Eco Sevi Vegan Products :: Most Asked Questions

Q: Do you use animal ingredients or ingredients tested on animals?
A: We do not use any animal by products - from our brushes to finished products, our line is free from all animal ingredients. We review each new ingredient before applying it to our formula - if the ingredient is or was tested recently (example 1992), we do not use it in our formula and replace it with an ingredient that is regarded as safe. Read more about our vegan standards.

Q: Does Sevi Cosmetics test products on animals?
A: No, we do not test our products on animals in any shape or form (outside testing or internal testing). All of our products are made using ingredients which have been used for years and are regarded as safe. However we are aware that these very ingredients all have been tested by other companies -- we cannot change the past, but hope that we can all unite to find alternatives to animal testing in the future. Read more about our vegan standards.

Q: Were are you located and can I visit you?
A: Our manufacturing facility is located in Hamilton / Baltimore and starting January 2012 we will have our shop open every first Saturday of the month.

Q: Do you offer your products for wholesale?
A: Yes we do -- please click here for details.

Q: What is the shelf life of Eco Sevi products?
A: Our products do not need to be refrigerated, but they must be kept away from heat and sunlight. Properly stored, the elixirs have a shelf life of 10 to 12 months and creams have a shelf life of 3 to 8 months and can be refrigerated. Elixirs and balms should not be refrigerated -- the shelf life of balms are 10-14 months. Since toners contain hydrosols, they can be refrigerated or kept in a cool place and should always be kept away from sunlight. The shelf life of a properly stored toner is 2-5 months.

Q: I want to hear that Eco Sevi is an "all-natural" company, why are you not advertising it this way?
A: We hear your concerns and understand your needs, that is why we disclose our ingredients on our website and our labels according to FDA rules and regulations. Furthermore, we are educated about the ingredients we use and therefore are able to disclose them fully.

As for the use of the term "all natural" -- we have decided not to use this in our company. Most raw ingredients are refined one way or the other for ensuring safety of consumers. There are not many raw ingredients which are 100% all natural. In our formulations, we use ingredients which come as close as possible to "all natural" -- that is why we say "as natural as it gets". Meaning, as natural as it gets without compromising your safety.

This is simply our choice. We simply choose not to use terms in which we do not believe 100% and which could be misunderstood by our clients.

Q: Does Eco Sevi disclose all ingredients used in products?
A: We are happy to hear you ask this important question! Yes, we do disclose them fully on our labels and do our best to keep them updated on our website. Our mineral makeup ingredients all accompany a CI (Color Index) number -- since we purchase our pigments directly from the manufacturers, we are supplied with up to date and accurate information directly from them. In turn, we are able to share this information with you -- by disclosing all pigments used fully right down to the minute amounts of color additives. The very same goes for our skin & body care products -- we disclose all info, right down to the essential oils we use. We can simply bundle all essential oils into "fragrance" to keep it as a "trade secret/secret formula", but your continued well being is the only formula we are interested in.

Q: Why do they not smell like other popular bath, body and skin care products? Why do they not last for hours and even days?
A: The aromas of our products emanate only from the botanicals or the essential oils we use. We use pure aromatherapy grade essential oils in safely diluted percentages (many essential oils carry the risk of irritation and sensitization) and we do not use synthetically derived fragrance oils or such oil blends in our products. This means that our products do not smell like many of the mass-produced bath, body and skin care products and the aroma does not linger on for hours and days.

Q: Why don't you have berry or baby powder scents?
A: We use pure aromatherapy grade essential oils and we do not use synthetically derived fragrance oils -- scents like baby powder, strawberry, apple, peach, apricot, pineapple, coconut, melon, banana, cucumber and raspberry do not exist in essential oils or absolutes.

Q: I see that Sevi Cosmetics uses Hydrosols. What is a Hydrosol?
A: Hydrosol is also called hydrolat. True Hydrosol is the water that is collected when plants, flowers, herbs, roots are distilled to make essential oils. They contain water soluble molecules from the plant or flower materials. Hydrosols are extremely gentle therefore can be used on people with different skin or emotional ailments. Please note that all hydrosols are not created equal -- we have noticed that the term "floral water" does not always equate to being a true hydrosol.

Q: What is an Extract?
A: Extract are created by processing a raw material with a solvent and can be used both in medicine as well as the perfume industry. It is "a solution obtained by steeping or soaking" botanicals (roots, leaves, bark etc.) - in our case it is either oil, water, glycerin or grape alcohol.

Q: What's an EO, absolute and resin?
A: EO is short for Essential Oil. Essence is made in plants by special cells and only becomes an essential oil after distillation. EOs are volatile and are either distilled (steam, water) or expressed.
Absolute is a highly concentrated, alcohol-soluble perfume material and are obtained by alcohol extraction of concretes. Resins are formed in Nature (from trees, plants etc) by oxidation of terpens. The natural resin can be solid or semisolid . The processed resin is called "Oleoresin".

Q: What is Aromatherapy?
A: Aromatherapy is the true art of using plant oils for complementary care. Aromatherapy is not about smelling sweet -- rather it is an art form, a complementary therapy. So next time you happen to smell Clary Sage, Basil or Helichrysum -- try not to focus on how you dislike the aroma, instead feel good knowing that it is good for your body.

Q: Does Sevi products contain SLS, SLES, Parabens, talc or artificial fragrances?
A: You will not find synthetic fragrances, parabens, talc, SLS, SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), ALS (Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate), Lauramide DEA, Cocomidopropyl Betain, Cocomide MEA, or artificial colors (FD&C colors) in any of our products. Our company uses only premium ingredients that are all vegan and cruelty-free.

Q: Does Sevi products contain Lauramide DEA (diethanolamine) and Cocamide DEA (diethanolamine)?
A: No we do not use neither of the ingredients View FDA's info

Q: I have received your ointment, shampoo, hydrosol toner and oils and they seem to have a slightly different texture, aroma and/or color from my previous purchase. Why?
A: We use naturally derived ingredients in our products. It is the nature of naturally derived ingredients to have different textures or other characteristics based on each crop's environment, season and climate. Essential Oils can have different aromas from batch to batch and so can base oils, hydrosols and herbs. When purchasing a natural product, minor texture changes should be expected and can add to the uniqueness of the handcrafted product.

Q: I use XYZ products, can Eco Sevi compare yours or comment on XYZ products?
A: The best and most reliable source of information about any company's product will be that company itself, -- so it is our policy not to offer recommendations or comparisons of any other company's products or services.

All of our products are formulated in accordance with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines. Our commercial manufacturing operation is located in Baltimore Maryland.

Q: Are your products USDA certified organic?
A: Not at the moment.

Q: Do you offer private labelling or contract manufacturing?
A: We have discontinued our private label and contract manufacturing services - thank you for your interest and understanding.

Q: Where are your products made and who makes them?
A: Our products are manufactured in Baltimore, Maryland. They are formulated by Sevi herself and are always handmade - they are hand bottled, hand labelled, packaged and shipped to you by Sevi and/or family.