What Makes A Face Wash Organic?

The term “organic” on a label usually makes us feel safe and secure that the product is completely natural and free from harmful additives and chemicals, because “organic” is supposed to mean “grown and cultivated without the use of chemicals.” Unfortunately, this is not always the case when it comes to organic face wash, and organic cosmetics in general.

Many cosmetic companies that claim their products are organic are actually using the
chemistry definition of “organic”, meaning that their products contain carbon. Simply put, carbon is a component found in anything that has ever been alive.

Why Should You Be Aware Of Organic Products ?

The reason why the above fact is so scary is because this then means that a toxic preservative called methyl paraben, can be labeled as organic, because it was originally formed from leaves that decomposed over thousands of years to form oil.

Unlike the food industry, where food products are regulated,
the beauty industry has no strict set of specifications to live up to just yet. This means that the term “organic” can be used rather loosely and does not always mean that a product is free from chemicals and preservatives. The good news is that there are certain things you can look out for to see for yourself whether you have bought an authentic organic face wash or not.

How To Tell Whether A Product Is Organic Or Not

Just because a product comes from a natural source does not mean that it is organic if it has been chemically modified in any way. To be organic, the natural ingredient needs to be in its purest form without having been altered in any way.

Ingredient listed in brackets – This says that the ingredient is a derivative of the real thing. For example if (olive oil) is listed like this, then it is merely a synthetic version.

Fragrances in facial products – Most fragrances found in face washes contain harmful chemicals derived from unnatural sources.

Illegal organic claims – Companies that use some organic ingredients in the products, but are not certified organic as a company will try to come off as being organic by placing an official certified organic seal on their website (but not their product labels). In the U.S, the official seal is the USDA ORGANIC seal, and in Australia, the OFC seal. OR, they may do something as simple as state “100 % Organic.” While the ingredients list MAY seem to be all organic, the company still has to be officially certified, otherwise it remains an illegal claim.

Buying Organic

Try to look out for an organic face-wash that is fragrance-free or receives its scent from natural fruit extracts such as
LAMAVs range of cleansers and scrubs, which have a subtle and pleasant fruity scent from natural fruit extracts it contains. Organic face washes that really do contain only natural ingredients, like the face wash from La Mav, are far better to use if you suffer from sensitive skin or breakouts as chemicals in regular face washes usually intensify the problem.

La Mav also has an excellent range of oils  that can be proven to be organic very simply – just take note of how the colour differs from bottle to bottle! Sometimes the oil may appear a very pale yellow colour, almost white and other times it may appear a more gold yellow colour. This is because it is completely pure. Chemically altered oils are usually very bright in colour, crystal clear and every batch looks exactly the same. Organic oils may even appear cloudy at times or there may even be some sediment visible on the bottom. Don’t be alarmed, this simply means you own the real thing!

Many cosmetic companies that claim their products are organic are actually using the chemistry definition of “organic”, meaning that their products contain carbon

Great for Sensitive Skin

Most organic products are suitable for even the most sensitive skins, so if any irritation develops after using an “organic” face wash then this might be an indication of chemicals present in the product. It should feel soothing and gentle on the skin and contain no scent or a very subtle, natural scent. It should not be an artificially bright colour and there should be limited ingredients listed on the label for facial oils as the oil is all you need!

Organic products are usually more expensive than regular, mainstream products so be sure to know what’s in it!

Note: LAMAV’s organic face wash and cleansers are fully OFC certified. OFC stands for Organic Food Chain, it is one of the certifying bodies in Australian that verifies and certifies that products are fit for the Certified Organic seal. The Australian Organic Standard is known to have one of the strictest standards in organic classification. Only products that meet these standards are certified to bear the Organic seal.