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Our Products and Ingredients in Our Formulations

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Ingredients

All emulsifiers we use are plant derived.  Emulsifiers are the ingredients that enable you to mix oil and water.  There are several natural emulsifiers – beeswax and lecithin (from soy or other product) are two examples. 

Why don’t we use only natural emulsifiers?  Beeswax tends to sit on the skin, and while this attribute is great for sealing in moisture (beeswax and other waxes are invaluable in lip care products for sealing the lips and also great for use in products designed for hands, heels, and rough spots) – it is not desirable for use on the face as it tends to inhibit penetration of the active ingredients.  Likewise, lecithin is contraindicated for those battling acne.

So, we use plant derived emulsifiers that have been subjected to minimal processing in order to create products suitable for a variety of skin types.  Most of our emulsifiers are also GRAS ingredients – GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) is a label designated by the FDA for ingredients that are deemed safe for use in food.

Our thickeners, which are used to achieve the appropriate product viscosity, and some of our preservatives are also GRAS ingredients.  The remaining preservatives we use are approved for use in the EU, Japan, and the US.  We do NOT use any preservatives that are known formaldehyde or benzene releasers, and we do NOT use parabens.

We recognize there are vegans and vegetarians who wish to avoid animal byproducts in their skin care regimen.  As such, we use only lactic acid, sodium lactate, sodium hyaluronate, and hyaluronic acid formed by biofermentation processes. 

We do use some animal products – milk powders, yogurt powder, honey powder, and beeswax are the ingredients we use from animals – in several of our products.  These products are clearly marked with an *. 

We can make almost any formula work for you – if you have a specific allergy and need to avoid certain oils, are a celiac and wish to avoid plant proteins in your skin care, are a vegan and wish to purchase an alternate to one of our products containing milk, honey, or beeswax – whatever your condition, we can almost always substitute a comparable ingredient for one you wish to avoid.

Just e-mail us at returntoedencosmetics@gmail.com with your request.

Here’s a list of ingredients we do NOT use:

While I wholeheartedly feel parabens have gotten a bad rap on at best shaky scientific evidence, I choose not to use them in Return to Eden Cosmetics’ products because there are several studies showing they can enhance photosensitivity.  When it comes to preservatives, I absolutely do not use any preservatives that are known formaldehyde releasers or known benzene releasers, and I am diligent when ordering ingredients to be sure the base ingredient does not contain these compounds.

I do not use ingredients to enhance product “feel” and believe silicones have no place in skin care.

Only mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, and plant powders are used in providing color to any of our products.  These natural coloring agents are added to our lotion bars and tinted lip products.

Ingredients We Use

Humectants

Aloe Vera (Certified Organic)

Excellent moisturizer and healing agent. Aloe Vera is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It also has anti-aging effects as it increases collagen synthesis and skin elasticity.

Glycerin (100% Vegetable Origin)

Acts as a carrier attracting water to the intercellular space of the skin.  We use ONLY vegetable glycerin, so no worries about petrochemical byproducts here.

Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate)

Our bodies produce hyaluronic acid naturally, and not just our skin.  This remarkable compound is found in cartilage, synovial fluid, and the vitreous humour of the eye as well.  Effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles, hyaluronic acid is also believed to help reduction in scar tissue.  Lotions containing hyaluronic acid are prescribed for eczema treatment. 

Our hyaluronic acid is obtained via a bacterial fermentation process. 

 Oat Beta Glucan

A linear molecule found in oats that penetrates the skin and attracts water thereby moisturizing lower layers of skin

Oat Protein

Proteins, though too large to penetrate the skin, attract water to skin’s surface and act as a film former, protecting skin from dehydration

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Emollients – Natural Oils and Butters

Avocado Oil

Rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Touted for its healing qualities this oil is especially suitable for dry, itchy skin and is often suggested for eczema

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Cupuacu Butter

Draws water to the skin thereby promoting skin elasticity, restoring flexibility and moisture balance, and reducing degeneration of skin cells.  Superb for use in lip balms and in hair products.

Cocoa Butter

Offers natural sun blocking qualities and prevents water loss from skin.

Coffee Butter

Hydrogenated soybean oil and macerated coffee beans form a wonderful butter that smells just like coffee.  We blend it with cocoa butter in our coffee bars. 

Evening Primrose Oil

High in PolyUnsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs), specifically linoleic acid.  This oil is exceptional for preventing trans-epidermal water loss and is readily absorbed by the skin.

Grapeseed Oil

One of the least greasy oils, easily penetrates skin, has mild astringent effects. Excellent for those with oily and blemish prone skin.  With its high polyunsaturated fatty acid content and unique composition, grapeseed oil helps restore skin elasticity.

Hemp Seed Oil (Certified Organic)

Very high in PUFAs, this oil is an excellent choice for dry, damaged skin.  It is readily absorbed by the skin and is purported to have healing properties.

Jojoba Oil

A liquid wax which will not go rancid. This oil most imitates human sebum thereby regulating sebum production. Jojoba is an excellent oil for most skin types – due to its ability to balance the skin’s oil production, it is an excellent choice for those with oily or combination skin types.

Macadamia Nut Oil

Very light, penetrating oil with a high concentration of the fatty acid, palmitoleic acid.  This particular fatty acid is deficient in older skin.

Olive Oil (Certified Organic)

One of the most commonly found oils in skin care.  Olive oil draws moisture to the skin and contains several anti-oxidants.

Pomegranate Oil

Rich in polyphenols and PUFAs, pomegranate oil restores skin elasticity and can help reduce signs of environmental aging.  Readily absorbed and light, this oil is excellent for all skin types.

Pumpkin Seed Oil

Known as “green gold” because of its high phytosterol content and its Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acid profile.  Excellent for dry, damaged skin and recommended for those with eczema or psoriasis.

Rice Bran Oil

Contains high levels of the anti-oxidant, gamma oryzanol.  In addition to providing UV protection, gamma oryzanol also stimulates blood flow (making rice bran oil an excellent choice for eye creams designed to alleviate under eye puffiness and under eye circles).  Rice bran oil has naturally high levels of several other anti-oxidants, including Vitamin E, and is a light weight oil making it compatible with all skin types.

Safflower Oil

Restores skin elasticity and prevents trans-epidermal water loss due to its unique fatty acid composition.

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Sesame Oil

Rich oil with anti-inflammatory properties.  Contains sesamol, a natural anti-oxidant.  Sesame oil can be somewhat occlusive (does not penetrate the skin well) and therefore comedogenic.  

Shea Butter

Shea butter offers natural sun protection (due to its high levels of cinnamic acid) and is ideal for older skin. Its antimicrobial, skin softening, and moisture retaining abilities make shea an excellent butter for use in skin care.

*Shea butter may cause an allergic reaction in those sensitive to or allergic to latex. Please keep this in mind when ordering. 

Sunflower Oil

Retains skin’s natural moisture and highly recommended for itchy skin.

Emulsifiers

Behentrimonium Methosulfate

Excellent conditioning ingredient and detangling agent (used most frequently in hair care as it does not cause product build-up).  Return to Eden Cosmetics uses this plant derived emulsifier as a mild conditioning and cleansing agent in several formulas.

Cetyl Alcohol

Plant derived and food grade emulsifier.

Cetearyl Alcohol

A blend of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, both of which are plant derived and food grade emulsifiers.

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate

Plant derived conditioning emulsifier that is also food grade.

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Active Ingredients

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Exfoliating properties of alpha hydroxy acids combined with the stimulation of new skin cells gives you a luminous luster.

Coenzyme Q-10 (Ubiquinone or commonly called Co Q-10)

Produced by the body, this compound is a natural anti-oxidant and an important molecule associated with aerobic generation of ATP, the body's energy molecule.  We produce less Co Q-10 as we age.  Supplementing Co Q-10 onto our skin through face creams results in increased collagen and elastin synthesis and reduces our exposure to free radicals through its anti-oxidant ability.

Several peer reviewed clinical studies have shown Coenzyme Q-10 to improve the appearance of wrinkles (diminished skin roughness and wrinkle depth) and to protect the skin from oxidation.

Our Coenzyme Q-10 is vegan.

 

Face Care

Body Care

Misc.

Face Care – We offer two lines for face care.

Golden Standard Line

The Golden Standard Line relies primarily on natural ingredients for its efficacy and is so named because all the creams in the line are gold.  Why gold?  They all contain Coenzyme Q-10 (yes, Co Q-10, the naturally occurring bright orange powder with clinically proven anti-oxidant and anti-aging abilities). 

The cleansers and toners that complement the face creams in this line are very mild and formulated with nourishing ingredients to gently cleanse and tone the face.

Toujours Jeune Line (French for forever young)

The Toujours Jeune Line offers intensive face & eye cream treatments, specifically designed for problem areas.  The line uses a variety of peptides, actives which either stimulate collagen synthesis or offer superb anti-oxidant protection, making them excellent ingredients in both anti-aging and aging prevention skin care.  For more information on specific peptides used in our products, please visit our Ingredients section on the “About Us” page.

We have developed several cleansers and toners to complement the face creams in the Toujours Jeune line, offering two hydroxy acid cleansers specifically designed to exfoliate and renew skin and a milder olive oil based cleanser. 

The toner for this line is specifically designed to hydrate and replenish skin preparing the skin for the Toujours Jeune creams.

List of products available in each line:

Golden Standard Line

Relying heavily on natural active ingredients (Coenzyme Q-10, Vitamins A, C, & E, etc.) and anti-oxidants, this line offers very mild products suitable for those with sensitive skin and those seeking more natural skin care.  In spite of the use of natural actives, these products are still very effective and the actives are proven in multiple clinical studies.

Cleansers & Masks

Face Creams

Toners

Eye Creams

Toujours Jeune Line

Relying heavily on peptides shown to stimulate collagen synthesis or offer UV and anti-oxidant protection, this line offers highly effective aging prevention and anti-aging products.

Cleansers & Masks

Face Creams

Intensive Face & Eye Cream Treatments

Toners

Serums & Oils

OP     Our pick! Look for our picks throughout our products page for most recommended products.
CF      Customer favorites!  Assigned to products that really move at our retail locations.

Hands
Temp

 

Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate)

Our bodies produce hyaluronic acid naturally, and not just our skin.  This remarkable compound is found in cartilage, synovial fluid, and the vitreous humour of the eye as well.  Effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles, hyaluronic acid is also believed to help reduction in scar tissue.  Lotions containing hyaluronic acid are prescribed for eczema treatment. 

Our hyaluronic acid is obtained via a bacterial fermentation process. 

Nutmeg Extract

Active ingredient extracted from nutmeg that promotes adipocyte (fat cell) formation and adipocyte capacity to store fat.  This all natural extract “fills wrinkles” (as we age, our adipocytes begin to shrink due to loss of fat within the adipocyte).  The extract has also been used successfully in breast enhancement creams to safely and naturally add volume.

Microscopic-view

Day 0

Day 28

Microscopic view of adipocyte cells treated with 5% nutmeg extract solution for 28 days.

This ingredient is used in our All Natural Bust Enhancing Cream, Toujours Jeune Radiant Face & Eye Cream Treatment and in our Golden Standard All Natural Revitalizing Oil.

Oat Beta Glucan

Oats are known for their incredible skin benefits.  Eczema sufferers can find relief by bathing in colloidal oatmeal (finely ground oat flour).  Oat Beta Glucan is derived from whole oats and provides many of the same benefits.  It attracts water to the skin thereby serving as a humectant and moisturizer.  It also stimulates collagen synthesis, relieves itching and irritation, provides UV protection, and speeds wound healing.  Find this ingredient in our Oats & Pomegranate Face Cream.

Dermal-Epidermal-Junction

Day 0

Day 60

Dermal Epidermal Junction – Hemidesmosome density (bridge) indicated in yellow

SYN-TACKS

Found in our Toujours Jeune Chic Face & Eye Cream Treatment.

Palmitoyl

Provitamin B-5
For skin: Promotes elasticity and healing. Soothing ingredient for irritated skin.
For hair: Repairs split ends, adds moisture and shine. 

Rutin
A constituent of buckwheat and calendula, this compound is sold as a dietary supplement for improved capillary health.  Applied topically, rutin is a superb anti-oxidant and helps to repair capillary cell walls.
Found in ALL face creams and hand creams and several other products.

Soy Rice Peptides
Purportedly reduces discoloration beneath eyes by increasing microcirculation.

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)
Vitamin A is a superb active for any age skin.  Promoting skin cell turnover, health of the dermal epidermal junction (DEJ), and maintaining skin thickness in older skin, Vitamin A is an invaluable ingredient in skin care whether you are battling acne or signs of aging.
Find Vitamin A in ALL of our night creams.

Vitamin C
Promotes even skin tone, provides anti-oxidant protection, stimulates collagen synthesis, and helps prevent and reverse age spots.  
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is a phenomenal antioxidant but is very easily oxidized upon exposure to water.  This prevents its use as a viable part of any water based formula because it is often oxidized before it is ever applied to the skin.  At Return to Eden Cosmetics, we use the stabilized provitamin Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, in lieu of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).  Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate is a proven stabilized Vitamin C derivative that is converted to Vitamin C in the skin.

Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols)
Natural antioxidant.  Anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.  Natural preservative for oils as it prevents rancidity.  

Preservatives

Word of Explanation:
As much as I hate to say it, preservatives are a necessity.  And, sorry, we are NOT hopping on the Grapefruit Seed Extract bandwagon.  There are conflicting reports of whether Grapefruit Seed Extract is effective at all as a preservative, and it seems the only GSE that is effective is not natural at all but is rather a product synthesized from GSE marketed under the brand name Citricidal (and sold as all natural Grapefruit Seed Extract). 

What is clear from a bit of research is that pure unadulterated GSE contains compounds which cause an estrogenic effect (this is also the reason why so many people are now afraid of parabens, which are also natural products & have a much longer track record of use in cosmetics, foods, and drugs than GSE – methyl parabens are found in blueberries). 

It is true, GSE contains many active & natural compounds, but active & natural compounds can be deadly – snake venom is one example.  And, let's not forget, natural does not equal safe (formaldehyde is a natural compound, and we absolutely do NOT use formaldehyde or any formaldehyde releasing/forming compounds to preserve our formulas). 

At present, we use blends of various preservatives to provide broad-spectrum preservation of our products.  Whenever possible, we use preservatives that are considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe and approved for food use in the US).  

We do not use any compounds known to break down to form or release benzene or formaldehyde.  We do not use any parabens (though we feel much of the concern over parabens is simply marketing hype).

We are constantly analyzing new preservative systems which utilize safe, effective, and non-toxic preservatives, and we are working with non-traditional preservatives and self-preserving systems as well.  Here is a list of preservatives you will find in our products.

Potassium Sorbate/Sorbic Acid
A GRAS paraben-free preservative with anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties used in foods and wine.  A naturally occuring compound found in the mountain laurel ash.  Sorbic acid/potassium sorbate is well tolerated by most individuals and is non-irritating and  with relatively little risk ofcausing increased sensitivity over time.  Sorbic acid has been proven effective against mold, yeast, and some bacteria at a concentration of 0.01%.  Approved for use in the US, the EU, and Japan.
Sorbic acid is used as a preservative in foods and beverages.

Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is non-sensitizing and has excellent activity against bacteria.  It is approved for use in the US, the EU, and Japan. 

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Ingredients

Fragrances

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For a complete list of ingredients in all of our products, please click here.

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Return To Eden Cosmetics ~ Fort Collins Colorado