Dermazen Ingredient Policy

We believe skin care should be thoughtful, effective, and designed with sensitive, reactive skin in mind. Our formulations are built to support skin prone to visible redness, dryness, and irritation through carefully selected ingredients that prioritize safety, efficacy, and skin comfort. Guided by a commitment to transparency, responsible sourcing, and high formulation standards, this policy outlines the criteria each ingredient must meet before it becomes part of a Dermazen product.

Our Formulation Philosophy

  • Malassezia-Smart Design: We avoid oils, waxes, and other ingredients that may be incompatible with our formulation philosophy, favoring ingredients selected for sensitive, reactive, and flake-prone skin.
  • Barrier-Conscious Formulation: We formulate with ingredients that cleanse and moisturize without unnecessary disruption to the skin and scalp barrier.
  • Knowledge as Care: We believe understanding is an important part of care. That’s why we help customers understand what is in our products, why those ingredients were selected, and the formulation principles that guide every product we create.
  • Safety First: All ingredients must meet applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements for their intended cosmetic use in the United States.
  • Less is More: We formulate with intentional ingredient selection, including only what is needed to deliver the desired performance, stability, and user experience.

Dermazen Banned Ingredients

  • Harsh Detergents: Sulfate surfactants (SLS, SLES, ALS) that strip the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
  • Harmful Preservatives: Parabens, formaldehyde, and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15).
  • Synthetic Fragrances & Colors: Any scent in our products comes only from natural essential oils (see below).
  • Silicones: We avoid silicones in favor of lightweight alternatives that better align with our formulation philosophy.
  • Petrochemicals: Mineral oil, petroleum, and paraffin.
  • Ethoxylated Ingredients: We avoid ethoxylated ingredients such as PEGs, PPGs, and polysorbates in favor of alternative emulsifiers and solubilizers that align with our ingredient philosophy.
  • Phthalates & Plastic Microbeads: Avoided due to known environmental and health concerns.
  • TEA & DEA: We avoid triethanolamine (TEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and related derivatives in favor of alternative pH adjusters and surfactants.
  • Animal-Derived Ingredients: We select non-animal-derived ingredients whenever suitable alternatives are available.

Fragrance & Essential Oil Standards

Dermazen products are never scented with synthetic fragrance. Where scent or functional benefit is provided by essential oils, they must be used within IFRA maximum-usage levels, and all fragrance allergens must be disclosed so labeling thresholds can be met.

Approved & Preferred Ingredients

We carefully select ingredients that align with our mission:

  • Targeted Natural Actives: We carefully choose ingredients based on safety, skin compatibility, and performance, including naturally derived and scientifically developed ingredients.
  • Gentle Preservation: Broad-spectrum preservative systems selected to balance product safety with gentleness, without parabens or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.
  • Biodegradable Surfactants: We utilize mild, biodegradable surfactants selected for both scalp comfort and environmental consideration.
  • Responsible Ingredient Sourcing: We work with suppliers that share our commitment to responsible and sustainable ingredient sourcing.

Ingredient Documentation & Compliance

For every ingredient and finished formula, we require:

  • Certificate of Analysis (COA)
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
  • Non-GMO, RSPO, or organic certification (where applicable)
  • IFRA compliance certificates for all essential oils
  • California Proposition 65 review for reportable substances

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Dermazen continuously evaluates ingredient safety, sourcing, and environmental impact. As new research, regulatory guidance, and customer feedback emerge, we refine our formulations while maintaining the highest standards.

By adhering to these guidelines, Dermazen ensures that every product meets our commitment to safety, performance, and integrity, so you can feel confident in every application.

What Malassezia-Safe Means to Us

“Malassezia-Safe” means we leave out the ingredients that many people with Malassezia-prone skin should avoid (certain oils, waxes, esters, and other lipid-rich ingredients).

If you have sensitive, reactive skin or scalp, you’ve probably spent more time than you’d like decoding ingredient labels and experienced firsthand the frustration of trial and error as you tried to find products that work. We removed the guesswork by only using ingredients and formulas designed to support gentle cleansing, hydration, and barrier support.

“Malassezia-Safe” is about more than what we leave out. It’s about replacing confusion and frustration with clarity and confidence. We believe understanding what’s in a formula, and why, is an important part of caring for your skin.