FAQ
Q. What's in Nutro products?
A. The industry standard for the good stuff like butter and oil is 1-5%. The percentage of organic oils and butters in Nutro's products range from 25% to 100%. We use only organic oils and butters. More earth in every bottle!
Q. Where does the water you use Nutro Body Care lotion and crème come from?
A. Most areas of the country are served by public water systems that use treated surface water and serve it up as drinking water. Our water comes from the High Plains Aquifer in the heart of the USA. It is cold, fresh and crystal clear! It has been called fossil water because, according to some, it contains ancient secrets of the earth. Think about this....the first time this water sees sunlight is the moment it is blended with our lotion and crème!
Q. What's the difference between the lotion and the crème?
A. The difference between our crème and lotion is the variation in oil and butter proportions.
Q. Why don't you use extracts, other butters and oils and all those things other companies use?
A. Keeping it all simple allows us to ensure a more holistic approach, rather than subscribing to gimmicks, or putting funky stuff in our products in order to increase profit margins. We don't do a wild chase to find out what the next "seller" is going to be. We just want to craft natural, affordable products consistently and be able to put more fresh and healthy plant oils in....every time.
Q. Why don't you use fragrance?
A. Fragrances are synthetic and are otherwise known as volatile hydrocarbons. People become sensitized to these compounds and they cause headaches, irritability and skin irritation. We encourage our clients to use essential oils which are extracted from herbs which contain aromatherapeutic properties, along with overall revitalizing properties for both emotional and physical well being. In addition, we think that stretching the dollar is the best way to go for our clients, so leaving our products unscented provides more options for you and your clients. No one should have to purchase and store a myriad of products. It gets expensive and confusing. With just a few ounces of pure essential oils our clients create endless options and provide their clients with a more personal experience. Isn't that what it's all about anyway?
Q. Does Shea Butter clog pores?
A. No. Shea Butter is not comedogenic (pore clogging). Unlike Coconut Oil which, in Rabbit Ear Model Studies was found to be comedogenic. None of the ingredients we use clog pores.
Q. Are your products pH balanced?
A. Yes. They are gently balanced toward the range of skin pH.
Q. The crème (or lotion) is absorbing into my client's skin and there isn't enough glide.
A. If you find the lotion and crème are absorbing it is both good and not so good. The good thing is your client's skin is drinking it up! Here is a tip: Both you and your client would be better served if you hydrated their skin with a warm, damp towel to relax the horny layer. This will aid in lengthening the glide factor and be a much better treatment for your client, as well.
Q. It's too oily. It has too much slip.
A. Use less product. It doesn't take much...so, you save money, too!
Q. My sheets are oily.
A. Wash sheets in warm water with baking soda and laundry soap. Because we don't use silicones and heavy oils like palm or coconut, the oils wash out more easily.
Q. What is water dispersible oil? Do you make it?
A. Water dispersible contain a surfactant, meaning a Surface Active Agent. The chemical Polysorbate 80 is generally used as a water dispersant because it is a surfactant. The issues about sulfate surfactants in shampoo came to the forefront not long ago and are implicated in causing cancer. We choose not to introduce surfactants into the experience of massage. The Polysorbate family can be unpredictable but are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA.
Q. Organic, Natural, NonGMO....What's the Difference?
A. First, when using the term Organic, bear in mind it refers to "foods" most generally. Actually certifying personal care products with an organic seal is not a perfected field by any means. The most a company should do is declare those ingredients that are certified organic. To call a product a specific percent organic could be misleading labeling.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) heads the National Organic Program (NOP) which develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.
Q. What is natural?
A. Generally, natural is everything else.
To further complicate matters there is the issue of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
Can GMO foods be organic? No.
Can GMO foods be natural? Yes.
Can natural mean organic? No.
Can organic mean natural? Yes.
Q. What about Ecocert and other certification bodies?
A. This is an area that deserves attention. There are many certification organizations popping up everywhere. Sometimes, it appears they round council to create an image of environmental thoughtfulness, but in reality their efforts are to masque the same, tired, industrial approach. Some call it Greenwashing. This is why we plan to work with long standing bodies like Oregon Tilth. We trust their record. There are various ecocert councils, whose motives may be questionable.....or not. The point is to be educated and if you have questions please let us know.
Q. Are any products currently certified by Oregon Tilth?
A. Oregon Tilth has not, to our knowledge, certified any personal care products. They are the premier certification body for food growers. The standards and criteria they set forth are rigorous.
Let's Talk About Silicones? *
Unlike most companies, we achieve glide in our products by using high amounts of plant oils and shea butter. Typically, companies use silicones, or propylene glycol for glide, but these are not natural products and do not biodegrade. They simply lay on top of the epidermis and do nothing to nourish the skin while causing rancidity in sheets at the same time.
Q. What is Silicone?
A. Silicone is inert and man made. Silicone are polymers that include silicon together with other elements, like carbon, hydrogen or oxygen. They are heat resistant, rubber-like and commonly used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, and insulation. Names like Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Amimethicone, and others, can be found on many massage product ingredient labels. We won't use it because most of the Silicon used to make Silicone comes from mining our earth's crust. We think the earth's crust can be better used for growing plants we put in your products.
Q. Where do silicones come from?
A. Silicones are made from silicon and methyl chloride in a process known as the "direct reaction" or "direct process." This reaction between silicon and our recycled reagents yields methyl chlorosilanes. They are distilled (purified), and the dimethyldichlorosilane is hydrolyzed to give PDMS. This product can be formulated or finished into thousands of different products, which are sold to every major industrial segment.
Q. How are silicones used?
A. Silicones are highly valued materials because they have a combination of physical properties not found in other polymers. They have outstanding heat stability and can be used in applications where organic materials would melt or decompose. Many silicones seem to be impervious to the effects of aging, weather, sunlight, moisture, heat, cold, and some chemical assaults. Some silicones are used to stick, bond, or couple things together - a glue, if you please.
Q. What is Silicon?
A. Silicon is found in our earth's crust and 40% of the consumption of silicon is for the production of Silicones.
Q. What about preservatives?
A. Preservative systems are recognized as safe and the only way to ensure that product stays in hygienic form during the duration of its' use. Preservatives work by consuming bacteria, viruses and yeast that are introduced into product during use. The efficacy of a preservative chemical is determined by the zone of inhibition, meaning fewer organisms survive in relation to the area where the chemical is placed in a petri dish and culture media.
Preservatives have been hotly debated, including the use of parabens, which are highly effective yet the cause of concern regarding bio-accumulation in breast tissue. This is why we use one of the only systems that is approved for use in the EU and Japan. The governing bodies for cosmetics in the EU and Japan exercise highly restrictive criteria, so we feel confident that the system we are using is safe, yet effective.
The percentage of preservative used in our formulations can be compared like this: 1:220, or the height of one cheesecake (preservative); to the height of 220 cheescakes stacked (the rest of the lotion). Ok, it's late and I am getting a bit slap happy. You can see the percentage is very low, and very safe.
Q. Is Muscle MD a better choice than other manufacturers muscle gels?
A. Yes. Other manufacturers products contain parabens and artificial color. Nutro Body Care Muscle MD does not contain parabens or artificial colors. The gelling agent in competitors products is most often carbomer, which is synthetic and made from acrylic polymers. There are strong concerns that carbomer bio-accumulates into tissue, and persists in the environment. Carbomer is not biodegradable. Muscle MD incorporates xanthan gum, a natural gellant used in food products. It is a non-toxic, biodegradable ingredient. Muscle MD does not contain artificial colors, or parabens. It contains Organic Essential Oil of Orange and Organic Sunflower Oil.
Q. Is Muscle MD for massage?
A. No. Muscle MD is a fast drying, non-staining, long lasting formula. It is meant to be applied gently and allowed to dry for several seconds.
Q. Is Muscle Pro Lotion meant for massage?
A. Yes. Muscle Pro Lotion has great glide and long lasting, penetrating relief for muscle aches and pains.
Q. What's in Muscle Pro?
A. Muscle Pro Lotion contains Organic Shea Butter, organic plant oils.