Got questions?

We have answers! If you don't find your question here, please feel free to send us an e-mail at info@shea-essentials.com and we will get back to you with an answer.

Why use Shea Essentials products?

In our opinion, the short answer is because it feels good and its good for you. Shea Essentials products are made in small batches that are carefully watched and tended to every step of the way. We pride ourselves in our select combination of natural plant based oils and natural additives we use to create exceptional products for you.

Are your products natural or organic?

We use a combination of natural raw ingredients to create our products. Our products are natural. While some of the ingredients may be certified organic or come from those who are following organic guidelines, Shea Essentials products are not certified as organic.

What is the difference between essence, fragrance, essential and body oils?

Fragrance oils are chemical creations that come from a lab. They are synthetic and do not occur naturally in a form usable for our bath products.  Fragrance oils are very concentrated and are not recommended for direct contact with skin until mixed in with other ingredients.  Essential oils are extracted from plants.  Like fragrance oils, they are concentrated and can be a skin irritant until mixed with other ingredients. Body oils consist of fragrance and/or essential oils blended with a carrier oil that makes them safe for use on skin. Here at Shea Essentials, we refer to all of our fragrances whether they be synthetic or natural essential oils as "Essences". 

What is a Sea Sponge?

The Sea Sponge is not a coral, and is not a plant, rather it is classified as an animal which has neither brain nor central nervous system. Sea Sponges live on the ocean floor, they attach themselves permanently to a solid location under the water and they do not move around. The item we call a "sponge" is actually the skeleton of the sea sponge.

What should I do about my specific medical issue?

We are not health care professionals. The information provided on this site is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your physician or any other qualified health provider. If you have medical questions, we recommend you consult your health care professional.

Do you test on animals?

NO! All of our products are tested on people.

What if I have allergies, am pregnant, nursing, or have other medical conditions?

We take care to post all the ingredients in our products so that you can make a decision as to what is safe for you to use. Many essential oils are not recommended for use for those with certain medical conditions and some, such as the citrus oils, may even cause your skin to be more sensitive to the effects of the sun. We strongly recommend you consult your physician if you are uncertain.

Do your products use Parabens?

Our products do not contain parabens, phthalates or sodium laurel sulphates.

Does Shea Essentials use preservatives?

Yes. However the preservatives we are naturally occurring compounds.  We use antioxidants such as Rosemary Oleoresin and Vitamin E to preserve our oil based products.  Be aware that any product that is water based, such as lotion, can harbor bacteria.  This is why we do not offer a lotion.  The water-based items we do carry contain enough lye (liquid cleansers) or ethanol (florida water, insect repellent & body splash), to preserve them under normal circumstances for up to 24 months when combined with Potassium Sorbate (a naturally occurring fatty acid with anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. It is found in the mountain laurel ash tree.  It has been tested and proven effective in the inhibition of many fungi and bacteria).  Because of the shortened life span of our natural products, Shea Essentials puts the expiration date on all of our products.

Do your products contain nuts or milk?

Yes and No.  Because our products are vegan, none contain animal milk.  Many of the plant based oils we use are cold pressed from the nuts of the plant. Shea Essentials understands that there are some people who may have be allergic to certain items which is why we post the ingredient list on our website as well as on each item.

 Do you use colorants?

 No, any color in our products is naturally occurring because of the ingredients.  In light of this, you must expect slight variations in the color of certain products.

Why do I see chemical names I can't pronounce on your product ingredient list if it is a "natural" product?

Don't be put off by a product just because you see things like the following on the ingredient label.  The FDA requires that cosmetic manufacturers use scientific names  for some very common (and very beneficial) ingredients.  Examples are:  Tocopherol T-50  (Vitamin E) and Sodium Chloride (Salt). 
A label that you and I would write as:

Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Witch Hazel, Vitamin E, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin C
 

Would be written as:

 Cocos Nucifera Oil, Vitis Vinifera Oil, Persea Americana Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Hamamelis virginiana, Tocopherol T-50, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Ascorbic Acid

Why does my product have a slightly different consistency, texture and/or color than the last one I purchased?

Shea Essentials products are made with natural ingredients and no artifical perservatives or stabilizers.  Because of this, differences in the atmosphere will have a more significant affect on the products.  You may find that the shower gel gets a little thicker or thinner when it is kept in the shower, bath salts may be a little clumpier, etc.  Humidity levels in the air where the product is being stored will have this affect.  It will not however, affect the usefulness of your product.

 Why don't you have a paper catalog?

We have made the decision to be an Internet store rather than a catalog or mail order company for several reasons.  As a dynamic, growing company, catalogs present a limitation as to  how often we can change our product offerings.  We add products on weekly or monthly basis.  Any catalog we printed would most likely be obsolete by the time we received got it to you.  Also, catalogs are very expensive to produce. By keeping our costs low, we can pass this savings along to you.  The Internet is the least expensive and most up-to-date catalog possible.

 Can I phone in an order?

Sure you can.  Please call (202) 664-7473. For accuracy and speed, it is better that you enter your order on the Internet though.  We have a limited number of customer service operators to answer telephones. And, to assure addresses and spelling are correct, it is best for you to enter your own order so that you can proof it for accuracy.  You know your personal information better than we do.  Our hours are 8am to 5pm Eastern time.  For your security, please do not leave credit card numbers on any voicemail.  If we do not answer, please leave your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible.   

Can I mail in an order?

Yes, simply enter your order on the website and select "Check or Money Order" as your method of payment.  You can then print out the order, or the e-mail order confirmation and mail it in with your check or money order.  We discourage mail orders though because the process is slow and unreliable.  The mail service takes a while to get the order to us.  Because of the delay, items you order may be out of stock.  If you'd like to mail an order though, we will be happy to accept it. 

How long will it take before my order is shipped?

Our stated policy is to ship within 2-3 business days of receipt of an order.  This does not include weekends or holidays. We attempt to keep all items in stock.  Sometimes, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are out of stock on an item. If something is not in stock and there will be a significant delay, we will notify you.  


How long do I have to cancel an order?

You have until we ship to cancel your order. In many cases, that is not long. We often ship within hours of receiving your order.  Once we have shipped, the order will be subject to a 15% re-stocking fee. If you refuse shipment on an order, you will be responsible for the shipping charges you, the shipping charges back to us plus the restocking fee.  

What's your return policy?

Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction.  We screen products for quality before we offer them for sale.  If you receive a product that is not working for you, we ask that you attempt to use the product properly.  It might take some time to learn the right amount of product to use or frequency to get the absolute best results for you.  However, it's impossible for every product to work for every person.  If a product just isn't working for you, please call or e-mail us and let us know the specific problem.  Perhaps we can help.  But, our policy is to not accept returns of opened and/or used items.  We reserve the right to refuse issuing a credit for returns of any product that is not defective or any item returned without authorization.  We reserve the right to charge a 15% restocking fee for items that are returned. Generally, we will accept the return of unopened items within 30 days of purchase.  Please call to receive a return authorization before returning any product.

The procedure is:

• Use the return system on this website, make sure you receive your RMA number before sending merchandise to us.
• Pack and ship merchandise back to us, retain a receipt for your return shipping and enclose a copy in the package.  Make sure that the RMA number is written on the package label.

•  No cash refunds will be given
•  You must pay the shipping to return the product (any method you choose as long as it gets to us - we suggest a method that will allow you to track the delivery of your return.  We cannot be held liable for returned merchandise that gets lost in transit.)
• We may not give credit for the shipping charge (depending on the reason for the return)
• Packages that have been refused and/or returned to us without prior authorization with a merchandise total of $25 or more will incure a 15% restocking fee
• Credit is given once we receive the product

Items returned without authorization will not receive a credit.


Why don’t you offer a money back guarantee?

Have you ever noticed that the more outrageous the claims a product makes the more likely it is to offer a “money back” guarantee? Many companies offer this “guarantee” because they know it will entice otherwise skeptical people to try their product. They count on the increased sales to cover the claims for the money they inevitably will have to refund.  Not many products work for every person in the world.  This is especially true when it comes to personal care products.  Others' strategy is to offer a claim of money back and then make it simply too difficult to get your money back in hopes you'll give up and go away.  We prefer the straight forward approach.  We offer you enough information to make a completely informed decision.  We cannot guarantee that our product will work for everyone.  So we don't. We feel that offering a money back guarantee would imply the product will work for everyone, under every circumstance. We do not want to entice people with outrageous claims. We are confident that our products, along with proper maintenance of your skin and hair along with the absence of a medical condition, will work in conjunction with your body to produce the fastest rejuvenation results possible for you. But, because everyone has a different genetic makeup and you must take proper care of your hair and body, in addition to using our products, we cannot predict exactly what your results will be. No product can honestly claimperfect anyone's skin or hair condition. While we could certainly sell more product by making a money back claim, we don’t think it’s honest to do so.


Can I eat your products?

Absolutely not. While many of our products do smell good enough to eat and all of our products are made with natural ingredients,  please remember that they are for external use only.  Any product can be dangerous if not used as directed. Some of our products are toxic, if eaten, just as some plants are toxic if injested.  If you have any questions about the use of our products, please contact us.  We are not responsible for damages caused by the misuse of any of the products we sell.


Where can I find Shea Essentials products?

 We are thrilled that the word is spreading about Shea Essentials and are happy that so many of you want to buy our products.  But, generally speaking, they are not available in your neighborhood stores (thus the reason for our website).   Currently the only place you can purchase our products is here at our website and do attend regional festivals, craft fairs and events.  Please check our Calendar of events to see our schedule of appearances. 

We do sell wholesale to retail locations and re-sellers.  For more information, see  “Wholesale Terms” to be added later. If you'd like to see our products in your local salon, have them contact us about becoming a retailer for Shea Essentials.

Disclaimer:

This notice is required by the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act: The Contents of this website are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always consult your doctor if you are pregnant, lactating, or have any other health conditions before applying these products. Keep out of eyes & mucous membranes. All of our products should be used with the same care and caution as any other bath or household product that you use.  Shea Essentials assumes no liability for claims arising from the misuse of our products