Walk into any beauty retailer, and you'll find shelves lined with products promising miraculous results. Yet many of these formulas rely on questionable ingredients to deliver quick fixes at the expense of long-term skin health. Neora takes a different path, placing ingredient safety at the forefront of its product development process.
"We knew that really good, well-performing natural products can yield the same results," says Amber Olson Rourke, Neora co-founder and president. This insight emerged from her experience running a med spa, where she witnessed firsthand how harsh treatments affected her clients. Many would achieve immediate results but deal with irritation, sensitivity, and other side effects.
The beauty industry's reliance on aggressive ingredients especially worries Olson Rourke when it comes to younger consumers. "What's particularly concerning is seeing very young people using products with retinols and things that thin out the skin. These can make them susceptible to damage and even affect their hormone function."
Neora's Rigorous Standards
Instead of following industry norms, Neora developed its own rigorous standards for ingredient selection. "We pride ourselves on having a never-use list that far exceeds those of many big-name cosmetic brands," Olson Rourke explains. This commitment often means choosing more expensive ingredients to ensure safety and efficacy.
Take Neora's approach to collagen, for example. While many companies opt for bovine collagen due to its lower cost and easy availability, Neora chose marine collagen despite additional challenges. "Marine collagen is way more expensive, harder to get. It's got a lot more guidelines because you also have to consider the welfare of marine life," says Olson Rourke.
This dedication to quality extends throughout the product development process. The brand's signature ingredient, SIG-1273, required 1,273 iterations to perfect—a level of persistence uncommon in an industry that often rushes to market. "We take our time with products," notes Olson Rourke. "That's why we don't have 50 products in our 12 years."
The company's stance against harmful ingredients doesn't mean compromising on results. Each product undergoes thorough testing and third-party clinical trials to ensure safety and effectiveness. This methodical approach proves that clean beauty can deliver powerful results without relying on questionable ingredients.
Amber Olson Rourke: 'We Are Very Transparent'
Transparency plays a crucial role in Neora's philosophy. "We are very transparent in our business practices and how we formulate our products," Olson Rourke states. This openness helps customers understand exactly what they're putting on their skin and why certain ingredients were chosen or avoided.
Education also remains central to the company's mission. While many beauty enterprises rely on marketing hype and trendy ingredients, Neora focuses on helping customers understand the science behind its products. This includes explaining why certain common ingredients might do more harm than good.
Strict Standards
Even as clean beauty gains popularity, Neora maintains its strict standards rather than following trends. It continues developing products that support the skin's natural functions instead of disrupting them with harsh chemicals. This patient approach may require more time and resources, but the results speak for themselves—effective skincare that promotes long-term skin health.
This principled stance against harmful ingredients sets Neora apart in an industry often driven by quick fixes and temporary results. Through careful ingredient selection, thorough testing, and transparent communication, the brand is proving that clean beauty can be both safe and effective—breaking the traditional beauty mold one product at a time.
Beyond its stance on ingredients, Neora's approach to product development sets new standards in the beauty industry. The company starts by looking at specific customer concerns rather than chasing trends. "We understand the problem our customer is facing. We identify the gap, market trend, and then we find the best labs," Olson Rourke explains.
Unlike larger beauty conglomerates that often rely on a single lab for all their formulations, Neora sources specialized labs based on each product's unique requirements. "A lot of times with these bigger conglomerates, you are beholden to the lab and maybe they're good at this, but not great at that. We are able to source the lab that works best for the product we are going for," says Olson Rourke.
This flexibility extends to ingredient sourcing. Since Neora focuses on natural, plant-based ingredients, it pays careful attention to growing conditions and environmental factors. "It all has to do with how they're grown there. The terrain and conditions, the environment—everything matters with the ingredients because we are more naturally based," Olson Rourke notes.
The company's commitment to clean ingredients also influences its preservation methods. Many conventional beauty products rely on artificial preservatives to extend shelf life. Neora instead focuses on innovative packaging and formulation techniques to maintain product freshness naturally. The brand's vitamin C products, for example, come in special packaging that prevents oxidation, ensuring effectiveness without artificial stabilizers.
"When you're good on the inside and the outside, you feel good," Olson Rourke shares, emphasizing Neora's holistic approach to beauty. This philosophy guides not just its choice of ingredients but its entire approach to skincare, focusing on products that support overall skin health rather than temporary fixes.
In an industry where new products launch daily, and trends change rapidly, Neora's unwavering commitment to clean, safe ingredients stands out. The brand proves that effective skincare doesn't require compromising on ingredient safety—it just requires more patience, dedication, and attention to detail in the development process.