Natural Skin Care & Deodorant FAQs

First, we only source our ingredients, labels, packaging and jars from trusted UK suppliers. The majority of our ingredients are certified Organic, Fair-trade or both. Our main ingredients supplier has implemented several additional strategies that sets them apart from the crowd:

• They installed a 20Kw solar array on their warehouse roof
• They compost their milling waste and use it in their herb field
• They buy larger volumes from our primary and secondary suppliers,which is far more energy efficient
• They draw water from a bore-hole on their farm

Second, we use recyclable glass containers, which are made in Italy – not China! The jars are distributed by a wonderful local company that has been in business for 65 years.

Third, we review our environmental impact policy and ethos annually to ensure that we are leaving as little impact on the planet as possible. We are ahead of the curve, as we make everything using traditional, artisan-stye methods. However in September 2017, we were able to reduce our waste by 30% by changing our packaging design and by re-using packing materials.

Fourth, we do not test on animals or use ingredients known to be unhealthy for humans or the planet.

Fifth, we conserve water by leaving it out of our formulas. It doesn’t belong there! We also use organic Hemp oil across our natural skin care range because it is the most sustainable crop available – and it’s amazing for your skin.

Our ingredients are pure and fresh, and we want to keep them that way. We do not use water, artificial or synthetic preservatives. Instead, we rely on the naturally antibacterial and antifungal properties of several botanical oils to boost the shelf life of our products. As a result, they do expire with time, as nature intends. To get the most our of our natural skin care products, keep your them cool, dry, out of direct sunlight, and always use clean hands (or a spoon) in the jar. Our products have a 12-month shelf life, however you should use them within 6 months of opening for best results.

Awake Organics is proud to bring you an natural skin care and deodorant range that you can trust: no mysterious additives, nothing artificial, only the purest ingredients. We promise.

We take great care in selecting unadulterated ingredients that are ultra rich in naturally occurring antioxidants and minerals. We base our selections on several criteria: locality, purity and organic certification. As such, we only source our ingredients from trusted UK suppliers. Read more about our natural organic ingredients, where they come from and how they benefit your skin here.

HEAVENS NO! We strongly oppose GMO agriculture.

All of our facial serums are vegan.

Yes, we do not use any animal by-products in our formulas.

No. We never have and never will. All our products are tested on friends, not animals.

To say that our products are chemical-free would be misleading, as everything at it’s core is technically a chemical.

All of our skincare products are free from chemicals and additives known to be harmful, including parabens, sulphates, petrochemicals, artificial fragrances and colours. Our products are scented using extremely high quality, organic essential oils.

Read more about the chemicals we do not use.

We make every product by hand from start to finish. Production is located in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, where we have a kitchen facility and working studio. We only produce our consciously-made skin care in small, artisan-style batches. Every product is hand-filled and packed, inspected and recorded, all before it makes its way to you! Read more about our process.

There is no straightforward answer to this question. We recommend that you do your own research so that you can make informed decisions when deciding what to apply on your skin.

Many off-the-shelf deodorants and antiperspirants contain undesirable chemicals that stay on your skin even after you shower. Aluminium, triclosan, phthalates, parabens, propylene glycol and formaldehyde (to name a few) are absorbed into the bloodstream on contact and, although you may not be able to detect them, they can continue to block the fragile ducts for up to 24 hours after you shower. Many of the synthetic ingredients used in mainstream products are known hormone disruptors, increase ones’ bio-toxicity and are now linked to breast cancer in both men and women. As well as breast cancer, exposure to aluminium has been linked to numerous human neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The long-term effects of daily exposure to these chemicals is still being studied, and more and more science is showing how dangerous they really are. Referenced from Breast Cancer UK.

Breast Cancer UK supports a ban on the use of aluminium compounds in cosmetics designed to be left on the skin, and in particular, for use in under-arm products. Read more about this here, so you can make your own informed decision.

The most disruptive and dangerous chemicals you should do your best to avoid putting anywhere near your body are: BHA & BHT, Coal tar dyes (p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number or by colour, e.g. “FD&C Blue No. 1” or “Blue 1”), DEA/MEA-related ingredients, Dibutyl phthalate, Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15), Parabens, PEGs, Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance), Petrolatum, ingredients ending in “-siloxane” or “-methicone), and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS).

Read more information about chemicals to avoid and where they commonly found.

Unlike antiperspirant, deodorant doesn’t stop you from sweating. Instead it works by fighting odour-causing bacteria that live on your skin. Sweat in itself is practically odourless – the smell of BO is created by the process of bacteria on the skin breaking down sweat. Sweating is normal, natural and healthy for your lymphatic system. It is your body’s way of releasing toxins. The Aura Clean Deodorant enables your body to detoxify itself naturally, while keeping you fresh all day. We use natural Kaolin clay and Arrowroot powder to absorb moisture and help keep you drier.

We don’t use any oils that are chemically extracted. The healthiest ways to extract the vital compounds from botanicals is by either cold-pressing or steam-distilling them.

Cold-Pressed: This is where the oil is extracted by first grinding nuts, seeds or plant parts into a paste. Then an oil stone or other mechanical tool is used to press the paste which forces the oil to separate out.

Steam Distillation: Hot steam helps to release aromatic molecules from the plant material by forcing open the pockets in which the oils are kept. The steam, which then contains the essential oil, is condensed as it passes through a cooling system. This forms a liquid from which the essential oil and water is then separated. Steam distillation is the most common form of essential oil extraction.

No, they are not. That being said, our products do contain a majority percentage of Soil Association Certified Organic ingredients. Where Certified Organic ingredients are not possible to obtain, we source materials that are Fairtrade, Wild-crafted, Unrefined, and/or locally raised, grown and/or produced. Simply put, we buy the best quality ingredients we can get our hands on.

Not yet. However, we are working on our application to Cruelty Free International (application process started Feb. 2018). Awake Organics does not test products on animals.

Yes, some are: Our 100% Botanical Serums are vegan. The other products we make contain either beeswax or raw honey.

Pure, high-vitamin oils are the best moisturizers and cleansers for skin, even oily and acne-prone skin. We only use oils that are non-comedogenic, meaning that they are not known to clog pores. Products containing synthetic oils, like mineral oil, do the opposite.
Our smoothing anti-aging moisturizers and serums also use non-comedogenic ingredients, as well as essential and cold-pressed oils that are known to help balance oily skin. Sample service is available

Most of the essential oils we use are considered to be pregnancy-safe, however a woman can be extra sensitive to many substances during pregnancy. For that reason we recommend waiting until after your baby is born to use products from the Awake Organics skin care range. Always consult your primary healthcare provider.

We do not use harsh detergents, chemical preservatives or artificial fragrances, which are usually the “flare-up” culprits. That being said, skin chemistry varies from person to person. However, our natural skin care products are designed to provide aromatherapeutic benefits, and therefore contain a 2 – 2.5% essential oil concentration. The allergens contained in our essential oil blends are naturally occurring, and include: Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, and Citral. We recommend testing any natural skin care product you purchase on a small area inside your wrist or upper arm for 2-3 days prior to using. Sample service is available. If in doubt, please consult your primary healthcare provider.

Read about the Top 8 Essential Oils you need to know about.

There are loads, and loads, and LOADS of ingredients that have rushed onto the natural beauty scene in the past couple of years. So many, in fact, that it’s almost impossible to keep up with what’s “HOT” right now. Even for the experts! Now, with so many options at your fingertips, how do you make sure you’re spending your hard-earned money where it counts? Here’s a quick guide to our Top 10 Oils & Butters to look for, and in which type of product they will provide the most benefit.

At this point, you could probably rattle off the health benefits of kale in your sleep, and you’ve got an abundance of superfood-laden recipes saved on Pinterest. But these nutritional superstars are now stretching beyond the kitchen and into your anti-aging skin care products. The vitamins and minerals found in superfoods like Green Tea, Sea Buckthorn Berry, and Raw Honey are capable of beautiful things, from supporting collagen formation to hydrating dry skin and refining pores. Adding a healthy dose of these farm-to-face ingredients into your daily routine is sure to improve your complexion and promote positively radiant, healthy skin. Read more about Green Tea (Matcha), Raw Honey and Sea Buckthorn Oil.

Aromatherapy (we like to call it Aromather-HAPPY) is the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils to promote physical and psychological wellbeing. These powerful botanicals are used worldwide in traditional medicine to help manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia. Read more about the Top 7 Essential Oils for stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

The term Holistic (a.k.a. wholistic) is the philosophy and practice of healing that has to do with constantly keeping the whole body (meaning the physical body, the mind and the spirit) at the highest level of total wellness. This concept draws from the universal natural laws that state a whole is made up of the sum of all its parts, and that the parts cannot function properly if the whole is not functioning properly. Holistic skincare is more than just what you use on your skin. It 
starts with what’s inside. Organic, healthy whole foods, plenty of good quality water and frequent exercise are important factors in a good anti-aging skincare regimen. There are also external forces at play. When it comes to the ever-growing burden of unwanted chemicals in our food, water and air, and even sun damage, your skin might need a little help. To help unburden yourself from chemical overload, Awake Organics provides skin care products that use only the purest, healthiest ingredients that are inline with a holistic approach.

The term Paleo refers to a way of sustaining life that mimics how our ancestors would have lived. That means using the same resources today that they would have had access to in their day. Beeswax, raw honey, earthen clays, cold-pressed botanical oils and butters fall into this category.

Yes. Please contact us with your business information and inquiry details.