What is Organic Beauty in 2018?
With Organic Beauty & Wellbeing Week (OBWW) just around the corner (7th-13th May 2018), here at Herbfarmacy, we’re a little excited. For us, this week is a celebration of all things organic, wholesome and pure when it comes to skincare: three elements which are key to each of our products and central to our brand philosophy.
For this year’s OBWW, we’re taking a look at what organic beauty means at its very core - and what the various certifications we’re proud to hold mean for you. So, stick with us as we take you through organic beauty 101 so that you can be properly informed about what you’re putting on your skin.
So, what is organic beauty?
Organic beauty products are made using ingredients farmed organically. This means no synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, GMOs or other chemicals were used in the growing process. We champion organic beauty because we don’t believe that harmful or harsh ingredients belong on your skin - and that’s why each and every Herbfarmacy product is certified by the Soil Association.
With this certification, we guarantee that every homegrown ingredient in our creams, treatments, oils and tinctures was made ethically and as naturally as possible - and that means your skin and body will benefit from only the raw benefits of Mother Nature’s bounty.
Despite many brands using the terms ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ seemingly at will, there’s little to no regulation in the industry when it comes to what defines a truly organic product. For you, the consumer, that means treading through largely uncharted territory if you’re looking for organic skin care - unless you look out for the certification symbols.
What does a Soil Association Certification mean?
Properly defining what constitutes ‘organic’ in the world of cosmetics, in 2002, the Soil Association released the first set of industry standards for brands to aspire to. A strict, independent and heavily-regulated certification, products looking to meet its requirements must:
Not be tested on animals
Not contain controversial chemicals, parabens, phthalates or nano chemicals
Not contain synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances
Further than this, the certification proves that those certified are dedicated to using sustainable, organic and biodegradable ingredients - offering crystal clear insights into production processes, making use of recyclable materials in packaging and much more.
With rigorous yearly inspections carried out by the Soil Association, you can be sure that the products we produce here in Herefordshire meet its exceptionally high standards - or else our organic skin care products wouldn’t boast the seal of approval you see on each tub.
The introduction of COSMOS
COSMOS (Cosmetic Organic Standard) is a unified standard brought to fruition by a raft of Europe’s most prestigious organic certification bodies - which includes the Soil Association. This new standard provides a clear-cut set of European requirements when it comes to certification for organic skin care, which is why we’ve made it our mission to work towards this new, more stringent standard. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be checking and, where necessary, reformulating products in our range so we can proudly place the updated stamp on all of our packaging.
Our approach to organic beauty
At Herbfarmacy, we’re proud of our dedication to organic and sustainable products. Right here in Herefordshire, we grow our ingredients from the ground up, giving them all the TLC they need to produce their unmistakably powerful herbal properties. Whether it’s our award-winning range of face creams, our soothing balms or our revitalising lotions, we take every element of every product seriously, so you can enjoy total peace of mind that you’re not using anything harmful on your body.
For more information on our brand values and beliefs, head to our dedicated ethics page.