You’re a conscious consumer or at least trying to be one and that means reading labels and only buying products that align with your desires, beliefs and philosophies. Unfortunately, labeling and buzzwords in the beauty and personal care industry can be tricky and what you see on the label of your favorite deodorant, face cream or eye shadow may not mean what you think. The reality is that for these terms, there is no governing body regulating or defining them. Which means when a company labels a product, “hypoallergenic,” for example, they are doing so by their own standards and there is no objective organization or governing body testing the product before it goes on the market. And there’s a lot of gray area; meaning companies can use a buzzword but it may it only be partially accurate. These are simply labels and terms used for marketing purposes so it’s really in the hands of the producer or manufacturer to be transparent with the consumer and for the consumer, themselves, to decide if the claims align with their needs and desires. It should be noted that while companies are not required to get FDA approval for their labeling and claims, by law, they must be truthful and not misleading. For more detailed information you can visit the FDA website.

For me, my concerns always circle back to product safety. There are so many buzzwords and labeling jargon that imply that the product is safe, clean or nontoxic, when it could be far from it. I’m going to run through a handful of the most popular beauty and personal care buzzwords and explain what they really mean regarding the products you put on your body everyday.

A Guide to Beauty Product Buzzwords and Labeling and

What They Really Mean

Organic - There is no governing body regulating or defining the term organic as it applies to cosmetics and personal care products, not the FDA nor the USDA. However, cosmetics and personal care products can be certified organic via the USDA if they contain or are made up of agricultural ingredients and be eligible for one of the four USDA organic labeling categories. Ultimately, this means that companies can put the term “organic” on their label by their own definition and standards but they would not be able to carry the USDA organic label unless they went through their certification process. Read more about the USDA organic regulations and certification requirements here.

Vegan - The term “vegan” is also not regulated. Yes, companies are required by the FDA to be honest about their labeling but it is not regulated. Vegan just means that the ingredients do not come from any animal source or contain any animal by-products, including marine life or insects.

Natural - The FDA has never defined nor do they regulate the use of the use of the term “natural” on personal care products. It’s also important to remember that natural doesn’t always mean better or safer. Essential oils, for example, are natural but some can cause endocrine disruption, irritation and allergic reactions, especially if not used properly. Remember things like poison ivy and radon are natural and they are definitely not safe! There is also concern about the increased demand for natural products and its impact on our environment, including over-harvesting and deforestation. Lastly, most natural products need to be used within a certain number of months (anywhere from 6 to 18 months) because efficacy diminishes over time. However, it’s entirely possible that the natural ingredients used to make these products have been sitting around for many months, even years, essentially rendering them ineffective before the product even makes it into the consumer’s hands. So, there are instances where clean synthetic ingredients are better than natural.

Cruelty Free - There are no regulations in the U.S. for the term “cruelty free.” According to The Leaping Bunny Program, when you see “cruelty free”, “not tested on animals” or the simple image of a bunny on the packaging, it may only refer to the finished product and that the testing on animals occurs at the ingredient level. It may also mean that the company can claim they do not perform the testing but contract other companies to do so. The only way to be sure that the product is not tested on animals anywhere in the development and manufacturing process is to buy products with The Leaping Bunny seal and it definitely does not mean that the product is clean or nontoxic.

Dermatologist Test/Approved - This is yet another label used primarily for marketing purposes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold as much weight as many consumers may think. It really just means that a dermatologist reviewed the clinical data and the ingredients before the product became available to consumers. It also doesn’t mean that the product falls into the clean or nontoxic category.

Hypoallergenic - This is another term generally used for marketing purposes. It typically means that the company making the product uses ingredients that they claim cause fewer allergic reactions. It’s a claim that is not tested or regulated by any governing body including the FDA or dermatologists and both agree it does not mean much. So, if you’re concerned about how your skin will react to a product, it’s up to you do to a patch test to know for sure. There is an online resource called Skin Safe that provides product details and guidance for individuals with sensitive skin.

Clean - When you see clean, it is implied that the product and/or company takes into consideration ingredients that are healthy or not harmful for both humans and the environment. However, again, it is just a label and not regulated so companies can use the word “clean” by their own standards. So it is up to you, as the consumer, to determine if the product claims align with what you’re looking for.

Green - This is yet another term that doesn’t really have a set definition or firm standards when it comes to personal and beauty product labeling. Yes, it should mean that the product was made considering the well-being of our environment but that may not necessarily be the case. So, as the consumer, it’s really up to you to trust the labeling or to dig a little deeper and do your own investigating.

Chemical Free - Let’s be clear, chemical free does not mean that the product is safer and the inclusion of chemicals do not mean the product is harmful. There are instances where using clean or nontoxic chemicals is the better and safer option. Even the most ingredient conscious companies use clean chemicals in the their formulations.

Nontoxic - Even what we consider the most harmless substances can be considered toxic at the wrong dose. For the clean beauty industry, nontoxic means that the product should not contain ingredients considered toxic at any dose. In the traditional or conventional beauty industry, nontoxic refers to amount actually found in the product or formulation and applied or used according to the given instructions and use restrictions indicated on the packaging. As you may have guessed, the label or term “nontoxic” is not regulated by any U.S. governing body or organization.

So What Can You Do?

Unfortunately, as the consumer, a lot of the investigative work is in your hands. However, there are resources to help guide you and beauty and personal care brands that have stepped up and made a commitment to stringent safety screening, ethical practices and ingredient transparency. When you buy from these brands, you can buy with a certain degree of confidence (although, finicky consumers will still do their homework). I’m going to leave a list of brands and guides for your reference. It’s important to note that the guides should still be used with a certain amount of discernment. Many products get rated lower because they contain known irritants and allergens, which may not be an issue for many people and EWG’s Skin Deep Database tagged aloe vera as a potential carcinogen in a lotion I use because there was a study one time where ingestion of part of the aloe leaf caused cancer in lab rats. Aloe vera has been used safely for centuries in personal care and beauty products. So it’s important to learn how to use them and how to interpret their ratings.

A Guide to Beauty Product Buzzwords and Labeling and

What They Really Mean

Guides

Brands

Clean Beauty Retailers