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Frequently Asked Questions

General Info

Are your products cruelty-free?

Yes! Bee Naturals is committed to animal welfare and safety and never uses ingredients from sources that don’t demonstrate their commitment to animal welfare. We’re Leaping Bunny certified.

Are your products gluten-free?

Yes they are gluten-free. but not certified.

Obtaining the certification for this is a large expense that would drive up the cost of our products to an unacceptable level.
To keep our products at a reasonable price point, we have chosen not to gain the certification at this time.

Are your products organic?

We do not have a USDA Organic Certification at this time, as it would drastically increase our product pricing, and that is not something that we wish to do.
We are, however, cautious about where we source our ingredients from, and we do use many certified-organic ingredients.

Are your products vegan?

We use beeswax in many products, which is not considered Vegan, as it is naturally produced by bees.

Do your products contain chemicals?

The simple answer is yes. Our favorite saying is, “We formulate to offer you the best that science and nature have to offer.” We sometimes use ingredients that are compounded in a lab for reasons such as:

  • That it may be purer coming from a lab over what is found in nature.
  • Sometimes items found in nature will be contaminated with heavy metals but producing them in a lab will not contain these contaminants.
  • Ethical reasons
  • Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the human body. We use a synthesized hyaluronic instead for purity and it’s more ethical.
However, we AVOID the use of non-renewable petro-chemicals, such as mineral oil, etc.

Do your products contain preservatives?

The simple answer is yes. We primarily use paraben-free preservatives, such as phenoxyethanol in our water-containing products.

In our products that do not contain water, we will sometimes use natural rosemary oil extract to help prevent oxidation of the oils.

See our blog post about preservatives, here: https://www.beenaturals.com/preservatives-natural-skin-care/

Is there a Bee Naturals store I can visit?

Yes! We have two brick and mortar stores in Missouri

  • Clarksville
  • Maplewood (our Spa location)

Click HERE to see the locations, hours, and contact information.

The pump on my foaming bottle isn’t working

This does happen on occasion. Sometimes it is indicative of a faulty pump however the majority of the time it just means that there is a buildup of product stuck inside the pump. It’s very easy to clean it out, just follow these steps:

  1. Unscrew the lid and remove it from the bottle.
  2. Take the top portion and run it under warm water while upside down.
  3. Try pumping the top several times while under the water.
  4. Keep pumping until the water has been worked through the pump and is coming out of the other side (this means the blockage is cleared).
  5. After the blockage is cleared, dispel any water still left in the pump.
  6. Allow the lid to dry and screw it back into the bottle with the product.

What happens to my product if it’s after the BB (Best By) date?

The BB (or best by date) is a general indication of overall product performance expectations.
It is NOT an expiration date (like what you find on food or medicine). However, you may observe the following:

  • Viscosity or thickness can decrease over time
  • It does not mean that your product is no longer safe or fresh it is a suggestion based on the performance of the products over time.
  • Please keep in mind that the preservatives in our products, that contain water, do deteriorate over time, so we do not recommend keeping products such as those laying around for years after the BB date has passed.

Why are certain items sold in packs of multiples? Can I only order one?

Why are certain items only available in packs of multiples (2 or more)?
The answer is to cover the cost of shipping. Certain items will either be too heavy or too light in weight for us to be able to ship free of charge (in the U.S.).
For example:

*Item too light to ship*
Item
Bee Naturals Lip Gloss Stick
Individual Price
$3.98
Average Cost to Ship Individual
$4.00
Average Cost to Ship 3 of This Item
$4.00

*Item too heavy to ship*
Item
Whitening Pre-Brush Oral Rinse
Individual Price
$16.98
Average Cost to Ship
$8.50
Average Cost to Ship 2 of This Item
$9.00

Why do your products smell like chemicals sometimes?

Some of our products can be off-putting because of the smell. It’s a little-known fact that many skincare companies will use ingredients to cover, or mask, the smell of the main ingredients in their products. It’s just because no one likes the smell of chemicals, and really why would they? It’s not a pleasant smell.

Unfortunately, many of the ingredients that are placed there in order to mask the smell are going to be either a chemical sunscreen… or a fragrance. Both of which are common skin-aggravating ingredients that don’t react well to individuals with sensitive skin issues. Ninety percent (possibly more) of our customer base come to us because of these sensitive skin issues. This makes sense because that’s why our company is here, to provide alternative solutions to those that haven’t found relief anywhere else.

We don’t mask the smell of our products because we want to make them as safe for sensitive skin as we can. We also hold the firm belief that all ingredients in our products should have a purpose that is beneficial to the skin and body. So while you might find certain ingredients are binding agents, or preservatives, or even some fragrances made with essential oils, you won’t find an ingredient that serves an arbitrary purpose (like covering up the smell of the other ingredients).

 

Why does my product containing essential oils smell differently than the last time I purchased it?

Natural essential oils are variable crops that can differ each season.

  • Synthetic fragrances are consistent 100% of the time in each batch
  • The products that we use the natural essential oils can have a noticeable difference in the smell.
  • This DOES NOT effect the performance of the product in any way

Why is my product in a different bottle than what’s been pictured?

There are a variety of reasons that this could have happened and we do apologize for any inconvenience that it may cause you. Possible reasons could be:

Reason #1:

Covid-19 has affected a great many things including our ability to purchase the supplies needed to make and package our products. Pump bottles for instance were completely sold out for a long period of time. So items such as our hand sanitizer had to go in flip-top lids instead of the pump.

Reason #2:

Sometimes we receive many customer requests to change certain products’ packaging to make it easier and more convenient. We try to comply with that demand. However, it is not always the case that our images on our website get updated in time for the changeover. This is a situation that we are striving to correct.

Reason #3:

Again a supply issue if our supplier runs out or a shipment is delayed in getting to us. There are many times that we run out of a specific bottle and must use something that we have on hand that is similar. Rest assured that the packaging, in this case, will go back to the normal packaging as soon as possible.

Why is the color different in my product?

We manufacture in small batches of 5 gallons or less.

  • It is difficult to obtain the same color when doing small batches as we do versus the larger manufacturers who may do 50 thousand gallons or more at a time.
  • Some, particularly natural ingredients, darken over time with exposure to light.
  • This DOES NOT effect their performance.
  • For example, our liquid honey skin cleanser and our baby wash are prime examples of how color changes due to the exposure of light.
  • Some companies use a chemical sunscreen to stop their products from changing colors – we do not.

Ingredients

Are your products vegan?

We use beeswax in many products, which is not considered Vegan, as it is naturally produced by bees.

Do your products contain chemicals?

The simple answer is yes. Our favorite saying is, “We formulate to offer you the best that science and nature have to offer.”

We sometimes use ingredients that are compounded in a lab for reasons such as:

  • That it may be purer coming from a lab over what is found in nature.
  • Sometimes items found in nature will be contaminated with heavy metals but producing them in a lab will not contain these contaminants.
  • Ethical reasons
  • Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the human body. We use a synthesized hyaluronic instead for purity and it’s more ethical.

However, we AVOID the use of non-renewable petro-chemicals, such as mineral oil, etc.

Do your products contain preservatives?

The simple answer is yes. We primarily use paraben-free preservatives, such as phenoxyethanol in our water-containing products.

In our products that do not contain water, we will sometimes use natural rosemary oil extract to help prevent oxidation of the oils.

See our blog post about preservatives, here: https://www.beenaturals.com/preservatives-natural-skin-care/

My CC serum is green/brown this time. What changed?

What you’re seeing is Chlorophyllin. It starts out as a green color and then (because it is photosensitive) fades to a more brownish color over time. The more green your serum is, the more recently that it’s been made.

What are brown, yellow, and red natural oxides?

The brown, yellow, and red natural oxides are the powdered pigments used to produce the tint in the Tinted Facial Primer.

Natural Iron Oxides are pigments that range from rich red-brown to dark red-violet and have a very high iron oxide content making them both high tinting and opaque.

What are the main ingredients in your products and what do they do?

At Bee Naturals we believe in providing the best that both science and nature have to offer. A full list of our ingredients can be found by clicking HERE.

Our most common ingredients and their usefulness are:

  • Unbleached Beeswax contains honey, a natural moisturizer ( or “humectant”), trace minerals, propolis (a natural antiseptic), and provides a superior, natural protective barrier. It bonds with surface skin cells, but does not clog pores.
  • Olive Oil is rich in squalene, a skin conditioner. It’s also a good moisturizer because it attracts moisture to the skin, and a rich emollient, well-absorbed by skin.
  • Coconut Oil is an extra-lubricating emollient readily absorbed by the skin.
  • Refined, Non-toxic Castorbean Oil, a rich emollient and humectant oil, conditions skin and hair.
  • Vitamin E (also called d-alpha or tocopheryl acetate) is a natural antioxidant which soothes and heals, and aids in the formation of skin cells. It also prevents rancidity of oils to help maintain freshness.
  • Wheat Germ Oil is rich in Vitamin E and other vitamins such as Provitamin A, Vitamin F and lecithin, and it promotes healthy skin.
  • Essential Herbal Oils – In particular, Lavender and Rosemary act as mild antiseptics, soothing and stimulating the skin. They also provide a pleasant non-synthetic fragrance.

What is Phenoxyethanol? What does it do?

Phenoxyethanol can be a bit of a controversial topic. It is found in nature specifically in things like green tea and chicory. However, for cosmetic use, we use a synthetic version. Its use is meant as a stabilizer and as a preservative to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in water-based substances.

In very large concentrations, studies have found it to be an irritant and should definitely not be ingested by children or infants as it can cause serious problems. Of course, if you have an allergy or sensitivity to it you should also refrain from usage.

For cosmetic purposes in our products, it is used in concentrations of 1% or less which is deemed as safe according to this report as published by the Journal of the American College of Toxicology (Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenoxyethanol) which can also be found by going to Cosmetic Ingredient Review.

We also recommend reading these articles as well:

Fluerandbee- What is Phenoxyethanol in Skin Care? Is it Safe?

Healthline- Is Phenoxyethanol in Cosmetics Safe?

Byrdie- Phenoxyethanol for Skin: Benefits and How to Use

EWG’s Skin Deep- Phenoxyethanol

What is Sodium Benzoate and why do some of your products contain it?

Sodium Benzoate used in small amounts can be a great preservative as it is very effective at prohibiting spoilage in certain non acidic formulas and products.

It is commonly used in the food industry and generally regarded as safe. It occurs naturally in many foods that we eat.

Bee Naturals does NOT include it in any acidic formula or products so there is no potential for it converting into benzene.

Here are some great articles about Sodium Benzoate that we encourage you to read up on:

What’s the SPF in Tinted Facial Primer 25% Zinc Oxide?

25% level of zinc oxide is thought to provide sun protection equivalent to an SPF rating of 25-30.

We do not list this on the label because our product is not an FDA OTC product with a lab tested SPF rating.

Here are some great articles to read so that you may form your own personal decision about sunscreen and protection:

Where is your coconut soap oil sourced from? Is it organic? Non-GMO?

  • The coconut soap oil that we use in our products is made to our exacting specifications by a 3rd generation soap-maker in St. Louis in 50-gallon batches. 
  • It does not meet organic specifications simply because coconut oil is not particularly prone to contamination with pesticides. (Yes, there is organic certified coconut oil, but it costs twice what our grade costs and was deemed not an expense that most of our customers want to bear.)
  • It is, however, Kosher and food-grade coconut oil. 
  • This is a non-GMO product.  

Why do your products smell like chemicals sometimes?

Some of our products can be off-putting because of the smell. It’s a little-known fact that many skincare companies will use ingredients to cover, or mask, the smell of the main ingredients in their products. It’s just because no one likes the smell of chemicals, and really why would they? It’s not a pleasant smell.

Unfortunately, many of the ingredients that are placed there in order to mask the smell are going to be either a chemical sunscreen… or a fragrance. Both of which are common skin-aggravating ingredients that don’t react well to individuals with sensitive skin issues. Ninety percent (possibly more) of our customer base come to us because of these sensitive skin issues. This makes sense because that’s why our company is here, to provide alternative solutions to those that haven’t found relief anywhere else.

We don’t mask the smell of our products because we want to make them as safe for sensitive skin as we can. We also hold the firm belief that all ingredients in our products should have a purpose that is beneficial to the skin and body. So while you might find certain ingredients are binding agents, or preservatives, or even some fragrances made with essential oils, you won’t find an ingredient that serves an arbitrary purpose (like covering up the smell of the other ingredients).

Why is there Potassium Sorbate or Sorbic Acid in my product?

Both of these items are closely related and work well as preservatives because they help to prevent spoilage in our products.
They are considered generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for food use by the FDA.

You will likely consume more of these items in a day from your food and beverage that you’d absorb topically through your skin in a month.

Membership & Loyalty

After purchasing a Beauty Club Membership how/when do you get the promised Bonus Points?

Members who purchase one of our Beauty Club Memberships are eligible to receive bonus points worth either $50 or $100 (depending on which membership was purchased).Bonus points will be issued via email the following Tuesday after the initial purchase has been made. The email will include each members individual point value that is available to them. Bonus points will still be issued on that day regardless of whether or not the email was received or opened. The email is only meant as a notification tool. All other perks (besides bonus points) will be made available to each new member by the next available business day after the initial purchase is made.

Product Info

Does your Insect Repellent keep bees and other stinging insects away?

No, it is formulated to deter gnats and mosquitos.

How do I get the Skin Creme bar out of the container?

  • Make sure the bar is a cool room-temperature.
  • Remove the lid.
  • You should be able to twist and pop the bar out of the container.
  • You can also “slap” it face down on a firm surface to remove the bar.

My CC serum is green/brown this time. What changed?

What you’re seeing is Chlorophyllin. It starts out as a green color and then (because it is photosensitive) fades to a more brownish color over time. The more green your serum is, the more recently that it’s been made.

What are brown, yellow, and red natural oxides?

The brown, yellow, and red natural oxides are the powdered pigments used to produce the tint in the Tinted Facial Primer.
Natural Iron Oxides are pigments that range from rich red-brown to dark red-violet and have a very high iron oxide content making them both high tinting and opaque.

What is the Peeper Keeper Eye Balm and what does it do?

Peeper Keeper is our most popular product and has the added bonus of being multifunctional.

  • Use in areas around eyes that are prone to dryness and fine lines.
  • Can be used to sooth chapped skin such as lips and noses.
  • Use as a conditioner to groom eyebrows.
  • Massage into cuticles for conditioning.
  • It is a balm, not a cream, and is super concentrated, so very little is needed for all uses.

What’s the difference between Men’s Peeper Keeper and the other Peeper Keepers?

That’s a great question! Thank you so much for taking the time to ask us. The difference between the other Peeper Keepers and the men’s Peeper Keeper is mostly in the peptides. Peptides help to stimulate and renew collagen, smooth wrinkles, improve texture, and strengthen the durability of your skin. We recommend this creme for men’s skin because the structure of a man’s skin is different from a female’s. Because it is usually thicker, men often need products with ingredients that can easily penetrate deeper than women typically do. Does that mean that women cannot use this product? No. It just means that of all of our eye products, this is one that we would recommend for men to use. This is a great article of ours that explains the difference between male and female skin https://www.beenaturals.com/skincare-for-men-what-you-need-to-know/ 

If you have particularly dark circles in your under eye or you want an under-eye cream that is more anti-aging than the Peeper Keeper Riche (Which has 1 poly peptide in it) then I would recommend using the Mens’ Peeper Keeper product.

What’s the SPF in Tinted Facial Primer 25% Zinc Oxide?

25% level of zinc oxide is thought to provide sun protection equivalent to an SPF rating of 25-30.

We do not list this on the label because our product is not an FDA OTC product with a lab tested SPF rating.

Here are some great articles to read so that you may form your own personal decision about sunscreen and protection:

Product Use

Can I use your Insect Repellent on my toddler?

Although this is a pesticide-free product, (no DEET or pyrethrins), young children can be particularly sensitive to essential oils, especially if they have asthma, allergies or other respiratory conditions. Therefore, we recommend you consult with your child’s pediatrician for their approval prior to using it on a young child.

Purchasing

Do you sell products wholesale?

Yes! Please click here for more information regarding an application and order minimums.

Reactions and Allergies

My skin had a reaction to a product – what do I do?

If you think you are having any kind of reaction to one of our products, please discontinue use immediately and contact your healthcare provider if it is an emergency.

In non-emergency cases, contact us and perhaps we can help

See also our Returns Policy and our Product Use and Guidelines.

Rewards and Gift Cards

Can I use my website Bee Rewards points at your retail store?

At this time we are unable to transfer Bee Rewards points from our website for use in one of our two retail stores.

I just placed my order but forgot to use my discount. Can I still use it?

Unfortunately we cannot process a discount on a completed order, but depending on your coupon details and the expiration you may be able to use it on your next order.

Why isn’t my retail gift card/discount/promo working on your website?

The retail stores and our website run on two different systems and unfortunately, at this time, any gift cards/discounts/promos offered in our retail locations are not useable on our online store.

The same goes for anything being promoted or bought on our online store – it is not transferable to our retail brick and mortar locations.

If you’d like to purchase a gift card for our Spa location in Maplewood you can find the contact information HERE. They are able to to do this process over the phone and is an easy way to give a special treat a friend or loved one that lives in the area if you do not.

Shipping and Returns

Do you ship to international addresses outside the US?

Yes! we do offer international shipping. See our International shipping policy HERE.

Please note that Bee Naturals is not liable for recovery of undelivered or lost international orders unless purchaser opts to insure their order.  We have no control over international orders once they leave the U.S. Postal system.

What is your return policy for online orders?

Our goal is to make sure our customers are happy with their purchases so we ask that you contact us via our help desk. You may also call our corporate office during business hours at 1-242-3475.

Click here for our full return policy.

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