Have you ever wondered how our experts prevent risks of allergies or irritation when they formulate your favorite products? We’re here to explain it all to you!
Allergic reaction and irritation: what’s the difference?
Don’t confuse an allergic reactions with irritation!
An allergic reaction appears upon contact with a molecule, called an allergen, and manifests itself with a delay. It extends well beyond the area of contact with the product.
Irritation, on the other hand, is due to the use of a cosmetic product not suited to one’s skin type. It appears immediately and is limited to the area of contact. Irritation disappears when you stop using the product, while an allergic reaction may take longer to heal.
First step: the formulation
The formulation step is crucial! To limit risks of allergic reactions, we do not use raw materials known for their allergenic potential (and yes, some are very well-known) in our formulas. Instead, we choose ingredients not reputed to be sensitizing.
The same applies for irritation. When formulating a product, we exclude ingredients known to be irritating. But it’s important to know that it’s all a matter of the dose. An ingredient may be irritating at a certain dose, but not in the concentration present in the product. We take the concentration of the ingredient in the product into consideration, as well as the general conditions of use, for example if a product is used in a treatment or gets rinsed off (for example, a shower gel).
Therefore, the formulation step is vital, but we don’t stop there: once the product is formulated, we move on to tolerance and safety tests!
Second step: time for testing!
We evaluate the safety of each ingredient through our toxicology experts, and we test each of our formulas to verify it is truly safe and can be tolerated, under the supervision of a dermatologist.
It is only during this stage of development that one can judge if a formula can be tolerated, taking into account the formula, its use, and the target population for which the product is intended (for example, women with sensitive skin).
But that’s not all! With our customer service department, we are constantly monitoring our products thanks to your feedback!
Risk-free doesn’t exist!
Our products are formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions and irritation due to their use... but the concept of “risk-free” doesn’t exist.
In fact, with allergic reactions, it’s a bit like Russian Roulette: it’s extremely rare and individual. Each person can be allergic to something different, and everyone may react differently to the same allergen... and the reaction to an allergen isn’t necessarily immediate.
In short, measuring the risk is rather complicated. Therefore, avoiding ingredients known for their allergenic potential remains the most effective way to limit the risk!
Since product safety is a major priority, all of our products undergo, without exception, a rigorous testing and monitoring process during each stage of the product’s life: from its formulation, where we exclude ingredients known for their irritating or sensitizing nature, to the choice of packaging, all the way to the moment it arrives at your doorstep!