"How Safe Is This For My Skin?"

At by Sasha Skincare Co., we want to ensure that everyone feels safe and comfortable using our products. We know that some of the ingredients listed in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs sound confusing and may leave you wondering: "How safe is this for my skin?" Rest assured, we always deep-dive into our research when picking out our ingredients and make sure to keep you in-the-know about all their great benefits and the reasons why we choose to formulate our skincare products with them.

There are a lot of reasons why we formulate with the ingredients we fell in love with, and we can’t wait to share them with you too! Let’s dive into all the different ingredients in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs and why they are so beneficial to your skin.

Disclaimer: by Sasha Skincare Co. always informs our consumers in a transparent manner about the ingredients used in our products. We apply the strictest regulations with regards to labelling wherever our products are sold.

 

Sugar

Sugar (sucrose) is the highlight ingredient (duh) in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs and is long-known to provide clear, smooth, and healthy-looking skin with regular, consistent use in your skincare routine.

Exfoliation. The tiny granular sugar particles make sugar an excellent exfoliant and gently polishes away dead skin cells and impurities for clearer, smooth skin. Sugar particles dissolve as you exfoliate, while your skin gets to absorb all that sugary goodness. Sugar is safe and gentle for your skin, as well as for the environment.

Helps reduce and prevent in-grown hairs. Using sugar as an exfoliant polishes away dead skin cells that may be clogging your hair follicles. This allows your hair follicles to breathe and release the potential for in-grown hairs to occur as new hairs are growing out.

Natural humectant. What’s a humectant? A humectant is a substance that draws moisture from the environment, locking it into your skin and keeping your skin well hydrated. If you’re known to have dry skin or lips, sugar may be your saviour. Sugar body and lip scrubs (coming soon!) are great to use in the winter and help your skin stay hydrated and smooth.

Helps with signs of aging. Sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid. Alpha hydroxy acids help stimulate cell regeneration, by breaking down the bond between cells, which encourages younger looking skin. Glycolic acid is commonly used in skincare to treat sun-damaged and aging skin. Plus, sugar also helps balance your skin, meaning it won’t become too oily or dry which in turn helps with signs of aging.

 

Sunflower Oil

We absolutely LOVE sunflower (Helianthus annuus) oil in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs!

We know that you’ll fall in love with sunflower oil, just as much as we do once you learn about all its great skincare benefits.

Rich in linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is a fatty acid that naturally occurs in our skin and helps support our skins natural moisture barrier. Linoleic acid helps keep our skin nourished, protects skin from external stressors, and is beneficial for troublesome areas such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis. Linoleic acid also provides great nourishment for dry, irritated, or sensitive skin.

Helps prevent skin dehydration. Sunflower oil is known to help reduce trans-epidermal water loss (dehydration) and help keep the skin hydrated.

Contributes to softer and smoother skin. Sunflower oil is considered an emollient. An emollient is a substance that helps moisturize, soften, and smooth dry and rough skin while also soothing irritated skin.

Acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect the skin from free radicals (unstable molecules), that can damage skin cells. Since sunflower oil is rich in Vitamin E (which is an antioxidant) it does a pretty good job at protecting our skin from signs of aging due to sun exposure, air pollution, and other external stressors.

Helps unclog pores. Sunflower oil is known to be non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores. A small amount can help to decongest pores by clearing them of dead skin cells.

Very gentle on skin and great for all skin types. Has an ultra-gentle, skin-smoothing bubbly lather, but does not act as a cleanser.

Our sunflower oil is organically sourced from Midland, Ontario.

 

Coconut Oil

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil is hands-down a fan-favourite and a well known staple in the skincare and beauty world.

We could dedicate an entire blog post to coconut oil, but fortunately for us, the benefits of incorporating coconut oil in our skincare routine are already very well known and there’s little left to educate you about. We’ll highlight our favourites!

Lauric Acid

• Medium-chain triglyceride (saturated fat) that is a type of fatty acid found in coconut oil.
• Helps to eliminate and prevent various viruses as it contains antimicrobial properties.
• Contributes to lather in soap. A lot of surfactants (foaming/cleansing agents) are derived from coconut oil.
• Offers intense moisture.

Capric Acid & Caprylic Acid

• Another medium-chain triglyceride.
• Contributes to antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
• Helps prevent the spread of bacteria, making it effective for use on acne-prone skin.

Linoleic Acids

• Polyunsaturated fat.
• Helps with wound healing.
• Anti-inflammatory properties.
• Soothes acne and reduces your chances of future outbreaks.
• Promotes moisture retention in skin and hair.

Oleic Acids

• Monounsaturated fat.
• Helps to maintain the softness, suppleness, and radiance of your skin and hair.
• Helps to reduce the appearance of aging, such as premature wrinkles and fine lines.
• Exhibits antioxidant properties.
• When applied topically, oleic acids help to prevent joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

 Polyphenols

• Found in virgin coconut oil.
• Helps repair dry, damaged skin.
• Helps to improve skin elasticity.
• Helps to enhance moisture levels in skin.
• Soothes inflammation.
• Helps to protect skin against UV rays.
• Helps with enhancing skin cell growth.
• Contributes to the scent and antioxidant properties of coconut oil.
• Boosts skin circulation.

A Little Side Note On Fractionated Coconut Oil

• Stays in oil form and is considered the liquid version of coconut oil.
• Long-chain triglycerides are removed, while the short and medium-chain triglycerides remain to create a lightweight liquid oil.
• Not considered fully “natural”
• Listed as “caprylic triglycerides” on ingredients labels.

Pumpkin Seed Oil

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Seed Oil is included in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs, because it is rich in zinc and contains a ton of skin-benefiting vitamins and omega fatty acids.

Since discovering pumpkin seed oil, and its many hidden benefits, we just had to include it in our moisturizing shea sugar scrub formulas.

Pumpkin seed oil’s nourishing and conditioning qualities make it a fantastic choice for troublesome skin and is also known to benefit those with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Omega-3 (linolenic) fatty acids. Helps reduce inflammation, keeping skin calm and less prone to irritation.

Omega-6 (linoleic) fatty acids. Maintains the skin's barrier, preventing moisture loss and keeping the skin hydrated.

Omega-9 fatty acids. Offers deep hydration and helps improve skin elasticity.

Zinc. Promotes cellular turnover, helps firm skin, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Vitamin A and beta-carotene. Promotes cellular turnover, helps with wound healing, helps to improve acne, brightens and firms skin, and helps even out fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes. Antioxidants of Vitamin A help protect the skin from sun damage.

Vitamin B2. Great for dry skin and acne-prone skin. Helps to bring out an improved skin complexion and glow.

Vitamin C Helps with the production of collagen while retaining the skin’s elasticity and also plumping and building firmness. Balances skin’s natural oils, improves complexion/skin dullness, smooths skin’s texture, and provides oxidative stress protection. Vitamin C has similar benefits to niacinamide.

Vitamin B2. Great for dry skin and acne-prone skin. Helps to bring about an improved skin tone and glow.

 

Shea Butter

A lot of people will say, “Shea butter is overrated!” And we say, “As it should be!” Shea (Butyrospermum parkii) butter is a wonderful, amazing, magical, all-natural, skin-benefiting ingredient.

You’ve probably already heard all you need to know (and more) about shea butter, so we won’t dig too deep into things, but we’ll highlight our favourite reasons for using shea butter in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs.

Safe for all skin types. Shea butter is gentle and great for all skin types, especially dry or sensitive skin.

Does not trigger nut allergies. Shea butter is made entirely from plant fat, so it’s protein-free. Proteins in nuts trigger an allergic reaction and are considered as allergens. Shea butter is allergen-free.

Revitalizing Antioxidants. Shea butter provides essential nutrients and antioxidants that reduce the appearance of blemishes and scars, while leaving your skin soft and supple. Antioxidants prevent cell damage and help maintain aging skin by firming and reducing wrinkles.

Vitamin A. An antioxidant that works to increase skin cell turnover rate and helps to smooth the skins surface, helping to reduce the appearance of scars as well. Vitamin A has skin plumping properties that work by stimulating the production of collagen, which keeps skin from sagging.

Vitamin E. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and is naturally found in our skin’s sebum. The drier your skin, the less Vitamin E you’re producing. The major form of Vitamin E found in shea butter is alpha-tocopherol (1 of 8 forms), which contains the highest antioxidant activity. Vitamin E in shea butter also helps our skin by preventing cellular damage and boosting moisture.

Hydrating. Shea butter is great for hydration and helps calm our skin. It absorbs into the skin effortlessly and protects our skin from extreme temperatures. Acting as an emollient, shea butter helps keep moisture locked into skin, combating dryness and calming irritation.

Helps improve eczema. One of the reasons eczema flares up is because there is not enough fatty acids in our skin, which makes our skin unable to keep irritants and germs at bay. Shea butter is known to have great benefits at reducing eczema symptoms because of the high linoleic acid content, a fatty acid that’s found in our skin. Linoleic acid plays a crucial role in protecting skin and can significantly help to reduce eczema symptoms.

Contains fatty acids. Fatty acids present in shea butter help lubricate our skin and create a barrier that keeps moisture in, which gives us an appearance of “dewy” looking skin.

Protects skin from the sun. Shea butter is known to have small sun protection factor (SPF) properties, but not enough to prevent sun damage or sunburn on its own. When combined with other ingredients to provide proper SPF levels, you get all the soothing, moisturizing, and anti-aging benefits of shea butter, plus complete protection from the sun.

Allergic to latex? Avoid unrefined/raw shea butter if you have an allergy to latex. Raw shea butter contains latex, so people with allergies to latex should avoid shea butter or make sure they are using refined shea butter.

Update For 2025

If you’ve already been purchasing our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs, you’ll notice a HUGE improvement to our products released in mid-2025. After spending some more time researching our ingredients, we decided to switch from Organic Refined Shea Butter to Organic RAW (unrefined) Shea Butter sourced from Ghana. We initially used Refined Shea Butter in our products because we preferred that they were softer to work with and were unscented, but we realized that about 75% (so pretty much all) of the skin-benefiting properties are removed from Refined Shea Butter. We truly value picking out ingredients that will provide you with the most benefit for your money, by giving you the healthiest skin you’ve ever had after using our products!

 

Mango Butter

Mango (Mangifera indica) butter is derived from the seeds of the mango fruit and is enriched with antioxidants, emollients, and Vitamins A and E, making it a useful addition to our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs.

Excellent hydration for dry skin. Mango butter is an excellent emollient that rebuilds our natural skin barrier. Mango butter is extremely moisturizing and can be used to help treat dry skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.

Produces Salicylic Acid. When mango butter comes into contact with oxygen, it produces salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is an excellent exfoliant that works by softening a specific protein in our skin called keratin. This helps remove the top layer of the skin that has become scaly, itchy, and dry.

Provides protection again UV rays. Antioxidants and vitamins found in mango butter help prevent premature signs of aging caused by UV exposure. Vitamin A can help reduce sun-related skin damage, and phytosterols which help support a healthy skin barrier. Vitamin C can help improve collagen production, the structural protein in skin responsible for keeping skin smooth and firm. Vitamin E can help fight environmental stressors such as UV rays and pollution. When combined, Vitamin C and E are known to provide protection for your skin against environmental damage.

Protects and repairs skin. Mango butter contains triterpenes, which are a class of natural compounds found in plants. Triterpenes have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties which can help protect and repair dry and irritated skin. Triterpenes also contain healing properties, so mango butter is often used to help reduce and soften the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks.

 

Emulsifying Wax NF

Emulsifying Wax NF is a vegan, plant-based, fatty-alcohol, cosmetic ingredient used in skincare products. Its primary purpose is to bind oil and water together to keep products stabilized, such as body butters, sugar scrubs, and lotions. It’s derived from plant/vegetable oils and is biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

Used in by Sasha Skincare Co. moisturizing shea sugar scrubs, emulsifying wax NF binds the oils and butters together and keeps our final product stabilized in texture and consistency.

Moisturizing properties. Emulsifying Wax NF helps lock in moisture leaving skin smooth and hydrated. It creates a barrier on the skin, helping to prevent moisture loss, and leading to improved skin hydration and a more supple appearance. It’s especially beneficial during the winter season, helping to reduce dry skin during that colder, drier time of year.

Enhances shelf life of products. Emulsifying wax NF contributes to the improved texture and stability of skincare products and extends the shelf life of products by preventing the separation of ingredients. Keeping the product stable helps deliver active ingredients into the skin more effectively.

Safe for all skin types. Commonly used in skincare products formulated for sensitive skin, emulsifying wax NF is designed to be non-irritating, and is great for easily irritated and angry skin.

 

Stearic Acid

Stearic acid is a fatty acid that functions as a thickener/hardener, emollient, and emulsifier. It also works as a very light cleansing and texture-enhancing ingredient in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs.

It isn't the same type of acid as the glycolic or salicylic acids you may be familiar with, and occurs naturally in butters (cocoa butter, shea butter, kokum butter) and some oils (plum, sunflower, coconut).

Stearic acid gives our shea sugar scrubs a more buttery, rich, and creamy feel, while also binding all the ingredients together.

Stearic acid may be vegan or animal-derived. At by Sasha Skincare Co. only uses vegan stearic acid.

Maintains skin barrier protection. Stearic acid protects our skin’s surface against water loss (dehydration) and helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. By strengthening the skins barrier, stearic acid helps with decreasing signs of aging.

Keeps skin soft and moisturized. Stearic acid is an emollient, meaning it works by softening and smoothing our skin and is used to add moisturizing properties to products. Stearic acid is a good choice for those with sensitive or irritated skin.

Shea butter. Shea butter naturally contains stearic acid. Body scrubs and body butters that are formulated with shea butter usually help reduce eczema symptoms.

Coconut oil. Coconut oil is another natural, stearic acid-containing, raw ingredient that could benefit dry, sensitive skin.

Helps cleanse the skin. Stearic acid is unique because it also works as a surfactant (skin cleanser) which is why it's found in many cleansing skincare products. Although it works as a surfactant, it is primarily used to thicken products and improve their texture. Unlike other surfactants (aka sulfates), stearic acid doesn't strip your skins natural oils with use.

 

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol, (not that kind of alcohol) derived from a fat such as coconut or sunflower oil. It is not the drying irritating kind of alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and definitely not ethyl alcohol (the main ingredient in alcoholic beverages).

Cetyl alcohol works as a thickener and adds body to our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs. Similar to Stearic Acid, it also helps bind ingredients together that would normally separate (oils and butters) and gives our shea sugar scrubs a powdery, silky finish. It extends the usefulness and safety of our products by improving their general stability and shelf life.

Cetyl alcohol is also an emollient, but does not have cleansing properties like Stearic Acid, and is popular in the skincare world for its moisturizing benefits.

Coconut & Vegetable Oils. Cetyl alcohol is commonly derived from coconut oil, which is high in fatty acids. Other vegetable oils you can find cetyl alcohol in include, olive oil, sunflower oil, and soybean oil, to name a few.

Shea Butter. Fatty acids found in shea butter, can be converted to make cetyl alcohol.

Jojoba Oil. Jojoba oil is derived from the seeds of the jojoba plant and contains fatty acids that can be converted into cetyl alcohol. Jojoba oil is a popular ingredient in skincare products because it closely resembles the natural oils produced by our skin! You can soon find jojoba oil in our new exfoliating lip sugar scrubs and body-quenching butters, releasing in Spring 2025!

Moisturizing properties. Cetyl alcohol is an emollient, which means it hydrates, softens, conditions, and smoothens the skin by forming a protective barrier that keeps moisture locked in. It’s not drying or irritating to our skin and this protective layer is necessary for skin barrier repair.

Soothing benefits. The calming properties of cetyl alcohol help to soothe and comfort the skin by reducing inflammation and irritation, which can weaken our skin’s protective barrier.

Non-comedogenic. This means that cetyl alcohol does not clog pores or contribute to acne breakouts. This makes cetyl alcohol a suitable choice for use in skincare products intended for acne-prone or sensitive skin.

 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is the hidden champion for boosting our skin's overall health and glow.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with several forms. The form alpha-tocopherol is the only one used by the human body, and is absorbed and accumulated in the body.

At concentrations less than 2%, Vitamin E is included to help extend the shelf life of skincare products. At concentrations of 2% and higher, Vitamin E helps extend shelf life and contributes to skincare benefits.

It is important to know that Vitamin E is not a preservative. Vitamin E can help extend the shelf life of skincare products by delaying the onset of rancidity, but it does nothing to prevent bacterial or fungal growth.

Antioxidant. Vitamin E helps to protect our skin from environmental damage and may also reduce sun damage by absorbing UVB rays and reducing your skin’s inflammatory response.

Staple for protecting the skin's barrier. Vitamin E increases our skin's ability to hold water which helps to prevent dry, dehydrated skin. This protected barrier ultimately reduces signs of aging such as fine lines, dullness, and uneven textures. Overall, Vitamin E locks in moisture, boosts glow, and reduces signs of aging.

Good for all skin types. Vitamin E is excellent for all skin types, especially dry or dehydrated skin, and is naturally found in our sebum (skin oil). Sebum helps create a natural barrier to keep moisture in our skin. 

Moisturizing and healing benefits. Vitamin E is naturally hydrating. It’s both a humectant and emollient, so it helps our skin absorb water and keeps it locked in. Vitamin E can also help to reduce itchiness as well as symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin.

 

Preservative

Preservatives are considered a must-have for those who sell handmade skincare products that will come into contact with water, and are necessary for our oil and butter-based moisturizing shea sugar scrubs.

Our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs, when paired with water, can create a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, so an effective preservative is definitely in order!

Phenoxyethanol is of synthetic origin and is a liquid preservative formulation which consists of phenoxyethanol and an emollient base (caprylyl glycol). The combination of these ingredients provides optimized protection against microbial growth from bacteria and yeast, while also giving our finished product an amazing feel.

Phenoxyethanol can also come from nature and is found in plants such as chicory and green tea.

If skincare products aren’t preserved correctly and become contaminated, they become very unsafe and harmful to use. Your skin becomes irritated, infected, and develops a rash.

Broad-spectrum activity against bacteria and mold. A preservative is used to prevent our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs from losing their potency or spoiling. Our preservative helps to prevent fungi, bacteria, and yeast from growing in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs. This gives them a longer shelf-life and ensures safety with each use.

Safe formula. The preservative we use is made without formaldehyde, halogen, isothiazolinones, and without parabens.

Phenoxyethanol. Used as a replacement for parabens and is safe when applied topically in concentrations of 1% or lower. by Sasha Skincare Co. uses Phenoxyethanol at 0.8% in our formulas.

Caprylyl glycol. Caprylyl glycol acts as a humectant and wetting agent in our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs. Caprylyl glycol also enhances the texture of our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs, contributing to a luxurious feel in the final formulation.

Using an effective preservative is critical for ensuring safety, something by Sasha Skincare Co. stands by.

Phenoxyethanol is only used in our skincare products that are prone to come into contact with water and we only use a tiny amount of the preservative to fight bacteria, mold, and fungi.

When it is present in our products, we label it clearly in the ingredients list on the packaging. When it comes to safe skincare, you want to go with products that are cruelty-free and paraben-free.

We Are All About Transparency.

Now that you know all the benefits about the ingredients that go into our moisturizing shea sugar scrubs, it’s time to treat your skin to some bath butter & sugar love! 

Not quite ready to purchase a by Sasha Skincare Co. moisturizing shea sugar scrub? We would still love for you you to join our community, and get the scoop on things like our best insider skincare tips and DIY skincare recipes that you can make with ingredients you already have in your kitchen! We don’t want you to miss out, so follow us on Instagram and sign-up to our email club so you stay in the loop!

Until next time, keep glowing!

xo, by Sasha Skincare Co.