OUR FORMULATION CHARTER

For a more respectful beauty

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

We have chosen to make accessible products with ingredients whose origin is as natural as possible, while committing the company to respecting human and animal welfare.

At Le Petit Olivier, we have made it our mission to do more for Beauty, and this means setting ourselves high standards in terms of formulation. Because we believe that sometimes doing more means doing less, we strive every day to do better, so that you can indulge in complete peace of mind, with your eyes closed.

le petit olivier creme douche extra douce hydratante jasmin cassis texture

The development of our charter is based on several objectives:


  • Formulas incorporating a high percentage of ingredients of natural origin; the remaining percentage guarantees the product's good preservation and sensoriality.

  • 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.

  • Formulas designed to favor raw materials with minimal environmental impact.

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.

INGREDIENTS
Protecting and ensuring the stability of formulas

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
  • CHLOROACETAMIDE
  • BORIC ACID / BORON COMPOUNDS / SODIUM PERBORATE / PERBORIC ACID - PARABENS (BUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN...)
  • PHMB (POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE)
  • FORMALDEHYDE or FORMALDEHYDE releasers (DMDM HYDANTOIN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, QUATERNIUM-15, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE, METHENAMINE)

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 (except in sensitive skin products)

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

INGREDIENTS
For cleansing skin and hair

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: less irritating than the other surfactants listed above, it guarantees optimal product sensoriality (foaming and cleansing). Foaming agents or cleansers we prefer because they are gentler and less irritating: Natural surfactant families such as glucosides, betaines and isethionates.

INGREDIENTS
Which contribute to the product's sensoriality

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 / CYCLOTETRASILOXANE / 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:

  • Gums of natural origin, such as xanthan and cellulose

PERFUMES

Fragrance contributes to the olfactory sensoriality of the product.

Our fragrances all comply with restrictive specifications that go further than regulations in terms of ingredients, such as the ban on all phthalates (a fragrance fixative suspected of being an endocrine disruptor) and certain decried allergens such as BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL.

As in the food industry, these allergens are labeled on ingredient lists when present, so that people with allergic conditions can be informed.

Here is the list of labelled allergens:

  • ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE
  • AMYL CINNAMAL
  • AMYLCINNAMYL ALCOHOL
  • ANISE ALCOHOL
  • BENZYL ALCOHOL
  • BENZYL BENZOATE
  • BENZYL CINNAMATE
  • BENZYL SALICYLATE
  • BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL
  • CINNAMAL
  • CINNAMYL ALCOHOL
  • CITRAL
  • CITRONELLOL
  • COUMARIN
  • EUGENOL
  • EVERNIA FURFURACEA EXTRACT
  • EVERNIA PRUNASTRI EXTRACT
  • FARNESOL
  • GERANIOL
  • HEXYL CINNAMAL
  • HYDROXYCITRONELLAL
  • ISOEUGENOL
  • LIMONENE
  • LINALOOL
  • METHYL 2-OCTYNOATE

As a general rule, we limit the number of allergens in our fragrances wherever possible. And as a precautionary measure, we are banning BENZYL SALICYLATE, as it is the subject of much debate. So, we exclude it from all our future developments, and reformulate our current products to remove it when it is present in the ingredient list.

INGREDIENTS
Which contribute to the product's effectiveness

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: because they are not of natural origin, we avoid using them as much as possible.

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 / CYCLOTETRASILOXANE / 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