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Index FAQS Frequently Asked Questions Sodium Laureth Sulphate Statement STATEMENT
FROM SHEILA SARUP, Not Tested on Animals Statement
FAQS Frequently Asked Questions Q) Is the soap drying? A) No,
the soap is actually very moisturising. It contains a high proportion
of glycerine, which actually draws moisture to it.
A) Yes
I do!
With most
of the products in the Willowherb range, almost all contain pure essential
oils as the only aromatic ingredients. So for example the only thing
giving the Lime and lemongrass shower gel its aroma and its refreshing
properties is pure Mexican Lime oil and Sri Lankan Lemongrass.
Q) Wow ! why is the bluebell so bluebelly ! A) I am very proud of the fact that my products REALLY smell like they are supposed to. (see above) It really is pure Bulgarian Lavender oil that gives the lavender Bubble Bath its smell and therefore its soothing properties. With the bluebell instead of an essential oil, a nature identical fragrance is used. The reason for this is that Bluebell is a wild flower that is protected and not grown as a crop. So in order to get a true perfume of the flower, the fragrance emanating from the flower is captured and analysed (called Head Space technology) and then the fragrance is recreated using aromatic ingredients. I believe I have the BEST bluebell EVER!
Q) Do they contain any animal ingredients? A) No, Sheila is a vegetarian and so are her products.
Q) Are they tested on animals? A) No, none of Willowherb products have been tested on animals. None of our ingredients are tested on animals either. Sodium Laureth Sulphate Statement The ones you need to know about are; Sodium Lauryl Sulphate - is a surfactant that is derived from coconut oil. It is processed to produce a cleaning and foaming agent and is used in anything from toothpaste and toiletries to industrial cleaners. Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (sometimes shortened to sodium Laureth sulphate - SLES). Is another surfactant also derived from coconut oil, and is processed in a similar way to SLS, but the end result is a more gentle product. They have all been used safely and effectively in a range of commonly available cleaning products since the 1950s. Because of the similarity in the chemical names of these products, they are often confused. What's the fuss then? SLS is considered by some to be very harsh and degreasing ie. it strips away natural sebum and moisturisers and may allow the products to be absorbed systemically into the body. Other adverse effects of this degreasing property can include skin irritation, and dryness. So, many manufacturers have gone over to using the less harsh SLES derivative of coconut oil - this appears on many labels as a 'selling point' and make claims that these products less harmful to the skin than SLS. This negative reputation of SLS has also damaged the reputation of SLES, and therefore some manufacturers have been looking for alternatives ; recently, a fairly new alternative has been marketed which uses Ammonia instead of Sodium to produce a product called Ammoniun Lauryl sulphate. (ALS). This recently used version does seem to be a milder alternative to SLES. However, in my view, there is a risk that using these bath products in water where the pH changes (eg with certain types of soap) this could release the free Ammonia from the product - an unpleasant and smelly experience. I also do not believe that ALS is any milder than SLES and certainly not enough for me to change my product formulation. Because I use a high concentration of essential oils in my products, this means that I need to use less of the surfactant . As the difference between the harshness of SLES and ALS is minimal, and the cost of this 'fashionable' variation is quite high, I feel that the decision to use less SLES and more essential oils is the most acceptable solution for Willowherb. The most recent development in this field has been some new molecules derived from sugar; glucosides They appear to be very mild and have the added ecological benefit of high biodegradability. However, they are very expensive and to use them in Willowherb products at the moment would mean at least doubling the price and a long reformulation and trial period. It's early days for glucosides and I am keeping my ears and mind open to the possibilities they offer; however I do not propose to use them yet. To conclude, I feel that at Willowherb I offer the best ingredients for you at an affordable price, which means that I choose not to use the harsh SLS, rather the milder SLES and not the unproven ALS, which brings its own issues.
STATEMENT
FROM SHEILA SARUP, For example I have not used a UV (ultra violet) stabiliser in my products. This does mean that in strong sunlight the colour of the product might fade. It doesn't affect the efficacy of the product at all. Recycling Statement The plastic
bottles used for willowherb's bath and shower gels are made of high
density PET this is a hundred percent recycleable product with a recycle
code 1. So can be responsibly recycled by placing in a recycling bin
for plastics with code 1. Palm oil Statement We do not use palm oil in our products. Although it is an oil of vegetable origin it is grown in virgin rainforest, progressively cutting the rainforest where the palms are only grown for two years before they are left and a new site is found. Errosion of the land occurs as the rain washes the soil onto the reefs, it blankets the reef and kills the marine wildlife. This farming also destroys the natural habitat of Orangutans and is indangering them. Bio-degradability Willowherb products are 100% bio-degradable. At your local water treatment plant the product is completely broken down by bacteria and nothing is left in the water. Organic Statement We endeavor to use as many organic ingredients in our products as we can. Not Tested on Animals Statement Willowherb
products contain NO animal products at all. They are all vegetable based
using ingredients mainly derived from coconuts (not palm oil) as well
as pure essential oils and safe synthetics colours.
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