Science + Research

As a skin care company that prioritizes safety and efficacy, we always stay up-to date on toxic ingredient lists. Over the last few years, we’ve been paying a lot of attention to preservatives, in particular.  There are good reasons to avoid parabens, but the substitutes for parabens used by many companies claiming to be organic, natural and toxin free title are also problematic. Specifically, preservatives like phenoxyethanol and/or sodium benzoate may be contaminated with carcinogenic compounds or react in the presence of other molecules to produce carcinogens.

This comprehensive list was developed to help you navigate your product labels for the safest skin care yet.

Just as no two people are alike, every skin inhabited by an individual is unique to that person. Skins may share common conditions like acne and aging, but under that umbrella, every person presents a different set of symptoms. (Similarly, the microbe Propionibacterium acnes is a species that differs at the strain level—some strains causing acne while others don’t.)

For this reason, we have found that the most effective treatments come from serums formulated to address skin problems at the symptom level rather than the condition level. For example, our Treatment Serum regulates sebum production to ameliorate acne conditions, while our Lightening Serum inhibits tyrosinase to fade hyperpigmentation. At the serum level, we can target specific dysfunctions by supplying ingredients that help the skin self-regulate.