5 Not-So-Natural Personal Care Products

Consumer preference for personal care products marketed as “natural” is backed by the idea that the items are not only better for the body but also better for the environment. The definition of natural, after all, is “existing in or caused by nature.” And “natural” sells: Sales of natural body care products rose more than 10 percent to $1.1 billion in the last year.

Yet a spate of class-action lawsuits allege that some major brands of personal care products marketed as “natural” actually contain synthetic or chemical ingredients. With Earth Day right around the corner, here’s a handful of items whose earthy claims have been challenged.

Find more of our coverage on products marketed as “natural” here.