Our Clean Standards

THE LEMON LAINE STANDARD

Every label, read before it reaches our shelves.

We've never believed in fear-based beauty. We'd much rather talk about what's in a product, like the beautiful botanicals and natural actives doing the real work, than scare you about what isn't. But we also believe you deserve the full picture. So here's the other side, shared openly: what we look for, what we leave out, and where we make our own call.

I spent almost two decades in natural beauty, buying, merchandising and developing products, before opening Lemon Laine in 2017. Nothing reaches our shelves until we've read it ingredient by ingredient.

— Laura, founder

What we look for

Clean is the starting point, not the whole story.

i.

Formulas that work

Results come first. A clean label means nothing if the product doesn't perform.

ii.

Botanicals and actives that earn their place

Plant oils, extracts and natural actives chosen for what they do for your skin, not just how they sound on a label.

iii.

Makers we know

Before we bring on any new brand, I talk with the founder directly. Who’s behind a brand, and why they made it, matters as much to us as what’s in the bottle.

What we leave out

No exceptions, however lovely the product.

  • Parabens
  • Phthalates
  • Formaldehyde releasers
  • MI / MCI preservatives
  • Chemical sunscreen filters
  • Cyclic silicones
  • Nitro and polycyclic musks
  • Animal musks
  • PFAS
  • BHA
  • Ethanolamines (DEA, TEA, MEA)
  • Triclosan
  • Hydroquinone and resorcinol
  • Toluene

Allowed with proof

Ingredients we accept only when the brand can show us the documentation.

i.

BHT, within EU limits

An antioxidant that keeps oils fresh. Allowed when the brand confirms it is within EU limits, and we nudge brands toward vitamin E.

ii.

Polysorbates and PEGs, with testing

Allowed when third-party testing shows 1,4-dioxane at or below 1 ppm, New York's legal limit.

Our call

Considered choices we stand behind.

i.

Responsibly sourced tallow

One of the oldest, most skin-friendly moisturizers there is, from grass-fed sources.

ii.

Disodium EDTA

Used in tiny amounts to keep formulas stable. We favor EDTA-free when we have the choice.

ON FRAGRANCE

Phthalates can hide behind the word "fragrance," so we ask every brand to confirm that theirs are phthalate-free.

A living standard

Formulas change and science evolves, and so does our list. Questions about a product? Ask us in the shop or write to hello@lemonlaine.com.