Frequently Asked Questions
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Are your products all natural and 100% organic?
Our products are 100% plant based, and each ingredient is either grown and harvested from an organic, biodynamic, or eco-ethical farm, or they are sustainably harvested from the wild (“wildcrafted”), depending on their availability. This includes ingredients grown and harvested on our property. We harvest many of our ingredients from our very own custom built permaculture garden, where they grow without the use of pesticides or genetically modified organisms. We then gently infuse and distill the raw materials to create our own herbal extracts and hydrosols without the use of synthetic chemicals or harsh processing methods. Our founder and formulator, Kim Manley, is a Certified Master Herbalist and Clinical Aromatherapist with over 25 years of experience in sourcing, harvesting, and producing quality botanical extracts for the personal care industry. Dedicated to supporting organic farms and environmental preservation, she has hand selected these ingredients for use in our premier stock formula line for their purity, safety, efficacy, and sustainability. Are your products USDA Certified Organic?
Since KM Herbals started in 1992, we have been dedicated to sourcing raw materials that are of the highest quality and potency. Many of these are USDA certified organic, and all of our ingredients are non-GMO and grown without the use of pesticides. While each of our product formulas are not individually certified organic by the USDA, a majority of their ingredients are (and are otherwise wildcrafted or sustainably harvested). Organic certification for cosmetics can be problematic as there are no legal regulations for certifying such products. USDA organic certification currently uses food based standards in which to qualify raw materials as organic and these parameters aren’t always appropriate for cosmetics. Furthermore, KM Herbals has had longstanding relationships with local family owned farms who have been supplying trusted quality ingredients to us from the very beginning. Many of these small farms and vendors cannot afford the paperwork, time, and money that it takes to acquire organic certification. KM Herbals has chosen to continue our support of these family owned farms and businesses, rather than comply with regulations that have yet to align with our industry and company vision. Are your products vegan and cruelty-free?
While most of our products do not contain animal-derived ingredients, we do utilize honey beeswax in a handful of formulas due to its protective and moisturizing skincare benefits. These formulas include:
What does “wildcrafting” mean?
Sometimes referred to as “wild-harvesting”, this is a sustainable practice where herbalists gather roots, leaves, and seeds at the correct time of year during the plant’s highest potency. They are careful to only gather a small percentage of any herb in order to preserve the earth’s resources. KM Herbals is a member of United Plant Savers, an organization dedicated to monitoring and conserving native plant populations to make sure they aren’t overharvested or vulnerable to being endangered. 
Is everything made at your warehouse?
Everything is made onsite, including our herbal oil infusions, herbal teas, and seaweed extracts. Do you grow everything there?
We are in our third year of enjoying our custom-built permaculture garden, in which we grow many of our own herbs for use in the KM Herbals product line. So far, these include Comfrey, Calendula, Lavender, Rosemary, Rose Geranium, and both Roman and German Chamomile. We also harvest wild Horsetail and Yarrow from Dillon Vision Ranch, where our coastal property resides. |
What do you use to scent your products?
We never add synthetic fragrance to our products and use only pure essential oils. These fragrant oils are used for both their aromatherapeutic effects and their topical benefits. Each essential oil and blend is hand selected to compliment the performance of the product formula. Are your products sulfate-free? What kind of surfactant do you use?
We do not use sulfates. Decyl and Lauryl Glucose are used in a few of our formulas to produce a lather for shampooing and cleansing. They are fatty polyglucosides that are prepared by reacting coconut, glucose, and collagen with natural fatty acids. These plant-based surfactants are very mild and gentle on the skin and hair. WHAT KIND OF PRESERVATIVES DO YOU USE?
ARE THEY NATURAL? Our primary preservatives are Grapefruit Seed Extract and Rosemary and Sage Antioxidants, which are plant-derived super critical extracts and essential oils. Do your products have a range of colors
or are they white? None of our products are bleached or harshly processed, so they retain the natural color and scent of their ingredients. Natural colors may range from off-white to a light blue/green (due to Chamomile, Spirulina, etc.) to a rich golden yellow (due to Sea Buckthorn, Calendula, etc.). WHAT TYPE OF PACKAGING DO YOU USE?
We package our products in a variety of quality materials including amber glass and amber PET plastic. These recyclable materials are safe and help prolong the product shelf life by protecting from light and deterioration. HOW LONG DO THE PRODUCTS LAST?
The shelf life of our products is 1 year. Exceptions may include products made with high percentages of fixed oils and butters, such as facial and massage oils, which are more fragile and may expire sooner. The Period After Opening varies from 6 months to 18 months depending on product type, specific ingredients, container, and storage conditions. |
