Ingredients Math: Why Less Is More

Old-timey movie star Mae West once quipped: "If at little is great, and a lot is better, then way too much is just about right!" While her sentiments may have been the mantra for Hollywood in the 1920's, when we consider the modern children's personal care space, we've taken a decidedly different approach.

At Dabble & Dollop we took a “less is more” approach to formulating our popular bathing and skin care products for children.  Using fewer ingredients in bathing and skin care products can have several advantages. Unlike the majority of children’s brands who load up formulas with unnecessary filler ingredients like thickeners, pearlizers, allergenic extracts and oils, we work incredibly hard to create products that blend simplicity with effectiveness.  In 2019, we launched with a belief that no parent wants their babies and children sitting in a tub filled with dozens of ingredients.

Here are some reasons why the simplicity of our children’s products can be beneficial:
 
Reduced risk of irritation: The more ingredients a product contains, the higher the likelihood of potential irritants or allergens being present. Some children may have sensitivities or allergies to specific ingredients, and a product with a shorter ingredient list can help minimize the risk of adverse reactions. Using fewer ingredients reduces the complexity of the formulation and simplifies the process of identifying potential triggers for skin irritation.  This is why we formulated Dabble & Dollop products without the use of a multitude of extracts and oils.  We also excluded ingredients that many children are allergic to such as those containing gluten, dairy and nuts.
 
Easier identification of problematic ingredients: If you experience an adverse reaction or skin sensitivity to a product, it is easier to pinpoint the specific ingredient that might be causing the issue when there are fewer ingredients to consider. With a shorter ingredient list, you can more readily identify which ingredient you may need to avoid in the future, allowing for more targeted skincare choices.  

Focus on key active ingredients: When a product has fewer ingredients, it allows for a higher concentration of the active ingredients that provide the desired benefits. This can enhance the effectiveness of the product and potentially lead to better results. By simplifying the formulation, brands can prioritize the inclusion of potent actives without diluting them with unnecessary additives. With less than ten ingredients used in our 3-in-1 bubble bath, body wash and shampoos, we were able to source and invest in the absolute best and most effective ingredients. This makes us very different that brands like Honest, Hello Bello, Tubby Todd and Ella Ola, to name a few.   
 
Minimized interactions between ingredients: Some ingredients may interact with each other, affecting their stability or efficacy. By limiting the number of ingredients, the risk of incompatible interactions is reduced. This can help ensure that each ingredient in the formulation functions optimally without compromising its stability or effectiveness.  While the ingredients that are selected for formulations are critical, it is even more critical to understand thoroughly how ingredients react to one another and conduct safety and stability tests.  As an “indie” brand, our investment in clinical testing, safety testing and stability testing is unmatched!

Transparency and clarity: A shorter ingredient list can make it easier for consumers to understand and evaluate the product. It promotes transparency, allowing users to have a clearer understanding of what they are applying to their skin. It also facilitates educated decision-making, enabling consumers to choose products based on their specific needs and preferences. What new parent wants to research 35+ ingredients for their safety and allergenic potential? Transparency and clarity are important to us at Dabble & Dollop.  That is why we vet every single ingredient manufacturer we use (they are all located here in the United States).  Every single ingredient we use has been tested for safety and is made using state-of-the-art production methods, which means they are produced in the safest way possible and do not contain any nasty impurities.

Using fewer ingredients in children’s products has myriad advantages and is the reason why we’ve adopted this formulation strategy in every single product we create.  Ultimately, finding the right balance between simplicity and effectiveness is what we accomplished at Dabble & Dollop.  We are so proud of our “less is more” strategy and hope you appreciate it too!