FAQS
Hypoallergenic
Very simply put, "hypoallergenic" means less likely to cause allergies. Different countries’ Food and Drug authorities regulate the term in various ways — some more strictly than others, and some not at all. But there are some best practices that are proven to be effective, all of which are practiced by VMV. To learn more about our rigorous hypoallergenic practices, read on.
These are some of the ways that VMV formulates hypoallergenically:
Allergen Omission: The best way to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction is to omit known contact (skin) allergens, i.e. to NOT include ingredients that are proven to cause reactions. As our guide, we refer to lists of the most common skin allergens regularly published by independent contact dermatitis specialists.
Fewer Ingredients: Simple formulations with as few ingredients as possible minimize the risk of cross reactions. It is a requirement at VMV that our formulations achieve their preventive and therapeutic goals with as few ingredients as possible. We are highly selective about our ingredients — each one has to achieve clinically-validated results and not be published as a top skin allergen.
No Outsourcing: We formulate and manufacture our products. While outsourcing can be more cost effective, manufacturing our own products means that we can be more sure, first-hand and directly, about all aspects of each batch of our products. We can confirm things such as no changes in an ingredient; that a delivered raw material has passed important requirements; the performance of our retention samples; specific batch handling, etc. It is a level of control and knowledge that a manufacturer tends to have more of (although not always because some manufacturers only produce and do not always have R&D departments) but that a brand that outsources its manufacturing might not (or not so directly).
Skin Safety Transparency: To make sure customers can see what has been omitted and if an allergen is present, all our products have a VH-Rating (the number at the front of the package). See VH-Rating for more information.
The VH-Rating is a skin safety rating that shows customers what has been omitted and if an allergen is present (and if it is, which one). The VH-Rating shows:
- How many top contact allergens are NOT in the formulation
- The total number of known (published) top contact allergens
- If an allergen is included (it is unlikely you’d be allergic to all allergens), the VH-Rating is lower and marked with an asterisk. In the ingredients list, the included allergen is also marked with an asterisk and underlined so you can’t miss it. If it is an allergen that you patch tested positive to, choose another product. If not, you’re good to go!
For example:
VH-109/109 = all 109 published skin allergens are absent
VH-108/109* = 1 allergen is present; the ingredients list will show the allergen clearly (it will have an asterisk and be underlined).
In 1988, VMV's founding dermatopathologist (a specialist in contact dermatitis and skin diseases) created the VH-Number Rating as a standardized, objective measure of allergen omission. It was the first and remains the only skin safety rating of its kind. The VH-Rating has been so successful that a clinical study published in a leading contact dermatitis shows less than 0.1% reactions in over 30 years.
For top contact allergens, we refer to independent, objective references such as The North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) and European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA).
Learn more about the VH-Rating here.
If you have very allergy-prone or easily irritated skin, ask your dermatologist for a patch test and choose VMV products with the highest VH-Ratings.
A patch test is specific to skin reactions. It is a painless procedure that shows which ingredients you, in particular, need to avoid. This significantly reduces the expense, frustration, and skin trauma of trial and error.
If you are in the USA, ask your dermatologist if they use CAMP (the Contact Allergen Management Program of the American Contact Dermatitis Society). If your physician does use CAMP, they’ll be able to give you a list of not just your allergens but of specific products that you can use.
If you’ve already had a patch test, ask us to customize recommendations for you based on your results.
If you have sensitive skin, hypoallergenic trumps “natural” all the time. A common misconception is that "natural" and "organic" ingredients are not allergenic. But beeswax/propolis, lavender, mint, citruses, tea tree oil, many fruit and flower extracts, and many other natural ingredients (even if certified organic) are top contact allergens.
So many natural substances are proven contact allergens that a study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology states, “We emphasize the misconception of clean, natural, organic, and vegan to equal safe … Many naturally derived ingredients are the cause of dermatitis.” There are natural ingredients that are not allergens (virgin coconut oil, which we use extensively, is an excellent example).
If you have allergic contact dermatitis or another sensitive skin condition, is best to opt for validated hypoallergenic over “natural” and to refer to your patch test results when selecting products.
At VMV, we refer to contact or skin allergens. These are ingredients or substances that are known to cause allergic skin reactions.
Many can be found in skincare, makeup, hair care, baby care, shaving products, clothing, and lots of other materials used in consumer products (on mobile phone casings, laptop sleeves, gym equipment handles, slippers, clothing, underwear, goggles, etc.) and in life in general (plants, pets, etc.).
Common or top contact allergens are those that tend to cause reactions the most. These are determined by studies that examine the patch test results of thousands of people in multiple clinics and testing centers in different countries.
A common misconception is that food and skin allergies are the same. But skin and other allergies involve such different cells, systems, and modalities that they actually do not always (or even tend to) be related. If your IgE-test (scratch, prick or RAST test) is positive for something — unless you ALSO patch test positive to it — you can probably use it on your skin because the modalities and systems are so different. For example, if you prick test positive for almonds, the chances are good that you can use a product on your skin with an ingredient extracted from almonds.
If you patch test AND IgE-test positive to something, you need to avoid it in food and in your skin. For example, if you patch and prick test positive to nickel, the chances are high that you’ll react to it when touching it and if it is in your food. Click here to learn more.
Shipping
Orders up to $54.99 cost $5 for Standard Shipping and $15 for Courier Shipping.
Orders from $55 - $79.99 cost $6 for Standard Shipping and $20 for Courier Shipping.
Orders that are $80+ get FREE Standard Shipping and cost $25 for Courier Shipping.
Estimated Delivery is within 7-12 business days for Standard Shipping and 5-7 business days for Courier Shipping. This is the expected speed of delivery for most states. Other states may have longer delivery times.
All orders for US customers shipped from VMVHYPOALLERGENICS.COM will be subject to sales tax, applicable in accordance with the tax code of the state and city to which the order will be shipped.
Orders up to $49.99 cost $18 for Standard Shipping and $25 for Courier Shipping.
Orders from $50 - $99.99 cost $22 for Standard Shipping and $30 for Courier Shipping.
Orders from $100 - $149.99 cost $24 for Standard Shipping and $32 for Courier Shipping.
Orders that are $150+ get FREE Standard Shipping and cost $35 for Courier Shipping.
Please note that orders shipped outside the United States may be subject to import duties and taxes which are levied once your package reaches your country. VMV HYPOALLERGENICS® does not collect duties and taxes, and cannot predict what your particular charges may be. Any such duties and taxes are separate charges, and must be covered at your expense. If you do incur these additional charges, they must be rendered in order for your package to clear customs. For more information regarding your country's customs policies, please contact your local customs office.
All orders for US customers shipped from VMVHYPOALLERGENICS.COM will be subject to sales tax, shipping tax, applicable in accordance with the tax code of the state and city to which the order will be shipped.
Except for orders shipping within the United States, your order may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once your package reaches your country. VMV HYPOALLERGENICS® does not collect duties and taxes, and cannot predict what your particular charges may be.
Any such duties and taxes are separate charges and must be covered at your expense. If you do incur these additional charges, they must be rendered in order for your package to clear customs. For more information regarding your country's customs policies, please contact your local customs office.
Ingredients
We source our ingredients from trusted providers around the world; most come from the highest-quality purveyors in Europe and the USA.
We choose ingredients based solely on their hypoallergenicity, efficacy, quality, beneficial merit, and sustainability...not on their aesthetic properties or other "marketable" claims.
This punctiliousness is heightened by our policy of using the least amount of ingredients possible (which helps increase a product's hypoallergenicity). So our ingredients give maximum benefits without having to pile them on, a practice that increases the likelihood of irritations and cross-reactions.
Our "skingredients" are so fine (we patch test each and every one!) that we've proudly displayed them on our labels since we started in 1979...long before U.S. and other countries' legislation mandated that ingredients be disclosed on cosmetics products.
Patch Tested:
You'll see this phrase on all our products. It means that the product was tested using our patch test protocols at VMV HYPOALLERGENICS®; this means using standard patch test protocols practiced by your doctor and leading experts and then building on top of them.
We patch test each ingredient and raw material that goes into every product we make, the final formulation itself, and even the ancillary things that touch your skin: like puffs, sponges, and brushes.
We also use packaging that does not contain allergens such as rubber or certain metals as much as possible. If, for the sake of stability, we must use a packaging material with an allergen (such as a colorant), we make sure that it does not touch the product itself and that the product can be handled without much contact with the problematic surfaces. We also test packaging to confirm that its harmful components do not leak into the formulations inside them.
In Vitro and In Vivo:
In vitro means testing done in a laboratory. Many of our tests are in vitro, but we're proud to say that we also do an extensive amount of in vivo testing.
In vivo means testing done with human volunteers in actual-use conditions. Our Armada sun and light protection products, for example, are subjected to in vivo sunscreen studies to give you protection factors proven in actual-use conditions, not merely in laboratories with simulated skin. We do that, too, but we're proud to be one of the few companies to always do in vivo sunscreen studies (which we've been doing since the 1980s).
Supporting Research:
Our own clinical studies are further supported by other independent studies published in respected dermatological journals and publications.
For example, our Re-Everything anti-aging line features kinetin, a growth hormone that performed (with our unbuffered glycolic acid and other active ingredients) excellently in our own randomized, double-blind clinical study. But we still scoured published studies on kinetin in order to further support our decision to use it in our formulations. Finding a wealth of legitimate published research on kinetin, combined with our own evidence-based studies, we decided it was the right choice for Re-Everything.
No animal testing.
Our standards are so high that we have no shortage of volunteers (the human kind) who are eager to try new products. Plus, we do extensive laboratory (microbial, stability, etc.) testing to ensure both efficacy and safety. If you're interested in trying new formulations or procedures, contact the VMV Skin Research Centre + Clinics.
We do Evidence-based Studies:
"Evidence-based" is the most respected protocol for product testing, including randomized, double-blind clinical testing on statistically relevant pools of subjects over a specific time period.
Services
Yes! You can send us a message at marketing@vmvgroup.com or send us a message here
Probably! We ship almost anywhere in the world.
You can also check our Store Locations to see if you have a VMV Skin-Specialist Boutique in your area.
Our VMV Gift Cards feature uplifting designs that greet lucky recipients with characteristic VMVim & vigor and not a small dash of panache!
They're skincredibly easy and quick to shop for (100% shopping-crowd-free!). They work for women, men, teens, couples, parents, bosses, best pals, anyone on your list. They let your loved ones choose what they really want, and can be delivered within two hours, complete with your own personal message.
VMV HYPOALLERGENICS™ Gift Cards purchased on vmvhypoallergenics.com may only be redeemed online. We apologize but for the moment, electronic gift cards cannot be redeemed in any of our VMV Skin-Specialist Boutiques around the world.
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Register or sign into your account on www.vmvhypoallergenics.com. This is necessary in order to activate and validate your Gift Card and ensure its authenticity.
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