The ‘green beauty’ industry is booming, with every influencer on social media promoting pink clay masks and jojoba oils for reducing stretch marks.
But with all of the buzz words now turning into well known phrases it begs the question – do we actually know what we’re buying?
Here to dispel some of the most common myths is Mukti skincare’s founder who has just released a book, Truth In Beauty, on the topic of botanical versus chemical skincare products and what to watch out for.
Here to dispel some of the most common myths is Mukti skincare’s founder (pictured) who has just released a book called Truth In Beauty
Firstly, she reiterates some of the key differences between terms like ‘natural’, ‘non-comedogenic’ and ‘dermatologist tested’.
One of the key things to remember is that unless the brand has been given COSMOS or industry approval, the claims of being organic are useless.
‘The terms non-toxic or organic are not defined or regulated in a globally integrated way and can be misused,’ Mukti writes.
Isabelle Cornish (left) is a huge fan of the Mukti ethos, being plant-based and organic herself
And even if the product has some form of certification, third-party associations who give accreditation allow for different chemicals to be called ‘natural’, or indeed, ‘organic’ depending on various countries.
But in general the term ‘natural’ implies that something has been taken from nature without having undergone any type of outside manufacturing.
The law doesn’t prohibit brands from saying something is natural even if it contains synthetics, so it’s important to read the entire ingredients list before making your decision.
‘Even if products are labelled as natural, they may contain 100 per cent synthetic chemicals,’ Mukti said.
‘Even if products are labelled as natural, they may contain 100 per cent synthetic chemicals,’ Mukti said
Non-comedogenic means that the cleanser or moisturiser doesn’t block your pores and encourage the growth of acne. So while people may be heralding coconut oil or butter as the makeup remover of the month – it’s actually a comedogenic substance and should be used with care.
And finally dermatologist tested doesn’t mean there are science-approved claimed the product works, but rather a patch test has been done on a dermatologist’s skin and no reaction has taken place.
Some bottles are packaged in green plastic or the brand includes the word organic in the title to trick customers into believing it’s good for their skin and ‘from nature’.
Some bottles are packaged in green plastic or the brand includes the word organic in the title to trick users into believing it’s good for their skin and ‘from nature’ (Mukti Organics pictured)
Instead look at the ingredients list on the back to decipher whether it’s the right choice for you:
TOP THIRD
This area lists the ingredients that constitute 80-95 per cent of the product. So, if the first ingredient listed is water or aqua, that’s what you’re paying for.
MIDDLE THIRD
This constitutes about 4-12 per cent of the product and is made up of oils, actives, emulsifiers and surfactants.
FINAL THIRD
Makes up around 1-4 per cent of the product and consists of preservatives, fragrances, stabilisers and label claims.