Transforming yourself into a natural beauty is no easy feat. We’re not talking about the no make-up look but a chemical-free cosmetics regime.

The traditional dowdy looking packaging may have been replaced with a plethora of colourful new organic ranges, but the labels are just as confusing for consumers.

A US environmental group recently filed a lawsuit against 26 cosmetic companies over claims their products were falsely labelled ‘organic’ but in Britain, the rules aren’t as cut and dry. There’s currently no legal definition as to what constitutes an organic product, leaving natural newbies feeling baffled.

Scanning labels is essential as a brand can flaunt their product as organic even if the product contains a tiny drop of lavender oil alongside a long list of chemical nasties.

In a saturated market without regulation, the Soil Association estimates that UK sales of certified organic health and beauty products dipped by 23% to £27.7million last year, thanks to people buying items billed as natural, rather than the certified real thing.

“The term ‘organic’ often receives a bad reaction because it’s been used cynically to push prices up and take advantage of a lack of knowledge about an emerging industry,” explains Angela Young, founder of 100% Organics (www.100percentorganics.com), who wants organic beauty to be more transparent.

Navigating natural products is easy when you know how. Quash the chemical overload for Organic Month this September and give natural beauty the green light with our guide…

Chemical clash

“Skincare is only a tiny drop of the daily blast of chemicals we come into contact with, but it’s a good place to start,” Young says. “Our body absorbs all of the products that we put on our skin and it really matters what’s in them.”

In beauty terms, think of your organic content as a percentage – the higher the percentage, the more natural the product. There are a number of companies which produce 100% organic products but these usually tend to be oil-based.

You might assume water is as pure as you can get but there’s no organic standard for H2O so no product containing it (a large majority) can be classed as 100% organic.

But however confusing, going organic does have its benefits, says Young: “Following years of skin problems I discovered that I was actually reacting to many of the ingredients found in everyday, chemical-filled products. Since using organic my skin has improved immensely.”

Hidden nasties like phthalates, petrochemicals and nano-particles are all potentially harmful ingredients that are best avoided, but certain types of products struggle to compete with their non-organic competitors.

Clio Turton of the Soil Association explains: “Haircare is one, due to the fact that most conventional hair products will use silicones, or some other material, to add gloss and shine, so it can be hard for certified products to compete on a like-for-like basis.”

Stamp of approval

Years ago, natural beauty was restricted to a few niche companies but now it’s a virtual minefield of products with varying degrees of organic authenticity.

Choose the genuine articles and you can give yourself a big pat on the back for supporting organic production and using beauty products which are better for the environment.

Luckily, certification is your guiding light in the search for organic goodness.

Products displaying symbols from key associations, such as the Soil Association, Ecocert, NaTrue or Cosmebio, show they’re independently verified to high organic standards. Each association, however, offers different certification, varying from 70%-95%.

Luckily, a more harmonised system called COSMOS is being put in place to create the first uniform standard for organic health and beauty worldwide, but there’s a long wait, until 2014.

The COSMOS-standard will eventually ensure that a product’s clearly labelled, with the percentage given prominence on the label.

Shelf switchover

There’s no need to overhaul your current bathroom shelf to make way for an all-organic routine.

If you’re a beginner, go green gradually and focus on cutting down the amount of chemicals your skin is absorbing. Try replacing your current products with something more organic or natural as each item runs out, like a moisturiser one month and a lip balm the next.

“Natural and organic products work best when used as a regime, so if you’re going for organic skincare, I’d recommend changing your cleansing and moisturising routines at the same time,” recommends Alan MacKenzie, Organic Surge founder.

“This will really benefit sensitive skin, as chemical fragrances and colourants are the most common skin irritants.”

Looking your natural best doesn’t have to mean stripped back and unfragranced either. MacKenzie recommends seeking out a scent, like a favourite floral.

“For bodycare, look for products with natural fragrances you really love, so you enjoy making the change. You can find organic products with really fresh, vibrant scents – I’ll never go back to a synthetic fragrance now!”

• National Organic Month takes place in September. For more information, visit www.soilassociation.org

Tried & Tested

Carita Exclusive Pedicure, £58 for one hour at Richard Ward Metrospa, London (020 7730 1222/www.richardward.com). Carita treatments are also available at spas nationwide.

It’s fair to say I’m tough on my feet – stomper, runner and serial heel addict – my soles never stand a chance with flip-flops added to the summer mix. SOS was seriously required so I treated my pinkies to a Carita pedi at the swish Richard Ward Metrospa (regularly visited by Kate Middleton). I sat back in the throne-like chair feeling like the princess of pedicures with a window seat. My half-there old polish was swiftly removed and nails clipped, filed and buffed while dry. Paying attention to my hot spots on the heel, side of toe and ball of foot, hard skin was attentively removed with a foot file. Asked if I had nut allergies, the Carita Le Renovateur exfoliator for face and body is then applied to my feet filling the air with the delicious scent of roasted sunflower seeds, thyme, lime and clove. It resembles mud but once washed away, reveals instantly smooth skin compared to my other untouched foot. To achieve the same effects at home, I’m told to buff around once or twice a week before jumping in the shower – always when feet are dry. My cuticles are pushed back and a heavenly leg and foot massage follows using Cashmere Cream and Ultra Nourishing Massage Oil. OPI ‘Big Hair, Big Nails’ watermelon pink provides the finishing touch – speeded along with an actual dryer for toes! Far from just a shape and polish, this pedi is intensively nourishing for hard-working feet too. It would be rude not to finish the feet perfecting process with a new pair of peep-toe heels to show them off.

Buy it now

Stella McCartney has designs on a beauty makeover. Her classic Stella eau de parfum bottles have been splashed with floral prints from the designer’s spring/summer collection. Three limited edition designs are available, £35 each, exclusively at Boots now and nationwide from October.

Beauty bulletin

• Tan fan

• Recessionista alert

• National Organic Month takes place in September. For more information, visit www.soilassociation.org