INGREDIENTS, CHOSEN WITH PURPOSE
Every ingredient has a function. Every formula, a purpose.
Our ingredients are selected through formulation science—balancing cosmetic performance, skin compatibility, sensorial experience and environmental responsibility.
We work within deliberate limits because what we leave out matters as much as what we put in.
Every cosmetic product sold in the European Union must comply with EU cosmetics legislation. For our formulators, that legal framework is the starting point—not the final design brief.
We apply an additional voluntary formulation standard that considers cosmetic performance, exposure, skin compatibility, raw-material purity, environmental fate, regulatory status and scientific developments.
The purpose is not to describe authorised cosmetic ingredients as unsafe. It is to define, transparently, the deliberately restricted palette our formulators choose to work with.
OUR FORMULATION STANDARD
COMPLIANCE IS THE STARTING POINT
WE BELIEVE BETTER FORMULAS BEGIN WITH CONSCIOUS LIMITS
THE BEAUTY OF RESTRICTION
Instead of formulating with every ingredient legally available, we select only the materials that fulfil a clear technical, sensorial or functional purpose. Restriction encourages precision, challenges our formulators and perfumers to work more creatively, and allows us to anticipate emerging scientific and regulatory concerns.
What we leave out is part of the formula.
OUR FORMULATION DESIGN CRITERIA
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Every ingredient must perform a defined function within the finished formula. We avoid unnecessary duplication, decorative ingredients without a meaningful role and complexity that does not improve performance or the experience of use.
Origin alone does not determine the quality, safety or environmental profile of an ingredient. When a synthetic or nature-identical alternative offers better purity, stability, traceability or environmental data, we may choose it over its natural counterpart.
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Each formula is assessed for its intended user, area of application, exposure and conditions of use. Products for adults, children and pets are developed according to their own specific safety and formulation criteria.
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Our formulators monitor changes to EU cosmetics legislation, SCCS opinions, REACH restrictions, CLP classifications and the ECHA Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern.
When credible scientific or regulatory concerns emerge, we evaluate alternatives before a restriction necessarily becomes applicable.
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For relevant ingredients and product categories, we consider biodegradability, aquatic environmental data, persistence, bioaccumulation and the quantity released during normal use.
Environmental statements are made according to the evidence available for each individual formula.
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Raw materials are selected using supplier specifications, safety documentation, purity information and regulatory declarations. Where appropriate, we also request information concerning impurities, residual substances and environmental data.
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LAB NOMA is currently developing an ecodesign methodology for products formulated without intentionally added substances included on the current ECHA Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern. The methodology also addresses their foreseeable presence through raw-material selection, supplier specifications and, where appropriate, analytical verification.
The project is being developed with financial support from the Agència de Residus de Catalunya and includes ingredient screening, supplier documentation, alternatives assessment and formulation-design criteria that can evolve as the ECHA Candidate List is updated.
Our objective is to design ahead of restriction—not simply react once regulation changes.
Financial support does not constitute product certification or endorsement by the Agència de Residus de Catalunya.
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Our internal Restricted Substances Standard brings together several layers of screening:
• EU Cosmetics Regulation and current annexes
• SCCS scientific opinions
• ECHA Candidate List of SVHC
• Relevant REACH restrictions and CLP classifications
• CMR classifications and our additional precautionary criteria
• IFRA Standards and our own restricted fragrance palette
• Published restricted-substance standards from international beauty retailers -
Our internal standard is also benchmarked against published exclusion criteria from Clean at Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Target Clean, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Credo Beauty, The Detox Market, NICHE BEAUTY, Content Beauty & Wellbeing, Beauty Heroes and Rite Aid.
These external lists are used as additional formulation benchmarks and are reviewed as their criteria evolve. Reference to a retailer does not imply certification, approval, distribution or endorsement by that retailer.
THE INGREDIENTS WE CHOOSE NOT TO USE
Our formulas are designed without intentionally added substances covered by our current Restricted Substances Standard.
Depending on the product category, this includes substances appearing on the ECHA Candidate List of SVHC, CMR substances covered by our internal exclusion criteria, intentionally added PFAS, DEP, nitro and polycyclic musks, and other materials excluded through our retailer benchmark matrix.
Every absence statement must correspond to the finished formula and its supporting raw-material documentation.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
When selecting active ingredients, we prioritise evidence relevant to cosmetic use, effective concentration, stability and skin compatibility.
We consider published scientific literature, supplier documentation and finished-formula testing where available. Plant extracts, peptides and biotechnological ingredients are selected for function—not trend.
Performance is our first filter. Environmental profile is also considered whenever relevant data are available.
CLEANSING BASES
Our cleansing systems combine anionic, amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants selected according to the purpose of each formula, its intended user, cleansing performance, skin compatibility and environmental profile.
Our formulas are made without sulphate surfactants such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) and Sodium Coco-Sulphate (SCS). We also avoid ethoxylated surfactants as part of our internal formulation standard. Mildness and biodegradability are assessed at finished-formula level—not inferred solely from an ingredient’s origin or surfactant category.