Why are there little white specks in my Organic Nipple Butter, Organic Diaper Balm or Organic Perineal Balm?
Those pearl-like bits are just natural plant butters, which solidify when they get cold. Warm the balm gently between your fingers and the bits will melt and be as effective as ever! Products made with natural ingredients may vary in appearance.
Help! My baby ate some Organic Diaper Balm!
We receive the “My baby ate some Organic Diaper Balm” call from mamas so often it has its own code: Balm911. And we always say the same thing, “We’re not worried.” Read why here.
Do I need to wash the Organic Nipple Butter off my breasts before breastfeeding my baby?
No, it's safe for both you and your angel baby!
Are all of your products really organic?
Many products claim to be natural or organic, but how can you be sure? Here at Earth Mama we disclose all ingredients on each product page so you know exactly what is in each product. You can also check our labels for the organic certifier (Oregon Tilth or OTCO) for extra assurance. Read more here!
But what does "organic" really mean?
It means that the plant was grown with respect for the earth, the soil, the farmer and you, the consumer. Certified organic farms adhere to strict standards, growing crops without the use of harmful pesticides or the usual dose of toxic chemical fertilizers. Manufacturers of certified organic products have to undertake a monumental process that assures consumers of the purity of each ingredient, process and final product, through every stage of manufacture.
Why aren't ALL of your ingredients organic?
Simply put, some ingredients just don't exist (like water or salt) in an organic form, and some ingredients are not available certified organic.
Why are some of your products Non-GMO Verified?
Mamas want to know exactly what’s in the food and products they buy. We support that completely, so we’ve sent products to be third party verified for GMOs. We do this to assure consumers, even though we are confident that our products are GMO-free because if it's certified organic you know you are avoiding GMOs: "The USDA National Organic Standards prohibit the use of GMOs in the all label categories (“100% organic”, “organic”, and “made with organic ingredients”)." We know it's confusing, so a growing list of Earth Mama's certified organic products carry the Non-GMO Product Verified label too, for extra assurance! Read more about GMOs here!
Do you use artificial fragrance, SLS, parabens, or synthetic preservatives?
No, and we never have. Read more about fragrance here!
Are Earth Mama products cruelty-free?
None of our products or individual ingredients is tested on animals.
Should I be worried about using that stuff?
There are a lot of concerns about some of the ingredients commonly used in personal care products. Earth Mama never wants you to have to worry about those things, so we worked very hard to formulate the safest products for mamas and babies. All Earth Mama products are free from toxins and any worrisome ingredients, like artificial preservatives, fragrance, surfactants, emulsifiers, sulfates, parabens, antibacterial chemicals, nut oils and lanolin too.
Wait, lanolin? What’s wrong with that?
Some mamas have concerns about wool allergies and pesticide exposure with lanolin, and we strive to make sure Earth Mama products are as worry-free as possible.
I don’t want to use triclosan, but does organic castile soap kill germs?
You bet! We have the test results right here!
If you don't use synthetic preservatives, what do you use to preserve your products to make sure they are safe and free of bacteria and mold?
Earth Mama’s salves and oils do not contain water so they don't need a preservative to keep them fresh and free from bacteria and mold. Lotions, on the other hand (or knee, or elbow), are made by emulsifying (blending) oils and water. And because of their rich, organic and natural ingredients, they can become a perfect medium for nasty bacteria or mold. To combat that, our 100% organic preservative system is a certified organic alcohol extract of healing and moisturizing organic herbs. Beneficial to you, and safely preserved too!
Where is the expiration date on Earth Mama products?
We have two code systems in use. One is a code that is our Sell By/Best By date as well as our batch and lot code. You will find a printed number that looks like this: 202009. In that example, 2020 is the year and 09, September is the month by when the product is guaranteed to be at its best. The other is a simple code that lists the date by which the product is guaranteed to be at its best, like this: Best By MAR1020.
I have an expired product - will it hurt me, or my baby?
The Best By date on all of our products is a freshness guide for our resellers and customers, but this isn't an expiration date. To be sure of the quality of our products we keep a sample from each batch of each product we make. Some products in this sample inventory are over five years old and are still just fine! That said, you should always use your own best judgment, if it smells "off," don't use it. You can extend the life of oils and salves by making certain they stay cool and out of direct sunlight.
I need to know if your products will irritate my or my baby's allergies.
You are the best judge of what is safe for you and your baby. You know your body best. Please look at the ingredients lists to see if any of your known allergens are in our products. If you have specific questions or concerns about product safety, allergies or ingredients, it is always best to consult with your Midwife or Naturopathic Doctor or another trusted healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about the use of herbs during pregnancy and when breastfeeding a baby.
Great! I want to place an order. How long will my order take to arrive?
Please see our Shipping Information page. If it doesn't tell you everything you need to know, you'll find a list of mamas you can email with questions.
Do any stores near me carry Earth Mama products?
We hope so! Please check our online Store Locator to find stores in the US and Canada.
Why do you use plastic bottles and jars? Why don't you use glass bottles and jars?
The plastic BPA-free PET bottles and jars we use are the safest containers for both our products and our customers. Our containers are colored to keep out harmful UV rays. The PET we use is the most readily recyclable and the safest plastic manufactured. We’ve asked our trusted expert at The Soft Landing to weigh in on our use of PET: “In some cases, PET makes an excellent alternative to glass. PET bottles and jars not only weigh less and recycle well, they provide a necessary measure of safety for products that are carried in diaper bags and stored around the bathtub. PET has been shown to store skincare products containing essential oils remarkably well because it has a high permeability resistance rating. This is necessary because essential oils are powerful substances with a myriad of properties and potencies. When mixed with a carrier (lotion, oil, balm or salve), the essential oil's potency is diluted. While the essential oil’s capacity to infuse the lotion with aroma and herbal attributes is not diminished, its capacity to damage plastic is.”
Earth Mama products were originally packaged in glass, until we got reports of breakage, and found out a woman was cut opening a jar of Organic Nipple Butter that had broken in transit. The last thing we want to do is hurt a mama with sore nipples! And we know how containers can end up bumping and slipping around changing tables and bathrooms, and can end up in little mouths too, so we choose to package our products in tumble and teething resistant plastic jars. Our opinion is that glass presents a much bigger safety concern than plastic. And as always, we're looking for the safest, purest way to keep mamas and babies happy!
I still have half a jar of Organic Nipple Butter left! What else can I use it for?
Lots of Earth Mama products have alternate, “off the box” uses, read more here!