What Exactly Is Natural Beauty?

With so many natural beauty products out there, for our face, hair and body, it’s important to know exactly what natural means. This way you can choose products that will genuinely benefit you and the environment, and can avoid products that have been branded ‘natural’ simply because the marketing manager once owned a pot plant.

In summary, a natural beauty product, such as a natural shampoo, natural sun protection, moisturizer or lipstick, is one that ticks several, if not all, of these boxes:

• It is free from harmful chemicals that can irritate the skin and do just as much damage to nature. More about those later.
• It includes naturally derived ingredients such as oils, vitamins and other extracts from fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants.
• In the case of mineral make-up, it might be made from minerals naturally derived from the earth, such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide and ultramarine, and, crucially, at the same time leave other harmful chemicals out. (Nearly all make-up uses minerals; natural mineral make-up is as much about what is left out as left in.)
• The ingredients themselves might be organic, or in other words cultivated without the use of harmful pesticides.
• The ingredients will be sustainably grown and harvested, and fairly traded.
• They won’t include synthetic fragrances or colourings.
• They have been made without generating harmful by-products that can eventually get into our waterways and hurt wildlife.
• The packaging will be entirely or mostly recycled and recyclable.
• It has been made without cruelty to animals.
• Some brands are now also paying attention to air miles, attempting to limit them by using locally grown ingredients, and using alternative transport methods to cargo planes. You can also choose to buy UK-made products if you wish.