Don’t ignore the expiry date of the products

Can Shikkakai (dry hair wash powder), hair pack go bad faster to liquid shampoos or gels? Does nalungu maavu (herbal bath powder) have longer shelf life than soaps or shower gels? Will there be a change in the fragrance of herbal hair oil, inhalation oil and comforter balm? Will there be any skin or health issue if I use any herbal product after its expiry date? Have any of these questions cropped up in your head when you use any of Herbs and Essence’s beauty/health care product? If so, then we have an answer for you. Like any living being, beauty and health care products also have their own life span. Read on to know the why it is important to pay attention to the expiry date(s) of all the products manufactured at Herbs and Essence.

All Herbs and Essence products are hand crafted (with minimal use of simple machines especially for milling the raw materials into fine powder) in small batches to ensure freshness, consistency, and perfection. There are natural preservatives within the chemical structure of all natural ingredients
used in production of our herbal products, but they are not as potent as the synthetic preservatives that prolong shelf-life of beauty and health care products. Therefore our products have a definite shelf life.

At Herbs and Essence we formulate both solid and liquid, beauty and health care products. All our products are 100% natural, plant-based, with no artificial color and fragrance. This certainly doesn’t entail that natural herbal products are free from contamination after being formulated. Scientifically it’s not the form in which a beauty or health care product that is made, rather it’s the light, heat, moisture, transmission of gases, and micro organism present in the product that determines the longevity of a product. While there is a general assumption that liquid based products attract microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, molds) fast but in reality what affects a product’s life span is how frequently and the way in which a user handles the product. Right packaging helps to keep the product safe and extends its longevity but the clock starts ticking once the product is opened.

The shelf life of Herbs and Essence products are determined by the following factors listed below:

• Finger hygiene – Our fingers are main agents of introducing bacteria into a product. Bacterial attack on beauty products can lead to acne, irritation, and clogged pores over time.
• Poor storage – In case the product containers are not covered properly, oxidization can happen and bring changes in color and texture of the product.
• Loss of smell- The fragrance of pure and natural essential oils are lost fast as compared to synthetic fragrance oil.
• Moisture- Continuous exposure to moisture can lead to the growth of bacteria and mold. Dryness of product will either make it crack or may not get applied properly.
• With time natural color is also lost due to change in local weather conditions.

Do’s while using our products:

• Always keep the products in a cool, dry and shaded place. Light, heat and moisture are the main agents of bacterial attack on the products.
• To retain a product’s natural fragrance ensure to close the lid as soon as possible after its use.
• Use a clean spoon and bowl for mixing the dry herbal powders. If possible keep a separate spoon, container for mixing the powders. For potlis’ you may also keep a separate heating pan or tawa.
• It is very important to keep your fingers clean when you take the product for use from its container.
• In case there is discoloration, change on smell and appearance, the product should be immediately discarded.
• Read the ingredients list prior to using the product(s) as you might be allergic to some of the raw materials used in making of the product.