Natural skin care: What to know before you start

If you're looking to clean up your skin care act, you're not alone. In fact, the global market for natural and organic cosmetics was estimated to be a $24.2 billion industry in 2022, projected to double by 2030.¹

Where things get tricky, though, is understanding the terms that are often on your favorite skin care bottle. "Clean," "natural" and "organic" all have different definitions, despite often being used interchangeably. And different brands can use these words in different ways. That can make it difficult to determine what to look for as you freshen up your skin care routine.

Here's a quick look at what these terms mean, how some brands interpret them, and how to make these products part of your day-to-day.

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What do “clean,” “natural” and “organic” mean in skin care?

So, you want to aim for clean, natural or organic skin care goals. When looking for products that fit the bill, you can watch for the following labels on the packaging:

• Clean: "Formaldehyde-free," "fragrance-free," “paraben-free," "phthalate-free," "sulfate-free," "silicone-free" and so on.
• Natural: "Natural," "all natural," etc.
• Organic: "Orgánico," "USDA organic" and "made with organic ingredients"

You probably have a feel for what these words mean in everyday life. For skin care brands, it works a little differently.

Some terms, like "organic," do have specific meanings and are regulated (explained in the next section). Others are used in a more general way and may change from brand to brand. The term "natural," for instance, isn't an official, regulated label,² but it's often used to denote that some of the ingredients are sourced from nature or are free from synthetic materials. Keep in mind, however, that "natural" ingredients aren't necessarily friendly to your skin and some can cause harm.³

The term “clean” also isn’t regulated,⁴ but brands mostly use it to describe products that avoid ingredients that might cause harm to your skin. Broadly speaking, clean skin care products are free from ingredients like bisphenol A (BPA), formaldehyde, parabens and phthalates, explains Jenny Perillo-Duranski,⁵ a clean skin care expert in Chicago and founder of Lena Rose Beauty. While the specifics can vary, the overarching benefit of clean skin care is that it can help reduce your exposure to toxins and common allergens (like latex, certain fragrances and some preservatives).^6,7

Tips for building a cleaner, more organic skin care routine

One way to get a better handle on products is to look for seals and certifications from external third parties. "Organic," a more regulated term, is one way to do that. "The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic seal and Ecocert⁸ are currently the strongest labels for personal care products," says Perillo-Duranski. "To receive USDA certification, products must include more than 70 percent organic ingredients. Manufacturing facilities can also apply to be eco-certified, which is a strong indicator of their commitment to both natural and organic production."

The organic label comes from the USDA, which only looks at the agricultural ingredients within a product. If it contains at least 95 percent organic ingredients, the product can display the USDA organic seal. If it has at least 70 percent organic ingredients, a product can be certified as "made with organic ingredients."⁹

Aside from displaying these stamps of approval, many products will clearly state on their packaging if they’re free from certain ingredients.

And remember, you don't need to completely overhaul your entire routine in one fell swoop. Perillo-Duranski advises first swapping out the products you use the most (for example, your deodorant, face wash, body wash, moisturizer and so on). Starting small is still starting.