The BYROE Approach To Clean Skincare

This one was a no brainer for us. Without a doubt, you can make clean, beautiful products without hurting animals. We love animals just as much as the next person. In fact, our Founder Amy Roe has three Pomeranians that she is obsessed with, so we would never want to put any animal in harm’s way. We remain dedicated to being a brand that is and will always be cruelty-free.

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent that is typically used in antibacterial formulations like hand soap or other cleaning products. It was actually banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016in over-the-counter (OTC) antiseptic products and companies are not able to use it due to the lack of sufficient research on its safety and effectiveness. This ruling came as a result of research that suggested that Triclosan and other ingredients like it could potentially cause hormonal disruption and other adverse health effects.

When it comes to skincare, this ingredient could previously be found in face cleansers especially those that are targeted to prevent and treat acne. We are dedicated to creating incredibly nourishing yet effective skincare formulas so it was important for us to avoid using anything that could be potentially harmful. When it comes to skincare, we like to err on the side of “better safe than sorry.” But, we are always open to new research, new opinions, and new approaches.

Parabens are chemicals that work to artificially preserve cosmetics and other pharmaceuticals. You can typically find parabens in all sorts of products from face cleansers and moisturizers to shampoo, conditioners, and other body products. While they are effective at preserving products and preventing the growth of bad bacteria, EWG suggests research can be linked between parabens and potential endocrine disruption and reproductive harm. While this is incredibly worrying, we would like to point out that most of this research has been on rats and not on human beings so there are always varying points of view on this subject. There are many that suggest that parabens are perfectly safe to use and currently the FDA has not banned their use in products.

As a brand, we decided it wasn’t worth the risk to use a potentially harmful ingredient in our products. Plus, we are able to effectively preserve without these chemicals and keep our formulations as clean as possible.  

Benzophenone is an organic compound that is typically used in cosmetic and consumer formulations and packaging to protect it from UV-light. More commonly, Oxybenzone is a derivative of Benzophenone and is used in sunscreen formulations as an effective UV filter. This ingredient was recently banned in Hawaii as there is research to suggest that benzophenones can potentially be harmful to coral reef and other marine life.

The issues with this ingredient are two-fold as we are always a cruelty-free first brand, it is important for us to protect all forms of animal life including the coral reef and marine ecosystem. But, there is also research from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that has suggested this ingredient could be potentially harmful in humans causing endocrine and hormone disruption. We have decided that it wasn’t worth the risk or rather a potential risk it can pose so we have firmly decided to avoid using this ingredient and its derivatives in our products.

Believe it or not, phthalates are traditionally used in plastics and vinyl in order to soften them and increase their durability. So, how do they play a role in consumer and cosmetic goods? Well, you can usually find these ingredients in all sorts of cosmetic goods including nail polishes, face moisturizers, and detergents as an additive to lubricate or soften the formula.

The use of phthalates has been researched and suggested to cause endocrine and hormone disruption in women and is particularly hazardous to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. It’s important to keep in mind that phthalates are referring to a large number of compounds and not all of them have been deemed risky or potentially hazardous. But, we have decided as a brand to be extremely cautious and avoid all forms of phthalates while further research is being conducted.

Mineral oil is a rich, occlusive emollient that is used in tons of cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulas. It’s great for simultaneously locking in moisture, preventing water loss, and improving barrier function. While there are some positive benefits to this ingredient, we don’t find it to be as cosmetically elegant or effective compared to other ingredients which is why we chose to avoid it.

Mineral oil works incredibly well for a large majority of people but like any other ingredient, those with acne-prone skin can have an adverse reaction. In an effort to make our products as customer-friendly as possible, we wanted to avoid anything that could potentially clog pores and cause acne. There are plenty of alternative hydrators that can provide the same amount of moisture along with a slew of other skincare benefits. We like to include ingredients that are multi-functional and can provide a variety of skincare benefits rather than looking towards more one-note, one function ingredients.