ORGANIC BEAUTY WEEK 2016

If you’re interested in buying beauty products that protect the environment as well as your body, you’ll be thrilled to hear that Organic Beauty Week kicks off this week.

Part of the Organic September campaign set up by The Soil Association, the aim of Organic Beauty Week is to encourage consumers to buy organic beauty products rather than conventional brands, many of which use harmful chemicals which can irritate skin and harm our environment.

The Soil Association was founded in 1946, with a clear vision to promote the use of organic products as much as possible, in a variety of areas including cosmetics, clothing, food and household items. They firmly believe that we should know what ingredients we’re buying, whether it’s in a lipstick or laundry detergent.

Beware of Greenwashing and product labelling

Greenwashing is a term used to describe companies that claim their products or company policies are good for the environment. They lead consumers to believe that what they’re selling is better than other brands.

Product labelling can be an equally tricky grey area. Unfortunately, there’s nothing legal set in place for organic beauty products, meaning companies can include the word ‘organic’ on their products even if the amount actually used is just one per cent. Scary.

When buying beauty products, research the ingredients before making a purchase. If you’re unsure of what you’re looking for, avoid anything with a long list of chemicals. For a detailed description of beauty ingredients, head to Environmental Working Group (EWG), or Paula’s Choice. If in doubt, look for The Soil Association logo.

10 Beauty ingredients to watch out for