It seems everywhere we turn nowadays we hear about organic, clean, green, and natural skin care. But what does that mean? Surprisingly enough, The Food & Drug Administration, which regulates prescription drugs and the food industry, has not added any additional law regarding cosmetics since the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Since there isn’t a universal guide establishing what clean or natural beauty is,  it is up to the consumer to be aware of the ingredients in products. If our skin is our largest organ, why is it so often overlooked and neglected? Now more than ever, we are becoming conscious about the food we are putting into our bodies, but what about the products we use on our skin? We know that our body is absorbing them, so why are we using cosmetics that might be harmful to our health?

At Immunocologie, we want to empower our readers and consumers to shop skincare products with confidence and know what clean and green truly is. 

Our Definition of Clean

Certain ingredients are used in cosmetics to increase their efficacy, but at Immunocologie we strive for efficient, clean, and healthy skin care. Our products are plant and mineral based, and free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, formaldehyde and, fragrances.. Consumers are becoming more conscious about the connection between the beauty products they put on their body and skin and their health and we want their decision to be an easy one. 

So What Ingredients Should You Avoid?

Certain ingredients have been linked to negative health effects like skin-irritation, hormone disruption, and even cancer. But what are they? 

• Parabens: these are preservatives often found to ensure products don’t grow bacteria. However, they are endocrine disruptors meaning they cause hormonal imbalances which could lead to cancer
• Synthetic Fragrances: try to avoid any product that contains “fragrance” or “parfum” in their ingredient list. They are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and skin irritants. 
• Sulfates: these foaming agents are known to cause skin irritation and often trigger allergies. They are found in toothpaste and in shampoo.
• Phthalates: are chemicals which make plastic flexible, however, they are found in cosmetics like shampoo, hairspray, and nail polish and are endocrine disruptors which could potentially cause birth defects. When buying cosmetics look for acronyms like DBP, DEHP, and DEP
• Formaldehyde: is a known carcinogen which has been linked to asthma and is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Products won’t say if formaldehyde is present instead using the term “preservative systems”. 

Adding in Good Ingredients that Support Skin Health

There are many plant and mineral ingredients that actually support your skin wellness- which is why our founder Karen chose to strategically include certain ingredients in our products like avocado oil, rosemary oil, and sunflower seed oil to name a few. 

• Avocados: not only are they great for guacamole, but they contain vitamins A, D, and E which help boost collagen production and minimize inflammation.  
• Another natural skin ingredient we love, sunflower seed oil. It moisturizes skin, reduces redness, and helps with arthritis and psoriasis. The properties within this natural oil help promote homeostasis within our skin. 
• Rosemary, a known antioxidant is found in many of our products because it helps improve circulation and reduce joint inflammation.

Interested in finding plant and mineral based clean skincare? Check out our products here.