KUMIKO Certifications

The entire KUMIKO line is made with 100% Organic Japanese Matcha Tea and is animal cruelty free, paraben free and gluten free. Let's talk about each certification, to become aware and better understand its scope and relevance.

100% Organic Matcha Tea: Of Japanese origin, it is the common active ingredient in all KUMIKO formulas. Considered a beauty elixir and superfood, it has antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-free radical, protective, anti-inflammatory and skin metabolism stimulating properties. It contains 137 times more antioxidants than green tea and offers multiple health benefits, thanks to its unique components, especially catechins and polyphenols. These act by preventing the formation of free radicals at the cellular level; they interrupt the chain reaction produced and repair the damage they can cause. This property makes it ideal against skin aging. In addition, it improves elasticity, helps to preserve the moisture and freshness of the complexion and strengthens the skin's protective layer. Certified organic Matcha Tea extract is a fine green powder made from whole ground tea leaves and is distinguished by its bright green colour. Plant of origin: Camellia Sinensis.

Cruelty-Free: The beauty products that have this certification are all those that do not test or use animals in any of their production stages. Cruelty Free International and PETA Cruelty Free are two of the most recognized international certifications. Both are supported by agreements signed with companies that ensure that their processes are free of animal cruelty and require, as a requirement, that cosmetic companies have an internal monitoring system during all their production stages. It is a globally recognizable seal and standard.

Paraben-Free: Parabens are basically chemicals that are used as preservatives and help make cosmetics last longer, preventing them from degenerating with microorganisms, fungi or bacteria. But, they can also be the cause of hormonal alterations as they are endocrine disrupting substances. The anti-paraben alert came in 2004, when oncologists from the University of Reading (Edinburgh) studied carcinogenic tissues and found that 90% of the samples that came from biopsies of women with breast cancer had traces of parabens.
There are two types of parabens: organic (some foods such as blueberries contain them and are metabolized naturally) and synthetic ones. These are a group of different chemical preservatives that appear under names that end in -paraben. In recent years, cases of skin allergies and rosacea have increased, among others, due to the use of parabens in food and cosmetics.

Gluten-Free: Gluten is a set of proteins found in wheat, oats, barley, rye and their derivatives (flour, etc.). It is not tolerated by people with Celiac Disease (intolerance to this protein, characterized by an immune-based inflammatory reaction in the mucosa of the small intestine that hinders the absorption of macro and micronutrients). Worldwide, there has been an increase in the prevalence of different forms of gluten intolerance and many people seek to avoid it in cosmetics, where it acts as a thickener.
The reality is that gluten is not able to cross the skin barrier (when it is healthy, without lesions). Therefore, there would be no contraindications in this sense for those who have food intolerance, and it should be avoided only by those who are allergic to wheat. However - and despite the fact that there is no absorption through the skin - it is recommended that those who are susceptible to gluten in any of its forms avoid it in products that can be ingested by accident. Like parabens, cases of allergic reactions or contact dermatitis have been detected when there is sensitivity to gluten.