The Lowdown on New Labels

By Vicky Uhland

As you’re browsing the beauty shelves this summer, keep your eyes out for three new seals that promise to define what counts as natural or organic in bodycare products.

Premium Body Care
Launched by Whole Foods Market in March, the Premium Body Care standard covers more than 1,200 items sold in Whole Foods stores. To qualify, products must use ingredients that are “as close to nature and as minimally processed as possible,” have little environmental impact, and must be unlikely to cause skin irritations or allergies.
More info: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/wholebody/pbc

Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards
Known as OASIS, this seal will premiere in August. Products with the “organic” seal must contain 85 percent certified organic content (excluding water and salt). Anything labeled “made with organic” will contain 70 percent organic content. These percentages will increase starting in 2010.
Participating companies: Perfect Organics, Hain Celestial, Aveda, Juice Beauty, Buddha Nose, Origins, L’Oréal, Head Organics, Trillium Organics, and Suki
More info: www.oasisseal.org

The Natural Seal
Spearheaded by the Natural Products Association, this seal covers products with at least 95 percent natural ingredients. Specific synthetic ingredients must not be suspected of causing health risks.
Participating companies: Burt’s Bees, Aubrey Organics, Badger, California Baby, Farmaesthetics, Trilogy, and Weleda
More info: www.thenaturalseal.com