As her name would suggest, the Organic Beauty Expert knows about (truly) natural products. She created her own handmade bath and body care line called Marley's Own and shares her wisdom on her blog and in a weekly podcast radio show, Organic Beauty Radio.

A recent post on her blog questions the legitmacy of so-called organic beauty products stamped with the USDA Organic Seal. Her message is clear: don't assume the organic seal guarantees the organic quality of a beauty product.

Does the USDA Seal make you buy beauty?

The short answer from my personal point of view, is "no." Why? In short, the USDA was bullied (my words) into allowing personal care products to fall under the purview of the green USDA Organic Seal. The certification of products is based on guidelines set forth for food products. I don't know about you, but if I'm supposed to be impressed by a seal, shouldn't it require specific guidelines that specifically concern the actual product I'm using? Organic beef is now in tune with an organic face cream?

The Organic Consumers Association posted a somewhat angled story about the explosion of the organic beauty market and how this seal "seals" the deal, if you will, on a guarantee of a quality product. Quoted from the article, "If it does not have the seal and claims to be organic, read the ingredient label to be sure you are comfortable with any of the synthetic ingredients that are likely hiding in the product." No bias in that statement.

Here's where I stand: any attempt to regulate the use of "natural" and "organic" is great. However, touting the seal as the best way to judge the efficacy of a product bothers me. Many small independent companies go to great lengths to formulate products created with certified ingredients: after paying the lab manufacturing fee, there's not always a lot of money left to pay for this certification per product. And again, the green USDA Organic seal  only covers food grade ingredients. I just don't see the point.

Until the USDA Organic program actually creates specific terms for personal care products, I don't see how OCA can make the statements it's made. The french EcoCert program (link is in translated English version) offers a fine example of how products can show their dedication to being "organic." Is the certification too stringent for these companies who can fit under the food grade requirement of the USDA program?

Visit The Organic Beauty Expert blog for more of her honest advice and opinions.

» The Organic Beauty Expert