First off, we offer both 5% and 10% in a cleansing bar. Other brand bars are only available in 10% concentration. More is not always better. Studies show that less BPO results in the same clinical outcomes without as many side effects.
Prior to Q3 2023, the three brands that sell a 10% BPO bar in the USA all use the same exact formulation from the same manufacturer in Canada - Perth Soap Co (known as Shandex). The bars were a hybrid bar that contains a good bit of sodium tallowate - a combination of tallow—a fat that is derived from the fatty tissue of cattle—and lye. These bars also contain glycerin—a thick, transparent and non-toxic liquid that is commonly found in soaps. Glycerin is a natural by-product of the saponification (soap making) process. The blending of soap and syndet makes the bar less expensive.
Around Q4 2024 production of 111MedCo and Crown Laboratories (the newish owner of PanOxyl) moved production to the same manufacturer in the USA. The bars were reformulated to contain a high percentage of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, which is more in-line with the DermaHarmony formulation. The Crown Labs bar is a new product launch (as of Q4 2023) and a return to selling bars for the PanOxyl brand. PanOxyl bars were discontinued by the former owner (Stiefel Labs) many years ago in favor of liquids.
We don't use microplastics in our bars. Our competitors use Ethylene/VA Copolymer, also called ethylene-propylene rubber. Microplastics are bad for the environment!
We don't use tallow because it is against our pledge to not use ingredients from animals (e.g. vegan).
The DermaHarmony bars are 100% soap-free. This makes the DermaHarmony bars more mild and longer lasting. We formulated the DermaHarmony bar without considering cost.
We're confident that we've formulated a better BPO bar.