Skincare - Understanding certifications – Kind Origins

Understanding Certifications

The COSMOS (COSMETIC ORGANIC STANDARD) is an international certified signature for organic and natural cosmetics. Certifying bodies such as the Soil Association provides the certification services to businesses in the UK. 


ECOCERT ( a certifying body) was initially introduced in France, however now it has divisions worldwide providing certification services internationally. 
These organisations audit companies who request certification for their products. The certificates may be for areas such as fair trade, ecological textiles and organic farming.   
Businesses who wish to have their products certified are assessed. Their farming culture, manufacture, sustainability and environmental practices are reviewed for the purposes of certification. 
   
Different types of certification symbols you will commonly see.
  
What does COSMOS  NATURAL guarantee?   
COSMOS Natural is most suitable for products containing a lot of ingredients which   
cannot be organic such as water, salt or clay – for example toners, bath salts or face   
masks. This also means that these beauty products may or may not have organic ingredients.  

 
All products with the Soil Association COSMOS natural logo guarantees:  

NO  
  •  Animal testing   
  • GM ingredients   
  • Controversial chemicals   
  • Parabens and Phthalates   
  • Synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances  

 
COSMOS ORGANIC  
Looking for the COSMOS logo on your cosmetics means so much more than just using organic ingredients. It is: 


NO 

  • Animal testing   
  • GM ingredients   
  • Controversial chemicals   
  • Parabens and Phthalates   
  • Synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances   

 

BUT YES TO  

  •  Sustainably sourced organic ingredients.  
  • Using natural colours and fragrances from plants and flowers.  
  • Transparent manufacturing processes.
  • Biodegradable ingredients.   
  • Minimal packaging with maximum recycled content.  
  • Protecting wildlife and biodiversity.  

For a product to be labelled organic e.g 'Organic facial oil'  95% of ALL ingredients must be organic  
For leave on products, 95% of all physically processed agro-ingredients* must be organic and at least 20% of the total ingredients must be organic.  
For rinse off products, 95% of all physically processed agro-ingredients must be organic and at least 10% of the total ingredients must be organic.  
   
ECOCERT STANDARD  

The ECOCERT standard is an international certificate which means: 

NO

  • GMO   
  • Phthalates   
  • Phenoxythanol   
  • Parabens   
  • nanoparticles   
  • Silicons   
  • PEGs   
  • Synthetic perfumes, dyes   
  • animal derived ingredient (unless nautrally produced by them, milk,honey,etc). 
  • Biodegradable or recyclable packaging.   
   
ECOCERT ORGANIC  
  
  • 95% minimum of the plants it contains are organic. 
  • At least 20% of organic ingredients are present in the total formula (10% for rinse-off products).

ECOCERT NATURAL  

  • At least 95% of the finished products consist of natural ingredients.
  • At least 5% of the finished products contains ingredients produced through organic farming.  
  • 50% of the plant ingredients are produced through organic farming.

 
  
Sourced from the https://www.soilassociation.org/organic-living/beauty-wellbeing/what-is-organic-beauty/ 
They have a good information on products in the UK that have already been certified. 
https://www.ecocert.com/en/certification-detail/natural-and-organic-cosmetics-cosmos