Probably each of us has encountered a situation when natural herbal preparations in the form of infusions, drops or tinctures helped to cure or alleviate various health ailments. In the case of cosmetics and skin, body and hair care, long ago, only natural ingredients were used. Then, with the development of civilization and industry, laboratories were established where the effects of various substances on the skin were studied. The possibility of producing synthetic equivalents of natural substances appeared - most importantly, they were much cheaper than the originals. Relatively recently, we have entered an era of returning to ingredients obtained from nature. Special ecological farms and plantations are being created, where plants with specific properties are grown in controlled conditions. It turns out that the effects of natural cosmetics have definitely more positive effects than their artificially produced counterparts. Natural cosmetics - definition There is really no single definition of natural cosmetics. We can use this term, for example, for a product that meets the following criteria: has over 95% natural ingredients it has no ingredients of animal origin (it is vegan) has zero waste packaging the final product and its ingredients have not been tested on animals does not contain preservatives But in fact, even ordinary vegetable cooking oil or olive oil in a glass bottle meets the above conditions. Does this mean that it is a good natural cosmetic? Probably not. Preservatives in natural cosmetics It is important to remember that every natural cosmetic that contains water must also, according to the law, contain an appropriate preservative that will prevent bacteria from multiplying after the first opening of the product. The exception to this rule are oils or butters intended for the body or hair, which do not contain water at all, so a preservative is unnecessary here. Therefore, if you meet someone who tries to convince you that despite the water content in a given natural cosmetic, there are no preservatives at all, then most likely they are not telling the truth. There is also the possibility that a natural cosmetic should be stored in a refrigerator, where the cold will preserve the cream or balm, but then the shelf life of such a natural cosmetic is very short. Percentage of natural ingredients. Since every natural cosmetic containing water must have a preservative in its composition, achieving a 100% natural composition will probably be difficult and often even harmful. It is really better to use a laboratory-tested, safe to use and effectively working preservative, even if it means minus 0.3% in natural ingredients. Renowned brands care about the safety of their customers, use the highest quality preservatives, necessary stabilizers, thickening substances necessary for a comfortable formula, and this is only an expression of concern for the well-being of the consumer. As already mentioned, there are natural cosmetics that do not require the addition of any substances to their 100% natural formula, but this applies almost exclusively to oils. The Orientana brand offers a wide range of such natural cosmetics - for hair, body or face. Natural vegan cosmetics. In principle, there is no concept of vegetarian cosmetics. Or maybe there should be? Customers often ask about vegan cosmetics, when in fact they are buying a product containing honey or milk. And honey, milk, beeswax are products of animal origin, so natural cosmetics that contain them cannot gain vegan status. Therefore, if there is no vegan cosmetics label on natural cosmetics, it does not mean that an animal was harmed in any way during its production. One of the ingredients may be, for example, milk ferment – as in the case of the record-breakingly popular Ayurvedic Hair Therapy Centella Asiatica, which is exceptionally effective in treating hair loss . How do natural cosmetics work? Natural cosmetics work great on both the skin of the body and face, as well as on the hair. The substances contained in them and originating from plants or minerals are more absorbable, more effective and have a long-term effect. They rebuild cells, restore skin balance and allow it to maintain a young and radiant appearance for longer. How do natural cosmetics differ from others? On drugstore shelves and online stores, you can find a really rich selection of various natural cosmetics. In addition to the information provided in large font on the front of the label, it is worth taking a look at the INCI composition. This will really tell us whether we are dealing with an average quality and value natural cosmetic created by a brand that, in order to stay in line with trends, created a natural line or with a well-thought-out and carefully composed product.