What “All-Natural” Means in Cosmetic Formulations: A Look at Haircare

“All-natural” is one of the most misunderstood and unregulated terms in personal care. While the idea of using only natural ingredients is appealing, as a formulator, I know that natural does not always mean safer or more effective.

At the same time, Australian regulations ensure that all personal care products on the market, natural or not, are safe for consumer use. This means that even if a product is marketed as "all-natural," it still meets strict safety requirements—just like our Dry Shampoo, which is formulated solely with botanical powders, clays, and essential oils.

But what does “all-natural” actually mean? And how does legislation define it?

What Does “All-Natural” Actually Mean?

Unlike organic, which you can choose to get certification for (such as COSMOS or ACO in Australia), there is no universal legal definition for “all-natural” in cosmetics. However, in formulation terms:

✅ True all-natural ingredients are in their original, unaltered state, meaning they have not undergone any synthetic processing.
✅ Naturally derived ingredients come from natural sources but are processed or modified to improve their stability, functionality, or performance.

Many brands use these terms interchangeably, but the distinction matters—especially in haircare, where functional ingredients like emulsifiers, preservatives, and surfactants often require some level of processing.

Our Dry Shampoo: A True All-Natural Formula

Our Dry Shampoo is an excellent example of a genuinely all-natural product because every ingredient is in its pure, unprocessed state:

INGREDIENTS:
🌱 Zea Mays (Corn) Starch – Natural oil absorber
🌱 Maranta Arundinacea (Arrowroot) Powder – Adds volume and freshness
🌱 Bambusa Vulgaris (Bamboo) Powder – Rich in silica for scalp health
🌱 Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Powder – Aromatic, soothing properties
🌱 Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) – Naturally deodorises
🌱 Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Powder – Scalp-nourishing herb
🌱 Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root Powder – Softens and conditions
🌱 Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Powder – Hydrating and soothing
🌱 Kaolin Clay – Detoxifies the scalp
🌱 Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil & Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil – Refreshing and balancing essential oils

All of these remain in their raw, powdered, or distilled forms, meaning this product is 100% all-natural.

How Legislation Views All-Natural Products

Even though our Dry Shampoo contains no synthetics, it is still subject to the same safety standards as any other haircare product. In Australia, cosmetics are regulated by:

🔹 AICIS (Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme) – Ensures that all cosmetic ingredients, natural or synthetic, are assessed for safety.
🔹 TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) – Oversees medicinal claims (though most haircare products fall under general cosmetics).
🔹 Consumer Law & Labelling Regulations – Mandate transparent ingredient lists and safety guidelines.

This means that even though our Dry Shampoo is 100% natural, it still meets all formulation, labelling, and safety requirements before it can be sold.

Challenges of 100% Natural Formulations

While our Dry Shampoo works beautifully in a powder format, achieving the same level of performance in other haircare products—like shampoos, conditioners, and serums—without any naturally derived ingredients can be challenging.

💡 Preservation & Stability Issues – Without preservatives, water-based natural products can become contaminated.
💡 Ingredient Functionality Limitations – Many effective haircare ingredients, like silk proteins and surfactants, require processing to function properly.
💡 Consumer Misconceptions About Safety – Some all-natural ingredients can be irritating or allergenic, while some safe, lab-processed ingredients are demonised unfairly.

That’s why we balance all-natural formulations (like our Dry Shampoo) with naturally derived ingredients in other products where performance and safety need enhancement.

A Balanced Approach to Clean Haircare

We don’t believe in fear-based marketing. Instead, we take a science-backed approach to clean beauty, choosing ingredients based on:

✅ How safe they are (regardless of whether they’re natural or man-made, but in saying that, we always prioritise natural)
✅ How well they perform (so you get results without compromise)
✅ How they interact with the scalp and hair for long-term health

Our Dry Shampoo is a perfect example of how A-Beauty embraces all-natural haircare where it makes sense, while still ensuring that every product—is safe, effective, and in line with Australian regulations.