Doing What Comes Naturally
BY RACHEL HERSCHENFELD, M.D. - DERMATOLOGIST
The rising interest in natural and organic products has led to a proliferation of natural and organic cosmetic and skin care lines. Moisturizers and makeup containing natural ingredients have filled the shelves of health food stores for years, and can now even be found at your local drugstore.
To set the record straight about what is natural and what is organic and their labeling, a few words and relevant links: There is no U.S. government regulation of the term "natural." However, the Natural Products Association (NPA), an industry trade group, has developed standards for natural product certification, which were released in May. To receive the NPA seal a product must contain 95 percent truly natural ingredients (meaning ingredients derived from renewable sources found in nature), and may not contain any ingredients with suspected human health risks. In contrast, there is government regulation of labeling for organic products. A product labeled as organic and carrying the USDA organic seal must contain at least 95 percent organically grown ingredients. A product that simply claims to be made with organic ingredients must contain at least 70 percent organically grown ingredients and cannot carry the USDA organic seal.
Since my patients often ask about the pros and cons of using these products, here's my take:
- Using natural or organic skin care products probably won't make a difference in the effectiveness of your skin care regimen. Most dermatologists would agree that the identity and concentration of ingredients in a product have a greater impact on its effectiveness than whether or not the ingredients are organic.
- Some of the most effective anti-aging ingredients, such as retinoids, are synthetic compounds. Using a natural or organic skin care product does not prevent adverse reactions to topical preparations. Many fragrance ingredients are natural products and can be derived from organic sources, but they can still cause allergic reactions in susceptible people. That said, there are still reasons to choose natural or organic products.
- Organic and many natural skin care products are free of many of the synthetic preservatives, emulsifiers and dyes that have been recently linked with health concerns. Using these products can help to minimize exposure to ingredients like phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, petrolatum and talc.
Whether you want to avoid exposure to these potentially harmful ingredients or have environmental concerns, here are some recommendations for products from reputable companies that market natural skin care lines.
Sunscreen: Origins Out Smart Daily SPF 25 sunscreen, California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion and Sunblock Stick
Moisturizer: California Baby Aloe Vera Cream moisturizer
Lip Balm: Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
Anti-aging cream: Origins A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian antioxidant serum
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