We are different

Ingredient Focus: Rosemary Extract. This extract comes from the dried leaves of the familiar rosemary plant (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), from which a dark brown, viscous liquid is obtained using a process called supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.⁠ ⁠ It has potent antioxidant properties which retard the oxidation of fatty and essential oils. This inherent attribute helps prolong the oxidative shelf-life of our finished products.⁠ ⁠ The aromatic plant, with its strong, distinctive smell, has long been used in folk medicine as it also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

This is a simple one. Also a very necessary one. Skincare products containing water – e.g. creams, toners, serums, etc. - must have what is called a “preservative system” in place. Usually this means there is one or more substances in the formula that stop the growth of bacteria and fungi, protecting the integrity of the product during its shelf-life, therefore protecting customers.⁠ ⁠ On the other hand and generally speaking, skincare products that do not contain water or with a negligible water content, do not need preservatives. For example, oil blends, butters, etc.⁠ ⁠ This is a general rule though and cases must be individually assessed by the formulator and the safety assessor which is the person that in the EU makes sure each product is safe before it can be brought to market.⁠ ⁠ There are plenty of preservatives a formulator can choose to use and the final system will depend on many factors like the type of product, compatibility with other ingredients in the formula, the product’s PH, the type of packaging, etc.⁠ ⁠ Some preservatives are milder on the skin than others. Some are petroleum-based. Other are not. Some offer a very long shelf-life but the cost of this might be the risk of irritation on the skin. It’s ultimately down to the brand's ethos which ones to use. ⁠ ⁠ At Whitfords, we don’t use petroleum-derived preservatives for sustainability reasons and instead, we choose to work with weak salts and acids. Some people might call these “natural preservation systems”. ⁠ ⁠ Working with these milder preservatives requires extra help so we often pair them with ingredients that have a dual purpose - sometimes called "boosters". For example, a certain ingredient can have moisturising properties and at the same time help preserve the final product. Examples of these can include wasabi extract, elderberry extract, white willow bark extract and even some (good!) bacteria.⁠ ⁠ [..] (post continues in comments. See below) ⤵️

Ingredient focus. ⁠ ⁠ Marula oil is extracted by cold-pressing the kernel of the fruit of the Sclerocarya birrea, a tree indigenous to Southern and West Africa related to the mango. There are are male and female trees and the female carry the fruits. Coincidentally, women are the primary producers of marula products so its commercialisation provides an income for themselves and their families. ⁠ ⁠ Marula oil is non-irritant and has moisturising and hydrating properties. It is considered a biomimetic oil (bio = life, mimetic = imitating) due to its high content of oleic acid and the presence palmitic acid; very similar to those present in our skin. ⁠ ⁠ It absorbs fast, does not feel heavy at all and has the ability to smooth out dry flaking skin. ⁠ ⁠ Find it in our Hemp & Algae Face Cream, Fruits & Seeds Eye Cream and the 16-Oil Replenisher.⁠

At Whitfords, we don't use synthetic fragrances.⁠ We only use very low percentages of certified organic essential oils from plants and then mainly on body products.⁠ ⁠ This is a tough and complex topic because we love an indulgent scent and we do know that the first thing most people do when opening a jar of skincare is smell it! Our sense of smell is so powerful and smells have the wonderful ability to affect our mood and emotions and trigger memories. The history of fragrance is as old as human history!⁠ ⁠ However, we also know that skin can sometimes be aggravated by products containing certain synthetic fragrances and even sometimes certain essential oils, triggering allergic reactions or skin irritation.⁠ ⁠ Generally, adding a scent to a skincare product is done either by using essential oils from plants or by using synthetic fragrances. With the latter, you’ll never know what’s in there because their formulas are trade secrets: so when you see “Perfume”, “Parfum” or “Fragrance” on the ingredients list, unless there is a disclaimer underneath, e.g. “Naturally occurring from essential oils”, it means we are dealing with a trade secret and there is no way of knowing what its constituents are, hence we cannot anticipate if it might trigger an allergy or skin sensitisation. This is not in-line with our transparency ethos. [...] (post continues in comments. See below) ⤵️

Ingredient focus. ⁠ ⁠ Cupuaçu butter (pronounced "cupuazú") is obtained by pressing the seeds of the Theobroma grandiflorum tree, a cousin of the cacao tree found in Northern Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Each fruit yields 30-50 seeds which have a high fat content (24%) and are also high in polyphenols (antioxidants). ⁠ ⁠ Cupuaçu butter is considered a plant-based alternative to lanolin (the wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals) due to its ability to absorb water - a study showed that 1 kg of cupuaçu butter could absorb 4.4 kg of water under stirring! This means that it acts as a skin hydrator and plumper, penetrating fast and helping retain moisture.⁠ ⁠ We absolutely love the scent of this butter so it's always a real treat to start manufacturing a new batch of our Arnica & Cupuaçu Body Moisturiser because the studio smells so lovely all day! ⁠