Our Standards
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
At ORESTA, we believe in healthy beauty. We believe that an educated consumer is a healthy consumer. We are committed to educating & empowering you to understand ingredients and make healthy beauty choices.
We strive to be a catalyst for change in the highly under-regulated clean beauty industry. We support ingredient transparency, ethical practices, sustainability and kindness to the planet.
we do the work for you
At ORESTA, you can feel confident that with what you're putting on your skin, hair and body is safe and effective.
We have curated and carefully vetted a selection of over 30 clean beauty and wellness brands and 400 products for beauty lovers to make informed beauty choices.
Every product on our shelf and in our skin care clinic has been tried and tested to nourish and support your skin.
What does Clean Beauty mean?
Clean beauty is an unregulated term. It often signifies products that prioritize natural ingredients or those known to be non-harmful to human health. At ORESTA, we define clean beauty as products that harness the power of nature—utilizing natural, botanical ingredients while excluding any potentially unsafe or irritating substances, even if natural.
While not all our carried products are certified organic, we have full confidence in the sustainable and safe sourcing practices adopted by each of our brand partners. Synthetic ingredients, if utilized, are minimal and carefully selected for their efficacy and have undergone rigorous testing for human safety.
Our commitment extends beyond personal health to the planet's well-being. We maintain an extensive list of ingredients you'll never find in our products due to their proven harmful impact on the environment, health, and skin.
Ingredients we say no to
An artificial preservative known to cause hormone disruption in the body
Alternate names: Butylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben
A chemical plasticizer added to give a product fragrance known to cause hormone disruption in the body.
Alternate names: Parfum, Fragrance, DBP (dibutyl phthalate), DINP (diisononyl phthalate), BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate), DNOP (di-n-octyl phthalate), DEHP (di-2-Ethylhexyl phthalate), DMP (dimethyl phthalate), DIDP (dodecyl phthalate), DEP (diethyl phthalate)
An inexpensive sulfate that acts as a detergent and foaming agent that is an irritant to the skin and is harmful to marine life when enters the water stream.
Alternate names: sodium laureth sulfate/sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), ammonium laureth sulfate (ALS), sodium stearyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSA), sodium coco sulfate
Used in deodorants as an anti-perspirant that cumulatively blocks sweat glands, making it carcinogenic.
Alternate names: Aluminum Chloride, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum Hydroxybromide, and Aluminum Zirconium Chlorohydrate (such as trichlorohydrex, tetrachlorohydrex, pentachlorhydrex, and octachlorohydrex)
A petroleum-based compound used to make a cosmetic cream base and a preservative. It is a skin irritant and contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, making it carcinogenic.
Alternate names: 1,2-dihydroxypropane, 1,2-propanediol, methyl glycol, and trimethyl glycol
A preservative used in cosmetics that releases formaldehyde which is carcinogenic and a skin irritant.
Alternate names: DMDM hydantoin, methylene glycol, quaternium 15, and 3 dioxane
More often, it can be released from preservatives[3][4] such as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, bromopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)and glyoxal.
Synthetic dyes that are derived from coal and tar and are often contaminated with lead and arsenic. Their harmful effects include neurotoxicity, cancer risk, skin irritation, rash, eczema, and hyper-pigmentation.
Alternate names: Carmine, Titanium dioxide, manganese, Chromium Oxide, Ultramaries, Blue 1 Lake, Green 3, and FD&C Yellow 6
A cleansing agent and fragrance that breaks down to cancer-causing nitrosamines.
Alternate names: Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine, DEA, TEA, Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, TEA-lauryl sulfate
A petroleum-based product that is linked to cancer and causes skin irritations with prolonged skin contact.
Alternate names: paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, sera microcristallina, microcrystalline wax, ozokerite, ceresine isoparaffin, paraffin, synthetic wax
A synthetic-based preservative that is carcinogenic, hormone disruptive as well as irritating to the skin.
Alternate names: Butylated Hydroxyanisole, Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Silicon-based compounds used in moisturizers, haircare and deodorants that are harmful to marine life.
Alternate names: cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), cyclopentasiloxane (D5), cyclohexasiloxane (D6), and cyclomethicone
A preservative and foaming agent in beauty products that is harmful/toxic to aquatic life.
Alternate names: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, tetrasodium EDTA and disodium EDTA
A skin-lightening chemical, a bleach, used in skin brightening products that can cause skin cancer due to decreased melanin production and organ system toxicity.
Alternate names: Hydroquinone, Tocopheryl acetate
A preservative, binding agent, texture enhancer, fragrance and foaming agent that is a skin irritant, neurotoxic and carcinogenic.
Alternate names: EGME, Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, Glycol monomethyl ether, 2-Methoxyethanol
A preservative in beauty products that has been linked to lung toxicity, allergic reactions, and possible neurotoxicity.
Alternate names: Kathon, Kathon CG, Kathon 886, Euxyl K100, Acticide, Algucid, Algucid CH 50, Amerstat 250, GR 856,Groton TK2, Metatin GT, Mitco CC, Mx 323 Parmeto
A compound added to cosmetics to make them ‘long-lasting” or “water-resistant” that has been linked to birth defects, cancer and thyroid issues.
Alternate names: PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane, perfluorononyl dimethicone, perfluorodecalin, and perfluorohexane
PFASs or PFCs
An antiseptic used in acne, eczema and psoriasis treatment products that is a skin irritant and hormone disruptor.
Alternate names: 1,3-benzenediol, Resorcin 1,3-dihydroxybenzene(m-hydroxybenze, m-dihydroxyphenol)
A solvent in nail products and hair dyes that can cause headaches, dizziness and cracked skin as well as more serious effects such as reproductive damage and respiratory complications.
Alternate names: toluene sulfonamide/formaldehyde resin (TSFR), methylbenzene, phenylmethane
An antibacterial used in personal care products that is a hormone disruptor and carcinogenic.
Alternate names: Triclocarban, Irgasan DP-300, Lexol 300, Ster-Zac, Cloxifenolum
Sustainability at Oresta
Sustainability remains an ongoing challenge for the beauty industry. We actively strive for maximum sustainability, curating brands that prioritize the health of our planet. The majority of our products are thoughtfully packaged to minimize waste and promote sustainable practices.
We continue to encourage our brand partners to pursue the most sustainable options while holding ourselves accountable to our own sustainability efforts.
Our Recycle Program
Recognizing the alarming increase in waste production, with a staggering 10,000% rise over a century, we acknowledge the pressing need for recycling. Disturbingly, 25% of waste finds its way into our oceans, forming immense garbage gyres.
To help combat this, ORESTA has partnered with Terracycle, an innovative recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials.
Bring your empty containers* to one of our ORESTA locations, to ensure they evade landfills and contribute to a more sustainable beauty industry. Bring 5+ empty containers* to an ORESTA location, and receive $5 off your purchase.
*Containers must be thoroughly cleaned, with no product residue remaining and must have been purchased at ORESTA. The discount will apply to any purchase made at the time of drop off.