Frequently Asked Questions

MSE FAQ’S

What We Mean When We Say, "Clean”:

When we use the term, clean, we mean our products will never contain the following ingredients commonly used in skincare and cosmetics due to the potential to cause health problems:

BHA-BHT, MINERAL OIL, RETINYL PALMITATE, COAL TAR DYES, OXYBENZONE, SILOXANES, DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA), PARABENS,  SODIUM LAURETH SULPHATE, FORMALDEHYDE, PEG COMPOUNDS, SULFATES, FORMALDEHYDE RELEASORS, PETROLATUM, TALC, HYDROQUINONE, PHTHALATES, TRICLOSAN.

 

Do your products contain sunscreen?

No. Sunscreen is considered an over-the-counter drug by the FDA and using it in our formulations would mean two things we don’t want:

  1. Our products would qualify as pharmaceuticals.  
  2. Since sunscreen is made from 100% synthetic chemicals, using sunscreen in our products would also mean we cannot honestly claim that our products are free from toxic ingredients. 

In addition to this claim, we don’t use sunscreen to avoid the possibility of toxins being absorbed into your bloodstream. To illustrate that possibility, read this from the FDA’s website:

"Although the protective action of sunscreen products takes place on the surface of the skin, there is evidence that at least some sunscreen active ingredients may be absorbed through the skin and enter the body. This makes it important to perform studies to determine whether, and to what extent, use of sunscreen products as directed may result in unintended, chronic, systemic exposure to sunscreen active ingredients." Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun

 

Is it true that certain fruit or vegetable oils contain a natural sunscreen that offers protection against UVA and UVB rays?

No. Many vendors of “all-natural” products make the claim that their products provide a natural SPF, which is terribly misleading and can cause great harm to someone who uses the product in good faith with the assumption they will be protected in the sun, and instead incur a sunburn or worse. Common claims of this type state that Red Raspberry Oil and Carrot Seed Oil contain high amounts of natural sunscreen and using products that contain these oils will protect your skin from ultraviolet rays, but this is untrue.

The National Library of Medicine clearly states the following:

"Some vegetable oils are currently being promoted as a safe alternative to commercial sunscreens. The true UVB photo-protective efficacy of 14 virgin vegetable oils and the suitability of the dilution method for determining their SPF value were evaluated. Oils and standard sunscreens were investigated in vitro by the Mansur's method in Slovakia and in vivo by the ISO method in the Czech Republic. SPF values in vitro (0.1; 0.0; 0.4; 0.2 and 0.2) and in vivo (2.5; 1.2; 2.6; 2.6; and 2.8) of the five most promoted oils (from carrot seed, coconut, raspberry seed, rose hip seed, and wheat germ) were significantly lower than the values reported in the controversial studies. We have shown that the overestimated SPF values of these oils were determined by authors who did not strictly follow Mansur's original methodology. The other eight vegetable oils also provide no or negligible SPF values… this dilution method has proven to be fundamentally flawed in determining the SPF value of substances with such negligible photo-protection as most vegetable oils can provide." Ácsová A, Hojerová J, Janotková L, Bendová H, Jedličková L, Hamranová V, Martiniaková S. The real UVB photoprotective efficacy of vegetable oils: in vitro and in vivo studies. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2021 Jan;20(1):139-151. doi: 10.1007/s43630-020-00009-3. Epub 2021 Jan 19. PMID: 33721242.

Where are Magnolia Skin Essentials’ products manufactured?

Our products are made in the USA.

Do your products have expiration dates?

Our products have a "Best when used by" date on the bottom of their container. Products should be used within six months once they are opened. Bar soaps do not expire and can be used years after being purchased. 

Do you test your products on animals?

No. Magnolia Skin Essentials never tests anything on animals.

May I return a product if I am dissatisfied?

Yes. If you are not satisfied for any reason, simply return your purchase for a full refund within 14 days of receipt. To initiate a return, please call (404) 493-2190.