I care about what I put on my face. You clicked here, so I'm guessing you do too!

A short story, that solved a mystery for me. Ingredient labels were at one time were a big puzzle for me. Some of the ingredients had names that seemed made up (they actually are). Some were so long they were unpronounceable.
I had someone tell me about her visit to the back of a butcher shop. She was friends with the butcher. In her conversation with him as he worked, she asked him what happened to all the leftovers she noticed him discarding. The fat and all the stuff that is cut off the beef and pork meat. He pointed to a big covered vat. He said there is a company that comes around every so often and picks it up. He said he has to keep the lid on all the time. By the time they come around it smells pretty bad. She asked him what they used it for. Why would anyone want this stuff? The butcher laughed. That's what they use to make all those moisturizers the ladies all smear on their face. Oh my God! That's why those names are so long.

How can that be? I've never seen anything on any label for any moisturizer that says anything about animal ingredients. They use many other words for it. Stearic acid, stearates, glycerin, and also many other chemicals (unless it's marked vegetable it is normally made from animals).

There ought to be a law. Yes there should be. But there isn't. Manufacturers don't have to disclose the source of their ingredients. They just need to tell you the ingredients' chemical names. That's why they use all the names that mean nothing to regular people.

Stearic Acid. What is it? Stearates, stearic acid and waxes along with glycerin work to combine the oils and water together. They are essential to make a smooth creamy moisturizer! They are the reason moisturizers work so much better than just using plain oil, is due to this oil and water combination, which helps get the oils down into the skin replace lost lipids. Thereby moisturizing without that greasy feeling. The Strearic Acids and the Glycerin and Waxes can be made from either vegetables or animals.

So why do they ALL use animal ingredients? They cost a little less. Not much. But a few pennies adds up though when you are selling millions of jars and bottles. And up until recently no one cared. In fact, almost no one knew. In fact, unless a moisturizer says no animal derived products, it is just about guaranteed they used animal based products.

For the last 5 years we have been selling a skin treatment product quite successfully on eBay. One thing many of our customers asked for was a good moisturizer we could recommend. So we started looking for one we could just recommend. We do that a lot with other products. But everywhere we looked we saw these awful animal based ingredients, mineral oil (which is the worst oil to use), and paraben preservatives so powerful that 20 years from now you could still use it.

We did find a couple of boutique products we liked. But they were incredibly expensive. Little tiny jars. And we really weren't all that impressed with the quality or selection of ingredients they did use.

So after many more requests from our customers we set out to make the best moisturizer we could make. Spare no expense, we wanted the best. And cruelty free! We figured if our customers asked for it, we knew there had to be a need. And even with the best ingredients, we'd make it in a large 4 ounce jar that would last awhile and felt we could get the price right selling direct without all those middle men.

Mad Cow? NO!
OK we're not trying to scare you. As far as we know, you can't get Mad Cow disease from your moisturizer or any other cosmetic. But this release from the government proves what we are saying about not knowing what is in your cosmetics. They are loaded with animal by-products and yet nothing is ever stated on the label. We're sorry, but the truth must be told. We've enlarged the important passages.

July 10th 2004: WASHINGTON (AP) - The government told cosmetics makers Friday they can no longer use brain and spinal cord tissue from older cattle in lipstick, hair sprays and other products.

The new Food and Drug Administration regulations come in the wake of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease last December. They are aimed at preventing the disease from reaching people, where it can cause a rare but similar fatal condition, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Mad cow - also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE - causes the brains of affected animals to waste away.

Consumer groups complained that the regulations are insufficient, saying the government should also ban the same tissues from younger cattle and extend the prohibition to use in animal feed.

"While the risk is small, if there does happen to be an ingredient from a BSE-infected cow, the consequences would be incredibly drastic," said Rachel Weintraub, assistant general counsel of the Consumer Federation of America.

For instance, she said, cosmetics include sprays that could contain animal protein, which could be inhaled.

>Caroline Smith DeWaal, head of food safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said it's virtually impossible for a consumer to know from the label whether a banned product is in cosmetics.

The agency and businesses ought to put out lists of products containing bovine-derived material "so people can throw out old cosmetics and purchase new ones that are subject to this requirement," DeWaal said.

Cosmetic manufacturers said they already require their suppliers to certify that the cattle-derived ingredients sold to them are free of materials that carry BSE.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association said it is reviewing the new FDA requirements but noted that the agency has indicated in the past that the U.S. cosmetics supply is safe.

"Although our current rules are strong, when it comes to public health and safety we cannot be content with the status quo," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said in announcing the new prohibitions.

The FDA said it will further study the idea of keeping the cattle protein out of feed for animals, a concept it endorsed in January.

Some cattle tissue, notably the brains and spinal cords of animals over 30 months of age, can harbor prions, the misshapen proteins blamed for mad cow. The Agriculture Department earlier this year banned those tissues and other material, such as skulls and nervous system tissue connected to the spinal cord, from the products it regulates.

Among the new proposals is the removal of the risky materials from all animal feed, including pet food, to control against the possibility that feed containing prions could wind up fed to cattle even though it was meant for other species. The proposal is in line with a recommendation in February by an international review panel created by the Agriculture Department.

The agency also banned from use in cosmetics cattle-derived tallow with a concentration of impurities greater than 0.15 percent. Rendering plants make tallow from fat, and the impurities could include prions.

The rule will allow the rendering industry to keep supplying tallow, which is used in cosmetics as well as pharmaceuticals, said Tom Cook, president of the National Renderers Association, a trade group.

"BSE has never been considered a factor in tallow anyway," Cook said, adding that the industry had feared the FDA might restrict tallow impurity so much that plants couldn't produce a grade of tallow in sufficient quantities to meet the demand for it.

By calling for more public comment on the feed question, the agency delayed implementing proposals it made in January to ban cattle blood in feed for calves, CSPI's DeWaal said. "The Bush administration seems to be breaking its promise to more formally regulate animal feed," she said.

But William Hueston, director of the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety at the University of Minnesota and a member of an international review panel established after the mad cow case last year, challenged the claim that the government was moving too slowly.

"I spent nine years in the federal government, and I would say that this is still remarkably fast," said Hueston. "They are pushing this aggressively within the context of our democratic system. Our government is not designed for stuff that moves fast."

All we are asking that the labels tell us what is in the product and if it is derived from animals.

The funny thing about this moisturizer is at first we didn't advertised it. And we noticed we were selling a lot of it. People would just see it on our shopping cart on our web site and buy when they were reordering our Acne cleanser. We just figured people were sampling it. We never really paid too much attention, except we started noticing people were reordering and posting additional comments on our feedback forum about it. And emailing us and mentioning how much they loved it. This led us to decide to promote it on eBay. We think we have a wonderful product here that a lot of people love using and feel good about using.

We keep getting comments like these:
Praise: majablon(409) Aug-18-02 06:53:50 PDT 1753502020
Great Cleanser but you have to try the Moisturizer...FABULOUS!!!!!

User: spudley2 (57) Date: Jan-11-03 09:21:26 PST Item: 2902973664 Praise: Moisturizer is WONDERFUL!! I highly recommend it to everyone!

I had to write and tell you that I have been using your moisturizer for just a week now and already I see a remarkable change in my skin. My combination skin is now one type - healthy. It glows. I am 44 years old and have been using moisturizers since I was 25 and this has to be the best one that I have found. Even with all the different types of oils in it, it is NOT greasy. Also the light scent is wonderful.

I also want to thank you for developing a moisturizer with no animal ingredients or testing, as I am one of the consumers which actually shops for products such as these (not always successfully). Now if you could just come up with a shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, etc.
Once again THANK YOU,
Jennifer
5/19/04

User: the-surfisher(302) Date: Jan-02-03 14:22:54 PST Item: 2901176610 Praise: The best moisturizer on Ebay!!! Fantastic stuff AAAAAAAAA++++++++++

Before you go ahead with this, we recommend you read our eBay Uncensored Feedback, you will find many comments about our moisturizer, but keep in mind, many of these comments are also about our acne treatment which we have been listing on eBay for over 5 years. Although these two products go together wonderfully, this moisturizer is NOT a treatment for acne, but a fabulous moisturizer your skin will just drink up and you will feel good about using. click here> FEEDBACK

Did we skimp on anything? Yup! The jar. It's plain 4 ounces, with an inner seal, no fancy gold lettering. We talked with our container supplier and he told us a funny story. He said these big companies that make these expensive moisturizers, spend a fortune designing the jars. They do customer surveys and use focus groups to pick the most desirable container. He laughed and said that they put the same ingredients inside, but their real focus is on the look of the jar.
So if the jar is what is important to you, this is not the product for you!

Thanks Nancy, that's because of all the healing properties of the ingredients we use.

How is this possible for it not to be greasy with all the exotic oils and butters we use? Because we use absorbing healing emollients rather than mineral oil which just sits on top of the skin.

MORE FEEDBACK.
makeup94901(178) Mar-19-03 15:36:55 PST 2915742560 S Praise : Good moisturizer, HUGE supply, Works as well as Natura Bisse, Ahava, Zia &more
Response by clearandsmooth - WOW! thanks, Natura Bisse sells at Neiman Marcus for $235. for 1.7 ounces. DEAL

Like we said, with these big boy's, it's all about the Jars. The jars have just got to look good. What's inside, who cares. Put it into a nice (small) jar and put a $235.00 price on it and they will buy! Designer Moisturizers? What are they going to think of next? Designer toilet paper?

Look if you want a real nice moisturizer that just melts into the skin and makes your skin feel wonderful even the next day. Buy this!

If you want to feel good about what you are putting on your face. And you'll know no animal died for your skin. Buy this!

If you want anyone who looks into your medicine cabinet to think you are really cool and have loads of money. Go to Neiman Marcus' web site and slap that $235.00 Natural Bisse on the Discover Card and enjoy. When that jar is empty, buy a jar of ours and put it in the empty jar (you be able to fill their jar twice). You'll always be cool AND look good.

Jojoba Oil (pronounced ho ho ba): (Simmondsia chinensis) Jojoba oil consists of pure esters extracted from organic Jojoba seeds. We use a farm grown variety grown in Arizona. Pesticide free and first pressing from the finest seeds produced. First pressing means this is sort of like Extra Virgin. The very best we can find. The importance of Jojoba esters derives from their similarity to the natural restorative esters produced by the sebaceous glands in the dermal layers in the human skin.

Mango Butter: (Mangifera indica) A luxurious Butter imported from India made from the seeds of the Mango Fruit tree. We use this butter purely for it's luxurious feel and absorbency. It seems to help carry the other oils deep into the skin. You'll only find this is the quality stuff and rarely a primary ingredient.

Kukui Nut Oil: (Aleurites moluccana) Kukui nut oil, brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers, is quickly absorbed into the skin. Kukui nut oil is high in linoleic and linolenic essential fatty acids. Excellent for skin conditioning after sun exposure, as well as for acne, eczema, psoriasis, hemorrhoids, dry/wrinkled skin and offers good protection for outdoor sports. It offers just the right amount of lubrication without leaving a greasy feeling. Excellent for chapped skin and may prevent scarring. It is very expensive, but makes our moisturizer extra special. We use the good stuff too from Hawaii (at about $140 gallon, it has to kept under lock and key). To show you how far we go to find the best products, here is an example. This Kukui Nut oil is also available from other countries at about half the price, but it is solvent extracted (if at all possible, we don't use solvent extracted ingredients, just expeller pressed products, except some of the essences are only available that way). Instead of a light sweet smell, like the good stuff from Hawaii, it has a heavy chemical odor. We won't touch it.

Macadamia Nut Oil: (Macadamia integrifolia) This tree is native to Australia. Also known as Queensland nut oil, this cold pressed oil is high in palmitoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that acts as an antioxidant, preventing deterioration of cell membranes. For mature skin it is hydrating and gentle. It is a skin lubricant and is easily absorbed by the skin, sometimes described as a "vanishing oil." Helpful in cases of sunburn and wound healing.

Shea Butter; (Butyrospermum parkii) World renown for many incredible healing properties, but not commonly used here in the USA. The Shea tree grows in the wooded savannahs in west Africa (Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso). The fruit is harvested by the natives and hand processed to the finished butter product. This is how we buy it. Often times though you'll find it as a minor ingredient in some supposedly high quality moisturizers. We use a special natural variety. Most Shea Butter used here in the USA is commercially processed to remove the natural color and odor, or industrially extracted with hexane solvent (a carcinogen). Traces of hexane can be in the resulting Shea Butter. Hexane extraction yields more butter, but it is odorless and white and quite frankly about as good mineral oil. Which as far as we are concerned, is no good! You can also feel good about using this ingredient, because income from Shea helps poor women in West Africa who hand make it in a complicated process involving boiling in water.

Hemp Seed Oil: (Cannabis sativa) This is one of the more effective skin-care oils with a wonderful nutty smell. Hemp seed oil is derived from the seed of the plant Cannabis sativa, best known as the marijuana plant, and least known for its many productive uses. It is dark and thick and gives our product it's slightly green cast. Hemp seed oil has none of the intoxicating properties of the leaves. Since hemp cannot be legally grown in the U.S., the supply of its oil is low and the price high. Hemp seeds produce a vegetable oil that is high in protein and can be used within a variety of foods and cosmetics. Alpha linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids�the essential fatty acids known as the omegas�make up 88% of the total fatty-acid content. Its moisturizing properties when used in proper strengths are absolutely magical.

Apricot Kernal Oil: (Armeniaca vulgaris, Prunis armeniaca) Apricot Kernel is a light but rich oil which is especially good for sensitive skin, as well as for and skin that is inflamed or dry. It can be used alone or in massage and is used quite often in lip balms and creams. It is particularly helpful for dehydrated, delicate, mature or sensitive skin. It has a high vitamin A content.

Aren't there other Natural moisturizers on the market? Like in health food stores?
Yes. One or two. Try to find another moisturizer with anything like these ingredients. The one other Natural moisturizer we found was using Sweet Almond Oil as the main emollient. A nice oil, but no where near anything compared to what we use. Sweet Almond Oil really doesn't absorb all that well. And they really don't mention if they use animal ingredients. They say no animal testing, but no mention of that issue at all. We also don't use any SLS ingredients either.

Purified Water, goes without saying, we triple filter our water.
Vegetable Glycerin; is a humectant. This means it has the ability to draw water right from the air and bring it closer to your skin. We use a Kosher Variety made only from vegetables. Yes some companies use an Animal based product made from Animal Fat.
Emulsifying wax NF; This is a vegetable based product that helps bind the oils together into a pleasing emulsion.
Vegetable Stearic Acid; OK if you read labels, you'll find this ingredient in many cosmetics. It is really essential to help bind oils and waters together. Unfortunately most companies use a product made from Animals. Yes most likely cows or pigs. YUP! And because most moisturizers use just mineral oil they need a lot of this stuff to make it thick. Plus they have to use a lot of fragrances, because that stuff stinks. We use a Kosher variety made strictly from vegetables. I'd like to tell you it's a lot more expensive, but it's really about the same price, just a little more. I don't know why they use that stuff. REALLY! Maybe it works better with Mineral oil. Who knows? I guess if you sell a million jars, a nickel really adds up.
Citric Acid; natural preservative plus it balances the PH.
We also use 2 special non-paraben preservatives(which are vegetable derived): Diazolidinyl Urea and Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate they are insurance against mold and bacteria growth. We like these preservatives because they work in extremely small quantities. Much less than 1% (actually it's .2%) And they don't have the side effects in some people that preservatives like Methylparaben or Propylparaben have when absorbed into the skin.
What is that wonderful smell? Real Natural Essences of Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Jasmine. Why not use an artificial fragrance like ALL the other moisturizers' use? For one thing fragrances are cheaper than real essences (that can't be a good sign). Fragrances also have alcohol in them and hundreds of other unknown ingredients, and quite frankly I personally can't handle fragrances. I guess I am allergic to them (and that means others are too!). But I'm not allergic or sensitive to essences. I love them! And just a little goes a long way. Not overpowering either.

We make this product fresh on an as needed basis. We don't make 100's of thousands of jars ahead of time, and then store it for years at a time as most moisturizers are made to save money. I like to say there is a bit of the art in making this product. It can only be made in small batches of 200 Jars. It is hand made and mixed with care. Each ingredient must be added in a certain order and with the proper temperture in mind. That's why our competition hasn't figured it out yet. Put this together wrong, even using all the right ingredients and it will be a useless glop. We are so picky that about 1 out of 5 batches has to be destroyed, because they just don't meet our standards.

Does it feel greasy? No it is luxurious and creamy. We use absorbing oils and butters. Not mineral oil. Here's a recent note:

I was completely knocked off my feet by the moisturizer! After countless over-the-counter moisturizers and creams, I can honestly say this is the best thing that has ever touched my face! It absorbs SO damn quickly and makes me look g-r-e-a-t!" Jon 12/2/2002

Why are most moisturizers on the market just junk? Even some of the expensive ones are not all that good. They are mostly mineral oils with animal based binders. But they smell nice(?) and the jars look nice on the counter.

It's all about the OVERHEAD: Very Expensive 14 Carat Gold labeled Jars, Lots of employees, Advertising, Multiple layers of middle management all taking a piece.

HERE'S HOW IT TYPICALLY WORKS. A mediocre product that costs say $6.00 to make including the jar (sorry, you can be sure the jar cost more than the contents, this is just a FACT with almost all moisturizers, except ours). It goes to a distributor who marks it up to say $12.00 then to a stylish store (hey, we don't blame them, they got to make a profit) that sets the selling price to say $31.95, then might offer it 'On Sale' for say $24.95. When it's all said and done, it's still just a mediocre product with mineral oil.

mineral oil, what is it? Fresh Squeezed Minerals?!?! It's a petroleum product. Yes it's a by-product when they make gasoline. Real Greasy, Stays on top of your skin. Only reason it is used is that it seals the skin and holds in the moisture. So yes it does sort of work. After you take a bath, you slather it on and it seals the skin to hold in the moisture you got from the bath. That is until you get in bed and it is all rubbed off on your sheets. That's why you need to put more on in the morning and change your sheets often.

Hi,
I started using your moisturizer just about one week ago.....WOW!!! I have tried and used just about every big name brand of moisturizers from QVC for years, including the one that Oprah loves. I don't know if it is my imagination or this is just fantastic. I am 61 and have some sun damage that I was about to see a dermatologist for, but the red, dry flaky spots are improving in just this past week. I had rosacea last week and have had it for years, but this week it is gone. My skin looks firmer and some deep wrinkles don't look as deep. I use it twice a day. I also use Philosophy's vitamin C powder in the morning mixed with your moisturizer. At night after cleansing I use a glycolic acid pad and morning and night I use Principal Secret skin refining serum and then your moisturizer. I have been doing this routine with other moisturizers for a few months now and didn't see any difference until I started using your moisturizer. I can't wait to see how things look in another couple of weeks. I am so excited!!!
Thanks,
Judy
9/30/04

Dear clearandsmooth,

Hello!! My name is Michelle and I dont usually contact sellers about a product I buy - no matter how happy and satisfied I am with it. But I just have to tell you that this is the most marvelous cream that I have ever tried. I have spent 10's of thousands on products for my face through my lifetime,(33) and none have worked like this tender cream of yours. I have used Lancome, Estee Lauder, Philosophy, Clinique, Serious Skin Care, Elysee, Dr. Graf, Thibiant, Burt's Bee's, Aloette, Isomers, Oil of Olay, Alpha Hydrox, Loreal, Orlane, Decleor, Jason, Zia, Rachel Perry, Nu Skin, Bath & Body Works, Vita K, Givenchy, Signature Club A, Elizabeth Arden, Talika of Paris, Yves Rocher, and things off Ebay, just to name a few. And I seriously want to tell you that your product is better by far than any of those in my opinion. I have used most products imaginable. Microdermabrasion, Glycolic Peels, Masks and such others. .... I just have to tell you that I used it 1 time and seen my fine lines around my eyes VANISH!!! I love you and your product!! I also want to Thank-you for a Prion and Animal free product. And it's so generous and economical. As long as you make it I will buy it. Thank-you soooo much!!! Michelle
11/17/04

Why do they use Mineral oil? It's cheap! A few dollars for a gallon of MINERAL OIL. As a comparison to our Kukui Nut oil. We use the good stuff from Hawaii. And we pay over $140 for a gallon.

Why do WE use exotic oils and butters? The real question everyone should be asking is: Why are they not used more often? They have absolutely wonderful properties and the longer you use them the better your skin feels. But they are harder to work with on a larger scale. And they do vary in consistency. So more supervision is needed. It's easy to have a minimum wage worker just pour in a bucket of mineral oil. Cook it with waxes and binders. Load up on a bunch of commercial artificial preservatives so it can sit on a shelf for 3 or 4 years until someone comes along and likes the pretty jar well enough to buy it 'On Sale'.

I love your moisturizer. It�s made a bigger difference for my skin. I used to have dry skin and that would cause break outs, and tried many kinds of moisturizers. The others made my skin breakout, and more oily. Yours doesn�t and in fact I use it up 3 times daily to keep my face hydrated and it doesn�t break out or look oily � instead it glows. 8/17/02

Healing properties? We have to be careful here. We can't make you any promises. Rashes? Got to try this!, Broken skin? Got to try this! Cracked skin? Got to try this! Eczema? Got to try this! Dermatitis? Got to try this! Wrinkles? Got to try this!

FRESH MADE Our moisturizer is always shipped fresh. Even though our preservatives are powerful, we don't want you to guess how long ago it was made.

One 4 ounce cosmetic white jar with internal seal. Simple but elegant. Filled with a wonderful special lotion. It's what's in the jar, not on the jar that really matters to your skin.

Priced at $15.00 per jar, plus a bonus(see below). Just try one to start. Each jar should last a long time. S&H is $6.00 for a total of $21.00
we take Paypal, and also directly takeVisa, MasterCard and Discover. Or if you like you can mail us a check (we don't hold checks, we trust our customers and ship promptly). we also take money orders. Our email address is clearandsmooth@CFL.rr.com for paypal or questions.

International orders. Canada is an extra $1.00 to ship for a total of $22.00
Every other country we ship air mail to and the s&h is $13.00 for a total of $28.00.

We don't sit on your orders for weeks at a time like most companies. Normally we ship next business day. Worst case is 2 working days to ship when we are buried with orders.

OK is that it? Finally! I know am wordy. I'm excited about our products. Here is what we are going to do as a bonus. When you buy a jar, you'll also get a One Free 6 ounce bar of our Natural soap. A $5.00 value. Many swear their skin has never felt better with this soap. Many say it is "worth it's weight in gold".

also a note about our acne cleanser.
Hi Steve
These are my 8th and 9th bottles.
I wrote to you after using 1/2 of the first bottle to rave about the results my husband and I were experiencing.
Now it is almost a year later and I can honestly tell you that I LOVE what I see when I look in the mirror. Not just clear of blemishes (adult acne)- but actually softer and moist-not greasy. I was floored about 6 weeks ago when someone I was chatting with at department store makeover said to me, "well you're lucky -you have great skin and don't need much foundation." ME? Great skin? I battled my whole life with nasty skin. I feel like I went from a "have not" to a "have." I look in the mirror and I know I don't look 40.
My husband is in love with the products as well. The bar soap is divine- I laugh when I read"non-drying" on cleansers. ALL of them are drying. Your soaps are truly non drying- No toner necessary! The cream is a fabulous night cream for me but my husband uses it day and night- he had problems with red, dry itchy patches on his hairline and around his ears. The bar soap and cream have relieved the discomfort and the angry red has faded to a color just slightly darker than his natural skin. Huge improvement. He shaves with the scrub and hardly ever gets infected ingrown hairs anymore.
You have created some incredible products.
Let us know when you go public- we want in!
Sincerely,
Cris
8/20/02

We are always improving our product, so we do reserve the right to make minor changes to our product.

OK here's the legal stuff. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.