Because “natural” has no legal definition in cosmetics, independent certification is one of the most reliable ways to know what you are buying. In Europe and the UK, the best-known standard for natural and organic cosmetics is COSMOS.
Every D.E.N. face care formula is COSMOS Natural certified, and our Omega 6-9 Glowing Skin Body Oil is COSMOS Organic certified. Here is what those two labels mean.
What is COSMOS?
COSMOS (the COSMetic Organic and Natural Standard) is an international standard created by several of Europe's leading certification organisations, including the Soil Association in the UK. Brands cannot simply print the logo: an independent certification body audits each formula, its ingredients and the way it is made before it can carry the label.
The standard looks at much more than the ingredient list. It covers:
- where ingredients come from and how they are processed;
- which ingredients are not allowed at all;
- how the product is manufactured;
- packaging and environmental management.
COSMOS Natural
COSMOS Natural certification confirms that a product follows the COSMOS rules on ingredients, processing and manufacturing. It does not require a minimum percentage of organic ingredients.
That makes it a good fit for water-based products like cleansers, serums and moisturisers. Water makes up a large part of these formulas and cannot itself be organic, so a high organic percentage is hard to reach even when the formula is highly natural.
COSMOS Organic
COSMOS Organic goes a step further. On top of everything COSMOS Natural requires, a set share of the ingredients must come from certified organic farming. In general, at least 95% of the plant ingredients that are physically processed must be organic, and organic ingredients must make up at least 20% of the whole product (10% for rinse-off products).
Products made mostly of plant oils, like body oils, are natural candidates for COSMOS Organic. Our Omega 6-9 Glowing Skin Body Oil is 86% organic origin.
Natural vs organic: which is better?
Neither is automatically better for your skin. Both tell you a product has been independently checked against strict rules. Organic tells you more about how the plant ingredients were farmed; it says nothing extra about how gentle the product is.
For sensitive skin, the details still matter more than the logo. Some certified products contain essential oils or fragrant plant extracts that reactive skin may not tolerate. Always check the ingredient list, and choose fragrance-free products such as our Sensitive Skin Moisturiser if your skin reacts easily.
COSMOS and natural origin percentages
COSMOS certification and natural origin percentages answer different questions. The natural origin percentage, calculated using ISO 16128, tells you how much of a formula comes from nature. COSMOS tells you an independent body has audited the product. Together they give you a clear, honest picture. You can read more in What does “natural origin” really mean?
How to check a COSMOS claim
- Look for the COSMOS NATURAL or COSMOS ORGANIC signature on the pack, together with the name of the certification body.
- Check whether the claim covers the product itself or only an ingredient: “made with certified organic ingredients” is not the same as a certified product.
- If in doubt, ask the brand which body certified the product.
Natural where it helps, certified where it counts. That is how we approach every D.E.N. formula.
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