With consumer demand for organic produce hitting unprecedented heights, it can be confusing to distinguish which products are truly organic. While natural products can still be farmed using pesticides, organic ingredients must be farmed in a particular way that sees them grown without synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilisers. There is also a difference between claims of being organic and being certified organic. A brand can claim a product is organic if it contains one 'organic' ingredient, but it still may contain potentially toxic chemicals such as TEAs, DEAs, sulfates, parabens, glycols, ethoxylates and formaldehyde and formaldehyde derivatives. Certified organic, on the other hand, is your guarantee that the products are free from harmful chemicals and that they are completely pure,” says KORA Organics. bd sets out to discover the organic qualities of some of the top organic beauty brands.
- Absolution was the first bespoke organic skincare brand and is EcoCert certified. EcoCert is the world’s largest independent certifying body of natural and organic cosmetics. To gain the certification, 95 per cent of the ingredients used must be from natural origin. Absolution is also FDA approved.
AUM Anti Age Organics (AUM Anti Age Organics NZ) - AUM’s facial skincare products are certified organic, with most carrying certification from EcoCert Greenlife. A minimum of 98.9 per cent of the total ingredients found in AUM products are of natural origin, while 73 to 92 per cent of the ingredients come from organic farming. On top of their skincare range, AUM have a range of certified organic body products.
Centella - Centella products are certified by two of the strictest and leading ecological and organic cosmetics professional associations - Cosmebio and EcoCert. To gain both certifications, 95 per cent of the final product must come from natural ingredients, while 95 per cent of vegetable ingredients must come from organic products.
Couleur Caramel - Couleur Caramel is a pioneer of organic make-up. While certified organic skincare had been done before, Couleur Caramel was one of the first brands to get its colour make-up organic certified. Products in the range are each individually certified organic by EcoCert and are 100 per cent natural. Each individual product has to be tested to make sure it is fully organic certifiable.
- The entire Dr. Hauschka range is certified with the BDIH seal for certified natural cosmetics and/or the NATRUE international quality seal for natural and organic cosmetics. Wherever available, Dr. Hauschka procures their ingredients from Demeter or controlled organic farming. If an organic version of a raw material is not yet available, the brand initiates organic farming projects.
- Providing the beauty industry with organic alternatives to skincare since 1958, Éminence has long been certified organic by Biokontroll. Biokontroll is the main certification organisation in Hungary, where all of Éminence’s potent and active ingredients are grown. The brand has also recently been certified by Europe’s Demeter International. European certification is renowned for having the strictest guidelines and organic regulations.
- endota is one of the few beauty companies that uses ingredients that are certified organic by the Organic Food Chain. Requirements of the OFC are that products must contain at least 70 per cent organic ingredients and cannot have parabens, sulphates or other nasties. Many endota products are 100 per cent certified organic, such as their rosehip oil.
Florame Australia - Florame is committed to organic agriculture, an agriculture bound by rigorous specifications established by the farmer and the certifying body (EcoCert). On top of their EcoCert certification, Florame is also certified by Cosmébio and AB (Agriculture Biologique). Products holding these certifications must contain more than 95 per cent organic components. The brand guarantees perfect traceability, from the producer to the end product.
- All GAIA products contain natural and certified organic ingredients. The certified organic ingredients have been certified by the Australian Certified Organic (ACO). Most GAIA products are made in ACO manufacturing facilities by experts in the manufacturing of natural and organic skin care formulations.
geoskincare (New Zealand) - geoskincare products are certified by BioGro - New Zealand’s leading independent organic certifier and an internationally-trusted organisation. BioGro has been at the forefront of commercial organics in the country since it was established 28 years ago and bases it audits on UK Soil Association standards. To gain the BioGro certification, geoskincare products must contain at least 95 per cent certified organic ingredients, with the remaining 5 per cent must not consist of any synthetic chemicals or nasty ingredients. With a few ingredients impossible to source in an organic form, four geoskincare products (the daily cleansing cream, daily cleansing gel, mineral mud masque and after shave balm) contain at least 70 per cent or more organic ingredients and are certified as a made with organic ingredients” product.
- Green People is a true pioneer of organic beauty due to the high percentage of organic ingredients and lack of synthetic chemicals present in its products. Green People has over 100 products certified organic by The Soil Association, Organic Food Federation and EcoCert.
- Kora Organics is certified through Ecocert and OFC. There are many strict rules in relation to producing certified organic products and each year, to maintain KORA Organics by Miranda Kerr’s certification, the brand is audited to ensure each and every product's authenticity.
- Kosmea is most famous for its Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil, with the rose hips found in many of its products. Kosmea sources the 100 per cent certified organic rose hips from Lesotho, South Africa, where the rose hips grow wild. The area in which the rose hips grow is certified organic, which means no artificial fertilisers or pesticides are used.
- Moom products contain a range of certified 100 per cent organic pure and beneficial base ingredients, including chamomile,sugar, lemon and essential oils. These base ingredients have been certified by USDA Organics.
Neom Luxury Organics - All of Neom Luxury Organics’ organic certification is done through the UK Soil Association. While its products as a whole are not certified, their organic ingredients are. When Neom Luxury Organics refers to the percentage of organic ingredients contained in its products, these organic ingredients have all been certified with the UK Soil Association. The brand’s body care products have up to 99 per cent certified organic ingredients in them, while the candles use 100 per cent natural vegetable wax and pure essential oils.
- People for Plants contains high potency levels of Australian Certified Organic-approved ingredients. Not only do the finished formulations have to be submitted to be approved by the ACO, but the organic certification body must approve each ingredient and every step in the process from field to finished product. Each People for Plants product lists the percentage of certified organic ingredients and what ingredients are certified organic or are of a natural source.
Planet Eve Organics - All Planet Eve Organics products are Australian Certified Organic (ACO), which is one of the strictest certification standards in the world. Planet Eve Organics products have a minimum of 95 per cent certified organic ingredients, excluding water and salt. The brand is audited, with all ingredients able to be traced to their source. All ingredients must be approved.
River Veda (River Veda NZ) - River Veda products are packed with ingredients that have been certified organic by BioGro. Every part of the ingredient processing and manufacturing process used to make River Veda certified organic products are audited and checked by BioGro to ensure the product is authentic. The exact nature of the ingredients and percentages of each organic and natural ingredient used is declared on the label.
Santorini Sun Organics - Santorini Sun’s Nature’s Facelift 100% Pure Squalane Oil has been certified by EcoCert, while its Sunless Tanning Lotion contains 75 per cent certified organic ingredients and is certified by the ACO.
Serge Louis Alvarez - Serge Louis Alvarez was the first professional brand to gain EcoCert certification. The BIO range itself is organic, while the Pre Make-up Base, Pulpy Gloss and Bio Lipstick all carry the EcoCert stamp.
Spilt Milk - Made from naturally-occurring minerals and Australian clays, Spilt Milk Mineral Hair Powder is all-natural and organic. It is naturally preserved and completely free of dyes, alcohol and artificial colours.
- Sukin’s Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil is 100 per cent certified organic by German company BCS OKO Garantie. BCS OKO Garantie offers a seal for BCS certified companies to ensure consumers can easily identify the item as being a high quality organic product.
(The Body Shop NZ) - In 2010, the very first EcoCert certified organic skincare range from The Body Shop was launched. While the brand has used organic ingredients in its products for years, Nutriganics was the brand’s first range to carry the globally-respected organic mark from EcoCert. While the range is currently available in Australia, Nutriganics will be launched into select New Zealand stores from mid-July.
The Organic Skin Co. (The Organic Skin Co. NZ) - All The Organic Skin Co. products have been recognised with the certification mark BioGro Organic. The BioGro logo guarantees that the highest organic standards have been met at every step - that products have been produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or genetically modified ingredients, and that manufacturing processes are ethical and have a reduced effect on the environment.
- Trilogy is the first skincare brand to be certified natural by Australasia’s first NATRUE-accredited certification body, BioGro New Zealand Ltd. BioGro New Zealand is now accredited by NATRUE and is the first local certification body to officially bring NATRUE’s certification to New Zealand. Trilogy achieved its accreditation following 18 months of research and development, plus an extensive certification process. The certification complemented Trilogy’s existing BioGro organic certification for its Certified Organic Rosehip Oil and Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+.
For more organic products, check out the following brands:
- (Inika Cosmetics NZ)
- Organic Colour Systems
- (Priori NZ)
- WOTNOT