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Selection charter
#1 Non-Toxic
Whether natural or synthetic (natural derivatives), the ingredients that make up the products offered by Happy Officine are not toxic. Synthetic ingredients can sometimes be better than their natural alternatives, but we only accept them if they are stable and non-petroleum based.
We have drawn up a list of ingredients that we consider undesirable in cosmetic products, including those authorized in organic standards.
You can discover our blacklist here.
#2 Cruelty-free.
None of the products available on our site have been tested on animals.
We favor 100% natural brands, as well as brands producing small volumes.
#3 Organic
In our selection, we favor brands that use organic and GMO-free ingredients.
However, not all of our brands are certified organic, for several reasons:
- Some labels are satisfied with a low concentration of organic ingredients to accept a product. So you can display an organic label with only 5% organic ingredients in the finished product.
- Some brands produce small volumes and the certification costs (which are regionalized) are considerable for a small developing brand.
- Some brands choose to use wild harvested ingredients rather than cultured ingredients. And are therefore not listed as Organic.
No. 4 Natural
We favor brands that use high concentrations of natural ingredients.
The goal is to offer products containing only active ingredients, not superfluous.
Natural products are also more economical over time, since their concentration allows less to be used than a low-dose product.
We do not compromise on efficacy or health risks.
#5 Eco-friendly
We carry out carbon neutral operations for the import of our products from abroad.
Our brands come mainly from Europe.
We favor products packaged in glass or “green” plastics, made from sugar cane.
And finally, we encourage brands to change their packaging in order to adopt packaging that is more respectful of the environment.
No. 6 Ethics
The brands offered by Happy Officine come from small or medium-sized developing companies.
Independent creators, women, men, couples or families concerned about the fate of their teams and their suppliers.
We select them carefully, on many quality criteria, but also according to our heart.
Several of these brands donate part of their income to associations or for ethical initiatives, and work with them hand in hand.
The Black List of Ingredients
Some so-called “organic”, “clean”, “green” or “natural” brands are not offered on our site?
It's normal, they contain phenoxyethanol. Despite the fact that it is the least dangerous synthetic preservative on the market, Happy Officine does not offer any product containing it.
It is a controversial ingredient and can be replaced by a natural preservative such as tocopherol or vitamin E.
Phenoxyethanol is used in water-based products because it is in the latter that many bacteria grow unlike oil.
Toxic to the liver and carcinogenic preservative, it has just been banned in products for children under 3 years old.
Sulfates allow shower gels, shampoos and toothpastes to produce foam.
Aggressive, irritating and drying for the skin and the hair, they remove necessary natural oils from them, which has the consequence of greasing the scalp or the skin more quickly.
They are found in perfumes and they are often hidden under the name “fragrance”.
It is used to stabilize a formulation or as a plasticizer.
They are endocrine disruptors capable of blocking the effects of testosterone, mimicking estrogen and altering the production of thyroid hormones.
Unfortunately, it can still be found in children's toys and many industrial fragrances.
When they are present in the plastic that surrounds our food, they can, under the effect of heat, pass from one to another to end up on our plate.
Their harmful effects relate in particular to fertility, the development of the fetus and the newborn.
In order not to come across any, you should only choose products with a 100% natural fragrance.
Used in hair dyes, it can cause severe allergic reactions but also irritation and hormonal disturbances.
Its molecule is very similar to that of diglycidyl ether, a product formally prohibited in European cosmetics regulations.
Generally, this organic compound, which resembles phenol, is used in so-called "lightening" skin products. It inhibits melanin synthesis, causing skin irritation or discoloration. It is a derivative of benzene, a carcinogenic hydrocarbon.
Triclosan has multiple functions. It is used as an antibacterial, antifungal, antiscalant or preservative.
It is an endocrine disruptor that acts mainly on thyroid hormones.
Its degradation results in toxic compounds (such as dioxin), carcinogenic and persistent in the environment.
It is found in our aquatic reserves and it makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
It is often found in anti-acne products from the conventional cosmetics industry but also in soap or toothpaste.
These 3 ingredients are petroleum by-products whose supply is not environmentally friendly.
The main danger concerns above all their contamination by hydrocarbons during their transformation.
Happy Officine selects products that contain natural alternatives to petroleum derivatives but allows certain synthetic ingredients when they are 100% non-toxic and certified non-contaminated.
This ingredient can cause skin allergies but also be the cause of respiratory allergies, which can be the source of asthma or allergic rhinitis.
Aluminum is an organic compound present in very large quantities in nature. It is a metal that can be found in water, pharmaceutical products or even vaccines, but it is not always toxic.
Its toxicity depends on its solubility but also on the pH of the water, aluminum is not easily absorbed by the human body, however aluminum or aluminum salts are toxic substances in high doses.
Happy Officine therefore does not accept any product containing aluminum powder.
On the other hand, alumina or other related compounds such as aluminum hydroxide are accepted in our products because they are insoluble in water.
Toluene is a chemical agent which gives a smooth appearance to nail polish and whose smell some people like, but it is also a toxic solvent for the immune system which can cause birth defects which has no real place on our minds. nails.
Nanoparticles are very small molecules that can be natural or manufactured industrially by grinding or chemical processes.
Their very small size makes it possible to change the appearance of a food (like candies) or a cosmetic product very effectively.
In eyeshadows, eyeliners or face powders, nanoparticles improve the hold or texture of the product but also serve as colorants, antibacterials or UV filters.
The problem with these very small molecules is that because of their size, they become unstable and can be toxic. They manage to cross our skin, our lungs and even our intestines to end up in our blood.
Our body cannot get rid of them and they end up accumulating in large quantities in the body.
Nanoparticles should always be stipulated in the list of ingredients of a product but often this is not respected.
Happy Officine minimizes the use of these nanoparticles in volatile products that could be inhaled (powders or sprays) and favors sunscreens containing zinc oxide instead, which presents less danger because it is more stable.
In organic cosmetics, you should not find nanoparticles.
They are two toxic preservatives for the liver, kidneys and lungs and are endocrine disruptors.
They are irritating and implicated in the formation of cancers. It is still found in conventional cosmetics in supermarkets because its cost is derisory.
Obviously, they are prohibited in the ingredients of our selection of products. Today, there are nearly 800 natural and synthetic alternatives that are safe for our health.
Present absolutely everywhere in our everyday products, endocrine disruptors are (almost) no longer to be presented as their harmful effects have been decried.
Despite the many scientific studies, many brands continue to use them and it is a cocktail that we then apply daily to our skin.
Endocrine disruptors completely destabilize our hormones and these must be particularly stable for our body to function normally at the risk of developing cancers, fertility disorders, diabetes or even neurodegenerative diseases.
The most annoying thing is that the harmful effects of EPs are transmitted over several generations. They are very often found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women and they have harmful consequences on the development of the human brain.
WHO recognizes endocrine disruptors as a global health threat.
Happy Officine does not accept any product containing endocrine disruptors, such as parabens, triclosan, phenoxyethanol, BHA, phthalates, alkylphenols, resorcinol, chemical UV filters and all those hidden under the name "perfume".
If Happy Officine favors brands with glass or PP packaging, it is also to avoid endocrine disruptors found in PET.
EDTA or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is strictly speaking not dangerous to health.
On the other hand, it is very toxic for our environment and contaminates waterways to end up in our drinking water.
It is a chelating agent, that is, it has the ability to bind minerals or metals to become one with them.
The problem is that when it traps particles in our body, they can no longer get out and accumulate. This can cause kidney or respiratory problems.
The good news is that EDTA can be exchanged for natural alternatives and you won't find any in the products we offer.
Happy Officine does not offer sun or daytime products containing chemical UV filters.
They are proven endocrine disruptors that mimic the action of female hormones causing disturbances in the development of reproductive organs.
Chemical UV filters have names like: Benzophenone, Oxybenzone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate or 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor.
We only offer mechanical UV filters like zinc or titanium dioxide that physically block the sun's rays.
