INGREDIENT faq

Is titanium dioxide safe ?

Yes, it is deemed safe for use in a cosmetic. It is illegal for a cosmetic product to contain ingredients that have not been approved as "safe" by the FDA/TGA or EU Governing bodies. All our ingredients are FDA Approved.

Now, the literature circulating about titanium dioxide being unsafe was based on a story about a third world titanium smeldering plant/mine and its employees who were subjected to terrible working conditions (or so we are told is how the rhumour goes).

However, nano sized particles, are proven to enter not only the skin, but also the cells as well. We do not know what the implications of this will be 5, 10 or 20 years down the line.

We do not use any nano ingredients. (See Nano Ingredient Policy).

Are your minerals "crushed from the Australian land"? like other brands say they are...

Now, we just LOVE this question! It does not exist. No manufacturer of iron oxides or Titanium Dioxide mined in Australia - produce a "Cosmetic Grade" end product. They SHOULD NOT be used in cosmetics, due to the traces of heavy metals in them. (Very dangerous trap many naieve home based crafters have fallen into).

What the brand in question is stating is that they obtain their oxides offshore, however they are betting, or "hopeful" that the raw "chunk of rock" which this offshore factory used to make their oxides - once upon a time, originated from Australia. These companies are often global giants such as Merck (germany - known to carry out animal testing).

We use Cosmetic Grade Iron Oxides, and Natural Earth Ochre Pigments in the manufacture of our minerals. This is why our blends have been so well respected over the last decade.

Is Iron Oxide Natural?

Again, it can not be dug out of the ground and "crushed" into your jar - it would be very dangerous and illegal to do this. Not to mention would probaby shred your skin to pieces!

They must be purified to become Cosmetic Grade - first, and this process requires washing the ingredients with chemicals, to strip away heavy metals. Lets not get too scientific here - the basic 101 Golden Rule is that some are natural ochres, others are created in a laboratory by synthetic chemical reactions, however as these reactions use Iron - technically they are "derived from minerals".

What is important is this:

1. that your End cosmetic is free from nasties and toxins such as chemicals, binders, preservatives and heavy metals.

2. that the ingredients used to manufacture them are "cosmetic grade".

What is micronised?

Its simple - A particle size. Microns do not enter skin barriers. Nano do.

What is "tripple milled"?

Manufacturers may turn a ball mill or ribbon blender on for a few cycles before the quality of a product is "smooth" and there are no "streaks" on the skin when applied. This is purely a term that indicates the quality of the equipment used in the actual industrial/manufacturing of the makeup. Its actually just a marketing term, to try to make a blend sound more 'special'. At the end of the day think of it like this - if your equipment is state of the art - you would not need to mill a batch 3x, to ensure its quality is superior!

If you are using a tripple milled blend, you are probably paying somebody 3x the price, as its going to take them 3x the steps to manufacture a beautiful cosmetic. (Not to mention 3x the lead time)......

Can we have a mascara without preservatives?

We tend to have a miniature heart attack when this question is asked. Firstly, bacteria, virus, fungus and molds can and do cause severe infections, and irritations and in extreme cases blindness.

The preservatives we use for our mascaras are proven to extend shelf life for up to 2 years. If we were to remove these, and rely simply on Grapefruit Seed Extract (an antioxidant) alone, then the stability of the formulations drop to 6 months. And that's assuming correct storage (by the retailer), correct transportation (by the frieght company) and correct use (by the end customer). This in effect means your products will not be accepted by a major distributor (many require at minimum 12-18 months shelf life on cosmetics).

The risk to your commercial enterprise, of a law suit, due to an "irritation" or
"eye infection" caused by your mascara, can in effect put you out of business, and open a world of legal complications for your business and finances. Not to mention, your ethical obligation to ensure the goods you put your brand name to, are Safe for use for your customers and the public.

Our formulations have had years of stability testing and have been tested day in day out over the last decade, on people (never animals).