MHL Directory · Skincare
Independent research into fragrance-free moisturizers, mineral sunscreens, botanical body oils, and gentle balms — ingredient disclosure, fragrance, preservative systems, certifications, and what is still unknown.
Filters this category only · 5 records
What MHL looks at in skincare
Full ingredient disclosure
Plain-language, not a PDF
Every ingredient published in plain language on the product page — not summarized as 'natural ingredients' or buried in a PDF.
Learn moreAct I · Browse products
Multi-purpose balm · tallow based
A tallow-based multi-purpose balm built around a short list of grass-fed, organic, and wild-harvested ingredients — packaged in glass and made in small batches in the United States.
Facial moisturizer · fragrance-free
A fragrance-free, dye-free facial moisturizer formulated with a deliberately short list of well-tolerated synthetic and naturally derived ingredients.
Body oil · seaweed based
A seaweed-based body oil built around hand-harvested Undaria pinnatifida from Patagonia, blended with a small set of organic plant oils — MADE SAFE certified and bottled in glass.
Mineral sunscreen · SPF 30
A non-nano zinc oxide mineral sunscreen built on a short list of organic plant oils — family-owned, B Corp certified, and free of chemical UV filters.
Multi-purpose balm · botanical
A gentle botanical balm built around organic olive oil, calendula, and shea butter — fragrance-free, packaged in glass, and equally useful as a family balm beyond the nursery.
MHL does not assign a universal score, safety grade, or ranking. Each card shows only the evidence states present in that product’s record. “Unknown” means MHL has no documentation either way — not that a problem exists. “Conflicting” means MHL’s sources disagree and the record shows both.
Act II · Understand the category
Seven short chapters on ingredient disclosure, fragrance, preservative systems, certifications, and sensitive-skin suitability — the research beneath every card above.
Understand skincareUnderstand the category
01
Where the evaluation begins
“Non-toxic” has no legal definition in personal care. MHL uses it here to mean skincare with fully disclosed ingredients, no synthetic fragrance or undisclosed parfum mixtures, no PFAS or microplastics, and preservative systems used at conservative, well-studied levels.
A single word on a label — fragrance, parfum, natural flavors — can legally represent dozens of undisclosed ingredients. A brand that discloses everything is one you can actually evaluate; a brand that hides behind marketing language is one you cannot.
Ingredient disclosure, product by product
The same question asked of every record above: is the full ingredient list published in plain language, and by whom?
02
A closer look
A handful of ingredient families cover nearly every honest skincare formula ever made. Carrier oils (jojoba, olive, tallow, squalane) form the base; botanical extracts (calendula, chamomile) add character; humectants (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) attract water; occlusives (beeswax, shea, tallow) slow water loss; and mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on the skin's surface to reflect UV.
Packaging is part of the formula, too. Glass and aluminum are inert and do not leach into oil- or water-based products; plastic is lighter and shatter-resistant but can interact with certain formulations over time.
Carrier oils
Dilute concentrated botanicals and deliver them onto the skin. Each has its own fatty-acid profile and shelf life.
Humectants
Attract and hold water in the upper layers of skin — the quiet workhorse most moisturizers depend on.
Occlusives
Form a protective layer that slows water loss, sitting on top of the skin rather than penetrating it.
Mineral sunscreens
Non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide reflect UV from the surface, unlike absorbed chemical filters.
03
A regulatory loophole
‘Fragrance’ and ‘parfum’ are regulatory loopholes — a single word can stand in for dozens of undisclosed ingredients, including common sensitizers. Fragrance-free formulas are what make the rest of an ingredient list meaningful.
Essential oils are a related but distinct case: they are disclosed by name rather than hidden behind a single word, but they remain a meaningful source of sensitization for reactive skin.
Fragrance, product by product
Fragrance-free means no added fragrance or essential oil. Where essential oils are used for scent, the record says so by name.
04
Keeping a formula safe
Any water-based formula needs preservation to remain safe over its shelf life. The question is which preservatives, at what levels, and whether they are disclosed plainly. Anhydrous, oil-and-wax based balms avoid the question entirely by containing no water phase — a real trade-off, not an automatic improvement, since stability then depends entirely on keeping water out of the container.
Where a water-containing formula is preserved, MHL looks for well-studied preservatives disclosed by name, such as phenoxyethanol, rather than vague blends.
Preservative systems, product by product
05
Who audited the claim
MADE SAFE, EWG Verified, B Corporation, and USDA Organic aren't proof of quality on their own, but they signal a brand willing to be independently audited. The directory separates independent, re-audited certifications from self-published sustainability language — and shows ‘none on file’ when that is the honest state of the record.
MADE SAFE
An independent screen against thousands of ingredients of known concern, beyond a brand's own claims.
EWG Verified
Requires public disclosure of all ingredients and adherence to a strict 'unacceptable ingredient' list, audited externally.
Certified B Corporation
Audits a company's full social and environmental performance, re-verified on a recurring basis.
Certifications, product by product
Verified means an independent body audited it. Unknown means no certification is on file — not that the product failed one.
06
Claims versus evidence
Claims like 'dermatologist trusted,' 'hypoallergenic,' or 'gentle for newborns' are common across the category. MHL treats these as manufacturer claims unless backed by independent clinical or dermatological testing, which is not on file for any product in this directory.
Unknown or claimed does not mean a product is unsafe or ineffective for sensitive skin — it means MHL has not seen qualifying independent evidence either way.
Sensitive-skin suitability, product by product
07
Find your product
A quick reference to match what you're looking for with the product MHL recommends, and the reason it earned a place here.
Recommendation
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Recommendation
Badger Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30
Recommendation
Primally Pure Everything Balm
Recommendation
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil
Recommendation
Earth Mama Face Nose & Cheek Balm
Editorial note
Most of the skincare we evaluated and set aside shared one or more of the same patterns: long synthetic fragrance lists, undisclosed parfum mixtures, microplastic exfoliants, opaque corporate ownership, plastic packaging chosen for cost rather than stability, and constantly reformulating catalogs designed around marketing cycles rather than formulation integrity.
Our intent here is education, not criticism. Formulations and ownership change, and our standards may evolve with them. Products not appearing in this directory today do not mean they cannot earn a place tomorrow.
What we ask of every skincare product is the same: tell us what it is made of, tell us who made it, package it well enough to respect the formula, and build it around long-term skin health rather than short-term marketing claims.
Related reading
Buying guides
Science & materials
Practical guides
Materials Library
Each material below has a canonical page in our shared library. Open it once, keep it as your reference across every category where the material appears.
Phthalates
Chemical
Phthalates are a family of chemicals that make plastics soft and flexible and carry fragrance in personal care products. Several are recognised endocrine disruptors and are restricted in children's products worldwide.
Read →
Glass
Mineral
Glass is the most inert food-contact material in most kitchens. It does not leach, does not react with food, and — in the right formulation — handles baking and freezing without concern.
Read →
Common questions
