An undefined word, and the claims that have been built on top of it
What natural means in cosmetics, which is much less than shoppers assume, what plant oils genuinely do, why the sun protection claims attached to them are the most dangerous thing in the category, and why a sunscreen cannot be made safely at home.
What natural means in cosmetics, which is much less than shoppers assume
There is no legal definition of a natural cosmetic in Great Britain. What the word does mean, who decides, and why the answer is disappointing rather than scandalous.
Plant oils presented as sun protection: the most dangerous claim in the category
No plant oil is a permitted UV filter in Great Britain. A person relying on one is unprotected and has no way of finding out until the damage is done.
Carrot seed oil, examined against what would be needed
Carrot seed oil is the most cited plant oil in the natural sun protection claim. What it is, what the citations trace back to, and what is missing.
Red raspberry seed oil, examined against what would be needed
Red raspberry seed oil is presented as a broad spectrum natural filter. The material is real and useful. The sun protection claim is not supported.
Coconut oil and sun exposure: the oldest version of the claim
Coconut oil has been applied before sun exposure for a very long time, which is often offered as evidence. It is evidence of a habit, not of protection.
Homemade sunscreen and why it cannot be made safely
The problem with a home made sunscreen is not the recipe. It is that protection depends on things a kitchen cannot control, measure or verify.
Natural and organic certification: what a mark actually certifies
A certification mark on a natural product refers to a published set of criteria. Reading those criteria is the only way to know what the mark means.
Essential oils, sunlight and the reaction nobody markets against
Some plant compounds react with ultraviolet to produce a skin reaction. Cosmetics law restricts them, and a natural sun product is the worst place to encounter them.
Editorial disclosure. This article contains no commercial links. Nothing on it has been paid for, no company has been given sight of it, and no brand or product is named anywhere on this site. This publication takes no money from sunscreen or skincare companies at any price, and the reasons are set out in what we refuse to sell. Published by Northbank Media.
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