Dear valued customer,
This post is for you—the thoughtful shopper who asked us the tough question about parabens, synthetic colorants, and mineral pigments. Your inquiry didn't just spark a conversation; it sparked a transformation.
After removing 25 makeup products from our store, we didn't just create a gap in our catalog—we created an opportunity to do better. Here's what we're building in response to your concerns.
Our New Clean Beauty Criteria
Every makeup product we carry from this point forward must meet these non-negotiable standards:
✓ Paraben-Free No methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, or any other paraben preservatives. Period.
Why it matters: Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, and while regulatory agencies consider them safe in small amounts, we believe you deserve the choice to avoid them entirely—especially in products you use daily.
✓ No Synthetic Colorants No FD&C or D&C dyes. No petroleum-derived color additives. No synthetic lakes or aluminum-based colorants.
Why it matters: These petroleum-derived dyes are what many conscious consumers are actively trying to avoid. If we can't source plant-based alternatives, we'll be transparent about why.
✓ Mineral Transparency If a product contains mineral pigments (mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, bismuth oxychloride), we'll clearly disclose it and explain why plant-based alternatives aren't currently available for that product type.
Why it matters: Honesty over marketing. You deserve to know exactly what you're putting on your skin, even when the truth is imperfect.
✓ Vegan & Cruelty-Free No animal-derived ingredients—including carmine from crushed insects. No animal testing at any stage of production.
Why it matters: Clean beauty should be kind beauty. To your skin, to animals, and to the planet.
✓ Full Ingredient Disclosure Complete ingredient lists available for every product, with plain-language explanations of what each ingredient does and where it comes from.
Why it matters: You shouldn't need a chemistry degree to understand what's in your makeup.
How We're Vetting New Suppliers
We're not just setting standards—we're actively rebuilding our makeup selection from the ground up. Here's our process:
1. Direct Supplier Contact We're reaching out to clean beauty suppliers with specific questions:
- "What percentage of your colorants are plant-derived vs. mineral-derived?"
- "Do you use any synthetic FD&C/D&C dyes?"
- "Are your products free from mica and iron oxides?"
- "Can you provide full ingredient sourcing documentation?"
2. Ingredient Audits Every product undergoes a detailed ingredient analysis before we add it to our store. We're looking at:
- Full INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) lists
- CI (Color Index) numbers to identify all colorants
- Preservative systems
- Potential allergens or irritants
3. Sample Testing We order samples and test products ourselves before offering them to you. We're evaluating:
- Ingredient integrity (does it match the claims?)
- Performance (does it work well?)
- Packaging (is it eco-friendly?)
- Value (is it worth the price?)
4. Ongoing Monitoring We'll re-audit our catalog quarterly to ensure continued compliance with our standards. If a supplier changes formulations, we'll catch it.
Our Search for Truly Plant-Pigmented Makeup
This is where it gets challenging—and exciting.
We're actively seeking makeup colored exclusively with plant-based pigments:
- Beetroot for pink and red tones
- Turmeric for golden yellows
- Spirulina for greens
- Activated charcoal for blacks
- Fruit and vegetable extracts for a full color spectrum
The honest truth? These products are rare and expensive. Plant-based color cosmetics face real challenges:
- Limited color range (true blues and purples are nearly impossible)
- Shorter shelf life (6-12 months vs. 2-3 years)
- Higher cost (often 2-3x more than conventional alternatives)
- Performance trade-offs (may not have the same staying power or color payoff)
But we're committed to finding them—or being transparent when we can't.
Transparency Over Perfection
We won't always have perfect solutions. But we promise to:
Tell you the truth about what's in our products—even when it's not ideal.
Explain trade-offs honestly—if a product uses mineral pigments because plant-based alternatives don't exist yet, we'll tell you why.
Continuously search for better alternatives—the clean beauty industry is evolving rapidly, and we're staying on the cutting edge.
Listen when you tell us we can do better—your voice matters, and it drives our decisions.
How Your Voice Drives Our Decisions
This entire transformation started because you asked one question. That's the power of customer feedback.
Here's what we need from you:
Keep asking tough questions. Challenge us. Hold us accountable. Don't let us get complacent.
Share your ingredient concerns. If there's something you're trying to avoid, tell us. We'll listen.
Recommend brands we should explore. Know a supplier doing plant-based makeup right? We want to hear about it.
Tell us when we get it wrong. We're not perfect, but we're committed to learning and improving.
Your feedback shapes our future. Every email, every question, every concern—it all matters.
Our Promise to You
We promise to:
- Prioritize your health over our profits
- Choose integrity over inventory
- Value transparency over marketing hype
- Listen to your voice and let it guide our decisions
- Continuously improve our standards as the industry evolves
Thank You for Making Us Better
To the customer who started this journey with a simple question: Thank you. You didn't just help us improve our product selection—you helped us become a better company.
To everyone reading this: Thank you for trusting us with your clean beauty journey. We don't take that trust lightly.
This is just the beginning. Together, we're building a cleaner, more transparent beauty industry—one honest conversation at a time.
What's Next?
We're actively working with suppliers to source truly clean makeup alternatives. When we find products that meet our new standards, you'll be the first to know.
In the meantime, explore our curated collection of clean skincare and eco-friendly beauty essentials at cruisinorganics.com/collections/all
Have questions? Want to share your ingredient concerns or recommend a brand?
Email us at kathyt@cruisinorganics.com
We read every message. Your voice matters. And your feedback shapes our future.
With gratitude and commitment to clean beauty, The Cruisin Organics® Owner
