Our Product Standards
During our Evolution process we started to scrutinize ingredients more carefully for items in our boutique. Our owner, Pam, who is a holistic esthetician and health coach has spent some time researching ingredients and reading product labels. Skin Essentials products are now 95% or more free of the following ingredients. In the United States currently it is not always possible to avoid toxins in cosmetics and personal care products but we are seeing the tide change with more awareness in the media and efforts by some to change the laws regarding harmful ingredients. Until the legislative process catches up, we will continue to do our best to make the healthiest choices possible.
Formaldehyde
Why? A known human carcinogen and developmental toxicant and neurotoxin.
Listed as: Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) and glyoxal.
PEGs
Why? While PEGs can be mild irritants, they're less than desirable primarily because they help traffic funky chemicals across your epidermis, including a slug of impurities they're often contaminated with. Pollutants found in various PEG compounds include ethylene oxide, 1,4-dioxane, polycyclic aromatic compounds, and heavy metals (lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, arsenic).
Listed as: Polyethylene glycol, PEGs are typically followed by a number correlating to how many units of ethylene glycol they comprise, in the form of say PEG-4 or PEG-100; the lower the number, the more easily the compound is absorbed into the skin.
Parabens
Why? An Estrogen-mimicking preservative that is linked to breast cancer, reproductive issues and developmental disorders.
Listed as: Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben and other variations ending in paraben can be spotted as well.
Phthalates
Why? They may be harmful to the reproductive system in both males and females.
Listed as: dibutylphthalate (DBP), dimethylphthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP)
Certain chemical sunscreens
Why? Most chemical suncreens (with the exception of Mexoryl SX) have been shown to either affect reproductive systems/endocrine systems/cause skin allergies. Some of these chemicals have been found to badly damage ocean wildlife as well. We prefer sunscreens such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (in non-nano forms) which reflect suns rays instead of relying on a chemical reaction. We also love things like hats, sleeves, sunglasses and umbrellas and shade trees! You get the idea….
Listed as: Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Homosalate, Avobenzone
We are also extra picky about the word “fragrance”
Federal law doesn’t require companies to list on product labels any of the chemicals in their fragrance mixture. Fragrances can contain hormone disruptors and are among the top 5 allergens in the world. While we do have some fragrance-free products we also choose products from brands we trust that formulate their fragrances responsibly, often with essential oils.