Organic vs. Organic Cosmecuticals? What's the difference?

So what's difference between a organic skin care product versus a organic cosmecutical?

Cosmecutical Grade products use active ingredients at higher levels than "over the counter" products in order to get more consistent and significant results. Many cosmecuticals give the most effective anti-aging ingredients, coupled with  bio-active & bio-peptide Ingredients. Some organic cosmecuticals synthesize the purest organic ingredients combined with medical effectiveness to achieve maximum clinically proven results.

 Organic products in the USA can only be certified by the USDA. Because the cosmetic industry in America isn't regulated you see so-called organic products popping up everywhere from CVS to Macy's Department store.

USDA

Let's check out a few certifications that may help you understand the difference in these different products. 

ECOCERT

Ecocert was the very first certification body to develop standards for "natural and organic cosmetics".

Introduced in 2003, the specification was drawn up in conjunction with all stakeholders in the value chain, i.e. experts, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, consumers and development organisations.

Ecocert currently supports and guides more than 1,000 companies through their certification processes.

The basic principles of the Ecocert standard

To ensure an environmentally friendly cosmetic product, the Ecocert standard lays down:

1. The use of ingredients derived from renewable resources, manufactured by environmentally friendly processes. Ecocert therefore checks:

• The absence of GMO, parabens, phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicon, PEG, synthetic perfumes and dyes, animal-derived ingredients (unless naturally produced by them: milk, honey, etc.).
• The biodegradable or recyclable nature of packaging.

2. A minimum threshold of natural ingredients from organic farming to be reached to obtain certification:

• For both labels, Ecocert Standard imposes that a minimum of 95% of the total ingredients come from natural origin.
• For the natural and organic cosmetic label:

A minimum of 95% of all plant-based ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 10% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming.

• For the natural cosmetic label: 

A minimum of 50% of all plant-based ingredients in the formula and a minimum of 5% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming. 

LEAPING BUNNY

The Leaping Bunny Program provides the best assurance that no animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or suppliers.

RAW BEAUTY

Raw Beauty

Foster an eco-friendly beauty routine.

By Valerie Mason-Robinson

Since the environment directly affects the condition of your skin, it’s important to have an eco-friendly beauty routine. The first step in changing your regimen is to use less water when taking a shower and washing your face.

The next step is moisturizer. If your epidermis is oily, you may want to switch to a serum or go for an oil-free sunscreen for protection. If you have dehydrated skin, consider a heavier natural moisturizer such as products with jojoba, almond or Vitamin E oils. Also consider using vegan beauty products or products that have not been tested on animals. For more information, check out The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ site at LeapingBunny.

Another great way to green your primping session is to reduce the amount of cosmetics and toiletries you use. People often overuse moisturizer; a pea size is all you need. If you want that last drop of toothpaste, cut open the tub with a pair of scissors and voila!

Next, choose items that have refillable packaging. Jane Iredale Cosmetics offers refillable compacts for the pressed powder foundation in order to be more eco-friendly.

Now, more than ever, products are claiming to be organic, but you should still be cautious. The USDA is the only group that certifies if a product is organic. The FDA under the cosmetics office has not tightly regulated the personal care industry yet, therefore, many companies use “organic” or “natural” very loosely. If you want to check a product, go to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Main ingredients to watch out for include parabens, DEA, propylene glycol, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate. Other chemicals to avoid are dimethicone and sodium hydroxide. These chemicals are being linked to cancer and several skin disorders such as eczema or psoriasis. Outside of what you eat, 80 percent of what is applied to your skin is absorbed directly into your body. From my own experience as a professional many of the chemicals in personal care products also cause allergies.

Greening and detoxifying your beauty routine not only saves your money, it also ensures a better quality of life in the long term.

Valerie Mason-Robinson, also known as the Green Beauty Queen, is the CEO and Founder of the eco-conscious beauty company Eden Organix. As a former cosmetic researcher at MIT, chemical engineer and a licensed esthetician, Mason-Robinson is a leading expert on “green,” organic and natural beauty products. Learn more at www.edenorganix.com.

Top 12 Beauty Resolutions for 2012!

The new year is a great time to make resolutions, or goals. So why not, make beauty resolutions too? Here are my top 12 Beauty Resolutions for 2012!
12. Drink at 12 glasses of water daily, no more than 2 cups of coffee or tea! Water is great for your body, skin, and it flushes out the toxins in your body
11. Get more sleep, at least 7-8 hours.  Your body needs time to revive from all the hard work it does, so get off your Blackberry, Droid, Ipad or Iphone and get some shut eye.
10.  Treat yourself to a facial or massage at least every 3 months.T  Why for facials? Because your skin grows, sheds, and renews itself daily. Plus, your skin changes with the environment. Would you treat your skin the same if you lived in Toronto, Canada versus South Beach Miami? No the environment is totally different, so you have to adjust your routine accordingly. So what about massages? Well, if you run, & exercise, lift children, and heavy objects like me you need a massage. Massage enhances immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system. It lessens depression, anxiety and relieves migraine headaches.
9. Exercise 3-6 times a week for at least 30-45 minutes.  Don't just walk either, you need to feel the sweat baby! Burn some calories. Run, do pilates, or buy a Jillian Michaels or P90X!
8.Eat fruits & vegetables rich in antioxidants! Some of my favorites are Sweet Potatoes, Grapes,strawberries, blueberries, apples, carrots, and pomegranates.
7. Exfoliate at least 2-3 times a week for your skin. Choose a gentle yet effective exfoliant like 100% Pure Super Fruits, Carrot, or Pineapple Scrub. Another favorite is Pangea Organics
6.Throw away all your toxic makeup, the average women has over 25 beauty products make the switch today to a healthier beauty routine. Check the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database www.cosmeticdatabase.com
5.USE Sun Protection: In the daytime always wear a UVA-UVB sunscreen, wide-rim glasses,
and protect your cleavage. I see so many women with sun damage on their neck and chest. A little sun screen goes a long. Some of my favorites arehttp://www.coolasuncare.com/, 100% Pure Argan & Pomegrante, plus Juice Beauty SPF 30.
4. Don't smoke cigarettes or other substances. Smoking is horrible for the skin, it takes oxygen and water from your cells and overall just unhealthy for you.
3. Don’t use products with harmful chemicals: Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Sodium
Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Dimethicone, Phlates, or DEA. Many of these chemicals are
being linked to cancer, and various skin irritations. Check Teens turning Green to check their list for the Dirty 30 chemicals you should avoid http://www.teensturninggreen.org/get-educated/dirty-thirty.html
2.Reduce Stress: Read a great book like the Help , join a book club or go out for tea with a friend. Human beings are built for fellowship with one another. Have friends over for dinner or plan a vacation! Live your life abundantly!

1. Have a attitude of GRATITUDE:  Pray, meditate, and believe the best that life
has to offer! Pickup a great daily devotional like Joyce Meyers or read one online Purpose Driven Life http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/FreeTools/devotional/dailyDevotional.htm