Frequently Asked Questions
Do Alchemilla products contain parabens?
No.
Do Alchemilla products contain preservatives?
Without an adequate preservative system, the product cannot be stored for any length of time without spoiling. Alchemilla's product formulations are preserved using a minimum amount of safety-tested and internationally approved plant-derived preservative ingredients.
Can you send me free samples before I buy your skin care products?
We no longer provide free skin care samples without a purchase, however we understand that every person's skin is different and what works for one, may not work for another. To take the guess work out of which Alchemilla natural products work best for you, we have created our Natural Skin Care Trial Kits, which are modestly priced and contain a large selection of trial-size products right for every skin type.
What is the Shelf Life of Alchemilla Products?
Expected shelf life of Alchemilla products is 12 months after opening, sometimes longer. If longer shelf life is desired we suggest storing the product in the refrigerator. Your product should be stored at less than 75 degrees (about room temperature). It will not meet its minimum shelf life if it is kept in overly warm conditions or direct sunlight.
We take our motto of "Purity, Integrity and Excellence in the Art and Science of Natural Skin Care" seriously. To maintain ultimate "purity", Alchemilla natural skin care products are made frequently in small batches and contain the least amount of preservative possible to maintain freshness. We do not resort to high percentages of alcohol or irritating essential oils and, in line with our policy of "Integrity", do not employ hidden preservatives (eg. undeclared ingredients or those found in some raw materials). You can be assured Alchemilla skin care products have the highest amount of natural ingredients possible while maintaining their freshness over the required period of time.
Why does your brand smell different to similar brand XYZ?
Alchemilla products are scented with pure, unfractionated essential oils only. What do we mean by unfractionated? We mean that the essential oil has been included in the product in its entirety, not separated out into its various aromatic components.
Why is this important? If product A states that it is 'Rose' scented, but the ingredient list on that product reads: 'Fragrance (from pure essential oils)' and lists various ingredients such as geraniol, limonene, linalool etc., then what you are probably getting the listed aromatic chemicals (and many not listed) and not necessarily from a rose plant. Rose essential oil is extremely costly. Essential oils of geranium, ylang ylang, lavender however, are not as expensive yet contain some of the same chemicals as rose. So if you have a clever chemist, you will not need Rose essential oil to create a true rose scent. The net result: Although the product may smell wonderful, it will not have the synergistic healing properties that come from actual rose.
In addition, plant medicine relies strongly on a natural-occurring synergy to ensure the full effect of an ingredient is experienced while side effects are minimal to non-existent. As all herbal medicine practitioners know, if you separate an active ingredient from the rest of the constituents in an herbal extract, you cancel the synergistic healing effect of the remedy and increase its possibility of producing unwanted side effects.
Do Alchemilla Skin Care Products Contain Alcohol?
Currently we do not use alcohol in our products.
Employing high percentages of alcohol in products that are to be regularly used on the skin is a questionable practice. Alcohol is dehydrating to the skin and, although it can effectively kill bacteria and fungal cells, it can just as effectively kill normal skin cells(1).
Although alcohol is a preservative and penetration- and fragrance-enhancer, researchers suggest that alcohol should be used topically in solution of up to 1:1000 and for a short period of time only(2). Unfortunately however, alcohol is used in much larger quantities when employed as an alternative to traditional skin care preservative ingredients.
The best way to figure out if alcohol is in large quantities in a given product is to check where it appears on the ingredient list (the higher up the list, the more there is in the product).
Can I sell your natural skin care products in my boutique/spa/retail store?
Yes. As long as you run a legitimate business with current reseller's license, and your business fits with the categories outlined in our wholesale application page, you can sell Alchemilla skin care products. Information and an application form to apply for an Alchemilla wholesale account is available by scrolling down on any MyAlchemilla.com page and clicking 'Wholesale'.
Can you recommend a product for my skin type or concern?
Absolutely! For help in selecting the right product for your skin type, feel free to
CONTACT US. Alternatively, you can check out our skin care routines/recommendations pages, shop by skin type, or go directly to our natural skin care product pages. Every Alchemilla product has a comprehensive description about its benefits and the skin types for which it is most suitable.
Can I pick-up my order?
Currently our physical location is unable to accommodate visitors. However, the Alchemilla vision is to create an educating, exciting and inspiring organic herb garden, with an on-site customer reception and store that inspires and intrigues visitors from everywhere.
If you are in a hurry to receive our exciting natural skin care products, our list of physical retailers is steadily growing and there may be one in your area who stocks the item you are looking for. If not, we do offer various express shipping options. Either choose one of these express options at checkout or
CONTACT US if you would like to discuss getting an order to you quickly.
Are your skin care products cruelty free?
Yes, all of our products are Certified Cruelty Free by PETA. We do not test our products or ingredients on animals, nor do any of our ingredient suppliers. Our skin care products are 100% vegetarian and most are vegan. The small number of Alchemilla natural skin care products that contain ingredients from animal origin do not involve harm or death to the animal (that is: Lanolin, beeswax and honey).
Do Alchemilla skin care products have a strong fragrance?
Alchemilla skin care products are formulated with aromatherapy principles in mind, therefore many contain pure essential oils, which are naturally aromatic.
Essential oils provide a psychologically healing aromatherapy dimension while having a positive impact on the skin's physiology. The small percentage of any essential oil found in our products makes them effective without being aromatically over-powering or irritating.
For those sensitive to all aromas, we currently offer two moisturizing products that are fragrance free - Calendula Cream or Rosebay Willowherb Cream and will introduce an ultra-sensitive range later this year which will contain little to no fragrant essential oils.
Can you tell me more about an ingredient in your product?
In line with Alchemilla's principles of purity and integrity, it is our policy to be always up-front and open about our ingredient choices. We strive to create the cleanest, purest skin care possible while maintaining a world-class quality of product that natural skin care customers have come to expect.
Visit our Skin Care Ingredient Dictionary for answers to our most frequently asked questions about our ingredients - including preservatives, antioxidants, allergy concerns, and more.
If you have any other questions about Alchemilla products, please
CONTACT US.
Citations:
(2) 1998, Biology 1030, Dept of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
(1) 1995, Pyo H et al, Korean J Dermatol, 33(5)
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