Saving with Style

[#1]

So, for many of us, the rest of our life has seemingly gone organic – or at least green. In our house it’s been organic fruits, vegetables, and dairy, as well as composting, new green insulation, not running the dishwasher, and those little CFL bulbs. But organic lotion, makeup, and shampoo? Not yet, for us at least.

It’s true. Organic lotions and other organic personal care products, including hair care products are beginning to line the shelves at major retailers. But just because the bottle says it’s eco-friendly, does that mean it’s organic? Not necessarily.

Here’s a cheat sheet of organic labels that you will often find on organic lotion and other personal care items.

USDA Organic :: any product that carries this label must have, at a minimum, 95 percent certified-organic ingredients, not counting added water and salt. In no way, shape, or form should the product include any added sulfites.

Eco Cert Seal :: ecocert is an organic certification program that was founded in France in 1991, and is one of the largest organic certification organizations world-wide. While their focus is food, they also work with cosmetics and other items you may use around the house. Their products must have at least 95 percent natural ingredients, and at least 10 percent of all included ingredients must be certified organic; packaging materials must also be recyclable – no exceptions. You will not find petroleum, animal materials, or artificial fragrances in any of these products, making these some of the most sought-after products by eco-friendly fashionistas everywhere.

The Natural Products Association Seal :: for many, they’re going “natural,” which is similar to going organic. But it can all get very confusing indeed. To help consumers figure it all out, the Natural Products Association began a new certification program in May, and we’re now starting to see labels appear on personal care products. Their criteria are as follows. The product must be made up of at least 95 percent natural ingredients, or ingredients that come from natural sources, may not be produced in a way that can significantly or adversely alter the purity of the natural ingredients in the product, and must contain ingredients that come from a purposeful, renewable, and plentiful source found in nature.

So there it is; clear as mud? The bottom line is this. If you’re looking at your products and you see these labels, you can be sure that you’re getting the real thing. So run along, purchase your organic and natural personal care products. And if you’ve already gone organic in this manner, leave me a comment and let me know; I’d love to know if it’s worth it.

If you haven't gone green yet, you can start by browsing the Upromise Go Green Page.