Organic Ingredients Commonly Found in Organic Body Care Products

Know your organic ingredients: It helps to know what you should look for when shopping for organic body care products. Now that you know what to avoid, how do you know what should be in your personal care products? What ingredients are actually considered organic? Below is a list of some of the organic ingredients that are commonly found in genuinely organic skin and body care products. We hope you will find this information useful!

1. Emollients: These are usually plant based oils and other natural substances that protect and heal the skin, prevent dryness, and maintain smoothness. They provide a barrier to environmental elements such as wind, sun, pollution and the loss of water. Organic oils used as emollients should be cold pressed to preserve their beneficial phytonutrients. Emollients used in organic body care products include:

• Almond Oil
• Rosehip Oil
• Avocado Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Olive Oil
• Jojoba
• Cocoa Butter
• Shea Butter
• Beeswax

2. Preservatives: Preservatives in organic personal care products help prevent the growth of bacteria, oxidation, and maintain product stability. Organic preservatives may include:

• Organic Essential Oils
• Vitamins A, C, E (vitamin E is also known as D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate)
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
• Grain Alcohol
• Grapefruit Seed Extract
• Honey
• Sugar
• Salt
• Grape Alcohol
• Tea Tree Oil

3. Natural Soaps and Natural Saponins/ie, natural surfactants: These are organic ingredients that have a cleansing effect. They dissolve oils and allow dirt to be rinsed away with water. They may also have foaming properties. Organic cleansers include:

• Castile soap. Also known as real soap, Marseille-style soap, castile soap is probably the most popular of the organic surfactants. Organic soaps are most often made from vegetable oils such as olive oil, hemp seed oil, almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and jojoba.
• Soapwort
• Yucca Extract
• Quillaja Bark Extract
• Soap Bark
• Soap Berry

4. Natural Fragrances: In organic body care products, fragrances are usually derived from certified organic essential oils, many of which have other beneficial properties as well.

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Lime
• Orange
• Grapefruit
• Vanilla
• Ginger
• Patchouli
• Peppermint
• Pine
• Geranium
• Ylang Ylang
• Sandalwood

5. Solvents: These are liquids that dissolve or dilute other substances. Look for organic products that contain the following natural solvents:

• Purified Water
• Grain alcohol
• Organic alcohol made from potatoes and grapes
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Organic herbal extracts, teas, and infusions

6. Humectants: These substances act as moisturizing agents. They hydrate the skin and help to retain and preserve moisture. Organic ingredients used as humectants include:

• Lecithin
• Panthenol aka pro-vitamin B5
• Glycerin

7. Emulsifiers: These ingredients allow two substances that don't normally mix together (like oil and water) to combine and be held together. Look for organic emulsifiers such as:

• Plants such as jojoba, candelilla,, carnauba, and rice bran.
• Lecithin
• Xanthum Gum
• Quince Seed

8. Colorants: Most colorants used in personal care products are synthetic, but there are organic alternatives, such as:

• Annatto
• Beet Root Powder
• Algae
• Saffron
• Turmeric
• Carrot Powder
• Caramel
• Blueberries
• Grape Juice
• Cherry Juice
• Raspberries
• Tomato Powder
• Naturally occurring minerals, or iron oxides, also have colorant properties and are often used in organic cosmetics.

9. Thickeners and Stabilizers: Organic body care products often use mineral or plant-based ingredients as thickening agents, including:

• Guar gum
• Clay minerals
• Locust bean gum
• Acacia gum

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