FAQ's

Bioactive is a core part of the Dr.Organic philosophy. Basically it means that we look to retain the active properties of the extracts we use. For example Tea Tree and Pomegranate have specific actives which have been deemed as being the principle component which gives the ingredient its specific beneficial properties. Tea Tree as an example is made up of around 50 constituents, but research has shown that one in particular, Terpinen 4-ol is the one which gives Tea Tree oil its antiseptic qualities. For it to be effective Terpinen 4-ol should be at a level of 36% (according to the Australian Tea Tree Association), therefore we ensure that we exceed this criteria so all our Tea Tree oil is guaranteed at a level of 38%. The same can be said for Pomegranate with its key active which is Ellagic acid.

There is no evidence to state that Dr.Organic products are not safe to use in pregnancy as they are made from naturally derived ingredients. However we always advise that you seek medical advice, whether they are your GP, midwife or holistic practitioner. They have your medical records and are aware of any allergies you may have or can advise on ingredients that should be avoided. We do test our products on volunteers, but these trials are limited to people with skin sensitivities and this does not include pregnant participants. Depending on the stage of your pregnancy you can also find that you become sensitive to things you never had an issue with before, therefore we always recommend that you perform a skin patch test prior to using any cosmetic product.

There is no evidence to suggest that Dr.Organic products are not safe to use on babies or children as they are made from naturally derived ingredients. However we have not tested the products specifically on babies or children and always advise that you seek medical advice if unsure. We always recommend that you perform a skin patch test beforehand on the arm or behind one ear to make sure there was no sensitivity.

Dr.Organic work extremely hard to ensure high standards of quality within our product range. Our aim will always be to provide the highest standard of product possible to our customers. We continuously review our sources to ensure that only the highest quality of ingredients are used in our products, and as such we strive to only source natural ingredients from reputable sources that support fair trade and responsible management of natural resources. As our products contain very high levels of naturally derived ingredients instead of synthetic chemicals our products will be highly biodegradable and have minimum environmental impact.

We utilise the following symbol to indicate the Period After Opening of each product (6 or 12 months): 12M or 6M

Not all of our products have seals, however this is something we will be looking at changing in the near future. In line with EU Cosmetics regulations, all products do not have to carry a manufacture or expiry date as they have a unopened shelf life of over three years. We test all our products for a minimu of 3 years to ensure there is no degradation during this time.

At the moment our creams do not include PSF protection. We are currently looking at how we can include natural SPFs into the creams. Natural SPF's are not as effective as synthetic ingredients in sun protection and work by physically blocking out the UVA and UVB rays, this usually means that a white residue can be left on the skin which is not ideal. Using standard SPF ingredients which are synthetic are no doubt the most cost effective solution but we do not wish to compromise our natural philosophy. Naturally derived ingredients are constantly being developed and we hope that we can utilise some of these in the not too distant future.

SLS is the abbreviation for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate which is a detergent used in many cosmetics and toothpastes, it is synthetic and has a small molecule structure which means it can penetrate the skin and cause irritation. A number of reported health concerns have been attributed to this ingredient. It is important to note that we do not use this ingredient in any of our Dr.Organic products. Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is natural ingredient which is derived from coconut oil and is a safe, skin friendly cleanser that removes surface oil, dirt and bacteria, without stripping or drying sensitive skin.

The only current product that contains an ingredient that may contain gluten is our Moroccan Argan Oil Bath and Massage Body Oil, which contains Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil. However we cannot confirm that our products would be free from any gluten traces, as they are made in a plant that may handle ingredients containing gluten.

Wherever possible we use organic Aloe Vera Juice as the main ingredient instead of water. Aloe Vera has a host of skin benefits and is an ideal addition to any skincare product. Water will always be present at some level in our skincare products as it is used in the manufacturing process as a solvent for the addition of natural extracts. For oil based products there is neither Aloe Vera Juice or water present.

Our current skincare policy strives to ensure that our products contain at least 70% organic ingredients, but we have many products which are much higher than this even as much as 100% for our oil based products. We replace as much of the water in our products as we can with organic aloe vera juice, as water itself is not organic. In order for a product to be classed as organic by a certifier, the product can be as little as 10% organic, as long as 90% of the product is natural.

Dr.Organic strive to use organic natural ingredients in all of their products; where a natural organic ingredient is not available we use ingredients that are derived from natural sources such as palm, coconut, soy and other vegetable sources wherever possible. Where a naturally derived material is not available but is essential to ensure product safety and integrity, we use ingredients that are non-toxic and are approved by organic certification bodies such as Soil Association and EcoCert.

Our philosophy is to avoid using harsh preservatives such as methylparaben and propylparaben. However due to the products high organic natural ingredient content, we must use some preservative as we have a duty of care to ensure the product remains safe during use and to maintain an acceptable shelf life during storage. Contamination of product with bacteria, fungi or mould poses a much more serious immediate health risk to the consumer.

There are very tight restrictions on what is permitted to be used in cosmetic products under current EU Legislation. Our preference is to use sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate at low levels, both of which are approved for use by the European Commission for Cosmetic Safety and also approved for use as food additives.

There have been tests done on rats and mice using varying concentrations of sodium benzoate to their diets, the toxicity and carcinogenicity appear to be low. Short term tests using higher doses were also performed on human volunteers with similar results. As with any testing there will always be conflicting evidence to support both sides.

Dr.Organic continuously source new ingredients to use in our products and make informed choices on what to include based on the latest information available, and as such sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate still remain the superior option in certain formulations over other preservatives.

All the ingredients in our products are either certified organic or approved for use in organic cosmetics. We are currently not certified to one organic standard because we use ingredients from different organic certifiers to ensure the products are also efficacious. If we adopted only one route, then with certain types of product the efficacy is limited. For example the Soil Association only permits certain emulsifiers and conditioners, while others are approved by NaTrue and EcoCert.

Dr.Organic do not use synthetic ingredients wherever possible, instead we use naturally derived materials from a variety of vegetable sources. This include but are not limited to:

Palm Coconut Sunflower Rapeseed Seaweed Soy

Dr.Organic source materials from companies who actively support or engage in Fair Trade and sustainability programs wherever possible.

The snails are raised in a completely natural organic environment inside pots. The snail mucus extraction process is carried out after submitting the snails to gentle stress conditions for a short period of time by gentle prodding or watering which causes the snail to produce the defence secretion There is no damage to the snails shell or skin but is seen as a possible threat as they are extremely sensitive to touch After a short period they are then placed onto a sterile surface where they carry out the secretion This way, the secreted emission, which is different to the one it uses to move, is much more enriched in regenerating substances and antioxidants Once the snail secretion is obtained, the snail is cleaned with distilled water The snail is then returned healthy back to its breeding place This process of raising live healthy snails and the extraction method has been certified organic

This is a labelling error as opposed to a product error. Previously we included milk protein in the conditioners but after receiving comments from people following a vegan lifestyle that they could use our shampoos but not our conditioners, we decided to remove the milk protein from the conditioners. Due to a printer error on the labels the vegan suitability symbol was included but the ingredient was not removed from the ingredient list. I can therefore confirm that there is no milk protein in the product. We have discussed this with our Trading Standards Office who have advised that we can continue to sell the products as the error does not impact physically on people who wish to follow a vegan lifestyle. We have destroyed all old labels and relabelled product in our warehouse so any stock with this error is in the marketplace.

Dr.Organic Snail Gel is the only snail gel that combines Helix Aspersa Muller, the unique ingredient the snail uses to quickly regenerate its own shell and skin when damaged with high levels of soothing Polysaccharide and nutrient rich organic Aloe vera leaf juice. Combined with our signature blend of essential oils and Sodium Hyaluronate a natural material used in pharmaceutical products due to its highly effective moisturising properties we provide a unique soothing and hydrating gel experience.

The composition of organic Argan Oil can vary from batch to batch resulting in distinct differences in odour. Due to the intended use which includes facial skincare we have recently moved to a deodorised version to minimise odour. This in no way affects the quality of the oil which is EcoCert approved and is harvested in Morocco in line with local government legislation.

The Skin Whitening Cream is formulated to help improve hyperpigmented skin by balancing melanin production, so can be used in any areas which are darker, like age spots, scars or darkening of the elbows, etc. It uses a natural active ingredient which is based on an algae. As we do not use harsh bleaching agents the product can take 6 to 12 weeks to start seeing an improvement, as it slowly inhibits melanin production which leads to darkened areas of the skin.

Dr. Organic Products