RESPONSIBLE CHEMISTRY: How We Formulate for Skin Longevity

At INBAR+co, “clean” has never felt like enough.

We were born in a spa, not a boardroom, and our first responsibility has always been to the skin in front of us: reactive, tired, resilient, hormonal, changing. Over years of treatment and observation, one truth kept coming back to us:

The way you formulate is just as important as what you formulate with.

That’s why our first pillar is Responsible Chemistry—our way of bringing green chemistry, science-led ingredients, and an intact microbiome into a single, coherent promise.

This isn’t chemistry versus nature. It’s chemistry in service of skin.

What “Responsible Chemistry” Means at INBAR+co

Responsible Chemistry is our internal rulebook for every formula we create. In practice, it means:

• Using green-chemistry principles to minimize waste and unnecessary complexity

• Choosing science-led, biocompatible ingredients that support barrier function and long-term resilience

• Keeping the skin microbiome intact by respecting pH, surfactant mildness, and fragrance restraint

• Excluding petrochemical derivatives and microplastics

• Balancing performance, safety, and sensory experience—never sacrificing one entirely for the other

We are not interested in fear-based “free from” lists or vague purity claims. We are interested in cause and effect: what a formula does to your skin, to your microbiome, and to the world it eventually returns to.

Green Chemistry, Made Understandable

Green chemistry can sound abstract, so here is how we translate it into everyday formulation decisions:

1. Use only what’s needed
   We don’t pad formulas with cheap fillers, redundant texturizers, or stabilizers that do nothing for your skin. Every ingredient is there for a clear reason—structure, stability, or a direct benefit.

2. Favor low-impact processes
   We choose materials and manufacturing methods that reduce waste and energy use, and we avoid ingredients that require harsh, high-impact processing.

3. Avoid problematic chemistries
   We stay away from petrochemical derivatives and microplastics, and from occlusive films that create short-term surface perfection at the expense of long-term balance.

4. Design for end-of-life
   Responsible Chemistry doesn’t stop when the product leaves the tube. We pair our formulas with plastic-free packaging systems (aluminum tubes and bottles with aluminum caps, FSC-certified paper) so the impact of your ritual doesn’t outlive you by centuries.

Green chemistry, for us, is not aesthetic minimalism. It’s functional restraint.

Protecting the Intact Microbiome

Your skin is not just a surface—it’s an ecosystem.

A healthy microbiome supports barrier function, calms reactivity, and plays a quiet but constant role in how your skin ages. When we talk about Responsible Chemistry, we are also talking about not disturbing that ecosystem unnecessarily.

Here’s how that shows up in our formulas:

• Non-stripping cleansing
  Our cleansing systems are built around mild surfactants and pH that respect the acid mantle, so cleansing feels like returning to balance, not resetting to zero.

• Microbiome-respecting textures
  We avoid heavy occlusive films that trap heat and moisture in a way that stresses the microbiome over time. Instead, we focus on balanced emulsions, intelligent oils, and water-binding systems that let skin breathe.

• Fragrance restraint
  We do not use synthetic fragrance, and we consider the microbiome and barrier when working with aromatic components. Scent should support ritual, not drive sensitization.

• Barrier-supportive architecture
  We lean into lipids, humectants, and actives that support barrier repair and hydration pathways, which indirectly support a more resilient microbiome.

An intact microbiome is one of the quiet foundations of skin longevity. We protect it on purpose.

Why We Don’t Use Petrochemical Derivatives

There are ingredients that work on the skin, and there are ingredients that work with the skin.

Petrochemical derivatives can create a quick illusion of perfection—slip, gloss, a temporary smoothing effect—but they don’t meaningfully contribute to barrier repair, microbiome health, or cellular communication. Many also persist in the environment long after the product is gone.

Our decision to avoid petrochemical derivatives is about:

• Long-term barrier health rather than short-term occlusion

• Environmental responsibility—choosing materials that fit into a more circular, less persistent model

• Clarity of formulation—we want every element in our products to be doing something intentional for your skin

We’d rather work harder on the formulation side than ask your skin to do the extra work of adapting to materials that aren’t biologically aligned.

Performance Is Non-Negotiable

“Responsible” does not mean “underpowered.”

Because we were born in a spa environment, formulas that don’t perform simply don’t survive. When we say Responsible Chemistry, we mean chemistry that can stand up to real-world use:

• Serums that visibly improve tone, texture, or resilience over time

• Oils that support barrier recovery without feeling heavy or greasy

• Essences and treatments that enhance cell-to-cell communication and hydration

We work with science-led actives—including peptides, antioxidants, barrier lipids, and exosome-based technologies—so that your ritual is not just kind, but effective.

Responsible Chemistry is the way we keep those two things true at once.

Beyond Nature: When “Natural” Isn’t Automatically Better

Our philosophy, Beyond Nature, connects deeply to this pillar.

“Sustainable” doesn’t always mean “raw natural.” In some cases, nature-identical or responsibly engineered materials(produced via green chemistry, fermentation, or precision processes) offer a lower environmental footprint and better skin outcomes than a raw extract that is over-harvested or poorly standardized.

Our criteria are:

1. Does this ingredient respect skin biology (barrier, microbiome, communication)?

2. Does it align with green-chemistry principles?

3. Can we trace and trust its sourcing and processing?

4. Does it fit our no-petrochemical commitment?

If the answer is yes, we don’t discard an ingredient just because it’s “too scientific” or not romantic enough for marketing. We are not nostalgic about nature; we are respectful of it.

Skin Longevity: Responsible Chemistry vs “Anti-Aging”

Our primary audience are people old enough to see the first signs of time, but young enough to choose a different story than the one they grew up with.

We’re not here to freeze your face in time. We’re here to help your skin age well.

Responsible Chemistry supports longevity by:

• Protecting and repairing the barrier

• Respecting the microbiome

• Supporting cellular communication (for example, with exosome-based formulas)

• Reducing chronic, low-grade inflammation

• Enhancing night-time repair cycles

Instead of “anti-aging,” we focus on skin resilience, clarity, and comfort—the qualities that make skin look and feel good over decades, not just after a single treatment.

How We Test: The Living Formulation System

Responsible Chemistry doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s tested inside our Living Formulation System, the core of our spa-born science.

That means:

• Formulas are first developed as treatment prototypes and used in real protocols

• Estheticians track tolerance, texture, glow, and behavioral changes in skin over time

• Feedback loops inform small-batch refinements—adjusting concentrations, bases, and supporting ingredients

• We treat these observations as quasi-clinical: structured, documented, and serious, while acknowledging they are not a substitute for formal clinical trials

If a formula doesn’t hold up—for sensitive skin, hormonal shifts, barrier-impaired clients—it goes back to the lab. Responsible Chemistry is not just a list of rules; it’s a process.