What Is Actually In ClearFur: The Ingredient Story

At the heart of every ClearFur product are four lick-safe, natural active ingredients: colloidal nano silver, African geranium, black elderberry, and St. John's Wort. 

 

20 years of pharmaceutical research led us to these ingredients. We’ve worked meticulously to create formulas that actually work, giving your pet the care they deserve without the harsh chemicals and without contributing to antibiotic resistance.

But what do these natural powerhouses actually do? How do colloidal nano silver, African geranium, black elderberry, and St. John's Wort work together to soothe and comfort your pet’s irritated skin?

What is colloidal nano silver?

Silver has been used to protect against harmful microbes and aid healing for centuries. 

According to Dr. J. Wesley Alexander, professor of surgery at the University of Cincinnati, “silver was the most important antimicrobial agent available before the introduction of antibiotics.” 

With its first therapeutic use traced to 1500 BC, civilizations like the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all recognized silver’s ability to support wound care long before scientists understood why it worked. Over the years, it’s been used in everything from surgical stitches to wound dressings, and silver remains an important part of modern dermatology and wound management today. Now, we know that silver has lots of properties that work together, making it harder for bacteria and other microbes to survive and multiply. 

Silver has attracted renewed scientific interest recently because of the growing global challenge of antibiotic resistance in both humans and pets. As some bacteria become less responsive to antibiotics, researchers have continued exploring silver's properties and its potential role in topical skincare and wound care. Because it works differently from antibiotics, silver remains an active area of research alongside efforts to develop new approaches to supporting skin health

Not all silver is created equal, though. 

We use colloidal nano silver, which is made up of tiny silver particles suspended in water, so small that they’re thousands of times thinner than a human hair. Because the particles are so minute, they can spread more evenly across the skin and interact more effectively with the surface.

Over the past 20 years, scientists have carried out extensive research into how silver nanoparticles can be used in both human and veterinary wound care, with Parmar, Hadiaya Shah and Rao concluding in 2023 that silver nanoparticles were able to “enhance the healing of different chronic complicated wounds in animals,” because of their antibacterial properties. Studies continue to explore the role of silver in supporting skin health and maintaining a clean skin environment, helping researchers better understand how they can be used safely and effectively in topical products for people and animals 

After more than 20 years of pharmaceutical research, we chose colloidal nano silver because of its unique antibacterial properties, long history in topical skincare, and ability to spread across the skin, making it a key ingredient in our lick-safe, soothing formula.

What is African geranium?

African geranium (Pelargonium sidoides), also known by its traditional name umckaloabo, has been used in southern African herbal medicine for hundreds of years. Unlike the colorful geraniums you might grow in your garden, it's the root of this plant that's prized. 

Indigenous communities have used the plant extensively in traditional herbal remedies passed down over centuries, reaching for it to care for wounds and a variety of everyday ailments. By the late 1800s, knowledge of the plant had reached Europe, sparking scientific interest that continues today. More than a century later, researchers are still exploring the unique combination of natural compounds that has made African geranium one of South Africa's best-known medicinal plants 

Inside the root of African geranium, naturally occurring plant compounds act like a defense system, helping protect the plant from environmental stress and harmful microbes. Scientists, including Professor Herbert Kolodziej, have found that these compounds also have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Together, these qualities are thought to help support healthy-looking skin, maintain the skin's natural barrier, and create a healthy skin environment, although research into their use in topical skincare is still ongoing.

African geranium earned its place in ClearFur because it offers more than just a long history of traditional use. Modern research has highlighted the unique mix of natural compounds found in its roots, while our own development process showed that not all extracts perform equally. That's why we spent more than a year sourcing and testing different extracts to ensure we found one that met the high standards we set for every ClearFur ingredient, allowing us to give your pet the best possible care. 

What is black elderberry?

Native to Europe, black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is another plant with centuries' worth of use in traditional herbal medicine. Its deep purple berries are naturally rich in antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds, which help protect the plant from environmental damage. When used in skincare, they're thought to support a healthy skin barrier. 

Historically, elderberries were used in a variety of remedies, and today they're still widely recognized for their nutritional value and health-supporting properties. Scientists are particularly interested in the antioxidant-packed berries and their potential to protect skin cells from oxidative stress caused by everyday environmental factors. 

Studies have also shown that elderberry extracts have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory settings, suggesting additional benefits like skin soothing and boosting barrier health.

We chose black elderberry because its antioxidant-rich extract helps support healthy-looking skin and protect it from everyday environmental stress. It's an important part of our formula, helping to nourish and care for your pet's skin.

What is St. John's Wort?

Like the rest of our ingredients, St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a yellow-flowering plant that has been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries. While many people know it as an herbal remedy, it's also been used to care for dry, sensitive, and irritated skin for generations. 

According to Dr U. Wölfle, St. John's Wort has plenty of interesting “pharmacological profiles, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities," giving it “potential for use in medical skin care.” Research also suggests that St. John's Wort extract can support the skin's natural barrier while helping to keep skin healthy and well-conditioned. 

Because of its range of useful properties, studies have shown that St. John's Wort can soothe visible signs of irritation and protect the skin from everyday environmental stress, making it a popular ingredient in skincare products designed for sensitive skin. 

The quality of the extract of St. John's Wort can vary depending on where the plants are grown, when they're harvested, and how the beneficial compounds are extracted. That's why we take such care when sourcing ours, working with trusted suppliers and carefully selecting extracts that meet our high standards for quality, consistency and purity. It means every batch of ClearFur contains the same carefully chosen ingredient we developed through years of research. 

For us, St. John's Wort was a natural choice because it's all about caring for the skin. By helping to nourish, condition, and support the skin's natural barrier, it plays an important role in keeping your pet's skin healthy, comfortable, and resilient. 

How do our lick-safe ingredients work together?

Rather than relying on a single ingredient to do all the work, we've carefully combined ingredients that work together, creating a balanced formula designed to support your pet's skin. 

Colloidal nano silver supports skin health and complements our other ingredients by allowing them to penetrate the skin more deeply, while extracts of African geranium, black elderberry and St. John's Wort bring powerful botanical properties that help nourish and soothe dry, irritated-looking skin.

Together, these ingredients create a formula that's antibiotic-free, steroid-free, and free from harsh chemicals, while remaining gentle enough for regular use as directed. Instead of masking the appearance of irritation, every ingredient has been selected to help support healthy-looking skin and long-term skin comfort. 

How do our ingredients vary by product?

Every ClearFur product is built around the same four active ingredients, but each one is carefully tailored to its purpose.

You’ll always find colloidal nano silver, black elderberry, African geranium, and St. John's Wort in ClearFur, but the amount of each might vary depending on the formula you’ve selected. Alongside this, we also use different natural supporting ingredients in each product to make sure they’re the right texture and easy to apply.

For example, our Skin Relief Creams contain nourishing ingredients like shea butter and glycerin to help moisturize and soften the skin, with Olivem creating a smooth texture that spreads easily across your pet’s skin. Our sprays are formulated a little differently to create a lightweight formula that's easy to spray directly onto your pet's skin. 

Depending on whether you choose our cat or dog product, you might notice a slightly different texture, too, with our formulas adjusted to better suit each pet’s coats and grooming habits.

Whichever product you choose, you can be confident that it will always be lick-safe, chemical-free, and designed to give your pet the care they deserve.

Frequently asked questions about our ingredients

What are the active ingredients in ClearFur?

Every ClearFur product is made with the same four active ingredients: colloidal nano silver, African geranium, black elderberry, and St. John's Wort. Each ingredient was carefully chosen for its unique properties and plays a different role in supporting healthy-looking skin.

Are ClearFur's ingredients natural?

Yes. ClearFur's active ingredients are naturally derived and carefully sourced to meet our high standards for quality and consistency. They're combined using a science-led approach to create gentle, lick-safe formulas for pets.

Why does ClearFur use colloidal nano silver?

We chose colloidal nano silver because of its long history in topical skincare and the extensive scientific research into its unique properties. Its tiny particles spread evenly across the skin, making it an important part of our carefully formulated products.

Do all ClearFur products contain the same ingredients?

Every ClearFur product contains the same four active ingredients, but each formula is tailored to its intended use. The amount of each ingredient and the supporting ingredients may vary to create the right texture, consistency and application method for creams, sprays and other products.

How do you choose your ingredients?

We don't choose ingredients because they're popular or trending. Every ingredient has to earn its place through careful research, quality testing and responsible sourcing. That commitment helps ensure every ClearFur product meets the same high standards for quality, consistency and care.