Yet another controversial chemical has found it's way into the news, and a lot of you are asking us, "What IS 1,4 Dioxane".

Ethoxylation, a cheap short-cut companies use to provide mildness to otherwise harsh ingredients, requires the use of the cancer causing petrochemical ethylene oxide, which generates 1,4 Dioxane as a by-product. 1,4 Dioxane is considered a chemical "known to the state of California to cause cancer". According to the California EPA it is also a suspected kidney toxicant, nuerotoxicant, and respiratory toxicant. Although I live in Seattle, I am a native Californian and I have always appreciated my home-state's attention to safety. They have the toughest standards in the Nation.

You won't see 1,4 Dioxane listed on an ingredient label because it is considered a "contaminant" or "by product" rather than an ingredient.

Belli's chemists have long been aware of the potential for cosmetic ingredient contamination. We have a strict policy at Belli that requires our raw material suppliers to vacuum strip any ethoxylated ingredients, to ensure that they are free of 1,4 Dioxane and other impurities.