When Natural Labels Mean Nothing
Greenwashing is everywhere in beauty. Here's which words actually mean something.
Transcript
Natural. Clean. Green. None of these words are legally defined for cosmetics. A leaf sketch and a green cap can be pure design. Organic is different: the USDA regulates it for agricultural ingredients. And the FTC has acted against misleading natural claims. The real test is the ingredient list. Ours are short on purpose. Look past the leaf.
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Greenwashing: When "Natural" on the Label Means Nothing
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Key points from the full guide
- Natural, clean, non toxic, and green have no legal definition for cosmetics in the US.
- Hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested also lack federal standards; the FDA has said so for hypoallergenic directly.
- Organic is regulated for agricultural ingredients through the USDA National Organic Program, and third-party seals like COSMOS have published standards.
- The FTC can act against deceptive claims and has settled cases over all natural labels on products with synthetic ingredients.
- The ingredient list, not the front of the package, is where to check any claim.
Read the full guide: Greenwashing: When "Natural" on the Label Means Nothing