Friday Refresh - The Truth Behind "Natural" Skincare

Hey there!

Happy Friday Refresh! National Skincare Day is just around the corner (this Sunday!), so we’re peeling back the label on natural skincare today. Ever noticed how practically everything is “natural” these days? Let’s get real about what that actually means for your skin (spoiler: sometimes not much).

What Even IS “Natural” Skincare? 🤔

Fun fact: there’s no U.S. law defining what “natural” means for cosmetics. Brands can slap that word on pretty much anything as long as it’s not outright “misleading” (whatever that means).

The FDA only polices safety and truthful labeling—there’s zero pre-approval required for most cosmetic ingredients before they hit shelves. Yikes.

Shea Spotlight: When Natural Gets It Right ✨

Let’s talk about one of our favorites: shea butter! (You know we think very highly of it and use it in our soaps and body crèmes.)

This powerhouse isn’t just luxuriously creamy—its unsaponifiable fraction (triterpenes, tocopherols, plant sterols) packs serious anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair benefits.

Clinical reviews show shea-based creams perform just as well as fancy ceramide formulas for eczema relief. No wonder dermatologists love it for soothing dryness, calming redness, and delivering vitamins A & E. (Plus, after refining it’s latex-free for anyone with allergies!)

The Dirty Side of Skincare 😬

Here’s the not-so-pretty truth: many mainstream products still contain parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde-releasers & PFAS—dubbed the “Toxic Twelve” by experts.

A recent U.K. poll linked daily exposure to a whopping 168 chemicals in personal-care routines to higher breast-cancer risk. Meanwhile, major retailers are facing lawsuits for “clean” labels that hide concerning ingredients—greenwashing at its finest.

How We Keep It Real at Formulary 55

• Maintain a strict No-List that bans the Toxic Twelve and dozens more nasties
• Use a shea-rich base + minimal, transparent clean fragrances
• Produce in small batches for freshness

Here’s to happy, healthy skin—naturally informed, not just naturally labeled. 💚

Glowing with you,

Kecia