Our formulation charter
In order to offer you the best balance between safety, pleasure and efficacy, we have decided to avoid or restrict the use of a certain number of ingredients in our products, over and above what is required by cosmetics regulations. Thus, through our formulation charter, we take care to rule out ingredients presenting a real or suspected risk to health and/or the environment; and we prioritize the use of raw materials of natural origin, i.e. favoring the principles of Green Chemistry.
RIGHT FROM THE START, IN 2003, WE OPTED FOR
A demanding formulation charter
Nous avons choisi de faire des produits accessibles en privilégiant les ingrédients d'origine naturelle.
Ainsi, chez Le Petit Olivier, nous nous sommes donné pour mission d’en faire plus pour la Beauté, et cela passe par les exigences que nous nous imposons en termes de formulation. Parce que nous pensons que parfois en faire plus, c’est en mettre moins, nous cherchons chaque jour à faire mieux, pour que vous puissiez vous faire plaisir en toute sérénité, les yeux fermés.
The development of our charter is based on several objectives:
- Dans la mesure du possible, privilégier des formules intégrant un fort pourcentage d’ingrédients d’origine naturelle ; le pourcentage restant garantissant la bonne conservation et la sensorialité du produit.
- Reassuring products that meet demanding in-house formulation criteria, anticipating regulations, and grouping together ingredients we don't wish to use, ingredients we use in moderation and for which we are constantly seeking to find a more natural alternative, and those we prefer.
Because we have nothing to hide, you'll find here the criteria we follow in formulating our cosmetics Le Petit Olivier.
These criteria are intended to be supplemented and amended as sectoral, scientific, technical or regulatory developments occur.
Conservatives
Preservatives help preserve the quality and safety of the formula over time, by preventing the development of micro-organisms (bacteria, yeast, mold) in the product. Thanks to preservatives, cosmetic products remain safe during their period of use, avoiding any potential risk of irritation or infection due to microbial contamination.
Here is the list of preservatives we do not use, as a precautionary measure:
- METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE
- METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE
- TRICLOSAN
- PHENOXYETHANOL
- TRICLOCARBAN
- THIMEROSAL
- PARABENS (BUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN…)
- PHMB (POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE)
- Libérateurs de FORMALDEHYDE (DMDM HYDANTOIN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE, METHENAMINE, 5-BROMO-5- NITRO-1,3-DIOXANE, 2-BROMO-2-NITROPROPANE-1,3-DIOL)
The preservatives we prefer because we believe they strike the best balance between efficacy and tolerance:
- SODIUM BENZOATE / BENZOIC ACID
- POTASSIUM SORBATE / SORBIC ACID
- DEHYDROACETIC ACID
- BENZYL ALCOHOL
EMULSIFIERS AND SOLUBILIZERS
Emulsifiers are used to mix water and oil. They are essential to the production and stabilization of a mixture known as an emulsion, which can be found in milks, creams, balms and other products. Solubilizers are used to disperse perfume in water.
Here are the emulsifiers and solubilizers we use sparingly and why:
- PEG / PPG / POLYSORBATE: because they are not of natural origin, we avoid using them as much as possible. However, for technical reasons, it is sometimes complicated to find more natural alternatives that are just as effective.
Our preferred emulsifiers and solubilizers:
- Families of emulsifiers and solubilizers of natural origin such as stearates and polyglyceryls.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Anti-oxidants limit the degradation of vegetable oils over time (odour and color).
Here are the antioxidants we do not use, as a precautionary measure:
- BHA
The antioxidants we prefer:
- Vitamin E and vitamin E derivatives.
PH ADJUSTERS
pH adjusters enable the pH of the product to be adjusted to guarantee the effectiveness of the preservative system and better tolerance depending on the area in which the product is applied.
Here are the pH adjusters we don't use, as a precaution:
- ETHANOLAMINES: TEA/DEA/MEA
The pH adjusters we use :
- CITRIC ACID, ingredient of natural origin
- SODIUM HYDROXIDE
FOAMING OR CLEANING AGENTS
Foaming agents or cleansers are surfactants. They are generally used in cleansers (shower gels, shampoos, facial cleansers, etc.) for their foaming power and cleansing action.
Here are the foaming agents or cleansers that we do not use, as a precautionary measure, because they are considered very irritating:
- AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE
- SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
Below is a list of foaming agents and cleansers that we use sparingly and systematically in combination with mild surfactants to improve their tolerance:
- SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE : il est moins irritant que les autres tensioactifs cités ci-dessus et garantit une sensorialité optimale du produit (mousse et nettoyage).
- Les agents moussants ou nettoyants que nous privilégions car ils sont plus doux et moins irritants : Les familles de tensioactifs avec une part d’origine naturelle plus importante comme les glucosides, les bétaïnes et les isethionates.
TOUCH AGENTS
Touch agents enhance product sensoriality. They provide a soft touch and make it easier to spread the product on the skin.
Here are the touch agents that we exclude from all new developments, because of their environmental impact (synthetic ingredients that are difficult to biodegrade):
- SILICONES : CYCLOPENTASILOXANE / CYCLOMETHICONE / DIMETHICONE
The touch agents we use:
- Natural emollients such as triglycerides or coco-caprylate/caprate
TEXTURE AGENTS
Texturing agents are gelling or thickening agents used to give consistency to the product.
Here are the texture agents we use sparingly and why:
- ACRYLATES: because they are not of natural origin, we avoid using them as much as possible. However, for technical reasons, it is sometimes complicated to find more natural alternatives that are just as effective.
The texture agents we prefer:
- Des gommes d’origine naturelle, comme la xanthane, la gomme de tara, des ingrédients issus des algues comme les carraghénanes, des dérivés de et la cellulose.
PERFUMES
Fragrance contributes to the olfactory sensoriality of the product.
Nos parfums respectent tous un cahier des charges restrictif allant plus loin que la réglementation en termes de composants comme par exemple l’interdiction de l’ensemble des phtalates (fixateur de parfum, suspecté perturbateur endocrinien).
Tout comme dans l’industrie alimentaire, des allergènes sont étiquetés sur les listes d’ingrédients lorsqu’ils sont présents, permettant ainsi aux personnes ayant un terrain allergique d’en être informées.
Here is the list of labelled allergens:
- ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE
- AMYL CINNAMAL
- AMYLCINNAMYL ALCOHOL
- ANISE ALCOHOL
- BENZYL ALCOHOL
- BENZYL BENZOATE
- BENZYL CINNAMATE
- BENZYL SALICYLATE
- CINNAMAL
- CINNAMYL ALCOHOL
- CITRAL (Citral, Geranial, Neral)
- CITRONELLOL
- COUMARIN
- EUGENOL
- EVERNIA FURFURACEA EXTRACT
- EVERNIA PRUNASTRI EXTRACT
- FARNESOL
- GERANIOL
- HEXYL CINNAMAL
- HYDROXYCITRONELLAL
- ISOEUGENOL
- LIMONENE
- LINALOOL
- METHYL 2-OCTYNOATE
dont la liste a été étendue pour 2026 avec les allergènes suivants :
D’une manière générale, nous limitons, dans la mesure du possible, le nombre d’allergènes présents dans nos parfums.
HYDRATION FACTORS
Moisturizing factors are ingredients that contribute to skin hydration.
Below are the hydration factors we use in moderation and why:
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL/BUTYLENE GLYCOL : parce qu’ils ne sont pas en général d’origine naturelle, nous évitons le plus possible de les utiliser.
The moisturizing factors of natural origin that we favor:
- Glycerine, propanediol, betaine, shea butter, olive oil, argan oil, vegetable wax.
CONDITIONERS
In hair care products, conditioners promote detangling and guarantee suppleness and shine. In shower gels, they provide a protective film on the skin.
Here are the conditioners that we have excluded from our hair care range because of their environmental impact (synthetic ingredients that are difficult to biodegrade):
- SILICONES : CYCLOPENTASILOXANE / CYCLOMETHICONE / DIMETHICONE
Here are the conditioners we use sparingly and why:
- CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
- POLYQUATERNIUM
Because they are not of natural origin, we avoid using them as much as possible, but for technical reasons it is sometimes complicated to find more natural and equally effective alternatives.
The conditioners we prefer because they have a higher proportion of natural origin:
- GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
- STEARAMIDOPROPYL DIMETHYLAMINE
- DISTEAROYLETHYL DIMONIUM CHLORIDE
- DIPALMITOYLETHYL DIMONIUM CHLORIDE
