banner
alive logo
FoodFamilyLifestyleBeautySustainabilityHealthImmunity

Label Lowdown

Beauty decoded

Share

Label Lowdown

Organic cosmetics are spreading faster than you can say, "go green." But what does their labelling really mean?

Organic beauty products are spreading faster than you can say, “go green.” But when you read their labels, what do the terms organic, natural, or vegan really mean?

The Label Says: Organic

The label means: To be labelled organic, a product must be certified to be free of chemicals, synthetic ingredients and preservatives, artificial colours, and fragrances. Canadian-owned and -operated Certech is North America’s first certification standard system for organic and natural cosmetics.

“Organic standards vary; however, most often, greater than 95 percent of the finished product must be organic to be labelled as such,” says Paul Duchesne of Health Canada.

The Label Says: Natural

The label means: Natural does not have an official definition.

“Natural generally means that an ingredient is derived from a nonsynthetic source, for example, a botanical ingredient,” says Philippe Laroche of Health Canada.

The Label Says: Vegan

The label means: No animals were harmed during the making of the product. A vegan product may be advertised as cruelty-free if it was not tested on animals and does not contain any animal derivatives.

Ad
Advertisement
Advertisement

READ THIS NEXT

AU Naturel

AU Naturel

Natural hair color and care to keep your locks at their most luscious

Carime Lane

Carime Lane

Rooted in Science

Rooted in Science

The Land Institute is changing the agriculture game for a sustainable food future

Adam Meyer

Adam Meyer

Flower Power

Flower Power

The colorful blooms that adorn our homes and gardens can be partners in mind-body wellness. Here’s how to harness their benefits.

Rachel B. Levin

Rachel B. Levin