The demand for natural and botanical ingredients in professional-grade skin care continues to surge, driven by consumers seeking effective, eco-conscious solutions. For skin care professionals, this trend presents an opportunity to elevate product offerings; however, formulating with botanicals should go beyond meeting market demands. The goal is to create powerful, results-driven skin care that balances nature and innovation, delivering visible benefits while maintaining clean, sustainable formulations.
UNDERSTANDING NATURAL
In skin care, the term “natural” is both widely used and often misunderstood, but industry standards and certifications help define and validate what “natural” really means. Generally speaking, natural skin care ingredients are sourced from plants, minerals, or other naturally occurring substances with minimal processing. Still, variations exist within the spectrum of natural. Certifications, such as Cosmetic Organic and Natural Standard (COSMOS), ECOCERT, and NATRUE, ensure that ingredients meet strict criteria for sourcing, processing, and eco-friendly practices, offering transparency in ingredient sourcing and sustainability to professionals and consumers.
Understanding the distinction between “natural,” “naturally derived,” and “synthetic” ingredients is essential for accurate formulation and labeling. Natural ingredients are used in their purest forms, such as unrefined oils or herbal extracts. Naturally derived ingredients are chemically modified to enhance functionality, like coconut-derived surfactants. Synthetic ingredients, often laboratory-created, mimic natural compounds but may lack the purity of plant-based alternatives. For formulators, navigating these definitions allows for more informed ingredient choices. Adhering to certified standards builds credibility and empowers brands to create professional-grade skin care that balances authenticity, efficacy, and sustainability.
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Founder and CEO of Le Mieux Cosmetics and PurErb, Janel Luu has over 40 years of experience in the beauty industry as an educator, researcher, and formulator. She has taught over 45,000 skin care professionals and physicians on topics ranging from the latest antiaging cellular technology to centuries-old Meridian gua sha techniques. Lu firmly believes that every day, one has the opportunity to learn new things, re-create their vision, and change their destiny.
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