Q: What does “Natural” mean?
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: 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, unscented products are best on tender skin. Custom cream, lotion, and talc-free powder is available via custom order.
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. 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 or even cocoa-shea butter will help your skin retain moisture. If you use moisturizer within a few minutes after the shower, 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 Lotion or Cream 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 often, avoiding the dry areas. Use a mild soap all over your skin. Moisturize the oily sections with Lotion and the drier areas with either Shearwater Falls Lotion or Skin Cream.
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 scent 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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: Does Shearwater Falls test products on animals?
A: No products are tested on animals. The pet care products are first tried on humans before being used on pets. Dancing Dog’s Dog Shampoo is made from a baby shampoo formula to be the most gentle, non-irritating shampoo possible.
