| To understand organic skin care, you have to | | | | issues and animal welfare playing a large part as |
| understand organic farming because all of the | | | | well. During processing quality is retained because |
| ingredients in organic skin care are organically | | | | organic foods are not subjected to artificial |
| produced. This means that each and every | | | | ingredients, irradiation, or preservatives. |
| ingredient should be certified as organically grown, | | | | Aside from man made additives, pesticides, and |
| not just the majority of them. | | | | fertilizers, organic food is also free of man made |
| It is a good idea to check companies that you are | | | | herbicides and GMOs (genetically modified |
| considering for your organic skin care products to | | | | organisms). Animals raised organically are not fed |
| make sure that they are selling certified products | | | | by products of other animals (rather, they eat |
| and that the products you purchase from them | | | | organically grown foods) and they are free to |
| are certified. | | | | roam and enjoy their existence (instead of being |
| There are companies out there which make false | | | | locked in cages). |
| claims about being organic and those that sell | | | | In raising animals organically, a diet of certified |
| some non organic products along with organic | | | | organic food is used; this means that, in addition |
| products. Through understanding organic farming, | | | | to the absence of the above mentioned |
| you will see that organic skin care is better for | | | | synthetics, there are no hormones ingested by |
| both you and the environment. | | | | organically raised animals. |
| Basically, organic farming is a return to the way | | | | Prevention of disease is a by product of the |
| farming used to be done, utilizing a number of | | | | animals healthy living, so antibiotics are also not |
| things to replenish soil nourishment including: crop | | | | passed on to us through ingestion. Through this |
| rotation, composting, and cover crops. Climate | | | | well nourished, free to roam life, it has been found |
| hardy plants grown in well nourished soil have | | | | that animals raised for things like milk and eggs |
| better insect and disease resistance than their non | | | | tend to live much longer than their non organic |
| organic counterparts do. | | | | counterparts. |
| Because of this resistance, the organic plants do | | | | According to the United States National Organic |
| not require fertilizers and pesticides in massive | | | | Standards Board, Organic agriculture is an |
| amounts. Even when help is needed, organic | | | | ecological production management system that |
| farmers protect their plants through a variety of | | | | promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological |
| ways that still do not utilize synthetic chemicals. | | | | cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on |
| Sadly, this does not mean that there are | | | | minimal use of off farm inputs and on |
| absolutely no pesticides in organic plants. | | | | management practices that restore, maintain and |
| Because of the over use of pesticides, even our | | | | enhance ecological harmony. |
| rain carries them, which means that organic plants | | | | For products to be certified organic, they must |
| are subjected to them through the rain. | | | | meet a set of strict standards within the industry. |
| Biodiversity is promoted by the organic farmers | | | | These standards are verified by a third party |
| way of growing different crops and natural | | | | agency, sometimes the government. In order to |
| resource systems (like air and water) are | | | | be certified, both farms and processing plants |
| protected because of the way that organic | | | | must be checked and found to be in compliance |
| farmers store and compost the animal waste | | | | with the standards that have been set. After initial |
| they use in replenishing soil nutrients. | | | | certification, farms and facilities are still inspected |
| The overall effect on the environment through | | | | regularly to verify that the organic standards are |
| organic farming can be seen through reduced | | | | still being met. |
| greenhouse gases. On a local level, farmers see | | | | Organic does not just refer to the actual plants |
| less water used, less soil erosion, improved | | | | and animals produced for human consumption. It |
| fertility, safer groundwater, and more abundant | | | | applies to anything which is manufactured in such |
| wildlife. | | | | a way that it meets the certification standards. |
| Organic is all about the way that various | | | | This is why one moisturizer may be organic while |
| agricultural products are grown (or raised) and | | | | another is not, even though both companies use |
| processed. By farming organically, the health of | | | | the same ingredients. Organic farming has grown |
| the ecosystem is maintained. Toxins in fertilizers | | | | to the extent that you can find a huge variety of |
| and pesticides are bypassed because these | | | | food (even processed foods), but it goes even |
| products are not used in organic farming. | | | | further than food. You can buy organic clothing, |
| The focus is on the environment: soil regeneration | | | | organic bedding, linens, and other items. |
| and water conservation being the two biggest | | | | |