TRANSPARENCY

Clean goes deeper than skincare, and you can hold us to that–because being proud of our products means being proud of our practices.

Ingredient Safety

Our goal is to bring you the best products with superior technology, and that starts with safety. We set the highest standards to ensure every material and finished formula meets industry standards for purity, quality and performance—with no exceptions. Here’s the low-down on the most common ingredients you have been asking about.

What are parabens?

Parabens are preservatives used to keep health and beauty products fresh by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. These compounds are amongst the most commonly used cosmetic preservatives in the world and have a long history of safe use. They have been extensively studied and determined to be safe for usage in personal care products by expert scientific panels and governmental regulatory agencies. None of the extensive research carried out on parabens has indicated a potential risk of harm to human health and parabens remain amongst the safest of preservatives in today’s cosmetic products. 

Parabens are also naturally occurring in many foods that we enjoy as part of a healthy lifestyle. These include cucumbers, carrots, onions, blueberries and cherries.

Does Biore® Skincare use them?

Short story: Our cleansers, masks, toners, and scrubs are paraben-free. Our pore strips do contain the minimal amount of methylparaben required to function as a preservative, which is a safe paraben for cosmetic use.

Want the Long Story?

Methylparabens are the most common preservative used in food and cosmetics. In the United States, methylparaben and propylparaben are recognized as safe by the FDA.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal organization responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, etc.

Other independent groups, the American Cancer Society, the FDA, and Cancer Research Centers, have looked for many different causes for cancer but have never found any evidence of risk from parabens.

What are sulfates?

Sulfates are surfactants that provide the key cleansing mechanism to lift away dirt & oil. They are the ingredient that creates the foamy lather you get when you brush your teeth or wash your hair or face. In rare cases, certain sulfates can irritate some skin types, which is why you might have heard or read about an increase in sulfate-free products.

Does Biore® Skincare use them?

Short story: Yes, but only Sodium Laureth Sulfates (abbreviated as SLES), which are gentler on the skin than other types of sulfates. When we do use sulfates, we only use them in products that you rinse off; therefore, the risk of irritation is very low.

Want the long story?

Sulfates trap dirt and oils from the skin so that they can be rinsed away with water. Contrary to some Internet rumors, sulfates are proven to be safe and effective. While many Bioré® cleansers are made with a non-sulfate cleansing technology, SPT (Skin Purifying Technology), we do still incorporate some sulfate agents, so if you are sensitive to sulfates, always check our label for “sodium laureth sulfate” (abbreviated as SLES).

What is salicylic acid?

Salicylic Acid is a commonly used and FDA approved ingredient in over-the-counter acne products. It is a multi-functional ingredient that works to treat and help prevent breakouts while also boosting the release of dead skin cells helping to prevent clogged pores. Used at lower levels, it can act as a preservative to keep cosmetic products safe.

Does Biore® Skincare use them?

Short story: Yes, mainly in our products that help treat acne.

Want the long story?

Salicylic Acid is a USFDA-approved Acne Active Agent, which means there is extensive proof of its safety and effectiveness. It's oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate past your skin’s sebum to get really deep into your pores. Bonus: it won’t stain or bleach your washcloths or bedsheets. You can find it in our acne’s outta here!® line of products (just look for the orange bar on our packaging!)

What is the role of fragrances in Biore® products?

Fragrances add that sensory smell element that gives you the full Biore® experience. However, if you know your skin is sensitive to fragrance, it's a good idea to check our product labels.

Does Biore® Skincare use them?

Short story: Yes, only the best! Anyone order an instant mood booster? Yes, please!

Want the long story?

Every fragrance material we use is held to the same stringent standards as all other Kao ingredients to ensure a safe experience for our consumers. We collaborate with some of the top perfume houses in the world to identify and create safe, high-quality scents. Click here to learn more.

What is the role of Alcohol in beauty care?

Alcohol is a universal, commonly used solvent ingredient that tones, cleanses, and disinfects skin. It also helps formulas mix together consistently.

Does Biore® Skincare use them?

Short story: Yes, in some of our products, such as our Witch Hazel Pore Clarifying Toner.

Want the long story?

Alcohol is a key cleansing ingredient used to break down skin residue like oils/sebum, as well as makeup and cleanser residue. Alcohol also provides astringency to tone the skin. When used properly in formulations like ours, alcohol is safe and effective.

What are microbeads?

Microbeads are an exfoliant found in many rinse-off cosmetics. Their use in toothpaste and skincare products has raised some environmental concerns if the microbeads contain plastic.

Does Biore® Skincare use them?

Short story: No, Bioré® products do not contain any plastic microbeads. We use natural exfoliating alternatives, such as jojoba beads.

Want the long story?

For years, none of our products have contained plastic microbeads. Our Formulation Scientists purposefully design our formulas to avoid these materials while still providing the benefits and experience you expect.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are always looking for ways to improve our products to protect the environment.

Our Fragrance Philosophy

Our fragrance philosophy places the utmost importance on research, analysis, assessment and transparency. Our in-house team of experts is dedicated to creating fragrances that can be enjoyed safely. That’s why our formulations are compliant and backed by safety data and meet the guidelines of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). And we are striving to improve transparency, so that accurate information about products and ingredients is accessible for everyone.

WE LOVE ANIMALS

We know you LOVE animals and so do we! That’s why all the Bioré® products in our western markets are cruelty-free and vegan friendly. We do not test our products or the materials within them on animals and we do not use any animal-derived ingredients.

We follow the conventions of the EU and other governmental bans on animal testing for cosmetics. Occasionally, laws and regulations require testing of materials outside of the cosmetics category. Since the 1980’s, Kao Corporation has been actively working together with industry associations and relevant third parties to find robust alternatives to animal testing, which have been successfully adopted as international guidelines.

What Clean Means to Bioré

Bioré Clean products are created to address your concerns around specific ingredients. While all ingredients used by Bioré are safe (when used as instructed), we recognize your desire to avoid specific ingredients altogether.

Bioré Clean goes above and beyond the expectations of other clean products. Often, so-called clean formulas have poor performance resulting from removal of ingredients. Bioré will not sacrifice performance as we develop our Bioré Clean products - each meets our high standards to deliver the promised benefits.

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