Why Natural/Organic Products Are So Pricey.

Feb 19, 2015

Shelley W.

I always hear of folks in social media and even out and about voice displeasure about the cost of infusing natural/organic skincare and cosmetics into their beauty program.

The real truth of the matter is that most labs/chemists do not like working with pure product. The natural stuff. Its a time consuming process (even though they are getting paid for the their time). It involves far more test batches than your typical products that use mainstream ingredients that you find in your run of the mill drugstore or department product. Also the natural ingredients have limited outlets in which to buy at bulk due to how they are sourced and location. Labs will even charge a brand more money to develop natural/organic products.

Even the packaging in some cases has to be unique in material as to not break down the finish product. All this gets passed down to the us...the consumers unfortunately but as that segment of the beauty market grows and the demand increases I believe that one day we will see an decrease in price.

What do you ladies and gents think about it?

Feb 19, 2015

Madi O.

Honestly it's annoying because I'm trying to switch to all natural/organic products and it's hard to find in stores (I'm super iffy about trying a new brand from online) and its pricey. But honestly I understand and I don't wear that much makeup so I'm willing to spend. But for people who use a lot of cosmetics, I can understand how it can be a problem. I use a lot of skincare/body care and that can get expensive but honestly after learning about all the chemicals and stuff I can never go back! Expect for a few choice products, of course. I just wish that more companies would try and please customers with less chemicals, like they do in Europe where regulations are stricter on chemical use. Thanks for the insightful post!!

Feb 19, 2015

Madi O.

I hope a larger market in the US continues to grow quickly for a quicker decrease in price!

Feb 19, 2015

Shelley W.

I'm slowly moving into more natural/organic cosmetics and skincare myself and its such a challenge for me as well...especially when it comes to foundation. I can't find my shade in brick n mortar so I have to risk online. I'm a girl of instant gratification. I want it in my possession as soon as I pay for it. When it comes to hair care products...all natural in that department.

I read cosmetic industry journals out of EU and they are about to become even stricter with what chemicals are used in products. My husband attended a conference in the UK this past November and there was a seminar that he sat thru discussing how natural skin care is a growing industry and how discoveries of alternatives to silicone need to be utilized on a grander scale. You just have some chemists and formulators who own labs too dang lazy to explore outside the norm and look at the alternatives that are available.

Feb 19, 2015

Madi O.

@shelley I'm not sure if you are a liquid foundation type of girl but if you search around there are some natural mineral makeup websites that let you get small amounts of samples to find your match for a pretty decent price! And about the chemical differences, I'll go online to the same products on the US and UK websites and there will be the same product but the UK one has completely different ingredients (aka less chemicals). It really bugs me that this occurs because obviously it can be made with less and some countries acknowledge that they're bad, yet our stupid regulations allow lots of stuff that has been shown to be bad. It's about the money and laziness and it really bothers me that they are putting our safety over their pockets. Ugh :( good for your husband looking into the natural route!

@cocoa honestly I know right!! Chemicals are so much cheaper and sometimes I'm like 'what'!! But natural resources are limited, which I think is why they are sometimes more expensive. And they know some people are willing to pay to get away from chemicals. It's sad for those who can't because they are being forced into using them and it's sad :( I love to DIY but I'm a sucker for premade products which can sometimes be my downfall. I've tried to find decent brands that are on the cheaper end...it's been going okay!! If you want any recommendations let me know!! :)

Feb 19, 2015

Shelley W.

I agree with ya Cocoa. Its just far easier to process the man-made chemicals than those found naturally in the environment. My husband loved working with natural stuff when he was doing it on a full-time basis. And he tried very hard to educate his clients about the benefits but often times fell on dead ears. Yes, companies rather have us sick than well because they lose money if we're all healthy. I love using honey for all sorts of ailments...especially for the skin. Mixed with a little sugar I have a lip scrub. By itself I have a lip mask. Mosquito bite pain reducer. Sugar, honey and coconut oil...body scrub. I even use it to coat the big multi-vitamin I take everyday (makes it go down easier).

Feb 19, 2015

Shelley W.

@Madi...yes...I just discovered a bunch and have ordered samples...fingers crossed...I hope they are a match.

I'm not even going to front...I'm a sucker for all that mainstream stuff that you find at ULTA, Sephora and my beloved Bluemercury but I seriously need to start infusing more natural stuff or at least brands that have ingredient lists on the short end rather than the long and can't pronounce any of it. I need an even balance in my life. And with the natural cosmetics becoming more advance over the years I have no excuse to not give them a try.

@Cocoa...thank you for the sweet compliment. Yes, I keep my look pretty much on the natural side ( I'll enhance the mess outta my eyes to make them pop or wear a bright lippie from time to time). And my husband...he is my metro sexual granola man. lol

Feb 20, 2015

Sree K.

@Shelley: then I'm lucky; there are a lot of organic natural beauty brands available here in India and they aren't expensive at all. I get brands like:
Omved, Biotique, Just herbs, Fabindia, Himalaya herbals, Khadi, Lotus herbals and a dozen more. They're cruelty free products and the price never exceeds more than 1000INR which is roughly equals to 16 US dollars.

Feb 20, 2015

Shelley W.

@Sree...that you are!! Its also more embraced by the consumers as well...it also helps that not too mainstream brands are sold in India...Bobbi Brown just enter India in the last several years but as far as some of the other popular cosmetic/skincare lines...sight unseen. I'm going to have to look up the brands you listed. I heard of Biotique and Omved...what an extensive lineup.

Feb 20, 2015

Breeze T.

Love the thread, Shelley!
For skincare I do invest in more expensive natural products (I like the ingredient list to be as short as possible too: if it's one ingredient, I feel safer!) but I never buy "natural/organic" makeup.
Here in Italy the natural cosmetics market is HUGE (there's a health food store here that has a third of the supermarket dedicated to organic makeup and skincare). Is there a big benefit to using natural makeup? What brands do you suggest (also skincare wise, while we're at it)?

Feb 20, 2015

Shelley W.

I need to visit Italy!! Some benefits to using natural makeup...no carmine is one that I can think of as I know several people who cannot tolerate it on their skin. As far as brands...I'm still learning and discovering stuff as what I thought was natural and organic is not. Makeup...Gressa has caught my eye...just off the top of my head.

Feb 20, 2015

Breeze T.

Thank you, and yes you do need to visit! :)
I thought carmine was illegal in the US. Here it's not (one of my mom's many jobs is for a company which makes grappa and different aperitifs, and they had to change the red dye of an aperitif - like Campari - to be able to sell it in the US)
Gressa's website looks so luxurious, and the prices look pretty good, like a mid-range high end product. *_*
Oh and by "there's a health food store here" I mean in my town, I don't know if they have other stores around the country.

Feb 20, 2015

Shelley W.

@Breeze...nope...US hasn't banned it yet...at least not for cosmetics but maybe they have for food products. The FDA here that regulates both food and beauty are so behind the times its not even funny. Very lax and tend to favor corporations rather than public safety.

Feb 20, 2015

Breeze T.

Oh okay, maybe it's just a percentage thing :) It does baffle me how the EU has so many banned products and in the US there are only 11 according to the fda website: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceRegulation/LawsRegulations/ucm127406.htm
And this is the European Union list:
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.results&annex_v2=II&search

By the way, who knew salicylic acid was banned here? I have a spot treatment mask that has it - I didn't buy it in Italy but still, I was in Europe.

Feb 21, 2015

Madi O.

So true!! When learning about both food and health companies especially in the US it's so sad to see how they trick and scam us into being unhealthy for their sake. I hope to visit Europe one day and when I'm there I'm totally going to binge purchase tons of stuff lol!! And AH thank you breeze for those lists! I'll totally be taking a look :)

Feb 21, 2015

Sree K.

@Shelley:That's so unfair everything is overpriced there:S We have more consumers for organic brands and most of these organic brands are Indian so it's available at cheaper rates. My current skin care routine amounts to only 600 INR which is only 10USD! Now you can imagine how cheap I can get things here. As you said most of the mainstream international brands haven't entered here, so if I need to get any of those brands my only option is online shopping where everything is overpriced and added to that there's extra shipping charges. So like me rest of the ppl tends to stick to the better options which is organic Indian brands.

Feb 21, 2015

Sree K.

If anyone is interested about indian organic cruelty free brands this is the ultimate list of brands:
https://merrildiniz.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/50-plus-cruelty-free-beauty-brands-all-made-in-india/

Feb 21, 2015

Sree K.

I have tried only a few of these brands and they were good for my skin

Feb 21, 2015

Shelley W.

I have a long list of lines to research and possibly shop!! The US obviously doesn't have it together in comparison to other countries. Glad I created this thread...I learned a lot from you beautiful ladies. ;)

Feb 21, 2015

Breeze T.

Thank you Sree for sharing that website! :)

Feb 21, 2015

Sree K.

you are welcome :)

Feb 23, 2015

Diana H.

I too am trying to purchase organic/vegan skincare products. However, I agree they are too expensive. I suggest start with Burt's Bees. They have lip and skin care products. I love the brand because it is budget friendly.