The USDA holds strict standards for organic food products but up to this point cosmetics and personal care products have been very loosely regulated in the US.  The new recommendation will require cosmetic manufacturers who use the term “organic” on their labels to either meet certain requirements, reformulate products that do not meet these requirements or cease use of the organic labeling.

This issue has been at the top of the list for the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) for some time now with their Coming Clean Campaign.  The OCA has started a Boycott/Buycott which lists brands who claim to be, but are not truly, organic.  The Buycott promotes those brands who are actually certified organic.  Prior to intitiating the boycott, the OCA gave manufacturers a chance to step up to the plate and do the right thing by pledging to either meet organic standards or cease false organic labeling.  Following are the companies who refused and are now being boycotted:

Amazon Organics, Avalon Organics, Desert Essence Organics, Earth’s Best Organic, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, Head Organics, JASON Pure Natural and Organic, Nature’s Gate Organics, Organics by Noah’s Naturals

To view a list of companies with products that meet the USDA Organic Standard visit the follow this link.

Image credit:  oceandesetoiles at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

Organic cosmetics have their tried and true followers and their naysayers. Critics claim that because some organic cosmetics manufacturers are dishonest about the greenness of their products buying organic cosmetics may not be worth it.  But let’s put things into proper perspective.  One bad apple does not necessarily spoil the whole bunch. 

One such critic recently called organic cosmetics a hoax and went on to say, “Although usually more expensive, organic foods can be better for you, so the same should be true for organic makeup right? Turns out, not so much.”

Not all organic cosmetics are created equally.  This is a fact, as it is with many other consumables, like dairy products, meats and household cleaners.  But does this mean we should lump all of these items in one basket and sum them up as worthless?  Not by a long shot.

With organic cosmetics, like most things, you will have the quality, safe and truthful brands and the greenwashed versions that contain toxins along with their organic ingredients.  The reason for the phony advertising is simple…cheaper production and longer shelf life.  Bigger profits.

So, yes, it is sad that many cosmetics manufacturers are dishonest about the safety of their products.  But choosing not to buy organic cosmetics because some companies are making false claims is the equivalent of not buying organic milk because a couple of “organic” milk producers are not adhering to organic certification standards.  And cosmetics products that carry the USDA organic label are certified using the same criteria as for organic food.  As Terri Bly of The Nature of Beauty put it “cosmetics are not fruit – you have more choices than organic and commercial. With cosmetics, there are synthetic ingredients, natural ingredients, and organic ingredients. You might think of it as having a choice between organically grown grapes, conventionally grown grapes, and plastic grapes”.

The term “organic cosmetics” has come to imply safe and pure.  Organic ingredients are grown and produced without the use of toxins and are safer and purer than their conventionally grown counter parts.  But this does not hold any real value if the product they are in also contains harmful synthetic ingredients.  Much like fresh organically grown lettuce is no longer a healthy salad when doused in chemically preserved salad dressing.

As of yet, the US government has very flimsy standards regarding the regulation of safety in cosmetics, so it is up to us as consumers to protect ourselves.  The bottom line is really that you need to know which ingredients are harmful and read your labels.