FAQs

We formulate and manufacture Carol Priest products in small batches using only fresh natural and organic ingredients at our manufacturing facility in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand. It would be fair to say we are New Zealand's best kept skincare secret in our homeland as we export all our products overseas and the demand has been strong for coming up to 30 years.

The long-term effects of using chemicals and their combinations are unquantifiable and impossible to define. More people are experiencing allergies and sensitivities and terminal illnesses as a direct result of environmental pollutants. Our ongoing exposure can be accumulative, so the more we can minimise chemicals and toxins, the better it is for our health and well-being. The chemicals found in many conventional products have a flow-on effect and creates further pollutants and environmental damage. By choosing natural and organic cosmetics, you not only keep yourself healthy but also help reduce your ecological footprint.

Our products need to be stored below 30 degrees Celsius. Avoid exposing the product to direct sunlight or extreme temperature change. For optimal storage conditions, we recommend storing products in a cosmetics fridge. The crisper drawer of a general refrigerator is also acceptable but store separately from food and out of reach of children. Always use a clean, dry spatula or clean, dry teaspoon to dispense product and replace the cap after use and keep watertight.

We all know that what goes into our bodies plays a vital role for our health and well-being. What we put on our bodies should also be as safe and free from toxic and unnecessary chemicals as much as possible. Recent scientific studies show that many chemicals used in conventional skincare products are toxic and irritating even at low doses. Carol Priest Natural Cosmetics avoid the use of harsh chemicals in our products such as sulphates, paraben preservatives, synthetic fragrances, colours, sulphates, microbeads, silicones, and mineral oils and our products are also cruelty-free.

We source sustainably harvested and where possible locally grown New Zealand ingredients for our products. We endeavour to source only pure, naturally sourced ingredients that use the latest clean green technologies. The active plant-based ingredients we select not only promote healthy skin but also take into consideration the sustainable impact upon the entire organism and the environment.

Natural ingredients are at their most beneficial when used fresh. It is best to think of skincare in the same way as you would fresh food, once opened to store correctly, in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight. Refer to the above FAQ on product storage for more details on optimal product storage. As these are natural products, we recommend using our products within six months of opening for maximum efficacy and freshness. Each product has a shelf life of 24 months, unopened. The expiry or shelf life date is on the bottom of our product's cartons or packaging.

We fill our creams, lotions, balms, oils, and serums into glass containers with aluminium lids. Glass containers are inert and the optimal receptacle for cosmetics in terms of both natural raw materials, safety, and preservation (freshness). We choose aluminium lids for our glass containers because of their sustainability and recycling benefits. Aluminium lids also provide absolute barrier protection against moisture, light, oxygen, and contamination, ensuring the integrity of the product inside.

Our products have not been tested on animals and are cruelty-free.

Since 1988 Carol Priest has been making safe natural products you can trust. So, you can choose products that are safe for you, your family, and our world, without compromising on performance.

All ingredients in our products are generally safe for most skin types, but some people may still have individual allergies to certain plant botanicals. We recommend patch testing before first use. In the unlikely event of an irritation, rinse thoroughly, immediately discontinue use and seek medical advice. In case of allergies, we openly disclose all our ingredients and label using the INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) guidelines so that you will see a full disclosure of ingredients listed on the back of our packaging. For known allergies, please check the ingredient list first, and avoid using the product if it contains an ingredient you are aware you have allergies to.

Night creams and day balms have different purposes. A night cream should be used at nighttime to help repair the skin as opposed to a day balm, which helps protect skin from harmful ultraviolet rays during the day. The Green Tea & Vitamin E Facial Day Balm is an anti-aging and moisturizing protective day balm. It contains a protective combination of natural zinc oxide, a natural physical protecting mineral powder, and antioxidants pure green tea extract and Vitamin E.

Our products contain fragrances derived from only pure unadulterated essential oils. Pure essential oils are extracted solely from plants for their fragrance and aromatherapeutic skincare benefits. Massed produced cosmetics use synthetically derived fragrances or have used fragrances that contain synthetic chemicals to create the scent. Synthetic fragrances are cheaper than essential oils and are devoid of any therapeutic benefits.

We have products that are considered vegan. Please check the label for the list of ingredients as some products contain New Zealand active Manuka honey and beeswax for their skin-healing qualities.

Our products are handmade using natural ingredients as opposed to massed produced conventional cosmetics using synthetic chemicals. Compared to artificial ingredients, natural ingredients do have seasonal variations in colour, texture, and aroma.

The term 'skin purging' refers to a reaction to an active ingredient that increases skin cell turnover rate. Your skin may experience purging while using our products. Our 100% natural skincare products contain natural active ingredients; these actives will help promote skin cell turnover. When skin cell turnover speeds up, the skin starts shedding dead skin cells faster than usual. Our skin will push everything up to the surface – the excess sebum, flakes, and buildup that clog pores, before bringing new healthy cells to the surface. Your skin works to eliminate waste products and set the stage for regeneration by replacing old with new skin cells to reveal fresh, healthy-looking skin. As our body tries to remove existing toxins at a faster rate than it takes to detoxify them completely, breakouts from purging can usually last for a few days, so do not worry.

There is a difference between purging and a breakout. Purging from a product happens where you frequently break out and disappears faster than a regular pimple. Everyone's skin is unique, so that this time frame may vary from person to person. Still, generally, purging lasts for a few days and disappears faster than usual. While a breakout occurs in a NEW area where you do not typically break out and usually takes longer; 8 to 10 days to appear, mature, and shrink. If you experience a breakout rather than purging while using a product, discontinue use.

If you thought that oils were just for dry skin, you should think again! While some oils are not suitable for oily skin and aggravate sebum production, others can effectively clear up congestions, help restore oil and moisture balance, and regulate sebum production, i.e., jojoba oil.