Know The Difference
Know The Difference
The Difference between Natural, Pure, and Organic
Although it may seem confusing, it’s quite simple. First of all, when a product is considered Natural in skin care, it should be from botanically sourced ingredients currently existing in or formed by nature, without the use of synthetic chemicals, and manufactured in such a way as to preserve the integrity of the ingredients.
Pure refers to the absence of certain contaminants that may exist in such natural oils, even organic oils, removed or minimized to a level that is not harmful to the human body. The presence (or absence) of a contaminant can be presented in a toxicology report. For instance, THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is considered a contaminant in Hemp Seed Oil. Pulegone is a contaminant found in Peppermint Essential Oil.
Organic is a term that refers to ingredients that have been grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, been genetically modified, etc. Whether it is in skin care, or edibles, you should always aim for organic certified by a reputable agency with strict standard protocols set in place such as USDA or Oregon Tilth. Look for the logo on the products’ labels and/or the website that you are purchasing from.
Given the basic explanation of the words Natural, Pure, and Organic, you can begin to differentiate between quality and misleading information. For instance, with respect to carrier oils and essential oils, the words ‘100% Pure’ can sometimes be ambiguous, not necessarily reflecting true product quality. So the right thing to do in this case is to know which contaminant might be present in your oil of interest, and request a toxicology report. When a skin care product you pick up off of the shelf or buy online says, ‘100% Natural’, this can also be ‘tricky’, because this is not necessarily the case, unless you read and understand most of the ingredients written on their label. So, use that as your ‘Rule of Thumb.’
Remember, cosmetic companies in the U.S. are not strictly regulated, and for several years many have taken advantage of this fact. This is the reason why we emphasize to its customers the importance of learning and researching information from reputable sources, i.e. scientific journals. The Pink Team has been a partner of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics since 2007 and continues to advocate safe and toxin-free skincare in the industry. We strive in making sure that you receive the optimal quality that you deserve and always keep our pledge regarding ‘Truth in Labeling’, because you deserve to know what you are feeding your skin.