Why not mass produced?

The skincare industry has historically operated with far less oversight than many people realize. Companies are often allowed to list “fragrance” as a single ingredient, even though that one word can legally hide dozens — sometimes hundreds — of undisclosed chemical compounds protected as trade secrets. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for consumers to know exactly what they are putting on their skin, including ingredients that some research has raised concerns about for hormone disruption and long-term health effects.

Mass-produced products also rely heavily on preservatives, stabilizers, synthetic fillers, and petroleum-derived ingredients so they can sit on shelves for months or even years without changing texture, scent, or consistency. While many of these ingredients are considered acceptable for use, research is still evolving on how repeated daily exposure over decades may affect the body.

Your skin is your largest organ, and what you use on it matters.

That’s why I choose simple ingredients I feel good about using on my own family.

Cute Farmer Ingredients:
100% Organic Grass Fed Tallow
Beeswax
Jojoba Oil or Castor
Essential Oil

A typical ingredient list of mass-produced moisturizer:
Water (Aqua), Mineral Oil (Petrolatum), Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Hydroxide, BHT.

What this shows (in plain language)

  • Water + humectants (like glycerin): basic hydration base

  • Petroleum-derived ingredients (mineral oil, petrolatum, PEGs): create a “barrier” to seal moisture in

  • Silicones (dimethicone): give a smooth, silky feel

  • Emulsifiers/thickeners (PEGs, glyceryl stearate, carbomer): keep oil + water from separating

  • Preservatives (phenoxyethanol, parabens): prevent bacteria/mold so it lasts on shelves for years

  • pH adjusters & stabilizers (triethanolamine, sodium hydroxide, EDTA): keep formula stable

  • Fragrance (parfum): a catch-all term that can represent many undisclosed scent chemicals

  • Antioxidants (BHT): help prevent product degradation. BHT stands for butylated hydroxytoluene. There is ongoing debate about its safety: Some studies have raised concerns about hormone or liver effects