At Aloderma, we're committed to farm-to-skin transparency, which means letting you know exactly what goes into every bottle of our aloe vera products. Today, we're focusing on an ingredient with a long name: Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine (THPE). Don't worry, it's easier to understand than it sounds!
THPE acts like a tiny magnet, specifically attracted to and grabbing onto mineral ions like iron, calcium, and magnesium. These minerals can sometimes come from our water supply or even from the aloe vera itself. While they're not inherently harmful, they can affect the freshness and stability of our aloe vera gel. By binding to these minerals, THPE helps prevent them from interacting with the aloe vera and potentially shortening its shelf life or impacting its soothing properties.
Think of it like this: imagine your freshly harvested aloe vera is like a crisp, vibrant green salad. THPE acts like a watchful gardener, removing any unwanted pebbles or debris (the minerals) that might affect the freshness and taste (the soothing properties) of your salad. This ensures you experience the full benefits of pure aloe vera for as long as possible.
Safety of THPE:
The safety of THPE has been evaluated by various regulatory agencies worldwide, including the European Commission and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel in the United States. These organizations have concluded that THPE is safe for use in cosmetics at typical use concentrations (up to 0.5%).
Studies have shown that THPE is not absorbed significantly through the skin and does not cause irritation or allergic reactions in most people. However, as with any skincare product, it's always recommended to perform a patch test on a small area of your skin before applying it liberally.
While THPE might have a complex name, its role in our products is simple: to preserve the goodness of our farm-fresh aloe vera and deliver its soothing benefits to your skin. You'll find THPE in several of our aloe vera gels, including our Pure Aloe Vera Gel, Pure Aloe Vera Gel with Tea Tree Oil, 114g Pure Aloe Vera Gel, and 200g Pure Aloe Vera Gel. So, the next time you reach for one of these products, know that THPE is playing a tiny but crucial role in keeping our aloe vera fresh and effective.