Organic skincare products get such a bad rap in Nigeria and this is because a lot of people have had really bad experiences using products touted as “organic“.

“It’s quite ironical, because in most other parts of the world organic skincare are highly regulated and most reliable in terms of skincare.”

What does organic mean?

“Organic, according to the Oxford English Dictionary means, (of food or farming methods)  produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial chemicals.”

Which means that organic skin care products are  formulated using natural ingredients produced using organic production methods and processes. However, because a product is organic does not mean it has to 100% organic. The certifying body has the responsibility of determining what % of ingredients in a product qualify to get labelled as Organic

There are four levels of certification from the USDA.

100% Organic: The product contains only organically produced ingredients and is permitted to display the seal.

Organic: The product contains at least 95% organically produced ingredients and is permitted to display the seal.

Made With Organic Ingredients: The product contains at least 70% organic ingredients but is not permitted to display the seal.

Less than 70% Organic Ingredients: Products are not permitted to use the term “organic” anywhere on the packaging (and cannot display the seal) but are allowed to identify organically produced items in the ingredient list.

 

Natural Skincare: A ‘natural’ product can be defined as one that is derived from plant, mineral or animal by-product. Brands can use this term on their product labels as a tactic because there is no governing body that has laid down the guidelines to specify a product as ‘natural’.

In order to clear any doubts regarding the authenticity, checking the ingredients of the product is the best way. Ingredients are listed in order of percentage from highest to lowest, so in most natural products,  any synthetic products (if any at all) should be listed towards the bottom, indicating that they are used in low concentrations.

“All organic skincare products are natural, But not all natural skincare products are organic!”

 

Characteristics of an organic skincare product.

  • Formulated using natural ingredients
  • Formulated using organic farming methods
  • Must be certified by a certifying body (which determines what guidelines are to be used for defining organic products).
  • Organic skincare products are very expensive due to the very strict regulation involved in farming organic ingredients.

Most of the products being sold as organic in Nigeria, do not meet any of these standards above, and most times, the ingredients are not even disclosed (which is a big red flag)

 

How to know a truly organic product

  • Ingredient list: Ingredients used in formulating the products must be listed on the product, in descending order of concentration, and must all be natural ingredients
  • Certification: Must be certified by an organic certifying body
  • The products are devoid of any chemicals or preservatives as a result of which unwanted chemical reactions especially rashes, dark patches, red bumps and other related ones can be easily avoided.
  • These products are of supreme quality and they have been thoroughly tested by the skin experts
  • Absolutely safe for skin and thus your skin will not get damaged at all.

Are BSN Skincare products organic?

No, our products are not organic skin are products and are not marketed as such, because they do not  meet the criteria for organic skincare as stated above.

BSN skin care products are mostly formulated using natural ingredients, and naturally derived actives and botanicals, as well as  safe cosmeceuticals, where needed, to enhance efficacy.

To learn more about our products, what they do and their composition, please check our shop section.