Thinking about our use of skincare products is one of the reasons that Certified Organic Skincare has evolved in recent years into the booming industry that it is today. And it's still growing, rapidly.

Even the big name beauty industry giants such as Estee Lauder have jumped onto the 'Organic' bandwagon with their Origins range and Stella McCartney launched her 'Organic' skincare line Care. Current estimates show that sales of organic cosmetics in Europe are growing by around 20 per cent per annum, while in North America in 2009, organic personal care products increased by 3.7% up to $459 million, an increase from sales in 2008 despite experiencing a distressed economy.

Why Is Certified Organic Skincare So Good?

We all know about those skincare fads and trends that are sold with all the bells and whistles, but end up having a short life span, right?

Well Certified Organic skincare, especially in Australia, is actually as good as it says it is. In fact, we are among the best in the world when it comes to producing genuine Certified Organic Skincare and here's why:

In July 2009, Standards Australia released their official National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce document that outlines the standards that all manufacturers and producers of Organic Cosmetics and Skincare in Australia must adhere to.

These standards now make it clear what constitutes a genuine Certified Organic skincare and cosmetic product in Australia and clearly states that any Certified Organic product:

• Must contain over 95% Certified Organic ingredients and no synthetic ingredients
• Use emulsifying agents and preservatives that are naturally derived and that comply with the standards
• Adheres to specific methods of processing and preparing the product, which includes not using ingredients that have been subjected to artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides
• Use terminology on the product label, including the company and product names that adhere to the National Standards
• Must not use specific ingredients that are prohibited by the National Standard
• Must not undertake any testing on animals

In a nutshell, what this all means is that when you are using an Australian Certified Organic Skincare product, you can be sure that it won't contain any chemical nasties and that it will contain only the highest quality, purest and most natural of ingredients available in skincare.

That's great news for our own health and the environment's!

How Can You Be Sure It's Certified Organic?

When shopping for Certified Organic skincare, the first thing to do is check the product label for one of the below Certified Organic labels that proves the product has been certified by an accredited organic certifier.

A skincare product that includes any of the below certification stamps on its label is guaranteed to abide by the strict Certified Organic accreditation processes in that country:

• ACO - Australian Certified Organic, established in 1987(Accredited Organic Certifier)
• BFA - Biological Farmers of Australia, established 1988
• OFA - Organic Federation of Australia, established in 1998
• OFC - Organic Food Chain, established in 2000 (Accredited Organic Certifier)
• NASAA - The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia, established 1986 (Australian and International Accredited Organic Certifier)

To learn more about what goes into Certified Organic Skincare labelling in Australia, click here.
In addition to all of this goodness, New Directions' Certified Organic Skincare Products are also:

• Sulphate Free
• Paraben Free
• Lanolin Free
• Mineral Oil Free
• Artificial Colour Free
• Artificial Fragrance Free
• SLS Free
• Petrochemical Free

What Certified Organic Skincare Products Are Available?

These days there are plenty of Certified Organic skincare products available in our department stores, pharmacies, health food stores, beauty salons and day spas, ranging from toothpaste to deodorant, to moisturisers, body scrubs, cleansers, body wash plus much more.

Some of our favourite Certified Organic Skincare products are:

• Certified Organic Body Custard - a thick, luscious and hydrating body moisturiser
• Certified Organic Conditioner - a deeply nourishing hair conditioner that leaves hair soft and silky
• Certified Organic Shower and Bath Gel - an uplifting and sensuous shower gel that invigorates while it cleanses
• Certified Organic Sugar Scrub - one of the best exfoliating products for the body, this product gently exfoliates the skin while enriching it with Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil and Sweet Orange Oil

Kylie Drury

10 Sep 2010