| For thousands of years mankind has used | | | | usually are not tested on animals and they do no |
| botanicals and essential oils to care for and | | | | harm when entered into the environment. Organic |
| enhance the beauty of their skin and hair. It has | | | | skin care products may not be made of totally |
| only been fairly recently that chemical products | | | | organic ingredients. They may be labeled organic |
| and artificial ingredients have gained a stronghold in | | | | but not one hundred percent organic if at least |
| the skin care industry. As with our food, skin care | | | | ninety five percent of the ingredients are organic. |
| products have become laden with more and more | | | | Other notations may state that the product is |
| chemicals. | | | | made with organic ingredients or may list specific |
| Why is this so important? The skin is the largest | | | | ingredients as being organic. Natural ingredients are |
| organ of the human body. It is not just an | | | | not necessarily organic ingredients so if a product |
| impermeable covering; it is a living-breathing organ | | | | proclaims itself to be natural or made with natural |
| that carries substances in and out. It is estimated | | | | ingredients you are not getting organic. Natural |
| that up to sixty percent of what is put on the | | | | products might be better than most of their |
| skin will enter the body. Some substances called | | | | commercial counterparts but they are definitely |
| carriers increase the absorption rate significantly | | | | not organic. |
| and many can carry other substances in with | | | | When contemplating "going organic" take into |
| them. This ability can be beneficial or it can be | | | | consideration the ingredients that you will be |
| harmful. | | | | adding to your system. Many of the colorings and |
| Since our bodies are already over stressed with | | | | additives (such as aluminum) in non-organic |
| chemicals, increasing numbers of people are | | | | products have been linked to cancer and other |
| choosing to eat organic and use organic products | | | | diseases. Since we know that if we put it on our |
| to reduce that stress and increase health and | | | | skin it is going to wind up in our blood we should |
| vitality. Organic is healthier, safer, and less | | | | ask ourselves if we are willing to accept |
| stressful to the body systems as well as being | | | | "reasonable limits" or do we want only natural |
| environmentally friendly. Since the skin does carry | | | | pure organic. |
| substances into the body at a fairly efficient rate, | | | | Another factor to consider is that some chemicals |
| we can think of the ingredients in our skin care | | | | used in non-organic products, such as silicones, and |
| products in the same light as our food. | | | | heavy oils prevent the natural breathing and toxin |
| You can tell if a product is organic by the looking | | | | removing functions of the skin and hair. |
| for the green USDA organic label. This certifies | | | | Ingredients in any skin or hair care product should |
| that products are or are made from ingredients | | | | not impede natural functions or diminish natural |
| that meet the USDA specifications for an organic | | | | regulation. |
| designation. These specifications include the length | | | | Organic products are used in the same manner as |
| of time the land has been used following organic | | | | their non-organic counterparts. They often actually |
| guidelines and that no antibiotics, hormones, | | | | require less of the product to get better results. |
| chemicals, pesticides or other banned substances | | | | They may also be slightly more expensive |
| have been used to grow or produce it. Organic | | | | although this factor will probably become less |
| farming is better for us and better for our | | | | significant as the demand for organic products and |
| environment. | | | | the benefits of organic farming encourage more |
| Organic skin care products are made of organic | | | | farmers to follow organic practices. |
| ingredients and food grade essential oils. They | | | | |