Organic Beauty ProductsTo guarantee the beauty products you put on your body are toxin-free and explicitly organic, be sure they have an organic seal from the USDA. Since cosmetics are regulated by the FDA, not the USDA, it makes sense that certified organic beauty products would carry some kind of seal from the FDA as well? It seems logical, but the lax regulations over cosmetics by the FDA allow cosmetic companies to operate somewhat under the radar.
According to the USDA web site, endeavors to increase organic production include “integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”
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The USDA cites, “The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards.” Aside from providing a seal to show that the ingredients in organic beauty products were truly organically derived, the USDA has no power over the manufacturing of cosmetics, creams and other beauty products.
The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, according to the FDA web site, “prohibits the marketing of adulterated or misbranded cosmetics.” What makes a cosmetic adulterated, “Violations of the Act involving product composition whether they result from ingredients, contaminants, processing, packaging, or shipping and handling cause cosmetics to be adulterated.” Certified organic beauty products don’t violate any portion of the FD&C. Hundreds of traditional, synthetically produced and toxin-filled cosmetics do. Yet there has been little to no regulatory action taken by the FDA.
Here are three basic, and not consistently met, regulations of FD&C.
1. Cosmetics cannot contain any poison or substance that will cause injury to the user.
2. Cosmetics must be prepared, packaged and stored in sanitary conditions.
3. The label contains false or misleading information.
It is proven that cosmetics aside from certified organic beauty products contain ingredients harmful to humans. It is also known that products carrying the label “natural” and sometimes “organic” often contain dangerous ingredients; therefore, the label is quite misleading for consumers.
The FDA admits that it regulates the cosmetics sector differently than others. It leaves the responsibility of ensuring product safety in the hands of the cosmetic manufacturing firms. The process of recalling a product that proves harmful to its user is also the obligation of the cosmetic firms, not the FDA, which is supposedly “regulating” them. Beauty products are not tested by the FDA to guarantee their safety nor are they required to be pre-approved by the FDA.
When trying to figure out if an organic beauty product is truly safe and all natural, you can’t turn to the company that made it because their compliance with FDA regulations as minimal as they are is basically voluntarily and not policed.
As the voices of safe cosmetic advocates continue rising, the FDA tries to provide answers, or at least resources, for consumers. In partnership with National Science Teachers Association, they put on seminars about safe cosmetics. From their Web site you can access quick guides to common safety concerns about beauty products and FAQs on a range of cosmetic topics.
At the end, however, ensuring that organic beauty products are accurate in their presentation and 100 percent un-harmful is a responsibility that rests on the shoulders of individual consumers.
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