Walk through any shop and you will see words like natural, organic, botanical and clean on skincare packaging. They sound reassuring, but what do they mean? Here is a plain, honest guide.
So, what is "botanical"?
Botanical simply means "from plants". Botanical skincare is made with ingredients that come from plants, such as plant oils, extracts, flowers, herbs and butters, as an important part of the formula.
Botanical is not the same as organic
These words are often mixed up. "Organic" usually refers to how an ingredient was grown or produced, and in many places, it is tied to certification. "Botanical" tells you about where an ingredient comes from, not how it was grown. A product can be botanical without being certified organic, and the reverse.
Natural does not automatically mean gentle
Plants contain many different compounds, and some of them can irritate some people. Plenty of people react to natural ingredients, and many lab-made ingredients are perfectly gentle. That is why a patch test matters for every new product, whatever the label says.
Labels are not always regulated
Words such as natural, clean and botanical do not always have one strict legal meaning. Different brands use them in different ways. Because of that, the best habit you can build is to look past the front of the pack.
How to read a label
- Check the ingredient list. Ingredients are usually listed from the largest amount to the smallest.
- Look for what you know you react to. If a particular ingredient has bothered you before, avoid it.
- Be careful with big promises. Skincare supports healthy-looking skin. It does not replace medical care.
- Ask the brand. A good brand is happy to tell you what is in its products and how to use them.
What it means for us
At Xiya's Organic, plants are at the heart of how we think about skincare. If you want to know more about a specific product, or you have a skin concern you would like to ask about, message us on WhatsApp and we will gladly explain.
Try a patch test and take your time
Whatever you choose, introduce new products one at a time, try a small patch first, and give your skin a few weeks to settle. And if your skin is painful, very irritated or worrying you, please see a doctor or dermatologist.
