Melting Problems with Shipping During Summer Months
The skincare industry is huge, and more people buy online nowadays than ever before. When you purchase products and they arrive at your doorstep, you didn’t need to find parking at the mall or even step foot in your car, and that’s pure joy for many folks. But what if your products have been shipped in the middle of the hot summer? How are you assured they’re stable and won’t get ruined in the heat? For most companies, it’s simple. Add enough chemicals to the product so they will withstand the heat, even if left in your desert mailbox for a few days.
Violet Leaf’s Theory
Steve and I don’t agree with the just-add-chemicals mentality. From day one at Violet Leaf, we wanted clean, chemical-free products. This was simple when we sold locally, but we had to get creative when we had folks purchasing our products from all around the globe. The thing is, we refuse to add chemicals to our products so we can ignore the summer heat and ship them without worry. It’s a frustration and not an easy fix, but those chemicals cause problems not only to our skin, but to our internal health as well. We do have suggestions for those who want to be as healthy as possible, and they don’t need to travel to Tucson, AZ to purchase products.
What To Do When You Order Products with Natural Ingredients
Whether you order from Violet Leaf or any company who uses ingredients only found in nature, it’s a two-way street. We (Violet Leaf and the customer) must work together.
- Its best to order your products when you know you will be home the day they’re delivered. If you leave them sit in a mailbox for a few days, it’s likely our biodegradable cold packs and box insulation won’t beat the heat and your products will melt. Our shipping system emails the customer a tracking number and we also can watch the package on our end. We will both know exactly when the package is delivered.
- When you receive your Violet Leaf package, if you have ordered any creams or body butters, place it in the refrigerator for an hour BEFORE OPENING. This assures the products will set up and be ready to sit on your bathroom counter for up to 4-6 months. We do use preservatives, but they are plant-based as well, so the ingredients do have a shorter lifespan than chemically altered products.
Ingredients (Chemicals) To Watch OUT For
I’d like to highlight some of the chemicals that are added to most skincare products to prolong shelf-life and keep them from melting:
- Phthalates - stabilize (help with melting) and help maintain thickness. The EWG.org reports that “Phthalates are endocrine disruptors linked to problems of the reproductive system, including decreased sperm motility and concentration in men and genital abnormalities in baby boys.” (Oh, and did you know that average sperm counts have decreased significantly since the 1940's?) “More recently they've also been linked to asthma and allergies.”
- Cocamide DEA and MEA is used for to thicken, stabilize, and emulsify. This chemical – because of contaminating nitrosamines – is flagged as a potential carcinogen to humans. In fact, a 1998 study by the National Toxicology Program found a connection between regular exposure to DEA and cancer in lab animals. It’s used in many shampoos and skincare products and it’s best to keep it away from your body.
- Petroleum-based oils and waxes to thicken and stabilize during all temperatures. Some of these petroleum products, such as benzene and ethylene oxide, are known as potential cancer-causing agents, while others are hormone disruptors (e.g., parabens). Mineral oil, which is a popular and common ingredient in baby oil and a wide range of skin and hair products, may contain contaminants and will clog your pores, increasing your risk of acne and blackheads and inhibiting your skin from breathing. Listed below are names you should search for in your products that can be absorbed through your skin and are/can be very harmful to your health:
- Benzene
- Butanol and words with “butyl,” such as butylene glycol and butyl alcohol
- Diethanolamine
- Ethanolamine
- Ethanol and words with “ethyl,” such as ethyl alcohol, ethylene oxide, ethylene dichloride, ethylene-diamine-tetracetatic acid (EDTA), ethylene glycol, fragranceor parfum, as nearly all chemical used in fragrances are derived from petroleum
- Methanol and words with “methyl,” such as methyl alcohol, methylparaben, and methylcellulose
- Mineral oil
- Parabens (e.g.,propylparaben, methylparaben, butylparaben, benzylparaben)
- Paraffin wax
- Phenoxyethanol
- Propyl-containing substances such as isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, cocamidopropyl betaine
- Toluene
- Words ending in “eth” (e.g., ceteareth, laureth, myreth, oleth).
Steve and I will continue researching healthy ways to maintain our natural products during the hotter months, but we can assure you it won’t be by adding harmful chemicals. We respect nature, your bodies (and ours!) too much.