Most men never think twice about the ingredients in their grooming products.
We buy a pomade, shampoo, body wash, or deodorant expecting it to work. But flip the bottle over and you’ll often find ingredients derived from petroleum sitting alongside a long list of chemicals most people can’t pronounce.
While many of these ingredients are permitted for cosmetic use, they’re often included because they’re inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and help improve texture, stability, and shelf life—not because they’re the only or best option.
At Standard No More®, we believe you deserve to know what’s in the products you use every day and why those ingredients are there.
What Are Petrochemicals?
Petrochemicals are ingredients derived from crude oil or natural gas. In the grooming industry, they’re commonly used because they can improve texture, consistency, moisture retention, stability, and shelf life while helping manufacturers keep costs down.
Not every petrochemical ingredient is harmful, and many have long histories of cosmetic use. However, many consumers prefer products made with naturally derived alternatives that require less intensive processing and offer greater ingredient transparency.
Common Petrochemical-Derived Ingredients
Some ingredients commonly found in conventional grooming products include:
- Mineral Oil
- Petrolatum
- Paraffin Wax
- PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) Compounds
- Propylene Glycol
- Synthetic Fragrance
These ingredients can often be found in products such as:
- Hair pomades
- Hair gels
- Styling creams
- Body washes
- Deodorants
- Aftershaves
While not every product in these categories contains these ingredients, they remain common throughout the industry.
Why Some Consumers Choose to Avoid Petrochemicals
They Can Cause Product Build-Up
Ingredients such as mineral oil and petrolatum create an occlusive barrier that helps reduce moisture loss. Some people find these ingredients can leave hair feeling heavy or contribute to buildup that requires stronger cleansers to remove.
They’re Highly Processed
Most petrochemical ingredients undergo extensive refining and manufacturing before they’re suitable for cosmetic use. Many consumers prefer ingredients sourced more directly from renewable plant-based materials.
Environmental Considerations
Many petroleum-derived ingredients break down more slowly than many naturally derived alternatives, leading some consumers to choose products they believe have a lower environmental impact.
Manufacturing Impurities
Certain petrochemical ingredients require careful purification during manufacturing to remove trace contaminants. While cosmetic regulations establish limits for these impurities, some consumers simply prefer to avoid heavily refined petroleum-derived ingredients altogether.
Synthetic Fragrance Transparency
One of the most common petroleum-derived ingredients you’ll see is simply listed as “Fragrance.” That single word can represent dozens—or even hundreds—of individual chemicals that manufacturers generally aren’t required to disclose.
This lack of transparency is one reason many consumers seek products scented only with essential oils.
The Standard No More Difference
When we created Standard No More®, we made a conscious decision to formulate our products differently.
Instead of relying on inexpensive petroleum-derived ingredients, we focused on premium organic and naturally derived ingredients chosen for their performance—not simply their cost.
Our products are made without:
- Synthetic fragrance
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- PEG compounds
- Petrolatum
- Mineral oil
- Paraffin wax
Instead, every Standard No More® product is scented exclusively with our signature Brightwood™ blend made from 100% pure essential oils, delivering a bold masculine scent inspired by deep cedar forests with a bright citrus edge.
We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between clean ingredients and exceptional performance.
Our goal is to deliver both.
Read Your Labels
Understanding what’s in your grooming products is one of the simplest ways to make more informed decisions about what you use every day.
At Standard No More®, we’re committed to transparency because we believe every ingredient should have a purpose.
Read your labels. Ask questions. Choose better.
Because when it comes to your grooming routine…
You have better choices.
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