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What Does EWG Verified® Mean? Why Our Castor Oil Is Officially EWG Verified

What Does EWG Verified® Mean? Why Our Castor Oil Is Officially EWG Verified

We’re Officially EWG Verified®. And This Is Bigger Than a Badge.

Almost every woman has a hormone story.

That’s what led me to build Holistic Goddess.

After navigating my own hormone shifts, I started paying closer attention to everything that influences hormone health, including what we apply to our skin every single day.

The more I looked, the more I saw how loosely beauty and wellness language gets used.

“Clean.”
“Natural.”
“Non-toxic.”

These words sound reassuring, but most aren’t tied to a defined standard. Castor oil falls into that gray area too.

From the beginning, we chose to operate differently. Small batch in a sea of mass-produced oils. USDA organic sourcing. Strict ingredient standards. Full transparency.

If it touches your skin, it should respect your hormones.

Today, our castor oil is officially EWG Verified®.

It’s an Environmental Working Group certification applied to our finished product. Not all brands pursue review at the formulation level.

We pursued it because accountability matters. Especially for our Goddesses who care deeply about what they're putting on their bodies.

Here’s what that means.

 

 

What Is EWG Verified®?

EWG Verified® is an Environmental Working Group certification that evaluates ingredient safety and transparency in personal care products.

Within the world of EWG certification beauty, this is one of the most rigorous third-party standards available — and one we felt strongly about pursuing.

To earn EWG Verified®, a product must:

  • Avoid ingredients associated with hormone disruption
  • Screen for contaminants, including heavy metals
  • Fully disclose every ingredient
  • Meet defined safety thresholds
  • Comply with strict transparency standards

This is not self-reported.

We submitted:

  • Documentation
  • Ingredient breakdowns
  • Sourcing details
  • Compliance data

If we are going to talk about hormone safe skincare, we need to be willing to open the books.

If you’ve been searching for EWG Verified castor oil, confirm that the certification applies to the finished product, not just one ingredient inside a formula.

Explore our EWG Verified® Castor Oil →

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Why EWG Certification Matters for Hormones

Hormones work through signaling.

Estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, cortisol — they respond to:

  • Stress
  • Sleep
  • Nutrition
  • Environmental exposure

Exposure is often overlooked.

Skincare gets applied daily. Sometimes twice daily. For years.

Repeated exposure adds up.

Research has documented endocrine disrupting chemicals in skincare, sometimes referred to as hormone disrupting chemicals, that may interfere with hormone signaling. Many conventional formulas still rely on fragrance blends or preservatives that raise legitimate questions.

If you're navigating:

  • Perimenopause
  • PMS
  • Fertility concerns
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Midlife skin changes

Ingredient integrity matters, and hormone safe skincare is a non-negotiable. When you use something every day, you deserve clarity.

Is EWG Verified the Same as Organic?

No, and this is important. 

Organic certification focuses on farming practices. EWG Verified focuses on ingredient safety thresholds and transparency.

They evaluate different parts of quality. We chose to hold ourselves to both.

Our castor oil is:

  • Cold pressed
  • Hexane free
  • USDA organic
  • Subject to castor oil heavy metal testing
  • Packaged in amber glass for stability

Cold pressed castor oil safety matters. So does hexane free extraction and heavy metal screening. EWG Verified adds independent review to standards we already upheld.

Explore our clean castor oil and EWG Verified blends →

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Why This Matters for Castor Oil Specifically

Castor oil is trending everywhere right now. From online influencers to so-called “Dr’s”, even “lookalike” brands that seem to pop up overnight and look just like brands you trust are everywhere now. 

Castor oil is not just a trend.

It is dense and penetrates deeply. Traditionally, it’s used to support circulation and fluid movement where applied, which is why it often appears in conversations around Castor Oil & Estrogen Detox and lymphatic flow.

Many women use castor oil daily:

  • On the face
  • Under the eyes
  • Across the abdomen
  • Over breast tissue
  • As part of a lymphatic support ritual

When something becomes consistent, sourcing and formulation matter more.

Small batch protects oil stability over time.
Amber glass shields it from light.
And origin affects purity more than most people realize.

Not every oil on the market undergoes castor oil heavy metal testing. Not every brand prioritizes cold pressed castor oil safety. Not every formula qualifies for Environmental Working Group certification.

Our non toxic castor oil meeting EWG Verified standards provides independent confirmation.

For women searching for clean castor oil or the best castor oil for hormone balance, documented review provides structure to marketing claims.

If you want the EWG Verified® version, shop directly from Holistic Goddess →

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What EWG Looks For in Personal Care Products

The Environmental Working Group evaluates products using publicly available scientific research.

Ingredients are reviewed for:

  • Hazard classifications
  • Cancer risk data
  • Reproductive toxicity
  • Hormone disruption potential
  • Skin sensitization risk
  • Environmental persistence

To carry the EWG Verified mark, brands must comply across all categories.

It’s a documented review process backed by real criteria, not marketing language.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What does EWG Verified mean?

It means a product meets Environmental Working Group standards for ingredient safety and full transparency.

Is EWG Verified trustworthy?

Yes. EWG is an independent nonprofit organization that evaluates ingredient safety and environmental impact using publicly available scientific research. 

Does EWG test products?

EWG reviews documentation, ingredient data, and safety profiles. Brands must provide full transparency and comply with ingredient restrictions. 

Why does hormone-safe skincare matter?

Skin absorbs what we apply. Repeated exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may affect hormone signaling over time. Many women use castor oil for perimenopause support which makes EWG Verified status even more important.  

Why I Personally Chose to Pursue EWG Verified

“Natural” is not a regulated term.

And that realization didn’t sit well with me.

If I’m asking you to trust us with your skin, especially during seasons when your hormones already feel sensitive or unpredictable, I have to be willing to go further.

This certification required documentation, testing, and full transparency. It took time. It required detail. It required opening our process fully.

But that’s the point.

You deserve to know what you're applying to your body.

You deserve standards that are clear, not implied.

It aligns with who we’ve always been:

  • Small batch
  • Women-led
  • USA-based
  • Hormone-conscious

And now officially EWG Verified®.

With love,
Steph

Explore Our EWG Verified® Castor Oil

Support your hormone safe skincare routine with our EWG Verified castor oil and small-batch blends.

Shop the EWG Verified Collection →