Why do organic cosmetics cause skin irritation?

What are organic cosmetics?

In fact, there is no exact definition of organic cosmetics. Therefore, any product that uses even a single drop of organic ingredients can be sold as organic cosmetics.

The organic ingredients referred to here are natural ingredients grown using organic methods.
The standards for organic production vary from country to country, but generally it refers to a production method that does not use chemicals or artificial ingredients.

This means that the following are not used:

• Chemical fertilizers
• Chemical pesticides
• Antibiotics
• Hormones
• Genetically modified crops

Instead, organic fertilizers and pesticides are sometimes used.

Organic is based on the idea that using natural substances keeps agricultural and livestock products healthy and reduces the burden on the environment.

Organic ingredients used in organic cosmetics

The organic ingredients used in makeup and skincare products are also grown and processed using organic farming methods, and many of them are derived from plants.

For example, the following:

• Plant extracts
• Vegetable oil
• Essential oils
• Resin Extract
• Plant water

More precisely, the following considerations are required:

• Enabling resource circulation
• Maintain or improve air and soil quality
• Conserve biodiversity
• Minimize the use of synthetic materials

However, as mentioned at the beginning, there are no standards for selling cosmetics as organic, so the amount of organic ingredients listed above varies from product to product.

Are natural cosmetics and ingredients derived from nature organic?

If a product is labeled as "natural cosmetics" or " contains naturally derived ingredients ," does that mean it is organic?

The answer is "No."

"Natural cosmetics" means that some or all of the ingredients in the product are derived from plants or animals. It does not necessarily mean that the product was grown using organic methods. Therefore, it is different from "organic."

The same goes for "naturally derived ingredients."
It does not mean that the ingredients are made from plants or animals grown using organic methods. Even if chemical pesticides are used, if they are extracted from plants, they are considered "natural ingredients."
Ingredients extracted from animals or living things are also considered "natural ingredients."

In other words, even if a product contains natural or naturally derived ingredients, it is not necessarily gentle on the skin or the global environment.

For example, if the moisturizing ingredient squalane is extracted from sharks, it could be linked to the catching of sharks. Or, if rice extract is derived from rice, there is a possibility that pesticide residues may remain if the rice is grown using chemical pesticides.

Also, even if a product is labeled "natural" or "contains naturally derived ingredients," it does not necessarily mean that the percentage of natural ingredients is 100%. If it is not 100%, the other ingredients may contain synthetic ingredients such as microplastics .

Is organic good for your skin?

Considering the manufacturing process, raw material sourcing, and impact on the natural environment, cosmetics that actively incorporate organic ingredients seem to be kinder. It's a very ethical choice.

But unfortunately, it may not suit some people's skin.

Especially for those with sensitive skin, allergies, or atopic dermatitis, natural ingredients can cause the skin to become red and itchy.

In particular, essential oils are as strong irritants as synthetic fragrances . They are also allergenic, so they may irritate the skin. In addition to essential oils, you may also need to be careful with certain types of plant extracts and plant waters that are highly allergenic.

Organic cosmetics and allergies

People who already have allergies should also be careful.

In particular, people who have allergies to any of the plant or animal ingredients should avoid these ingredients.
For example, people with soy allergies should make sure that the product does not contain ingredients such as soybean oil or soybean extract, and people with milk allergies should make sure that the product does not contain ingredients such as milk extract or milk protein.

There may still not be many people in Japan who are concerned about this, but there are some countries where the possibility of developing food allergies from cosmetics has been pointed out.

For example, the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy offers the following advice on preventing the development of allergies:

• Refrain from using cosmetics containing food allergens on infants and young children.
• If you have a skin condition, do not use cosmetics that contain food allergens.
• Avoid cosmetics that contain proteins that are likely to cause allergies, such as milk and wheat.

Just because it contains organic ingredients does not mean that it will not cause allergies or skin irritation.

Just as people with apple allergies have an allergic reaction to organically grown apples, some people's skin does not respond well to organic cosmetics.

Knowing this, I would like to find cosmetics that suit me.