Safety of UK Skincare Ingredients

At Ayrshire Skincare, our mission is to create products that promote both happiness and health for our customers. However, we are deeply concerned about the diminishing natural world around us, and the erosion of trust in the skincare industry.

So, how can we make a difference?

First, we challenge the traditional methods of skincare product formulation. We continually ask why so many products contain an overwhelming number of ingredients? Some heavily marketed items boast as many as 50 components, while we focus on using just 10 high-quality, plant-based ingredients.

Next, we question the necessity of chemically manufactured ingredients with complex, unpronounceable names, some of which may even be carcinogenic.

With our busy lives, it’s often impractical to scrutinise the ingredient lists of every product we buy, where not one of us should be at risk from unscrupulous manufacturers, and consumers shouldn’t bear the burden of this complexity.

Fortunately, regulations governing skincare products in the UK are stricter than in the US. The UK Cosmetics Regulation and Annex II enforce stringent safety guidelines, with dermatologists frequently flagging specific ingredients for potential skin irritation, hormone disruption, or toxicity.

This article, from the UK Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI posted 25/04/24) headlines “Dangerous Illegal Cosmetic Products Pose Serious Health Risks for Consumers.” Worthy a minute of your time to read it over, the whole article can be found at https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy-campaigns/news-room/2024/dangerous-illegal-cosmetic-products-found-to-pose-serious-health-risks-for-consumers.

The British Skin Foundation in this article asks, “Are any of the following chemical’s toxic to our skin.”https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/resources/toxic-chemicals-and-beauty-products-what-should-be-avoided-and-why. One ingredient in their list, we flagged years ago is Triclosan. Commonly found in deodorants and anti-perspirants, it’s also known by its other name, “Agent Orange,” and used during the Vietnam War for deforestation. This raises an important question: why would anyone allow such a dangerous chemical to be absorbed through the skin? After all, our skin is the largest organ in our body, with countless open pores ready to absorb whatever we apply. We must take care of it, don’t you think?

This leads us to ponder why reputable UK products still contain ingredients that leave us scratching our heads. Take Propylene Glycol, for instance. Approved by the UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), it is considerably less toxic than ethylene glycol, which is used as antifreeze in car engines. However, Propylene Glycol is used as antifreeze in contexts where ethylene glycol would be inappropriate, such as in food-processing systems or household water pipes, where incidental ingestion could occur. Surprisingly, in the US, the FDA permits Propylene Glycol to be added to a wide range of ultra-processed foods, including ice cream.

So, what can we do about this?

• At Ayrshire Skincare, instead of hiding behind confusing regulations, we commit to producing products that exclude questionable ingredients.
• Our focus is on harnessing the power of plant-based ingredients for effective skincare.
• We strive to master what we’ve learned, driven by the motivation to be the best.
• Through articles like this, we hope to encourage our customers to read labels on any skincare products they consider.
• Rest assured, Ayrshire Skincare is with you on this journey.

At the very least, we hope that you find these words helpful and thought-provoking.

Kindest regards

From all of the team at Ayrshire Skincare.