Cosmetics have been used for the enhancement of beauty for ages, and there is no dearth in their demands. Modern men and women use cosmetics on a regular basis but why do they face skin and/or health problems? To the best of our knowledge, it was never a part of the lives of people who lived during ancient times. After centuries of cosmetic use, it is most interesting that only in recent times have the toxic ingredients in cosmetic products come under scrutiny. And, the more we learn about the damages that these toxic ingredients might cause, the more careful we should be in the type of cosmetic products we purchase and use on a daily basis.

Now I know you all may think that you use the best cosmetics available, and you even have chosen the natural path i.e., your cosmetics contain the necessary vitamins and oils for your skin and for your general health. Think again, as you may have been sold a cosmetic product that neither contains natural ingredients nor does it have the proper organic cosmetic certifications that would guarantee the products are safe to use daily!

Though a startling revelation, the truth is that most of the organic cosmetics that are being sold in the market today are not actually organic. The only way to judge whether a cosmetic is organic or not is to verify the certification of the product you are using. Do not be blindfolded while purchasing cosmetics; as you may be handed a product that is filled with harsh, toxic chemicals and acids. You are more likely to suffer from skin ailments with the use of toxic cosmetics than you would be if you used a pure organic cosmetic. The reason is very simple – there are a lot of toxic chemicals like mercury, aluminum, coal tar, and lead in the synthetically produced cosmetics. In packaging and labeling many companies use type that is so small, you would need a magnifying glass to read the ingredients and words that are so foreign you would have to be a scientist to decipher them. For example, what is a Paraben (preservative) or a Pthalate (fragrance)? You get the idea.

There is every reason as to check the organic cosmetic certification of the products that you are purchasing – after all it becomes a question of your health, general well being, and the condition of your skin that is at risk. Certification is proof that the products being manufactured are in strict compliance with the ingredients and processes that have been accredited, not by the US government because the US government allows the cosmetic companies to govern themselves, but by the certification agencies that companies must submit their products to for certification. The certification standards may vary from one agency to another, but the standards that are followed by that specific agency are uniform standards for all countries. The standards that have been set for providing organic certification are pretty high, and this is the reason why one can be certain of the quality of the products that come with certification.

Although the US does provide certification through the USDA, most US companies are not interested in getting certified, as using organic products in the manufacturing process is more expensive, thereby reducing profits. Also, because the Cosmetic Industry is self-regulated, the cosmetic companies can make organic and/or natural claims, without certification, and no one will challenge them. Therefore, companies are more likely to go offshore to Europe, Asia or Oceania for certification. Agencies like the UK Soil Association, or Ecocert (France), or BDIH (Germany), are more likely to be used, simply because these countries demand their products be free of toxic material. In fact, the European Union has banned well over 1000 chemicals in the cosmetic manufacturing process, while the good old US of A has banned a mere 10 chemicals. Again, you get the point.

Manufacturers in the US actually lobby against the removal of toxic ingredients in the manufacturing process claiming that these products are safe to use. However, recent clinical studies have shown that many of these toxins are carcinogens, and linked to cancer. Many lipsticks still contain lead, a highly toxic ingredient with the highest hazard risk of 10,. provided by the Cosmetic Database, the largest cosmetic ingredient database in the world. All the products that are manufactured in the US do not have to pass any pre-market quality tests to enter the marketplace. Again, the Cosmetic Industry is self-regulated and what that means is simply this. If a cosmetic company deems their products to be safe, they can be marketed. It is that simple and it should be that scary to all consumers!

Organic cosmetic certification is the best way available for the consumer to judge the quality of the cosmetics they use, and it is advisable that one checks this every time one purchases a cosmetic product. The certification logos will be prominently placed on each product alongside other logos like recyclable, or biodegradable, or no animal testing, etc. You must, however, visually see the logo and not take the manufacturer’s word that the product is natural or organic. They can and will put anything they want on the product because no one is watching, and their ultimate goal is to make the sale. They have no interest in your health. Therefore, in the end, it is buyer beware! Read the labels and do the research if you want to be assured of buying safe, healthy, toxic-free cosmetic products.

Though there are many companies that want to dupe their customers for revenue and profit purposes, it is also true that there are many other companies that believe in providing the best, safest, healthiest personal care products. Most of the companies that want to provide the best products were all natural from their inception, and most of the companies that want to dupe their customers are the large manufacturers that place profits before people and never have any intention of creating all organic and/or natural personal care products. This is exactly where organic cosmetic certification comes into play and should be seriously considered before purchasing any cosmetic product.