Ask Anya: Natural Skincare

When it comes to natural cosmetics there are a set of things that most people would agree had to be absent from a product to be natural. Firstly no parabens - these are chemical preservatives. No petro chemicals like petroleum - these are chemical derivatives of the petrol family. No synthetic scents or colours, no sulphates and minimal use of other chemical ingredients. Some of these ingredients have been linked to cancers, while others have been linked to skin sensitivity. But most importantly, from a natural perspective all of these ingredients are chemically created and not natural in any way. To learn more about the 'nasties' visit the herb farm website here.

 

INCI stands for the International Nomenclauture of Cosmetic Ingredients. Basically it’s a standardised way of representing ingredients in cosmetic labelling, meaning that each ingredient must be listed by the INCI name to comply. It all sounds very boring until you realise how handy this is for you the consumer; it means when you are reading the back of packets to find out what’s in something, if the company uses INCI you wont be tricked into thinking an ingredient is something it isn't. This is compulsory in some countries and not in others, however if a company uses INCI labelling than you know they are at least trying to inform you!

 

There is very little regulation about cosmetic labelling world wide including New Zealand. For example, by law a cosmetic company does not need to list every ingredient in a product. They can call themselves natural even if they aren’t, and a company can call itself organic by having its main ingredient as water - organic water. It’s a good idea to research a company's products, even if they appear to be fantastic. After all, if they are a responsible company they should respond to your email or phone queries.

 

Has a product got a certified organic sticker on it? What exactly does that mean? When it comes to certifications there are a few big ones, BDIH certification based in Germany is largely recognised as the most stringent. Followed by NPA Certification. So if a product comes assured with those certifications you can rest pretty safely! In New Zealand some other labels to look for are GMP for good manufacturing processes, GM Free to be free of genetically modified bits and lastly something that says 'cruelty free' or against animal testing!

 

Taking the leap towards going natural with your beauty products can be a daunting experience, but keep in mind every little bit helps! Swapping out one cleanser for another or changing your moisturiser is a really good step in the right direction. Remember that it can be easy to get confused, in fact a lot of companies rely on that so don’t be disheartened if it turns out your natural beauty is not as natural as you thought.