As the trend toward organic and natural cosmetics grows stronger and stronger, and we see many brands moving in this direction each year, it's time to try to understand a little better what lies behind this phenomenon. Many people associate natural with eco-responsibility. But in reality, in the world of cosmetics, one doesn't always imply the other...

Today, LAO explains what a natural cosmetic is, helps you better understand the impact of natural cosmetics on the environment, and helps you identify truly eco-friendly cosmetics. SPOILER: Natural doesn't mean eco-friendly!

Natural cosmetics: what are they?

To understand what a natural cosmetic is, you must first know how to differentiate between natural cosmetics and cosmetics of natural origin, which are two slightly different concepts.

What differentiates natural ingredients from naturally derived ingredients is that they are not processed. They are incorporated into cosmetic products in their original state.

The advantage is that they are excellent active ingredients and therefore retain all their initial properties. The disadvantage is that very often, the ingredients do not last over time, which shortens the expiration dates of the products and can lead to more waste, if the products are not sold before this date.

Naturally derived ingredients, on the other hand, are incorporated into cosmetic products after undergoing chemical transformation. Be careful, chemical does not mean harmful or bad for your health or the environment.

Chemistry involves transforming or blending ingredients to create new properties. Some natural ingredients cannot be used in their pure form and must therefore undergo chemical transformation to be incorporated into a product.

Regardless, natural cosmetics and cosmetics of natural origin have similarities. Both do not contain any synthetic ingredients, meaning they are artificially manufactured using a heavy chemical process. The second similarity, as you've probably already guessed, is that both types of cosmetics contain all their ingredients derived from nature.

LAO has chosen to incorporate ingredients of natural origin into its hair care products, in order to take advantage of the many benefits that nature can bring to our hair and to create formulas that are durable and effective over time.

Are natural cosmetics better for the environment?

Some products contain ingredients of natural origin and/or natural ingredients, but this does not necessarily mean that they are environmentally friendly. Here's why:

Some natural products, in order to be sold more cheaply or to obtain better margins for the brand, are made with ingredients from the four corners of the planet.

However, as you know, flying is far from being the most ecological form of transport, especially when you can find the same ingredients, sometimes even of better quality, in France and Europe.

So yes, the prices will often be higher, but you have to choose: if it's not you who pays the real price of the product, know that it's certainly the planet or even people exploited in the manufacturing process who pay the high price for your cosmetics.

So, when we see natural, so-called eco-friendly cosmetics for €4, it's always good to ask ourselves what the product is made of and why the price is so low.

At LAO, washing products are €22 , not to make a big margin but because we have chosen to use French producers for our organic active ingredients which are hemp, nettle, and lemon balm and we have also made the common sense choice for certain ingredients such as glucosides which cannot be found in France, and which are nevertheless essential in the formula of an effective shampoo.

Not all shampoo ingredients can come from France, but we've created simple formulas with just 15 ingredients and chosen responsible partners to limit our environmental impact. To learn all about the origin of our cleansing care ingredients, simply scan the following QR code.

To determine whether a cosmetic is environmentally friendly or not, naturalness isn't the only criterion to consider! Characteristics concerning the cosmetic product, such as compostability, the incorporation of recycled materials, reuse possibilities, recyclability, or even the presence of hazardous substances, must be provided by cosmetic brands since the decree of April 29, 2022.

This information should be mentioned on the brand's website, you will normally find it on the page of the product you wish to purchase!

And if not, don't hesitate to ask for this information, which is normally mandatory. Everyone deserves to know what they're applying to their body or hair.

How to recognize eco-responsible cosmetics?

There are several labels to help you identify natural and/or organic cosmetic products:

The Cosmos Natural label, the Cosmos Organic label and the organic label, which were created by the Cosmebio organization, allow you to identify cosmetics with ingredients of natural origin and organic cosmetics.

The NATRUE Label is also a good indicator of natural and organic products. LAO will explain the meaning of these Labels in a future article and teach you how to decipher the INCI list of your cosmetic products, so you have all the keys to choosing products that are truly good for your health and respectful of the planet.

However, these labels don't tell you where the ingredients come from! Are they sourced in France or on the other side of the world? Are they harvested from nature in a country with strict environmental standards, as is the case in most European countries, or are they harvested without regard for environmental protection? All of this is up to the brand to tell you.

This is why LAO has integrated the blockchain system into its products , revealing everything to you, from the seed to the bottle, via a QR code that you simply scan!

To learn more about cosmetics and environmental issues, listen to The Beauty Nerds podcast in which Lisa, the founder of LAO, explains everything 🌿