If you have ever stood in a beauty aisle trying to decide whether a product is genuinely natural or organic, here is something worth knowing: the words natural and organic on a cosmetics label in the EU and UK carry no legal definition. No regulatory body defines them. No minimum standard applies. Any brand can use either word on any product.
This is not a loophole. It is the current state of EU and UK cosmetics regulation, specifically, EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009, which governs cosmetic products across the EU and which the UK retained in its regulatory framework following Brexit. The regulation requires full ingredient disclosure via the INCI list, prohibits specific harmful substances, and sets safety requirements. It does not define "natural" or "organic."
What the Regulation Does Require
EU and UK cosmetics regulations require:
- A complete INCI ingredient list on every product, in descending order of concentration
- A responsible person legally accountable for the product's safety
- A Product Information File containing safety assessments
- Prohibition of specific listed substances (over 1,300 substances banned or restricted)
What the regulation does not do is define what "natural," "organic," "clean," or "green" means for a cosmetic product. These remain marketing terms that any brand can use without substantiation.
The INCI List: The One Reliable Document
The INCI ingredient list, usually printed in small text on the reverse of the packaging, is legally required and tells you exactly what is in the product, in order from highest to lowest concentration. Learning to read it is more reliable than reading any marketing claim.
A few reference points:
- Ingredients listed near the top make up the bulk of the formula
- Ingredients listed near the end are often present at concentrations below 1%
- Water appears as Aqua and is usually the first ingredient in most rinse-off products
- Silicones appear as Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Amodimethicone, and similar names
- Petroleum-derived thickeners and emollients include Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, and Ceresin
- Synthetic fragrance is listed as Parfum, a single word that can cover a large number of undisclosed compounds
What Third-Party Certification Does Instead
Third-party certification bodies fill the gap that regulation leaves open. Organisations like COSMOS-standard, NATRUE, and the Soil Association define their own standards for what "natural" or "organic" means, and they verify that products meet those standards through independent audits.
This means that when a product carries a COSMOS Natural or COSMOS Organic logo, the word "natural" or "organic" on that product has a specific, audited meaning:
- No petroleum-derived ingredients
- No synthetic fragrances
- No silicones
- No GMOs
- No parabens
- Annual independent audit to verify compliance
Without a certification logo from a recognised body, the same words mean nothing specific.
How to Check a Brand's Certification
Reputable certifications are publicly verifiable. ECOCERT maintains a searchable database of certified products. The COSMOS-standard organisation maintains a registry of certified brands. If a brand claims COSMOS or ECOCERT certification, you can look up the specific product and confirm its certification status directly, without relying on the brand's own marketing.
Each NUDA product page states its exact certification level. Our certifications are also available to view on our certifications page.
Browse our certified range: Volume and Body, Shine and Colour, Scalp Health.
As an example you can verify yourself, the hair mask for damaged hair lists its ECOCERT COSMOS certification and its full INCI on the product page.
Related reading
- How to Spot Greenwashing in Hair Care
- The Difference Between Clean, Natural, Organic, and Certified: In Hair Care
- Which Hair Care Brands Are COSMOS Certified in the UK and EU?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "natural" regulated anywhere in the EU for cosmetics?
No. EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009 does not define "natural" for cosmetic products. Individual EU member states do not have separate definitions either. The EU Green Claims Directive, which is in legislative process as of 2026, may bring more accountability to environmental and natural claims in future, but it has not yet come into force.
What about the UK after Brexit?
The UK retained EU cosmetics regulation into UK law following Brexit. As of 2026, "natural" and "organic" remain undefined in UK cosmetics regulation. The UK does have the Soil Association, which is a nationally recognised organic certification body, but its certification is voluntary, brands are not required to obtain it to use the word "organic."
Can brands be penalised for misleading "natural" claims?
Yes, but indirectly. While cosmetics regulators do not enforce definitions of "natural," advertising regulators can. In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) can rule against misleading advertising claims, including natural or organic claims that cannot be substantiated. In the EU, the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive can be used against demonstrably false claims. Enforcement is inconsistent, but it is not entirely absent.
Does "free from parabens" mean a product is natural?
No. A product can be paraben-free while still containing synthetic fragrances, silicones, or petrochemical-derived ingredients. "Free from" labelling highlights the absence of specific ingredients, and says nothing about what the product does contain or whether it meets any natural or organic standard.
If I want to verify a natural claim, what should I look for?
Look for a specific certification logo from a recognised third-party body: COSMOS Natural, COSMOS Organic, NATRUE, or Soil Association Organic. Then verify that certification in the certifying body's public database. This is the most reliable approach currently available to consumers. Marketing language on the front of the pack, however prominent, is not a substitute for independent verification.