Protecting the Freshness and Potency of Your Skin Care Products
What we have found through tests and experiments over the years at Earthwise Beauty® is that no matter what types of modern preservatives and powerful antioxidants are used, by refrigerating, most products’ potency and vibrancy are better protected and their shelf life greatly extended. This applies to water-based products (mists, aloe serums, lotions, creams, premoistened masks), oils, balms, and many dry masks.
Our small-batch, organic skin care is based on alive, unrefined, plant-based ingredients. We want to guide you in how to protect the “aliveness,” the life force contained within. If an herb remains fully potent for a year from the moment of harvesting and drying, a skin care product made using that herb extracted in water or included in a mask will remain fresh for about six months.
Our products are properly and adequately preserved with high-end natural cosmetic preservatives, but they are not overloaded with the preservatives. We want your products to be safe, but if we used higher percentages of preservatives (like those needed to obtain a shelf life of two to four years), the products might be drying, irritating, harsh, or sensitizing for some customers. Additionally, many plant constituents can’t express their adaptogenic intelligence and full range of healing action if they are subdued with high percentages of antimicrobials.
Order only as much skin care at a time as you plan to use within three to six months. Store the products you use daily or almost daily at room temperature (bonus points if you are willing to store them in the refrigerator). When taking a break from a product, keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months; an exception are our herbal steams and teas, which never need refrigerating.
To avoid microbial contamination, reach into the jars with freshly cleaned, dry hands or use a clean, thoroughly dry scoop. Close the lids and caps tightly. Protect all products from excessive heat. Shake the closed bottles periodically to remix.