Shelf Life and Storage Information for Our Products and Ingredients

Finished Products - generally don't need to be refrigerated as they are preserved, but you can refrigerate them to extend their shelf life. The shelf life for most products is 9-12 months. Vitamin C Serum(s) and VitaResurface products should continually be refrigerated to extend their shelf life.
Sample Sizes - do have a shorter shelf life (generally 3-6 months), and items in jars can dry up quicker than this if the lid is not tightened well enough (Vitamin C Serums - use within 90 days).

Please Keep Your Products Out of Humidity, Heat, Direct Light and in a Dark Cabinet When Possible 

Exfoliating Acid - products have a shelf life of 9-12 months. The only things we don't suggest refrigerating are the Mandelic Acid Serums or Salicylic Acid Serums, as they can crystallize in the refrigerator. If this happens, you can set the product into a hot water bath to see if the crystals will dissolve.

Additional Items That Require Refrigeration and/or Kept in the Dark

Hydrosols and Distillates - remove 1 ounce of hydrosol and add it to a separate, sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator.
Carrier and Exotic Oils - generally refrigerate all carrier oils, although some very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take the oil out, warm it up at room temperature, and it should liquefy. If not, set the bottle in a hot water bath and occasionally shake the bottle, which will hopefully turn into a liquid. Some oils, like coconut cream and jojoba oil, have a super long shelf life.    

Refrigeration of The Following Ingredients is Not Necessary, But it Won't hurt

Essential Oils - essential oils are best stored in a cool, dark place.   
Co2 Extracts - these should continually be refrigerated.
Butters - we suggest refrigerating our "skincare" butters. You can remove
what you need and keep the rest in the fridge.
Clays - keep in a dry, dark place. Shelf life is at least 2 years.
Herbs All herbs <i>(whole or ground)</i> should be kept in a dark, cool, and dry location.
Herbal (liquid) Extracts are created using grain alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents (properties) from each herb, root, trunk, leaf, and flower. They have a shelf life of 3-5 years.
They can be stored in the refrigerator or a dark, dry place.
Other Raw Ingredients - such as Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc., will all have different shelf lives.

Witch Hazel Distillate (does not contain alcohol) soothing, cooling, free radical scavenger, gentle, natural toner
Neroli Hydrosol lovely scent, calmig, balancing, mild antimicrobial support, mood soothing
Oat Beta Glucans healing, anti-aging, anti-irritant, since it can work through the Cellular Lipid Matrix (the matrix of the lipids) lends itself to diminishing the appearance of fine line and wrinkles, excellent moisturizer with film forming moisturizing properties, stimulates collagen synthesis (meaning to create a matrix by combining actual dermis properties synergistically)
Seamollient binds moisture to the skin, hydrates skin, acts as an emollient
Matrixyl is palmitoyl-pentapeptide 3 and this is a peptide that specifically stimulates collagen synthesis and skin repair. This means it qualifies as a long-term aging system. Scientist's discovered that by isolating fibroblast cells that had aged, they could literally stimulate the cells [peptides] and they were able to start producing collagen again!
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract (and) Caesalpinia Spinosa Extract through an innovative process, these extracts working synergistically will recover and maintain homeostasis in the dermal extra-cellular matrix to produce a better moisturized, more elastic, firmer skin with noticeably fewer wrinkles. This unique complex is derived from the seeds of the Andean tree Caesalpinia Spinosa and the algae known as Enteromorpha Compressa Extract. Homeostatine activity is due to the combined action of galactomannan from Caesalpinia Spinosa and marine pentasaccharide (MPS) from Enteromorpha Compressa Extract. Within this novel hydro-colloidal three-dimensional matrix, these two components function at two different levels. Galactomannans are high molecular weight polysaccharides with natural hydrating functions. The hydrocolloid, galactomannan structure provides the moisturizing matrix and maintains contact with the stratum corneum for the release of the MPS. The MPS molecules are very small and can penetrate the epidermis to promote the synthesis of collagen and function as metabolism mediators within the dermis. Within the dermis, the MPS will function to inhibit the synthesis of Metalloproteinases (MMP) as well as the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators such as cytokines. When MMP is inhibited, the degradation of collagen and other extracellular components is reduced. The result is less wrinkled, rejuvenated, and firmer skin.
Homeostatine Activity increases the production of dermal collagen and other ECM components in fibroblasts, inhibits the synthesis of metalloproteinases (MMP), inhibits the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators
Resveratrol antioxidant full of polyphenols (this is good to be full of), a modulator of gene expression via signal transduction, an inhibitor of inflammatory mediators, phytohormonal effects, 95% efficient at preventing lipid peroxidation, compared with 65% for vitamin E and 37% for vitamin C
Borage Co2 Extract anti-inflammatory, emollient, softening, healing (great for eczema)
Galactoarabinan (polysaccharide) humectant, helps to stop transepidermal water loss, binds moisture to skin
Cosmocil CQ (Polyaminopropyl Biguanide) preservative, non-paraben   and does not release formaldehyde