Glossary
A naturally occurring mineral (sodium borate, Na2B4O7) historically used in cosmetics as a pH adjuster, emulsifier, and preservative. Borax has become controversial in skincare due to concerns about potential hormone disruption and reproductive toxicity at high exposure levels, leading many countries to restrict its use in cosmetics.
Borax has been used in cosmetics since the early 1900s, primarily as an emulsifier in cold cream formulations and as a mild preservative. It is effective at stabilizing oil-and-water mixtures and creating the smooth, creamy textures associated with traditional cold creams.
However, regulatory agencies have raised concerns about borax's safety in cosmetics. The European Union has classified boric acid and borates as Category 1B reproductive toxins and banned their use in cosmetics intended for children under 3. While concentrations used in cosmetics are typically low, the precautionary principle has led many natural skincare brands to reformulate without borax.
Modern natural skincare has moved beyond the need for borax. Beeswax serves as a natural emulsifier and texture agent in many products that once relied on borax for stability. Plant-derived emulsifiers like lecithin (from sunflowers) and cetearyl glucoside (from coconut and corn) provide additional options.
At Goodfriend Honey Co., we use a water-free formulation approach that eliminates the need for emulsifiers entirely. Since our products contain no water, there is nothing to emulsify, and no borax, no synthetic emulsifiers, and no preservatives are needed.
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral mined from evaporated lake deposits. However, natural does not automatically mean safe for all applications. Many natural substances require careful handling and appropriate dosing, and regulatory agencies have determined that borax requires restrictions in cosmetics.
Borax remains legal in cosmetics in the United States at low concentrations. Some brands continue to use it because it is inexpensive and effective as an emulsifier. However, the trend in clean beauty is away from borax due to the regulatory concerns in other markets.
No. Our formulations use beeswax as the primary structuring agent and do not require emulsifiers because they contain no water. This waterless approach gives us cleaner ingredient lists without compromising product performance.
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