What Does That Word Even Mean!? Here’s Your Natural Terminology Breakdown

It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed when you start reading the packaging on a product that says it’s “natural with organic ingredients” and it’s “non-comedogenic and contains no parabens”. We've dug into the terms and are here to help! Without further ado, here’s our “what does that word even mean” list:

• Natural: Generally refers to containing no artificial or synthetic ingredients, but this is not always the case. The intention is that the ingredients are derived from nature and the product contains no preservatives. The ingredients are also allegedly minimally processed. When it comes to natural food, keep in mind that some natural foods still may contain antibiotics, GMO’s, growth hormones, and/or synthetic ingredients.

• Organic: A USDA organic seal denotes that the product has an organic content of 95% or higher. It generally means that it is a natural product grown without the use of toxic pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, GMO’s, growth hormones, sludge, or irradiation. Organic products also have lower levels of environmental pollution. When it comes to organic food products, they should meet animal welfare requirements and the animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products were not pumped with antibiotics or growth hormones.

• Vegan: Refers to a product that does not contain any ingredient that comes from animals. Usually products are also cruelty-free but not always. A person who is vegan does not eat or use animal products.

• Non-toxic: When ingredient that have been linked to a toxic response in humans are left out of the product. A toxic response can be any ingredient that caused a hormone disruption, neuro-disruption, or much worse, cancer. An example of a toxic ingredient is phthalates.

• Chemical-Free: Chemical-free is similar to the term non-toxic. It’s used in marketing to symbolize that the product is safe, healthy, or environmentally friendly because it contains natural, non-toxic, chemical-free ingredients. Arguably, “from a chemist’s perspective, the term is a misnomer, as all substances and objects are composed entirely of chemicals and energy.”

• GMO-Free: GMO stands for genetically modified organism and can be a plant, animal, or other organism. Consumption of GMO’s is not safe and the consequences are, for the most part, unknown. Animal studies show there are health risks associated with consumption of GMO’s and since your skin cab absorb anything, it’s best to avoid it.

• Non-comedogenic: A product labeled non-comedogenic means that it should not clog your pores.

• Hypoallergenic: Products that are relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction however, be cautious because brands can use this term for marketing purposes.

• Dermatologist Approved: This means that at least one dermatologist tested and approved this product as safe.

• Ophthalmologist Approved: This means that at least one ophthalmologist tested and approved this product as safe. Generally means it’s safe for sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers.

• Cruelty-Free: Does not test or experiment with products on animals.

• Gluten-Free: Product does not contain gluten, a substance present in cereal grains, especially wheats, that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. It’s a mixture of two proteins and causes illness in people with celiacs disease.

• Paraben-Free: Product does not contain parabens. A paraben is a group of compounds used as a preservative in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, as well as in the food industry.

• Fragrance-Free: Usually means the product contains no perfume, natural or synthetic.

• Oil-Free: This generally means that the product was formulated without the use of plant or mineral oils. Oil-free products are usually non-comedogenic or generally less likely to clog pores in oily or acne-prone skin.

Physician’s Formula is a great example of a company that packages their cosmetic products very well, making it clear what there products are all about. Each product has a list of features, whether it’s non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, or gluten-free, each product will show you right on along the side of the box. Their website even makes it easy to understand, listing the benefits in each product description, as pictured below.

physiciansformula.com

Another brand that we recently took the time to learn about was PUR Cosmetics. Instantly fell in love and even purchased a product from them, the Pur Miracle Mist! Similar to Physicians Formula’s packaging, you will see a list of the benefits alongside the box. It’s super helpful. Their website is also easy to shop, allowing you to select your main concern (ie: Shop Gluten Free Products) and browse the products that fall under that category. ​​Pur has an amazing starter skincare kit on amazon for $26.08 where you get to try a little bit of everything if you’re interested in getting to know this brand.

We hope you enjoyed this little compilation of some of the Natural terminology often plastered on cosmetic and skincare packaging. But just keep in mind, although some of these words can be used for marketing purposes, there are brands that you can trust and that are honest with the use of these words.

This is just another reason why it’s important to know your ingredients! With this knowledge, you can fish out those green-washing brands and know that what your using is healthy and right for you!