What stays out
What we keep out, and why
The full list of what we keep out of every formula, what we use in its place, and why.
What stays out of a GraceYes formula is listed as proudly as what goes in.
The promise
Every ingredient, accounted for.
Yes.
Things you could name, picture and hold, from farms we know.
No.
Not in any product, in any quantity, under any other name.
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×The yes list
What goes in
01Cold-pressed carrier oilspressed without heat, so the oil keeps what heat would strip out.
02Whole botanicalsshade-dried and milled in small batches rather than bought as extract powder.
03Steam-distilled hydrosols and essential oilspetals and water, nothing standing in for either.
04Classical recipesproportions we did not invent, followed as written.
05Small batchessmall enough for one person to check each one.
The no list
What never does
Sulfates (SLS, SLES)the aggressive foaming agents that strip skin and hair.
Parabensmethyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-. No exceptions, ever.
Siliconesa smooth feel in the shop, blocked pores over months.
Mineral oil and petrolatumcheap occlusives that sit on skin rather than feed it.
Synthetic parfumone word that legally hides dozens of undeclared ingredients.
Phthalatesfragrance fixers with no place on skin.
Preserved by nature
61 of our 75 formulas contain no water, so they need no added preservative: without water there is nothing for microbes to grow in. Water-free oils, balms and milled powders are stable on their own. The 14 formulas that do contain water say so on the label, come in small batches, and carry a shorter shelf life rather than a chemical one.
That is also why our jars are smaller than you might expect. A product with an honest shelf life is finished.
What we will not claim
We are a small team in India making plant-based personal care. We are not a pharmacy. Nothing here treats, cures, or prevents disease, and we will never tell you otherwise to make a sale. If something needs a doctor, it needs a doctor.
Glossary
The chemicals, and what we use instead
| Chemical | Typically found in | Documented concern | The GraceYes alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfates (SLS / SLES) | Foaming cleansers, soaps, shampoos, face and body washes | Harsh surfactants that strip the skin’s natural lipid barrier, a documented cause of dryness, tightness, irritation and scalp itching. They can worsen eczema. | Cold-processed soap that keeps its natural glycerin, plus coco glucoside and coco betaine: mild, plant-derived, biodegradable cleansers. |
| Parabens (methyl-, propyl-) | Creams, serums and lotions, as a synthetic preservative | Absorb through skin and mimic estrogen. Detected intact in human breast tissue, a suspected endocrine disruptor, and a known contact allergen. | Sensicare, an eco-certified, skin-safe preservative system. Water-free oils and cold-process bars need no preservative at all. |
| Silicones (Dimethicone & cousins) | Serums, conditioners, primers | Form an occlusive, plastic-like film that traps sebum and debris, causing congestion and dullness. Build up on hair, causing limpness, and are poorly biodegradable. | Plant oils such as jojoba, watermelon seed and moringa, which absorb and nourish instead of coating. |
| Mineral Oil / Petrolatum | Baby oils, balms, creams, lip products | A petroleum by-product with no nutrients. Poorly refined grades can carry polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) impurities, which are possible carcinogens. Occludes pores. | Cold-pressed sesame, coconut, sweet almond and olive oils: vitamin-rich lipids that skin recognises. |
| Synthetic Fragrance (Parfum) | Almost every conventional cosmetic | “Parfum” can legally hide dozens of undisclosed chemicals. It is the leading cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis, and phthalates are its usual carrier. | Scent only from steam-distilled essential oils and hydrosols, fully declared. |
| Phthalates (DEP, DBP) | Perfumes, nail products, fragrance fixative | Endocrine disruptors linked in studies to reproductive and developmental harm. Banned or restricted in European Union cosmetics. | No synthetic fragrance, so no phthalate carrier is needed. |
| Formaldehyde-releasers (DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15) | Shampoos, washes, wipes | Slowly release formaldehyde, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classes as a Group 1 carcinogen. A frequent cause of scalp and skin sensitisation. | Sensicare, an eco-certified preservative, at the minimum effective dose. |
| Artificial Colors (coal-tar / azo dyes) | Colored soaps, lip products | Several coal-tar dyes are restricted and linked to irritation and sensitisation. They add nothing functional. | Colour from the ingredients themselves: turmeric gold, charcoal grey, moringa green, tesu-flower pink. |
| Triclosan | Antibacterial soaps and washes | Banned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in consumer wash products in 2016, over endocrine-disruption signals and its contribution to antibiotic resistance. | Natural antibacterials: neem, tea tree and basil essential oils, and charcoal. |
| Oxybenzone / Octinoxate | Chemical sunscreens | Absorb into the bloodstream (FDA, 2019). Linked to hormone-disruption signals, and banned in Hawaii for bleaching coral reefs. | Mineral and botanical UV support with pomegranate and plant oils. |
| Talc | Baby and face powders | Talc is mined from seams that sit beside asbestos. Contamination lawsuits have led large manufacturers to withdraw talc baby powder, and inhaled talc is a risk for infants. | A talc-free botanical powder base: arrowroot, corn starch, chamomile and calendula. |
| PEGs (polyethylene glycols) | Cream bases, washes | Made by ethoxylation, which can leave 1,4-dioxane residue, a possible carcinogen. They also help other chemicals penetrate skin. | Plant butters and cold-pressed oils as the emollient base. |
| Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.) | Perfumes, toners, gels | Evaporates fast, but dehydrates and disrupts the skin barrier. Stings broken skin and is unsuitable near baby skin. | Alcohol-free formats, such as the GraceYes Alcohol-Free Perfume on a sandalwood-oil base. |
| DEET | Mosquito repellent sprays and creams | Effective, but it can irritate skin and eyes. Rare neurological events are reported with heavy repeated use, and it melts some plastics. | Lemongrass hydrosol and citronella-family essential oils. |
| Petroleum Jelly | Lip balms | An occlusive petroleum residue with no nourishment. Poorly refined grades can carry PAH impurities, and it needs constant reapplication. | Beeswax, kokum and mango butter, and cold-pressed oils that condition lips. |