I recently became involved in a fascinating discussion on a beauty forum site. This particular part of the discussion was on the term “natural.” I stated that talc was not natural and was a dangerous toxin and carcinogen. In fact, talc is closely related to asbestos and has even been found in ovarian tumors. Someone replied that talc was in fact, natural, e.g., found in nature. Well I stand corrected. I never claimed I knew it all! This person made an excellent point. Talc is found in nature yet is highly toxic to individuals. This leads one to believe that natural isn’t always good for you. When you say natural you tend to believe it is safe and pure. Yet a substance like talc is found in nature and causes cancer! So everything found in nature is not necessarily safe or good for you nor is artificial ingredients, synthetics, or petrochemicals.

So what’s the difference between natural and organic beauty products? This is a question many people have. I am here clear this up for you. I read about a poll where people trusted products labeled “natural” more than they trusted products labeled “organic!” Products labeled as “natural” are not regulated. Your best bet to determine if this product is safe is to read the ingredients. Know your ingredients! The lesser, the better. Be sure you’re able to identify all the contents.

The term “organic” is even more iffy. The term is definitely more regulated for food products than personal care products. The USDA issues their “organic” seal if the product is made with 100% organic ingredients. It can be labeled “organic” (but no seal) if it is made with 95-99% organic ingredients. Finally, “made with organic ingredients” refers to if the product is made with 70-94% organic ingredients. Even still, be wary of petrochemicals in such products as well as synthetic preservatives. Go to the Organic Consumers Association site for more on this topic.

I hope I have cleared up the difference between natural and organic for you so that the next time you go to the store to purchase your shampoo or lotion, you are not standing there shaking your head in confusion. For even more natural beauty tips, download your free ebook, Beautify Naturally: 10 Nontoxic Ways to a More Beautiful You.

About the author: Robin Adler is the writer and creator of http://www.toxicbeautyblog.com and is currently working on a Toxic Beauty ebook detailing the toxic ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products and how we can avoid them. She also operates two other beauty blogs: http:/ /naturalbeautyra.info, a site devoted to Aubrey Organics, http://myorganicinfo.com, a site for holistic acne cures, and a site for teachers and parents: http://teachingeasyas123.com