According to the 26 seconds skincare ingredients rule, chemicals in personal care products can begin entering your bloodstream in just 26 seconds. This one fact changed how I approached skincare as a mother — and how I created Olive + Sage.
How the 26 Seconds Skincare Ingredients Rule Changed My Skincare Philosophy
When I first learned about the 26-second absorption rule, I was still using the same popular diaper creams on my kids that I saw in every store. I assumed they were safe — because everyone else used them. But when I started researching what was actually in them, I was shocked at the synthetic additives and petroleum-based fillers I found.
With my third child, I made a change. I started using our Lavender Honey All Over Ointment as a diaper cream instead. It’s made with tallow, manuka honey, and lavender — and since making that switch, we haven’t had a single diaper rash. It worked so well, I started using it for everything: scrapes, chapped cheeks, dry hands. That experience is part of what inspired me to build Olive + Sage around the power of truly clean skincare.
Why It Matters What You Put on Your Skin
Your skin is your largest organ. What goes on it doesn’t just sit there — it can enter your bloodstream, sometimes in under a minute. That’s why the 26 seconds skincare ingredients concept has become a guiding principle in our product development. We believe in full transparency, and we never include ingredients we wouldn’t feel safe using on our children.
Many conventional skincare products contain synthetic preservatives, artificial fragrances, dyes, and fillers — all to extend shelf life or make the product feel more luxurious. But those additives often come at the expense of your skin’s health, especially for those with sensitive, hormonal, or reactive skin.
What We Use Instead
Every Olive + Sage product is handmade using cold-pressed oils, unrefined butters, and organic herbal infusions. We don’t dilute with water. We don’t bulk with wax. And we never add preservatives, emulsifiers, or artificial fragrance.
Instead, we focus on ingredients your skin can recognize and use: rosehip, blue tansy, tamanu, calendula, sea buckthorn, and more. They’re not just beautiful — they’re powerful.
What You Can Do Today
If you’re new to this idea, start by reading the ingredient labels on your current products. If you see long chemical names, petroleum derivatives, or mystery “fragrance” blends — it may be time to simplify. Even swapping out one product can make a difference. Our Vitamin C Face Oil is a gentle, antioxidant-rich option to brighten your skin naturally.
Our Commitment to Safer Skincare
At Olive + Sage, we don’t believe in scare tactics — but we do believe in honesty. Clean, handmade skincare is better not just because of what it does include, but because of what it doesn’t. That’s why every formula we create is 100% free from preservatives, fillers, artificial dyes, and synthetic fragrance.
Did You Know? It takes only 26 seconds for chemicals in personal care products to enter your bloodstream. Learn more here.