Why choosing Palm Oil Free skincare is more sustainable and ethical

Every step of the way, we’ve always believed that natural and effective skincare doesn’t need to hurt Mother Earth or any living creatures. Our beautiful co-founder Olivia Newton-John always said: "I believe when everyone lives and creates with the principle of no harm, we can recreate an abundant, harmonious paradise for us all to share."

Our passion to be Palm Oil free

From the very beginning, we have always had an immense passion to develop a skincare range that treated Mother Earth kindly. After researching Palm-Oil in skincare and the devastating effects on our environment and living inhabitants, we were determined to formulate one of the first-ever skincare ranges that is both Palm Oil free and luxury spa quality. While the journey wasn’t easy, we're so proud that we upheld our brand values and endured the hurdles to become certified Palm-Oil free.

Why Palm Oil in skincare?

Many of us are aware of Palm Oil in foods but have less understanding of its role in skincare. Palm Oil is a vegetable oil and its derivatives act as emulsifiers, thickeners, preservatives and surfactants, and an astounding 70% of cosmetics contain Palm Oil (including most cleansers, moisturisers, masques, liquid makeup, sunscreen etc). Although the derivatives are sourced from nature, the detrimental effects of Palm Oil harvesting and processing far outweigh any benefits. 

The devastating effects of Palm Oil

As one of the cheapest and most versatile vegetable oils, Palm Oil is in high demand. Grown predominantly in Indonesia and Malaysia, Palm Oil harvesting is rapidly wiping out rainforests, taking away the natural habitats of our beautiful endangered orangutans, Sumatran tigers, elephants, rhinos and other endangered wildlife. The ‘slash & burn’ method of this deforestation is also the cause of excessive greenhouse gas emissions, and local communities are often impacted by air pollution and the contamination of their water sources. The industry is also unfortunately linked to human rights violations and horrific working conditions.

Finding Palm Oil free products

Unlike many other ingredients, Palm Oil isn’t simply found by its name listed in the ingredients of a product… In fact, Palm Oil derivatives can be hidden in over 200 different names, making them hard to recognise!

For example, once the derivative is used to produce an emulsifier or surfactant, those ingredients will now carry a different name, often with no reference to Palm Oil at all.

Below is a list of some Palm Oil derivatives to keep an eye out for, but the best way to ensure you’re purchasing Palm Oil free products is by looking for a reputable Palm Oil Free certification. (Remember, cruelty-free & vegan certifications do not mean Palm Oil free!) We have chosen the Orangutan Alliance (OA) to certify all our skincare. The OA also provides support for reforestation, orangutan rescue and other meaningful projects that counteract the devastation caused by Palm Oil production. 

Here are just some of the ingredients commonly derived from Palm Oil:

• Sorbitan Oleate
• Cocomide DEA/MEA
• Coco-glucoside
• Cetyl Alcohol 
• Decyl glucoside
• Lauryl Lactate
• Ascorbyl Palmitate
• Sodium Cetearyl Sulphate 
• Sorbitan Cocoate
• Octyl Palmitate
• Sodium Laureth Sulphate
• Glycerine
• Stearic Acid

For the full list, click here. 

To make matters more confusing, many ingredients in the personal care industry may list the same name, yet be derived from different plant oils such as Palm Oil, coconut or olive. For example, Glycerine is commonly sourced from Palm, but Palm Oil free versions do exist… This is why it’s best to choose products that are certified Palm Oil free.

The (rewarding) challenges to be a Palm Oil free skincare range.

It was a huge endeavour (over two years of intensive development) to create a premium spa-quality, 100% palm-oil-free range that delivers amazing results to the skin. Palm Oil Investigations provided us with invaluable guidance during this time. Formulating without Palm Oil is incredibly challenging and costly, which is why it is so rare to find high-quality Palm Oil free skincare. 

Through research and perseverance, we overcame the hurdles to create a beautiful natural range that’s certified Palm Oil free. Our unique formulations mean that our products are results-driven while feeling luxurious and are easily absorbed into the skin. We’ve done our bit to ensure you can indulge in luxury spa-quality with the peace of mind.

Here's a message from our co-founder, Olivia:

To learn more, visit: 

Orangutan Alliance - our Palm Oil Free certifier

Palm Oil Investigations - POI provided us with invaluable guidance during our journey to become Palm Oil Free

Our Values  - our values and certifications page