FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do I qualify for free local delivery? 
Click on the following link to see if you apply for free shipping
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1zzdSMWF0U8YC0ZseuCgO_23xnZfuVjBZ&usp=sharing

What if I choose FREE delivery but don't actually qualify?
No worries. We will contact by email to receive payment for shipping. Once full payment is received the items will be sent! 

I qualify for FREE delivery, when will I receive my package? 
Delivery days in Victoria are Wednesday's. Order's must be placed by midnight on Monday to be delivered that Wednesday. 

Why aren't all your ingredients organic?
Some important and necessary ingredients such as emulsifying wax may be made from plant materials, perhaps even from 100% organic plant materials, but have been processed so much to extract the waxy compounds, they should no longer be referred to as "organic".  Other things like earth minerals used for colouring cosmetics may be natural (from the earth) but definitely not organic, as only plants or animals can be raised "organically".  Also some minerals need to be processed somewhat to remove potentially dangerous heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, etc.

How long should my product last? 
Due to the fact our products only use natural preservatives, they should last approximately one year, as long as they are not left in a hot area, especially bright sunlight. Also, using pump bottles will always protect the product for longer than open jars that you put your fingers into. Use a small spatula when possible in these circumstances.

Why do you need preservatives in your products? 
Anything that contains water (creams, lotions, gels, etc) is a paradise for bacteria, yeast, fungi and molds, and the natural sugars in plant extracts are their favourite snack food.  There are very few products truly preserved naturally, and even then they will not have the stability or shelf life of synthetically preserved products. There are certain essential oils that at high concentration can be helpful with some strains of bacteria, but not with all, and the overpowering scent of these essential oils may not be appropriate for most skincare products.  The bottom line is that anything that sits on store shelves or steamy bathroom counters MUST be properly preserved, or it could ultimately be dangerous.
What type of preservatives do you use?
Some of the natural inhibitors and anti-oxidants used to support and complement the synthetic portion of the preservative system are natural Vitamin E, neem oil, rosemary leaf extract, black willowbark extract, pure essential oils, citric acid, usnea lichen extract and potassium sorbate, all of which you can learn more about in our ingredients description. A few of our products contain only these natural inhibitors, but in a higher than normal amount, and though effective (for a shorter period of time than the synthetic preservatives) they also have a slight inherent scent as a result of  the botanicals used, and may not appeal to everyone.

Some of our products (i.e. Silk Gloves Hand and Body Lotion) contain a broad spectrum preservative called Geogard, which is a combination of 4 components: Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, and Sorbic Acid.  Geogard meets the ECOCERT standards, is non-paraben, non-formaldehyde, non-isothiazolone based system, and rates 1 on the Environmental Working Group's SkinDeep Cosmetic Database. 

The other preservative found in some of our products, is a combination of phenoxyethanol and EDTA.  Some companies claim that phenoxyethanol is derived from rose oil, sage oil, minerals, plant derivatives and even coconut.  In fact, it is not even remotely related to these ingredients.  It is, however, very safe, as it is paraben free, not pH dependant and not a formaldehyde releasing agent as so many common preservatives are.  It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing to the skin and eyes at usage levels of 2.2 % or less.  Our products contain less than 1 % due to the use of other supportive inhibitors.

Are your products truly hypo-allergenic?
No products are truly hypo-allergenic, no matter what we’ve been led to believe. The very term suggests that they are guaranteed to be free of substances that may cause negative or allergic reactions.  Anybody can be allergic to anything, whether it is synthetic or natural. There are some things, however , that are more likely to cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. Some people are more sensitive than others due to many possible factors – genetics, nutrition, environmental stress and damage, injury, bacteria, pH imbalance, hormones or any combination of the above. For example, if someone is allergic to nuts, even topical application of an oil extracted from nuts may be problematic for them.
I have allergies, can I use your products? 
People with allergies or sensitivities should ALWAYS read the list of ingredients to check for things that may be problematic for them. The most common ingredients that cause sensitivity are found in fragrances and some preservatives, yet these are generally found in most supposedly "hypo-allergenic" formulas. So, again there are no guarantees that any ingredient will work for everyone, no matter how pure or natural. ALWAYS test every new product on a small portion of skin on the arm or leg and wait for at least 24 hours to see if any sensitivity develops. If it does, discontinue use.  If you know, for sure, that you are severely allergic to any listed ingredients, do NOT, under any circumstances use it, not even to test it.