The Cold, Hard Truth About Cold Processed Ingredients

The active ingredients that make cosmetics or cosmeceuticals effective must be blended together during the manufacturing process. Usually this requires extra ingredients called emulsifiers, and a lot of heat.

Heat is a necessary evil, because you risk losing some of the potency of the raw ingredients during this process. But what’s the alternative?

We have come up with an answer - "raw" cold processing.

Ao skincare products are manufactured using a special process that retains more of the ingredients’ raw potency. We steer clear of substances such as wax that need a lot of heat to blend with other ingredients.

Cold processing means we can deliver the most effective formulation of Bakuchiol, Retinal, Astaxanthin, Harakeke Seed Oil, and all our other ingredients. It also means we can avoid exposing your skin to some problematic chemicals.

Here’s the cold, hard truth about emulsifiers.

Esters, like polyethylene glycol or ethylene glycol, are called PEG esters and represent the most prominent group of petroleum-related emulsifiers. These emulsifiers make the creation of many beautiful, stable and unique emulsions possible, yet they are constantly under the scrutiny of the consumer. They are often called ethoxylated surfactants, as ethylene or propylene oxide is utilized in the chemical reaction. PEGs are either used alone or linked to other ingredients to enhance solubility into a product. Depending on the manufacturing process, PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide (a known carcinogen) and 1,4-dioxane (a possible carcinogen). PEGs are still being reviewed for genotoxic effects that can lead to mutations and cancer, but to date, nothing has been found.

You won’t find ‘cold processed’ on the labels of many skin products. But your skin will notice the difference over time.