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The NuFountain Standard: Our Exclusions
We believe that what we leave out of the bottle is just as critical as what we put in. True clinical efficacy cannot exist in a base of cheap solvents and synthetic polymers. To maintain our highly calibrated pH requirements, ensure absolute molecular stability, and deliver our signature "water-light" finish, we refuse to compromise. We rigorously audit our compounding process to categorically reject the mass-market shortcuts - from barrier-stripping alcohols and liquid microplastics to ineffective marketing ingredients. We formulate for peak biological results, ensuring every drop respects your skin's lipid barrier and delicate microbiome.
The Synthetic Texturizers & Heavy Fillers
Heavy Silicones (Dimethicone)
A synthetic polymer widely used in standard cosmetics to create a temporary, artificial feeling of smoothness on the skin's surface. We exclude silicones because they form an occlusive barrier that can trap cellular debris and physically block the penetration of our water-soluble actives, such as L-Ascorbic Acid.
Volatile Silicones (Cyclopentasiloxane / Cyclohexasiloxane)
Cyclic "cyclomethicone" silicones prized for a fleeting, powdery slip that flashes off the skin. Beyond the occlusive, pore-blocking concerns we have with every silicone, these volatile cyclics (D4/D5/D6) are persistent environmental pollutants that are increasingly restricted across the EU. We build our weightless slip naturally with Beta-Glucan and bio-fermented gums.
Mineral Oil (Mineral Oil)
A highly refined liquid byproduct of petroleum distillation, used as a cheap, bulk-filling occlusive in many traditional creams and serums. We exclude it entirely because it is comedogenic, sits heavily on the skin, and completely destroys the rapid-absorbing, weightless finish required of a clinical serum.
Petrolatum (Petrolatum / Petroleum Jelly)
A semi-solid petroleum derivative used as a heavy occlusive sealant in balms and "barrier" creams. Like Mineral Oil, it sits inertly on the surface, trapping heat and debris while smothering the rapid-absorbing, water-light finish a clinical serum demands. We seal and rebuild the barrier instead with breathable, skin-identical lipids - Squalane, Ceramide NP, and Cholesterol.
Drying Alcohols (Alcohol Denat. / Isopropyl Alcohol)
Volatile, low-molecular-weight solvents used to make heavy formulas feel like they dry down instantly. While this creates a temporary "weightless" illusion, these alcohols aggressively strip away the skin's vital lipid barrier and dissolve the natural oils that keep your skin resilient. We achieve our signature rapid absorption naturally through precise molecular sizing and Propanediol.
Liquid Microplastics (Acrylates Copolymer / Nylon-12)
Synthetic plastic polymers and powders used as cheap texturizing agents to give serums an unnaturally smooth or "matte" finish. These provide zero biological benefit to living cells, sit heavily in the pores, and are devastating to the environment once washed down the drain. We achieve our elegant slip naturally, utilizing advanced Beta-Glucan and bio-fermented gums.
Talc (Talc)
A soft mineral powder used as a cheap bulking filler and texturizer, persistently shadowed by concerns over asbestos cross-contamination at the source. It offers zero biological benefit and has no place in a water-light clinical formula - we add nothing that merely takes up space in the bottle.
Animal-Derived Ingredients (Lanolin / Carmine / Tallow / Beeswax)
Common animal by-products used as cheap occlusives (lanolin, tallow), waxy emulsifiers (beeswax), and colorants (carmine, crushed from cochineal insects). As a 100% vegan brand, we exclude every animal-derived input and achieve each function through plant-derived and bio-fermented alternatives. For the record, our Squalane is sustainably sourced from olives and sugarcane - never the shark-liver squalene found in legacy lipids.
The Stability & Purity Disruptors
Ethoxydiglycol (Ethoxydiglycol)
A synthetic solvent frequently used by mass-market brands as a cheap, aggressive carrier to dissolve Vitamin C. We eliminate it because it can degrade over time, introducing microscopic impurities that compromise our formulas' precise, required pH window (2.6-3.2).
Magnesium Sulfate (Magnesium Sulfate)
An inorganic mineral salt (Epsom salt) sometimes utilized to stabilize cheap cosmetic emulsions. In delicate, high-potency Vitamin C formulations, unnecessary mineral salts can act as catalysts for oxidation. We exclude it to maintain absolute formula purity and extend peak molecular freshness.
Synthetic Chelating Agents (Disodium EDTA)
A synthetic binding agent used to prevent minerals in water from degrading cosmetic formulas. We reject harsh, synthetic chelators in favor of natural, plant-derived Sodium Phytate to protect our formulas from mineral-induced degradation without stressing the skin's barrier.
Carbomers & Alkaline Thickeners (Carbomer)
Incredibly cheap, synthetic polymers used to turn watery serums into thick, gel-like textures. Carbomers require alkaline neutralizers (like Triethanolamine) to activate, which would instantly destroy the highly calibrated, acidic environment (2.6-3.2 pH) required for our L-Ascorbic Acid to remain stable. We achieve our silky slip through acidic-compatible, bio-fermented gelling agents like Siligel.
The "Marketing" Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate)
A cheap, fat-soluble Vitamin C ester used by many brands simply to make a "Contains Vitamin C" label claim. Clinical data shows it has an exceptionally poor conversion rate in the skin compared to pure L-Ascorbic Acid, and under UV exposure, it can actually induce lipid peroxidation. We formulate for peak biological efficacy, not cheap marketing claims.
Ethanolamines (Triethanolamine / DEA / TEA)
Alkaline amines used to neutralize cheap thickeners and force pH into range, with a well-documented tendency to form nitrosamine impurities over a product's shelf life. We balance our acidic formulas with pure amino-acid Arginine instead, keeping every batch clean and stable.
Butylated Antioxidants (BHT / Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
A petroleum-derived synthetic antioxidant used to prop up the shelf life of cheap formulas, increasingly avoided by consumers over purity concerns. We stabilize our actives naturally with Vitamin E (Tocopherol) and Botanical Ferulic Acid.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA / Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
The petroleum-derived sister compound to BHT - a synthetic antioxidant used to prop up the shelf life of cheap formulas, and listed under California's Proposition 65 as a possible carcinogen. (To be clear, this is the preservative BHA, entirely unrelated to the beta-hydroxy acid "BHA," Salicylic Acid, which we use proudly in P01 WASH, P08 PRIME, V17 QUELL, and V20 PEEL.) We stabilize our actives naturally with Vitamin E and Botanical Ferulic Acid.
The Microbiome & Barrier Disruptors
Parabens (Butylparaben & Propylparaben)
Cheap, mass-market preservatives that a growing number of consumers prefer to avoid. Major regulators including the FDA and the EU's SCCS consider the common parabens safe at the low levels used in cosmetics, but the persistent consumer concern - and the ready availability of well-tolerated alternatives - is reason enough for us to leave them out. We protect every batch instead with a minimal, globally-approved preservative system paired with plant-derived Sodium Phytate chelation - clinical-grade safety without the controversy.
Sulfate Detergents (Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulfate)
Aggressive, high-foaming surfactants used in cheap cleansers to create a satisfying lather at the expense of your skin. They strip the protective acid mantle and natural lipids, leaving the barrier tight, dry, and reactive. Our P01 WASH foams gently using mild, plant-derived sugar surfactants (Coco-, Decyl-, and Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside) that cleanse without compromising the microbiome.
Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives (DMDM Hydantoin / Imidazolidinyl Urea / Quaternium-15)
A class of cheap preservatives that work by slowly releasing trace formaldehyde - a known sensitizer and contact allergen - into the formula over time. We categorically reject every formaldehyde donor, protecting our serums with a minimal, globally-approved preservative system instead.
Isothiazolinone Preservatives (Methylisothiazolinone / Methylchloroisothiazolinone)
Potent synthetic biocides (one was named a leading "Allergen of the Year") that rank among the most common triggers of preservative-induced contact dermatitis. We exclude the entire isothiazolinone family to keep our formulas safe for reactive, compromised skin.
Phthalates (Diethyl Phthalate)
Industrial plasticizers frequently hidden inside the catch-all term "fragrance" and avoided by consumers over endocrine-disruption concerns. Because we use no synthetic fragrance and no plasticized films, phthalates never enter a NuFountain formula.
Hydroquinone (Hydroquinone)
A harsh skin-bleaching drug that, with prolonged use, can cause rebound darkening (ochronosis) and lasting barrier damage. We deliver visible brightening through gentler, better-tolerated actives - L-Ascorbic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, and Alpha-Arbutin - never chemical bleach.
Triclosan (Triclosan)
An antibacterial agent that indiscriminately wipes out the skin's beneficial flora, disrupting the delicate microbiome your skin depends on. We protect rather than sterilize, so you will never find Triclosan in a NuFountain formula.
Synthetic Fragrances & Artificial Dyes (Fragrance / Parfum / FD&C & D&C Colorants)
Artificial chemical cocktails used solely to mask chemical odors or alter the visual color of a product. These additives provide absolutely zero functional benefit to the cellular matrix and rank among the leading causes of cosmetic-induced sensitization. This includes the petroleum- and coal-tar-derived synthetic dyes - the FD&C and D&C colorants and their aluminum lakes - several of which (such as tartrazine) are recognized allergens that exist purely to give a product a marketing-friendly tint. NuFountain serums look and smell exactly like the raw, clinical actives they contain: crystal clear and odorless.
Essential Oils & Volatile Extracts (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil / Limonene)
Highly concentrated plant aromatics frequently disguised as "natural fragrance" or "botanical benefits." In an acidic, high-potency Vitamin C formula, the volatile compounds in these oils act as extreme sensitizers, increasing the risk of phototoxicity and accelerating the oxidation of the formula itself.
Propylene Glycol (Propylene Glycol)
A cheap, petroleum-derived solvent used by nearly every drugstore brand to dissolve active ingredients. It is a known penetration enhancer and a recognized contact allergen that can trigger low-grade sensitization or stinging in reactive skin. We utilize 100% plant-derived, sustainable Propanediol - a gentler, better-tolerated alternative - for a flawless, comfortable delivery.
PEGs (Polyethylene Glycol)
Incredibly cheap, synthetic compounds used as thickeners, moisture-carriers, and solvents in standard cosmetics. Their ethoxylation manufacturing can leave behind trace 1,4-dioxane - a contaminant flagged as a possible human carcinogen - unless the supplier carefully purifies it out. Rather than depend on that purification step, we categorically reject PEGs, utilizing only bio-compatible solubilizers like Symbiosolv.
Petrochemical UV Filters (Oxybenzone / Octinoxate / Homosalate / Octocrylene)
The organic UV absorbers found in most chemical sunscreens. Consumers increasingly avoid them over measurable systemic absorption (flagged in the FDA's recent maximal-usage trials), potential endocrine activity, and documented coral-reef toxicity - oxybenzone and octinoxate are already banned in Hawaii, Key West, and Palau. We don't yet make a sunscreen, but when we do, it will shield skin with mineral filters - non-nano Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide - only.