At Birch Babe, we value all of our inquisitive and informed customers and love getting your questions. We try to answer everyone personally, but since there are many amazing repeat inquiries, we’ve compiled them into this super fun and informative FAQ page!
How do I use a shampoo bar and does it really work?
Our Shampoo & Body Bars are so easy to use. Just wet your hair, rub the bar onto your scalp, and create a lather with your fingers! Rinse off all the suds, reapply if you like. I don't tend to do it; the lather is surprisingly thick and you will be amazed at how well it does cleaning your hair.
Shampoo bars are a great first step if you are interested in removing plastics from your daily routine. One shampoo bar can replace up to two bottles of regular shampoo.
To pair with the shampoo bar, we highly recommend our leave in conditioner. It’s specially formulated to balance your natural PH to 5.5, which is optimum. This will keep your hair shiny, bouncy and healthy.
Where do you get your Mica and is it ethically sourced?
Love this question! We take great pride in sharing that all of our Mica is sourced locally in North America. It’s true that many companies source Mica from environments that are not properly managed and labour laws are not optimum. It’s really important for us at Birch Babe that our products are all ethically sourced.
Do you ship your packages in an environmentally friendly way?
YES !!! We go the extra mile; we make sure to pack only with kraft paper and brown kraft packing tape. We even use compostable envelopes for our smaller shipments. Our labels are slowly being changed to recycled paper as well.
Do you have a Refund/Exchange Policy?
We stand behind all of our products. If you have an issue or just don’t like anything, then we will either exchange it or give you a credit on your next order.
Why clay masks? And why are yours different?
A clay mask is a great way to remove toxins from your skin, pull out dirt and impurities and give the skin a very deep clean.
Most clay masks on the market are premixed in jars. This is a huge microbial problem because clay is notoriously difficult to preserve as it attracts microorganisms when wet. There are no natural or naturally derived preservatives that can prevent the proliferation of microbes in a clay mask. That means that it has either been very heavily preserved with chemicals or, even scarier, not preserved at all. Either is not good to go on your delicate face.
Our clay masks come in a kit of Dry & Wet that make 10 masks. The Dry contains detoxifying ingredients like Seaweed, Activated Charcoal and Brazilian Clay. The Wet contains nourishing Rosewater, Witch Hazel, Lavender and Frankincense. Each time you create a mask, it’s fresh and safe for your skin.
Shampoo Bar VS “Syndet”?
Shampoo bars are a great and easy way to remove plastics from your bathroom. They are traditionally made when Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) is mixed with oils to saponify into a bar of soap that must be cured for 3-4 weeks. This is a true soap, made with time and integrity and the ONLY way that soap is made at Birch Babe.
A new, common form of bar on the market is made with compressed soap “noodles''. Beware, these bars are actually made from detergent and not actually soap. These bars can be used immediately and are not as hard or long lasting as the traditional form.
Brown Glass vs Clear Glass?
We often get asked about our containers and why every product is stored in dark glass. As much as clear glass looks very pretty and we would love to showcase our organic oils in them, we choose not to because essential oils should always be kept out of light. This will avoid deterioration and protect the aromatic and therapeutic properties of our oils. All of our products are in amber to keep out deteriorating sunlight.
How to correctly apply our All-Natural Mascara?
Our All-Natural Mascara is easy to apply. We have an in-depth video here, or follow these steps.
Step 1: Wet wand under tap or in a cute bowl.
Step 2: Roll wand over mascara cake until covered.
Step 3: Wipe off excess mascara on tin edge.
Step 4: Apply mascara to lashes with wand.
Step 5: Repeat depending on desired look.
Step 6: Wash wand after each use with soap & water to keep clean between uses.
Step 7: Conquer the day!
Why are Natural & Organic ingredients so important?
Our skin absorbs up to 60% of what we apply on it. That can be a good thing, if you’re mindful about what ingredients you’re putting on it. People suffer from severe skin infections because of the use of cosmetics that have a higher proportion of chemical constituents. Our products have NO chemicals so they are gentle and safe for the skin.
What is the best way to apply Face Serum?
Squeeze a few drops onto your fingers and gently pat onto face. Don’t rub it in, let the serum soak in naturally. Leave for a few minutes before applying moisturizer. Be careful to not touch the dropper tip, this can add contaminants into the serum.
Pro tip: make sure you squeeze the air out of the dropper before putting the dropper back into the bottle. Squeezing the dropper into the bottle mixes micro bubbles of oxygen-rich air into your serum which accelerates the oxidation process and reduces the potency of your face serum
What is PH and why is it important?
Keeping your sensitive skin in a range of 5-6 PH is optimum for skin health.
Make sure to wash your face with gentle cleansers like our Facial Bars, made from natural and plant-based ingredients
Skin issues like eczema, redness, dry patches, acne, oiliness, psoriasis, and premature signs of aging all indicate that your skin's pH is off-balance. That means your skin's barrier is damaged, and its exposure to the elements exacerbates everything from dry skin to clogged pores
A skin toner (link) can help neutralize any remaining alkalinity that’s adversely affecting your skin’s optimal pH levels.