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Allergies Guide

Essential Oils are very potent and can irritate the skin if used incorrectly, so they need to be used with care and within certain limits.
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Do you have known allergies to cosmetic ingredients, or are you concerned about possible allergic reactions?

The Golden Rules to avoiding an allergic reaction

Essential oils are fabulous botanical ingredients to use in your skincare products adding benefits for the skin and wonderful aromas. They are very potent and can irritate the skin if used incorrectly, so need to be used with care and within certain limits. Most people have no idea that you can only add 0.02% of Rose oil to moisturisers! This guide should help you add them to your formulations safely and compliantly.

Essential Oils Dermal Limits

  • Never use undiluted essential oils on the skin
  • Maximum 5% Inclusion (Normally 0.1-3%)
  • Body – 3% Maximum
  • Haircare – 2% Maximum
  • Face – 1% Maximum
  • Lips – 0.5% Maximum
  • Eye Area – 0.1% Maximum
  • Lower levels for ‘leave on’ products (e.g. moiturisers) than for ‘rinse off’ products (e.g. shower gel)
  • Use lower percentages for children, during pregnancy and for anyone with compromised skin
  • Hydrosols can be useful alternatives to essential oils when formulating

 

Adverse Skin Reactions

Irritation – This is caused by the chemical compound reacting when it comes into contact with the skin and the reaction happens quickly. The severity of the reaction increases with increased concentrations of the irritant. Commonly it can cause itching, redness and rashes.

Sensitisation – This type of reaction generally builds up over time (although it can happen on a first use) and tends to get worse with each exposure. It is a type of allergy caused when your immune system reacts to the substance and becomes inflamed.

Phototoxicity – Mainly caused by essential oils containing furanocoumarins which are most commonly found in citrus oils. They cause the skin to react much more fiercely to sunlight which can result in reddening, blistering and even permanent damage. Safe citrus oils are our expressed mandarin, sweet orange and tangerine as well as our Bergamot FCF

Allergens Limits

Here in the EU, there are very strict limits on the levels of allergenic compounds in cosmetics. The guidelines are set by IFRA and can be found HERE. There are 26 of sensitisers all together of which 16 occur naturally in essential oils. Each sensitiser has its own limit and this varies depending on the application. For all 16, they must be declared on the ingredients list if the exceed 0.001% for leave-on products or 0.01% for rinse off products. You can find our table of sensitiser limits and a step by step guide to calculating the percentage HERE

Really friendly and helpful

Really friendly and helpful. I’m so pleased to have found a new supplier that I really feel I can trust. Thoroughly enjoying my essential oils and butters and will definitely return for more. Looking forward to seeing more functional ingredients available. Thank you

Jamie Oils
Trust Pilot

“…the price was competitive.”

I am an aromatherapist with nearly 30 years experience. I was very pleasantly surprised with the Organic Roman Chamomile essential oil I received. Stunning. I have used the same organic essential oil shop for 25 years. I am so pleased I found this shop and the price was competitive.

Fiona Elliott Dixon
Google

“Fast delivery. Great purchase”

Thank you, lovely strong lavender oil, great for helping sleep. Fast delivery. Great purchase.

Anon
Ebay

“Will definitely order from here again.”

I couldn’t find Calendula oil anywhere and wanted this for a new blend following an aromatherapy course. I thought the price was very reasonable and it’s lovely to use, it also arrived really quickly so could get started earlier than I thought. Will definitely order from here again.

Anon
Ebay

Recommended for sensative skin

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Whilst the cosmetics industry itself is now highly regulated with all personal care products requiring safety assessments and registration before being put on sale, the ingredients industry is much less regulated. There are many ‘kitchen sink’ operators out there and it can be hard to tell who is who. We believe in promoting the reputation of the industry and, as an ethical company with quality a top priority, we promise to:

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When I started Cosmetics Made Easy, a key core value for me was to ensure that we treated all those working for us, employed or as contractors, fairly and with respect. Not only is it simply the right thing to do, it also recognises how valuable staff are to a company, possibly our biggest asset.

Becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer made perfect sense. Whilst the government have made steps in recent years to raise the minimum wage and create a National Living Wage (for over 25s), these figures still don’t account for the real cost of living, the higher cost of living in London or for those aged 18-25 who still have the same living costs as those over 25. I simply don’t think that is fair or good for our country.

As a living wage employer, Cosmetics Made Easy voluntarily pays the Real Living Wage to all workers over 18. This rate is independently calculated based on the real cost of making ends meet. We believe this is better for workers, better for us as an employer (happy workers are productive & effective workers) and better for society.

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We value our local community and truly believe that by helping each other, life gets better for us all. We are fortunate to have some fabulous, independent businesses on our doorstep and we try to work together in as many ways as we can. We are proud that The Apothecary, Cardiff, was our first local stockist and it gives us a good excuse to pop in for a cup of tea and delicious slice of Michele’s indulgent cake!

Our local businesses work together to create community events like the Meidrim market for village businesses, and supporting fundraising for the village park which is entirely funded by the people of the village.

We love those occasions, but it’s the small, daily acts like picking up a piece of rubbish, taking in a parcel for a neighbour or simply taking the time to say hello and share some news that really bring us together as a community.

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Where goods do come from abroad, we make efforts to ensure that the workers producing the items are well treated & paid a fair wage for their locality. By working with cooperatives, we can be sure that funds go directly to the workers and back into local communities. Visit our Blog to hear their stories.

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Something not up to scratch? Did we make a mistake?

We do our very best to make sure the correct goods arrive in perfect condition every time.

That said, we are human and so are our postal services and sometimes things don’t quite go to plan.

If your goods arrive and there is a mistake on your order, an item has been damaged in transit, or for some reason you feel the quality is less than we advertised, then rest assured we will put it right. Within 7 days of delivery, let us know the problem Simply email Customer services (help@cosmeticsmadeeasy.co.uk).

To help us deal with your query quickly, please include your order number, the difficulty you are reporting, a photo of the damaged/incorrect item and if you have a preference for how we can resolve things for you.

We will deal with your query within 8 working hours* and let you know how we are going to put it right to your full satisfaction.

If we ask you to return an item then we will cover the full cost of return postage.

Just in case you changed your mind……

We all have a change of heart sometimes, and that’s not a problem when it comes to your order with Cosmetic Made Easy.

If for any reason you want to cancel your order or return your goods then we will honour that request for 28 Days after you place your order.

If you cancel your order (or any item on it) before it is shipped, then we will simply refund you in full.
Orders cancelled after shipping, or unwanted goods must be returned in their original unopened condition.

On receipt we will refund you the cost of you order less the original delivery charge (if delivery was free we will deduct the actual cost of shipping your parcel).

We do not cover the cost of return postage for unwanted items. To arrange a return please email Customer Services (help@cosmeticsmadeeasy.co.uk).

Please include your order number and details of the items you wish to return. We will respond to your enquiry within 8 working hours*.


When your parcel is received we will process the return and issue any refund within 8 working hours*.

We will always honour your statutory rights on all orders.

*Our working hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm (Excluding UK Bank holidays)

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These terms and conditions apply to the use of the Cosmetics Made Easy website (cosmeticsmadeeasy.com. cosmeticsmadeeasy.co.uk, cosmeticsmadeeasy.net, cosmeticsmadeeasy.org, cosmeticsmadeeasy.info) and to all online orders placed with Cosmetics Made Easy.

By using the website and/or placing an order, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Cosmetics Made Easy is owned and managed by Elizabeth Oatley. It is a family run business based in Carmarthen, Wales, UK. We always aim to provide a pleasurable shopping experience and leave you fully satisfied with the service, products and information you receive.

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We disclaim all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, in relation to the products or information on this website, to the fullest extent permissible under law.

Cosmetics Made Easy makes every effort to ensure that information published on this website is accurate and submits that, to the best of its knowledge, all information is accurate at the time of publication. The information is intended as guidance only for using the products we supply and we make no warranties, express or implied, in relation to is accuracy. Individuals must exercise their own judgement in ascertaining the suitability of a product or information for a particular application.

Products should be thoroughly tested before use to ascertain their suitability for purpose by the individual we strongly recommend laboratory safety or challenge testing prior to commercial product runs.

Cosmetics Made Easy cannot accept any liability in this regard. The liability of Cosmetics Made Easy is limited to the value of the goods and does not include any consequential loss. Cosmetics Made Easy will not be liable for any incidental, consequential, or indirect damages (including, but not limited to), damages for loss of profits, business interruption arising out of the use of or inability to use our products and/or information, or as a result of a delay in providing our products and/or information.

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Cosmetics Made Easy do not accept liability for labels printed by customers using information on the website. Details for labelling should always be confirmed by referencing the actual product received.

The information published by Cosmetics Made Easy is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you are suffering from a medical condition, are concerned about your health or are considering changing prescribed medication/treatment, please consult your GP, qualified Aromatherapist, Medical Herbalist or other qualified health practitioner. Particular care should be taken by pregnant women, the elderly, those with skin sensitivities and those with medical conditions. Any side effects should be reported to a qualified health care practitioner.

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Cosmetics Made Easy is registered for UK VAT. Prices are displayed in UK Sterling (£ GBP) including

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For the convenience of our overseas customers, prices can be displayed in other currencies. The conversion displayed is based on live rates supplied by the industry and are subject to change. When your transaction is processed, your payment will be in GBP and converted to your currency by your card issuer/paypal. This conversion may differ to the estimate displayed on our site.

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Orders received before 1pm will be shipped the same working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK Bank Holidays). We will be on touch if there is an unexpected delay. Orders will be sent using the shipping method selected at checkout. Orders will not be shipped before payment is received

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All orders are subject to acceptance. We reserve the right to refuse to process a transaction for any reason, or to refuse to service anyone, at any time, in our sole discretion. We will not be liable to you or any third party for withdrawing and product from sale, refusing to process a transaction or unwinding or suspending a transaction after processing has begun.

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We offer a no quibble, 28 day refund or replace service for any goods that you do not consider to meet the standards advertised or in case you simply change your mind. We do not charge any restocking or handling fees.

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We guarantee to resolve any errors we have made in connection to your order, and to rectify any damages or faulty goods.

Please carefully check your order on delivery as shortages, damages or faults must be reported within 7 days of receipt. Please send all requests to customerservices@cosmeticsmadeeasy.com including your order number, the difficulty you are reporting, a photo of the damaged/incorrect item and any preference for how we can resolve things for you.

If we require you to return damaged, faulty or incorrect goods, we will provide you with a return address and cover the cost of return postage. We will not refund postage costs for goods returned without arrangement.

We operate in accordance with The Consumer Rights Act 2015 which says goods must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. During the expected lifespan of your product you are entitled to:

  • Within 30 Days – A refund or replacement
  • Up to 6 Months – A replacement or repair (refund if not available)
  • Up to 5 years – a partial refund if the goods do not last a reasonable amount of time

Cancellations and Returns

Orders can be cancelled or goods returned within 28 days If you cancel your order (or any item on it) before it is shipped, we will refund you in full. Orders cancelled after shipping or unwanted goods must be returned in their original unopened condition. On receipt, we will refund you the cost of you order less the original delivery charge (if delivery was free we will deduct the actual cost of shipping your parcel). We do not cover the cost of return postage for unwanted items. To arrange a return please email Customer Services (customerservices@cosmeticsmadeeasy.com) including your order number and details of the items you wish to return. Refunds will be processed on receipt of the returned goods.

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In the unlikely event that your product does not arrive in the expected timescale, please contact us (customerservices@cosmeticsmadeeasy.com). In the UK please allow 7 working days following dispatch, for the EU 10 working days, for the rest of the world 14 working days. If you have chosen to use a ‘safe place’ for delivery, we do not accept any liability for items that are missing or damaged.

Returned Parcels

If your parcel is returned to us through no fault of our own, we may charge you for redelivery costs. Help to prevent returns by checking your details are correct when ordering and checking at your Royal Mail local pick up point for your parcel even if you have not received an attempted delivery card.

Privacy & Security

We do not rent, sell, share or by any other method give your email address to any third parties. As a customer of Cosmetics Made Easy, or by submitting your details to us, you will receive only information pertaining to Cosmetics Made Easy and will not be put on a general sales list. We will not make your personal details available outside of our organisation without your consent, unless obliged to by law.

The security and privacy of all our customers’ data is taken very seriously. Our website uses an SSL certificate to safeguard your data, and payment card details are not stored.

Mailing List

By subscribing to our newsletter, or registering for an account, you agree to receive emails with information from Cosmetics Made Easy which may include special offers and promotional material.

To opt out of these mailings, simply click ‘unsubscribe’ from inside an email, or inform us on customerservices@cosmeticsmadeeasy.com

Whole Agreement

Nothing in our Terms & Conditions shall exclude or limit our liability for death or personal injury resulting from the use of our products. Nor shall it exclude our liability in respect of any fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation. These terms and conditions do not affect your statutory rights If any part of the conditions is found to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision will be severable from the rest of the Terms & Conditions and will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions of the conditions.

The conditions shall be governed in accordance with the laws of Wales, and you irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of Wales.

We always try and resolve any difficulty or dispute to your satisfaction through direct communication. You are always welcome to contact us for any reason.

Email: customerservices@cosmeticsmadeeasy.com

Office Address: 37 Parc Aberaman, Aberaman, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF44 6EY

Proprietor: Elizabeth Oatley

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