Skin Related Questions And Answers

I have skin concerns that I'd like to discuss with someone before purchasing products. Who can I speak to?

We offer complimentary skin consultations via telephone or Skype. Alternatively, you can contact us to ask us your question via Phone, Email or Facebook or Instagram Private Messaging. 

Customer Care 1300 624 648 Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. AEST or contact us on enquires@ocinium.com

Limited personalised skin consultation with our brands founder, Naturopath are available in Sydney.

For further further details and appointments click here. 

Are your products gluten free?

Yes

What products in your line are NOT Vegan?

Our Luxe Lip balm contains beeswax.

Are your products toxin free?

Yes, we do not formulate with parabens, propylene or butylene glycols,sulphates, silicones, mineral oils or petroleum.

Are your products cruelty free?

We do not test ingredients or products on animals, or work with suppliers or parent companies of ingredients that test on animals.

Are your products non-comedogenic?

Yes, we use non-comedogenic oils such as jojoba, rosehip, camellia, safflower, avocado and macadamia and products are free of mineral oils and silicones.

Are your products organic?

We use organic ingredients as often as possible, as we believe this is best for your skin and the planet. However, some ingredients, such as cosmeceuticals, are synthesised in the lab.

Do you use any synthetic ingredients in your products?

We do use some ingredients that are synthesized in the lab, like ascorbic acid esters, niacinamide and retinol as these are not available naturally.

What kind of preservative do you use?

Ocinium formulations are preservative-free and paraben-free. We use combinations of natural preservatives including sodium levulinate, sodium anisate, vitamin E, rosemary oleoresin to protect the integrity of your skincare. We also use dark glass bottles, which serves to protect the product from degradation.

Do you use fragrance in your product?

We never use synthetic fragrances or phthalates. We use essential oils known for their therapeutic applications for skin and those that are non-sensitizing. 

Are essential oils bad for skin?

Essential oils can have many benefits for the skin if they are good quality and used in safe concentrations. If they are improperly formulated, many can induce photosensitization in the skin, creating vulnerability and potentially sensitizing the skin.

Where do you source your ingredients?

We work with suppliers that provide high-quality ingredients that don't test on animals. As often as possible we source from companies that are close to us, in an effort to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum.

What type of Vitamin C do you use?

We use a vitamin C derivative, ascobyl tetraisopalmitate, at between 0.5-1%. We have three products that contain vitamin C—Luminosity Vitamin C Serum, Elemental Vitamin A+C+E Serum and Metamorphis Multi-Vitamin Cream.

What percentage of retinol do you use?

We use retinol, a vitamin a derivative, known as retinyl palmitate, at between 0.5-1% concentration. 

We have five products that contain retinol—Luminosity Vitamin C Serum, Elemental Vitamin A+C+E Serum and Immortelle Vitamin B3 Serum and Metamorphis Multi-Vitamin Cream.

What makes your retinol product gentle?

We use retinol, not retinoic acid, which most people—even those with sensitive skin—can tolerate. Since retinol must convert to retinoic acid, the trade-off is that visible improvements may be slower to emerge.

We moderate potential irritation by including vitamin e and sodium phytate, a powerful anti-inflammatory that allows us to use higher concentrations of retinol than you'll find in other retinol products. We use the other vitamins necessary for skin repair, vitamin C and vitamin E, to take advantage of the synergistic effect to be gained from using all three vitamin powerhouses together. The end solution is gentle antioxidant serums with retinol—it delivers results with continued use but without the irritation. As with any retinol product, be sure to wear sunscreen during the day, every day.

Are your products safe in pregnancy?

When it comes to retinol and pregnancy, choosing suitable skincare in pregnancy, pregnancy safe lotions and the use of retinol a cream in pregnancy, the topic still remains controversial. Retinol is a vitamin A derivative, often found in many cosmetics. Retinol must be converted in the skin to retinoic acid, they are around ten times less potent than tretinoin and are considered low risk, however, their use still remains controversial. We always recommend reviewing your vitamin A exposure during pregnancy, and speaking with your doctor about your concerns.

We use a retinol, vitamin a derivative, known as retinyl palmitate, at between 0.5-1% concentration. 

We have four products that contain retinol—Luminosity Vitamin C Serum, Elemental Vitamin A+C+E Serum and Immortelle Vitamin B3 Serum and Metamorphis Multi-Vitamin Cream.

For skincare during pregnancy, we have bundled our starter kit, a collection of products formulated with ingredients focused on safely supporting the skin system throughout the various hormonal fluctuations/internal changes that occur in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Retinol and pregnancy

For topical retinoids on prescription (adapalene, alitretinoin, isotretinoin, tazarotene and tretinoin), these are best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Retinol is a vitamin A derivative, often found in many cosmetics. Retinol must be converted in the skin to retinoic acid, they are around ten times less potent than tretinoin and are considered low risk, however, their use still remains controversial. We always recommend reviewing your vitamin A exposure during pregnancy, and speaking with your doctor about your concerns. As with any retinol product - be sure to wear sunscreen during the day, every day to avoid sunburn while pregnant.