Frequently Asked Questions
Are Nectarine products "all natural"?
We receive this question a lot. "Natural" is a very tricky
word - one that's often misused or used misleadingly to sell a product.
We use the word "natural" to define the
ingredients in our Nectarine products which:
1.
occur naturally in nature, like "ground walnut shells."
2.
are naturally derived like "sweet almond oil" which may have
been cleaned and purified through a filtration process.
3.
are derived from naturally-occurring materials, like "cocamide
DIPA" which is derived from coconut oil following a reaction with other
components to create a compound useful for cosmetic products.
Nectarine offers an ingredient glossary should you need
it.
It is part of our Information
Source
manual that you can easily access online.This valuable Information Source manual
also includes in-depth training documents for each of our products to help you
get to know our products better and help you train your sales staff.
Simply email Kim at kim@terranova-nectarine.com or call us (800)
966-3457 for easy instructions on how to access this manual online.
What makes Nectarine products special?
We have over 40 years of experience in manufacturing natural
formulations, and many happy and successful customers who have been purchasing
our products for as many years.
Our
chemists use the most scientifically advanced, FDA approved methods to develop
the superb formulations that distinguish all our Nectarine products.
Each has been created from the finest
quality ingredients derived from the earth and carefully combined to be extra
pure and safe.
And of course, all are
made in the USA, biodegradable and never tested on animals.
Our goal is to provide the very best solutions that nature
and technology have devised for making beautifully effective body, face and spa
products on the market.
Do you use parabens in your formulas?
The majority of our products do not contain parabens.While parabens have a long history of safety
and efficacy in cosmetics and toiletries, and recent rumors that parabens might
be potentially dangerous were dispelled by the American Cancer Society and the
scientific community, Nectarine has reformulated many of its formulas to be
paraben-free and will continue to offer paraben-free alternatives wherever
possible. If you would like a list of all our paraben-free products, simply ask us.
It is
important to note that
not all products can be effectively preserved
against harmful bacteria and microorganisms - such as formulas with very high
oil contents - without a paraben system.
Parabens and chemical preservatives in general are the most effective way
to protect the public against harmful bacteria which have become increasingly resistant
to other types of preservatives.
Do you use mineral oil in your products?
Yes, we do use mineral oil in some of our moisturizers, and
we also offer many formulas without it.
While it is called "mineral oil," it is actually classified as an
organic compound.
Mineral oil is the
cleaned and purified part of petroleum - which is the natural product of
decomposed organic material oil under pressure from eons.
It is one of the purest, most effective
natural moisturizer available, found in such in demand luxury formulas as Creme
de la Mer's best selling La Mer facial cream.
Nectarine's best selling Unscented ADE Moisturizer contains mineral oil
and has been our best selling body moisturizer for over 30 years.
Customers love its ultra moisturizing
properties that last all day, as well as how it absorbs quickly without leaving
a greasy feel.
It also does not have a
strong base odor and is very easily custom-scented.
Mineral oil has a long history of safety; it is an
ultra-light, cosmetic grade oil and non-comedogenic so it won't clog pores; it doesn't
turn rancid (like some other oils can); and produces no allergic
reactions.
Mineral oil forms a water
impervious barrier through which the skin's moisture cannot evaporate. It also
is soothing to the skin.
Can you design and/or print my front logo labels for me?
No, Nectarine does not have a design and print department.
Take a look at the FDA Labeling Regulations page for resources to help you get your logo
labels done following FDA requirements. We have generic ingredient labels
available for the back of your packaging for all products required to have an
ingredient listing by the FDA.
These
back labels are printed in black on clear stock and have a product description
and ingredient listing.
Can I put a USDA organic seal on my packaging for
Nectarine organic products?
No.In order to
obtain the USDA organic seal, a product must have at least 95% certified
organic content.
Except for certain
products like massage oils or body balms, getting to that level is extremely
difficult without compensating on the feel or look of a product, as well as its
long term shelf life.
All our organic
products are made with at least 70% certified organic ingredients.
Take a look at the FDA Organic Cosmetic Labeling page for more information on organic labeling requirements.
Why does my product feel or look different than the last
time I purchased it?
All our formulas contain a high content of natural and/or
organic ingredients.
As with all
natural products, the natural and/or organic raw materials used in our formulas
have slight variations from batch to batch which will sometimes affect the feel
and look of the formula during production.
If the variation does not fall within our acceptable range, we do not
ship that production and we start over.
In addition, some natural ingredients change over time.For example, Shea butter thickens as the
weeks pass by, which affects the texture (not the performance) of the product
it is used in.
Vegetable oils, like
food in your kitchen, will begin to have a stronger smell as time passes
too.
And finally, high temperatures
(greater than 100 deg F) and direct sunlight will affect natural formulas.
It is always recommended that you store
personal care products in a cool, dark and dry place.
Can I get Nectarine to custom scent and pour into retail
packaging an in stock formula for me?
Yes, this would be considered a custom job and would require
you to purchase at least 100 gallons at a time of your one custom formula.
Most customers therefore prefer to start with
our in house formulas, and custom-scent and pour the products themselves.
1 gallon will yield about fifteen 8 ounce
bottles, and custom-scenting is easy, just add 1-2 drops of perfume per ounce
of product in your packaging.
This
allows you to start small, and test out which formula and perfumes perform best
for you, without breaking the bank.
As
you get bigger and as your business flourishes, Nectarine can also accommodate
your custom needs.
I have a formula I like, can you duplicate it?
Yes, this would be considered a custom job and would require
you to purchase at least 100 gallons at a time of your custom formula, which
would yield approximately 1,500 eight ounce bottles.
For custom jobs, the time line from product development to final
production takes about 6 months, and the cost depends entirely on the formula
you are trying to duplicate.
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