Some terms used on this website and their meanings
Essential oils – Essential oils are the compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant’s scent and flavor, or “essence”. Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing. Once the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are combined with a carrier oil to create a product that’s ready for use.
Organic – The term “Organic” indicates that the product comes from at least 95% organic ingredients. “100% organic” means that all of the ingredients are organic. The USDA regulates the use of the terms “organic” and “100% organic” through third-party certification organizations. If you’re buying certified organic, generally your products (food or the ingredients in your cosmetics) come for a farming system which uses: No manufactured herbicides or artificial fertilizers. No artificial or synthetic colors, preservatives or chemicals (including parabens and sulphates.)
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not define or regulate the term “organic,” as it applies to cosmetics, body care, or personal care products. The term “organic” as it relates to agricultural products is regulated by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the National Organic Program (NOP) regulation, 7 CFR Part 205. However, the USDA has no authority over the production and labeling of cosmetics, body care products, and personal care products that are not made up of agricultural ingredients, or do not make any claims to meeting USDA organic standards.
If a cosmetic, body care product, or personal care product contains or is made up of agricultural ingredients, and can meet the USDA/NOP organic production, handling, processing and labeling standards, it may be eligible to be certified under the NOP regulations.
The operations which produce the organic agricultural ingredients, the handlers of these agricultural ingredients, and the manufacturer of the final product must all be certifi ed by a USDA-accredited organic certifying agent. Once certified, cosmetics, personal care products, and body care products are eligible for the same 4 organic labeling categories as all other agricultural products, based on their organic content and other factors.
Some additional reading:
- Organic Cosmetics, US Food & Drug Administration, August 24, 2020
- USDA Cosmetics, Body Care & Personal Care Products Fact Sheet, USDA, April 2008
Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as artificial preservatives in cosmetic and body care products since the 1920s. Since cosmetics contain ingredients that can biodegrade, these chemicals are added to prevent and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and mold, increasing the shelf life of the product.
Parabens can act like the hormone estrogen in the body and disrupt the normal function of hormone systems affecting male and female reproductive system functioning, reproductive development, fertility and birth outcomes. Parabens can also interfere with the production of hormones. Scientists are concerned about the exposure to environmental estrogens and how they may contribute to the risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer in women.
Some additional reading:
- What are Parabens, and why don’t they belong in cosmetics, Environmental Working Group, April 9, 2019
- What are Parabens? The Truth About Skincare’s Biggest Bad Guy, Elle Magazine, July 22, 2020
- Parabens in Cosmetics, US Food & Drug Administration, August 24, 2020