The top 3 myths about organic skincare products

There are three common myths about organic skincare that I’d like to dispel in today’s post. Obviously, I would love to see everyone using organic skincare products, but not just because I have an organic skincare company — because I know without a doubt that certified organic skincare products are by far the best products you can use for beautiful, soft, silky skin. I worry about all the chemicals people are slathering onto their bodies without realising their skin is absorbing those chemicals, and without knowing what the true side effects are.

Unfortunately, there’s little regulation in the skin care industry, and little scientific testing done on the side effects of common chemicals found in skin care products, which is why I always say it’s better to use the cleanest products possible, then you don’t need to worry. Which brings me to the first myth:

Myth 1: Organic skincare products are too expensive

Define expensive! There’s a widely held myth that organic skincare products — especially certified organic skincare products — cost too much. In fact, they are usually somewhere in the middle, between the absolute el cheapo supermarket brands, and the exclusive, big name brands that spend gazillions on advertising and marketing (which the consumer pays for when they buy the products). Plus, certified organic skincare products are usually concentrated, so a little goes a long way. For example, rather than using water as a base for Mukti Organics products, we mainly use certified organic aloe vera leaf juice. So, you’re not paying for water, and you only need to use the tiniest amount. When you buy a cheap product, you’ll usually find it has water as a base, so you need to use more, and you’ll run out a lot quicker.

Myth 2: Organic skincare products aren’t as effective as the big name brands

This could not be further from the truth. The reason why there is a perception that really expensive products in fancy packaging with ingredients you can’t pronounce are more effective, is that the companies spend lots of money trying to convince people they’re more effective. Advertising and marketing are very powerful myth-creating mediums. The best products for your skin are those that are jam-packed with healing, soothing, rejuvenating ingredients that are as clean and natural as possible. Your body recognises these ingredients — like coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice, pomegranate, calendula, and so on — and actually knows what to do with them, because they are completely natural. They’re age-old ingredients, tried and tested through millennia for their exceptional healing properties for skin. So, next time you find yourself about to buy a skincare product containing a bunch of chemicals on the label, stop and ask yourself if you really believe the marketing hype, or whether deep down you know it’s not going to do what it promises.

Myth 3: Organic skincare products are difficult to find

OK, this myth is only partly false, because if we’re talking TRULY certified organic skincare products, then they are few and far between and can be more difficult to find. ‘Organic’ skincare products are a dime a dozen, but we all know that the word ‘organic’ has been used and abused by marketers to the point where it’s losing its impact. Something can be called ‘organic such-and-such cream’, and not have a single organic ingredient in the bottle. However, if a product is accredited as ‘certified’ organic by an accredited certifying body, then the producers of the product need to adhere to strict rules in the processing of the product. That’s the only way you can be sure you’re buying a truly organic skincare product. Mukti Organics received organic certification back in 2006, and we’ve maintained it for the past six years. We distribute to a variety of retail outlets around Australia and internationally, and you can also buy our products online. So, they’re not hard to find at all, once you know where to look. And what to look for (e.g. a logo from an organisation like the Biological Farmers Association).

Have you encountered these ideas about organic skincare products, or have you heard people say similar things about organic skincare that you’ve found yourself questioning? If so, please share them in the comments section below, so we can do our best to dispel the myths and share the truth about organic skincare products — it’s a subject we’re obviously very passionate about! Thanks.

Image: Stuck in Customs/Flickr