What "certified organic" actually means — and what brands get away with calling it
by Bo van Rijzewijk
"Organic" is one of the most misused words in skincare. Here's what it actually means — and how to tell the difference between a genuine claim and a marketing tactic.
The problem with "organic" in cosmetics
In the food industry, "organic" has a legal definition. Products must meet specific criteria set by regulatory bodies — the EU Organic Regulation, the USDA National Organic Program, and so on. Farmers and producers must be certified. The claim is verifiable.
In cosmetics, there is no equivalent legal definition in most markets. In the EU, UK, and US, a brand can legally call a product "organic" without a single certified organic ingredient. There are no mandatory standards, no required certifications, no enforcement mechanism.
This means that "organic skincare" can mean anything — or nothing.
What legitimate certification looks like
In the absence of legal standards, independent certification bodies have stepped in. The most credible are:
COSMOS Organic — the European standard, run by a consortium of organic certification bodies including Soil Association (UK), Ecocert (France), and BDIH (Germany). Products must contain a minimum percentage of organic ingredients, avoid prohibited synthetics, and meet strict processing standards.
USDA Organic — the American standard, primarily designed for food but increasingly used in cosmetics. Requires 95%+ certified organic content.
Soil Association Organic — the UK standard, one of the most rigorous globally. Often used in premium British and European skincare.
If a product carries one of these logos, the claim is independently verified. If it just says "organic" on the packaging without a certification mark, it's a marketing claim with no verification behind it.
How to read an ingredient list
Certified organic ingredients are typically indicated with an asterisk (*) on the ingredient list, with a footnote explaining that the asterisk denotes organic certification. This is the honest way to indicate organic content.
Some brands indicate organic content in the ingredient name itself — "Organic Aloe Barbadensis" rather than just "Aloe Barbadensis."
If a product claims to be organic but you can't find any certification mark or asterisk notation on the ingredient list, treat the claim with scepticism.
The "natural" problem
"Natural" is even less regulated than "organic." There is no standard definition anywhere. Water is natural. Arsenic is natural. The word means nothing in a regulatory context and should be treated as pure marketing.
What KLÄR does
KLÄR uses certified organic ingredients under the COSMOS standard wherever available. Organic ingredients are marked with an asterisk in our ingredient lists. We don't claim certifications we don't have, and we don't use the word "organic" as a general descriptor — only for ingredients that are independently verified.
We also don't use "natural" as a selling point. Every ingredient in our products is there because it works. Whether it's natural or synthetic is secondary to whether it's effective and safe.
The bottom line
Don't trust "organic" on a label without a certification mark. Look for COSMOS, Soil Association, or USDA Organic logos. Check the ingredient list for asterisk notation. If you can't find evidence of certification, the claim is unverified.
Your skin deserves better than marketing language.