1. What raw materials are used in OriginOil cosmetics?
OriginOil products and their active ingredients are biodegradable and safe for the environment, they do not contain Parabens, Sulfates, Phosphates, Silicones, GMOs, petrochemical derivatives, and are cruelty free (not tested on animals). The cosmetic active ingredients are extracted from plants and flowers in vegetable-based glycerin. No essential oils are used in OriginOil face and body care, only in the gel toothpaste in which peppermint essential oil acts as a fragrance. The vegetable oils and butters used in some of our cosmetics are of high quality, mostly organic and from fair trade and sustainable agriculture. The vegetable oils used are mostly from first cold pressing.
2. Is my packaging recyclable?
OriginOil uses recyclable packaging made of glass, PET, PP and aluminium. A deposit system will soon be set up for PP containers such as toothpaste. This will allow the consumer to have a discount on their next order. For reasons of hygiene and optimal product quality, it is not possible to reuse all packaging.
3. How can I understand the composition of my cosmetic product?
OriginOil offers transparency on the composition of each of its products. The consumer can see the detailed composition of each product, with in parentheses, the property or origin of each ingredient. When synthetic active ingredients are used, this means that there is not yet a natural alternative but this is continually evolving. These are in no way harmful to health and are present in very small quantities in order to respect the percentage of naturalness of the product, i.e. more than 95% as required by the ISO16128 standard on the naturalness of cosmetic products. All formulas are tested under dermatological control which guarantees safety for the consumer.
4. Is there a preservative in my cosmetic products?
Products composed exclusively of "fatty" ingredients such as oils and vegetable butters are naturally preserved thanks to vitamin E or tocopherol acetate which acts as an antioxidant to prevent oxidation or rancidity of certain oils. The vitamin E used is of natural origin, from coconut oil and palm oil. On the other hand, when there is an aqueous phase or water in a product (which is the case for creams, gels, and lotions) there is a possible bacterial development and to prevent this, a preservative is added so that the product is safe for consumers. OriginOil uses a Cosmos and Ecocert approved preservative, composed of benzyl alcohol, salicylic acid, glycerin and sorbic acid.
5. Where do the fragrances used in OriginOil cosmetics come from?
The fragrances used are made in Grasse, France and are validated by a medical expert from the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM).
6. What is a pH adjuster?
A cream, lotion, or milk for the body and face must be at the physiological pH of the skin in order not to damage the epidermis and to ensure better penetration and effectiveness. This must be between 5 and 6. To adjust the pH of a cosmetic formula, citric acid (from lemon) is used to reduce the pH and sodium hydroxide to increase it, and thus regulate the pH in the targeted range between 5 and 6.
7. What does the number written by hand on the back of my bottle mean?
Each product is uniquely made, by hand. In order to allow tracking or traceability of each batch of cosmetics produced in the OriginOil laboratory, a batch number is written on the label. Its coding allows you to know which day the product was prepared. It is composed of the year of manufacture, the day of manufacture (in the Julian calendar) and the product code (internal coding).
8. What are allergens?
Allergens listed on product labels are molecules naturally present in fragrance substances that can cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to them. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) is the reference organization for maximum dosage of fragrances and their allergens, which varies according to the type of product, and which issues recommendations regarding concentrations and the use of fragrances in finished products.
9. Cosmetic regulations in Switzerland
The Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) and the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) have drafted a new Cosmetics Ordinance (OCos) which will be applicable from April 2021.
The aim of this complete revision of the Cosmetics Ordinance (RS 817.023.31) is to limit legal divergences with the European Union (EU) and to guarantee an equivalent level of safety in Switzerland in the field of cosmetics. This ordinance includes important changes, the main ones being the documentation relating to a cosmetic product (Product Information File or PIF) which must contain a report on the safety assessment of the product drawn up by a qualified person (toxicologist, doctor, pharmacist), as well as compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMP).
10. What does “dermatologically tested formulas” mean?
The safety assessment tests for a cosmetic product that will be mandatory in Switzerland from April 2021 include the following tests:
- The challenge test to evaluate the effectiveness of the preservative
- The patch test which is an occlusive test on the skin and which allows the detection of possible allergic reactions
- The eye irritation test which is carried out in vitro on cells