Warming, rich high-protein vegan ramen packed with veggies and vital nutrients from the world’s first vegan alternative to animal bone broth, Boon Broth by Ecco Bella. You can make this ramen in less than 10 minutes depending on what ingredient you use. This vegan ramen isn’t only high-protein but filled with plant-based ingredients to support your beauty and health from the inside out.

Make it and let us know how you enjoy it!

Finding a healthy balance between sweet and healthy foods in your diet can be tricky. We live in a world full of food products that sneak in “refined sugars” at seemingly every turn.

Highly processed sugars that make certain foods so appealing are also responsible for wreaking havoc on our blood sugar, waistline, and immune system over time. From cavities and obesity to the development of diabetes, excessive consumption of refined sugar comes with some serious risks.

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and risks of two natural sweeteners: Stevia and monk fruit, both are used in our NutraChic Beauty Drink.

What Is Stevia?

When it comes to reducing sugar-related ailments and conditions, Stevia has long been turned to as a healthy sugar alternative. Often referred to as nature’s zero-calorie sustainable sweetener, Stevia appeals to those looking for refined sugar alternatives without sacrificing flavor.

Stevia is a natural sweetener sourced from the leaves of the Stevia plant. The Stevia plant grows across South America and has provided flavoring to local communities and regions for centuries. Today, Stevia is available in various forms, ranging from pure extracts and extract blends to whole leaves. It’s a popular product option because it’s a zero-calorie sweetener packed with flavor that eliminates many health risks linked to refined sugar intake.

Health Benefits to Consider

As a naturally sourced product, Stevia comes with many health benefits that have people swapping out refined sugar for this alternative option. Stevia contains absolutely no calories, making it a popular and healthy choice for those with weight-loss goals.

When Stevia is incorporated into a diet to replace other sugars and sweeteners, blood sugar levels are directly affected, which helps some people reduce their overall risk of developing diabetes. The sweet-tasting extract has also been shown to reduce cavities over time in both children and adults.

The Potential Downside of Stevia

As with all products, Stevia can affect consumers differently. Some people are more sensitive to Stevia’s effects in various forms.

For example, while highly refined Stevia extracts are deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration, the health effects of raw and whole-leaf Stevia extracts have not yet been thoroughly researched. Similarly, there is very little research to date on the health effects Stevia may have on a woman during pregnancy.

In some people, Stevia has been shown to interfere with gut bacteria that aids in smooth digestion. Its ability to reduce blood sugar levels could also be problematic for individuals who take certain medications to regulate blood sugar. So you need to decide if Stevia makes sense for you.

What Is Monk Fruit?

While Stevia is commonly used as a sweetener for beverages and food items, it can also be found as a staple ingredient paired with monk fruit in beauty products like NutraChic by AVEGAN Beauty. 

Monk fruit is known for its powerful anti-aging effects. It has been used in Chinese medicine for years. High in Vitamin C, this ingredient is great for detoxification and boosting energy. 

The Benefits of Monk Fruit

Monk fruit, also known as Luo Han Guo ,has no calories, carbs, or fat, so it can be a helpful calorie-free sweetener  for people looking to lose weight and still eat delicious food. By simply swapping out your table sugar for monk fruit, you can save a substantial amount of calories and carbs. 

Monk fruit has also been shown to include anti-inflammatory properties. It’s been used in China for centuries to relieve inflammation. The fruit may help prevent cancer and keep blood sugar levels stable.

Choosing Natural Sweeteners

Just as with all good things in life, balance is vital when choosing Stevia or monk fruit as a preferred sugar substitute. When used in moderation, Stevia is shown to provide some tremendous health benefits.

We use both stevia and monk fruit in our vegan collagen supplement, NutraChic, to provide a tasty, nutritious drink that your body & taste buds will look forward to each day. Try it yourself today.

Getting up in the morning and putting on makeup is a daily routine activity for many people. From foundation and powder to the lipstick, eyeshadow, and mascara —makeup is often an integral part of feeling ready to face the world.

Unfortunately, many of the major brands that fill makeup cabinets and counters also come with a healthy dose of hidden toxins. Since these companies are not legally obligated to disclose the harsh chemicals ingredients in their products, makeup wearers may be paying the consequences they didn’t even know existed in the first place.

Chemical Additives Found in Makeup are used in flame-retardants

Many who wear makeup regularly or use big-name cosmetics are often unaware that the products they put directly on their skin contain both toxic PFAS (forever chemicals) as well as high amounts of organic fluorine. These toxins are incorporated into cosmetics for their water, heat, stain, and oil resistance qualities. Unfortunately, they are also linked to various health concerns and issues. PFAS are used extenisively to fight fires and have created a hazardous ecosystem-wide contamination that doesn’t break down.

These toxins are very persistent in both the environment and human body. Sadly, they do not break down over time. In fact, they accumulate over time and cause serious adverse health effects.

The inclusion of organic fluorine and PFAS in everyday cosmetics has been linked to medical issues that include, but aren’t limited to, the following conditions:

• Hormone disruption
• Thyroid disease
• Reduced fertility
• Cancer
• Congenital disabilities
• Liver disease

PFAS and high levels of organic fluorine are found in nail polish, lip balm, concealer, foundation, lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, and blush, just to name a few.

The realization that these toxins are included in so many cosmetic products can quickly become overwhelming when you think about how much and how often you use them.

Replacing Toxins with Vegan Cosmetic Solutions

In a world where harsh, toxic chemicals seem to dominate most of the beauty industry, finding products built on a foundation of clean ingredients is more important than ever. That’s where vegan beauty products come into the pictures and offer a way to combat toxins commonly found in skin care options.

At Ecco Bella, the use of pure, plant-based, and healthy ingredients drives everything we do. We stand opposed to the toxins that make up so much of the cosmetic manufacturing process and instead replace harsh chemicals with alternatives that are safe and gentle on the human body. Of course, they look fantastic, too.

Our sister company, AVEGAN Beauty, is committed to creating products that let nature take the lead. These products are designed to eliminate the health risks that so many are unaware of when using traditional, toxin-filled beauty products. AVEGAN Beauty carries an extensive line of vegan skin care  products that utilize natural ingredients sourced from around the globe.

Ingredients used in this innovative and exciting product line stem from various sources, like marigolds and palm fruit. The result boosts natural hues and infuses skin with essential vitamins and minerals that smooth, revitalize, and enhance radiance. AVEGAN Beauty products are, above all, designed with consumer health and wellness in mind at every turn.

The Ecco Bella Difference

Beauty, health, and compassion for the planet can go hand-in-hand. At Ecco Bella, we believe it starts with swapping out toxin-saturated skincare products for vegan beauty options that are safe, soothing, actually work better and are good for the earth too. Give it a try—your skin will thank you!

Read How to Make the Switch to a Vegan and Cruelty-Free Home on Porch.com.

If you’re currently experiencing or have previously experienced a dry, flaky, and itchy scalp then you might have dandruff or scalp psoriasis. These conditions are oftentimes confused as they have similar symptoms and there may be times of remission with both. However, one is more severe than the other, so it’s important to know the difference between them and the steps you should take to best care for your scalp.

Keep reading to learn more about whether you have scalp psoriasis or dandruff and what treatment options are available.

What’s The Difference Between Dandruff And Scalp Psoriasis?

The main difference between dandruff and scalp psoriasis is that dandruff is a common skin condition that is not chronic in nature and does not typically affect other areas of the body, whereas scalp psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that can spread. Scalp psoriasis can also increase the chances of developing another autoimmune disease because of a weakened immune system that attacks its own cells.

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff is a common skin condition that occurs on the scalp. It is superficial in nature, causing scalp flakes and leading to possible self-confidence damage. This means that dandruff is more of a cosmetic condition that is manageable rather than a long-term condition. You’ll typically find dandruff in places where you have hair, such as your head, eyebrows, or anywhere you have body hair.

Symptoms of dandruff include:

1. Loose white flakes in your hair
2. Itchy scalp
3. Dry scales or greasy patches on the scalp

Multiple factors can lead to the development of dandruff such as dry weather, poor hair hygiene, allergic reactions, and oily skin. Additionally, men are more likely than women to experience dandruff because of testosterone levels. The sebaceous glands in men are stimulated during sex and cause testosterone to increase in natural oils which can cause a higher chance of dandruff development.

Those living with dandruff can typically treat their condition through altered lifestyle habits and improved hygiene practices to keep their skin and scalp hydrated and moisturized.

What Is Scalp Psoriasis?

Scalp psoriasis is a form of psoriasis which happens to be an autoimmune disease and is a bit more serious than dandruff. Psoriasis is a condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells leading to patches of itchy, scaly, and inflamed skin. In the case of scalp psoriasis, these patches develop on the scalp and can cause much discomfort.

Symptoms of scalp psoriasis include:

1. Dry scalp
2. Flaking
3. Bumpy patches of skin on the scalp
4. Hair loss

There is no exact known cause of psoriasis, but some factors may trigger development such as a poor diet, lack of exercise, chronic stress, family history of psoriasis, and inflammation of the skin.

Since scalp psoriasis is a form of psoriasis, it can lead to plaques elsewhere on the body. It can also increase your chances of developing another autoimmune disease when left uncared for. This means that it’s important to treat scalp psoriasis as soon as possible and keep flare-ups under control when they occur to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have One of These Conditions?

If you’ve had common dandruff or scalp psoriasis symptoms, first consider speaking with your doctor about it. Sometimes the symptoms overlap, and it can be difficult to self-diagnose and know the best protocol. To diagnose your condition properly, your doctor may either examine your scalp for symptoms or send a small piece of skin to a lab to diagnose the condition scientifically and accurately.

Once you speak with your doctor, they will be able to help you find a treatment plan that works best for managing your condition. A common option for both is using an organic scalp therapy shampoo and conditioner to relieve itching and dryness. Typically, a natural, gentle shampoo can help reduce symptoms such as itching or redness.

Aside from an over-the-counter shampoo treatment, your dermatologist may suggest a prescribed shampoo with antifungal ingredients to ease dandruff symptoms. Other options for dandruff treatment include using tea tree oil, consuming healthy fats, and spending a few minutes in direct sunlight. Your doctor may also recommend reducing the hair styling products that you use to help the scalp regain its natural oils.

Psoriasis patients may be prescribed topical treatment such as calcipotriene or tazarotene. These treatments have anti-inflammatory properties that will slow down plaque build-up and reduce red patches. Other treatment options for scalp psoriasis include over-the-counter coal tar, prescribed steroids for patchy areas, anti-inflammatory pills, or ultraviolet light therapy.

Overall, the symptoms of scalp psoriasis and dandruff may be similar but there are key differences in how they are presented on the scalp. If over-the-counter shampoos do not help with your symptoms, visit a dermatologist to decipher which condition you have and create a treatment plan with the guidance of a medical professional.

If you’ve recently made the decision to go vegan with your beauty products, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. There is a vast number of options and labels: plant-based, vegan, cruelty-free, and more. It’s not always evident which is the best choice. Adding to the confusion, animal ingredients are not clearly labeled - nor do they have to be. You may think that your “naturally derived” lotions are vegan beauty products, only to find that one or more of the ingredients is actually derived from animals.

As explained in this NY Times report, vegan beauty products are free of animal ingredients, while cruelty-free products are not tested on animals. So a vegan product could have been tested on animals, and a cruelty-free product may contain animal ingredients. Because of the confusing labels, the surest way to be certain that you are using ethical beauty products is to read the ingredient list.

Hidden Animal Ingredients

Some animal ingredients are easy to identify by name, such as wool or beeswax. But it’s not always that obvious. According to PETA, there are thousands of technical and patented names for product ingredients. And, sometimes the same ingredient, with the same name, can be derived from animals or plants or even manufactured synthetically.

Vegan makeup and beauty products are not required to have FDA approval. If you truly want to be sure that you are using products that are completely free of animal ingredients, you will have to do a bit of research.

Most Commonly Used Animal Ingredients

According to Plant Based News, these are some of the most common animal ingredients.

• Lanolin
• Shellac
• Glycerine can be animal or vegetable
• Casein - aka sodium caseinate or caseinate
• Squalene from shark liver oil
• Guanine-shimmer from fish scales
• Oleic Acid - aka oleyl stearate, oleyl oleate or tallow
• Animal Hair
• Stearic Acid-from slaughterhouses
• Carmine - aka cochineal, natural red 4, E120, and C.I. 75470
• Collagen-protein from slaughterhouses
• Elastin-protein from slaughterhouses
• Hyaluronic acid - can come from slaughterhouses or be biofermented
• Keratin-protein from slaughterhouses
• Beeswax - aka cera alba

Are these even necessary? Not according to Ethical Elephant, which assures us that the vegetable and synthetic alternatives widely available today allow for beauty products to be made without animal cruelty while still upholding their high quality and producing desired results.

The Ecco Bella Difference

At Ecco Bella, we formulate our ethical beauty products with gratitude and appreciation for our planet and all of its living beings. We care about your skin, and we care about our animal friends. Ecco Bella’s line of makeup, skin care, hair care, and parfums are effective yet vegan and cruelty-free.

Ecco Bella: Vegan Beauty Products

In our almost 30 years in business, we have developed products that produce extraordinary results for your skin, without hurting our environment. And that includes animals. We don’t use animal ingredients in our products, and they are never tested on animals.

Instead, we use botanical extracts - nutraceuticals - in our products. These all-natural ingredients are held to the same high standards as pharmaceuticals, conducting clinical trials and studies to ensure that your skin sees the benefits of Ecco Bella.

The result? Beautiful skin for you, compassion for animals.

A growing number of cosmetic and skincare companies are embracing vegan and cruelty-free products. They are consistently producing vegan beauty products made without animal ingredients and without any animal testing. But that does not necessarily guarantee that these products are produced ethically.

The Problems with Using Palm Oil

The use of palm oil highlights this dilemma. Although palm oil, extracted from the palm oil fruit, is vegan, it has become controversial over the past few years for ethical reasons. First, palm oil has caused the deforestation of the rainforest. Second, there are legitimate concerns about the exploitation of workers in the palm oil industry.

Palm Oil and Deforestation

As consumers become more conscious of the ingredients in their vegan beauty products, the demand for natural ingredients is growing. According to CBI, palm oil is the most widely used oil in the world. An estimated 50% of all products on supermarket shelves contain palm oil, palm kernel oil, or one of its many derivatives. However, forward-thinking beauty companies are turning away from the use of palm oil in their products.

The palm oil industry is closely linked to the deforestation in Southeast Asia. The high demand by companies for palm oil has led to the ecological destruction of rainforests. As awareness grows, consumers are seeking ethical beauty products that are palm oil-free, forcing companies to find viable natural substitutes for use in vegan makeup, skin care, and hair care products.

Ethical Alternatives to Palm Oil:

• Shea Butter
• Mango Butter
• Babassu Oil
• Coconut Oil

Palm Oil and Worker Exploitation

Another reason why companies are shunning the use of palm oil is the troubling reports of worker exploitation. An AP News report found that palm oil industry workers in Malaysia and Indonesia are subject to abuse and exploitation including child labor, slavery, intimidation, and allegations of rape. Of the more than 130 workers interviewed, almost all reported some sort of abuse.

Palm oil-producing plantations have widely denounced the industry’s history of worker exploitation and stressed that they do not condone unethical behavior. However, big beauty companies rely largely on third-party buyers, and often do not know exactly from where their palm oil has been harvested. This makes it nearly impossible to guarantee the fair treatment of palm oil workers. The only true solution is to avoid the use of palm oil completely.

Ecco Bella: Making a Difference

At Ecco Bella, one of our guiding principles is compassion. We protect our earth and its inhabitants. Our products are produced with the utmost respect for nature and our fellow human beings. We have taken a stand against using palm oil in our products and are committed to being faithful stewards of the ecosystem. We use a tiny amount for our vitamin E and it is certified sustainable from small growers.

Ecco Bella’s Ethical Beauty Products

Ecco Bella uses only ethically sourced, naturally derived ingredients. Through clinical trials and studies, we have proven the efficacy of our products without the need for palm oil - or any other ingredient that hurts the earth or any living being. Our vegan beauty products will change your skin - guaranteed. 

Being in nature helps the mind filter out the delusions of human emotion. It is those emotions and feelings that set the reality we experience.

Reality is mirrored back to us.

For example, by generating feelings of gratitude I experience a reality that is hopeful and happier.

We do this individually and collectively, and in keeping with this mirror effect, we are co-creators of our reality.

How to deal with fear? Embrace it, acknowledge it and replace it with gratitude.

There is no need to feel guilty about seeking happiness during tough times. Your feelings of confidence and gratitude, even though cultivated, will mirror into the universe and could save the life of someone stuck in fear.

Here are three wonderful opportunities to soothe turbulent emotions and move into the realm of gratitude and happiness, so you can better mirror love and hope to the planet.

If you have time, share your ideas for mirroring love and hope and I will share them with our group of wonderful, caring friends. 

Sincerely yours,
Sally Malanga
Founder

Watch the Primarily Primates Sanctuary virtual tour, You'll love it!

This is the Ember Chorale Ensemble. I never miss a concert! The singers created this growing playlist for us. Its uplifting and ethereal!

Join me on-line with my friend Basia Alexander of Partners with Nature to receive her inciteful meditations. Contact Basia@PartnerWithNature.org to get on the list for this week’s co-creating healings.

With numerous products on the market, shopping for skin care products can be a chore. It often involves translating scientific jargon on bottles and having to research online reviews just to make sure your skin doesn't go haywire. After all, medical experts on Cienciae Cinama note how our skin absorbs up to 60 percent of the products we apply on it. That sounds like good news, if only most commercial products didn't contain a ton of preservatives and harmful chemicals.

As this information becomes more widespread, more and more people are starting to reconsider the type of products they support and consume. It's no longer enough to buy items that are advertised by celebrities or come in attractive packaging—it has to be naturally good, and good for the earth too. In fact, more than a quarter of Americans aged 25-34 are currently either vegan or vegetarian. Whether for personal preference or ethical choices, this rising demand for vegan products points to a cleaner future for the beauty industry. But beyond this, what exactly can vegan skin care products do for your skin?

Natural skin hydration

When our skin's barrier is weak, it loses moisture and becomes dehydrated. Eventually, this can lead to redness, breakouts, and overall dryness. Instead of turning to hydrating serums to repair the damage, vegan skin care products will help you avoid these skin issues altogether. They tend to contain natural ingredients that are chockfull of nutrients for the skin. Lifestyle blog Sustainable Jungle recommends aloe vera and glycerin, which are known to lock in moisture and keep skin hydrated for hours.

Anti-aging benefits

Most vegan products are created with the most concentrated doses of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts, and they're your best option if you’re aiming for an effortless, radiant glow. Some ingredients have even more benefits than others. Pomegranate extract, for instance, isn't called the "anti-aging queen" for no reason. According to a superfood study by Nature Metabolism, its nickname is thanks to its high levels of vitamin C and punicic acid (a powerful antioxidant unique to pomegranates).

Ideal for sensitive skin

Commercial skin care can be harsh and clog your pores, so organic products are a gentler alternative. Vegan skin care generally contains very few parabens, sulphates, and other harmful chemicals found in standard skin care products. Instead, their ingredients are more on the minimal side — never using additives for anything that isn't essential. This makes them ideal for people with sensitive skin.

Protection against sun damage

Regardless of the weather, the skin still absorbs radiation from the sun, which can damage your skin if left unprotected. Luckily, the natural antioxidants found in vegan skin care products such as white tea and fruit and vegetable extracts, are known to provide extra protection against harmful UV rays. It is also safer (and cheaper) than using traditional sunblock that tends to feel heavy on the skin.

The best thing about the growing popularity of vegan products is that they're now more accessible than ever. The products here on Ecco Bella are made from all-natural ingredients, never mixed with any synthetic chemicals or animal byproducts. We guarantee they're not only good for the skin but your overall health as well. And you'll thank yourself later.

Article written for eccobella.com
By Annie Grace

What many non-vegan individuals don’t realize is that a vegan lifestyle extends beyond dietary specialization. To truly make sure you are cutting out cruelty, you also need to make conscious decisions regarding things like clothing, make-up and even aesthetic treatments as well.

Unfortunately, many aesthetic treatments involve animal testing or non-vegan bases in their ingredients. The good news is that there are still some treatments that vegans can explore without compromising their ethics.

To give you an introduction, here are some vegan-friendly aesthetic treatments:Mesotherapy

Many injections like Botox, dermal fillers and others have non-vegan origins. This could be through animal testing, egg-based ingredients and other concerns, so it can be hard to find an injection that matches vegan standards.

Mesotherapy is a series of injections to the middle layer of skin that provide rejuvenation much like any other injection treatments. The main difference is that the ingredients of this injection are antioxidants, amino acids and vitamins that are already present in your body.

This specific treatment is also widely used for fat reduction and body contouring, so it has more diverse uses than most other individual injections. For example, Botox and Juvederm are mainly used to address wrinkles.

All that said, it still can be risky getting injection treatments, so it’s always important to do thorough research to make sure that not only is the product you are receiving completely free of animal byproducts but also that it was never tested on animals either.

Facelifts and Lip Lifts

If you aren’t opposed to a more surgical approach to aesthetic treatments, facelifts and lip lifts are almost always vegan-friendly and require much less careful considerations than treatments like injections.

This is because these lifts involve surgical lifting and manipulation of the skin rather than any added substances that can be found in other therapies. Plus, lip lifts are a permanent alternative to lip fillers, so they are a more lasting and sustainable treatment in general.

One thing to keep in mind is that these treatments are performed under anesthesia which can make things a little more tricky. Virtually any anesthesia available will have been tested on animals, so if the use of it is a deal breaker for you, it could cause an issue.

Lastly, many physicians will also recommend fillers following the operation to provide the best results. While some fillers can adhere to vegan standards, they often do not and will take extra attention and research to make sure you aren’t slipping up in this area.

Laser Resurfacing

Some great news is that laser treatments are seen as an excellent alternative to many other aesthetic needs for vegans. They can help in reducing wrinkles, collagen regeneration and more.

There are even lasers nowadays that are appropriate to use on the most sensitive and delicate parts of your face, so it’s a great way to achieve a number of different results you may be looking for.

Best of all, laser treatments are typically long-lasting and provide sustainable results while some other treatments may require regular visits to re-do and maintain.

The only thing to be aware of here is that you may want to avoid any numbing cream that physicians provide since these are often tested on animals. Aside from this, though, you can feel fairly confident and comfortable in this area of aesthetic treatment.

Keep in Mind

Not all practices have the same ingredients or sources for their tools and substances, so a treatment at one practice may be completely vegan-friendly while another practice’s approach may not.

The best way to really make sure a treatment is in line with your needs is to ask the physician at the practice you are considering. If they cannot specifically tell you whether their treatments match your standards, they can at the very least inform you about ingredients and where they get their products from so that you have an easier time doing your research.

Dr. Sarah Bennett, a naturopathic physician at Natural Med Doc in Arizona, always urges patients to have an open and honest dialogue with their physicians beforehand:

“I and many other physicians always offer free consultations to make sure we are a good fit with our patients. Even if you thoroughly research a practice, the easiest way to get straightforward answers to your specific questions is to ask them up front before making any financial or personal commitment.”

Lastly, always be sure to look into the origin of a practice’s products to guarantee that no animal testing was done as well. Even if the ingredient list is perfectly vegan-friendly, there is always the possibility that it still isn’t completely cruelty-free.

In Summary

Making sure aesthetic treatments meet vegan standards can be difficult, but it definitely isn’t impossible!

By doing your research and seeking out treatments like mesotherapy, lifts and laser treatments will make it much easier to attain your goals while sticking to your values. Just make sure you have this open conversation with your doctor before settling on any treatment or practice, even if you’re confident in your research!

Beauty products labeled “natural” and “organic” are rising in popularity according to a study conducted by Persistence Market Research. The natural and organic personal care products market is predicted to bring in revenue of $29.5 billion globally by 2028. But can the labels be trusted? Consumers need to be wary of the increasing number of organic and natural claims that brands are making, especially when closer examination shows that they aren’t always true.

In this blog post, we’ll look at this widespread problem in the beauty industry.

Riding the 'clean' wave

Worldwide, the organic skin care market is expected to grow by 7.8% by 2023. Some brands are leading the trend— think of EB’s VitaminCells Skin Care line—using natural ingredients instead of chemicals. The result of this is that mainstream brands have recognized the value of this trend. Nowadays, if you walk into any cosmetic retail shop, you’ll most likely come across a section with products that supposedly contain all-natural and organic ingredients. Yet, how can we be sure that these brands are truly organic and natural?

A big issue is regulation. Oversight in the cosmetics industry is not required. While foods labeled “organic” are regulated by the USDA, there isn’t any legal standard in place for using the term “organic” on beauty products. It is possible for a brand to use the word organic on their label even if most of the product is made up of synthetic chemicals.

The false “organic” advertising

Companies may market a product as organic even if it contains only a small percentage of an organic ingredient. The typical marketing strategy is to heavily promote a specific organic ingredient, such as argan oil, but a closer look at the ingredients of that product may show a long list of synthetic substances. EcoWatch discusses a survey that looked into 5,000 products using the term ‘organic’ in their brand name and found that more than 250 contained risky or hidden ingredients. In a highly competitive global market, many skin care brands may embellish the truth to keep up with recent trends.

The role of digital media

Digital media has become the dominant way brands now reach their consumers. Accenture senior advisor Suzy Ross spoke to Campaign Live and explained: "Brand owners today have a direct relationship with customers. Brands that put their customers at the heart of the product and the product experience will beat those that don’t." For instance, L’Oréal now allocates 30% of its media budget to digital channels. And the beauty giant isn’t alone, as many companies are following suit. An overview of the current digital marketing industry by Maryville University outlines how digital ad spending will reach $335 billion in the U.S. alone next year, which is much more than traditional advertising avenues like TV. Companies are realizing that digital forms of advertising allow them to connect directly to their customers through platforms such as social media and online streaming services.

The rise of digital advertising has made it even easier for false information to be distributed to customers. Eluxe Magazine notes how many companies will use misleading green images to convince buyers that their products are natural. The problem with digital advertising is that keywords and hashtags stick, and in the current click culture it is easier for consumers to buy instantly than to do the research.

For intelligent beauties who want to make sure that their skin care and cosmetics are truly organic, there is no substitute for researching companies, their products, and the ingredients used.

This blog post is written exclusively for the use of eccobella.com
By Emma Wade