Animal by-products

No animal oils (except lanolin), animal musks and animal fats are used.

BHA Butylated Hydroxyanisole

It is a preservative associated with cancer, skin irritation and hormone destruction. It is different from Beta Hydroxy Acid, which is commonly called BHA in Korea.

BHT Butylated Hydroxytoluene

It is a toluene-based preservative that can irritate the skin.

Cyclosilicone

Cyclosilicone contains cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), cyclopentasiloxane (D5), cyclohexasiloxane (D6), and cyclomethicone. Research has shown that some of these chemicals are suspected sources of developmental disabilities, endocrine disruptions, and fertility problems. In addition, these components do not decompose in the natural environment and can continue to remain and accumulate by the food chain.

EDTA

Calcium Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, and Trisodium EDTA are chelating agents that combine with metallic ions to adversely affect the stability or properties of cosmetics and inactivate them. EDTA ingredients are known to be harmless to humans, but they do not decompose in nature. There have been cases where it was found in water and this can be a problem for aquatic organisms.

Ethanolamines

Ethanolamines (including DEA / TEA / MEA / ETA) can react with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, a carcinogen.

Ethoxylated ingredient

These ingredients are produced using ethylene oxide, known as a carcinogen. When 1,4-dioxane is used in combination with an ethoxylated ingredient, they can react with each other to form a carcinogen, but 1,4-dioxane itself is not listed in the ingredients list. In order to avoid the reaction of ethoxylated ingredients with other ingredients, GEORGANIC checks all the ingredients below.

• Ceteareth-20: May contain potentially harmful impurities such as 1,4-dioxane.
• Emulsifying wax: Generally, it is manufactured by mixing Cetearyl Alcohol and Ceteareth-20.
• Related chemical substances including PEG-100 stearate, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, PEG-40, and polyethylene glycol compounds. (More than 1,000 PEG ingredients are listed in the INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient).)
• Steareth-20
• Most ingredients ending in "-eth" including sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and ammonium laureth sulfate

Formaldehyde

It is usually not listed in the ingredients list but is often written as "releaser" or "donor". GEORGANIC does not use these ingredients as they are likely to contain formaldehyde.

• Dmdm Hydantoin
• Diazolidinyl Urea
• Imidazolidinyl Urea
• Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin
• Quaternium-15
• Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
• 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
• Polyoxymethylene Urea
• 5-Bromo-5-Nitro-1,3 Dioxane
• Glyoxal
• Methenamine
• Benzylhemiformal

Hydroquinone

It is mainly used to brighten the skin. It inhibits melanin synthesis and irritates the skin, and may cause discoloration of the skin. Hydroquinone is a metabolite of benzene, a carcinogen.

Mathyl Cwllosolve or 2-Methoxyethanol

It is a solvent that is prohibited by the EU and is used as an additive to perfume. It can irritate the skin and affect the central nervous system, blood, bone marrow, kidneys and liver.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

As a preservative ingredient, it is prohibited to be used in cosmetics that absorb into the skin in the EU, and it is restricted to a very small amount for products that are wiped off after use. This ingredient may cause skin allergies and irritation, and may have harmful effects on the nervous system.

paraben

Certain parabens can destroy hormones. GEORGANIC prohibits all parabens, including ethylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben.

Petrolatum Vaseline and Paraffin

Vaseline is a semi-solid mixture that is extracted and processed from petroleum. Mineral oil, paraffin wax, liquid paraffin and other ingredients are also petroleum by-products. These ingredients are not sustainable and there is concern that they may cause the carcinogen polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

Phthalates

Phthalate (Dibutyl Phthalate, also known as DBP or DEHP, DEP) is an ingredient that is usually included as “fragrances” rather than listed in the ingredients list. Some phthalates components can contribute to hormonal disruption, and for this reason GEORGANIC does not use them.

Resorcinol

It is commonly used in hair dyes and is associated with a number of problems including allergies, inflammation, and hormone destruction.

Toluene

It is usually used in nail polish. As a solvent that affect the immune system, it can cause birth defects.

Triclosan and Triclocarban

It is an ingredient used as an antibacterial or preservative in personal hygiene products and cleaning products. This ingredient does not decompose in natural environment and is an ingredient suspected of hormone destruction.

Products obtained from beeswax or bees

GEORGANIC allows the use of safe and effective ingredients such as beeswax, honey, pollen and propolis. However, the indiscriminate use of these ingredients obtained from bees is destroying the ecosystem of the bee population and leading to environmental destruction. GEORGANIC prohibits the use of the following ingredients to protect bee populations.

• We avoid the use of royal jelly.
• Only raw materials produced by companies that conduct beekeeping in a way that protects the bees are used.
• The use of neonicotinoids is prohibited.

Carmine

It is used to make red pigment, and is an ingredient often used in color cosmetics. Labeled as cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake, and carmine lake, this ingredient is derived from insects. About 70,000 insects are used to make 1 pound of cochineal. GEORGANIC prohibits the use of these ingredients to protect the global environment.

Chemical combinations to note

Some ingredients are harmless when they exist independently, but can be harmful when combined with certain ingredients. Perfect monitoring of these risks is unreasonable but to minimize the risk, GEORGANIC pays attention to the use of the following compounds.

We avoid mixing potassium sorbate + ascorbic acid + ferric salts. It is argued that the combination of these three components causes DNA mutagenesis, and some limited evidence has been found.

A mixture of sodium benzoate + ascorbic acid can form benzene, a carcinogen. The ratio of sodium benzoate to ascorbic acid, the pH level, and the addition of other acids or bases all affect benzene formation. In most cosmetics that combine sodium benzoate and vitamin C, the high concentration of vitamin C neutralizes benzene formation. In addition, the pH of cosmetics is generally in the range where benzene does not form (pH 3 to 7). Therefore, it is not a problem, but to avoid potential benzene production, GEORGANIC prohibits its use.

Fragrance

Fragrances are substances or combinations of substances added to cosmetics for the purpose of scenting or masking odors. GEORGANIC prefers natural fragrances over synthetic fragrances.

Glycols

GEORGANIC allows the use of polypropylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol and dipropylene glycol. These are synthetic chemicals used to attract moisture to the skin and keep the product stable. As there are no research results or claims that these glycols are harmful, it is determined as harmless to the human body. However, propylene glycol is an ingredient that can irritate sensitive skin, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an ethoxylated ingredient that is included in the 'Dirty List' and so they are prohibited to use.

Heavy Metal

Heavy metals such as lead, nickel and cadmium may be present in small amounts in natural mineral pigments and synthetic colorants. Heavy metals in small amounts (in the ppm range) have little or no effect on the human body, but over time heavy metals can accumulate in our bodies. In addition, these heavy metals can accumulate in the body through products other than cosmetics. GEORGANIC takes this accumulation of heavy metals seriously and prohibits the use of heavy metals. For products that require heavy metal components, standards higher than government standards are applied to ensure that only heavy metals at the lowest level are used.

Japanese honeysuckle

Although Japanese honeysuckle is a natural preservative, it has many similarities to parabens in its chemical structure. Although there are no reports from the academic community that Japanese honeysuckle is an endocrine disruptor such as parabens, its use is prohibited as a precautionary measure.

Lanolin and Keratin

Lanolin is a safe and effective oil secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep. Keratin is also a component derived from sheep and is derived from the wool. (Fur of other animals similar to sheep is also used). Although sheep are not slaughtered to obtain lanolin or keratin, they often use pesticides in the process of raising livestock, which may contain ingredients that are harmful to the body. When using the above raw materials, GEORGANIC selects raw materials through a rigorous verification process for the quality of the raw materials and the environment in which livestock are raised.

Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are very small particles ranging in size from 1 to 100um. The smaller the particle size, the more effective its component can function. It is hypothesized that if the particle size is too small, it may have a harmless effect on the human body, but no case has yet been published to prove the relationship. GEORGANIC continues to pay attention to the research findings on the safety and sustainability of nanoparticles. GEORGANIC selectively uses nanoparticles to improve the functionality of cosmetics.

Palm Oil and Palm-Derived Ingredients

Palm oil and its derivatives are found in many consumer products. Palm oil is an effective, very useful and safe natural ingredient, and can be a potential sustainable crop. However, currently, palm (palm oil) is grown and harvested in an unfair way and is causing disruption in local ecosystems, communities and climate. GEORGANIC allows the use of palm oil but tries to use palm oils produced in a sustainable way as much as possible.

Petroleum-Derived or Synthetic Ingredients

GEORGANIC uses natural or naturally derived ingredients instead of petroleum-derived ingredients, but does not prohibit all petroleum-derived or synthetic ingredients. Because synthetic ingredients may be safe and sustainable, while natural ingredients may be harmful and unsustainable. 'Clean Beauty' is not about "synthetic vs. natural", but about sustainable beauty products that are harmless to the human body and the environment and are produced fairly. To this end, we have defined the 'Dirty List'.

Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol is a controversial ingredient that can cause attention deficit (ADHD) and hyperactivity disorder by affecting the central nervous system. Microorganisms can multiply in all products containing water. Therefore, preservatives are essential ingredients to be included to prevent this, and phenoxyethanol is used in many cosmetics as a preservative. The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety issued a final opinion in 2016 that phenoxyethanol could be used as a preservative (max. 1.0%), but GEORGANIC decided that it was controversial and prohibits the use of phenoxyethanol.

Retinyl Palmitate

Retinyl palmitate, a compound of retinol (vitamin A) and palmitic acid, increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight after applying retinyl palmitate to the skin may irritate the skin. Due to this property, it is only allowed to be used for night creams.

Silicone, Linear

Linear silicones like dimethicone can improve the texture of the skin, fill in wrinkles, and help with the condition of hair. Stable and large molecules such as linear silicone are harmless to cosmetic users. However, in the case of linear silicon, GEORGANIC minimizes its use due to the following characteristics.

• Silicon does not decompose completely in its natural environment. This leads to negative effects on the environment.
• Depending on the type of linear silicone and skin characteristics, it can clog pores. For this reason, people with acne-prone skin may not want products that contain silicone ingredients.

Talc

Talc is used in various consumer products such as color cosmetics and powder products. Talc has two potential concerns, and for this reason, GEORGANIC does not use talc powder. If talc has to be used in cosmetic products, we try to use talc that has been tested for asbestos detection.

• Talc may contain asbestos.
• There is a risk that the talc-based powder will enter the body through inhalation or perineum (genital).