BAD INGREDIENTS

[Chasenkrs]

It baffles me how many moisturizer, eye creams and SPFS that have alcohol and fragrance (ITS HORRIBLE). What are some of your favorite skin care products without chemicals, dyes, fragrance and alcohols? I am loving first aid beauty and the ordinary products!

[samesandy]

I’ve recently become a ride or die DE fan. And I’ve been reading brought ingredients in other brands items so much more! It is really hard to find other things without alcohol, silicones, fragrance, and essential oils!

[k617]

To actually answer your question, now that I think I know what you're asking, one of my favourite brands of skincare not already listed is Herbivore. If you like plant-derived ingredients, this brand uses a lot of it. And they do not add fragrance to their products - the scent comes naturally from beneficial ingredients and not added fragrance, or just as bad, essential oils. I've tried 5 out of the 17 products available on Sephora, and would repurchase (or have repurchased) every single one of them. 

[pocketvenus]

I'm guessing the poster is looking for high performance brands free of carcinogens and petrochemicals and the like. I agree, The Ordinary has some great products. I also like pure + simple, which is based in Toronto. It's very affordable and the Vitamin C serum definitely produced results for me with smoother, even skin. I also liked REN's cleansers and masks before I switched over to p + s. I have also been using Martina Gebhart's (based in Germany) salvia facial lotion for years as it is light but very moisturizing.

[Susubee]

Ooo. I'll have to check out the Martina Gebhardt! I've been trying to cut out -cones for skincare, but it's really overwhelming (hence why I'm starting with skincare before makeup, since it seems they are everywhere in everything). Have you tried any of her other products?

[pocketvenus]

@Susubee  I have not used anything else on an ongoing basis. I obtained samples of other product years ago when I was in Germany and remember liking them. But the line is difficult to obtain in Toronto so I didn't want to get attached!!!

[Sonny4President]

Is water a chemical? It's my favorite skincare treatment especially in the morning 

[6come6]

Hi. I like FAB products as well. The products I use from Belif seems to have non-irritating ingredients. Origins seems to be pretty friendly, too. I started using a face wash from Pacifica Beauty, sold at Target, and am happy with its delivery and ingredients. 😊

[k617]

The Ordinary is basically a line of no-frills products made up of mostly...chemicals. 

Glycolic acid, lactic acid, retinol, l-ascorbic acid, hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, niacinamide, water, oil...those are all technically chemicals.

What do you mean by "no chemicals", exactly?

edit: not being cheeky or sarcastic. Genuinely trying to clarify what you mean so we can continue with the discussion. 

[Chasenkrs]

Everything you named are aha/bha acids that are derived from most plants and not chemicals...

[k617]

No, @Chasenkrs. Only lactic and glycolic acids are AHA's. Nothing else I listed fall within those categories.

Also, some of these things can be lab created. They do not need to be naturally derived from plants. 

So, you are concerned about "synthetic chemicals" or specific irritating ingredients, I take it. But we cannot have a conversation about this unless you specify. 

There's this whole misconception that "chemicals" are bad for you. It's as misinformed to think that "natural" flavourings are better than artificial flavourings, and that just because it's "natural", it's good. 

Edit: and now that I've read @Susubee's post, I pretty much just repeated what she said! I am also in science, specifically chemical engineering - so I'm going to be picky about terminology too, sorry.

[Drounz]

Scientist #3 concurs... (Why are we all on that post by the way???)

[Susubee]

@Chasenkrs As someone who studies plants, I regret to inform you that those are in fact, chemicals. Are you instead asking for recommendations for -cone free? Paraben free? Sulfate free? Which chemicals are bad, and which chemicals are good by your definition?

(And I apologize for sounding nitpicky, but for someone with a background in science, it's a pet peeve of mine for people to use the word chemical as a pejorative when literally everything is chemicals.)

((And can I also add that just because something is natural, it does not mean that it is safe/safer/better for you.)) 

[Drounz]

I agree with you entirely, but did not want to post because I thought it could be taken the wrong way to correct the question, or ask for a more accurate description of what the big "no-no's" were. 

(PS: it's funny because AHA/BHA are used for chemical exfoliation. Like literally. Maybe not "funny ha ha" but you know what I mean)

(Another unrelated PS: I only started to post here yesterday and wanted to let people know that I am not a native English speaker and that it is totally okay to correct my mistakes or ask me to clarify if I don't make sense)

[k617]

If asked in good intentions, there's nothing wrong about that @Drounz 🙂 Welcome!

Companies out there mislead consumers to push their own product. I think as scientists, we're obligated to point out things like these to make sure everyone makes informed decisions. I'm as miffed by the whole "chemicals" thing as much as I am with the "natural vs artificial" aspect when it comes to food flavourings! 

[Drounz]

I couldn't agree more
I guess I just don't wanna offend anybody
I always feel like I am not conveying things as subtly in English as I would in French...

[Susubee]

@k617 Dihydrogen monoxide? 😉

[k617]

Warning: may cause you to want to use the bathroom! @Susubee