Scan the offerings in the beauty aisle and you'll see plenty of virtuous-sounding labels. "Vegan-friendly" shampoo, "cruelty-free" face cream, "natural" moisturizer, "biodegradable" toothpaste -- but what do they really mean? Still more confusing: Some products have certified seals, while others sport symbols that don't quite look official.

So how do you choose a cleanser that's good for both you and the planet? With the help of our experts, we get to the bottom of the most common declarations and sort truth from empty promises.

Label: Organic
Clear rules make decoding this term easier. In 2005, the USDA started allowing makers of qualified organic beauty and body-care products to use a USDA Organic seal. Those items with 95 percent organic ingredients, such as plants grown without the use of dangerous pesticides, can use the seal. Products with at least 70 percent organic content can say "made with organic ingredients" but can't use the seal; those with less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot use the term "organic" anywhere on the packaging except to identify specific organic items in the ingredients list.

It all sounds clear, until you think about what else might be in there. Say a skin cleanser touts "made with organic ingredients," meaning that at least 70 percent fits the bill. That doesn't tell you anything about the other 30 percent. "Some products can say 'organic' yet still contain parabens," explains Mike Indursky, chair of the Natural Products Association's Personal Care Committee and chief of marketing at Burt's Bees -- not exactly reassuring for anyone wanting to reduce toxin exposure.

Bottom Line
If you want assurance that your moisturizer or shampoo is organic, look for the USDA seal.