Ingredients

Are you curious about some of those long words in our list of ingredients?  A lot of time and research goes into every ingredient we proudly use in our formulations. We are happy to discuss them with you. 

Did you know that Health Canada requires all skincare and haircare products to be labeled in INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) format? This allows people of all languages to collectively identify the ingredients in a product to make an informed decision. 

Unfortunately, we've all heard people say "If I can't pronounce it, I'm not using it on my body". From a formulator's perspective, this is a misinformed comment, because anyone who is labeling their products with common names rather than INCI format is breaking the law. Do you want to trust your health with someone who is dishonest or misinformed? Where room permits on our labels, we try to include both the common name and INCI name for your convenience. If not, you'll just see the INCI format for the reasons noted above.

Preservatives also tend to get a bad rap, but they have come a very long way over recent years! Any water-based formula can develop dangerous bacteria in a very short time without a preservative. It only takes a few weeks to be unsafe, even when stored in the refrigerator. Don't forget the time it spent on a store shelf before making its way to your home! Yuck. Your safety is important to us and we will never sell an unsafe product to you just because a label that says "preservative free" has more marketing appeal. Our preservatives of choice are as close to natural as possible, are completely safe and we are proud to use them. 

Below is a list of ingredients we include in some of our products and are sometimes asked about. If you've got questions about something that is not listed, please reach out and we will do our best to provide you with the information you are looking for.

  • BTMS 50: A vegetable based conditioning emulsifier. It can be used to emulsify lotions and scrubs but is more commonly used to make hair conditioners.  
  • Cetyl Alcohol: A fatty alcohol that functions as an emollient, emulsifier, thickener, and surfactant in skincare products. There is often a misconception that because it has alcohol in its name that cetyl alcohol is drying to the skin. The reality is actually the opposite. Cetyl alcohol helps to protect the skin from allergens, bacteria and moisture loss and improves the texture of products.
  • Geogard ECT: A unique, patent-pending combination of benzyl alcohol, salicylic acid, glycerin and sorbic acid. This antimicrobial blend offers  broad-spectrum protection in a diverse range of products against Gram-positive & Gram-negative bacteria, yeast and molds at wide pH ranges. Geogard ECT has a wide range of global regulatory acceptance for personal care products. Also referred to as Preservative Eco.
    Meets the COSMOS and ECOCERT standards.
  • Luxglide/Lexfeel N350: A 100% natural and sustainable emollient that has the sensory feel of cyclomethicone and dimethicone. It is ecocertified and readily biodegradable. LexFeel N350 is suitable as an alternative to dimethicone, for improving skin-feel in creams and lotions, as well as enhancing shine and texture in hair care such as conditioners, anti-frizz, and styling products. In natural formulations, it can be used to reduce the greasiness of natural oils. It can also be used for stick and roll-on antiperspirants and for foundations and hot pour cosmetics. 
  • Optiphen Plus: Formaldehyde-free, paraben-free, halogen-free and non-isothiazolinone. Excellent safety and toxicological profile. Imparts emolliency to finished formulations. A highly effective, broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Yeast, and Mold.
  • SCI: An extremely gentle surfactant based on coconut fatty acids. Mild enough for baby cleansers, personal hygiene, and toiletries while still offering very efficient cleansing and low odor. It is used in cosmetics and personal care products as a surfactant and is commonly seen in hair care products like shampoos because of its ability to help water to mix with oil and dirt, allowing them to be more easily rinsed away. Delivers excellent luxurious foam while leaving a very nice silky feeling on the skin. It does not dry the skin, or hair, making it an excellent choice for the formulation of all cleansers. One of the most popular choices for shampoo and body bars due to its high performance in soft or hard water. 
  • SLSa: Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSa) is derived from natural plant sources and is completely free of all sulfates. It is a mild and versatile surfactant that produces a rich foam without irritation.
  • Stearic Acid: A fatty acid that occurs naturally in plants. It’s a major component of cocoa and shea butter. Stearic acid is an emulsifier, emollient, and lubricant that can soften skin and help to keep products from separating. Research shows that the ingredient may help burns heal.