The charter of formulation of the Laboratory Garancia

Savéria Coste, founder of Laboratoire Garancia and Doctor of Pharmacy

My vision of cosmetics is based on a demanding internal formulation charter, founded on careful choices with requirements for performance, sensoriality, naturalness, and environmental impact.

This charter is continuously enriched as scientific advances and new data become available.

In a spirit of transparency, Garancia develops all its products with the objective of obtaining an excellent rating on the Yuka app, widely used by consumers to decipher cosmetic compositions.

A fourth-generation pharmacist, I hold a deep conviction: cosmetics can be naturally inspired, highly effective, and meticulously formulated all at once.

I remember the oath I took, like all French pharmacists, the Oath of Galen. In this text, which contains the foundations of my profession's ethics and deontology, there is a particular commitment that dictates my daily formulation work.

I know very well what a toxic or undesirable molecule is, and I perfectly understand the current concerns of some consumers. Toxicity is linked to dosage. For example, digitalin, extracted from the purple foxglove plant, can save a human life from a heart attack at a small dose but becomes a deadly poison if the dose is higher. It's all a question of dosage!

Transparency and ethics are essential today in the relationship of trust between a cosmetic brand and its customers.

This duty of transparency and ethics is at the heart of my formulas.

Discover the history of the Garancia Laboratory

The formulation principles that guide Savéria Coste's choices

"I choose ingredients according to a strict charter, with visible, rapid and scientifically proven efficacy. More respectful of our skin and therefore of our health."

I select ingredients whose effectiveness is proven by a clinical study

Effectiveness and speed are at the core of Laboratoire Garancia's DNA.

My formulas follow the constant progress of science. For each selected ingredient, I always ask myself: can I substitute it with a better one? With advancements in cosmetological research, I reformulate certain products to incorporate the latest innovations. We constantly improve our formulas to offer the safest and most effective products for our skin.

My ingredient list in a product is intentionally short whenever possible.

It is not the number of ingredients that makes a formula effective but their quality and degree of concentration. For maximum effectiveness, my formulas have a high % of active ingredients and I have no budget limit in the cost of my formulas if this must provide superior effectiveness.

I combine the best of science with the best of nature.

Always combine the best of nature with the best of science for a quickly visible result. A synthetic active ingredient derived from high technology does not mean "dubious ingredient". Far from it. Some peptides are today among the most effective and healthy molecules. And conversely, the "organic" nature of an ingredient or a product does not prejudge its effectiveness or its performance in a given formula. I am not an "extremist" of organic/natural or synthetic products: I combine natural and high-tech active ingredients. My products contain mostly between 95% and 99% ingredients of natural origin. What matters to me is the fastest effectiveness with "beautiful" formulas that are as natural and respectful of our health as possible.

I select emulsifiers of natural origin and, if possible, “intelligent”.

In addition to their basic role of creating an emulsion, they will also have a beneficial action in the formula such as moisturizing and protecting the skin, helping the penetration of active ingredients or even being formulated cold to reduce the energy impact.

I design my formulas with exacting standards, but also so that they are sensory, evocative of dreams and emotions.

Beauty is inseparable from pleasure. My creams must speak to our skin and our senses. The sense of smell is very important. Certain odorous molecules stimulate specific areas of our brain and can be beneficial for the skin. Did you know that it was recently discovered that there are olfactory receptors even in the epidermis? My creams have a light and captivating fragrance. I use an allergen-free fragrance at a very low concentration for most of my skincare products, as well as antique rose or orange blossom fragrances from our childhood for those who are not allergic to these scents and wish to journey back through their memories…

Discover our 4 pillars

What the formulas of Laboratoire Garancia do not contain

I don't use animal fats or oils.

> I avoid "questionable" ingredients. If I have the slightest doubt about their "health impact" or if I think there might be "better" options, I reformulate... For 11 years, I have always worked on my formulas without silicones because they can be substituted by vegetable esters for facial skin. The 2 oldest products that had been formulated with silicone have been reformulated without.

> Preservatives and additives are my pet peeve! I prefer to let my textures evolve, or even change color from one product to another, rather than doping them with preservatives, additives, chemical filters, and colorants.

> I avoid adding essential oils which can sometimes be allergenic for some people.

> I have always chosen to exclude sulfated surfactants, and I wanted to go further by removing certain derivatives from the cocamide family, which are foaming agents that can contain undesirable impurities. I therefore prefer very gentle foaming agents for the skin.

> I don't use paraffin oils, cheap ingredients with a potential risk on a large scale. I prefer vegetable oils.