Natural Europe › Certification labels
Guide · Cosmetics
Natural cosmetics labels, explained
"Natural" on a cosmetic means nothing by law. The seals below do. Here is who runs each one, what it guarantees and how they relate.
The two big European standards
| NATRUE | COSMOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | NATRUE AISBL, Brussels | COSMOS-standard AISBL, Brussels |
| Founded | 2007 (label launched 2008) | 2010 |
| Founders | Natural-cosmetics makers: Weleda, WALA, Laverana, Primavera, Logocos and CEP | Certification bodies: BDIH (DE), Cosmebio (FR), Ecocert (FR), ICEA (IT), Soil Association (UK) |
| Levels | Natural and organic levels (the label states which) | COSMOS NATURAL and COSMOS ORGANIC (plus seals for approved raw materials) |
| Learn more | natrue.org | cosmos-standard.org |
Facts as published by each organisation, checked November 2026. COSMOS reports more than 31,000 certified products in 80 countries on its website.
NATRUE in more detail
NATRUE is the standard founded by natural-cosmetics makers themselves — Weleda, WALA (Dr. Hauschka), Laverana (Lavera), Primavera, Logocos (Logona) and CEP — rather than by certification bodies. The organisation is a Brussels non-profit; independent certifiers audit the products. The label always states the level: natural cosmetics, natural cosmetics with an organic portion, or organic cosmetics. You should see both the NATRUE mark and the name of the certifier.
Ingredients are grouped as natural, nature-identical (a short list of minerals and some pigments that cannot practically be sourced from plants) and derived-natural, meaning they are made from natural starting materials by permitted processes. That is why a NATRUE shampoo can contain a derived surfactant and still be certified, while a silicone, a PEG or a synthetic fragrance cannot. The INCI decoder flags the common excluded groups so you can read a label even when there is no seal.
Founding-brand examples on this site include Weleda, Lavera, Dr. Hauschka and Logona. A NATRUE (or COSMOS) seal tells you what is not in the formula; it does not tell you whether the product will suit your skin. Always read the INCI list as well, especially if you react to fragrance allergens.
What both rule out
Details differ, but both standards exclude the familiar markers of conventional cosmetics: synthetic fragrances and colours, silicones, PEG and other ethoxylated ingredients, mineral oils and paraffins, and all but a short list of permitted preservatives. Both also limit how raw materials may be processed. Our INCI decoder flags the common excluded groups on any label.
The certifier seals you'll see
- BDIH (Germany): the trade association behind the historic "Kontrollierte Natur-Kosmetik" seal; a COSMOS founder that now certifies to COSMOS.
- Ecocert (France): certifies to COSMOS and other standards; you'll often see "certified by Ecocert" next to a COSMOS seal.
- Cosmebio (France), ICEA (Italy) and the Soil Association (UK): the other COSMOS founders, each with its own logo shown alongside the COSMOS signature.
Labels that are not natural-cosmetics certifications
- Vegan labels (e.g. V-Label, The Vegan Society) confirm no animal ingredients, nothing about natural origin.
- Cruelty-free labels are about animal testing. Animal testing for cosmetics has been banned in the EU since 2013 in any case.
- "Dermatologically tested" describes a test, not a standard.
How to use this when shopping
- Look for a recognised seal, not a leaf drawing.
- Check that the seal names the standard (NATRUE or COSMOS) and the certifier.
- Read the INCI list anyway: certification guarantees what is not in the product, not that it suits your skin.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official EU definition of natural cosmetics?
No. EU cosmetics law regulates safety and labelling, not the words "natural" or "organic" on cosmetics. That is why private standards such as NATRUE and COSMOS exist.
Does the EU organic leaf logo apply to cosmetics?
No. The EU organic logo is for agricultural products and food. A cosmetic can contain certified-organic ingredients (often marked with an asterisk), but the product itself is certified through a private standard.
What is ISO 16128?
An ISO guideline for calculating natural and organic "indexes" of cosmetic ingredients and products. It is a calculation method, not a certification or a seal, and it allows some ingredients that NATRUE and COSMOS exclude.
Is BDIH still a separate label?
BDIH was one of the five founders of the COSMOS standard in 2010 and today certifies products to COSMOS. Older products may still carry the historic BDIH "controlled natural cosmetics" seal.