Fuller's Earth Clay has been around for quite some time and recent developments from the natural cosmetics and skincare industries have helped to resurrect this useful clay as more beneficial than just a solvent that simply soaks up spilled auto oil! Fullers Earth Clay was awarded its name several hundred years ago when wool textile workers or "Fullers" created a time-saving concoction to remove the dense oils from sheep's wool. This brew included water, urine, soapwort and an abundant "clay" that was in hearty supply. Because of its ability to literally soak up oil and remove dense properties from any given material, it was found to be a highly profitable and useful product for modern manufacturers.
Since then its most prominent use has been for post production kitty litter, meow! And as a bulk garage clay that many mechanics use to soak up oil and other automotive spills.
Don't let this frighten you from trying it on your skin! It marvels in comparison to other "whitening clays" and so far has outperformed any material to help clean oily and acne-prone skin. The type of Fullers Earth Clay one should apply to the skin would be a mixture of open mined minerals of montmorillonite and a small mixture of bentonite. Most industrial Fullers Earth products are not pre-blended so do not go to an auto supply warehouse and have them special order it for you!
Fuller's Earth is a naturally occurring sedimentary clay composed mainly of alumina, silica, iron oxides, lime, magnesia, and water, in extremely variable proportions.
It has the incredible ability to remove oils and impurities from the skin and produces a lightening effect on the outer epidermal layer. This is why we have seen several products marketed as "facial bleach" or "skin bleaching" clay .
It comes highly recommended to those with acne problems, blemishes, spotting, and people prone to oily skin. It is also a useful base ingredient for facial clay recipes and adds a nice finishing touch to clay products promising to aid its user with their battle against oily skin.
Shelf Life and Storage Information for 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 always 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 (except our Vitamin C Serums - use within 90 days).
Please keep your products out of high humidity, heat, and direct light, and keep them 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 the Salicylic Acid Serums as those 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 Requiring Refrigeration and/or Kept in the Dark
Hydrosols - remove 1 ounce of hydrosol and add it into a separate, sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator. Carrier Oils - generally you can refrigerate all carrier oils although some of the 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, setting the bottle in a hot water bath and occasionally shaking the bottle will hopefully turn into a liquid. ^There are some oils that have 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 always be refrigerated. Butters - we suggest refrigerating our "skincare' butters. You can take out 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 from each herb. Root, Trunk, Leaves, and Flowers. Extracts have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be kept in the refrigerator (or a dark DRY place) Other Various Raw Ingredients - i.e. Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc. will all have a different shelf life.
