our vetting process
One bar. No exceptions.
Every brand and every product on our shelves is held to the same standard, whether it's a household name or a tiny indie maker. We don't grade on a curve, and we don't make exceptions for popularity.
That means the work happens before anything reaches you: researching ingredients, checking certifications, and reading the fine print so you don't have to become an expert just to make a better choice.
why it matters
Why clean matters
What you put on your skin and bring into your home adds up over a lifetime. A higher bar isn't fussy, it's the simplest way to lower your everyday exposure.
01
Your skin drinks it in
Skin is the body's largest organ. What you apply doesn't just sit on top, much of it is absorbed, so the ingredients matter.
02
Exposure adds up
No single product is the whole story. It's the daily stack, cleanser, lotion, laundry, cleaning spray, that quietly accumulates over years.
03
The rules haven't kept up
Regulation moves slowly and leaves big gaps. “Clean,” “natural,” and “non-toxic” aren't policed, so the standard has to come from somewhere.
the vetting process
How a product earns its spot
Four checkpoints, every time. Nothing reaches the shelf until it clears all of them.
-
Ingredient screening
We read the full ingredient list and screen it against known toxins, irritants, and unnecessary fillers, not just the marketing on the front.
-
Third-party verification
Where it exists, we look for independent certification. MADE SAFE®, EWG, USDA Organic and more, so the standard isn't just our word.
-
Sourcing and transparency
We weigh how a product is made and packaged, and favor brands that are open about their supply chain and willing to answer hard questions.
-
Performance and ongoing review
Clean has to actually work. We test, listen to real customer feedback, and re-review products over time, anything that slips can be removed.
the no-list
What we never allow
These are categories of ingredients we won't allow in the marketplace. Some of them have long lists of complicated names, and this is the vetting we do for you.
Twenty-eight categories, and the reason for each one. Tap any of them.
Parabens
methylparaben · propylparaben · butylparaben · ethylparaben · isobutylparaben
why it's out
Cheap synthetic preservatives that extend shelf life. They absorb through skin and have been detected in human tissue, and several act as weak estrogen mimics — the EU restricted propyl- and butylparaben in leave-on products for children under three. The evidence on real-world harm is genuinely mixed. But effective alternatives exist, so there's no reason to make our customers carry the debate.
Phthalates
DBP · DEHP · DEP · most often hidden inside the word "fragrance"
why it's out
Plasticizers that make fragrance last longer and formulas stay flexible. They're endocrine disruptors with documented reproductive effects, and several are banned outright in EU cosmetics. The reason they're hard to rule out is that they're legally allowed to hide inside an undisclosed fragrance blend. Every blend in our catalog is either third-party reviewed or covered by a written supplier declaration, which is why we can say this flatly.
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
DMDM hydantoin · quaternium-15 · imidazolidinyl urea · diazolidinyl urea · bronopol · sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
why it's out
These preserve a product by slowly releasing formaldehyde into it. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis. The releasers never appear on a label as "formaldehyde," which is exactly why they need naming — you can read the full ingredient list and never know it's there.
PEG compounds
any ingredient beginning PEG- followed by a number · polyethylene glycol
why it's out
PEGs themselves aren't especially hazardous. The problem is how they're made: ethoxylation can leave behind 1,4-dioxane, a probable human carcinogen, and ethylene oxide, a known one. Residue levels vary by supplier and are never disclosed on a label. We'd rather not depend on someone else's purification step.
Polysorbates
polysorbate 20 · polysorbate 60 · polysorbate 80 · PEG-20 sorbitan monolaurate
why it's out
Solubilizers that let oils disperse in water — common in sprays, mists and anything scented with essential oils in a water base. They're made by ethoxylation, so they carry the same 1,4-dioxane residue risk as PEGs. We carried five products containing polysorbate 20 until September 2026, when we delisted them rather than keep the exception.
Ethoxylated ingredients
anything ending -eth (laureth, ceteareth, steareth, trideceth) · ethoxylated propoxylated alkyls
why it's out
This is the process behind the two categories above, and the reason both are on this list. Ethoxylation uses ethylene oxide — a known human carcinogen — and can leave behind 1,4-dioxane, a probable one. Neither has to be declared on a label. We hold the whole family out rather than trust an undisclosed purification step. Note we're claiming no ethoxylated ingredients, verified from ingredient lists — not zero 1,4-dioxane, which would require lab testing we don't do.
DEA, TEA and MEA compounds
cocamide DEA · cocamide MEA · lauramide DEA · triethanolamine · diethanolamine
why it's out
Foaming agents and pH adjusters that can react with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, a class of compounds strongly associated with cancer. Cocamide DEA is classified as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. We carried one cleaning product containing cocamide MEA and discontinued it in September 2026.
BHA and BHT
butylated hydroxyanisole · butylated hydroxytoluene
why it's out
Synthetic antioxidants that stop oils going rancid. BHA is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and disrupts hormones in animal studies. BHT is the milder relative but accumulates in the body. Vitamin E does the same job.
Petrolatum, mineral oil and paraffin
petroleum jelly · liquid paraffinum · paraffin wax · white mineral oil
why it's out
Petroleum distillates used as inexpensive occlusives — they sit on skin and slow water loss. Cosmetic grades are refined, but less-refined grades can carry polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the refinement level isn't something you can read off a label. Plant butters and oils do the same work with a traceable origin.
Isothiazolinone preservatives
methylisothiazolinone (MIT) · methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT) · benzisothiazolinone (BIT)
why it's out
Among the most potent contact allergens in personal care. The American Contact Dermatitis Society named MIT its Allergen of the Year in 2013 after a wave of sensitization cases, and the EU has since banned it outright from leave-on products.
Retinol and retinyl esters
retinol · retinyl palmitate · retinyl acetate · retinyl propionate · retinaldehyde · hydroxypinacolone retinoate · tretinoin · adapalene
why it's out
Genuinely effective anti-aging actives — this one isn't about toxicity. Retinoids increase sun sensitivity, cause irritation on developing skin, and carry pregnancy contraindications. For a marketplace serving teenagers and pregnant customers, the risk-to-benefit doesn't hold, so we don't stock them at any strength, in any product, for anyone.
Hydroquinone
hydroquinone
why it's out
A skin-lightening agent that works by suppressing melanin production. Banned for cosmetic use in the EU and linked to ochronosis — permanent blue-black discoloration — with prolonged use. Setting the safety question aside, we're not in the business of selling skin lightening.
Chemical UV filters
oxybenzone · octinoxate · homosalate · octocrylene · avobenzone · octisalate
why it's out
These absorb into the bloodstream at concentrations the FDA has said require further safety data before they can be deemed generally safe. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are also implicated in coral bleaching and are banned in Hawaii, Key West and Palau. Every sunscreen we carry uses non-nano zinc oxide instead.
Talc
talc · talcum powder · magnesium silicate
why it's out
Talc forms alongside asbestos underground, and cosmetic talc has repeatedly tested positive for asbestos contamination — testing still isn't federally mandated in the US. Talc's only job is absorbency and slip, and cornstarch, arrowroot and silica do it without the geology problem.
Coal tar and synthetic dyes
FD&C and D&C colorants · lake dyes · aminophenol · phenylenediamine
why it's out
Petroleum-derived colorants, several associated with allergic reaction and, in animal studies, with tumor formation. They exist to make a product look more appealing on a shelf, which is the weakest justification an ingredient can have. Our color comes from minerals, clays and plants.
PFAS and fluorinated compounds
PTFE · perfluorodecalin · polyperfluoromethylisopropyl ether · anything containing "fluoro" or "perfluoro"
why it's out
Used in cosmetics for slip and long wear. They do not break down — the reason they're called forever chemicals — and accumulate in blood over a lifetime, with associations to thyroid disruption, immune suppression and certain cancers. Nothing they do for a formula is worth that. Note synthetic fluorphlogopite, a lab-grown mica, is not a PFAS: it has no carbon-fluorine bonds, and we permit it.
Triclosan and triclocarban
triclosan · triclocarban
why it's out
Antimicrobials the FDA banned from consumer hand soap in 2016, after manufacturers could not show they worked better than plain soap or were safe for daily long-term use. Both are endocrine disruptors and both contribute to antibiotic resistance. Still permitted in toothpaste and some cosmetics, which is why we name them.
Antibacterials and antimicrobials we exclude
benzalkonium chloride · benzethonium chloride · polyaminopropyl biguanide (PHMB) · chloroxylenol · chlorhexidine digluconate · colloidal silver · zinc pyrithione
why it's out
Preservatives and disinfectants that kill bacteria indiscriminately, including the skin microbiome that keeps you healthy. PHMB is classified a Category 2 carcinogen by the European Chemicals Agency and restricted to 0.1% in the EU; benzalkonium chloride is a known respiratory sensitizer. Both also drive antimicrobial resistance. Wipes are where these show up most, which matters because wipes are marketed hardest at teenagers.
Synthetic fragrance
parfum · fragrance · aroma · undisclosed synthetic aroma chemicals
why it's out
A single word on a label can legally stand in for dozens of undisclosed chemicals, and fragrance is the leading cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis. Nothing we carry uses a synthetic fragrance blend. To be clear about what this does not mean: we are not a fragrance-free marketplace. Roughly 80% of what we sell is scented with essential oils, and if you're sensitive to those, that's worth knowing before you buy.
Synthetic musks
galaxolide (HHCB) · tonalide (AHTN) · hexamethylindanopyran · musk ketone · musk xylene
why it's out
Fragrance fixatives that make a scent linger for hours. They're bioaccumulative — turning up in human breast milk, in freshwater fish, and in Arctic sediment — and several are suspected hormone disruptors. They're also the single most common thing hiding behind a proprietary blend, since a fixative has no scent of its own to give it away.
Sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate
SLS · SLES · sodium dodecyl sulfate
why it's out
Harsh detergents that strip the skin barrier, and among the most common causes of irritation and contact dermatitis in cleansers. SLES is additionally ethoxylated, which puts it in the 1,4-dioxane category above. We say sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate rather than "sulfate-free" on purpose — see what we don't ban, below.
EDTA and synthetic chelators
tetrasodium EDTA · disodium EDTA · trisodium NTA
why it's out
Water softeners that stop minerals interfering with a formula. EDTA resists biodegradation, persists in waterways, and remobilizes heavy metals from sediment once it gets there. We carried two cleaning products with tetrasodium EDTA and delisted both in September 2026, since the alternatives already in our catalog do the same job with citrate.
Industrial solvents
benzene · toluene · xylene · dichloromethane · 2-butoxyethanol · methyl cellosolve · methyl methacrylate · ethyl methacrylate · benzotriazole · triphenyl phosphate
why it's out
Solvents used to dissolve, thin or strip. They belong in a factory, not on skin. Every one is a known or probable carcinogen, a reproductive toxicant, or a neurotoxicant at working exposure, and none has a cosmetic function a safer solvent cannot do. They turn up in nail products, hair straighteners and cheap imported cosmetics.
Heavy metals
lead · lead acetate · mercury · thimerosal · phenyl mercuric acetate · cadmium · arsenic · nickel
why it's out
You will not see these on an ingredient list, which is exactly the problem. They arrive as contaminants of talc, mica, iron oxides and clays rather than as declared ingredients. All are neurotoxicants or sensitisers with no safe cosmetic use. The honest limit of our screen: we verify ingredient lists and rely on supplier documentation here, because we do not run mass spectrometry.
Plastic microbeads and film-formers
polyethylene microbeads · polypropylene microbeads · acrylamide · polyacrylamide
why it's out
Solid plastic particles used as scrub beads, and plastic films used for hold and wear. Banned from rinse-off scrubs in the US since 2015 and still legal everywhere else in cosmetics. They do not break down, they pass straight through water treatment, and they are eaten by the things we eat.
Aerosol propellants
butane · isobutane · propane
why it's out
We do not carry aerosols. The propellant itself is inert on skin, but an aerosol turns any formula into something you inhale, and the fine mist puts particles into your lungs that were only ever tested on skin. It is also the least recyclable format in personal care.
Other synthetic preservatives we exclude
chlorphenesin · iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC)
why it's out
Synthetic preservatives that are neither parabens, formaldehyde-releasers nor isothiazolinones, but which we still decline. Each is EU-restricted, a documented sensitiser, or both, and each has a well-proven alternative that costs a formulator almost nothing. Chlorphenesin and IPBC are common in imported skincare.
Cyclic silicones
cyclopentasiloxane (D5) · cyclohexasiloxane (D6) · octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) · cyclomethicone
why it's out
We permit linear silicones like dimethicone and we say so. The cyclic ones are different: D4 and D5 are classified persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic in the EU, restricted in rinse-off products since 2020, and they do not break down in waterways. This is the one place in the silicone family where we draw a hard line, and it is why we never claim to be silicone-free.
Not hazard findings. Judgment calls we make for the whole shelf, and we say so rather than dressing them up as safety.
Aluminum salts
aluminum chlorohydrate · aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly · aluminum sesquichlorohydrate · aluminum chloride
why it's out
We want to be honest here: the breast cancer link is not well supported by the evidence, and we are not going to claim it is. We don't stock them for a simpler reason. We don't think blocking a normal bodily function is what a deodorant should do, and every deodorant we carry works without it.
Benzoyl peroxide
benzoyl peroxide
why it's out
We don't carry it, and we want to be straight about why: it's an effective drug, not a dangerous ingredient. It's a synthetic oxidiser that bleaches fabric, dries skin hard, and has drawn recent scrutiny over benzene formation in products stored warm. If what we sell isn't getting you there, benzoyl peroxide from a pharmacy is a reasonable next step.
Artificial sweeteners
aspartame · sucralose · saccharin · acesulfame-potassium · high fructose corn syrup
why it's out
The safety debate on these is genuinely unsettled and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Our objection is narrower and more practical: they exist to make an underwhelming formula palatable. Stevia, monk fruit and xylitol do the job without the argument.
Artificial flavors
artificial flavor · flavour (arôme)
why it's out
A synthetic flavour blend, undisclosed by design, used to make a supplement or an oral-care product palatable. The objection is the same one we make about synthetic fragrance: a single word standing in for a list nobody will show you. Real flavour comes from the fruit, the mint or the vanilla.
Shark-derived squalene and squalane
shark squalene · shark squalane · shark liver oil
why it's out
This is not a human-health exclusion and we are not going to dress it up as one. We are Leaping Bunny certified, and olive-derived squalane does the same job as well or better. There is no reason to stock the shark version of either form. A label will usually just say squalane, so this is a supplier question rather than something you can read off the back of a bottle.
Applies to every brand and every product on the shelf, ours included.
made safe® certifiedThe live free formulas are screened against 15,000+ substances across 34 categories, nearly five times the EU restricted list.
Toxic antibacterials + antimicrobials
benzalkonium chloride · PHMB · chloroxylenol · triclosan · triclocarban
why it's out
Preservatives and disinfectants that kill bacteria indiscriminately, including the skin microbiome that keeps you healthy. PHMB is classified a Category 2 carcinogen by the European Chemicals Agency; benzalkonium chloride is a known respiratory sensitizer. Both also drive antimicrobial resistance. Screened as a class, so a new antimicrobial with an unfamiliar name doesn't get in on a technicality.
Harmful artificial colors + dyes
FD&C and D&C colorants · lake dyes · aminophenol · phenylenediamine
why it's out
Petroleum-derived colorants, several associated with allergic reaction and, in animal studies, with tumor formation. They exist to make a product look more appealing on a shelf, which is the weakest justification an ingredient can have. Our formulas are the color their ingredients are.
Bisphenols
BPA · BPS · BPF — in formula and in packaging
why it's out
Endocrine-disrupting plasticizers. Nothing in our formulas contains them, but bisphenols are primarily a packaging question — they migrate from container linings into the product. This is the one category on this page we're still closing: our component suppliers need to confirm in writing before we make the claim publicly.
Coal tar ingredients
coal tar · aminophenol · phenylenediamine · petroleum distillates
why it's out
A byproduct of coal processing, used historically as a colorant and as an anti-dandruff active, and the origin of several of the synthetic dyes above. It is a recognised human carcinogen and still legal in US cosmetics at limited concentration — which is exactly why it needs naming rather than assuming.
Ethanolamine ingredients
cocamide DEA · cocamide MEA · lauramide DEA · triethanolamine · diethanolamine
why it's out
Foaming agents and pH adjusters that can react with other ingredients in the same bottle to form nitrosamines, a class strongly associated with cancer. Cocamide DEA is classified as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The reaction happens after manufacture, which no ingredient list will show you.
Formaldehyde releasers
DMDM hydantoin · quaternium-15 · imidazolidinyl urea · diazolidinyl urea · bronopol
why it's out
These preserve a product by slowly releasing formaldehyde into it. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis. The releasers never appear on a label as "formaldehyde" — you can read the full ingredient list and never know it's there.
Toxic flame retardants
PBDEs · TDCPP · TCEP · organophosphate flame retardants
why it's out
Not something you'd expect in skincare, and they aren't in ours — but they migrate from packaging, foam and textiles, and MADE SAFE screens them across all product categories. Worth naming so it's on the record.
Fluorinated + PFAS compounds
PTFE · perfluorodecalin · anything containing "fluoro" or "perfluoro"
why it's out
Used in cosmetics for slip and long wear. They do not break down — the reason they're called forever chemicals — and accumulate in blood over a lifetime, with associations to thyroid disruption, immune suppression and certain cancers. Nothing they do for a formula is worth that.
Toxic fragrance ingredients
parfum · fragrance · aroma · undisclosed synthetic aroma chemicals
why it's out
A single word on a label can legally stand in for dozens of undisclosed chemicals, and fragrance is the leading cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis. Our three formulas are fragrance-free — not lightly scented, not naturally scented. There is nothing to disclose.
Heavy metals
lead · arsenic · cadmium · mercury · antimony · nickel — as contaminants, not just added ingredients
why it's out
Heavy metals are rarely added on purpose. They arrive as contaminants in mineral pigments, clays and botanical extracts grown in polluted soil. This is a sourcing and testing question, not a formulation one, which is why third-party testing sits alongside the ingredient screen.
Isothiazolinone preservatives
methylisothiazolinone (MIT) · methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT) · benzisothiazolinone (BIT)
why it's out
Among the most potent contact allergens in personal care. The American Contact Dermatitis Society named MIT its Allergen of the Year in 2013 after a wave of sensitization cases, and the EU has since banned it outright from leave-on products.
Isocyanates
TDI · MDI · HDI
why it's out
Highly reactive compounds used in polyurethanes and adhesives. They are potent respiratory sensitizers and a leading cause of occupational asthma. A packaging and manufacturing screen more than a formula one.
Toxic solvents
toluene · xylene · methylene chloride · 2-butoxyethanol · certain glycol ethers
why it's out
Industrial solvents used to dissolve or thin a formula. Most are volatile, many are neurotoxic on inhalation, and several are on multiple regulators' priority lists. Water and glycerin do this work in our formulas.
Polyethylene glycol compounds (PEGs)
any ingredient beginning PEG- followed by a number · polyethylene glycol
why it's out
PEGs themselves aren't especially hazardous. The problem is how they're made: ethoxylation can leave behind 1,4-dioxane, a probable human carcinogen, and ethylene oxide, a known one. Residue levels vary by supplier and are never disclosed on a label. We'd rather not depend on someone else's purification step.
High-risk pesticides
glyphosate · organophosphates · neonicotinoids · residues on botanical inputs
why it's out
Botanical ingredients carry whatever was sprayed on them. Green tea extract, witch hazel, chamomile and rosehip are only as clean as the fields they came from, which is why sourcing documentation matters as much as the INCI list.
Polysorbates
polysorbate 20 · polysorbate 60 · polysorbate 80 · PEG-20 sorbitan monolaurate
why it's out
Solubilizers that let oils disperse in water — the standard fix for anything scented in a water base. They're made by ethoxylation, so they carry the same 1,4-dioxane residue risk as PEGs. A fragrance-free formula never needs one.
Siloxanes + silanes
dimethicone · cyclopentasiloxane · cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) · triethoxycaprylylsilane
why it's out
The clearest place our own standard exceeds the marketplace. We permit silicones in products we carry, because in a mineral sunscreen a silane coating on the zinc genuinely improves the product. In our own formulas we simply didn't need them — texture comes from jojoba esters, sunflower seed wax and polyglycerin. D4 and D5 are persistent and bioaccumulative in aquatic environments, and the EU restricts D4 and D5 in wash-off cosmetics.
Ecotoxic surfactants
nonylphenol ethoxylates · quaternary ammonium surfactants · sodium coco-sulfate
why it's out
Cleansing agents that persist in waterways and are toxic to aquatic life. Our marketplace standard names SLS and SLES specifically; here we take the whole class. Smooth Sali cleanses with coco-glucoside and decyl glucoside — sugar-derived, readily biodegradable, and gentle enough for daily use on teenage skin.
Paraffin oil, wax, petrolatum + liquid paraffinum
petroleum jelly · liquid paraffinum · paraffin wax · white mineral oil
why it's out
Petroleum distillates used as inexpensive occlusives — they sit on skin and slow water loss. Cosmetic grades are refined, but less-refined grades can carry polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and the refinement level isn't something you can read off a label. Plant butters and oils do the same work with a traceable origin.
Parabens
methylparaben · propylparaben · butylparaben · ethylparaben · isobutylparaben
why it's out
Cheap synthetic preservatives that extend shelf life. They absorb through skin and have been detected in human tissue, and several act as weak estrogen mimics — the EU restricted propyl- and butylparaben in leave-on products for children under three. The evidence on real-world harm is genuinely mixed. But effective alternatives exist, so there's no reason to make a teenager carry the debate.
Phthalates
DBP · DEHP · DEP · most often hidden inside the word "fragrance"
why it's out
Plasticizers that make fragrance last longer and formulas stay flexible. They're endocrine disruptors with documented reproductive effects, and several are banned outright in EU cosmetics. They're legally allowed to hide inside an undisclosed fragrance blend — which is the other reason our formulas are fragrance-free.
Silver compounds
silver citrate · silver oxide · colloidal silver · nanosilver
why it's out
Antimicrobial silver, used as a preservative and often marketed as a purity feature. It is toxic to aquatic life at very low concentrations, accumulates in sediment, and its spread through consumer products contributes to bacterial resistance. A preservative shouldn't be the most persistent thing in the bottle.
Synthetic musks
galaxolide (HHCB) · tonalide (AHTN) · musk ketone · musk xylene
why it's out
Fragrance fixatives that make a scent linger for hours. They're bioaccumulative — turning up in human breast milk, in freshwater fish, and in Arctic sediment — and several are suspected hormone disruptors. They're also the single most common thing hiding behind a proprietary blend, since a fixative has no scent of its own to give it away.
Harmful UV blockers + filters
oxybenzone · octinoxate · homosalate · octocrylene · avobenzone · octisalate
why it's out
These absorb into the bloodstream at concentrations the FDA has said require further safety data before they can be deemed generally safe. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are also implicated in coral bleaching and are banned in Hawaii, Key West and Palau. Non-nano zinc oxide is the only filter we'd ever formulate with.
Harmful VOCs
volatile organic compounds contributing to indoor air pollution
why it's out
Compounds that evaporate at room temperature and accumulate in indoor air. They're the reason a fragranced product affects more than the person wearing it. Our formulas are fragrance-free, which removes the largest single source.
Carcinogens
known, probable and possible human carcinogens per IARC, NTP and Prop 65
why it's out
We exclude any ingredient classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the National Toxicology Program, or California Proposition 65 — including those where the classification is "probable" or "possible" rather than confirmed. Waiting for certainty on a cancer question is not a standard.
Chemicals of high concern
ChemSec SIN List · EU SVHC · Washington State CHCC · California Safer Consumer Products
why it's out
A cross-reference category rather than a chemical family. If a regulator or scientific body anywhere has flagged an ingredient as a substance of very high concern, we treat that as disqualifying even where it's still legal in the US. American cosmetic regulation is not the benchmark we want to clear.
Endocrine disruptors
bisphenols · benzophenones · resorcinol · butylparaben · triclosan · certain UV filters and plasticizers
why it's out
Chemicals that mimic or block hormones, interfering with the systems that govern development, metabolism and reproduction. This matters more for our customers than most: adolescence is when the endocrine system is doing its most consequential work, and it's the window where exposure has the largest downstream effect. We screen for this as a hazard class, not just as a list of names.
Behavioral toxicants
substances linked to attention, learning and behavioral effects
why it's out
A subset of neurotoxicity that MADE SAFE screens separately, covering ingredients associated with changes in attention, learning and behavior rather than acute nerve damage. The evidence base is younger than for classical neurotoxicity, which is exactly why we'd rather not be in it.
Neurotoxicants
toluene · certain glycol ethers · organophosphates · methylmercury · lead compounds
why it's out
Substances with documented effects on the nervous system. The developing brain continues maturing into the mid-twenties, which makes this category specifically relevant to a product line built for teenagers.
Teratogens
retinoids · certain solvents · thalidomide-class compounds
why it's out
Substances that can cause birth defects. Our marketplace standard already excludes retinol for this reason among others; here we screen the whole class. Relevant to any product a pregnant customer might use, and skincare is used daily without much thought.
Genotoxins
substances that damage DNA or chromosomes
why it's out
Ingredients that cause direct damage to genetic material. Genotoxicity often precedes carcinogenicity, so screening for it catches problems earlier than waiting for a cancer classification.
Endangered species
CITES-listed botanicals · sandalwood · rosewood · agarwood · certain marine ingredients
why it's out
A sourcing ethic rather than a safety screen. Several prized cosmetic botanicals are harvested to the point of endangerment — wild sandalwood and rosewood especially. We don't use them, and we check CITES status on any new botanical input.
Poisonous plants
comfrey (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) · pennyroyal · sassafras · certain botanical extracts
why it's out
"Natural" is not a safety claim. Several traditional botanicals carry real hepatotoxic or abortifacient risk, and a few appear regularly in clean beauty. We screen botanicals on their toxicology, not their marketing.
Aluminum salts
aluminum chlorohydrate · aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly · aluminum sesquichlorohydrate · aluminum chloride
why it's out
We want to be honest here: the breast cancer link is not well supported by the evidence, and we are not going to claim it is. We don't stock them for a simpler reason. We don't think blocking a normal bodily function is what a deodorant should do, and every deodorant we carry works without it.
Benzoyl peroxide
benzoyl peroxide
why it's out
We don't carry it, and we want to be straight about why: it's an effective drug, not a dangerous ingredient. It's a synthetic oxidiser that bleaches fabric, dries skin hard, and has drawn recent scrutiny over benzene formation in products stored warm. If what we sell isn't getting you there, benzoyl peroxide from a pharmacy is a reasonable next step.
Artificial sweeteners
aspartame · sucralose · saccharin · acesulfame-potassium · high fructose corn syrup
why it's out
The safety debate on these is genuinely unsettled and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Our objection is narrower and more practical: they exist to make an underwhelming formula palatable. Stevia, monk fruit and xylitol do the job without the argument.
Artificial flavors
artificial flavor · flavour (arôme)
why it's out
A synthetic flavour blend, undisclosed by design, used to make a supplement or an oral-care product palatable. The objection is the same one we make about synthetic fragrance: a single word standing in for a list nobody will show you. Real flavour comes from the fruit, the mint or the vanilla.
Shark-derived squalene and squalane
shark squalene · shark squalane · shark liver oil
why it's out
This is not a human-health exclusion and we are not going to dress it up as one. We are Leaping Bunny certified, and olive-derived squalane does the same job as well or better. There is no reason to stock the shark version of either form. A label will usually just say squalane, so this is a supplier question rather than something you can read off the back of a bottle.
smooth sali, pore magic and moisturose, plus Leaping Bunny, and a bottle that composts at home.
the full Live Free standard →the part nobody publishes
What gets a product taken off the shelf.
-
A reformulation that adds something on the list, whether or not the label changes.
-
A fragrance disclosure we ask for twice and don't get.
-
A certification that lapses and isn't renewed.
-
A claim on the brand's own packaging we can't back up.
certifications we look for
Third parties with no stake in the answer.
Certifications can add a layer of scrutiny on ingredients and manufacturing practices. We like and look for these certifications.
What's in the formula, and how it was tested.
ingredients
MADE SAFE®
what it proves
Screens against 15,000+ substances across 34 categories, and requires disclosure of every substance and process, not just the INCI list. Live Free Skincare holds it, along with Meliora, Kate McLeod, Clary Collection, Annmarie and True Botanicals.
the catch
It's a paid audit, so absence doesn't mean a brand is dirty, it often just means small.
ingredients
National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance
what it proves
The only seal requiring third-party human clinical irritation data alongside the full formula with exact concentrations. For sensitive, blemish-prone teen skin this is the most on-point credential that exists.
the catch
Almost no "clean" claim involves testing on actual skin, most are document reviews. This is why this certification is valuable.
ingredients
EWG Verified
what it proves
Document review including actual ingredient concentrations, not just presence. ATTITUDE, JackFir, Talent, Knours., Three Ships and Green Llama carry it.
the catch
The screen is hazard-based rather than dose-based, so it can flag an ingredient that's perfectly safe at the level actually used.
ingredients
USDA Organic
what it proves
Four tiers, each meaning something different, we specify which one, per product.
the catch
Water and minerals never count toward organic content, so a serum at 22% organic can be fully compliant while a waterless oil hits nearly 100%. The percentage is not a quality score.
ingredients
Leaping Bunny
what it proves
The only animal-testing mark with a fixed cut-off date, a full supplier declaration chain, an independent audit, and a China policy requiring recall rather than testing. Live Free holds it, plus Meliora, Rituel de Fille and Green Llama.
the catch
Leaping Bunny states outright that it is not a vegan certifier. Certified products can contain animal ingredients.
ingredients
Certified Vegan
what it proves
Reviews every ingredient and sub-ingredient for animal derivation, precisely the gap Leaping Bunny leaves open.
the catch
"Vegan" on a label is an unregulated word anyone can print. Only the certification mark means somebody checked.
Apparel, merch and fabric goods. Neither of these certifies a formula.
textiles
GOTS
what it proves
The stronger of the two: organic fiber content, chemical inputs, wastewater treatment and labor conditions, audited across the entire chain.
the catch
A compliant claim needs logo, grade, certifier reference and certification number.
textiles
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 / MADE IN GREEN
what it proves
STANDARD 100 lab-tests the finished garment for harmful substances. MADE IN GREEN adds audited production facilities and a traceable product ID a customer can look up.
the catch
STANDARD 100 says nothing about organic content, fiber source or labor, it's a chemical safety test, not a sustainability standard.
The box, the tube, the mailer. This is the section customers most often misread.
packaging and shipping
FSC® Certified
what it proves
Responsibly managed forests with an audited chain of custody from forest to finished carton. We ship in FSC certified containers.
the catch
FSC certifies the paper, not the product. However, paper is widely used across many facets of product manufacturing and delivery, which is why we look for FSC certified secondary packaging.
packaging and shipping
TÜV Austria OK compost HOME
what it proves
The hardest packaging claim to earn. Certifies breakdown in a backyard compost pile at ambient temperature, no industrial facility, no 55°C heat, no municipal collection.
the catch
"Compostable" almost always means industrially compostable, requiring a facility most people can't access. BPI certification in the US is industrial-only. And "biodegradable" on its own, with no standard behind it, means nothing at all.
Not certifications. Work a brand chose to do, with receipts we require.
practices we verify
Third-party tested
what we require
The umbrella the next three sit under. We ask for four things: a named ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab with its accreditation number, a lot number matching the product in hand, the analyte scope and limits, and who pulled the sample.
worth teaching
"Third-party tested" isn't a defined term, so it can mean a lot or a little depending on the brand. The four details above are what make it meaningful.
practices we verify
Heavy metals tested
what we require
Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury. Most relevant for mineral pigments, clays and botanicals grown in polluted soil.
worth teaching
Metals arrive as contaminants rather than ingredients, so an ingredient list can't tell you.
practices we verify
Mycotoxin tested
what we require
Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and ochratoxin A at minimum, benchmarked to EU Reg. 2023/915 rather than FDA's single 20 ppb aflatoxin action level.
worth teaching
No mycotoxin certification exists anywhere in the world, and USDA Organic does not test for them, which is exactly why a brand doing it voluntarily deserves the callout.
practices we verify
Non-nano verified
what we require
Particle size documented by the supplier. Applies to every mineral sunscreen we carry.
practices we verify
Full COA published
what we require
Customer-accessible, ideally by QR on pack.
worth teaching
Every seal above is something a brand bought. This is the only place a customer sees the actual result.
live free
The line that raises the bar
Live Free is the skincare we make ourselves, so we hold it to an even stricter standard than the rest of the shelf. Here's what that looks like.
MADE SAFE® certified
Independently screened against thousands of known harmful ingredients.
Bio-based, home-compostable bottles
Plant-based packaging that breaks down at home, no plastic to land in a landfill.
Deadstock and reusable bundling
We bundle our sets in items you can repurpose and take everywhere you live free.
FSC-certified shipping
Mailers and shipping materials from responsibly managed, recyclable sources.
sustainability
Built into how we ship
Clean shouldn't stop at the ingredient list. Lower-impact packaging and shipping are part of the standard across the whole shelf.
Low-waste packaging
Plastic-free, plant-based, and recyclable materials wherever possible, less to throw away, less to break down.
Sustainable bundling
When it comes to our own products we like to utilize lower-waste labeling and repurposable items to bundle sets together.
Consolidated delivery
We group items into fewer boxes and fewer trips, cutting packaging and emissions on the way to you.
where this ends up
Shop with total confidence
You don't have to read the label so closely anymore, we already did. Start with the three steps the whole shelf is built around.
