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Frequently asked questions
Cold-pressing is the gold standard for extracting oils from plants and seeds. The process works exactly as the name suggests: the plant material is pressed without the addition of heat, meaning that the resulting oils retain more of their nutrients and natural properties. The Noble Apothecary exclusively uses cold-pressed oils because they are the most pure, nutrient-dense option. The alternative to cold-pressing is expeller-pressing, which results in inferior, lifeless oils. Bright and vital plants are stripped of their life and vibrancy as they are heated to temperatures in excess of 200C and often further refined and deodorised to make them acceptable for use. Expeller-pressing has gained popularity because it's faster and cheaper, but that's not a standard that's accepted at The Noble Apothecary. When cold-pressed and expeller-pressed oils are viewed side by side, the difference is stark.You will never, ever see a refined or expeller-pressed oils in The Noble Apothecary formulas because your skin deserves the very best.
One of the most amazing things about using plant oils is the incredible balancing effect they have on your skin. Far from giving you spots, most people who use oils find that their skin learns to balance itself, meaning that your face is neither oily nor dry. A very small number of people experience what's known as a 'purge' when they first use an oil cleanser like Purity - where the skin seems to really clear itself out - but this subsides within 7 days, leaving you with glowing skin.
Yes! Plant oils are incredibly gentle on the skin and are therefore perfect for acne-prone skin. They contain none of the harsh chemicals that can strip skin of its natural oils and therefore cause it to compensate and over-produce oil. We have combined three of our favourite oils - abyssinian, black seed and Jojoba - in our Purity Gentle Cleansing Oil which is suitable for all skin types.
Yes, our products are specifically formulated with sensitive skin in mind. Our ingredients are calming and gentle and contain no known irritants. We don't use alcohols, fragrance, emulsifiers or anything else that has a drying, aggravating effect on the skin. Whether you find that you react to some skincare products, or you have psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis or other skin condition, you will find our formulas gentle, soothing and calming.Many of our customers have sensitive skin and report that they've finally found a routine that gives them happy, healthy skin, and see an improvement in their skin condition with regular use.If you have any questions about sensitivity, please email rachel@thenobleapothecary.co.uk
Our oils - Purity, Serenity and Clarity do not contain preservatives. Plant oils have a natural shelf life of 2-3 years and therefore do not need to be preserved. Creating small batches means that you can enjoy all of the plant oils' potent benefits while the blend is still young! When it comes to water-based products, however, preservatives are essential to keep the formula fresh and to avoid the risk of bacterial growth. Vitality contains a COSMOS-certified, paraben-free, broad-spectrum preservative that has been specifically formulated for use in natural and organic products.
Yes! This is one of our favourite things about plant oils: absolutely nothing stands in their way - not even waterproof mascara! Simply massage 2-4 pumps of oil onto your face and eyes and remove with a warm, wet face cloth. You should cleanse twice to remove any traces of makeup, and nourish the skin.
'Fragrance free' means that we don't add any additional fragrance to our products, but the ingredients have their own natural scent which creates a lovely, spa-like skincare experience. The black seed oil in Purity has a spicy, grassy scent, and the helichrysum in Serenity has a sweet, herbaceous and earthy scent.
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