Plant-derived ingredients provide your skin with essential nutrients and antioxidants, such as aloe vera, shea butter and coconut.
Natural products are an invaluable addition to any beauty regimen, yet what exactly does “natural” mean when applied to cosmetics and skin care products? While the FDA doesn’t offer a definitive definition, their longstanding policy includes “nothing artificial or synthetic” in their ingredients list.
1. Better for the Environment
As we move away from traditional, petrochemical-derived ingredients in cosmetic products and towards alternatives that prioritise environmental responsibility without compromising product efficacy, the landscape for ingredients is shifting drastically – and consumers have demonstrated strong support for more eco-friendly natural options.
Natural ingredients are defined by being found in nature (plants, animals, minerals or microorganisms) with only minimal processing involved – for instance distillation aromatic plants to create essential oils is completely natural and no more intensive than producing an item yourself in your kitchen at home.
But when considering the growth and shipping of raw materials, their ecological impact should also be taken into account. For instance, exotic ingredients may have been grown under conditions which aren’t the most eco-friendly; therefore, selecting ingredients with sustainable production stories like regenerative production or net zero farming is crucial for creating environmentally conscious products.
2. Better for Your Health
Given our culture’s emphasis on natural products as opposed to chemicals, many consumers may be confused as to what makes an ingredient natural. There is no scientific agreement as to what defines as “natural”, partly due to all things being created through chemical processes; even 100% naturally-sourced items have likely undergone lab production before reaching us consumers.
Research on some natural products is limited, meaning their long-term effects remain unknown and interactions between medications (both prescription and nonprescription) is untested for. Therefore, when purchasing natural products that claim to be so, it’s wise to read labels closely when making your choice and pay special attention when it comes to personal care products; some aren’t regulated as closely as food items and could contain potentially dangerous ingredients like phthalates or parabens that may harm your health.
3. Better for the Animals
Nature provides more healthful solutions for animals and birds than synthetic ones, with chemical-based products often leading to skin issues and irritation due to being too harsh on the body. Organic ingredients tend to be gentler on your pet’s health and lifespan.
The FDA has long-standing regulations regarding use of the term “natural”, which state that food with this designation must not include anything artificial or synthetic (including any color additives regardless of source) that would not normally be expected in that food product. Unfortunately, however, this policy doesn’t take into account production methods or manufacturing processes and instead only focuses on ingredients.
Studies on this subject have demonstrated that consumers do not always agree on what constitutes natural ingredients. When asked to select natural flours, 63% favored wheat while only 23% selected sorghum flour as being naturally-occurring. Familiarity and dietary beliefs seem to play a factor when considering what is or is not natural.
4. Better for the Economy
Natural ingredients have historically been more expensive than their synthetic equivalents; however, this trend is evolving rapidly as processes are refined to reduce costs while an emphasis on sustainability drives change throughout the industry.
Consumers increasingly prioritize organic, traceable and natural products over their rivals, leading many companies to explore alternative sourcing options and promote the “0km movement.” This means the product can be produced locally with lower carbon emissions – good news both for the environment and local economies alike!
However, this can create difficulties when trying to define what constitutes natural ingredients. For instance, labelling processed items as natural can be hard for consumers to comprehend; familiarity plays an important role when considering whether an item should be considered natural or not – hence further investigation must be conducted on what consumers consider natural.
