Why do your products smell like chemicals sometimes?

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Some of our products can be off-putting because of the smell. It’s a little-known fact that many skincare companies will use ingredients to cover, or mask, the smell of the main ingredients in their products. It’s just because no one likes the smell of chemicals, and really why would they? It’s not a pleasant smell.

Unfortunately, many of the ingredients that are placed there in order to mask the smell are going to be either a chemical sunscreen… or a fragrance. Both of which are common skin-aggravating ingredients that don’t react well to individuals with sensitive skin issues. Ninety percent (possibly more) of our customer base come to us because of these sensitive skin issues. This makes sense because that’s why our company is here, to provide alternative solutions to those that haven’t found relief anywhere else.

We don’t mask the smell of our products because we want to make them as safe for sensitive skin as we can. We also hold the firm belief that all ingredients in our products should have a purpose that is beneficial to the skin and body. So while you might find certain ingredients are binding agents, or preservatives, or even some fragrances made with essential oils, you won’t find an ingredient that serves an arbitrary purpose (like covering up the smell of the other ingredients).

 

What are brown, yellow, and red natural oxides?

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The brown, yellow, and red natural oxides are the powdered pigments used to produce the tint in the Tinted Facial Primer.

Natural Iron Oxides are pigments that range from rich red-brown to dark red-violet and have a very high iron oxide content making them both high tinting and opaque.

My CC serum is green/brown this time. What changed?

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What you’re seeing is Chlorophyllin. It starts out as a green color and then (because it is photosensitive) fades to a more brownish color over time. The more green your serum is, the more recently that it’s been made.

What is Phenoxyethanol? What does it do?

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Phenoxyethanol can be a bit of a controversial topic. It is found in nature specifically in things like green tea and chicory. However, for cosmetic use, we use a synthetic version. Its use is meant as a stabilizer and as a preservative to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in water-based substances.

In very large concentrations, studies have found it to be an irritant and should definitely not be ingested by children or infants as it can cause serious problems. Of course, if you have an allergy or sensitivity to it you should also refrain from usage.

For cosmetic purposes in our products, it is used in concentrations of 1% or less which is deemed as safe according to this report as published by the Journal of the American College of Toxicology (Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenoxyethanol) which can also be found by going to Cosmetic Ingredient Review.

We also recommend reading these articles as well:

Fluerandbee- What is Phenoxyethanol in Skin Care? Is it Safe?

Healthline- Is Phenoxyethanol in Cosmetics Safe?

Byrdie- Phenoxyethanol for Skin: Benefits and How to Use

EWG’s Skin Deep- Phenoxyethanol

Do your products contain chemicals?

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The simple answer is yes. Our favorite saying is, “We formulate to offer you the best that science and nature have to offer.”

We sometimes use ingredients that are compounded in a lab for reasons such as:

  • That it may be purer coming from a lab over what is found in nature.
  • Sometimes items found in nature will be contaminated with heavy metals but producing them in a lab will not contain these contaminants.
  • Ethical reasons
  • Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the human body. We use a synthesized hyaluronic instead for purity and it’s more ethical.

However, we AVOID the use of non-renewable petro-chemicals, such as mineral oil, etc.

What’s the SPF in Tinted Facial Primer 25% Zinc Oxide?

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25% level of zinc oxide is thought to provide sun protection equivalent to an SPF rating of 25-30.

We do not list this on the label because our product is not an FDA OTC product with a lab tested SPF rating.

Here are some great articles to read so that you may form your own personal decision about sunscreen and protection:

What are the main ingredients in your products and what do they do?

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At Bee Naturals we believe in providing the best that both science and nature have to offer. A full list of our ingredients can be found by clicking HERE.

Our most common ingredients and their usefulness are:

  • Unbleached Beeswax contains honey, a natural moisturizer ( or “humectant”), trace minerals, propolis (a natural antiseptic), and provides a superior, natural protective barrier. It bonds with surface skin cells, but does not clog pores.
  • Olive Oil is rich in squalene, a skin conditioner. It’s also a good moisturizer because it attracts moisture to the skin, and a rich emollient, well-absorbed by skin.
  • Coconut Oil is an extra-lubricating emollient readily absorbed by the skin.
  • Refined, Non-toxic Castorbean Oil, a rich emollient and humectant oil, conditions skin and hair.
  • Vitamin E (also called d-alpha or tocopheryl acetate) is a natural antioxidant which soothes and heals, and aids in the formation of skin cells. It also prevents rancidity of oils to help maintain freshness.
  • Wheat Germ Oil is rich in Vitamin E and other vitamins such as Provitamin A, Vitamin F and lecithin, and it promotes healthy skin.
  • Essential Herbal Oils – In particular, Lavender and Rosemary act as mild antiseptics, soothing and stimulating the skin. They also provide a pleasant non-synthetic fragrance.

Why is there Potassium Sorbate or Sorbic Acid in my product?

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Both of these items are closely related and work well as preservatives because they help to prevent spoilage in our products.

They are considered generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for food use by the FDA.

You will likely consume more of these items in a day from your food and beverage that you’d absorb topically through your skin in a month.

Are your products vegan?

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We use beeswax in many products, which is not considered Vegan, as it is naturally produced by bees.

What is Sodium Benzoate and why do some of your products contain it?

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Sodium Benzoate used in small amounts can be a great preservative as it is very effective at prohibiting spoilage in certain non acidic formulas and products.

It is commonly used in the food industry and generally regarded as safe. It occurs naturally in many foods that we eat.

Bee Naturals does NOT include it in any acidic formula or products so there is no potential for it converting into benzene.

Here are some great articles about Sodium Benzoate that we encourage you to read up on: