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Parabens are preservatives used to keep health and beauty products fresh by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. These compounds are amongst the most commonly used cosmetic preservatives in the world and have a long history of safe use. They have been extensively studied and determined to be safe for usage in personal care products by expert scientific panels and governmental regulatory agencies. None of the extensive research carried out on parabens has indicated a potential risk of harm to human health and parabens remain amongst the safest of preservatives in today’s cosmetic products. 

Parabens are also naturally occurring in many foods that we enjoy as part of a healthy lifestyle. These include cucumbers, carrots, onions, blueberries and cherries.

Parabens are the most common preservative used in food and cosmetics. In the United States, methylparaben and propylparaben are recognized as safe by the FDA. The Food and Drug Administration is a federal organization responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, etc. FDA Link: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/parabens-cosmetics

Other independent groups, the American Cancer Society, the FDA, and Cancer Research Centers, have looked for many different causes for cancer but have never found any evidence of risk from parabens.

Sulfates are commonly used as surfactants that provide cleansing by trapping dirt and oils so that they can be rinsed away with water. They are the ingredient that creates the foamy lather you get when you brush your teeth or wash your hair or face. In rare cases, certain sulfates can irritate some skin types, which is why you might have heard or read about an increase in sulfate-free products. 

Not all sulfates are created equal. Through our research, we identified mild sulphates (“ethoxylated sulphates”) that are powerfully effective, yet gentle. We use SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) in our products. It is a surfactant which creates lather and gives that ‘clean feel’, often confused with SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), which is known to cause irritation. SLES is a milder surfactant than SLS and is more suitable for beauty products as it’s kinder to skin.

Contrary to some Internet rumors, sulfates are proven to be safe and effective. 

Household alcohol is a universal, commonly used ingredient to dissolve and combine other materials consistently.  When used properly in formulations like ours, any alcohol present is too low to have impact on the condition of your skin.

In skin care products, we also use so-called “longchain” alcohols, such as cetearyl alcohol.  These types of alcohols condition the skin and improve the thickness of product formulas to provide stability.

Phthalates are a group of materials that were historically used in cosmetics for three purposes: to improve fragrance performance, improve longevity of films such as nail polishes and hairsprays, and as a denaturant in alcohol to help prevent accidental ingestion by children.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), an independent scientific committee to the European Commission, published a favorable opinion of phthalates used in cosmetic products. They concluded that although there is no data available to demonstrate an association between phthalates in cosmetics and health risks, they have been measured within urine. Overall, the personal care industry has vastly decreased inclusion of phthalates in cosmetic products.