Palm Oil Is in Most Moisturisers. It's Just Called Glycerin.
I read ingredient lists. Every one. Every time. It matters to me personally that I know what's going on my skin and why it's there.
So here's something worth knowing. Glycerin is in almost every moisturiser on the market. It's one of the most common ingredients in natural skincare. And most of the world's glycerin comes from palm oil.
If a product's label says glycerin and doesn't specifically say "palm-free glycerin," it's almost certainly palm-derived. That's not a guess. That's how the supply chain works. Most people have no idea, because the word "palm" never appears on the label.
What The Research Says
In 2021, a study published in Nature examined palmitic acid, palm oil's primary fatty acid. Researchers found it promoted the spread of cancer cells and left them with a lasting biological memory that made them more aggressive.
Important context: that research examined ingested palm oil. Not topical application. Studies on what happens when palm oil derivatives are absorbed through the skin simply haven't been done.
But skin is the body's largest organ, and it absorbs a meaningful portion of what we apply to it. For me, that raises a straightforward question. If concern exists when palm oil is consumed, is daily exposure through skincare worth the uncertainty?
My answer is a hard no.
Our Line In The Sand
Palm oil doesn't appear in our formulas. Not as palm oil. Not as glycerin. Not as any derivative, under any name. This applies to every product we make.
Formulating Australian made natural skincare without palm oil is harder. The alternatives cost more. The development takes longer. Most of the industry uses palm-derived ingredients because they're cheap and available. We don't, because for us this isn't a marketing position. It's personal.
Why Our Formulas Don't Need Synthetic Preservatives Either
Zero Zero is also paraben free skincare. Not because we reformulated to remove them. Because we designed formulas that never needed them.
Parabens are synthetic preservatives. They prevent bacterial growth in water-based products. Our formulas are oil-based. No water phase means no environment for bacteria. The preservation is built into the design.
Not "how do we make it paraben free." How do we build a formula that doesn't need them in the first place. Different question. Better answer.
While We're On The Subject Of What's Not In Our Formulas
Our Zero List is the cornerstone of our formulation process:
Zero parabens, phthalates, sulphates, silicones, PEG's, Petro-chemicals, palm oil or artificial fragrance.
Go And Check
Every ingredient in every Zero Zero product is listed on the product page. Not just the hero ingredients. Not just the ones that sound good. Every single one.
And if you want to know why something is there or why something isn't, ask us. We'll tell you.
That's what Australian made natural skincare should look like. Not "trust us." But, go check.
Stevie 🖤
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