ethos face care.

these ingredients do not belong in our products:

stripping foaming agents

Foam makes for a pleasant feel, but falsely creates the impression that it cleans better. Irritating detergents produce large puffs of foam but dries the skin and disrupts the natural pH balance. As a result, the skin’s protective layer does not work as well, and the skin becomes more susceptible to infections and other ailments. One example is sulfates. Most common: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Betaine-based detergents (such as cocamidopropyl betaine) are said to be gentler with good foaming power, but can cause hypersensitivity. At RainPharma we opted for coco-glucosides because they are much gentler, natural in origin and clean well without creating too many suds. If you like a lot of lather, use Liu’s Magic Sponge.

This is how you recognize the no-gos: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), cocamidopropyl betain.

preservative irritants

It’s rare to find a cosmetic product that is completely free of preservatives since it protects against contamination. Preservatives, however, range in irritation and allergy potential. Consider irritant preservatives such as alcohol, methylchloroisothiazolinone, formaldehyde, etc. At RainPharma, we use preservatives of natural origin, such as extracts from wheat and basil.

This is how you recognize the no-gos: alcohol, methylchloroisothiazolinone, formaldehyde

blending agents

Blending agents enable stable formulas. Synthetic forms like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polysorbates are often used in the cosmetics industry, but can disrupt the skin barrier. We use natural alternatives made from sugar molecules (sucrose stearate, sucrose palmitate). We also use blending agents derived from vegetable fats (cetearyl alcohol).

Here’s how you recognize the no-gos: PEG, PEG/PPG, laureth

auxiliaries

Acrylates are a type of synthetic aid used to improve a formula’s texture. They can cause sensitivities and unpleasant sensations. For auxiliaries, we use natural variants made up of sugars, such as xanthan gum.

This is how you recognize the no-gos: acrylates copolymer, acrylates/c10- 30 alkyl acrylate cross polymer, carbomer

mineral oils and silicones

Mineral oils are cheap petroleum products which are often the basis of personal care products. They coat the skin and clog pores. Silicones and mineral oils give the impression of beautifully soft skin, but they do not contain active ingredients that actually care for the skin. We opt for vegetable oils, a natural alternative, for its nourishing effect.

This is how you recognize the no-gos: dimethicone, methicone, dimethiconol, paraffin, vaseline, petrolatum, paraffinum liquidum

perfume & dyes

When people “test” a product, the smell is the first thing they notice. But perfume can be irritating, and when combined with the sun can even cause brown spots. Our products owe their scent exclusively to pure essential oils from real plants, herbs, and fruits. Dyes can be recognized by the abbreviation CI. If you see this, note that the dye is used to give the impression that a particular oil or butter is present.

This is how you recognize the no-gos: perfume, fragrance, CI (+ number)