Many consumers seek products with natural ingredients. But “natural” may mean something different to different consumers.
Natural ingredients are chemical compounds found naturally, such as plants, minerals, or microbes. They may be extracted directly from their source or produced artificially in a laboratory.
Plant-based
Plant-based ingredients have become an integral component of food manufacturing, providing ample nutrition and health benefits. Examples include fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts and seeds which contain macro (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins.
These ingredients are used in many products ranging from dairy milk replacements and meat substitutes, to snack bars. Guar gum is a natural thickening agent which keeps fats and oils from separating out during food preparation processes such as soups, stews and yogurts; locust bean gum is another plant-based thickener often seen in desserts, ice creams and dressings.
Plant-based ingredients are increasingly being utilized in clean label packaged foods, including single-ingredient frozen veggies, heat-and-eat meals and sweets made entirely of plants. Plant-based food offers consumers an affordable and healthy alternative to processed products containing added sugars, fats and salts; plus it may help them meet their nutrition goals more easily!
Animal-based
Animal-derived ingredients may not always be easy to identify on ingredient lists, especially when they use Latin names like bone meal [INCI: osseum de boeuf] and isinglass [INCI: membrana florens]. But they certainly exist, such as bone meal [INCI: osseum de boeuf] and isinglass [INCI: membrana florens].
Animal tallow and lard are produced from slaughterhouse waste and used in some soaps and cosmetics as ingredients. Animal fats may be substituted with vegetable tallow or shea butter from shea beans or processed plant oils such as sunflower seed or coconut oils for cosmetic applications.
Isinglass is an ingredient used to clarify beer, cider and wine. Made from fish bladders and therefore not vegan-friendly, isinglass is sometimes combined with casein glue (made of milk protein) to form an adhesive for laminated wood and interior doors.
Keratin, another animal-derived ingredient commonly used in hair treatments, although plant alternatives have become more prevalent. Squalene is derived from shark liver oil so its consumption contributes to overfishing.
Mineral-based
Mineral makeup utilizes minerals such as mica, iron oxides, talc and zinc oxide as its base materials. Micronized into extremely fine particles for use as makeup base components and colored with various pigments and additives for maximum versatility and variety in shades available.
These minerals form a physical shield against UV rays to shield skin from sun damage and are non-absorbent; making them ideal for sensitive skin types.
The Federal Trade Commission defines natural ingredients as being those derived directly from nature. This may involve extracting essential oils or fruit juice directly from their original sources; however, even this method can create new chemicals; for instance, distillation can result in new toxins forming as it creates oil from aromatic plants; such as poisonous hemlock or animal venom! Chemically altering natural products allows greater control over final results as it reduces impurities that might exist otherwise in their original states.
Synthetic
People increasingly favor natural ingredients, which is great. Unfortunately, however, “natural” can sometimes reinforce preconceived notions that chemicals are bad and anything else (including oxygen and water) is harmless. Natural ingredients such as herbal extracts or plant oils can nourish skin while supporting its natural processes while solving specific skincare issues – but are often more costly.
As well, there is insufficient clarity around definitions of what constitutes “natural”, making the criteria difficult to apply and unreliable. A chemist could create an ingredient in their lab that doesn’t come directly from nature but still counts as natural due to minimal transformation processes like physical pressing or distillation (typically used to extract essential oils). Origin does not automatically equate with safety, sustainability or environmental footprint, which is why we support ISO 16128 which establishes clear criteria for natural cosmetic ingredients.
