Safe, natural beauty products are hard to find because "natural" can simply mean the product contains a small amount of ingredients derived from a natural source, organic or not. Even products labeleld "organic" can contain toxic ingredients. There are USDA standards that have to be met for foods labeled natural but there are no such standards for cosmetics in place at this time. In October of 2002 the USDA announced that the National Organic Program would cover many products other than food, including cosmetics and body care products. The problem is that cosmetics do not need to meet the strict standards set by the National Organic Standards Board that organic food products do. While personal care products with the USDA label are certified organic products, those without the USDA label are unregulated. They may contain a large percentage of organic ingredients or trace amounts. Therefore it is best to stick with those manufacturers dedicated to the safety and purity of their products or ones who carry the USDA organic label.
