Natural vs. Organic - what's the difference?

I often am asked by professionals what is the difference between "natural" and "organic" skin care products. To be quite honest, is very hard to identify truly organic products from first glance. In accordance with current labeling regulations, any personal care products can have the word "organic" in their brand name or on their product label, but unless they are USDA certified, the main cleansing ingredients and preservatives are usually made with synthetic and petrochemical compounds.

Although there are multiple standards around the world for what qualifies as "organic", the USDA (Unites States Department of Agriculture) approves and certifies organic products with a USDA seal, which all of us have become familiarized with at our produce isle. Look for the USDA organic seal and read the ingredient label to find out how many ingredients are truly organic and how many are synthetic.

Natural skin care products do not require USDA organic certification. Their composition should not contain any chemical compounds such as Propylene Glycol or Parabens—methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl (alkyl-p-hydroxybenzoates). Believe it or not, these very popular cosmetic ingredients have been used by skin care manufacturers for years, and are still going strong. Parabens actually mimic the body's own estrogen hormones and can have endocrine-disrupting action when they are rubbed into the body or washed down the drain into your drinking water. In addition to being a very popular cosmetic ingredient, Propylene Glycol is also found in your car's antifreeze, and brake fluid.

http://www.health-report.co.uk/ethylene_glycol_propylene_glycol.htm

As an alternative to these chemical additives, natural skin care products should contain Ethylhexylglycerin and Phenoxyethanol, which are safe and non-toxic. These are the preservatives used in the SAIAN skin care line.