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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about Green Foot Mama or our holistic multi-use moisturising balms?  Let us know at hello@greenfootmama.com. We love to hear from you!

What is a balm?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines balm as a ‘fragrant cream or liquid used to heal or soothe the skin’ and ‘something that has a soothing or restorative effect’.  All Green Foot Mama balms are made from a carefully selected blend of essential oils and Australian native botanicals in a base of pure organic coconut oil, shea butter and natural beeswax to soothe, nourish and protect your skin.  They smell divine and help restore your skin by sealing in moisture and preventing evaporation.

 

ARE your balms SAFE TO USE DURING PREGNANCY and breastfeeding?

The Green Foot Mama range is designed to be suitable for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Our Organic Skin was created especially for use by expectant and new mamas and their babies.

Each of our products are formulated at safe levels of dilution of each individual essential oil. We suggest trying a patch test before using new products for the first time, as pregnancy can increase sensitivity to some ingredients.

 

ARE YOUR balms SAFE FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN?

The Green Foot Mama range was created with our own small children in mind. Our ingredients are of the highest quality and our products contain no harmful ingredients whatsoever.  None of our products need to be washed from the skin, and all formulations are 100% safe if contact with eyes or mouth occurs.

 

I AM PRONE TO ALLERGIES AND REACTIONS, AND ALSO GET ECZEMA.  WILL YOUR PRODUCTS HELP ME?

We receive many testimonials from happy customers saying our products have improved their skin conditions.   We are proud to say that no matter what skin type or condition, due to the nature of our formulation and ingredients, our products are gentle and suitable for all skin types and have been made with each ingredients’ lowest-allergenic form possible.

If you are prone to reactions and have sensitive skin, we recommend you try a patch test when trying any new product for the first time. We list all product ingredients that are present (>1%) however if you are unsure, please contact us directly and we can assist.

 

HOW LONG DO your balms LAST?

Our products have a shelf life of 1 year unopened. We recommend using your product within 6 months of opening.

 

My balm has hardened and gone grainy.  Is it still okay to use?

Yes.  The hardening of the product is the response to the cooler weather.  Because our balms contain no toxic or plastic fillers, they naturally expand in warmer weather and contract in cooler conditions.  Once the temperature increases, the balm will return to its softer more pliable state and not split or separate in the process.
To soften, place your jar in a warm place such as your bathroom or a sunny windowsill, and warm between your hands before using.

 

IS YOUR PACKAGING ECO-FRIENDLY? WHY DON’T YOU USE GLASS?

Yes it is. Our jars and all components are made from PET fully recyclable plastic. Glass is prohibited on the beaches in our part of the world. You can read more about our product packaging here. With regard to our shipping packaging, we keep it to a minimum and only use recyclable materials.

 

IS GREEN FOOT MAMA AUSTRALIAN MADE AND OWNED?

Absolutely! We are a family business located in the beautiful Byron Bay region. Our products were invented here, are made here and we plan to stay here!

 

IS ORGANIC SUN A SUNSCREEN?

Organic Sun is a deeply nourishing moisturiser containing nanoparticle-free natural zinc oxide. It is tested and rated as SPF15, which means you can stay out in the sun 15x longer than without sun protection.  So if you would normally burn in 15 minutes, SPF15 gives you over 3.5 hours of protection.

Although many of our happy customers use Organic Sun as a sunscreen and enjoy the results, we operate within Cosmetic Goods of Australia guidelines and recommend our Organic Sun as a SPF 15 broad spectrum moisturiser which protects against both UVA and UVB rays.  Organic Sun is also great for soothing sunburn.

DOES ORGANIC SUN LEAVE A WHITE CAST ON YOUR SKIN?

Organic Sun uses non-nano zinc and can take a bit longer than products using nano particle zinc to rub into your skin to get a ‘clear’ finish – depending on your natural skin tone.  On first application it will leave a white cast on all but the palest of skin.  We recommend applying it and waiting for about ten minutes to allow the balm to soak into your skin, before rubbing in some more to achieve a clear finish.   The zinc reflects the light making your skin look soft and dewey.

DOES ORGANIC SUN STAIN YOUR CLOTHES YELLOW?

Avobenzone is an ingredient used by many sun protection products to block UVA rays.  It also reacts with water to cause yellow stains on your clothing.  The active ingredient in Organic Sun is natural zinc which blocks both UVA and UVA rays.  Once Organic Sun is properly absorbed into your skin, it doesn’t stain your clothes.

 

HOW DO I REMOVE ZINC STAINS FROM MY SWIMSUIT/WETSUIT/CLOTHING?

Although Organic Sun doesn’t stain your clothing when properly applied, my daughter likes to smear liberal handfuls of it over her skin and often directly onto her and my clothing – leaving pale chocolate coloured stains.  I’ve found the best method to remove these stains is by using cold water, castile soap and vinegar.

As with all laundry stains, the sooner you attack it, the better the result.

Firstly, keep the item out of the sun if you can as heat will set the stain.  Scrape off any excess balm.  Apply a generous amount of castile soap directly to the stain and scrub with a laundry brush to remove the cacao and oil residue.  Rinse in cold water.  Then use plain vinegar and scrub the stain again.  Wash as usual.

I also keep a small hand soap bottle of castile soap and vinegar in the laundry which I use on the collar of my husband’s T-shirts and rashguards to remove discolouring caused by sweat/organic sun rubbing on the collar from the back of his neck.  Simply squirt, scrub and launder as usual.

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