Q: Some natural shampoos don’t seem to lather a great deal. How can a shampoo clean the hair without a lot of lather?
A: Shampoos do not need to generate lots of suds to clean hair effectively. We’ve been conditioned to like lather. But many shampoos rely on inexpensive, petrochemically derived detergents such as sodium lauryl / laureth sulfate, olefin sulfonate and cocamidopropyl betaine for their foam-building properties. These chemicals can dry out the hair and scalp, and may cause allergic reactions as well as environmental problems.
Q: What is deionized water? Doesn’t it water down your shampoos?
A: Water is essential to the proper formulation of a shampoo base. It acts as a suspension agent for herbs and other ingredients, and combines with the soap component to form a lather. Without water, your shampoo will be too thick and the pH too high. While impure, hard water can inhibit the performance of shampoos, deionized water boosts performance by increasing lathering, spreadability and clean rinsing. The deionization process removes mineral salts such as calcium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfide and sodium chloride from water. In addition, the deionized water we use also goes through three other purification processes—carbon filtering, reverse osmosis and UV treatment. This ensures
Q: What does “certified organic” mean?
A: “Certified organic” means that an independent agency accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has verified that products labeled as “organic” meet strictly defined organic standards, as specified by the National Organic Program (NOP). Both individual products and manufacturing facilities must be certified organic to allow labeling of products as organic or containing organic ingredients. Aubrey Organics was certified as an organic processor in October 1994 by Quality Assurance International of San Diego, California, the first cosmetic manufacturer to be certified organic.
Q: What is a “natural” preservative?
A: Aubrey Organics has been using this proprietary blend of grapefruit seed extract and antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) since the mid-1970s to preserve their natural products. The remarkable powers of grapefruit seed extract as an antimicrobial and antifungal were first discovered by Dr. Jakob Harich. Most essential oils have some antimicrobial powers; and bacteria become only a crucial concern whenever water is an ingredient in formulas—that is why some cold creams have an indefinite shelf life.
Q: Why are different bottles of the same product sometimes different in color, scent or texture?
A: Natural ingredients are not standardized and uniformly mass-produced the way synthetic ones can be. Herbs and other ingredients harvested from different farms at different times will look or feel different when used in a product. Heat or cold conditions during shipping can cause products to become thicker or thinner, and temperature can also affect color or scent. Embellir formulates in small batches to ensure product purity and stability, and we offer a 100% money-back guarantee that our products will perform to your satisfaction.
Q: I’ve noticed that some of your products separate. Is this a problem?
A: Occasionally some separation does occur; you’ll open the product and see an oily or watery layer at the top. This does not mean the product is spoiled, nor does separation lessen the product’s effectiveness. The problem is easily corrected by following the instructions you see on the label: shake Well Before Using.
Q: What is the shelf life of natural & organic products?
A: The shelf life of products varies. Products are sealed to help prevent contamination and leakage. Small batches and quick shipment ensure freshness; however, opened products should be used within a year for best results. Short-term exposure to extreme temperature changes can affect the thickness and texture of products, resulting in possible separation; however, the freshness of the product is not compromised. Shaking and/or refrigerating products can restore consistency. Long-term exposure of products to sunlight and/or heat should be avoided because the resulting oxidation may affect freshness. If the product smells bad or shows obvious signs of bacteria growth, of course, you are not going to use; and be sure to check the product expiration on some products to see their “best use” date—just like on diary products. After all, our products are formulated with the “food outside—food inside” process in mind.
Q: How long will I have to use one of your skin care lines before I can tell if it’s the right type for me? My skin looks worse now than when I started. What’s wrong?
A: The skin goes through a regeneration cycle every 21-28 days (about a month). During this time period your visible layers of skin are completely exfoliated and new layers of skin begin to surface. During the 1st and 2nd weeks of using a new facial care regimen, your skin is detoxifying. It may appear blotchy or you may experience breakouts or mild acne. Not to worry—this is normal. This tells you that your skin is being properly cleansed and that your products are working. The 3rd and 4th weeks of using your new facial care regimen you will find your complexion becoming balanced and visibly clear.
Q: What is exfoliation?
A: Exfoliation is a natural process of the skin. Every 21-28 days skin cells are sloughed off and replaced with newer cells. Masks and scrubs containing exfoliants assist this natural process. There are several different types of exfoliants that are utilized in masks and scrubs. Manual exfoliants include ground nuts, meals and spherical jojoba wax beads. Fruit acid exfoliants dissolve the cellular glue that holds skin cells together to reveal newer, fresher cells. Enzymatic exfoliants actually digest dead skin cells and offer the most gentle form of exfoliation.
Q: Do you make anything I can use for rosacea?
A: Yes, we have some wonderful products and tips for helping with rosacea.
Q: Do you make anything I can use for acne?
A: Yes, we have some wonderful products and tips for helping with scne.
Q: Why do you use natural grain alcohol (NGA) in your products? What is the source? Will it dry out my hair and skin?
A: Natural grain alcohol (ethanol), a liquid solvent alcohol, is naturally obtained through the fermenting of carbohydrates from grain (corn) and does not contain gluten (a common allergen). NGA has antiseptic, sedative and blood vessel dilation properties, and acts as an effective preservative booster and binding agent, as well as an astringent in toners. NGA, emollients and herbal extracts used proportionately in formulation ensure that products will not cause dryness or sensitivity to the user. NGA is gentle on the skin, hair and scalp, unlike isopropyl alcohol, which is produced from petrochemicals.
Q: What are essential fatty acids?
A: Fatty acids and glycerin are the building blocks of fats and oils from both plants and animals. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) such as linoleic and linolenic acids cannot be manufactured by the body and must be consumed in the diet. EFAs are utilized by the body in practically every biochemical function, including the production of sebum, the skin’s natural oil. Applied topically, EFAs are readily absorbed by the skin. They are excellent emollients that not only improve the absorption of our moisturizers and conditioners, but also have antibacterial properties that help protect the skin, hair and scalp. They are found in many unprocessed oils, especially safflower and flax seed oils.
Q: What is a fatty alcohol?
A: Some of the most common fatty alcohols are cetyl, lauryl, oleyl and stearyl fatty alcohols. Solid alcohols are made from fatty acids. They are superb natural emollients, not to be confused with liquid solvent-type alcohols. Cetyl and stearyl alcohols help keep the hair and scalp’s natural moisture from evaporating. Cetyl alcohol was first derived from the oil of sperm whales; it is also widely produced from petroleum oil. Embellir only uses cetyl alcohol from natural vegetable sources—coconut and palm oils.
Q: What are fatty acids esters?
A: Esterification of a fatty acid is a condensation reaction in which a molecule of acid unites with a molecule of alcohol with the elimination of water. Fatty acid esters can be very beneficial in cosmetic formulas. Two examples in nature of substances rich in fatty acid esters are jojoba oil and human sebum.
Q: What forms do herbal products come in?
A: The most popular herbal products in America are capsules, softgels, and tablets. Herbal teas(tisanes), especially in teabags, account for a substantial amount of the herbs consumed in the United States. Herbs in liquid herbal extract form are also a popular way to ingest therapeutic herbal products. Finally, herbs are available in bulk from some health and natural food stores, and certainly from Embellir. We carry a wide selection.
Q: Which form of herbs offers the most therapeutic benefits?
A: The therapeutic benefits achieved by using herbs depend on a variety of factors. For instance, does the herbal product contain all of the active constituents in ratios found in nature, or have the constituents been altered? Is the herbal product fresh? What is the shelf life of the herb? Has the herb been processed in such a way to ensure that it will be effective when you are ready to take the product? Does the product require you to digest the herbs in order to get all of the benefits from these herbs? Is it convenient to take? Is it affordable? Does the product address the problem that you are trying to solve? Of all the available forms of herbs, liquid herbal extracts best address all of these factors. This is the reason that American herbalists recommend this form of herbs the most.
Q: What are liquid herbal extracts?
A: Liquid herbal extracts are herbs that have been processed in such a way that their active constituents (ingredients) are suspended in a liquefied medium, usually alcohol, glycerin, olive oil, and water.
Q: Why are herbs in liquid herbal extract form preferable over dried herbs in capsule or tablet form?
A: Liquid extracts capture and preserve their active constituents better for maximum therapeutic benefits. Nothing has to be broken down or digested when using liquid extracts. Most herbs in tablet or capsule form are ground months prior to appearing on store shelves. They lose many of their active ingredients both when they are ground and while they are in storage. That is why Embellir will ground your herbs and put them in capsules for you upon request at the time you place your order (1 day lead time is required). Your capsules will not contain any fillers, binders, and other materials used in other supplements to compress ground herbs into tablet form.
Q: How are the different forms of liquid herbal extracts made?
A: Liquid herbal extracts are available in alcohol-containing extracts, alcohol-free extracts and liquid herbal softgels. The most potent and effective extracts, whether they are in alcohol-factors, alcohol-free or softgel form, should share three important commonalties. They should all start as alcohol-containing extracts to ensure potency. Second, heat should not be used in their manufacturing processes, as heat is detrimental to the potency of liquid herbal extracts. Third, all should be produced in such a way to ensure that the herbs contain their full spectrum of active constituents.
Q: I'm alcohol sensitive. How much alcohol will I ingest in an average dose of a liquid herbal extract containing alcohol?
A: Although some people may be concerned about the amount of alcohol in alcohol-containing liquid herbal extracts, there is little cause for worry. On average, 30 drops of an extract containing 70 percent alcohol (see the label on the bottle for the percentage of alcohol) has the same amount of alcohol as one ripe banana. When we eat fruit, our bodies naturally produce alcohol via the fermentation process in our stomachs. The point I am making here is that most alcohol sensitive people do not quit eating fruit. So if one dosage is only a banana's worth of alcohol, that should not pose a threat to most people.
Q: Is there any way I can get the maximum benefits of a liquid herbal extract AND avoid the alcohol?
A: Evaporating the alcohol out of an alcohol-containing liquid herbal extract is best done on a dose-by-dose basis by putting the dose in a hot drink. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. Forty to 60 percent of the alcohol will evaporate during that time.
Q: Are alcohol-free extracts as potent as alcohol-containing extracts?
A: As the market stands right now, most alcohol-based extracts are much stronger than alcohol-free extracts. The fact is that most alcohol free extracts only contain a few active constituents and, as such, they are not a good value for the money.
Q: I have read about herbs that are "standardized". What is standardization?
A: Standardization of herbal products occurs when a specific amount of one "active constituent" in an herb is artificially manipulated to be at a certain level. In the last few years there has been an ongoing trend in the herbal industry to "standardize" herbal products. This phenomenon is occurring principally because of two strong influences. First, medical doctors are being drawn to herbs by patients who are growing uncomfortable with synthetic drugs. Patients are requesting products with fewer side effects but with equally effective natural properties. Coming from an orthodox, pharmaceutically-driven framework, doctors feel more comfortable when they can recommend products that have "active constituents" in measurable and consistent amounts. Thus, they are encouraging the standardization of herbs. Second, in response to pressure from medical doctors to bring herbs in line with how drugs are standardized, some herb companies are developing such products.
Q: Is the standardization of herbs valid in your opinion? Does it increase the healing potential of herbs?
A: In our opinion, standardization runs counter to the holistic view that each herb is an ecosystem that combines all of its parts to heal and balance our bodies. We feel that herbs should not be manipulated in any way.
Q: Does it matter if the herbs I take are organic?
A: At Embellir, we are concerned about our environment, and strongly recommend that herbal consumers choose certified organically grown herbs. First, choosing organically cultivated herbs helps lessen over-harvesting of herbs in the wild. For example, Echinacea and Goldenseal, among other herbs, are facing extinction unless we start cultivating these plants. Second, certified organic farmers make sure they have crops year after year by not compromising their land for short-term gain. Therefore, by buying organic, you support renewing the land. Third, certified organic farmers are inspected by a third-party certifying agency, insuring that the farmers utilize sustainable, chemical-free and pesticide-free farming techniques. This means that organic herbs truly support your healing as well as help preserve the health of our planet.
Q: Can I take alternative care supplements along with my prescription medicine?
A: Before embarking on an alternative wellness program, radical therapies, or vigorous exercise programs, do your homework first. Some herbal medicines will negate the effectiveness of prescribed medicines. Mainly because the herbal medicines will oftentimes view the prescribed medicine as a toxin. Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine if you have serious health issues; and check with an alternative care specialist before beginning any herbal program, if you are taking prescription medications. When purchasing supplements and herbs, it is a wise idea to mention any major health issues or allergies to the herbalist.
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