A:  “Natural” refers to the lack of synthetic ingredients in products.  Almost everything in life is a chemical – the difference is if it was made from plants and sometimes animals or synthetically produced.  Plant-based products are more compatible with our bodies and tend to produce fewer ill effects.

Q:  Help!  It's sandal season and I want attractive feet.

A:  Before donning sandals or going barefoot, spend thirty minutes on your feet.  Soak them in Treat Your Feet Soak for 15 minutes, scrub them good with Treat Your Feet Scrub, and finish with Treat Your Feet Cream.  Your feet will look and feel terrific.

Q:  What is OptiPhen®? 

A:  OptiPhen® is a paraben- and formaldehyde-free preservative liquid blend from ISP Sutton Labs featuring phenoxyethanol (an organic chemical compound) as the primary active ingredient in an emollient base of caprylyl glycol (derived from coconut).  The combination of these ingredients provides optimized protection against microbial growth while imparting exceptional feel to the finished product. Optiphen® is approved globally.

Q:  Are these products safe to use on babies and children?

A:  Yes, please see our Baby Care Pack. 

Q:  I see mineral oil in lots of lotions on the market today.  Why doesn’t Shearwater Falls use any in their products? 

A:  Mineral oil is a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil.  Its molecules are very large and consequently, when applied to skin, block pores.  This interferes with the body’s ability to eliminate toxins.  The end result of using mineral oil is to dry your skin.  For more information, please see http://www.herballuxuries.com/mineral-oil.htm.

Q:  I have very dry skin, what products should I use?

A:  Using a mild soap that does not further dry your skin and then immediately after getting out of the shower using Skin Cream, Mocha Butter After-Sun or Cocoa-Shea Butter will help your skin retain moisture.  If you use moisturizer within a few minutes after bathing, you will trap the moisture from the shower in your skin and improve your skin’s look and feel.

Q:  I have acne-prone skin, which products are best for me?

A:  Start by washing your face at least twice daily with a mild soap.  Then several times a week, scrub with Healthy Skin Scrub.  Use a few drops of water or witch hazel to make a thick paste from the dry scrub.  Gently massage your skin in a circular motion and then rinse well.  Depending on how oily your skin is, you may want to finish with a few drops of Skin Cream or your favorite facial moisturizer to protect your skin.

Q:  I have combination skin, what do I do?

A:  Define where your skin is oily and use Healthy Skin Scrub for that portion of your skin more frequently.  Use a mild soap all over your skin.  Moisturize the oily sections with a light oil-free moisturizer and the drier areas with a more emollient moisturizer. 

Q:  What is the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils?

A:  Fragrance oils, also called “fragrance” or "perfume" on many labels, are a synthetic blend of chemicals to make scents like coconut, gardenia, lily of the valley, or rain.  Essential oils are derived from plant sources and require many pounds of the plant to produce only a few drops of essential oil.  Many popular scents are not available as essential oils or are extremely expensive.  Only high quality essential oils are used in Shearwater Falls’ products.

Q:  What is the quality of the oils and butters used in Shearwater Falls’ products?

A:  In order to maintain our quality standards, only food grade oils, waxes, and butters are used.  Where possible, we use Fair Trade products.

Q:  I have allergies; can I still use these products?

A:  While it is preferable to check the labels for any known allergens prior to purchase, most of the unscented products should be well tolerated by most people.  If you purchase any product and find that you are allergic, please stop using the product immediately and contact us for a refund.  If you know that you are allergic to a specific ingredient, please contact us for custom products.  If you would like to know what an ingredient is, please click here for a list.

Q:  I have diabetes; can I use Treat Your Feet Products?

A:  While it is always best to check with your doctor before using any foot care products, Treat Your Feet products should be safe for diabetic patients. As you may be aware, daily foot care is important for people with diabetes.  Foot soak, scrub, and cream can greatly reduce your risk of dry rough skin and prevent the bottom of your feet from cracking. Our foot products soak in quickly and are not greasy. Try using them morning and evening.

Q:  Why should I scrub my skin?

A:  To exfoliate dead skin cells and encourage new skin growth.  The Salt Scrub or Botanical Body Polish are good choices for drier skin.  Healthy Skin Scrub can be used from head to toe on a weekly basis for most skin types. You can customize the scrub to your skin type by choosing the liquid with which to mix the scrub.   If your skin is extremely dry, you may want to mix scrub with olive oil.  If you have acne, though, you may want to mix the scrub with witch hazel.  If you tan either indoors or out, start by exfoliating your skin a day or so before tanning and using Skin Cream before you tan.  This will keep you from tanning dead skin so your tan looks great and lasts longer.

Q:  Are these products only for women?

A:  No way! About half of our customers are men who want to look and feel better.  Woodsman is a very masculine scent.  Most of Shearwater Falls' products are scented to be gender-neutral.  Many of our male customers especially like the Treat Your Feet line of products.

Q:  My dog doesn’t smell the greatest and most shampoos I’ve used don’t make much of a difference. What would you suggest?

A:  To help your dog smell better, give him a bath with Dancing Dog’s Shampoo.  To help keep him smelling fresh between baths, use the Dry Powder Shampoo and brush him often.

Q:  In the winter especially, my dog does not have fleas, but still scratches.  What can I do to help this dry skin?

A:  Use a gentle shampoo if you bathe your dog.  Dancing Dog’s Dog Shampoo is made from an extremely mild shampoo formula to be the most gentle, non-irritating shampoo possible.  Try the Dry Powder Shampoo to clean his coat.  You might also add a daily tablespoon or two of olive oil to his diet to help combat the dry skin.

Q:  Does Shearwater Falls test products on animals?

A:  No products are tested on animals.