic skin care brands include Vanessa Megan, Antipodes, La Mav and Mokosh.

You might see the terms ‘contains’ or ‘made with’ organic ingredients on products. If the product also has a certification, the product complies with official standards and contains 70 - 94% certified organic ingredients.

If the product uses labels like ‘contains or ‘made with’ and doesn’t have a certification scheme/label, this can mean a few things. Firstly, it could mean the product does contain a high level of organic ingredients but does not yet have the certification. This can be because the certification process is just that – a process. It can take some time for even honest and dedicated organic, natural skincare brands to get their organic certification. On the other hand, a company could be using terms like ‘natural, ‘organic’ for marketing purposes and might use very few organic ingredients in their products.

Is certified organic better? Not necessarily. The biggest advantage with certified organic skincare is that you have the peace of mind that you’re getting a regulated product. But many brands still make amazing natural and organic skincare without them being certified yet. It really depends on what your preferences are as a consumer. 
 

Shopping for organic skincare Australia

Shopping for organic skincare is easy when you know what to look out for. There are a few labels to check for when shopping for certified organic skin care in Australia. One of the leading industry groups is Australian Organic – a non-profit, member-owned body that owns ACO. Australia Organic was established in 1987 to promote the interests of farms and processors who wanted to promote and protect the message of organic farming. Another label you might see is the OFC logo, another organic certifying body recognised by the Department of Agriculture. 

At Sassy Organics, we believe in the power of certified organic skincare. We know that it can make a real difference in your life, and we want to help you find the best products available. But when it comes down to it, certified organic skincare is about more than just ingredients - it's about a holistic approach to health and wellness that goes beyond what's good for your skin alone. When you choose certified organic products over those made with traditional methods, you're supporting an industry that supports sustainable agriculture practices that keep our planet green and healthy!

If you’re shopping for honest, natural, and organic skincare (not certified organic), the best thing to do is get good at reading labels. If an ingredients list is long and/or there are many ingredients you can’t recognise, it likely contains lots of synthetic chemicals. Also, watch out for common nasties like phthalates and sodium lauryl sulphate. Also, remember to note how many organic ingredients there are to back up its ‘organic’ label. Or you can shop our range of skincare which features trusted and best organic skin care in Australia that we thoroughly research and test – so you don’t have to. Get started with some of our top organic skincare picks below. 

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