FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSWhich of your products are best for normal - dry or maturing skin?
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Which of your products are best for normal - oily skin?
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Do you use sustainable palm oil? What is RSPO? Why are people concerned about palm oil use?
Our palm oil is certified organic from Malaysia where the palm product is under strict governmental regulation, and there is no deforestation occurring. We choose to use palm oil for its many benefits as long as it has been sustainably produced, even though it is not RSPO certified at this time.
RSPO stands for Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil. This is an organization that was developed to implement global standards on sustainable palm oil. The RSPO has developed a set of environmental and social criteria which companies must comply with in order to produce Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO). When they are properly applied, these criteria can help to minimize the negative impact of palm oil cultivation on the environment and communities in palm oil-producing regions.
Many are very concerned about how palm oil is being produced and choose not to use palm oil. Others feel it is best to support sustainable palm oil production. Irresponsible palm oil production is responsible for the deforestation of many biodiverse forests as they are burned to create areas for palm oil cultivation.
Read More
Our palm oil is certified organic from Malaysia where the palm product is under strict governmental regulation, and there is no deforestation occurring. We choose to use palm oil for its many benefits as long as it has been sustainably produced, even though it is not RSPO certified at this time.
RSPO stands for Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil. This is an organization that was developed to implement global standards on sustainable palm oil. The RSPO has developed a set of environmental and social criteria which companies must comply with in order to produce Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO). When they are properly applied, these criteria can help to minimize the negative impact of palm oil cultivation on the environment and communities in palm oil-producing regions.
Many are very concerned about how palm oil is being produced and choose not to use palm oil. Others feel it is best to support sustainable palm oil production. Irresponsible palm oil production is responsible for the deforestation of many biodiverse forests as they are burned to create areas for palm oil cultivation.
Read More
Are all of your ingredients organic?
Not all of our ingredients are organic. We strive to use organic ingredients as much as possible whenever they are available, and if they are in a price range that will be affordable for our customers.
Do you use fragrances in your products?
We do not use any artificial fragrances or perfumes, only essential oils.
What is the shelf life of your products?
We recommend you use your soap within 2 years as oils in the soap can begin to go rancid. Products made without water such as bee balm, lip balm, lotion bars, deodorant and bath fizzies should also be used within 2 years for the same reason. All products with water have a best before date on the bottom of the container of one year from creation, as even with an Ecocert preservative, mold, yeast or bacteria could begin to grow after that time.
Are your products gluten-free?
All our products are gluten-free.
Are your products vegan?
Our products are vegan with the exception of the use of beeswax and honey which are naturally produced by the bee. Beeswax and honey are natural, sustainable and their removal does no harm to the bees which produce it.
Are your products cruelty free?
Our products have not been tested on animals.
What is a hydrosol?
Hydrosols are also known as "flower waters," and are produced by distilling fresh leaves, fruits, flowers, and other plant materials. After distillation the essential oils rise to the top of the lightly scented floral water. With similar properties to essential oils, these aromatic waters are much less concentrated. Their aromas are often soft and subtle when compared to their essential oil counterpart.
What is an essential oil?
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, or "essence." Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic scent and qualities. Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing.
What does ECOCERT & COSMOS stand for?
Ecocert is an organic certification organization, founded in France in 1991. Ecocert provides suitable solutions to promote good environmental and societal practices. Ecocert requires that 95% of the ingredients used in any product be of natural origin and have extremely strict restrictions on what is allowed in the remaining 5%. Ecocert is the global leader in the certification of natural or organic cosmetics and raw materials. Ecocert is one of the founding members of the COSMOS-standard.
COSMOS stands for “COSMetic Organic and Natural Standard.” A COSMOS-standard defines the criteria that companies must meet to ensure consumers that their ingredients or products are genuine organic or natural cosmetics produced to the highest feasible sustainability practices.
ECOCERT/COSMOS supports:
What is an INCI name and why does it matter?
INCI names (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) are systematic names that are internationally recognized to identify cosmetic ingredients. The INCI name is important so that every language and community can clearly identify every ingredient by uniform name.
What is a humectant?
A substance used to preserve or retain moisture such as glycerin.
What is an emollient?
A cosmetic formulation that softens and soothes the skin.
What is an occlusive?
An ingredient that locks moisture into the skin, including plant butters and waxes, like shea and cocoa butter, and beeswax.
What is an antioxidant?
A substance that inhibits oxidation such as vitamin C or E.
What is oxidation and how can it be slowed?
It is a natural chemical breakdown that leads to butters and oils going rancid over time. Antioxidants such as vitamin E can help slow down this process. Antioxidants may be effective at reducing UV damage in skin, and vitamin E applied topically may help nourish and protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals.
What is a free-radical?
Free radicals are unstable atoms that can cause damage to cells and lead to illnesses and the aging process.
What does non-comedogenic mean?
A skin-care product or cosmetic that is specially formulated so as not to cause blocked pores and acne.
What is lye (sodium hydroxide/potassium hydroxide)?
A solution of lye, traditionally obtained by leaching wood ash, which is a strong alkali, is combined with vegetable oils to cause a chemical reaction that produces soap. This reaction breaks down the fats or oils into fatty acid chains, and the lye is neutralized in the process.
What does saponification mean?
Soap is made through a chemical process known as saponification (sapo is Latin for soap). Saponification is a process by which triglycerides react with sodium or potassium hydroxide (lye) to produce glycerol and a fatty acid salt called "soap." The triglycerides are most often animal fats or vegetable oils.
How is soap made?
Handcrafted soaps made from scratch require three ingredients to become soap: oil (animal or vegetable oil), water and lye. These three ingredients, mixed together in correct proportions, combine and chemically change into soap - a process called "saponification". Other ingredients may be added for additional benefits or to color or scent the soap, but these are not part of the chemical process that results in basic soap.
What is an astringent?
A substance that helps cleanse and soothe the skin, tighten pores, reduce inflammation, and dry out oily skin. An example would be witch hazel.
What is a surfactant?
Also called a surface-active agent, is a substance such as a detergent that, when added to a liquid, reduces its surface tension, increasing its spreading and wetting abilities, and can act as a foaming agent. These are used in shampoos to remove dirt and grease.
What is a sulphate and are all sulphates bad?
A sulfate is a synthetic sulphate-based chemical such as SLS or SLES. The main use for SLS and SLES in products is to create lather, giving a stronger impression of cleaning power. SLS and SLES can irritate eyes, skin, and lungs, especially with long-term use. They may also be contaminated with a substance called 1,4-dioxane, which is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. This contamination occurs during the manufacturing process.
Not all sulfates are the same - we use Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS) in our shampoo bar which is naturally derived from coconut oil, milder than SLS and is not at risk of 1,40-dioxane contamination. It is Ecocert/COSMOS certified.
What is Castile soap?
Castile soap is a kind and gentle soap, and can be made in liquid or bar form depending on the type of lye used. Traditionally, it was an all-vegetable based soap made in the Castile region of Spain with local olive oil. Modern recipes vary, but it's usually made from a combination of olive oil, castor oil, sunflower oil, or coconut oil. POSY liquid soap is a castile soap handmade with organic coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil. Castile soap contains no animal fats, and is known as a pure vegetable soap. It’s a "true soap," not a chemical detergent, and is completely biodegradable and very earth-friendly.
What is an emulsifier and why do you need it?
Since water and oil do not mix but stay separated, an emulsifier is essential in any formulation (i.e. lotion) using oil and water, to bind the two together. We use an emulsifier that is Ecocert certified.
What is a preservative and why do you need it?
Cosmetic products containing water need to be preserved in order to prevent microbial spoilage that would make the product unsafe for consumers. Preservatives play a very important function in products containing water: they kill microorganisms and water-borne bacteria, and prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast. If a product contains water (including hydrosols, floral water and aloe vera juice, all of which contain water), a preservative is essential to help prevent microbes growing. We use a preservative that is Ecocert/COSMOS certified.
Not all of our ingredients are organic. We strive to use organic ingredients as much as possible whenever they are available, and if they are in a price range that will be affordable for our customers.
Do you use fragrances in your products?
We do not use any artificial fragrances or perfumes, only essential oils.
What is the shelf life of your products?
We recommend you use your soap within 2 years as oils in the soap can begin to go rancid. Products made without water such as bee balm, lip balm, lotion bars, deodorant and bath fizzies should also be used within 2 years for the same reason. All products with water have a best before date on the bottom of the container of one year from creation, as even with an Ecocert preservative, mold, yeast or bacteria could begin to grow after that time.
Are your products gluten-free?
All our products are gluten-free.
Are your products vegan?
Our products are vegan with the exception of the use of beeswax and honey which are naturally produced by the bee. Beeswax and honey are natural, sustainable and their removal does no harm to the bees which produce it.
Are your products cruelty free?
Our products have not been tested on animals.
What is a hydrosol?
Hydrosols are also known as "flower waters," and are produced by distilling fresh leaves, fruits, flowers, and other plant materials. After distillation the essential oils rise to the top of the lightly scented floral water. With similar properties to essential oils, these aromatic waters are much less concentrated. Their aromas are often soft and subtle when compared to their essential oil counterpart.
What is an essential oil?
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, or "essence." Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic scent and qualities. Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing.
What does ECOCERT & COSMOS stand for?
Ecocert is an organic certification organization, founded in France in 1991. Ecocert provides suitable solutions to promote good environmental and societal practices. Ecocert requires that 95% of the ingredients used in any product be of natural origin and have extremely strict restrictions on what is allowed in the remaining 5%. Ecocert is the global leader in the certification of natural or organic cosmetics and raw materials. Ecocert is one of the founding members of the COSMOS-standard.
COSMOS stands for “COSMetic Organic and Natural Standard.” A COSMOS-standard defines the criteria that companies must meet to ensure consumers that their ingredients or products are genuine organic or natural cosmetics produced to the highest feasible sustainability practices.
ECOCERT/COSMOS supports:
- Environmentally friendly production and processing processes, respecting both planetary and human health
- Responsible use of natural resources
- Respect of biodiversity
- Absence of parabens, phenoxyethanol, perfumes, and synthetic colourants
- Absence of GMOs
- Recyclable packaging
What is an INCI name and why does it matter?
INCI names (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) are systematic names that are internationally recognized to identify cosmetic ingredients. The INCI name is important so that every language and community can clearly identify every ingredient by uniform name.
What is a humectant?
A substance used to preserve or retain moisture such as glycerin.
What is an emollient?
A cosmetic formulation that softens and soothes the skin.
What is an occlusive?
An ingredient that locks moisture into the skin, including plant butters and waxes, like shea and cocoa butter, and beeswax.
What is an antioxidant?
A substance that inhibits oxidation such as vitamin C or E.
What is oxidation and how can it be slowed?
It is a natural chemical breakdown that leads to butters and oils going rancid over time. Antioxidants such as vitamin E can help slow down this process. Antioxidants may be effective at reducing UV damage in skin, and vitamin E applied topically may help nourish and protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals.
What is a free-radical?
Free radicals are unstable atoms that can cause damage to cells and lead to illnesses and the aging process.
What does non-comedogenic mean?
A skin-care product or cosmetic that is specially formulated so as not to cause blocked pores and acne.
What is lye (sodium hydroxide/potassium hydroxide)?
A solution of lye, traditionally obtained by leaching wood ash, which is a strong alkali, is combined with vegetable oils to cause a chemical reaction that produces soap. This reaction breaks down the fats or oils into fatty acid chains, and the lye is neutralized in the process.
What does saponification mean?
Soap is made through a chemical process known as saponification (sapo is Latin for soap). Saponification is a process by which triglycerides react with sodium or potassium hydroxide (lye) to produce glycerol and a fatty acid salt called "soap." The triglycerides are most often animal fats or vegetable oils.
How is soap made?
Handcrafted soaps made from scratch require three ingredients to become soap: oil (animal or vegetable oil), water and lye. These three ingredients, mixed together in correct proportions, combine and chemically change into soap - a process called "saponification". Other ingredients may be added for additional benefits or to color or scent the soap, but these are not part of the chemical process that results in basic soap.
What is an astringent?
A substance that helps cleanse and soothe the skin, tighten pores, reduce inflammation, and dry out oily skin. An example would be witch hazel.
What is a surfactant?
Also called a surface-active agent, is a substance such as a detergent that, when added to a liquid, reduces its surface tension, increasing its spreading and wetting abilities, and can act as a foaming agent. These are used in shampoos to remove dirt and grease.
What is a sulphate and are all sulphates bad?
A sulfate is a synthetic sulphate-based chemical such as SLS or SLES. The main use for SLS and SLES in products is to create lather, giving a stronger impression of cleaning power. SLS and SLES can irritate eyes, skin, and lungs, especially with long-term use. They may also be contaminated with a substance called 1,4-dioxane, which is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. This contamination occurs during the manufacturing process.
Not all sulfates are the same - we use Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS) in our shampoo bar which is naturally derived from coconut oil, milder than SLS and is not at risk of 1,40-dioxane contamination. It is Ecocert/COSMOS certified.
What is Castile soap?
Castile soap is a kind and gentle soap, and can be made in liquid or bar form depending on the type of lye used. Traditionally, it was an all-vegetable based soap made in the Castile region of Spain with local olive oil. Modern recipes vary, but it's usually made from a combination of olive oil, castor oil, sunflower oil, or coconut oil. POSY liquid soap is a castile soap handmade with organic coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil. Castile soap contains no animal fats, and is known as a pure vegetable soap. It’s a "true soap," not a chemical detergent, and is completely biodegradable and very earth-friendly.
What is an emulsifier and why do you need it?
Since water and oil do not mix but stay separated, an emulsifier is essential in any formulation (i.e. lotion) using oil and water, to bind the two together. We use an emulsifier that is Ecocert certified.
What is a preservative and why do you need it?
Cosmetic products containing water need to be preserved in order to prevent microbial spoilage that would make the product unsafe for consumers. Preservatives play a very important function in products containing water: they kill microorganisms and water-borne bacteria, and prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast. If a product contains water (including hydrosols, floral water and aloe vera juice, all of which contain water), a preservative is essential to help prevent microbes growing. We use a preservative that is Ecocert/COSMOS certified.
HELPFUL TIPS
Deodorant Tips:
Deodorant works best when applied to clean & exfoliated underarms.
Best before date on the bottom of our products:
Some of our products are stamped ‘best before’ by Month & Year on the bottom of the product. The date will be ‘best before’ one year after product was created (i.e. Made in July 2020 would be stamped July21)
Best before dates are important on our products containing water, so that we can know when a batch was created and to make sure you don’t use it beyond its optimal freshness. Even with a broad spectrum Ecocert preservative, products will eventually grow rancid and possibly grow mold, yeast or bacteria, or it may be introduced into a product by wet/unclean fingers.That is why we stamp it ‘best before’ one year from creation.
Trouble shooting opening a new lotion pump:
Hold the tiny top that is directly against the pump with one hand - don’t let it swivel as you rotate the pump to the left. After several turns the pump should pop up and open for use. If it just rotates around and around, you are not holding the tiny top firm enough, and it is moving as you rotate the pump. Try again keeping the tiny top immovable with one hand as you rotate the pump to the left.
Deodorant works best when applied to clean & exfoliated underarms.
- Lather and wash your underarms thoroughly to eliminate the oils and bacteria that contribute to body odour.
- Once clean, apply your deodorant by warming it to your skin to soften the beeswax.
- Apply it very lightly with 1-2 strokes. Less is more. Too much and it will get sticky.
- It is normal to sweat. Natural deodorants do not stop perspiration which is good. Natural deodorant helps to decrease odour, discourage bacteria and keep you smelling fresh.
- Deodorant may need to be reapplied on a hot humid day.
- Discontinue use if underarms get red or rashy. It may be fine to resume after redness goes away. Take a break from deodorant on a home day now and again and let your underarms breathe.
- Wear natural fibres! Polyester will make you stink!
- It may take a few weeks for your underarms to get used to perspiration after using antiperspirant. A period of detox and getting used to this change is normal.
Best before date on the bottom of our products:
Some of our products are stamped ‘best before’ by Month & Year on the bottom of the product. The date will be ‘best before’ one year after product was created (i.e. Made in July 2020 would be stamped July21)
Best before dates are important on our products containing water, so that we can know when a batch was created and to make sure you don’t use it beyond its optimal freshness. Even with a broad spectrum Ecocert preservative, products will eventually grow rancid and possibly grow mold, yeast or bacteria, or it may be introduced into a product by wet/unclean fingers.That is why we stamp it ‘best before’ one year from creation.
Trouble shooting opening a new lotion pump:
Hold the tiny top that is directly against the pump with one hand - don’t let it swivel as you rotate the pump to the left. After several turns the pump should pop up and open for use. If it just rotates around and around, you are not holding the tiny top firm enough, and it is moving as you rotate the pump. Try again keeping the tiny top immovable with one hand as you rotate the pump to the left.