These organic body balms will make you wonder why you ever smothered your skin with artificial ingredients in the first place…

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Organic beauty isn’t just for hippies.

With parabens, sulphates and BPAs garnering a bad reputation, people are putting their trust in – and their budgets towards – brands that keep their ingredient lists as close to nature as possible.

Does your sensitive skin turn red and blotchy with even a whiff of a new product? Well, that could be a thing of the past if you cut chemicals from your beauty repertoire. Organic beauty products – along with their ingredients – are produced without the use of chemicals often responsible for skin sensitivities. Pregnancy is another reason to green your beauty routine, since what passes through your skin can potentially be passed on to your baby.

So, are ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ one and the same thing?

To put it simply, something that’s natural isn’t always organic, but something that’s organic is always natural. Natural products claim to contain minimal artificial ingredients, but there is no guarantee that they are free of chemical nasties. Products bearing the organic label have to reveal exactly what is in their products and at what concentration, as well as where they source their ingredients.

A final word of caution before we get to the good stuff: Just because something is ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ doesn’t mean it’s automatically good for you. Some friendly ingredients can still cause irritation – for example, lavender can lead to contact dermatitis and skin-cell death.

So without further ado, here are four organic body balms that will make you wonder why you ever smothered your skin with artificial ingredients in the first place…

1. Badger Healing Balm (R 190; Wellness Warehouse )

• Certification: USDA ORGANIC
• Texture: A rich, intensive product that takes a while to be absorbed by the skin. (3/5)
• Scent: The sweet birch oil gives a warm, herbal fragrance that is perfect for bedtime. (4/5)
• The best bit: The quirky vintage tin packaging. (5/5)

2. Africa Organics Kalahari Melon Lotion (R 44.95; selected Dis-Chem stores)

• Certification: ECOCERT ORGANIC
• Texture: A light and non-greasy daily lotion that the skin simply drinks up. (3/5)
• Scent: A fresh, fruity smell to breathe some life into the cold winter air. (3/5)
• The best bit: A rare organic budget buy. (4/5)

3. Esse Rich Body Moisturiser (R 210; Wellness Warehouse)

• Certification: ECOCERT ORGANIC
• Texture: Not too dense, creamy and nourishing but never sticky. (4/5)
• Scent: Sweet, earthy rooibos coupled with a refreshing yet subtle hint of spearmint. (3/5)
• The best bit: Contains Yangu and Manketti oils for UV protection, essential even in winter. (4/5)

4. Absolute ORGANIC Body Butter (R 150; Wellness Warehouse)

• Certification: ECOCERT ORGANIC
• Texture: A luxurious lotion that hydrates without being greasy. (4/5)
• Scent: A buttery, floral scent to warm up a winter’s night (3/5)
• The best bit: Contains Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects against environmental damage (4/5)

BBs, what’s your take on organic beauty? Is it the only way forward or just another gimmick? Let us know below…