We don’t hear a lot about this brand that is slightly hidden away in the new Marks and Spencer Beauty sections, but Pure Skincare is very special. It’s formulated by Acheson & Acheson – specifically Robin Parker – and what makes it special is that it is formulated without Palm Oil.
If there is one ingredient that is utterly devastating to environments, it is palm oil, and it is in just about every single beauty product. Emulsifiers, emollients, waxes and thickeners are all available as vegetable derived but it is very hard to guarantee that palm oil or palm kernel oil has not been part of the supply chain. Making beauty formulations without palm derivatives is a massive challenge, and this is why I mention the formulators – if they can achieve it, so can everyone else. Or at the very least, use RSPO certified palm ingredients. Pure isn’t an expensive brand – in fact, I’d call it very purse friendly, with cleanser coming in at £6 and rising to the dizzy heights of £9.50 for a serum.
There’s no excuse any more for beauty brands not to take responsibility. The natural habitat of the orangutan has been eaten away so extensively for the sake of palm oil that they are a devastated species.
It’s not actually the cosmetics industry that are solely responsible – food, and more recently and even more devastatingly, biodiesel, are eroding forestation dramatically particularly in South East Asia – listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the country with the fastest rate of deforestation in the world.
Obviously, I care about the wider environmental issues but what I care about most is the animals that lose their lives and their place to live. I’ve seen documentaries with a lone orangutan, horribly burnt and terrified, clinging to the top of a sole surviving tree – it is one of the most heart-breaking images and it is seared on my brain forever. Despite animal groups launching rescue operations, sanctuaries for orangs and campaigning, the palm oil industry is unstoppable. And not every orang is saved; forestry workers aren’t paid to save orangs – they’re paid to bring down trees so there is no kindness, no empathy and certainly no interest in saving them so they are literally slaughtered. The ones who survive – and these are super-intelligent animals, remember – are so traumatised that they can never live a normal life again. If the beauty industry can find no other reason to campaign against and actively turn their backs on the dirty palm oil trade, then there is always that one terrified, injured and utterly alone orangutan in that tree. If that doesn’t prick your conscience then I despair.
So Acheson & Acheson have proved you can make beauty without palm – cheaply and effectively. If they can, so can you.
NB: Have just found this listing from HERE that outlines the name that palm oil can be found under in ingredients:
- PKO – Palm Kernel Oil
- PKO fractionations: Palm Kernel Stearin (PKs); Palm Kernel Olein (PKOo)
- PHPKO – Partially hydrogenated Palm Oil
- FP(K)O – Fractionated Palm Oil
- OPKO – Organic Palm Kernel Oil
- Palmitate – Vitamin A or Asorbyl Palmitate (NOTE: Vitamin A Palmitate is a very common ingredient in breakfast cereals and we have confirmed 100% of the samples we’ve investigated to be derived from palm oil)
- Palmate
- Sodium Laureth Sulphate (Can also be from coconut)
- Sodium Lauryl Sulphates (can also be from ricinus oil)
- Sodium dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)
- Elaeis Guineensis
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Stearic Acid
- Chemicals which contain palm oil
- Steareth -2
- Steareth -20
- Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
- Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (coconut and/or palm)
- Hydrated palm glycerides
- Sodium isostearoyl lactylaye (derived from vegetable stearic acid)
- Cetyl palmitate and octyl palmitate (names with palmitate at the end are usually derived from palm oil, but as in the case of Vitamin A Palmitate, very rarely a company will use a different vegetable oil)
Transparency Disclosure
All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
8 comments
I have the Pure face wash, hot cloth cleanser & toner lined up ready to use after my current products.
Being 95% natural. British made and British responsibly sourced ingredients where possible makes it a perfect brand for the theme of my blog.
As you say they are definitely purse (wallet lol) friendly. I got them when they were 25% off so they were even cheaper. My partner is using the eye serum too and really likes it 🙂
Some food brands are now making an effort to use alternatives to palm oil and I am really glad that beauty brands are trying too. The devastation of the rainforests is horrific. Orangutangs are deeply intelligent and peaceful animals, and I feel that any brand supporting their needles slaughter should not call itself ethical.
Organic or natural cosmetic it`s beautiful for our skin and our health in our old age. But if production of this cosmetic needs annihilations animate nature, I will never use this cosmetic.
It breaks my hart , the prob is palm oil is almost in everything even in chocolate ! I even found some cheese that uses palm oil ! And for who dosnt know palm oil is not just harming the poor things its also very bad on human health !
Being Indonesian, I can assure you that the nightmarish rate of deforestation here is barely legal. The main problem is that the government is very corrupt, so it’s not hard to get the law enforcer to turn a blind eye towards the whole situation. >: I really wish the demand for palm oil would subside so there would be no reason for this kind of devastating activity, legal or illegal. :/
Wow that’s awful but seeing the images may be the only way to get people to care… So sad. I will definitely try this range of products!
Fantastic and important post – palm oil lurks in so many candles, too…and with Christmas coming up that’s something to be aware of. Kudos to Pure for creating ethical beauty products that won’t wreck your wallet – and thanks for highlighting the “no palm oil, thank you!” issue. x
Wow, I was vaguely aware that palm oil was to be avoided but no idea it created this much distruction and misery. Thanks for highlighthing the problem and this brand. Luckily M&S ship to Australia so I’m adding Pure products to my basket right now!