Many brands claim that their products are natural and organic. If you’re wondering what this means and how to determine if the brand is being transparent in their product description, it helps to know what these labels actually mean. John Masters Organics, a brand that formulates their products with 70% certified organic ingredients, clears up the confusion about the differences between natural and organic:

Natural

Although “natural” has become a catch-all descriptor and a beauty industry buzz-word, it really only refers to the source of an ingredient. For example, this can be a plant, mineral, or an animal. Natural does not refer to how that ingredient was grown, harvested, or processed.

“Natural products (or those labeled as such) are not regulated by any governing body and come with no guarantees,” shares John Masters Organics. “Further compounding the confusion for the consumer, companies can claim “natural” even when there are only a handful of natural ingredients in a formula, which may also contain synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and other additives. And while some ingredients originate from nature, they may have been chemically altered due to modern farming practices designed to maximize yield and productivity.”

Organic

Organic ingredients have no genetically modified seeds, chemical pesticides, or fertilizers used in their cultivation process. Basically, these ingredients are pristine and unaltered to “reach its maximum potential and fully utilize the nutrition it receives from raw, untouched soil.”

“Organic produce is known to have higher nutritional value than non-organic produce, so it stands to reason that the same is true for organic ingredients used in beauty products,” explains John Masters Organics. “The skin is the largest organ of the body, and anything applied topically to it can be absorbed through pores into the bloodstream. While the FDA along with many mainstream beauty companies maintain that common chemicals such as parabens and phthalates are safe in small quantities, their long-term consequences are not known.”

John Masters Organics is celebrating 25 years as a pioneer in organic beauty. For more information, visit www.johnmasters.com.

[Product image courtesy of John Masters Organics]

Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy