Natural vs Organic Cosmetics

September 10, 2024 Courtney MacDougall

We all want beauty products that are safe, effective, and actually deliver on their promises. But with all of the claims being tossed around, it’s hard to tell what’s truth and what’s just marketing fluff.

Let’s be real: brands make a ton of promises about their products. And the truth? Many of these claims are pure fiction. Products labeled "natural" often still contain a ton of toxic chemicals. Some brands even put "organic" right in their name, yet their ingredients are far from it.

In today’s blog, we’re cutting through the clutter. We’ll decode what “natural” and “organic” really mean and show you how to spot the real deal.

What are natural cosmetics?

Natural generally means ingredients that are sourced from nature. Ideally, natural products would be made with safe, pure, natural ingredients that are good for you and the planet. However, the term "natural" is completely unregulated, so any brand can claim it, regardless of their ingredients.

While natural is generally safer than completely synthetic, it doesn’t always necessarily mean non-toxic: many natural ingredients can be harmful to humans. Take talc for example - used in a massive amount of powder-based cosmetics, talc naturally grows alongside asbestos, and countless talc-containing products have been found to also contain asbestos. This isn’t usually intentional, but brands aren’t required to test for contamination and often natural ingredients can come with a side of heavy metals or substances like asbestos. Trustworthy brands will either skip ingredients with high probability of contamination or test for contamination whether its required or not. If you're not sure, always ask questions.

Also, "natural" doesn't mean vegan. Ingredients like tallow (pig fat), carmine, and squalene from shark livers (not to be confused with the plant-derived squalane) are natural but definitely not vegan. If vegan is important to you, look beyond simply natural.

All of our products are made with 100% natural ingredients, with most being certified organic. Any non-organic ingredients are locally-sourced or wild-harvested right in our Founder Theora's off-grid property in Northern California.

What are organic cosmetics?

Organic ingredients are grown without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, GMOs, or any other synthetic substances. For a product to earn the "organic" label, it must contain at least 95% organic ingredients. Unlike the vague term "natural," the word "organic" is regulated by the FDA.

Keep in mind though, some brands will still throw the word ‘organic’ around even if they don’t fit the definition at all. Your best bet to find the truth: read the ingredient label. Usually, certified organic ingredients are indicated with a *. Keep reading for more on reading ingredient labels!

At Blue Heron, we use certified organic ingredients almost exclusively. For those rare ingredients that aren't available organic, we source them locally, opt for fair-trade sustainably grown options, or wild-harvest plants right from our Founder’s off-grid backyard. We use zero synthetic ingredients of any kind.

Plus, we disclose the origin of every ingredient on our website. Because transparency is everything when you're looking for products and brands you can trust.

wild harvested ingredients at blue heron botanicals

So, what's better - natural or organic?

Generally, organic is better since it's regulated and requires non-toxic farming methods. Natural, while a good start, just isn't as all-encompassing and is entirely unregulated.

Reading ingredient labels

The best way to tell if a product is natural, organic, and if it actually contains a decent amount of the ingredients they’re promoting? Read the ingredient list!

Ingredients are listed by their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names. So, don't be thrown off if you see tocopherol instead of vitamin E, Melissa officinalis for lemon balm, or cera flava for beeswax.

The order of ingredients

Ingredients are listed by concentration, which is key when reading labels. It helps you figure out if that active ingredient is actually present in a meaningful amount.

Take some "pure aloe vera gels" for example. Read the label and you might find water listed first, followed by a cocktail of chemicals and fragrances, with aloe bringing up the rear. Translation: there's barely any aloe in there. It's mostly cheap fillers and won't work like true aloe vera gel.

What the order of ingredients means:

First Third of ingredient list: Around 80% of the formula.
Second third of ingredient list: About 15-19%.
Final third of ingredient list: Just 1-5%.

Remember, some ingredients are super potent and only need a tiny amount. Essential oils, for instance, are effective at just 1-5% concentration - any higher would cause irritation. So, finding them at the end of the list is actually a good thing!

Active ingredients vs supporting ingredients

Active ingredients do the work the product was created for, while supporting ingredients are there to help the main character ingredients work most effectively.

Take our Lavender Lemon Balm Lip Balm, for instance. Lemon balm and St. John's Wart are the powerhouse ‘active’ ingredients, working their magic to heal and prevent cold sores - these are listed near the top of the list for optimal efficacy. The other ingredients play supporting roles and are listed after the active ingredients at lower concentrations - these supporting players exist to hydrate and soothe the lips, protect against the elements, fight inflammation, create a buttery, rich texture, and preserve the formula.

In a clean and effective formula, all the ingredients serve a specific purpose, the active ingredients are added at optimal concentrations, and there are zero fillers diluting the product. Generally, if you see water listed first, that's a heavily diluted product that's low on active ingredients and functional supporting ingredients.

Your questions answered

Is natural the same as organic?

No, natural is an unregulated term that refers to ingredients found in nature (these can include animal derived ingredients), whereas organic is a regulated term that refers to natural ingredients grown with organic farming methods (no pesticides, GMOs, synthetic fertilizers or synthetic chemicals.

Does 100% natural mean organic?

No 100% natural doesn’t mean organic – natural ingredients can still be grown with pesticides, can contain GMOs, and be grown with synthetic fertilizers, whereas organic ingredients cannot.

What is the difference between natural and organic?

Natural is an unregulated term that refers to ingredients sourced from nature, whereas organic refers to natural ingredients that are grown with strict organic farming methods.