Ar-Ex

The company was founded in 1935 by Julius Kahn, PhD., who had been Director of Research for the Lady Esther Cosmetic Company. From 1932 until he founded the AR-EX Products Company, Dr. Kahn received a steady stream of communications from dermatologists and allergists describing medical symptoms ranging from minor skin irritation to respiratory difficulties that they had come to suspect were induced by cosmetic ingredients and fragrances. After extensive analysis and research, the precise cause was pinpointed to certain specific ingredients commonly used in the formulation of most cosmetic and skin care products. Working hand-in-hand with a group of prominent dermatologists, AR-EXdeveloped a line of hypo-allergenics (then known as "non-allergenics") that would help alleviate the problems of people unable to tolerate conventional cosmetics. Understandably, the AR-EX line caught on quickly and to this day the company has never deviated from the formulation standards established in the manufacture of its original products. pursues this policy to the point that it refuses to use even a trace of lanolin (for years a glamour ingredient that enjoys high consumer acceptability) but is a known allergen. By the same token, because it was found that 10-16% of the population cannot tolerate fragrances, (colognes, perfumes, and essential oils) all AR-EX products are made unscented. Over the years, a substantial share of AR-EX business success has come from word of mouth advertising and physician recommendations: with one satisfied user recommending AR-EX to a friend or family member that has similar skin allergies. We literally have hundreds of customers that write testimonials to us telling about how they have been using the product for more than 35 years and they have a better life as a result of AR-EX. was started with three products: today there are 17 products in the AR-EX line. Otherwise, nothing much has changed except the packaging, which has been re-designed a number of times to keep it contemporary only. Our product packaging has always been simple in the interest of providing the best product at the best price and not in fancy, expensive packaging.