Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What's up with the crazy colors?  What makes the Wonder Salve and Wonder Balm red?

A: The colors of the products are 100% herbal.  The red color in the Wonder Salve and lip balm is from a Chinese herb called zi cao (Arnebia).  It is a root with dark purple pigment, that comes out garnet red when you extract it in oil.  The blue/green in the Rad Cream is from the combination of flavonoids in sea buckthorn oil (orange carotenoids) and Blue Magic spirulina (blue anthocyanins). The slight orange color of the Last Nerve cream is from the capsaicin (deep orange red).  All of these ingredients were chosen for their action, and the amazing colors are just a neat bonus.  

 

Q: Do these products need to be refrigerated?

A: Refrigeration will significantly extend the shelf life of any cosmetic product.  All of the topical products by Synthesis Naturals tolerate refrigeration, and refrigeration will certainly extend the shelf life.  Refrigeration should not be necessary if the product is used in the first 6-9 months from the date of manufacture. 

 

Q: Why are there ingredients that sound like terrifying chemicals?

A: As mentioned on the home page: water + herbs = rot.  It requires serious preservatives to create products this herbally dense that contain water and are shelf stable for more than a few days. (Think about what would happen if you left herbal tea out on the counter for a week). I would like for these beautiful, complex products to make it to you without mold growing in them, so that means using real preservatives. 

I spent a lot of time learning about preservatives and checking for safety / green status.  Since these products are brand new, true shelf life is still being established. My goal is to make products that have a shelf life of more than 1 year, so there is time for me to make them, have them in inventory, ship them to you, you have them in invetory, and then they are still good for a year or so once your customers have purchased them (all without needing refrigeration). This may mean that I have to move from "aggressive green" preservatives, to "safe synthetic" preservatives.  If these formulation changes happen in the future, we will send out a notification and changes will, of course, also be reflected on labeling. 

Products that don't contain water (salves, lip balms) maintain good shelf life with natural preservatives. No water = no rot.

 

Q: Why did the groovy slider tins of Wonder Salve disappear?

A: Yes, I agree, they were groovy.  The real answer here is that I'm in Texas, so the products are made in Texas, and it is HOT here the majority of the year.  Having a container that does not seal filled with a product that melts, well....it resulted in some messy purses and pockets.  Should SN relocate to the PNW or Alaska, I'll probably bring those groovy sliders back. 

 

Q: Are your products GMP? 

A: Not fully.  As a self funded startup, these products are being made in a  "cottage industry" style as hand made, small batch cosmetics.  I am following GMP guidelines as much as possible.  Surfaces and equipment are sanitized, gloves are worn, care is taken with storage and preparation.  Formulations and production processes are standardized and tracked.