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Writer's pictureHagop Hovsepian

Organic vs Non-Organic Beauty Products: What’s the Difference?

Updated: Oct 4, 2022

We’ve all heard the saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Let’s be real...we would all ideally like to impress our beholders, wouldn’t we? Well, think of yourself as the beholder to beauty products standing at the aisle in front of a countless array of beauty products that all promise to do the same thing: make you beautiful!


Yet, both you and I know there’s always nuances in a high-choice scenario, and this particular one is not any different. So, let’s talk a little bit about what makes a beauty product the ‘right’ product for you by distinguishing a very key, often overlooked component: organic vs. non-organic beauty manufacturing products.

Natural vs. Organic Beauty Products


Before diving down to the main difference between organic and non-organic beauty products, it’s important to note that there actually is a difference between products that are “organic” and those that are “natural”.


Although they may seem to be intuitively interchangeable and synonymous, or even commonly identical, a ‘natural’ product differs quite significantly from an ‘organic’ one.


The main difference between the two is how they are regulated, processed, and manufactured. Natural beauty products generally contain chemicals or other substances, while organic products typically do not. In other words, organic beauty products are produced without chemicals, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers.


For a general rule of thumb, a typical organic beauty product will have 95-100% chemical-free ingredients, whereas a natural product retains only 50-70% chemical-free ingredients.


To get a more accurate idea, you might want to look out for the fine print on the beauty product manufacturer’s labels. A “certified organic” label refers to 95% of the ingredients being organic, while “made with organic ingredients” is typically a marker for a minimum of 70% organic ingredients. It might be a safer bet to go with the “certified organic”, as it guarantees a more organic product.


Non-Organic Beauty Products


As for ‘non-organic’ or ‘synthetic’ beauty products, these are the ones that do not typically have any of the aforementioned labels. Instead, they consist of active “inorganic” ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, toluene, triclosan, and other synthetic substances. (A clever and fun way to remember this is “if you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t buy it”, as stated by several health experts)


These beauty products are not necessarily “bad” for you, it’s just that they are more likely to be recommended against by product experts from the scientific and cosmetic community - especially since the organic/natural alternatives are almost always considered a safer purchase.


Pros & Cons


As with any distinction, beauty products whether organic or non-organic come with their pros and cons.


In this case, the most appropriate pro/con approach would be through a cost/benefit analysis. Generally, natural/organic beauty products cost more money but the benefits associated with them are bound to be safer, healthier, and more efficacious. As with non-organic beauty products, the inverse is usually true, where it costs less money (which might make it more appealing) while affecting its overall outcome and safety standards.


The Right Product for You


If possible, and with the right budget in mind, it’s always best to go for natural/organic beauty products from reputable beauty product manufacturers. This is the surest way to get a good deal from your purchase.


A good alternative would be to go for the “least synthetic” non-organic beauty product. This means it is good practice to take a closer look at the ingredients and find out which product contains the least amount of chemicals and/or substances that are not naturally made or grown.


Now that we’ve discussed some of the main differences between beauty products out there, you should hopefully be better able to make up your mind on what the right product is for you and your beauty needs. If you need some more in-depth information and guidance, our beauty product experts at moesgroup.org or give us a call HERE and we are ready to help!


So which beauty product will it be for you today?





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