Organic beauty

You're healthy, environmentally conscious and buy organically grown food when you can. So, if you are so aware of the chemicals you're putting into your body, why aren't you aware of the ones you're putting on it? Organic skincare is one of the fastest growing areas of the beauty industry - we take a look at a new and expanding area of the beauty market

It's estimated that by using a range of body and skincare products, the average woman applies more than 200 chemicals to her skin a day. Furthermore, recent research has shown that 60 per cent of these chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream. It has also been found that the number of people with eczema, allergies and skin complaints is on the rise - their conditions aggravated by the chemicals in our skincare and body care products. By going green, our skin can't help but benefit, but where do you start and what is it that makes something organic?

What is organic?
Organic produce has been grown without the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Regulations governing organically grown products also prohibit the use of genetically modified ingredients.

How can I tell that a product is organic?
This is a tricky area as European law on organic produce only covers food. However, The Soil Association and the Organic Food Federation have devised their own set of rules relating to health and beauty products. Look out for a symbol from either organisation or the letters UKROFS followed by a number, which shows that the product has been approved by these rules.

What do the labels mean?
If a product claims it's organic ie 'organic face cream', it must contain at least 95 per cent of organically grown produce. For a product to claim that it has been 'made with organic ingredients', it must contain over 70 per cent of organically grown produce.

How long will organic products keep?
Due to the lack of preservatives, most products will keep un-opened for up to 18 months. Opened it is thought that they'll last for around four months. It is however, worth checking the dates on individual products.

Organic brands...