What makes a skincare product "clean"? The word gets thrown around constantly, but it often means nothing. Some companies call their products clean while using ingredients we'd never touch. Others avoid a few problematic compounds while quietly including others. We believe transparency matters—so here's exactly what we won't use and why.
Why a "Never List" Matters
The beauty industry is largely self-regulated. Companies can include almost any ingredient as long as it's not explicitly banned—and very few ingredients are explicitly banned. The FDA doesn't require safety testing before products hit shelves. "Dermatologist tested" can mean a single dermatologist looked at it once. "Natural" has no legal definition.
This means consumers bear the burden of understanding ingredients and making informed choices. But reading ingredient lists requires expertise most people don't have. Chemical names are intimidating. Marketing claims are designed to confuse.
A never list cuts through this confusion. It tells you what a company has decided—for reasons they're willing to explain—to exclude from every product they make. It's a commitment to transparency that lets you trust without having to become a cosmetic chemist yourself.
What We Never Use
Parabens
What they are: Preservatives (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben) commonly used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in cosmetics.
Why we avoid them: Parabens are endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen in the body. They've been found in human tissue samples, including breast tumor tissue. While direct causation of health problems hasn't been definitively proven, the potential for hormone disruption concerns us—especially for products used daily on skin.
What we use instead: Our small-batch production process allows us to use gentler preservation systems. Fresh ingredients, proper packaging, and shorter shelf lives mean we don't need aggressive preservatives.
Sulfates
What they are: Harsh surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate) that create foam and help cleanse skin.
Why we avoid them: Sulfates strip natural oils from skin, disrupting the barrier function that keeps skin healthy. They're associated with irritation, dryness, and sensitivity—especially problematic for people with eczema, rosacea, or generally reactive skin.
What we use instead: Goat milk naturally cleanses without harsh surfactants. Our products use gentler cleansing agents when needed, but the milk itself does much of the work.
Phthalates
What they are: Plasticizing chemicals used to help products adhere to skin and to dissolve other ingredients. Often hidden under "fragrance" since formulas don't require disclosure.
Why we avoid them: Phthalates are endocrine disruptors linked to reproductive harm, developmental issues, and various health concerns. They're particularly troubling because they're often hidden—you can't avoid what you can't identify.
What we use instead: We don't need plasticizers in our formulations. Goat milk's natural properties provide adhesion and penetration without synthetic chemicals.
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers
What they are: Formaldehyde is a preservative; formaldehyde releasers (DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea) slowly release formaldehyde over time.
Why we avoid them: Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and a common cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis. The "slow release" versions might sound gentler, but they still expose your skin to formaldehyde—just gradually. These are among the most sensitizing preservatives in common use.
What we use instead: Alternative preservation systems that don't rely on formaldehyde chemistry.
Synthetic Fragrances
What they are: Artificially created scent compounds, typically listed simply as "fragrance" or "parfum" on ingredient lists.
Why we avoid them: "Fragrance" can hide dozens or even hundreds of undisclosed chemicals—the exact formula is considered a trade secret. Many fragrance chemicals are known irritants and sensitizers. An estimated 1-2% of people have documented fragrance allergies, and subclinical sensitivity is far more common.
What we use instead: Nothing. Our products have no added fragrance. You might notice a mild, natural scent from the goat milk itself, but there are no synthetic fragrance chemicals.
Artificial Dyes
What they are: Synthetic colorants (FD&C colors, D&C colors) used to make products visually appealing.
Why we avoid them: Artificial dyes serve no skincare function whatsoever. They exist purely for aesthetics—to make products look a certain way on the shelf or in your hand. Given that they provide zero benefit and can cause reactions in sensitive individuals, there's no reason to include them.
What we use instead: Our products look like what they are—natural formulations with goat milk. We don't need artificial colors to disguise anything.
Petroleum Derivatives (as primary ingredients)
What they are: Mineral oil, petrolatum (petroleum jelly), paraffin—compounds derived from petroleum refining.
Why we avoid them: Petroleum derivatives are effective occlusives—they seal in moisture by creating a barrier on skin. But they provide no nutritional value to skin; they simply coat it. They can also feel heavy, clog pores in some people, and are environmentally problematic (both in sourcing and disposal).
What we use instead: Natural fats from goat milk and plant sources that actually nourish skin while providing occlusion. You get moisture protection that also feeds your skin.
Triclosan
What it is: An antibacterial agent once common in soaps and body washes.
Why we avoid it: Triclosan contributes to antibiotic resistance, disrupts hormones, and accumulates in the environment. The FDA banned it from hand soaps in 2016, but it still appears in some cosmetics.
What we use instead: Goat milk has natural antimicrobial properties that help keep skin healthy without contributing to resistance problems or hormone disruption.
PEGs (Polyethylene Glycols)
What they are: Petroleum-derived compounds used as emulsifiers, thickeners, and penetration enhancers.
Why we avoid them: PEGs can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane—known carcinogens. They can also enhance penetration of other ingredients, potentially carrying problematic compounds deeper into skin.
What we use instead: Natural emulsifiers and thickeners that don't carry contamination risks or increase penetration of problematic compounds.
Silicones (in most products)
What they are: Synthetic polymers (dimethicone, cyclomethicone, etc.) that create a smooth, silky feel.
Why we approach them carefully: Silicones aren't inherently toxic, but they can cause problems for some skin types—particularly congestion and breakouts in acne-prone individuals. They also create a false sense of smoothness that masks rather than improves skin health.
What we use instead: Goat milk naturally provides smoothness and slip without synthetic polymers. Our products feel good because they're actually good for skin, not because they're coating it with silicone.
Titanium Dioxide (in non-sunscreen products)
What it is: A white mineral pigment sometimes used for color or opacity.
Why we avoid it in moisturizers: While titanium dioxide is fine in sunscreens (where it provides UV protection), there's no reason to include it in regular moisturizers. It provides no skincare benefit and creates unnecessary exposure to a particulate ingredient.
What we use instead: We simply don't need it. Our products don't require artificial whiteness or opacity.
Beyond the List
Our never list isn't just marketing—it reflects how we actually formulate products. Small-batch production allows us to use gentler ingredients that wouldn't work in mass-market manufacturing. Fresh goat milk provides natural benefits that make many synthetic ingredients unnecessary.
We also stay informed. As research evolves and new concerns emerge, we reassess our formulations. Ingredients that seemed fine a decade ago may look different today. We'd rather err on the side of caution than wait for definitive proof of harm.
What This Means for You
When you use our products, you're not getting:
- Hormone-disrupting preservatives
- Skin-stripping surfactants
- Hidden fragrance chemicals
- Carcinogenic preservatives
- Unnecessary synthetic additives
You're getting goat milk and carefully chosen complementary ingredients that support skin health without the baggage of problematic compounds.
Reading ingredient lists is still worthwhile—don't take any company's word without verification. But if you're looking for skincare you can trust, our never list is our commitment to formulating products we'd use on our own skin and our own family's skin.
Because that's exactly what we do.
Ready to experience truly clean skincare? Explore our collection of goat milk products, handcrafted on our Washington State farm without any of the ingredients on our never list.
