Optical brighteners are chemicals added to many household products to make them appear brighter and cleaner. They absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light, giving items a brighter appearance. 

Exposure to large amounts may result in skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. People with allergies to certain dyes may be more susceptible to reactions. Studies on animals have indicated that long-term exposure could potentially increase cancer risk or cause contact dermatitis. Additionally, because the body does not process optical brighteners the same way it does other chemicals, there is a potential risk for bioaccumulation, which is the buildup of a substance in the body over time.  

Optical brighteners can also contaminate water sources and are toxic to aquatic life.

If an ingredient contains the word "dye", "fluorescent" or "brightener" then the product is likely to contain optical brighteners.

Not all company's display ingredient transparency, and may hide this from their list. The only way to be certain is if the company states "Free of Optical Brighteners".

We believe in providing 100% all natural, non-toxic, sustainable products free from optical brighteners to provide the safest and most effective experience for our customers.

You will never find Optical Brighteners in our products.

What are Parabens?

Parabens are a group of chemicals commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics, food, and medications. These preservatives help to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast in products. They are also used to extend shelf life.

Parabens are linked to a range of potential health issues. These include endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, skin irritation, and cancer. Endocrine disruption may lead to conditions such as increased risk of breast cancer, reproductive problems, and other hormone-related conditions. They may also interfere with normal fetal development and increase the risk of hormone-related disorders in newborns. Studies have also linked paraben exposure to decreased sperm count and decreased testosterone production. Parabens may also act as allergens in some individuals, leading to skin irritation and other allergic reactions. Additionally, some studies have shown that parabens can accumulate in the human body, affecting hormone levels.

Listing parabens is legally required. Parabens are commonly listed as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. Any product with these ingredients will almost certainly have one or more parabens. Some companies will go out of their way to hide parabens under a different name. We recommend researching any unfamiliar ingredients. 

At Rustic Strength, our main priority is to provide quality products to our customers, free of toxins. Because of this, we have decided to never use parabens in any of our products and instead opt for natural ingredients and solutions. Our dedication to creating safe solutions is what drives us to make sure parabens are never used. We take great pride in putting the health and safety of our customers first and that is why we are firmly committed to never incorporating parabens in our products.

It is a synthetic chemical that is used to help to stabilize chlorinated solvents. It is no longer used because of the 1995 Montreal Protocol. It can also be an unwanted impurity/byproduct of a chemical.

1,4 dioxane is likely linked to some cancers, ie breast cancer. It does not biodegrade well in soil or water, and it will migrate rapidly in groundwater. It has a 1-to-3-day half-life in the atmosphere due to photo-oxidation.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation established new legal limits for the maximum allowable concentration of the chemical 1,4 dioxane in products. The new law allows for a concentration of 2ppm (parts per million) until December 31, 2023 for household cleaners and personal care products. Starting January 1, 2024 the new allowable 1,4 dioxane will be 1 ppm. Cosmetics have a maximum allowable concentration of 10 ppm.   

As of January 10th, 2023, Pantene®, Head & Shoulders®, Old Spice®, Olay®, Adidas®, Suave®, The Body Shop®, Calvin Klein®, Molton Brown®, Axe®, and TRESemme® are among over 1000 brand's products revealed to have high levels of 1,4 dioxane. According to The New York Department of Conservation's document of approved waivers. The companies who have applied will have one year to lower their levels of 1, 4 dioxane under legal limits. It is unclear at this time whether New York will pull products off the shelf if manufacturers continue to not meet the legal limit. 

Manufacturers aren’t really putting in 1,4 dioxane in as an ingredient. Instead, what is happening is an alcohol ( ethoxylated fatty alcohol ) is being ethoxylated with ethylene oxide. 

This reaction can go one of two ways:

( 1 ) it can add a C2H4O group to the end, which increases the molecules solubility in water. This can happen 1 – 12 times. 

( 2 ) The second reaction that can happen is at the end of ethoxylating, the chain closes instead of taking another C2H4O unit, thus creating 1,4 dioxane.  

Even more 1,4 dioxane can be released if sulfation (the adding of SO3) is introduced during ethoxylation. This addition can insert itself into the middle of the reaction.

As of January 10th, 2023, consumers can see which brands with high levels of 1,4 dioxane have applied to the waiver list compiled by NY Department of Environmental Conservation

Pantene®, Head & Shoulders®, Old Spice®, Olay®, Adidas®, Suave®, The Body Shop®, Calvin Klein®, Molton Brown®, Axe®, and TRESemme® are among over 1000 brand's products that appear on the list to date. All with levels over New York's legal limit. 

You can also identify 1,4 dioxane by looking at product ingredients. Most products listing ingredients such as SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) and ammonium laureth sulfate have historically contained 1,4 dioxane. Other ingredients that contain the clause “xynol”, “ceteareth” and “oleth” may also contain 1,4 dioxane. Some other ethoxylates are laureth-6 and -7, C12-16 Pareth, Polysorbate, and Polyethlene Glycol (PEG).

Before purchasing raw chemicals from our distributors, we inquire about any possible impurities and receive a Certificate of Analysis (COA) regarding the material. The polysorbate we use is a food grade and we have a COA that shows 0ppm (parts per million) of dioxane.