What Ingredients We Don’t Use (And Why It Matters)
At VÆR, our formulas are as much about what we leave out as what we put in. Just because an ingredient is “non-toxic” doesn’t mean it’s nourishing. We believe every component of your skincare should serve a biological purpose, support long-term barrier health, and be fully compatible with your skin.
This article breaks down the most common ingredients you won’t find in VÆR products - and why that matters.
Water: The Illusion of Hydration
Water is the first ingredient in most lotions and creams, but that doesn’t mean it hydrates your skin. In fact, water-based formulas often require a long list of supporting chemicals to function: emulsifiers to bind water and oil, preservatives to prevent bacterial growth, and thickeners to create texture. The result? A product that feels light and fresh - but delivers little lasting nourishment.
Water evaporates. Quickly. And without enough supporting fats and occlusives, it can actually leave skin drier than before. This “flash hydration” effect is often mistaken for effectiveness, when in reality, it's a short-lived illusion.
VÆR skips water entirely. Our balms are 100% active ingredients - no dilution, no evaporation, and no need for chemical stabilizers. You get only what your skin is actually hungry for: rich, stable, lipid-based moisture that repairs and protects the skin barrier with every use.
Glycerin: The Moisture Mimic
Glycerin is one of the most common ingredients in moisturizers, celebrated for its ability to draw in water. But for many skin types, especially dry or reactive ones, glycerin can create the illusion of hydration without real nourishment.
It’s a humectant, not an emollient or occlusive. That means it pulls water from wherever it can - including from the deeper layers of your skin if the air is dry. This can lead to tightness, stickiness, and even increased transepidermal water loss when used without proper supporting lipids.
VÆR avoids glycerin because we prioritize lipid-rich, bioavailable moisture from ingredients like tallow and jojoba oil. Your skin doesn’t need a film that mimics hydration, it needs ingredients that actually feed and repair it.
Emulsifiers: Hidden Barrier Disruptors
Emulsifiers are used to keep water and oil mixed in lotions and creams. They’re technically “safe,” but they often remain on the skin after application and can disrupt the lipid matrix over time.
What does that mean? Repeated exposure to emulsifiers may lead to barrier breakdown, increased dryness, or skin that becomes dependent on constant reapplication to feel balanced.
Since VÆR is anhydrous (water-free), we don’t need emulsifiers. This keeps our formulas purer, more stable, and more supportive of your skin’s natural resilience.
Dimethicone and Silicones: Surface-Only Softness
Dimethicone is a type of silicone that coats the skin, creating a smooth, slippery feel. It’s used in nearly every modern “lightweight” moisturizer because it feels like instant softness.
But here’s the problem: it’s synthetic, occlusive, and biologically inert. It doesn’t nourish or support your skin. It sits on the surface, masks irritation, and can prevent the skin from properly breathing or releasing toxins.
VÆR doesn’t believe in fake softness. We’d rather support real skin health with nourishing fats and active botanicals than rely on silicone illusions.
Parabens and Synthetic Preservatives: Not Worth the Risk
Parabens and many synthetic preservatives are effective at preventing microbial growth - but they come with concerns about hormone disruption, skin sensitivity, and cumulative exposure.
Even in small doses, these compounds don’t offer anything helpful to your skin. They’re included to extend shelf life and reduce product liability - not to benefit you.
Our water-free formulations are inherently more stable and resistant to microbial contamination. This allows us to use minimal preservation strategies without relying on questionable synthetics.
Seed Oils: Cheap, Fragile, and Inflammatory
Most modern skincare - especially “natural” brands - uses sunflower, grapeseed, safflower, or canola oils as their base. These seed oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are fragile, unstable, and prone to oxidation.
When these oils oxidize, whether on the shelf or on your skin, they create free radicals that damage collagen, trigger inflammation, and accelerate aging.
At VÆR we avoid highly processed seed-oils. We use only stable, skin-compatible fats like tallow, jojoba oil and slow pressed calendula, which resist oxidation and actually nourish your barrier.
“Non-Toxic” Isn’t the Same as Nourishing
Just because a product avoids toxic ingredients doesn’t mean it helps your skin. Many clean beauty products still use emulsifiers, seed oils, or silicone-like compounds that offer surface-level results while compromising the barrier long-term.
At VÆR, we hold a higher standard: biological compatibility. If your skin doesn’t recognize it, metabolize it, or benefit from it, we leave it out.
VÆR vs. Clean Drugstore vs. Natural Indie
Let’s compare:
- Drugstore "Clean" Brands: Often full of dimethicone, seed oils, emulsifiers, and synthetic fragrance - but are marketed as non-toxic.
- Indie Natural Brands: Sometimes better, but still use unstable oils, too many essential oils, or crowd-pleasing textures that prioritize feel over function.
- VÆR: Minimalist, stable, nutrient-dense formulas built from ingredients your skin already knows - tallow, jojoba, beeswax, calendula, and targeted essential oils under 2%.
We’re not trying to be the trendiest brand on the shelf. We’re trying to be the last one you ever want.
Conclusion: Trust the Omission
Skincare marketing is built on additions - more ingredients, more steps, more “actives.” But sometimes the most important choice is what not to include.
At VÆR, we’re proud of what’s missing: no synthetics, no emulsifiers, no fillers, and no skin barrier disruptors. Just ingredients with integrity - stable, nourishing, and biologically familiar.
Because when your skin is fed properly, it finally gets to heal.