Our Ingredients

Explore our formulation philosophy and ingredient glossary to make the most educated decision for your skin.

Our Formulation Philosophy

Short and Simple

We avoid unnecessary fillers and additives in favor of ingredients that are scientifically proven to benefit skin or keep our products safe. This way, we reduce our risk of irritating your skin or further disrupting the microbiome.

EWG Certified Non-Toxic

Your health and safety are our top priorities, which is why all our ingredients are considered non-toxic by the Environmental Working Committee. No ingredient in our products falls outside of the green range (for the cleanest possible ingredients) on EWG's toxicity scale.

Microbiome Compatible

We collaborate with microbiologists to select ingredient lists that actively support and revitalize your skin microbiome. Our ingredients are chosen to benefit your skin while minimizing any disruption to its natural balance.

Transparent Listing

All Chick products are made WITHOUT parabens, phthalates, sulfates (e.g., SLS and SLES), synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents, PEGs (polyethylene glycols), silicones, talc, and triclosan.

"Natural" Skin Care

Today, many brands market themselves as "natural." But what does that really mean? The truth is, the term "natural" can be misleading, as it doesn't have a strict definition in the skincare industry. What some brands aren't telling consumers is that many "natural" products often contain ingredients that are highly processed or synthesized. Understanding the different levels of processing can help you make more informed choices about what you put on your skin.

At Chick, we believe that natural is a spectrum, ranging from completely natural ingredients to fully synthetic ones. Here’s how we define the different categories of "natural" ingredients that we use:

Completely Natural

7 Chick Ingredients

These ingredients are derived directly from nature and used in their raw or minimally processed form. Examples include cold-pressed oils and butters, which retain the nutrients and properties of their source materials.

Naturally Derived

11 Chick Ingredients

These ingredients are extracted from natural sources but undergo some processing, such as distillation or purification, to make them suitable for use in skincare products. An example is olive oil squalane.

Nature Identical

3 Chick Ingredients

These are ingredients that are synthesized to be chemically identical to those found in nature. They offer the same benefits as their natural counterparts and ensure consistency and purity. Examples include glycerin and glycerol monolaurate.

Synthetic from Natural Sources

3 Chick Ingredients

These ingredients are created by chemically transforming or combining natural materials. They often have enhanced stability or efficacy compared to their natural origins. An example is cetearyl alcohol.

Ingredient Glossary

Kombucha Cleansing Balm

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Butter

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Emollient

Source: Derived from the seeds of the jojoba plant

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Jojoba oil is an excellent emollient that closely mimics the skin's natural sebum, helping to balance oil production and maintain skin hydration. Its non-comedogenic nature ensures it hydrates without clogging pores, supporting a healthy skin barrier by reinforcing the lipid layer. It also has prebiotic properties, so it encourages the growth of depleted native skin bacteria to rebalance the microbiome.

Glycerin

Spectrum location: Nature-identical

Classification: Humectant

Source: Naturally found in plant or animal fats and is synthesized to replicate its natural form

EWG Toxicity Score: 1-2 (depends on usage)

As a humectant, glycerin attracts water from the environment and deeper skin layers into the outer skin layer, keeping it hydrated and plump. This hydration supports the skin barrier function by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and creating a favorable environment for beneficial microbes.

Isopropyl Myristate

Spectrum location: Synthetic from natural sources

Classification: Emollient and Penetration Enhancer

Source: Produced by esterifying isopropyl alcohol, a synthetically hydrated form of propylene, with myristic acid, which can be derived from natural oils

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Isopropyl myristate moisturizes the skin and improves the absorption of active ingredients in the balm. It helps dissolve makeup and excess sebum, aiding in deep cleansing the skin while maintaining its moisture balance.

Sunflower Lecithin

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Emulsifier and Stabilizer

Source: Extracted from sunflower seeds

EWG Toxicity Score: 2-4 (depends on usage)*

Lecithin enhances the texture and stability of the balm. It helps improve skin barrier function by providing phospholipids that are key components of cell membranes, thus supporting a healthy skin environment. We use sunflower lecithin over the typical soy lecithin because it is typically non-allergenic, more widely available in non-GMO forms, and obtained through a cold-press process rather than with chemical solvents.

*Soy lecithin scores higher than sunflower

Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Antioxidant

Source: Fermentation and filtration of saccharomyces (yeasts used to make kombucha)

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate provides antioxidant benefits, protecting the skin from environmental damage and oxidative stress. As a fermented product, it supports the skin microbiome by providing beneficial compounds like minerals and amino acids that help maintain microbial balance.

Glycerol Monolaurate

Spectrum location: Nature identical

Classification: Emulsifier and Preservative

Source: Natural version occurs in the body, especially in breast milk. Synthesized to replicate its natural form.

EWG Toxicity Score: 1-3 (depends on usage)

Known for its antimicrobial properties, glycerol monolaurate helps preserve the formulation and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria on the skin. It selectively targets pathogenic microbes, supporting a balanced microbiome. In fact, it is most famous for its role in human breast milk where it fights infections by harmful bacteria while allowing beneficial bacteria to thrive. Human breast milk has more than 200 times the amount of glycerol monolaurate than is found in cows' milk.

Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Emollient

Source: Extracted from the seeds of the rosehip fruit

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Rosehip seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, promoting skin regeneration and improving texture. As a prebiotic for native skin colonizers, it supports the skin microbiome by rebalancing the skin with healthy bacteria.

Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter (Cupuaçu Butter)

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Emollient and Thickener

Source: Extracted from the seeds of the Cupuaçu fruit

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Cupuaçu butter is rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, offering deep moisturization and improving skin elasticity. Its ability to retain water helps strengthen the skin barrier and soothe inflammation, promoting overall skin health.

Cetearyl Alcohol

Spectrum location: Synthetic from natural sources

Classification: Emulsifier and Emollient

Source: Derived from natural fats and oils through a chemical process

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

A fatty alcohol that functions as an emulsifier and thickener, cetearyl alcohol provides a creamy texture and stabilizing the balm's formulation. It is also a moisturizing agent that helps soften and smooth the skin without disrupting its natural barrier.

Squalane (Olive Oil)

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Emollient

Source: Hydrogenated from squalene, which is derived from olives

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Squalane is a lightweight emollient that mimics the skin's natural oils, providing hydration and improving skin texture without a greasy feel. It helps repair and maintain the skin barrier to ensure optimal conditions for a balanced microbiome.

Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Emollient

Source: Extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Meadowfoam seed oil locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss. Its stability and non-comedogenic properties help protect the skin without clogging pores. Like jojoba butter, meadowfoam seed oil has prebiotic properties that nourish native skin colonizers to help repopulate the skin with its native probiotic defenders.

Passiflora Edulis (Passion Fruit) Seed Oil

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Emollient

Source: Extracted from the seeds of the passion fruit

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Rich in essential fatty acids, passion fruit seed oil nourishes and hydrates the skin to improve its texture and resilience. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin and support the microbiome. Its prebiotic properties help support the repopulation and growth of depleted skin microbes.

Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Thickener and Emollient

Source: Derived from the leaves of the Candelilla plant

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Candelilla wax acts as a thickener and stabilizer, providing a smooth texture to the balm while forming a protective barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss. This barrier helps maintain skin hydration, which is essential for a balanced skin microbiome.

Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)

Spectrum location: Synthetic from natural sources

Classification: Antioxidant

Source: Synthesized from natural vitamin E and acetic acid

EWG Toxicity Score: 2-3 (depends on usage)

A stable form of Vitamin E, tocopheryl acetate provides antioxidant protection, combating free radicals and promoting skin healing. It enhances overall skin health by reducing oxidative stress and supporting the skin barrier.

Probiotic Restoration Mask

Diatomaceous Earth

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Exfoliant and Absorbent

Source: Sediment of fossilized algae found in bodies of water

EWG Toxicity Score: 1-2 (depends on usage)

Diatomaceous earth acts as a gentle physical exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and impurities from the surface. Its fine, abrasive texture helps unclog pores and improve skin smoothness without causing irritation.

Linum Usitatissimum (Flax) Seed Meal

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Exfoliant and Thickener

Source: Derived from the seeds of the flax plant

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Flax seed meal offers gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and promote skin renewal. Flax seed meal is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and improve skin texture by maintaining cell membrane integrity. Flax seed is also an antioxidant and is known to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin and increase cell turnover.

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Veegum)

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Thickener and Stabilizer

Source: Naturally occurring mineral (clay)

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Veegum keep the formulation stable and provides a smooth, creamy texture. It helps to control the viscosity (the mask's resistance to flow) and ensures an even application of the product.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Soothing agent

Source: Derived from the leaves of the aloe vera plant

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Aloe vera powder contains polysaccharides and antioxidants that soothe and hydrate the skin to reduce irritation and promote healing. Aloe's natural compounds help to calm inflammation and provide moisture, supporting the skin's barrier function.

Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Emollient

Source: Extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Lactic Acid

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Exfoliant and Humectant

Source: Found in kefir, derived from fermented carbohydrates

EWG Toxicity Score: 2-5 (depends on usage)*

With its low pH, lactic acid supports a favorable environment for probiotics and helps dissolves high-pH-favoring pathogens. Gently exfoliates the skin by breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, promoting cell turnover. Lactic acid also enhances skin hydration by attracting moisture and improving the skin's natural moisture factor.

*High restrictions on use increase score

Probiotic Bacteria Blend

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Probiotic

Source: Freeze-dried cultures of nine probiotics found in kefir

EWG Toxicity Score: N/A

Our probiotic bacteria blend, assembled with the guidance of WashU microbiologists, supports a balanced skin microbiome by introducing beneficial bacteria that compete with pathogenic bacteria, reducing inflammation, and enhancing the skin's natural defense mechanisms. Probiotics restore a healthy microbial balance and secrete beneficia postbiotics, which are both crucial for maintaining a resilient skin barrier.

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Binder and Absorbent

Source: Derived from plant fibers

EWG Toxicity Score: 2

Microcrystalline cellulose brings texture and stability to the formulation without contributing directly to skin benefits. It helps deliver the active ingredients evenly across the skin surface.

Honey Powder

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Humectant and Emollient

Source: Derived from dehydrated honey

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Honey powder draws moisture into the skin and helps maintain hydration levels. Honey also has natural antibacterial properties, which can support a healthy skin microbiome by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria.

Sunflower Lecithin

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Emulsifier and Stabilizer

Source: Extracted from sunflower seeds

EWG Toxicity Score: 2-4 (depends on usage)*

Lecithin enhances the texture and stability of the mask. It helps improve skin barrier function by providing phospholipids that are key components of cell membranes, thus supporting a healthy skin environment. We use sunflower lecithin over the typical soy lecithin because it is usually non-allergenic, more widely available in non-GMO forms, and obtained through a cold-press process rather than with chemical solvents.

*Soy lecithin scores higher than sunflower

Konjac Glucomannan

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Prebiotic and Thickener

Source: Derived from the root of the konjac plant

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

With the ability to hold up to 200 times its weight in water, konjac glucomannan provides moisture retention and improves the skin's texture. It forms a film on the skin that helps to keep it hydrated and supple. It is also an extremely powerful prebiotic, especially for Lacto and Bifido bacteria (found in the mask). Konjac glucomannan requires more complex enzymes to digest than simple pathogens typically possess, so the good guys get fed without granting pathogens the same opportunity.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

Spectrum location: Nature-identical

Classification: Antioxidant and Skin-Brightening Agent

Source: Found in citrus fruits

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Vitamin C provides antioxidant protection by neutralizing free radicals and supporting collagen synthesis, which helps to maintain skin firmness and elasticity. Its brightening effects can improve skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation.

Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)

Spectrum location: Synthetic from natural sources

Classification: Antioxidant

Source: Synthesized from natural vitamin E and acetic acid

EWG Toxicity Score: 2-3 (depends on usage)

Goat's Milk Kefir Postbiotic Moisturizer

Aqua (Water)

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Solvent

Source: Obtained from natural water sources

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Water is a universal solvent that dissolves other ingredients and facilitates their application on the skin. Water hydrates the skin by providing moisture and is critical for healthy skin barrier function.

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Postbiotic

Source: Lysate derived from Bifidobacterium fermentation

EWG Toxicity Score: N/A

Bifida ferment lysate helps to repair and strengthen the skin barrier by stimulating the synthesis of proteins and lipids critical for barrier integrity. This helps to reduce inflammation and enhance the skin's ability to retain moisture. The lysate provides metabolites that help modulate the immune response and promote a favorable environment for beneficial skin microbes. This leads to improved microbial diversity and resilience, which are key to maintaining healthy skin and reducing sensitivity.

Goat Milk Powder

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Emollient

Source: Dehydrated goat milk

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Goat milk is rich in fatty acids and vitamins that nourish and reinforce the skin barrier, improving its capacity to lock in moisture and protect against environmental damage. The natural lactic acid in goat milk acts as a gentle exfoliant, helping to maintain the pH balance of the skin, which is essential for a healthy microbiome. This environment supports the growth of beneficial microbes while inhibiting harmful ones, promoting a balanced and resilient skin ecosystem.

Lactobacillus Ferment

Spectrum location: Completely natural

Classification: Solvent

Source: Obtained from natural water sources

EWG Toxicity Score: 1

Lactococcus Ferment Lysate

Spectrum location: Naturally derived

Classification: Postbiotic

Source: Lysate derived from Lactococcus fermentation

EWG Toxicity Score: N/A

Lactococcus ferment lysate stimulates the production of antimicrobial peptides and tight junction proteins that fortify the skin barrier and improve its defense against external irritants and allergens. The lysate encourages the proliferation of beneficial bacteria while suppressing the growth of harmful ones. This balance helps reduce inflammation and redness.

TBD

Product in Development