Are you also confused sometimes?

People will make a fuss because a certified natural product is “missing” a certain ingredient they like or it has too many ingredients or it gets close to the expiry date…

These same persons however are happy to buy homemade lotions, soap, scrubs that have never been checked. The quality of the individual ingredients that are mixed, the circumstances in which they are mixed, hygiene, no expiry date, etc!

What is a certified or qualified product?

It is the process of certifying that a certain product has passed performance tests and quality assurance tests provided through the government and other recognized entities of the country it is produced in. Additional checks can be made once the products are used in multiple countries.

With any product, reading the fine print will help you make educated choices. A product labeled organic isn't necessarily better than one labeled natural. For example, because of regulations, some local products might not qualify for the organic label due to the fees and size of the operation, but may use organic practices. In such cases, ask questions of the farmer or manufacturer.

The organic label means that the product contains at least 95 percent organically produced and processed ingredients. You might also see a label with a percentage indicating how much of the product qualifies as organic. Any product containing less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot use the organic label. These products can only list individual ingredients as organic. Organic products must also indicate the certification agency and indicate each organic ingredient on the label

5 steps to safer Personal care products (source www.nsf.org)

A recent independent study conducted on behalf of NSF International found that 48 percent of consumers are concerned about the quality and safety of personal care products. That means that the other half is still buying products that have never been controlled. Here are a few things you can do to avoid harmful products.

1. Purchase only from authorized retailers.
Cosmetic and personal care manufacturers are required by law to ensure the safety of their products. Fake or knock-off versions may contain harmful levels of contaminants or heavy metals. To make sure you are purchasing an authentic product and not a fake, buy your cosmetics directly from trustworthy companies or one of its authorized retailers/distributors.

2. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
If you see heavily discounted versions of brand name cosmetics, be cautious, it’s likely not the real product. Everyone likes a good deal, but if you see one that is too good to be true, it probably is.

3. Verify the authenticity of your products with the manufacturer if you have suspicions.
If you plan to or have purchased a product that you think may be a fake, check with the manufacturer directly. Cosmetics and personal care products usually have identifiers on the label like a lot number or bar code. Consumers can contact the customer care hotline of a brand name cosmetic company to verify the lot number.

4. Look for credible certification marks or labels from third-party organizations.
NSF is the only American National Standard for personal care products containing organic ingredients. USDA labeled products must contain at least 95 percent organic content by weight and be produced in accordance with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards for agricultural/food products.

5. Throw out old cosmetics and personal care products.
Just like food, cosmetics and personal care products expire. While some products like sunscreens have expiration dates, others do not. In addition to following U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommendations, consumers can also contact the manufacturer to obtain the recommended storage guidelines and shelf life of any products that they purchase.