What to Look For in an Organic Face Moisturizer?
When you’ve made the decision to switch to natural products, you’ll find that there’s a little bit of a learning curve. You may be used to buying products based on price, reviews, or the benefits reported on the packaging.
When you’re choosing an organic moisturizer, your priorities change. There’s a laundry list of ingredients to avoid and many more components to evaluate. It’s not enough for a moisturizer to contain organic ingredients.
After all, fertilizer can be organic, and it certainly won’t do any good for your face. The ingredients in your moisturizer need to be proven effective and beneficial for your skin.
When shopping for organic skincare, you need to know what should be in (and out of) the jar. Choose a skincare product that works for you.
What Constitutes as Organic Skincare?
Before you shop for organic skincare, there are some things you should be mindful of. The FDA does not regulate what can or cannot be called organic in terms of skincare and cosmetic products because the term “organic” by itself is broad.
The word by itself means “related to or derived from living matter,” and some companies deceptively use the term to market their products. The terms “natural” and “nature” aren’t regulated either, and they’re often used to create the appearance of healthier or more sustainable products.
For skincare to become certified organic by the USDA, it must undergo a series of complicated processes involving its supply chain.
In most cases, skincare can only become USDA certified organic if the entire product contains only one ingredient besides water or salt. You won’t find many multi-ingredient products with the certification seal.
You don’t necessarily need to look for the certification seal. What you need to look for is transparency in the ingredients and supply chain.
- Where are the botanicals coming from?
- What is the function of every ingredient in the jar, and how are they produced?
This information will yield more valuable information than a term printed on a jar or used as a marketing buzzword.
Why Use Organic Skincare?
Organic farming and production processes are kind to the environment. They’re designed to be less wasteful and more sustainable, using renewable sources and avoiding chemical pesticides that can have unintended consequences for ecosystems and human health.
Many people understand the benefits of choosing organic things to eat. You won’t eat your moisturizer, so it may not seem as essential to choose organic products. Many of the products we use to groom and wash are conventional. What’s the harm?
Everything you put on your skin can and will be absorbed by your skin. With skincare, you’re counting on the fact that your body will absorb the ingredients.
That’s how they work to promote skin health in the long term. If these ingredients are synthetic, produced with pesticides, or even toxic, you’re potentially damaging your health every time you use them.
People with sensitive skin find that some synthetic ingredients in skincare, such as artificial fragrances, are irritating. Your skincare routine shouldn’t cause redness or sensitivity - it should soothe the redness and sensitivity inflicted upon your skin by free radicals and environmental pollutants.
Your skin isn’t made of aluminum, formaldehyde, and phthalates. It is made of natural compounds, just like plants.
When you use plants to nourish your skin, you’re providing it with a form of nourishment that makes sense. In most cases, organic ingredients are gentler and more compatible with your body.
Problematic Ingredients in Most Skincare Products
There are many ingredients that people may choose to avoid in their skincare due to lifestyle preferences, health concerns, or allergies. Many skincare products contain ingredients that can cause irritation or damage the skin in the long term.
- Gluten
- Artificial fragrances and colors
- Toxic ingredients
- Sulfates
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Aluminum
- Parabens
- Animal-derived ingredients
- Formaldehyde
- Silicones
Some of these ingredients, like gluten or animal-derived ingredients, can be labeled as organic. If you’re looking to avoid certain ingredients, don’t take organic labeling or certification to indicate that the product is free from allergens or animal-derived ingredients.
Many organic skincare products contain honey, which is not a vegan ingredient. Honey is well researched as a beneficial ingredient for skin health, making it a logically sound ingredient in skincare products.
If you don’t want to use animal-derived ingredients in your products, you need to double-check the label to ensure that honey isn’t part of the formula.
Despite common perception, organic does not always mean cruelty-free. Many of these ingredients and products are also tested on animals. Look for certified cruelty-free skincare products, and when necessary, investigate the parent brand of your skincare company to assure the entire umbrella is cruelty-free as well.
Organic Ingredients to Improve the Health of Your Skin
Caldera + Lab created The Base Layer moisturizer with the health of your skin in mind. Our botanicals are organically grown and wild-harvested. Each is clinically proven to be beneficial to the health of your skin. Every single ingredient in The Base Layer comes from a plant or a natural water source.
The Base Layer is packed with antioxidants that help to fight free radicals and manage environmental stress. Natural minerals and plant-derived moisturizers help nourish your skin while promoting its natural ability to fortify and heal itself.
Active Botanicals in The Base Layer Moisturizer
There are dozens of botanical ingredients in The Base Layer. These ingredients work to rescue your skin from environmental pollution and deeply hydrate your skin. The jar is packed with adaptogenic nourishment and plant stem cell technology to protect and balance your skin while promoting its health.
- Buddleja Stem Cells
- Elkhorn Sea Moss
- Plant-Derived Squalane
- Tara Tree Complex
- Encapsulated Microalgae
- Immortelle Flower
Elkhorn sea moss and immortelle flower are antioxidant powerhouses that promote a clear and even-toned complexion. The marine nutrients in encapsulated microalgae help fortify and repair the skin matrix while fortifying the skin’s immune system.
Tara tree complex is clinically proven to combat the effects of blue light, like the kind from your phone, laptop, or television. It also works to prevent damage from infrared light. Stem cells from the buddleia plant protect the skin from ultraviolet light.
Starting Your Organic Skincare Regimen
Your moisturizer is only one part of your organic skincare regimen. There’s no sense in using an organic moisturizer if the rest of your skincare products aren’t organic.
Caldera + Lab has a simple three-step skincare system formulated with clinically proven active botanicals. Start by cleansing your face with The Clean Slate cleanser. Gently blot your face dry and apply several drops of our highly concentrated botanical skincare serum, The Good.
Your skin will drink up the active plant-based ingredients in The Good, and once it does, top your skin off with The Base Layer moisturizer. The Base Layer provides continuous hydration while creating a protective barrier on the surface of your skin.
Sources: