elave - what we leave out and why

Our difference means no soaps (sulfates like SLES/SLS), no parabens, no perfume, no formaldehyde, no alcohol, no colours & more.

Many medical experts believe that over use of harsh products is linked to the rise in sensitive skin. Exposing your skin to harsh chemicals can reduce moisture levels in your skin dramatically. Our team of formulation scientists believes in skincare with active functional and hydrating ingredients to enhance all skin types even the most sensitive skin.

NO PARABENS

Parabens are a group of controversial synthetic preservatives used in many skincare and cosmetic products. Over the past 10 years parabens have been increasingly criticized and condemned for use in cosmetics due to their alleged relation to health concerns. Parabens are easily absorbed by the human body which raises questions about their ability to accumulate in our bodies.

NO ALCOHOL

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) / Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) are cheap traditional soap surfactants/detergents widely used in shampoos, cleansing lotions, bath products, toothpastes and liquid wash products.. They can cause skin, scalp and eye irritation as well contact dermatitis. In addition to being a potential skin irritant they are known to fade hair dye. Sulfates can leave skin and hair feeling really dry, as they strip away the natural oils, denature keratin and raise skin surface pH.

SULFATE FREE

Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) / Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) are surfactants/cleansing agents used widely in shampoos, cleansing lotions, bath products, toothpastes and liquid wash products. They can cause skin irritation, eye irritation and contact eczema in some individuals. When used in bath products they can cause irritation to the mucous membranes resulting in urinary tract inflammation and infection. Various studies have been carried out demonstrating other harmful effects of SLS and SLES such as their protein denaturing properties which has been linked to immune system impairment within the skin.

NO FORMALDEHYDE

European Union has restricted use of formaldehyde in personal care products, however formaldehyde-releasers that are able to "manufacture" formaldehyde to act as a preservative. This reaction may occur any time in cosmetics, when manufacturing the product, in the container or when used with water. Formaldehyde-releasers are widely used in shower gels, shampoos and cleaning gels, including those designed for young children or babies.

NO DYES/NO COLOUR

Coloured chemicals used to impart a certain colour to the skincare product that are completely unnecessary for the functionality. Up to 25 synthetic additives are needed to create one single artificial Colour or dye. There are many dyes such as paraphenylenediamine, toluidine red, calcium salts of lithol red, or lead oxide, which can cause allergic reactions.

NO PHTHALATES

Phthalates are banned from cosmetics in the European Union, but are widely used in colour cosmetics, fragranced lotions, body washes and other products sold in the United States A group of chemicals that are used as solvents in cosmetics and other household products. They may be listed as dibutyl phthalate, dithylhexyl phthalate, DEHP and DBP. However they are not always listed on the product label because they are often components of the listed ‘fragrance’, ‘parfum’, or ‘perfume’.

NO PERFUME/ FRAGRANCE

Fragrances are nearly always present in cosmetic products. Fragrances and perfumes can contain typically a hundred or more fragrance components that can potentially trigger contact allergy or provoke skin irritations in some individuals. After nickel allergy, fragrance allergy is the most prevalent contact allergy. In addition to contact allergy, non-allergic adverse reactions can also be triggered by fragrances including irritant contact dermatitis and contact urticaria (raised, red, itchy rash), pigmented cosmetic dermatitis and photosensitivity. The constituents of a fragrance are considered a trade secret which allows a mixture of unknown fragrance components to be added to skincare products but only indicated on the label by the word ‘fragrance’.

NO METHYLISOTHIAZOLINE (MIT)

MIT has been banned in leave-on applications since 2015, with rinse-on application also having been effected by the more recent tightening of regulations by the European Commission. It is a commonly used preservative in many cosmetic and household cleaning products. It acts as an anti-bacterial agent and so preserves the shelf life of these products. There is strong evidence that MI is a skin allergen particularly in people with eczema. Symptoms may include redness, dryness, a burning or stinging sensation, facial swelling, blisters and crusting. Allergy to products containing MI may develop after having used the product for years without any problems.

& more...

The water used in elave products is high grade purified water which has been filtered to remove harsh drying chemicals such as fluoride, metals and chlorine. Our purified water is tested both in-house and independently on a daily basis to ensure its purity reaches our highest quality standards. The inclusion of such purified water enables very safe, low levels of antimicrobial ingredients to be used in elave products.

Preservatives are used in elave products to ensure the microbiological integrity of the products is maintained. However only preservatives with the lowest irritancy profiles are used to avoid irritating even the most sensitive skin. In addition to using the gentlest preservatives, we use the lowest quantity of preservatives necessary to preserve the product to further avoid irritating sensitive skin.

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elave - what we leave out and why

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