Avoiding heavily processed ingredients allows the plants natural healing properties – enzymes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – to remain fully active. By carefully checking the ingredients listing, you should notice the botanicals on the top and any synthetic ingredients nearer the bottom. Natural extracts are likely to also be named according to their scientific or Latin name so, if in doubt, check a cosmetic dictionary to make things a bit clearer.
Similar to products that are termed “natural”, organic products only need to contain a very small per cent of organic ingredients to be labeled an organic product. It’s worth noting that some ingredients such as water, salt or clay cannot be organic. To be really sure what you’re putting on your skin, always check the label and watch out for the Soil Association logo, which certifies that the products are sourced and manufactured using sustainable, organically-farmed ingredients and are not tested on animals, free from harsh chemicals, nanoparticles, parabens, synthetic dyes and artificial fragrances.
Another logo to look out for to make sure your products are cruelty-free is the Leaping Bunny logo; it’s the only internationally recognised symbol guaranteeing no animal testing was carried out in developing the product. EU law has strict regulations around animal testing, whereas China requires it by law, so any products sold there will automatically have been tested on animals.
This means they are bought at a fair price, ensuring sustainable wages, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. What makes Fairtrade products ethically good is that it supports community projects by improving local healthcare. The best way to know if a product is Fairtrade is to search for the Fairtrade mark to indicate if ingredients are sourced fairly.
Main image: Photography by Anthony Arquier | For MOJEH 41
