Originally Posted by Mzmorenaza

Originally Posted by Chicago Kinks

Originally Posted by NEA

Originally Posted by greenandchic

Originally Posted by NEA

Originally Posted by Nc-chick

Originally Posted by EllyEllyOxenFree

Originally Posted by Chicago Kinks

It took a lot of searching before I found our water based formula preservative, Leuconostoc/ Leuicidal liquid (I've attached a PDF of challenge test, and explanation of the way it works, for you), and it was available in Europe at the time I started looking (about 3 years ago).
I was so happy that I could finally put the water based formulas that we had created, to use, and feel safe about putting them on our child. We were already using an antioxidant mix for our oil/butter based POM line, that consisted of Rosemary Oleoresin and Vitamin E. We also utilize White Willow Bark extract on several formulas.

Luicidal liquid is retailed now for cosmetic formulating here in the U.S. and is ECOCERT approved, but I think we were buying it from the only retailer in the US at the time I found it.
It works very differently then standard preservatives, which seek to kill any bacteria with a minimal dose of a toxic product. This preservative is doing something that it naturally does-acidify it's environment with an enzymatic action, and it's holding up to the same challenge testing as other preservative systems.
What's even more amazing is that it is also an effective moisturizer in it's own right and helps with unwanted scalp bacteria.

This being said, I want to acknowledge that we as a company are trying to do EVERYTHING a bit differently then what has been tried.
We want to encourage you as a consumer to purchase and USE. Don't let it sit on a shelf while the active ingredients grow old. Use it fresh.

We purchase unrefined ingredients rather then those that have been stripped of odor and color and everything else except the emollient properties. These are in small quantities because we want you to use them within 3-4 months so that you get maximum benefit out of the properties. We don't keep large quantities of ingredients, because we want them fresh and active, and we also don't keep large quantities of premixed formulas on the shelves because we don't want them sitting, getting "old".
We feel like it's time for a different mentality about product use. Tons of preservatives to throw a product in your bathroom shelf and let it sit for a year, is not what we are about.
Buy small...refresh when you're low. Take time with your curls and nourish them.

Our products are EXPENSIVE to make. Unrefined butters are more expensive, organic is more expensive, essential oils rather then alcohol based fragrances that dry hair over time...are expensive. Raw unprocessed oils, and sea emollients, are much more expensive then mineral oil-petroleum products, and even our "natural-alternative preservative system is twice as expensive as the standard preservatives. We want you to understand as a consumer what you are buying, feel safe, and have a respect for what more natural product can give back to you.
Hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions. In your subject, put "forward to Kelly" when you create your email and I will usually be able to answer within 24 hours.