» Find out where to buy organic health and beauty products by visiting the Organic Directory and selecting 'Cosmetics and Toiletries' under category
Soil Association Organic Awards: winners announced
Winner of the Best Organic Babycare Product:
Eselle Organics Baby Bottom Balm
Runners up: Balm Balm Baby Balm, Bamford Baby Balm
Winner of the Best Organic Facial Skincare Product:
Neal's Yard Remedies White Tea Enriching Facial Mask
Runners up: Beyond Organic Skin Care with their Detoxifying Cleanser & Regenerating Night Cream, Lucy Russell Organics with their Cleansing Balm, Miessence with their Rose Monsoon Hydrating Mist & Facial Serum, Saaf Pure Skincare with their Hydrating Face & Lip Balm
Winner of the Best Organic Bodycare product:
Origins Body Pampering Massage Oil
Runners up: Ecosoapia Hand & Body Wash, Eselle Organics Body Mousse
Go organic - because beauty is more than skin deep
If you're concerned about the food you're putting in your mouth, maybe it's time to think about what you're putting on your skin. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and what you put on it can be absorbed in tiny amounts, or it can reach the blood vessels below the skin and travel round the body.
Look for the symbol
The good news is a growing number of beauty companies are now making organic beauty products so we don't have to compromise on performance in order to become an organic beauty. Already available are gorgeous lotions, luscious balms and even organic shampoo, all packed with organic ingredients and avoiding the use of chemicals linked to health issues.
However, all is not what it may seem – whereas organic food must meet legal standards, the same does not apply to beauty products. The term organic can be used on products that contain literally a whiff of organic essential oil and are then topped up with ingredients you want to avoid, even those aimed at babies
and children.
This is why we developed the Soil Association standards, so you can look for the Soil Association symbol to be sure your beauty product is truly organic. Our standards for organic beauty products are based on our food standards. This means if an ingredient is available organically, it must be used. The remaining ingredients must meet strict criteria to ensure that they are not damaging to our health or the environment.
5 easy ways to become an organic beauty
1. Look for the symbol! If the label says that the product is organic or contains organic ingredients but does not carry the Soil Association symbol (or a European equivalent like Ecocert in France) then this may just be an unsubstantiated marketing ploy.
2. A great way to source organic cosmetics and toiletries in your local area is to look at the online Organic Directory and select 'Cosmetics and Toiletries' under category. Alternatively, you can download a list of companies that we certify. Please note that this list includes manufacturers who may not necessarily sell directly to the public. If you would like a particular product from a company that doesn't sell directly, we recommend that you ask your local shop to stock it.
» Download the list of companies that make products certified by the Soil Association
3. Ask for information – if you are faced with a product that says it's organic, but you are dubious about its credentials then ask the shop staff or ring the company's customer care line and ask them about the claims they are making.
4. If you are interested in making your own simple cosmetics then why not switch to using oils? You can make your own blends easily using a mix of essential oils and a base oil. They can be applied to your face, body or in the bath. If you haven't used oils before please find a reputable supplier and ask their advice before applying.
5. Cut down on the products that you and your family use – much of the concern is about the 'cocktail effect' of the chemicals in the different products that we use. Many women are using over 20 different products a day, bombarding themselves with hundreds of different chemicals – is that eyelash conditioner really essential?
How irritating!
This means no nasties like synthetic fragrances and colours. When you see the terms 'fragrance' or 'parfum' on a beauty product these can contain up to 100 different ingredients - which can cause a problem if you are sensitive or allergic to a particular fragrance chemical. In fact, synthetic fragrances are the most frequent cause of allergies from cosmetics and cause up to one third of all cosmetic allergies.
We also ban irritating foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulphate, found in most shower gels, bubble baths and shampoos. It foams very well, but it's also a skin irritant and in concentrations of only 2-5% can cause allergic or sensitisation reactions. Any impact these ingredients have on us, are multiplied when used by children as their bodies are still developing and therefore more susceptible to these effects. It's worth adding we ban cosmectic solvents commonly found in antifreeze, and parabens, preservatives that have been linked to breast cancer.
Relax and enjoy...
Currently there is no legal definition for organic beauty products, so look for the Soil Association symbol. It's your guarantee that the product has been checked and meets the strictest standards for organic purity and integrity. Most of all it means you can relax and enjoy the wide range of luscious organic lotions and potions now available and concentrate on the gorgeous, organic new you!
Further information
» An introduction to Soil Association health and beauty standards
» More information on organic health and beauty in our library