the focus on ingredients that we choose to use are that they must be vegan. they must also be organic and natural where possible. 2 classes of ingredients that we would like to draw to your attention are our emulsifiers and our preservatives. our emulsifiers are all vegetable based of course and very safe. they also enhance the emollient and protecting properties of the products they are in. our preservatives are amongst the safest you can use and are even used in foods.

we would like you to know that other preservatives such as alcohol and beeswax are used by some companies but we choose not to use them. beeswax we won’t use for vegan and ethical reasons and alcohol we won’t use as a preservative because the quantities required for that purpose are substantial. and at such levels (15% or greater usually) we believe that alcohol can have undesirable affects on the skin (drying and irritating) and the remaining ingredients in the product.

all products that contain emulsions (mixes of oil and water), such as lotions, conditioners, moisturizers etc., need to be preserved as microorganisms enjoy making their home in them. at blackers we focus on using the safest preservatives possible but without compromising product stability. with this in mind we encourage you not to stick your fingers into our products (they’re not for eating and they’re not very tasty!) where possible and to use clean hands when applying the product.

black cumin seed oil: indigenous to the mediterranean. this oil is cold pressed and pesticide free. traditionally used to help treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns and wrinkles. high in essential fatty acids, university studies are beginning to confirm its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. asthma, allergy sufferers and those with autoimmune disorders are said to benefit from cumin seed’s 100+ chemical constituents. this oil has a long history of use both internally and externally. it was found in tutankhamun’s tomb and some have said it was cleopatra’s beauty secret. the prophet mohammed mentions it as curing every illness except death! hyperbole?...perhaps, but we love it all the same.

candelilla wax: this shrub is native to northern mexico and western texas. used often in place of beeswax it has excellent moisture protecting qualities. also used in chewing gum and candy. the wax is taken from the outer coating of the plant. the shrub is often removed from the root and the plant material after accessing the wax is left to dry and used as fuel. the root grows back into another shrub within 3 years. continued...

there is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to beasts as well as man it is all a sham.
- anna sewell