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 into a separate,sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator.
Carrier and Exotic Oils - generally, you can refrigerate all carrier oils, although some very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take it 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. There are some oils with a super long shelf life, like Coconut Cream and Jojoba Oil.          

Refrigeration is not necessary, but it surely 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 (whole or ground) should be kept in a dark, cool and dry location.
Herbal (liquid) Extracts - these are created using alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents (properties) from each herbs - root, trunk, leaves, and flowers. They have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be kept in the refrigerator or a dark place.
Other Raw Ingredients - i.e., Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc.
will all have a different shelf life.

Broccoli Sprout Infusion (infused into spring water) antioxidant, nutritive, regenerative
Grape Seed Extract  grape seeds are rich in polyphenols. Research shows that grape seed extract may help prevent or control damage to body cells caused by prescription drugs, pollution, tobacco, and other toxins. A new study suggests Grape seed extract may help skin wounds heal faster and with less scarring. Helps with skin elasticity. Don't confuse grape seed extract with grapefruit seed extract ... 
Green Tea Extract green tea has been consumed for good health for thousands of years, and it is also great for application on the skin. Rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, green tea protects the skin from the sun's harmful rays and other dangerous toxins and pollution. Green tea is anti-inflammatory and rich in natural minerals, which will help to nourish the skin. Green Tea is healing and soothing for irritated and inflamed skin. - high in antioxidants, flavonoids, and minerals, high in polyphenols, anti-inflammatory, stimulating
Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-Alpha Lipoic Acid) is a natural antioxidant that has been used in European skin care products for years. Known as "the universal antioxidant," it works with other essential antioxidants like Vitamins C and E. All parts of the skin quickly absorb it. It is one of the best antioxidants to help keep the skin fighting free radicals. It also has the benefit of recycling Vitamin E from its oxidized form to its reduced form, allowing it to become a beneficial antioxidant once again. It is known to diminish fine lines and wrinkles while reducing pore size and helps to reduce puffiness under the eyes. R-ALA is simply the organic/natural, stabilized form of ALA.
Peptides (Syn-Coll and Matrixyl 3000) are the building blocks for amino acids, which are the building blocks for proteins. These peptides help cells communicate with each other and have different jobs to help repair the skin.
Ceramide Complex ceramides naturally occur in the skin but decline as we age. They help with moisture and act as a buffer to environmental irritants and toxins. They are part of the building blocks of our skin structure, hence very important to our skin health.
Niacinamide interesting area of research currently underway is the use of niacin and niacinamide in skin care products as anti-aging agents, for treatment of acne, skin lightening, anti-inflammatory, skin brightening, helps to prevent water loss topically, and, possibly, for prevention of skin cancer.
Leucidal SF (lactobacillus ferment)
Hyaluronic Acid(aka Sodium Hyaluronate) hyaluronic acid is a famous active known for its ability to hold over 1,000 times its weight in water. This ability makes it one of the best hydrators a person could turn to. Hyaluronic acid also protects the skin while allowing it to breathe. It causes skin to appear more plump, fills in fine lines, and dries quickly without leaving a sticky residue on the skin. It replenishes the Hyaluronic Acid that our skin loses as we age.
Resveratrol in a recent study, the antioxidant strength of 1% resveratrol was compared to that of 1% idebenone. Idebenone is a powerful pharmaceutical antioxidant. Its benefits include shielding the skin from environmental damage, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reducing dryness, and smoothing skin texture. The study's results revealed that resveratrol had a stunning 17-fold greater antioxidant capacity than idebenone! Resveratrol is also able to form soluble, complex molecules with certain metal ions, inactivating the ions so they cannot produce free radical formation. This action, in combination with its powerful antioxidant capability, makes resveratrol highly effective in combating the damaging effect of free radicals that leads to skin aging. Resveratrol is also reported to stimulate healthy cell proliferation as well as collagen synthesis by protecting the dermal matrix from harmful enzymes and improving the function of fibroblasts that create healthy collagen.
Tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THC) are derived from curcuminoids (extracted from the roots of curcuma longa, commonly known as turmeric root). Tetrahydrocurcuminoids are phenolic in nature, acting as antioxidants, protecting against free radicals and preventing the generation of free radicals. Unlike yellow curcuminoids, THC is a colorless compound that can be used in color-free cosmetic products that currently employ conventional and synthetic antioxidants. Tetrahydrocurcumin has been shown to efficiently inhibit tyrosinase. As such, it is an effective skin lightening agent with multi-functional topical benefits.  It has been tested to determine its safety for topical use with no irritant or sensitization side effects. The anti-inflammatory effects of THC combined with their efficient antioxidant action render them useful as ingredients in anti-aging formulations, skin-lightening and brightening products, and topical formulations designed to maintain general skin health and integrity.
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that quenches excess superoxide radicals and other reactive oxygen species. As adults reach the age of 60 and beyond, the amount of SOD in normal skin diminishes and is incapable of adequately neutralizing large amounts of reactive oxygen species.28-31 With environmental and other influences such as sunlight, smoking, and diet contributing to the generation of reactive oxygen species, it is critical to optimize SOD levels.
Liposomes (soy-based) liposomes are phospholipids that are prepared in a very specific way. When ingredients are added into the formula, the ingredients get encapsulated into these liposomes, which then are delivered deeper into the skin and held there longer. This helps each of the ingredients to do their job better. Liposomes are also moisturizing and help hold hydration in the skin.
Cholesterol cholesterol helps restore barrier function, and moisturize and protect. As we age the cholesterol levels in our skin decline.