Our Ingredients' Promise

 

We are proud to formulate and manufacture all of our skincare and most of our make-up in our London laboratory. We strive for innovation and excellence, fusing the best of nature with the latest proven developments in cosmetic science.  The result? Truly unique products that meet the exacting standards of professional make-up artists and which you won’t find anywhere else.

In formulating our range, we are guided by our principles and wish to share these with you in this Ingredients Policy. We have never tested on animals.

Sensitive Skin

We design our entire range with the needs of sensitive skin in mind and avoid most common irritants, however we do selectively use natural fragrance and certain chemical preservatives. We are free from parabens and methylisothiazolinone.

We only use pure distilled water, that is free from the chlorine and other impurities found in tap water.

Check out Fragrance-free and Preservative-free make-up options in the Shop By Edit section. 

If there is another ingredient troubling you, please contact our lab team to select the products most suitable for you. We can also reformulate our products without the offending ingredient, where possible. Please contact us for a bespoke quote.

If you have sensitivities but aren’t sure about the cause, we recommend a patch test conducted by a dermatologist to identify the problem substances.

Free From

Our products are free from:

• Parabens
  • Exception: Brow Ink
• Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulphate(SLS/SLES)
• Palm Oil
  • Exception: Intense Volume Mascara, which contains Palmitic Acid, a derivative of Palm Oil
• Denatured Alcohol
• Phthalates
• BPA
• PTFE and other PFAS/fluoropolymers
• Nylon-66 - used in Fiber Mascaras to lengthen lashes but condemned by opthalmologists for risk of cornea damage
• Plastic microbeads
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
• Methylisothiazolinone / Methylchloroisothiazolinone
• Aluminium and compounds eg Aluminium Chlorhydrate
• BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
• BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
• EDTA
• Retinoids/Vitamin A/Retinyl Palmitate
• Formaldehyde
• Hydroquinone
• Resorcinol
• Toluene
• Triclosan/Triclocarban

Chemical Sunscreens

Broad spectrum SPF (protection against UVA and UVB) is widely recommended by dermatologists to protect skin from photo-ageing. But some chemical SPF have been linked to hormone disruption and can aggravate sensitive skin. We use SPF selectively in only certain products so you can choose whether to use SPF or not.

We only use select chemical sunscreens for broad spectrum protection (Avobenzone, Amiloxate, Bemotrizinol) where are satisfied that the available research does not link them to hormone disruption or ecological degradation. We avoid Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, banned by the US State of Hawaii for damage to coral reefs.

Photo-stable mineral Nanoparticles (which range in size from 1 to 100 nanometers) are extremely small particles which have been synthetically engineered to be very tiny, or which are micronized versions of larger, naturally occurring particles. The smaller particle size can create effective sun protection without the ‘whitish’ sheen familiar to users of sunscreen, but they can be absorbed into the body through the skin. We do not currently any nano-sized SPF in our product range.

We do not use any chemical SPF in products which may be inhaled (aerosols and powders)

Focus on Select Ingredients

There are occasional concerns surrounding the following ingredients. Here we analyse the debate and demonstrate how we are satisfied about their safety.

Paraffin/Petrolatum. Along with Mineral Oil, Paraffin Wax and Microcrystalline Wax, this is a by-product of petroleum distillation. The risk factor often talked about is possible contamination with Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are linked to cancer. However, the purification processes that result in the highly refined version of this ingredient that we use in cosmetics remove all traces of the PAHs, and we confirm with certificates of analysis provided by our suppliers. This cosmetic-grade, high quality refined paraffin/petrolatum does not have health concerns and in fact is consistently recommended by the NHS for use on dermatitis and other skin conditions because it is so mild, even on the most sensitive skin.

Talc is used in some make-up. The main potential concern regarding talc is the risk of asbestos contamination, as talc is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found alongside asbestos. Although Talc is not recommended for intimate hygiene use, the refined, purified and certified asbestos-free Talc we use in our formulations is accepted as safe for use in cosmetics. 

Preservatives. These chemicals are designed to keep skincare and makeup free from potentially harmful bacteria and fungi. However, they can occasionally aggravate sensitive skin and there are some concerns over the impacts of ingestion in the long-term.

We use preservatives where required to ensure safety in water-based formulations. Anhydrous/water-free formulas do not support bacterial or fungal growth, so products are safe for use without additional preservatives.

Please note we recommend you never share your cosmetics with others and dispose of the product within the time frame shown on the label (the open jar symbol represents months from opening to disposal).

Sustainability

The cosmetics industry has a responsibility to make headway towards environmental sustainability and we are trying to do our bit.

Packaging

We now operate a recycling scheme for all our full-size products if they are returned to our Pavilion Road boutique. Find out more about this scheme, and what you can also recycle at home, here. When choosing new packaging, as we do from time to time, we are moving towards recyclable plastic or glass packaging where possible. Our product cartons and other paper items such as postcards are either uncoated or use a biodegradable matt varnish instead of plastic.

Our shipping parcels are 100% paper based and fully recyclable. We use bubble wrap only where potential product damage may result.

Silicones

Linear silicones like dimethicone are large stable molecules that have no concerns on human health. They improve skin texture and fill in wrinkles, with a smooth finish and are used selectively in some of our formulas. However they do not biodegrade, and we are currently working on reformulating our range to be silicone-free.

Microplastics

These have a harmful effect on aquatic life and, if ingested through a fish diet, on humans. None of our products contain plastic microbeads. We do not use plastic glitter, preferring mica. All the mica we use is synthetic, because of the human rights issues surrounding the mining of natural mica.

Vegan & Cruelty Free

We have never tested our products on animals and do not retail in countries where animal testing is mandated by law.

All our Glycerine and Squalane is vegetable-derived. All products are also now Carmine-free with the exception of our Waterproof Lip Liner.

We use select animal by-products traditionally used in cosmetics for their positive skincare benefits, and because their vegan alternatives entail the use of non-biodegradable plastic or silicone.

We use Beeswax of the highest British Pharmacopeia purity standard (the highest purity)

We use Lanolin in some formulas. This is a safe and effective oil that comes from sheep’s oil glands. Sheep do not need to be killed or harmed to obtain it.

Products that are entirely vegan

• Intense Volume Mascara
• Matte Mineral Foundation
• Silk Touch Perfecting Powder
• Silk Radiance Loose Powder
• Sheer Balancing Foundation
• Flawless Foundation
• Radiance Tinted Moisturiser
• Total Lift Off
• Rosewater Tonic & Rose Hydramist
• Double Duty Makeup Remover
• Skin Treat Moisturiser
• Rapid Renew Eye Serum
• Rose Dew Primer & Moisturiser
• Radiance Restoring Rose Oil
• Superglow Serum
• Moisture Plus Lipstick, Lustre Lipstick & Matte Velvet Lipstick
• Skin Veil Primer & Perfector
• Matte Miracle Primer
• Hydrasmooth Night Cream
• Secret Light Serum Concealer
• Blush Touch
• Bare Blush
• Bare Glow Luminizer
• Luminous Cream Shadow
• Intense Cream Liner
• Eye Velvet Matte Cream Eyeshadow
• Matte Bronzing Powder, Glow Bronzing Powder & Glow Highlighting Powder
• Overnight Renew Body Oil
• Buffing Brush
• Powder Brush
• Contour Brush
• Angled Eyebrow Brush
• Spiral Mascara Brush
• Blending Brush
• Eyeliner Brush
• Shadow Brush
• Socket Brush