Guest Blogger: A Mom in Red High Heels explains "organic"

All of this "going green" has gotten slightly confusing even for me. In order to try and keep it all straight I have divided my makeup shelf into two categories "certified organic" and "chemical free." To help Beauty's Spot readers navigate the murky waters of earth friendly beauty products, Tammy from A Mom in Red High Heels has agreed to share her brilliant guide to sorting through the fields of green makeup springing up this season.

Organic Skin Care Product Labels By Tammy

Confused by what an organic product means? How does it compare to “natural” or “certified organic”? I needed to get the story straight in my own head so I did a little investigating. I found a resource called Organic-Skincare.com that helped clarify the terms for me.

Here is how they explain what certified organic is:
“When a label lists “natural” or “organic” ingredients this does not mean the same as certified organic. There is no authority governing the term “natural” or “organic” on labels.
However, there are internationally recognized certifying bodies (third parties) who govern the use of the term certified organic.
Certified Organic… What Does This Mean?
Independent certifying bodies operate according to strict international standards. The entire process of product development is rigorously monitored beginning with the seed…
* how it is grown* harvested* stored* transported* processed
Provided each stage is completed according to the international standards then the finished product will display the certified organic logo.
You will also see a list of beneficial ingredients on the label which are understandable rather than mysterious ingredients such as methychloroisothiazoinone which appears on some skin care product labels. (This toxic ingredient causes burning to skin and eyes and is harmful when absorbed by the skin).”
For more information about certified organic products, visit Organic-Skincare.com. A directory of where to buy certified organic products and Daily Organic news can be found on the site as well. I appreciate the information the site provided and I hope you find it useful as well.
I also found these little tidbits around the web:
Certified organic products must contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients excluding water and salt/minerals, with a small allowance for natural, non-organic ingredients that must comply with very stringent processing criteria.
Keep in mind that even if a producer is certified organic, the use of the USDA Organic label is voluntary.
When you use high quality, certified organic products, ALL the ingredients are active. They are ALL beneficial and they all feed the skin.
Further information regarding consumer confusion on the regulating process can be found here.
I hope this helps clear some questions you may have regarding what exactly Certified Organic Skincare is or is not. If you have further information to share on the topic, please leave a comment below. Links are helpful for those seeking information.