Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to have hormone healthy products?

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers, and the endocrine system is your chemical brain. The glands of the endocrine system send out hormones that tell each part of your body what work to do, when to do it, and for how long. They travel in your bloodstream to tissues or organs to help them do their work. They work slowly, over time, and affect many different processes, including:

Growth and development
Metabolism – how your body gets, stores, and uses energy from the foods you eat
Sexual function
Reproduction
Mood

When hormones are disrupted and get out of balance, the result can be problems like diabetes, weight gain or loss, infertility, weak bones, and other serious issues. [1]

What does hormone healthy mean to us?

“Hormone healthy” means to be free from chemicals that can impact our hormones. Most of the products we put on our body–including many clean and non-toxic products–contain chemicals that can alter our hormones. Our luxurious, high-performing products are formulated to be free from these chemicals (known as endocrine disrupting chemicals or EDCs) and help detox, repair and protect the body.

How do EDCs impact my health?

Numerous scientific studies site that EDCs are linked to infertility, endometriosis, early puberty, altered nervous system function, immune function, certain cancers, respiratory problems, metabolic issues, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, growth, neurological and learning disabilities, and more. [2]

Other areas include:

Response to psychological stress
Neurological and behavioral changes
Reduced ability to handle stress
Reproduction: Some classes of EDCs (DDT, BPA, phthalates, PCBs, others) can affect reproductive health by mimicking or blocking the effects of male and female sex hormones
Growth and development: High exposures to EDCs during gestation can lead to low-birth weight, altered development, disrupted sexual development, weakened immune system
Cancer: Exposure to estrogen or androgen mimicking EDCs can promote breast and prostate cancer growth and/or interfere with hormonal cancer therapy
Prenatal exposure to some EDCs may after mammary gland development and increase breast cancer risk later-in-life

How can you claim your products are formulated without EDCs?

We start by excluding all known endocrine disrupting chemicals in our formulas – Phthalates, BPA or Parabens—and even leave out natural substances that have potential hormone disrupting impacts, like lavender and tea tree oil.

What is the difference between hormone-free and hormone healthy?

When a product is hormone-free, it means no hormones have been added to a product. Our hormone healthy standard at Hugh & Grace means that our products are formulated without any Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs).

Isn’t this the same as “clean” beauty and skincare?

The term “clean” is not regulated by the FDA and has no defined meaning. So, products that are marketed as “clean” may not be much cleaner than traditional products, and even many popular “clean” products may contain EDCs. Our products meet or exceed the standards of nearly every “clean” certification on the market (see our list of facility certifications below).

Why do I need to reduce my Chemical Exposure?

Toxic chemical exposure in our daily environment have been shown to be responsible for as much as 70% of chronic disease, according to scientific studies and Million Marker, an organization dedicated to measuring individual toxic exposure and its reduction. [3][4]

Are your products safe for sensitive skin?

Yes, our products are generally considered safe for sensitive skin. We do not use harsh surfactants or solvents. Our products are plant-based and gentle for the skin. We always recommend a patch test prior to regular use.

Do I need to get rid of all of my other products to use yours?

No. Our products are designed to work on their own or with other products. Many of our customers have found that our products provide multiple benefits, which has allowed them to reduce the number of products they use on a regular basis. This helps to reduce their chemical exposure (and can save time and money!).

How should I store my Hugh & Grace products?

The best place to store your Hugh & Grace products is in a cool, dry place, and out of direct sunlight with the lids securely tightened.

How do you ensure that any plastic packaging is safe and does not leach?

We use glass or paper as much as possible and opt for BPA-Free Safe Plastic when necessary (Like with our Body Polish that is used in the shower).

What are BPAs?

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that is used in making polycarbonate (clear and hard) plastics and epoxy resins (can coatings). Polycarbonate plastics are often used in storing food and beverages, while epoxy resins are present in some dental sealant and used to coat food cans and bottle tops. [5]

What are Phthalates?

Phthalates are chemicals that make plastics more flexible and durable. Phthalates are also used as solvents for materials such as adhesives (glues), detergents, plastic clothing (raincoats), perfumes, soaps and hair sprays. Common sources of phthalates include the above personal care products, as well as some children’s toys, plastic packaging film, and cleaning supplies. [6]

What are PUFAs?

We keep our reduction of chemical exposure mission top of mind. PUFAS are actually very good for skin, as demonstrated in the links below.

Overall, the identification and quantitative measurement of lipid oxidation products in skin are scarce. It’s an old claim with limited research. [7]

A study published by Oregon State University Micronutrient Information Center stated that topical application of PUFA’s increased the linoleic acid (LA) content in the epidermis, or top most layer of skin. The research also stated that application of PUFAS to skin normalized transepidermal water loss (TEWL), helping to prevent damage to the skin barrier function, and reduced skin scaliness after two weeks of daily application. [8]

Research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences– which studied many plant oils, including PUFA oils like pomegranate, rosehip, borage, and almond – concluded that plant oils may act synergistically when applied topically, supporting the skin barrier and antioxidant activity, and promoting wound healing and anti-carcinogenic properties. [9]

One of the largest causes of skin aging is sun exposure. It is the sun itself and the reactions UV rays cause within cells that create that damage, not PUFAs on skin. As much as 80% of facial aging is attributable to UV exposure alone. UVA rays penetrate into the deep layers of skin and damage your DNA. Only avoiding sun exposure prevents this damage. By avoiding use of PUFA oils people are actually eliminating one of the key ways to assist skin with repairing damage from sun exposure. [10]

You talk a lot about antioxidants. What are those, again?

Antioxidants are a compound that inhibits oxidation, a chemical reaction that can damage cells. Antioxidants help protect your body, inside and out, from damage caused by free-radicals and pollution. This damage causes aging, melasma, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, redness and damages our DNA. What goes on your skin gets in your skin, so when you apply antioxidants to your skin, they can help protect your skin from the outside in!

Are your ingredients organic?

Our ingredients are pharmacopeia grade, which means they meet and exceed US pharmacopeia standards. Most consumer products that are certified organic are not truly organic at all due to uncontrollable cross-pollination and other natural factors that pollute the production of organic materials. Instead, we focus on creating natural, high-performing, hormone healthy products to help you reduce your chemical exposure. [13]

Are your products FDA approved?

Our products are considered cosmetics by the FDA and are not subject to FDA approval, but we do not use any FDA prohibited chemicals.

Can you share some details around the facilities where the products are made?

Our facilities are cGMP Certified (Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations enforced by the FDA). Some of our facilities are ISO, Kosher, Halal, FDA, Made In the USA, Fair Trade, Non-GMO, OTC, and Organically Certified.

How are your products tested and where are they tested for their purities?

We use multiple third-party testing facilities for various testing (RIPT, PET, MICRO, Material Identification, clinicals, heavy metals, etc.).

Do you challenge test your products? What do you test for in your challenge tests/shelf-life tests? Do you pass those tests?

Yes. We do challenge testing on our products, and, yes, we pass! A challenge test is a procedure in which a product is challenged by exposure to specified types of bacteria and fungi to determine whether it is adequately preserved. Assessment of preservative efficacy is needed over the intended shelf-life of that product.

Do you work with a cosmetic chemist or formulator when coming up with your formulas?

Yes. We work with both cosmetic chemists and award-winning natural formulators when developing formulas and sourcing raw materials to ensure our products are both high-performing and hormone healthy.

Do you third party test all products for potential heavy metals or contamination?

Yes. We conduct excessive testing on all products and materials.

Are any of your manufacturer’s ISO certified GMP standards?

Yes. Our product manufacturers are ISO certified and follow GMP standards.

Do you keep up-to-date on the current scientific literature on the safety of various ingredients?

Yes. Our formulators and our medical advisory board, which is made up of hormone and fertility experts, help us stay current on all scientific literature regarding the safety of various ingredients.

What certifications do your production facilities provide?

Animal Testing Statement
CARB-VOC Letter
Certificate of Analysis
Certificate of Origin
EU Allergen
EU Cosmetic Regulation
Food Allergy
GHS Hazard Breakdown
GMO Letter
GRAS
Heavy Metal Statement
IFRA 50 Statement
Kosher Halal Letter
Nanoparticles Statement
Naturalness Letter
Petrochemical Statement
Phthalate Preservatives Parabens
Prop 65-CSCA Disclosure
REACH Letter
Residual Solvent Statement
RSPO Letter
Safer Choice
Safety Data Sheet
SB 258, SB 312, and NY DEC
SB484 Cal Safe Cosmetics Act

Sources:

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