INGREDIENTS WE REFUSE TO USE & WHY
RevealingSelf™
Skincare with Nothing to Hide
Every RevealingSelf™ product is governed by the S.T.R.U.C.T.U.R.E.™ Standard, the framework that defines ingredient safety, ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and transparent formulation.
Many skincare brands claim to be clean, natural, vegan, or safe while continuing to rely on questionable preservatives, allergenic fragrance systems, silicone illusion ingredients, agricultural residues, and other materials that do not reflect true ingredient integrity.
RevealingSelf™ takes a different approach.
Our ingredient exclusion policies exist to support skin barrier health, long-term skin structure, responsible sourcing, and complete transparency.
The ingredient exclusions listed on this page are enforced under the S.T.R.U.C.T.U.R.E.™ Standard.
Governed Documents
Table of Contents
- 1. Agricultural Chemicals
- 2. Animal Products and Animal Byproducts
- 3. Barrier-Disrupting Alcohols
- 4. Silicone Film Polymers
- 5. Optical Blurring Polymers
- 6. Phototoxic Citrus Oils
- 7. Fragrance Allergens
- 8. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
- 9. Phthalates
- 10. PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)
- 11. Ethanolamines
- 12. Heavy Metal Contamination
- 13. Independent Safety Research
- 14. The Standard
1. Agricultural Chemicals
Plant ingredients used in cosmetics are often grown using agricultural chemicals that can leave pesticide or herbicide residues behind.
RevealingSelf™ requires plant-derived ingredients to be sourced to ensure they are free from pesticide and herbicide contamination.
2. Animal Products and Animal Byproducts
Many skincare products rely on ingredients derived from animals or animal processing byproducts.
Examples include:
- +Beeswax
- +Lanolin
- +Collagen
- +Elastin
- +Keratin
- +Snail mucin
- +Carmine
RevealingSelf™ formulations are built from plant-derived ingredients.
3. Barrier-Disrupting Alcohols
Examples include:
- +Alcohol Denat.
- +SD Alcohol 40
- +Isopropyl Alcohol
These ingredients are often used to create fast-drying textures but may weaken the skin barrier and increase transepidermal water loss.
4. Silicone Film Polymers
Examples include:
- +Dimethicone
- +Cyclopentasiloxane
- +Cyclohexasiloxane
- +Polysilicone-11
These ingredients are commonly used to create a smooth feel or blur surface irregularities, but they primarily produce cosmetic effects rather than improving skin biology.
5. Optical Blurring Polymers
Examples include:
- +Acrylates Crosspolymers
- +PMMA
- +Nylon Powders
These materials scatter light to temporarily blur pores and wrinkles rather than supporting real skin improvement.
6. Phototoxic Citrus Oils
Examples include:
- +Bergamot Oil
- +Orange Oil
- +Lemon Oil
- +Lime Oil
Certain citrus oils may increase photosensitivity and can oxidize quickly, increasing irritation risk.
7. Fragrance Allergens
Examples include:
- +Limonene
- +Linalool
- +Citral
- +Geraniol
- +Eugenol
Fragrance allergens are among the most common causes of cosmetic skin reactions and sensitivities.
8. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
Examples include:
- +DMDM Hydantoin
- +Quaternium-15
- +Diazolidinyl Urea
- +Imidazolidinyl Urea
These preservatives may release formaldehyde over time and have raised long-standing safety concerns.
9. Phthalates
Examples include:
- +Diethyl Phthalate (DEP)
- +Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
Phthalates are commonly used in fragrance systems but have been widely studied for potential endocrine-disrupting effects.
10. PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)
Examples include:
- +PTFE
- +Perfluorinated compounds
These chemicals persist in the environment and accumulate in biological systems.
11. Ethanolamines
Examples include:
- +DEA
- +MEA
- +TEA
Under certain conditions these ingredients may form nitrosamines, compounds associated with potential carcinogenic risk.
12. Heavy Metal Contamination
Examples include:
- +Lead
- +Mercury
- +Cadmium
Heavy metals sometimes appear as impurities in pigments or mineral ingredients. RevealingSelf™ prioritizes sourcing standards designed to minimize contamination risk.
13. Independent Safety Research
RevealingSelf™ continuously reviews dermatological research and independent ingredient safety resources.
One such resource is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics chemical database:
View the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics chemical database →
14. The Standard
These ingredient exclusions are part of the governing framework applied across all RevealingSelf™ products.
They support:
- +ingredient safety
- +formulation integrity
- +ethical sourcing
- +environmental responsibility
- +transparent formulation
- +long-term skin health
Read the S.T.R.U.C.T.U.R.E.™ Standard →
RevealingSelf™
Skincare with Nothing to Hide
Contact
If you have questions regarding these Terms or our Privacy Policy please contact:
info@revealingself.com
Thank you for supporting RevealingSelf™ — skincare with nothing to hide.
info@RevealingSelf.com
Middletwon, DE 19709