Emulsions—the uniform combination of oils and water can be naturally maintained. "Shake well before using" is one way. Aubrey's blend of vegetable glycerin and natural grain alcohol is another.

Fragrance

Aubrey uses essential oils such as camomile, eucalyptus, lavender, geranium, etc., many of them organic, both for their restorative properties and their impossible-tosynthesize fragrance.

Cleansers/Foaming Agents

We use only natural, vegetarian cleansing agents made with coconut oil, corn oil or olive oil castile. Aubrey combines them with soy protein from organic, non-GMO soybeans to increase their lathering and conditioning abilities.

Hair Conditioners

Natural proteins improve hair texture, strength and manageability. Aubrey adds hair care herbs like horsetail and coltsfoot, emollients like organic shea butter and jojoba oil, and sulfur-containing amino acids.

Styling Aids

Aubrey uses herbal gums as holding agents, and panthenol (vitamin B-5), a natural humectant and hair thickener.

Preservatives

Aubrey's natural blend of citrus seed extract and vitamins A, C and E preserves products for over a year. Plus our products are made daily and shipped directly to you, so you know they're fresh.

WHAT OTHER MANUFACTURERS USE

Colours

Some health food store brands no longer use synthetic colors, but many still do. Watch out for D&C and FD&C colors, which are often carcinogenic and always unnecessary.

Emollients

Refined petroleum and its derivatives are most commonly used. Petrolatum, mineral oil, glyceryl stearate and paraffin are some to avoid.

Emulsifiers

Propylene glycol (PPG), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and triethanolamine (TEA) are synthetic petrochemical emulsifiers used to keep products from separating.

Fragrance

Fragrance components don't have to be listed on bodycare products. If you see "fragrance" on a label, chances are it's a cheap synthetic, not an expensive and high quality essential oil.

Cleansers/Foaming Agents

Detergents made from a variety of petrochemicals top the list. Avoid: SLS, olefin sulfonate, cocamidopropyl betaine, DEA and TEA.

Hair Conditioners

Quaternary ammonium compounds also used as fabric softeners are found in high amounts in most hair conditioners.

Styling Aids

Mass produced hairsprays and gels contain PVP/VA copolymers, plastic films that coat the hair and pollute the environment.

Preservatives

You'll often see as many as five synthetic preservatives on a label. Avoid: methyl, butyl, ethyl and propyl paraben, imidazolidinyl urea (trade name Germall) and MDM Hydantoin (formaldehyde).

What about Hydrodols?

A hydrosol is condensation gathered after steaming a plant to extract its essential oil. Hydrosols can be very useful, and we use hydrosols like witch hazel in many products. Some companies use hydrosols made with organic herbs, and count this toward the organic percentage of a product. Since even organic hydrosols are mostly water, and because we'd rather create our organic products with whole plant liquids like aloe and orange pith juice, we don't use organic hydrosols just to boost our organic percentage.