A guide to the top five non-toxic beauty certifications - USDA Organic, Cosmos Organic, Non-GMO Project, EWG Verified, and Made Safe - explaining their standards for health and sustainability to help you identify clean beauty products.
Are you trying to be more conscious about the beauty products you buy? With increasing awareness around potentially harmful ingredients in beauty and personal care products, you’re not alone in wanting to seek out healthier, non-toxic options.
However, deciphering labels, marketing claims, and confusing terminology can make it difficult to identify truly safe products. This is why relying on third-party certifications is becoming increasingly important- they are seals of approval designating consumer products that meet strict standards for safety and purity that can help you cut through the noise.
In this post, we’ll unpack what "certified non-toxic means" when it comes to personal care products and how they work to protect you, the consumer. We'll also provide an overview of the top five clean beauty certifications you need to know. These include USDA Organic, Cosmos Organic, Non-GMO Project, EWG Verified, and Made Safe. We’ll also explain what to look for to identify certified products and how to use these certifications as helpful guides toward healthier beauty routines.
Read on to become a savvy shopper for certified non-toxic clean beauty products, including clean beauty skincare, makeup, haircare, and more!
Embracing Clean Beauty and The Increasing Demand For Safe Beauty Products
Being a savvy and safe consumer has never been more important when it comes to personal care products.
A study commissioned by EWG found that the average American adult now uses 12 personal care products a day, including body care, skincare, and cosmetics, that contain as many as 112 chemical ingredients. Harmful substances such as phthalates, PFAS, and formaldehyde are legally used in products you probably use every day, including shampoo and lip gloss. These chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, and other health issues, yet there's a common misconception that these products are tested for safety before being sold.
Even more troubling is how little oversight exists. Unlike pharmaceuticals, the FDA does not approve cosmetics before they hit store shelves. Terms like "clean" and "natural" on labels are not regulated and rarely mean a product is free from concerning ingredients. As a consumer, this makes it really challenging to know what is truly safe and what is just marketed as such.
This is why it's important to seek out products that have independent certification from reputable organizations, indicating they have undergone rigorous third-party testing and extensive toxicology reviews.
Looking for certifications from organizations like USDA Organic, Cosmos Organic, Non-GMO Project, EWG Verified, and Made Safe provides assurance the products you buy don’t contain chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects, developmental harm, and more.
As conscious consumers, we can feel good about our cosmetic products and can be empowered by supporting companies that prioritize our health and understand safety. Vote with your dollar and choose certified, non-toxic products. The risks are too high to ignore.
Understanding Non-Toxic Certifications
Certifications by third-party organizations are essentially seals of approval that indicate a product meets certain health-based criteria and is free from ingredients that are known or suspected to be harmful to human health. Here's a general overview of how these certifications work and how they help protect you:
Standards for Safety and Purity: Non-toxic certifications are based on rigorous standards that evaluate the safety and purity of the ingredients used in beauty products. These standards are often stricter than what is required by law, ensuring that the products meet high levels of safety.
Avoidance of Harmful Chemicals: Certifications like USDA Organic, Cosmos Organic, EWG Verified, and Made Safe ensure that products do not contain specific harmful chemicals, such as carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), endocrine disruptors (which can interfere with hormone systems), irritants, and allergens, among others.
Transparency and Full Disclosure: These certifications often require companies to be transparent about their ingredients. This means full disclosure of what is in the product, including any fragrances, preservatives, or colorants. This level of transparency is not always required in the beauty industry, so these certifications provide a more trustworthy source of information for consumers.
Environmentally Friendly Practices: Many of these certifications also take into account the environmental impact of products. This can include the sustainability of how ingredients are sourced, the manufacturing process, and the biodegradability of the product.
Trust and Assurance for Consumers: Seeing a non-toxic certification on a product can provide peace of mind. It assures you that the product has been thoroughly evaluated and deemed safe for use according to the high standards of the certifying organization.
Support Healthier Choices: By choosing products with non-toxic certifications, you are more likely to avoid potential health risks associated with certain chemicals commonly found in beauty products. This is particularly important for products that are used daily and in close contact with your skin.
Overall, non-toxic certifications help protect you by ensuring that the beauty products you use are free from harmful ingredients, transparent about what they contain, environmentally responsible, and safe for regular use. These certifications guide you toward healthier choices in your beauty routine.
Top 5 Non-Toxic Beauty Certifications You Should Know
Products certified as USDA Organic must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients. This certification ensures that the ingredients are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing factors like soil quality, pest and weed control, and the use of additives. Organic certification implies that the product is of the highest quality and free from ingredients that contain toxic chemicals.
What To Look For:
- Look for the USDA Organic certification label on the product packaging.
- Products certified as USDA Organic must contain at least 95% organic ingredients.
- Check the product listing on the brand's website or on e-commerce platforms for the USDA Organic certification.
This is a standard for organic and natural cosmetics developed by a group of European organic certification bodies. Cosmos Organic certification ensures that a minimum percentage of natural and organic ingredients are used in the formulation, and it strictly limits the use of certain synthetic ingredients, thereby reducing the risk of toxic exposure from harmful chemicals commonly found in beauty products.
What To Look For:
- Search for the Cosmos Organic seal of approval, which is usually displayed prominently on product packaging.
- Visit the Cosmos Organic website for detailed information about their organic-certified products.
This certification focuses on ensuring that products are free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While not directly a measure of toxicity, the Non-GMO Project certification reassures consumers that the ingredients have not been genetically engineered, a process that can lead to the introduction of novel proteins or chemicals that might have unknown or harmful effects on human health.
What To Look For:
- Look for the Non-GMO Project Verified butterfly logo on the product packaging.
- Visit the Non-GMO Project’s website to search for verified products.
- Some retailers have sections dedicated to Non-GMO Project Verified products, both in-store and online.
This mark is given by the Environmental Working Group, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. Products with the EWG Verified mark meet strict criteria for transparency and health, avoiding ingredients that EWG's research has flagged as harmful to health. This certification helps consumers easily identify products that are free from EWG's identified chemicals of concern and are made with good manufacturing practices.
What To Look For:
- Search for the EWG Verified mark on the label, a simple and recognizable logo.
- You can also use the EWG's Skin Deep® database to search for a specific product to make sure it is EWG Verified.
- Check the product description on e-commerce sites for the EWG Verified mark.
Made Safe certification implies that products are made without ingredients known to harm human health or ecosystems. This holistic certification screens ingredients for behavioral toxins, carcinogens, developmental toxins, endocrine disruptors, flame retardants, heavy metals, neurotoxins, high-risk pesticides, reproductive toxins, toxic solvents, and harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It provides a comprehensive approach to non-toxic certification, ensuring that products are safe for both people and the environment.
What To Look For:
- Look for the Made Safe seal on the product packaging.
- Visit the Made Safe website to find a list of certified products.
- On e-commerce websites, check the product's description for mention of the Made Safe certification.
Beyond Certifications: The Future of Non-Toxic Beauty
As there is increasing demand for cleaner, healthier products, we are likely to see more nuanced and comprehensive certifications and standards encompassing not only ingredient safety but also environmental sustainability and transparent communication.
The clean beauty industry is moving towards a more holistic approach that considers the overall impact of products on health as well as the environment.
Increased Demand For Consumer Demand for Transparency
As the market becomes saturated with products labeled as "clean," buyers are increasingly demanding transparency. This is leading to a shift in how brands approach their clean beauty standards, with a greater emphasis on clear and honest communication about product ingredients and their effects.
But Be Aware of Varying Definitions of Clean Beauty
The term "clean" lacks a legal or regulatory definition, leading to variability in standards across the industry. Because of this, brands and retailers are increasingly defining their own standards, which cover a range of aspects from ingredient safety to packaging. As of now, brands have significant autonomy in defining what "clean" means for their products, so it's always important to do your own research and look at ingredient lists carefully.
Just Because A Product Is Free From Certain Chemicals Doesn’t Guarantee Its Safety
Many brands in the United States market their products by highlighting the absence of certain harmful chemicals (like phthalates or potential allergens), but such claims can be misleading. Though a product might market itself as “free” from certain harmful chemicals, it doesn’t mean it still doesn’t contain additional chemicals that can harm your health.
Consumers Are Also Concerned With Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Beyond just health and safety, there is a significant shift towards considering the environmental impact of our beauty products.
People are more likely to support products they believe are less harmful to the environment and brands are responding by focusing on sustainable practices, like using clean formulas with sustainable or zero-waste packaging that helps offset carbon emissions. This holistic approach includes considering the entire lifecycle of the product, from manufacturing to disposal.
Tips For Selecting Non-Toxic Beauty Products
- Read the Ingredient List: Familiarize yourself with common harmful chemicals (like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances) and avoid products containing them.
- Look for Certifications: Seek out products with certifications like USDA Organic, Cosmos Organic, Non-GMO Project, EWG Verified, and Made Safe, as these often indicate a product is free from certain harmful ingredients.
- Research the Brand: Choose brands that are transparent about their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes.
- Use Trusted Resources: Websites like the EWG's Skin Deep database can help you evaluate the safety of product ingredients.
- Be Wary of Marketing Terms: Terms like "natural" and "organic" are not always regulated, so they may not guarantee a product is non-toxic.
- Simplify Your Routine: Using fewer products reduces your overall exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest research and recommendations about beauty product safety.
Remember, the definition of "non-toxic" can vary, so it's important to determine what criteria are most important to you when selecting products.
The Power of Informed Choices in Clean Beauty
As awareness grows around potentially toxic ingredients in beauty products, 3rd party certifications are becoming indispensable guides to identify truly safe, non-toxic options.
This post covered five common certifications and clean beauty seals - USDA Organic, Cosmos Organic, Non-GMO Project, EWG Verified, and Made Safe. These certifications are the best way to make sure your beauty products meet strict standards, avoid the use of harmful chemicals, are transparent with their ingredients, and use environmentally responsible practices.
- Certifications help cut through confusing marketing claims and enable consumers to make informed choices about safe, non-toxic beauty products.
- Look for reputable seals like EWG Verified and USDA Organic when shopping for skincare, cosmetics, hair care, and more.
- Standards vary, so research organizations the criteria for their certifications to ensure they align with your health and sustainability priorities.
- Be a conscious consumer and vote for non-toxic beauty with your dollars to encourage transparency and safety industry-wide.
The future points to consumers demanding greater transparency for their everyday products as well as considering environmental impact. What certifications do you look for when purchasing beauty products? How do you determine if a product is non-toxic? Share your thoughts and help educate others on making safe, healthy choices.
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