Ecocert COSMOS is a non-profit certifier for natural and organic cosmetics and covers in detail all aspects of the sourcing, manufacture, marketing and control of cosmetic products. It is highly respected for its precise, legitimate and thorough yearly auditing processes for sustainable practices in clean cosmetic manufacturing.

Truthful clean beauty is more than just ingredients. COSMOS four core principles are: "Promoting the use of products from organic agriculture, and respecting biodiversity. Using natural resources responsibly, and respecting the environment. Using processing and manufacturing that are clean and respectful of human health and the environment. Integrating and developing the concept of 'green chemistry'."

We have been certified with COSMOS since 2017 and are proud to say that all of our balms (except Aura due to synthetic fluorphlogopite) are Ecocert COSMOS NATURAL certified. Our manufacturing facility is also Ecocert certified. We are (physically) audited annually.

Our balms are not applicable for the COSMOS ORGANIC seal because we use vegan candelilla wax. This wax is wild grown and therefore not "organic" certifiable.

We are happy to provide a current copy of our Ecocert COSMOS certificate if needed. www.cosmos-standard.org

Hurraw! Balm participates in the USDA NOP (National Organic Program). We are (physically) audited yearly to obtain certification by the Montana Department of Agriculture. Since 2015 we have been a certified organic handler and producer. Our manufacturing facility is also certified under the NOP program.  

Made with organic, vegan, & raw ingredients.™

Organically certified cosmetics are being seen less and less on the market as fewer are being made with real food agricultural ingredients. We feel it is important to source organic ingredients for our balms and support the NOP program. 

NOP is a great option if the cosmetic has a high amount of agricultural crop products, like Hurraw! products do. Cosmetics can have many, many derivatives in them that are not from agriculture. Often, ingredients that are allowable in NOP certified cosmetic products are not allowable in COSMOS certifiable cosmetic products. Therefore, we feel having both certifications is important.

It is still a fight to keep the agro-industrial complex out of our food (and cosmetic) system. Continuing to support certified organic companies and products is an important step in keeping your food chain clean and having value regenerated at every step of the process; from seeds to growing to manufacturing to retailing.

The % of organic ingredients is listed on each product page and is also listed on each balm label near the ingredient panel. We are happy to provide a current copy of our NOP certificate if needed.

You can also find us on the USDA Organic Integrity Database by clicking here.

Common Question: Why aren't your products 95%+ Organic?
Short answer, because we use candelilla wax and flavors in our balms. Therefore, we are not 95%+ organic. Our wax is wild grown in Mexico and not "Organic" certifiable. Our flavors, preservatives and coloring agents are allowable for use in organic products.

Vegan:
Hurraw! Balm is a certified vegan company and is registered by the VeganSociety (VeganSociety.com).

Cruelty Free:
Hurraw! Balm is a Certified Cruelty Free company.
No animal products (ie: beeswax) are included in our products.
 We are proud to be CCIC approved. The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics provides the leaping bunny logo which assures our cruelty free standards (no animals are used/harmed/tested on in any stage of the manufacture of our product, including our suppliers).

Hurraw! Balm ingredients are cosmetic and food-grade ingredients. Safety testing takes place on Human panels via independent labs.

Hurraw! Balm is proud to be a part of PETA's cruelty-free company program. We inspire DAILY to live a life that has the least amount of harm. Using any resource, creating any product, making decisions affects all lives on this planet.
 We feel that these efforts are familiar to our customers; we're all in this together!

Common Question: Why is V.HURRAW.COM on some of your labels instead of a vegan certifier?
Vegan certification is a great first step for companies serious about removing animal ingredients from their products. However, vegan certification doesn’t actually mean that a product or company has been physically audited. We feel that more education is required on the subject so we like to point our customers to this page for a more nuanced explanation of certs and standards.

As a manufacturer, we are tightly tied to the ingredients we source. We feel it is important to remind consumers that “vegan” and “cruelty-free” does not mean “clean” when it comes to personal products (or food for that matter).

We embrace and promote the mission and ethos of our certifiers. We applaud that certified vegan and cruelty free products have not harmed sentients in their manufacture. However, please note that many certified cosmetics are chock-full of processed petroleum ingredients, can be full of gmo’s, and have other underlying ethical issues (labor). Like we always say, do your homework and make an informed choice.

Common Question: What about China?
As of June 30th, 2014 mandatory animal testing can be waived by foreign companies who create cruelty-free products by applying with the CFDA or by participating in cross-border e-commerce. While we do not personally sell our products on the Chinese market, it is possible for customers in China to buy cruelty-free products from our partners/importers that meet the CIRS (Cosmetics Regulatory Complaince Division) standards.

EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) 1223/2009:

A Product Information File (PIF) is required for every cosmetic product that is placed on the EU market, as stated by the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.
Hurraw! Balm, including formulations, certifications, and labeling is fully compliant with all EU regulations and fully notified on the CPNP (Cosmetic Products Notification Portal). 
If you are a reseller in the EU who is having import issues, please contact us and we’ll make sure our RP (Responsible Person) is in contact with import authorities in your country. Our RP is listed on the label of every tube that enters the European market.

U.S. Food Drug and Cosmetics MoCRA 21 U.S.C.A. § 361:

Product and facility registration is required for every cosmetic product that is placed on the US market. Hurraw! Balm, including formulations, labeling, and GMPs are fully notified on the FDA portal for MoCRA compliance.

IFRA:
We formulate within the IFRA safety guidelines for ingredient, essential oil and flavor incorporation percentages which apply to 'leave-on' cosmetic products. 

Raw:
Hurraw! Balm contains certified organic, cold pressed and mechanically extracted (centrifuged and expeller pressed) nut/seed oils and butters that have been processed at low temperatures and still retain their essential nutrients and enzymes. Although more expensive, the quality of cold pressed oils and raw butters is superb.

Common Question: What about Raw Foodism?
Raw foodies that maintain a strict diet of food processed at under 120° and want to retain the integrity of this practice into their cosmetic use should be aware that our cold-pressed oils are subject to heat above 120° (but less than 155°) for a short interval during the production of each batch. We feel that the integrity of the raw ingredients is evident in each tube.

Fair Trade and Beyond:
Fair Trade certification is a good first step toward ensuring fair prices for labor and product and for taking working conditions into consideration, however it often falls short of addressing the value chain.

An unfortunate side-effect of Fair Trade certification is that a percentage of each product goes to the certifying agency (that’s right, certifying agencies aren’t working for free). Fair Trade certifications require that the farmers and other small businesses pay fees and maintain a presence on the Fair Trade register, which translates to higher prices for their goods, and thus higher prices for the finished products.

We prefer to work directly with farmers or via distributors with NGO's. While we do choose to purchase Fair Trade Certified products in some cases, Hurraw! Balm is not a Fair Trade Certified company.
 We believe that our purchasing ethics truly benefit the farmer, the distributor, the product and you.

Non-GMO:
According to the Organic Trade Association, “The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is prohibited in 'made with organic' products."

Gluten:
Hurraw! Balm's are gluten free. We are not a certified gluten free company. Our balms are tested annually by a 3rd party lab and are shown to be gluten free (less than 2.5ppm gliadin).

Cal Prop 65:
Hurraw! Balm, in accordance with US California Proposition 65 (Superior Court of the State of California) County of Alameda Court Case No. 01-032306 is subject to yearly analysis and approval. If you are a reseller in California who needs a copy of our certs on file, give us a shout.

Kosher: Kosher refers to a set of intricate biblical laws that details the types of food that those of Jewish faith may eat and the ways in which it may be prepared. To be certified Kosher, all ingredients in every product (Meat, Dairy & Pareve)‚ as well as the process of preparing the product, must be certified for kosher compliance.


Hurraw! Balm is not a certified Kosher company. We respect consumers interest in Kosher certification, but as we are a Vegan product, we do not feel this certification benefits our ingredients or process.

Insured:
We are happy to provide our vendors with a named certificate for PL. Simply send us your details.

 

We often get asked why we don’t have EWG or Non-GMO Project labels on our products. We have not invested in review by EWG’s Skin Deep or the Non-GMO Project for a few reasons. We feel physical audits are crucial to hold manufacturers accountable for what they are actually putting in their tube, bottle, jar, bag! Simply reviewing ingredients, tests results and procedures from a desk is not good enough. We’ve seen a ton of dishonest labeling and product claims in the last decade, which means there is a ton of forged and fake paperwork out there as well :(

We feel many EWG Skin Deep “approved” ingredients and brands are not so safe. For example, they allow and list phenoxyethanol (preservative) as a “2-4” but this ingredient is banned in the EU. They also allow and list FD&C petroleum based colorants (and many other petro-derived cosmetic ingredients) as “1” when in fact, they aren’t so great to ingest or apply (lipsticks, makeup, lotions, etc.). Cumulative use and side effects matter. Citric acid is listed as a “1” and yes, it is pretty safe in low doses but most of it comes from GMO corn feedstocks (source matters). It’s not that we think EWG isn’t doing “good”, but they simply approve cosmetics based on their total “toxic threshold” score and are not as strict or transparent about ingredients as we think they should be.

The Non-GMO Project simply verifies (not certifies) and offers product evaluation through paperwork (invoices, proofs of purchase, standard operating procedures for your facility, and certificates of analysis for your ingredients) from supply chain manufacturers via their “technical evaluators". They do not perform on-site audits, and only ensure that the ‘appropriate' supporting paperwork associated with Verified Products is on file (remember what we said about fake paperwork being everywhere?) Trust us, in today’s world, this isn’t going to cut it. We feel it also pulls focus from the importance of organic agriculture practices. One can have a Non-GMO product that was not produced, grown, or harvested well and full of other not-so-great stuff. Being certified with the USDA NOP organic program and/or Ecocert COSMOS assures no GMOS’s are used.

Ecocert COSMOS and NOP, whom we certify through, are much stricter on allowed cosmetic ingredients. We feel confident not only certifying through them but we also get physically audited by each yearly.

 

Oils can be extracted in different ways and we think it matters.

Cold pressed:  Raw seeds, fruits or nuts are pressed under high pressure plates. Low heat is generated. The oils are filtered during or after the pressing process to remove any remaining plant particles. The oils retain their flavor, aroma and nutritional value. Shelf stability varies on storage conditions. The left over seed cake can be repurposed as feed or composted.

Expeller pressed: Raw seeds, nuts or fruits are usually passed through a rotating type screw grinder; the husks (cake) go one way, the oil the other. expeller pressing is usually performed at lower temps but the grinding process (friction) does create some heat. How much heat often depends on the equipment being used and the seed or nut being screwed ;) The oil is filtered using physical methods (clays, steam and micron filters can be used to lighten and deodorize the oils). Nutritional value still mostly intact. Shelf stability varies based on processing temps and storage conditions. The left over seed cake can be repurposed as feed or composted.

Refined: There is no standard definition of "refining" oil seed stock but it often requires high heat. Usually it employs enzymes and acids to de-gum the hot oil and often, petroleum based hexane or other solvents are used. In trying to squeeze out every last drop of seed oil with solvents, the seed "leftovers" are now considered toxic. They can't be used for anything and must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Refinement increases yield and shelf life but also contributes to a loss of nutrients and ingredient integrity.

Our balms are made with...

Almond oil California/Italy/Spain organic
INCI: Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: expeller pressed
Exceptionally rich in nourishing fatty acids. It moisturizes, softens, and re-conditions superbly. We loooove almonds but non-mono-culture-organic-grown almonds are becoming difficult to source and we have moved away from it's use in our balms. Our Almond Lip Balm and Almond Neroli BALMTOO still contain organic almond oil.

Apricot Kernal Oil Kenya organic
INCI: Prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernal oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed / virgin
High in vitamins A and E. Great for sensitive and mature skin.

Argan Oil Morocco organic
INCI: Argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed
‘Liquid Gold" they say... Super restorative and moisturizing.

Avocado Oil California/Kenya organic
INCI: Persea gratissima (avocado) oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed
Thick, green, and vitamin rich (A & E). Full of essential fatty acids.

Baobab Oil Africa organic
INCI: Adansonia digitata (baobab) seed oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed
Thick, golden yellow, and vitamin rich (C, A & E). Restorative, rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

Black Cumin Seed Oil Africa/Middle East organic
INCI: Nigella sativa (black cumin) seed oil
Function: skin tonic
Extraction: cold pressed
Reputed for its regenerative qualities. Anti-bacterial/fungal. Herbaceous, warming and strengthening for the skin.

Borage Seed Oil Canada/New Zealand organic
INCI: Borago officinalis (borage) seed oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed
Delicate and light. High in gamma-linolenic acid and readily absorbed by skin.

Cannabis Flower Oil Montana, USA organic
INCI: Cannabis sativa (hemp) flower/leaf/stem extract
Function: emollient
Extraction: expeller pressed
A wonderful, thick, rich, dark green oil grown and pressed here in Montana by Montana Hemp Company. Jamie is one of the few farmers growing organic hemp!

Common Question: What about CBD and THC?
Montana Hemp provides us with the testing data from each batch of organic cannabis (hemp) flower oil that is pressed for us. This data fluctuates with each growing season and batch pressing. The flower oil used for Wintermint Lip Balm provides a total cannabinoids (CBD) count for each tube with approximately 18mg. The THC content is ND (non-detectable).

Common Question: What about the FDA?

Although cannabis has been voted on by the people of the state of Montana to be legal for recreational and medicinal use, we must still formulate in accordance to FDA guidelines for cannabis containing products. “At the federal level, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-334, (the 2018 Farm Bill) was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2018. Among other things, this new law changes certain federal authorities relating to the production and marketing of hemp, defined as "the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis." These changes include removing hemp from the CSA, which means that cannabis plants and derivatives that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis are no longer controlled substances under federal law."

Castor Oil India organic
INCI: Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil
Function: emollient
Extraction: cold pressed/physical refinement
A natural emollient from India, our organic, cold pressed, castor oil makes an excellent protective barrier against harsh conditions; anti-inflammatory and very soothing.

Common Question: What about Hexane?

Our Castor Oil is cold-pressed. Hexane is not used to extract the oil from the seeds, therefore it is hexane free.

Common Question: What about Ricin?

Ricin is a lectin that is toxic to humans. “Ricin does not partition into the oil because it is water-soluble, therefore, castor oil does not contain ricin...(Cornell University Dept. of Ag).” Our castor oil is cold-pressed, ricin free and recognized as ‘food grade’. cold pressed castor oil has been used internally for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine. Our castor oil is organic and comes from India. The waste material is properly disposed of by high temperature burning.

Chia Seed Oil Peru organic
INCI: Salvia hispanica (chia) seed oil
Function: botanical moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed
Exceptionally high in Omega 3’s. Highly absorbable and great for sensitive skin.

Coconut Oil Mexico organic
INCI: Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: centrifuged
A fabulous moisturizer and super for soothing inflammation. We use coconut oil that has been extracted using a centrifuged method. This method gently separates fresh coconuts and allows a pure raw oil to be obtained.

Coconut oil can be extracted in a few ways...

Centrifuged: Fresh coconut flesh is plate pressed. Mixture is “spun” to separate oil and water. Little to no heat generated. Oil remaining is considered raw. It smells of delicious coconuts, is creamy and lighter in texture.

Cold pressed: Grated and dried coconut flesh is pressed. Temperatures can vary resulting in different tastes and smells. A more “intense” toasted type coconut flavor. Heavier in texture and best suited for cooking.

Expeller pressed: Dried coconut flesh is put through a rotating press. Most popular method of extraction for coconut oil. Generates a good amount of heat and oil must be filtered and cleaned. Does not smell like coconut oil, can sustain high cooking heat but nutritionally pretty void. MCT (fractionated coconut oil) is a solvent derived bi-product.

Powdered Coconut Oil/Fractionated Coconut Powder/Coconut MCT Powder Mexico organic
INCI:Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil and Acacia senegal gum Function: moisturizer and/or dietary fat
Extraction: expeller and dried
Organic coconut oil is sprayed and dried onto a carrier, in this case, organic acacia senegal gum. Used widely in the dietary world.

Green Tea Seed Oil China organic
INCI: Camellia sinensis (green tea) seed oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed
Non greasy, deeply absorbed, nutrient rich and a wonderful moisturizer.

Jojoba Oil USA organic
INCI: Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed
Arizona grown. Holds properties that are very similar to our skin's own; deeply absorbed, nutrient rich and a wonderful moisturizer.

Kukui Nut Oil Denmark
INCI: Aleurites moluccana (kukui) nut oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed/clay refined
Thick, rich and luscious. Very emollient and moisturizing.

Macadamia Nut Oil Australia organic
INCI: Macadamia integrifolia (macadamia) nut oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed
Super stable and high in monounsaturated fatty acids.

Marula Seed Oil Namibia organic
INCI: Sclerocarya birrea (marula) seed oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed/virgin
South African fruit oil. Emollient, nourishing and highly absorbable.

Meadowfoam Oil USA
INCI: Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: expeller pressed/refined (non-solvent)
Oregon grown. Highly emollient and nutrient rich with moisturizing and rejuvenating capabilities. Being a highly sustainable oil, we swapped to using it (vs almond oil) in our balms.

Moringa Seed Oil India organic
INCI: Moringa oleifera (moringa) seed oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed/virgin
Emollient and nourishing, gentle for sensitive skin. Vitamins A and C present.

Olive Oil Italy organic
INCI: Olea europaea (olive) fruit oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed/extra virgin
Nutrient rich fruit that has been honored for over 5000 years. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins A & E; natural squalane properties moisturize, repair and protect.

Papaya Seed Oil Turkey
INCI: Carica papaya (papaya) seed oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed/virgin
Rich in the enzyme papain and vitamin A, a skin soother.

Pomegranate Seed Oil
INCI: Punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil
Function: emollient
Extraction: refined (non-solvent)
Anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants and a great source of the essential fatty acid Punicic.

Primrose Seed Oil China organic
INCI: Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) seed oil
Function: botanical emollient
Extraction: cold pressed
Delicate and light oil. Super moisturizing and high in essential fatty acids.

Raspberry Seed Oil Chile
INCI: Rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil
Function: emollient
Extraction: cold pressed/virgin
High in tocopherols and polyphenols, absorbs in skin beautifully.

Rosehip Seed Oil Bulgaria organic
INCI: Rosa rubiginosa (rosehip) seed oil
Function: emollient
Extraction: cold pressed
High in Vitamin C to help combat dryness and aid in rejuvenation.

Sacha Inchi Seed Oil Peru organic
INCI: Plukenetia volubilis (sacha inchi) seed oil
Function: moisturizer
Extraction: cold pressed/virgin
Nutty, thick and earthy. High in Omega 3’s and 6’s. Super moisturizing.

Safflower Seed Oil USA organic
INCI: Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil
Function: emollient
Extraction: expeller pressed/filtered
Excellent emollient. Moisturizes superbly with a near identical fatty acid profile to almond oil. Golden in color and thus, higher in cartenoids. Sustainable, drought resistant; high oleic and grown and pressed here in Montana. Direct farm sourced, harvested and extracted just four hours away from our production facility :)

Sea Buckthorn Oil China organic
INCI: Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) seed oil
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed
High in carotenes lending to it’s deep orange hue. Contains the elusive Omega 7, which can assist in skin health.

Sunflower Seed Oil
INCI: Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil
We do not use sunflower oil in our balms but our natural tocopherol preservative is made from sunflower oil. Therefore it is listed on the label as per EU cosmetic and INCI regulations.

Tamanu Oil Madagascar organic
INCI: Calophyllum inophyllum (tamanu) oil
Function: botanical skin conditioner
Extraction: cold pressed/virgin
Medicinal, thick, green and gorgeous. Uniquely earth-like in scent.

Cacao Butter Peru organic
INCI: Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter
Function: skin conditioner
Extraction: raw/cold pressed

We only use one straight from nature plant butter here at Hurraw! = cacao butter. Cacao butter softens and moisturizes skin superbly.

True plant “butters” are few: cacao, kokum, mango, moringa, babassu, capuaca, and shea butter. Because high refinement is required of every plant butter for use in cosmetics except cacao; it is our first and only choice.

Due to the lack of regulation in the US cosmetic market, you will usually see hydrogenated oils enticingly (and incorrectly) listed on cosmetic labels as “butters”: hemp butter, avocado butter, aloe butter, green tea butter, almond butter, coffee butter, chia butter, macadamia butter, jojoba butter, etc. etc. = no such thing. These “butters” are basically 90%+ vegetable shortening (usually palm or soy) mixed with a liquid plant oil to make them soft and appear “buttery.”

Common Question: Are the cacao beans roasted prior to pressing?
Roasting cacao beans (nibs) makes amazing chocolate and roasting also adds a boost to the delicious "cacao" smell of cacao butter but we choose to keep our cacao in it's natural state; unprocessed and raw. We feel this is better for all things skin ;)

Common Question: What about the worldwide cacao shortage?
It's true, cacao is definitely feeling the heat from global warming and the future is unknown. Rising temperatures are causing more crop infestations and failures and it is a concern. Our supply is from farmer owned, organic and pesticide free cacao farms. We wholeheartedly support small heirloom cacao farmers who are working hard to keep cacao going! You can adopt your own cacao tree at: https://www.hcpcacao.org/adopt-cacao-tree.html

 

Candelilla wax Mexico
INCI: Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) cera
Function: binder
We use premium quality candelilla wax that is sustainably collected from candelilla shrubs in Mexico. Combining this wax with our cold-pressed oils and cacao butter provides an excellent long lasting protective shield. This plant wax is vegan, a cruelty free alternative to beeswax and a sustainable alternative to petroleum waxes (paraffin, microcrystalline, etc.) and other solvent derived (rice bran) or palm derived (carnauba) waxes. ‘Beyond Fair Trade’ sourced from Mexico (cruelty-free harvest).

Common Question: Is your wax Organic? No. Our balm is not >95% organic is simply because we use vegan candelilla wax. This wax is wild grown and processed in Mexico but it is not, and likely never will be, certified organic. Because wax is technically not a "food," we can’t certify it as organic based on agricultural standards or include it in the organic %.

Wax is listed as an allowed non-organic, non-synthetic ingredient on the national list (National Organic Program (NOP) § 205.605(a) and is allowed in organically labeled products. It is annotated that it must be non-synthetic (derived from the plant using natural processes, without prohibited solvents: hexane, etc.).

Carbon, clay and hydrogen peroxide are used in the final processing of our wax which allows us to use in “made with organic...” products.

Common Question: What about sulphuric acid?
Carbon, clay and hydrogen peroxide are used to prepare the wax for cosmetic use. Due to this cleaner final processing, there is no sulphuric acid in our wax.

Common Question: What about Cruelty Free transport?
Pack mules are no longer used in the harvest of our candelilla wax.

Common Question: What about labor?
A recent documentary revealed unsafe working conditions in the candelilla fields. Our supplier is aware of this documentary.  We have trusted assurance that field staff are supplied with a safe work environment and good wages. This documentary does not represent or reflect the working environment of our manufacturers suppliers.

Jojoba Esters USA
Function: binder/emollient
An excellent botanical emollient. Also known as jojoba wax. Made via the redistribution of fatty acids and fatty alcohols present in jojoba oil. Solvent free.

Hydrogenated Olive Oil Italy
Function: binder/emollient
Olive oil is hydrogenated to turn it into a creamy white hard wax. Hydrogenation is commonly used to convert unsaturated fats and oils (liquid) to saturated fats and oils (solid).

Common Question: Isn’t hydrogenation bad?
Ingesting hydrogenated oils, not so great. Using them externally, depends. Because there is no regulation in the US cosmetic market, you will usually see hydrogenated oils enticingly (and incorrectly) listed on cosmetic labels as “butters”: hemp butter, avocado butter, aloe butter, green tea butter, almond butter, coffee butter, chia butter, macadamia butter, jojoba butter, etc. etc. = no such thing. These “butters” are basically 90%+ vegetable shortening (usually palm or soy) mixed with a liquid oil to make them soft and appear “buttery”.

True plant “butters” are few: cacao butter (we love and use non-refined), kokum, mango, moringa, babassu, capuaca butters (we don’t use due to high refinement) and shea butter (we don’t use due to high refinement and potential latex allergy). 

Using a hydrogenated oil in the form of a hardened wax, like hydrogenated olive oil, can offer formulating benefits in that you can achieve a better bind with very low, < 2%, inclusion.  Using 90% + hydrogenated "fake butters” as a base for formulations; no thanks.

 

Olive Oil Unsaponifiables Italy
INCI: Olea Europaea (olive) oil unsaponifiables
Function: humectant
Naturally derived from olives after pressing. An unsaponifiable is part of a plant oil that is remaining after processing. Rich in squalane and sterols. Moisture retentive and nourishing.

 

Sorbitan Olivate and Cetearyl Olivate Italy
Function: emulsifier
Waxy esters derived from olives. Sorbitol and cetearyl alcohol are combined with the fatty acids from olive oil.

 

Aroma is the INCI for Natural Food Flavor.
Fragrance is the INCI for synthetic scent which we do not use.

INCI is the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients.

Our flavors (INCI: Aroma) are derived from 100% natural sources, are Ecocert COSMOS and NOP organic compliant, manufactured in the USA and are USDA food grade.

Many come from pure, ethically sourced and manufactured essential oils, the others (chocolate, coconut, black cherry, papaya, banana, raspberry, etc.) are made for us from 100% naturally derived flavor compounds. Stay tuned, we have a pretty cool project coming out explaining what “natural” means when it comes to flavors :) and why finding ethically sourced and manufactured essential oils is becoming harder and harder.

Anise seed Spain
INCI: Pimpinella anisum (anise) seed oil
Extraction: steam distillation 

Bergamot peel Italy
INCI: Citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) peel oil
Extraction: steam distillation (FCF/Furocoumarin free/low phototoxicity) 

Cacao seed paste Peru
INCI: Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed paste 

Cardamom Guatemala
INCI: Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom) seed oil
Extraction: steam distillation 

Blue Chamomile Egypt
INCI: Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower oil
Extraction: steam distillation 
Function: skin conditioner

Peru balsam El Salvador
INCI: 
Myroxylon pereirae (balsam peru) oil (steam distillation) CAS #8007-00-9 / EINECS #232-352-8

Common Question: Is peru balsam safe? Peru balsam (Myroxylon pereirae), when used as a fragrance ingredient, is safe according to the regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. This peru balsam is often confused with (Myroxylon balsamum) which is a different ingredient and not safe for use in cosmetics. It has a different CAS number that helps formulators tell the difference between the two, but their common names are identical and can be confusing.

Roman Chamomile Italy

INCI: Anthemis nobilis (roman chamomile) flower oil
Extraction: steam distillation

Cinnamon Bark Madagascar

INCI: Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) bark oil
Extraction: steam distillation 

Coconut Pulp Sri Lanka

INCI: Cocos nucifera (coconut pulp)
Extraction: Co2

Coffee seed extract Italy
INCI: Coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract
Extraction: Co2 extract

Fir Canada

INCI: Abies sibirica (fir)
Extraction: steam distillation

Grapefruit peel USA
INCI: Citrus paradisi (grapefruit) peel oil (distilled & folded ie: low phototoxicity)  

Green tea powder Japan

INCI: Camellia sinensis leaf powder 

Eucalyptus Australia
INCI: Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) leaf oil
Extraction: steam distillation 

Ginger Madagascar

INCI: Zingiber officinale (ginger) root oil
Extraction: steam distillation 

Jasmine India

INCI: Jasmine grandiflorum (jasmine)
Extraction: Co2 and ethyl alcohol (non-remaining) 

Lavender France

INCI: Lavendula angustifolia (lavender) wild
Extraction: steam distillation 

Lemon Balm France

INCI: Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)
Extraction: steam distillation 

Lemon peel USA

INCI: Citrus limon (lemon) peel oil (distilled & folded ie: low phototoxicity) 

Lemongrass Madagascar

INCI: ymbopogon flexuosus oil
Extraction: steam distillation

Lime peel  Mexico
INCI: Citrus aurantifolia (lime) oil
Extraction: cold pressed & distilled (folded (ie: low phototoxicity) 

Menthol USA
Extraction: steam distilled/frozen/dried  

Neroli France

INCI: Citrus aurantium (neroli)
Extraction: steam distillation  

Orange USA
INCI: Citrus aurantium dulcis (sweet orange) peel oil (distilled & folded ie: low phototoxicity) 

Patchouli Indonesia

INCI: Pogostemon cablin (patchouli)
Extraction: steam distillation

Peppermint USA

INCI: Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil
Extraction: steam distillation

Rose Turkey

INCI: Rosa damascena (rose) flower oil
Extraction: steam distillation

Tangerine peel USA
INCI: Citrus reticulata (tangerine) peel oil (distilled & folded ie: low phototoxicity) 

Sandalwood New Caledonia ~sustainable 

INCI: Santalum austrocaledonicum (sandalwood)
Extraction: steam distillation 

Spearmint New Caledonia ~sustainable 
INCI: Mentha spicata (spearmint) leaf oil
Extraction: steam distillation

Star anise seed India
INCI: Illicium Verum (anise) fruit extract
Extraction: steam distillation  

Tea Tree Australia
INCI: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil
Extraction: steam distillation  

Vanilla planifolia Madagascar

INCI: Vanilla planifolia (vanilla) fruit extract
Extraction: Co2

Vetiver Haiti

INCI: Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver)
Extraction: steam distillation 

Ylang Ylang Madagascar

INCI: Cananga odorata (ylang ylang)
Extraction: steam distillation 

Common Question: Are Essential Oils safe on the skin?
Essential Oils are included at 'leave-on' safety percentages via the EU IFRA limits.

Common Question: What does 'Aroma' mean on the ingredients list? We use 'Natural Food Flavors' that are made to our specifications and compliant with the IFRA. In keeping with US and EU regulations we can't list them as 'Natural Food Flavor' on our labeling, so we use the INCI; internationally approved term 'Aroma'. All of our flavors are derived from natural ingredients through various molecular distillation methods.

Common Question: Can I use your balms if I'm pregnant? When used properly, essential oils seem to be safe for use during pregnancy. However, certain essential oils are listed as "best be avoided" during pregnancy. The list is long and information varies widely based on publication so we'll just tell you what balms in our line-up we recommend avoiding: Licorice (anise), Kapha (eucalyptus), Lemon and Pitta (lemongrass). We list every essential oil on the ingredient panel. If in doubt, seek advice from your physician.

Common Question: Can babies and children use your balm? Many children use our lip balms, but their skin can be sensitive. Although we follow the EU IFRA % guidelines for 'leave-on' products, we recommend doing a sensitivity test (inner wrist) and discontinuing use should any sensitivity or irritation occur.

Common Question: What about Allergens?
European Union regulations require cosmetic manufacturers highlight potential allergens. The USA has significantly less regulations on allergen listings. Potential allergens are organic compounds in essential oils and flavors that may cause an allergy; it’s always good for the consumer to know this information. As per EU regulations, any potential allergen has to be listed on the labeling. Example, you might see: "Limonene" "Linalool" Cinnamaldehyde" or "Benzyl Benzoate" listed on the label.

Common Question: What about Photo Toxicity in Citrus oils?
UVA phototoxicty comes from furocoumarins / terpenes (photosensitizers) and are present in some cold pressed citrus peel oils. They can cause sun sensitivity in certain individuals.

Although not required for US cosmetic manufacturers, we follow the safety guidelines set by the IFRA in the EU and formulate within their allowed limits for furocoumarin containing essential oils. The amount of citrus peel essential oils in any of our balms are within these allowed limits under the EU IFRA cosmetic guidelines for 'leave-on' products.

Bergaptene-free bergamont oil (Earl Grey Balm), folded distilled grapefruit (Grapefruit Balm), folded distilled lemon oil (Lemon Balm), folded distilled orange oil (Orange Balm), folded distilled lime oil (Lime Balm), folded tangerine oil (Sun Balm) have negligible risks for phototoxicity.  Expressed lime oil (Lime Balm) does contain citrus peel oil that may cause sun sensitivity in certain individuals but is used within IFRA allowed formulation limit.

Common Question: What about Hexane?
We do not use any hexane or other petroleum based solvent derived essential oils. NOP and COSMOS certifications do not allow hexane or solvents in organic ingredients or cosmetics.

Common Question: What about Alcohol?
No alcohol is added to our products or in any of our ingredients. The only alcohol present is from naturally occurring components IN the essential oil (example: anise alcohol found naturally in vanilla, etc.)

 

The various cold-pressed, unfiltered plant oils we use retain their natural color and you'll see this variance in our balms.  Additional organic ingredients like matcha, chocolate, coffee, etc. give each flavor an even more dramatic look.

Our Black Cherry, Hazelnut and Raspberry balms contain 100% plant based colorants and will leave a sheer tint on the lips. Our PLANTCOLOR lip colors are 100% plant based and leave a darker, more opaque color payoff.

Beet USA
INCI: Beta vulgaris (beet) root extract

Bhringraj Singapore
INCI: Eclipta prostrata (false daisy) extract

Purple Carrot France, certified non-gmo
INCI: Daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract

Purple Sweet Potato China, certified non-gmo
INCI: Ipomoea batatas (potato) root extract

Radish China, certified non-gmo
INCI: Raphanus sativus (radish) root extract

Synthetic fluorphlogopite Germany
Made under high heat from minerals...in a lab. Purity is intact. Micro-plastic free and allows for ingredient traceability. Exhibits a beautiful, high intensity shimmer effect and is safe for human use.

Common Question: Why don't you have more color lip balms?
The most popular colorants in cosmetics are synthetic petrochemical derived FD&C and D&C synthetic dyes and lakes like Red 6, Red 7 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Orange 5, etc...). Even though these are "approved" in cosmetics, it is shown that the use of petrochemical derived colors can be carcinogenic. Mined minerals (iron oxides), micas and even clays can be great options but are very hard to verify as “clean source”. They are rarely tested for their heavy metal contents and mining/labor practices are rarely disclosed. We prefer using plants. We feel it's safer. Plus, they are beautiful.

Common Question: How are beets, carrots, potatoes and radishes used to make pigments?
Plant roots contain anthocyanins and betalains; the prominent pigments responsible for the red, purple, blue, yellow, etc. hues found in fruits, vegetables and flowers. As you can imagine, the process to make pigments from plants is loooooong and precious. A full growing season is needed to literally make a root and next comes lots-of-hands-on to complete their coloring destiny. Shortly after harvest, the root juices are extracted (without solvents) sprayed onto a carrier medium (maltodextrin or acacia gum) dried and milled microfine. They get tested for purity and then shipped to us for blending into our balms. Magic.

Common Question: Do PLANTCOLOR™ balms stain?
No. They do tend to really hold color on the lips (and fingertips!) but they do wash or wear off accordingly with time. PLANTCOLOR™s also wash out quite well so if you get a smudge on your shirt, just spot treat and wash. We have found zero staining of fabrics in our facility.

Common Question: What's with the maltodextrin, acacia gum and citric acid in the Raspberry, Huckleberry and PLANTCOLOR balms?
Maltodextrin (non gmo corn or potato derived via fermentation) and acacia senegal gum is used as a spray drying and flow agent for our plant extracts. Citric acid is used as a preservative and is derived from non gmo corn (fermentation). Both of these are 100% plant based and safe for human consumption as well as being approved under NOP and COSMOS for use in organic food and cosmetic products.

Aloe Vera Arizona, USA organic   
INCI: Aloe barbadensis leaf (aloe) juice
Function: Skin soother, antioxidant, anti inflammatory
Highly concentrated, freeze dried aloe vera gel. Wonderfully soothing and conditioning to skin and hair.

Bamboo stem extract China  
Function: thickener, gentle abrasive, whitener
COSMOS approved, from sustainably grown bamboo. Very high in silica and silky smooth.

Oat Powder Glucans Sweden organic  
INCI: Avena sativa (oat) bran extract
Function: absorbent, binder, skin soother
A wonderful, concentrated skin soother obtained from steaming organic oats. Tastes great too :)

Stevia Leaf China organic & USA organic  
INCI: Stevia rebaudiana (stevia) leaf
Function: Sweetener and abrasive
A pure organic stevia extract used to add a hint of sweetness to our lip colors and oral care product. In it’s raw, green form it adds additional abrasion.

Sorbitol EU  
Function: Humectant
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in berries, fruits and veg. Ours is manufactured in the EU from non-gmo corn via hydrolysis. COSMOS approved.

Acacia Senegal Gum Africa organic 
Function: Binder, thickener, soother
A amber resin-like gum extracted from the acacia senegal tree which is edible and non-toxic. Also known as gum arabic. In our case it is ground into fine powder and used as a carrier agent for our MCT coconut oil powder and our PLANTCOLOR pigments.

Xanathan Gum USA 
Function: Binder, thickener
A edible polysaccharide made via fermentaion thanks to Xanthomonas campestris.

Guar Gum USA organic 
INCI: Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum
Function: Binder, thickener
An edible polysaccharide made from the ground inner seed of guar plant.

Calcium carbonate USA USP grade  
Function: buffer, gentle abrasive
Our calcium carbonate is from limestone. Often found in calcium supplements and antacids. Produced by the sedimentation of the shells of small fossilized snails, shellfish, and coral over millions of years. Precipitated for USP required purity.

Sodium bicarbonate USA USP grade  
Function: pH adjuster and gentle abrasive
Sodium bicarbonate is formed by mixing carbon, sodium, hydrogen and oxygen molecules. This mixture, also known as baking soda, is actually a type of salt. Also works great in baking cookies ;)

Sodium chloride France  
Function: pH adjuster/taste enhancer
We use Celtic Sea Salt from France. Very high mineral content. Air dried and hand harvested from seawater.

Zinc Ricinoleate USA  
Function: odor absorber
Made from a major fatty acid found in castor seed oil. Old skool deodorant ingredient with an excellent safety profile.

Common Question: What does USP grade mean?
USP means “pharmaceutical grade.” This simply means the minerals are additionally processed to purity and tested to be 99.9% pure and contaminant free.

Arrowroot starch Vietnam organic   
INCI: Maranta arundinacea
Function: binder, thickener
Allergen free organic tuber root. The pulp is broken down and strained in a water process and then air dried. The result is white starch powder.

Bentonite clay USA USP grade  
Function: absorbent, skin cooler and soother
A soothing montmorillonite (soft phyllosilicate group of minerals) clay from VOLCANIC ash sediment. Soothing for inflamed skin and remineralizing to the toofs.

Kaolin clay Brazil  
Function: absorbent, soothing, cooling
Our kaolin clay is found in the Brazilian Biome and collected from the Marajó shore in the Amazonian river. This clay is rich in forest nutrients. It has a peculiar mineral composition, due to its geographical location and is also certified fair trade.

Tapioca starch Thailand organic  
INCI: Manihot esculenta
Function: binder, thickener
Allergen free organic root starch also known as cassava. Similar to arrowroot in process, the pulp’s liquid is dried and strained resulting in a fine white powder.

Zinc Oxide USA
Active Sunscreen Ingredient: non-nano zinc oxide
Function: opacifier / UV blocker

Zinc oxide is the only all natural, broad spectrum (blocks both UVA and UVB) sun screen available today. Zinc oxide is a mineral that is mined from the Earth.

Zinc oxide protects your lips by sitting on top of them and thus, provides a physical barrier against UVA and UVB rays. It actually deflects the rays away from the skin to prevent any harm. For adequate protection, environmental conditions must be considered (time of day, altitude, season, etc.) and zinc oxide must be applied often.

Our SPF 15 factor is verified biennially by a 3rd party lab. The Drug Facts can be found on the inside of our the Sun Balm label.

Common Question: What about nano particles?
Nano particles are between 1 and 100 nanometers in size and the belief is that they could be absorbed through the skin causing toxicity.
 We use only non-nano, non-coated Zinc oxide.

Common Question: Is zinc oxide safe?
As of 2019, only two SPF ingredients are GRASE (Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective) via the FDA: zinc oxide (broad spectrum) and titanium dioxide (not as broad spectrum as zinc). PABA and trolamine salicylate and the other twelve chemical sunscreen ingredients used in cosmetics are not GRASE as of 2020.

Common Question: Why isn’t the SPF balm organic?
Although our Sun Balm contains 68% organic ingredients, anything that has zinc oxide in it can not be certified as "made with organic ingredients" under the NOP agricultural organic guidelines although the organic content % is still listed.

Common Question: Is your balm "reef safe"?
Although zinc oxide is considered a "reef safe" sunscreen compared to chemical based ones (especially those containing oxybenzone or octinoxate) know that ALL sunscreens in excess harm reefs. Cover up vs. lubing up!

 

A surfactant (foaming agent) creates a sudsy thick lather and fulfills it's lipophilic function of removing "oil" from your body and hair.

If you read lauryl or laureth or or lauroyl or lauric or decyl or palmitate or glucoside or glyceryl or capryl or glycol or cocoyl or olefin or…or…on the label, it contains a surfactant almost guaranteed to be from palm, corn (sugars/alcohols), salts or upstreamed petroleum..

We use just two, very select, COSMOS certified, coconut derived surfactants in our products. Many “clean beauty” surfactants like sodium cocoyl isethionate and even many other coco sulfates are not COSMOS certifiable due to their chemical processing and sustainability issues. It’s a complicated, long certifying process but we did it so you can know that the surfactants we use in our products are not only very safe but are also produced sustainably from coconut vs. palm, corn, and petroleum. See FAQ’s on VOLCANIC Soap’s for more info.

Acacia concinna (shikakai) India organic  
Function: astringent cleansing
Implemented for centuries in Ayurveda as a gentle, natural hair cleanser and nourisher. We still think it’s great and include it in our VOLCANIC Soap and Hair Mask powders.

Camellia sinensis (green tea) seed extract China  
INCI: Camellia sinensis leaf extract
Function: surfactant cleanser
A “fifth generation surfactant.” Saponins are naturally occurring compounds that are widely distributed in all cells of green tea seeds and other plants. They form stable, soap like foams in aqueous solutions and although not “super sudsy” they cleanse amazingly well and are very gentle. Green tea saponins are also known for their antibac and antiox properties.

Sodium cocoyl glutamate Japan  
Function: Amino acid coconut derived surfactant
The sodium cocoyl glutamate we use is a mild surfactant (foaming ingredient) derived from from coconut; is one of the few surfactants that are COSMOS certified. Sodium cocoyl glutamate cleanses skin and hair really well with a creamy, gentle lather while also retaining moisture. It is also fully biodegradable and tested safe for oral care due to it’s high purity.

Sodium coco sulfate EU  
Function: coconut derived surfactant
A mild surfactant (foaming ingredient) derived from from coconut; one of the few surfactants that are COSMOS certified. Sulfation is done without use of chlorinated sulfation reagents. See FAQ’s on VOLCANIC Soap’s page for more info.

Common Question: Are powders allowed on airplanes?
YES. TSA only regulates gels and liquids to less than three-point-four (3.4) ounces. The limit on powders is twelve (12) ounces. In fact, part of our inspiration to develop the VOLCANIC line was so you could literally travel for months with small four (4) ounce bottles of personal care and skip all the single use hotel/motel plastic ridiculousness.

Common Question: Can I refill my VOLCANIC bottles?
YES. All our VOLCANIC powders are highly concentrated and last 2-6 months per bottle. Our refill pouch is available for refilling. It’s easy; watch here on how to fill….

Tocopherol (soy free, sunflower derived, non-gmo) Spain
Function: antioxidant
Extraction: refined natural preservative <.5%.
Tocopherols (Vitamin E) are a great natural preservative; adds stability and longevity to the balms.

Common Question: What about bacteria in lip balm?
Yes, lips leave bacteria on the surface of the product, but Hurraw! balms have no water-based ingredients in them, so bacteria can't thrive.

We make fresh balms daily; most are shipped within days of being made. They do not contain any artificial preservatives. Our balms are made from fresh food grade ingredients and should be purchased and used as such. We recommend using your tube of Hurraw! Balm within a year of opening, and storing in a cool, dark environment. (FYI, laboratory stability tests place expiration at 3 years 'on the shelf’ but that is not optimal) and storing it between 40-72° F (4-22° C).

Our balms are very heat stable but ‘melt & solidify’ cycles will change the texture and can impact oil stability. Keep it from melting in a hot bag at the beach, locked in your car in the summer heat, or stuck on the dash while you ski in sub zero temps and you’ll preserve the original creamy texture through the end of the tube.

Batch Codes:
We manufacture our products in our own dedicated manufacturing facility. An alpha-numeric code is printed on the bottom of each tube, the side of each jar or the fin of our aluminum tubes; tracking our ingredients is an important part of the process!

The first initials represent the flavor/SKU. The first and second digit denote the recommended use-by date (The first of which is the month; 1-9, Oct, Nov, Dec. The second of which is the year in which it is dated for expiry). The third digit is an internal tracker that indicates the specific batch number of the month.


Product with the batch code CO762 = Coconut Lip Balm, with a recommended shelf-life of July of 2026. Indicating that this product was manufactured in the second batch of July, 2023.

Nuts: We use a lot of nut oils here at Hurraw. Many of our balms contain only seed oils but the equipment is shared. Coconut is not considered a nut but we use a lot of it too.

Bee Free. Shea Free. Soy Free. Palm Free: We do not manufacture with beeswax, palm oil, soy products, or shea butter (ie: latex allergy).

Gluten: Our balms are tested annually by a 3rd party lab and are shown to be gluten free (less than 2.5ppm gliadin).

Flavors: European Union regulations require cosmetic manufacturers highlight potential allergens. The USA has significantly less regulations on allergen listings. Potential allergens are organic compounds in essential oils and flavors that may cause an allergy; it’s always good for the consumer to know this information. As per EU regulations, any potential allergen has to be listed on the labeling.

Everyone is different and we always recommend a sensitivity test prior to application of any of our products. A great place to test this is on the inside of your wrist; we recommend discontinuing use should any sensitivity or irritation occur.

Creating a life, a workplace, and a product that impacts minimally on our Earth is important to us and to be honest, true sustainability in a capitalistic system seems impossible. We'll keep trying.

We only ship in recycled and recyclable packaging and use 100% post consumer paper for void fill. Our wholesale packs, product boxes and shipping envelopes are made from post-consumer paperboard. We offset 100% of our energy use using renewable energy RECs. If we have to shrink wrap, we use non-toxic polyolefin vs PVC. We recently transitioned to 100% recycled paper backed thermal shipping labels.

In our continuing efforts to reduce plastic use, we have included more readily recyclable materials for our products: aluminum, glass and tin.  We also encourage you to buy less. A tube of balm lasts the average user 6-12 months. Our BALMTOO and BALMUNDER last the average user 2-4 months. 

Plastic Tubes:  manufactured: United States
We literally can not get enough recycled PCR (post-consumer recycled material) pellet to make our tubes. We must use FDA approved plastic for cosmetics which is a clean, non-tainted plastic resin; polypropylene #5. We have been contacting plastic manufacturers around the world for the last ten years trying to find a solution. The bad news: there is none...yet.  Petroleum rules the planet and that makes us (and you) sad...and mad...and... 

Look, plastic is amazing, it has changed the world. It works really well for many, many things (serving drinks on a airplane is not one of them;). We must close the loop and be smarter in its uses. To just stop using it is just not a viable solution as all alternative packaging materials have similar manufacture, sustainability and disposal issues.

Things you can do to help now: Stop buying stuff. Grow a garden. Walk more. Drive less. LIMIT SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CONSUMPTION (food containers, yogurt cups, coffee pods, cups, cup lids, straws, forks, spoons, beverage bottles, trial size items, produce bags, etc...etc...etc...).  C'mon, bring your own grocery bag, coffee cup and water bottle already! ;)

We’ll keep trying to find a solution. Know that our tubes now contain 30% less plastic than our old tubes (so they are a bit thinner). We always use recycled pellets in our tubes when available (up to 50%) and they are still recyclable #5 (although honestly, there is very little market for recycled polypropylene and hardly anyone does the recycling of it). Our hope is that PCR material becomes easily attainable for all manufacturers that rely on plastics and that alternative plastic material and technology continues to be developed. 

Common Question: Why don't you use compostable plastic?
We've been offered compostable plastic from several manufacturers. When we ask for hard data on if this "new, amazing compostable plastic" actually breaks down in the landfill and if it is safe, there is none. Basically, this new compostable plastic has an additive in it that promotes an "enzymatic" breakdown. However, the tube is still made from petroleum; plastic is plastic. Putting "compostable plastic" in a landfill defeats the purpose (in our opinion). Saying you use compostable plastic makes for great marketing though.

Common Question: Do the plastic tubes leach BPA into the balm?
No. Plastics 1-5 (we use #5) are BPA free.

Common Question: Why haven't you put your balm in cardboard tubes?
We are happy to report that we finally found a great cardboard tube partner. You will find our duo-flavors in cardboard! We are still hopeful for market maturation in all things packaging. We feel closing the plastic loop is the true solution because any packaging en-masse becomes a sustainability issue.

Aluminum Tubes:  manufactured: France
In our efforts to reduce plastic use, we have introduced aluminum tubes. Even most silver “aluminum looking” pliable tubes on the market are infiltrated with plastic but ours are not!  We believe just one small change can make a difference.

Common Question: Does aluminum leach into the balm?
No. A lot of misinformation is out there about aluminum leaching into the products that it houses. Modern aluminum tubes have been repeatedly tested for safety; they are very safe and do not leach aluminum. Our tubes are manufactured in France to food-grade and cosmetic products standards.

Aluminum has been used for decades to house many common items like soda and beer. It has been shown that products with aggressive “acids” like soda, can over time have negligible amounts of aluminum show up in them. However, soda is different than cosmetics and soda cans are different than cosmetic tubes.

Cosmetic aluminum tubes have a BPA-free coating and in our case, they are also housing a non-aggressive product (no acids). Thankfully, even with this thin safety coating, aluminum is easily recycled, yay!

Common Question: But isn't aluminum bad for me?
Keep in mind that biologically reactive aluminum is present throughout the human body. Human exposure to additional aluminum is inevitable and, perhaps, inestimable as it is the third most common element on the planet.

Metals are all over our environment; in our water, food, cookware, etc. But rest assured, there are no heavy metals or aluminum leaching into our BALMTOO or BALMUNDER products. All of our products are regularly tested for presence of metals per Cali Prop 65 and EU regulations.

Common Question: So why do I hear aluminum concerns in connection with deodorants?
The aluminum in antiperspirants is completely different than the aluminum in our BALMUNDER deodorant tubes. Aluminum chlorohydrate is the aluminum salt found in anti-perspirants. This is made when aluminum is reacted with hydrochloric acid. This salt was designed to soak into your arm pit pores and prevent sweating. The FDA says it’s safe at concentrations up to 25% in anti-perspirants. The FDA also requires anti-perspirant manufacturers to list it on their label as aluminum salts, aluminum compounds, aluminum chlorohydrate, etc… always read labels!

Although there are negligible findings that long term exposure of aluminum leads to Alzheimer’s, cancers, kidney things and bone diseases, we don’t want to put it on our arm pits, so we won’t put it on yours either!

Common Question: How do I open and use the aluminum tube?
1. Unscrew the cap. 2. Flip the cap over and re-screw onto the tube to puncture seal. 3. Re-seal using either side of cap. 4. Squeeze gently from the bottom up.  Squish the tube as you use product or roll the tube up as you use product.

Common Question: Can I recycle my tube and cap?
Yes! Remove the cap and recycle the tube with other aluminum products. The cap can be recycled as #5...but again, hardly anyone does the recycling of it.

Glass/Tin:   manufactured: United States & China
Again, in our efforts to reduce plastic use, we have introduced glass and tin.

Common Question: Can I recycle my Aura jar/lid and Slim Slider?
Yes! Remove the cap and recycle jar with glass. The tin lid and our Slim Slider can be recylced with tin/metals...or re-use it in a plethora of ways!

Common Question: I can’t get my Aura lid off/on?  I can't open the Slim Slider tin?
Aura: Rarely, the “threads” don’t line up perfectly on the first try to screw your lid back on. Be patient, line the threads up and bingo!

Slim Slider: Gently push on the embossed H in the direction of the dot ... the harder you push the harder it is ... kinda like life sometimes ;)

Energy Management:
Hurraw! Balm is a clean energy partner of Sol Systems. Sol Systems is a renewable energy certificate (REC) that matches 100% of our electricity usage with solar and wind energy from partnered generation facilities. Visit www.solsystems.com to learn more about how you can make this switch. 

 

Regulatory oversight and standards for cosmetics and supplements in the USA is weak (at best). Only a handful of chemicals are banned for use in cosmetics here in the US while the EU has over 1300 banned substances for use in cosmetics.

While compliant with US regulations, we feel it is more important to actually test our products in independent labs and adhere to EU standards and regulations. Over 87 BILLION $'s are spent on supplements and cosmetics every year. Literally, anything can be sold as a cosmetic or supplement without going through any regulatory testing for efficacy or safety. That should both terrify and enrage you. 

Testing is important. Our balms are tested yearly for heavy metals, and other contaminants to pass Cali Prop 65. In order to be sold in the EU market, we must list potential allergens and test our balms (via a third party lab) for microbial and other potential contaminants. Our Sun Balm is tested biennailly for confirmation of it's SPF factor. For the past five years, we have repeatedly tested for the presence of gluten (technically, none of our ingredients contain any) and have never received a test report with more than 2.5ppm of gliadin.

Yes, you are worth it ;)

Again, regulatory oversight for cosmetic and supplement labelling in the USA is weak (at best). We follow strict EU labelling guidelines.

Proper labelling is important. Our balms are labelled correctly and must include the name and the address of the company (Responsible Person), INCI ingredients list in decreasing order of weight of the ingredients, potential allergens present, nominal net weight, a date of minimum durability, a lot/batch code and the country of origin in which it was made.

These past few years we've seen a huge-truth-stretching-side-eye peering shift in the 'natural clean cosmetics' market. Not only in the quality, integrity and ingredient labelling of the products but also the marketing, making and even journalistic reporting of them.

Here's our Truth. Our balms won't perform collagen-making-anti-aging-wrinkle-erasing-age-defying miracles. However, the pure plant oils in our balms do contain essential fatty acids and nutrients that provide benefits for the skin when applied topically. Every ingredient we use in our balms is COSMOS approved and legit "clean."  Read on below (and above) if you want to know more!

The majority of cosmetics (including our balms), only affect the moisture level of the epidermis. The stratum corneum, your best friend and outermost twenty or so layers of cells that make a protective barrier, is first (and usually last) in line for quenching. FYI: your lips stratum corneum is much thinner.

Anything in a cosmetic product (if small enough molecularly and with the correct polarity) can enter your body via the dermis and hypodermis. Certain products are manufactured to specifically do this; the molecules are small enough and (usually chemically) enhanced to allow passage through the trio of skin layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis) and into your system (ie: hormone creams, tretinoin, hydroquinone creams, etc.)

Know that collagen and elastin reside in the dermis layer and anything that could penetrate this layer is considered a drug by the FDA. It must be labeled as such and can't be purchased over the counter without a prescription.

Bottom line, over-the-counter cosmetics do not get past the epidermis and therefore do little to impact skin cell metabolism (aka: aging... although one could argue SPF products eventually do impact aging). Still, there is potential for anything you put on your skin - especially your lips - to be absorbed into your incredible body.

Choose wisely. Seek ingredient knowledge.

Cosmetic products often mis-state what they really are. Serums (plant oils in a fancy bottle), we're looking at you ;) and natural cosmetics costing upwards of a Ulysses or Ben Frank is eye watering. Yes, you are buying the experience and that's ok too! 

Nothing in a jar can truly, permanently transform your skin. Skin just doesn't work like that; marketing does. Sure you can peel it, plump it, fill it, smooth it, etc. but it's an ongoing chore because you are only dealing with the surface (epidermis). Your surface cells are constantly being regenerated to the tune of 200 million per hour / 5 billion a day (btw, this means your skin is replaced entirely every 40-56 days).

Over the past decade, we've learned that manufacturing truly natural cosmetics en masse is hard work! The majority of cosmetic brands are contract manufactured akin to the fast fashion industry. Seasonal lip colors, celebrity skincare lines with trendy anti-aging claims, Insta-tik-ad products, etc. It's really just the same old colors, ingredients and formulas in fancy plastic packaging marketed as must.have.now. 

It's disheartening to see major retailers releasing “clean beauty” lines that actually contain toxic chemicals; many of which are banned from cosmetics in the EU. There is no regulation or even a definition of what “clean beauty” means. What’s worse, trusted “clean beauty” e-commerce retailers are carrying brands that are most definitely not clean.  When will the madness stop? It has to stop with YOU!  
Educate yourself on ingredients (click above) and be diligent in the choices you make.

We often get asked why we don't pump out new products more often...

We make our products from fresh plant based ingredients in our own manufacturing facility, as needed. Meaning, we don't have a sales office, we don't project sales and pre-order for the next season from a contract manufacturer or stuff our products with phenoxyethanol so that they can sit on a shelf for years while we market the heck out of it. This allows us tremendous flexibility in our "make fresh" production and keeps unnecessary product out of the consuming-of-things cycle.

Truly natural cosmetics can not run on the cosmetic industry hamster wheel. Many excellent cosmetic products can be manufactured with just a handful of pure, non-processed plant-based ingredients. But we must be realistic in their limits. They are after all, like food.

Basic skin care needs are simple: cleanse/hydrate/protect. You can achieve this using just a few simple plant-based products. We've learned from experience that the best skin care is achieved from the inside out. Clean Beauty can be found in a lifestyle, not in a jar.

Nourish and protect your skin wisely. Feed your body lots of plant-things so your skin can reap the rewards. Love every line, every blotch, every spot, every everything; aging is a privilege not everyone is granted. Choose products as close to their natural state as possible to cleanse, hydrate and protect those skin cells.

You will always find a list of every ingredient Hurraw! uses and why it is used. We want you to have access to this information and continue to learn about the health of your skin and the cosmetic products you choose to use.

USA retail orders within the contiguous United States are processed and usually shipped within 24 hours (M-F) after receipt of payment. You will receive a shipping confirmation number and can expect delivery within 2-6 business days after placing an order.

International retail orders ship via Shopify Markets-Pro; configured to offer customers the best shipping options per global region. Your options may include DHL, USPS, or other carriers (depending on your location). Most International orders arrive within 7-10 days but on occasion can take as long as 4 weeks to arrive due to delays in Customs. Please note: although we are compliant with all regulations in the following markets, we are unable to ship to customers in Italy, Spain, & Türkiye at this time. If you are wishing to purchase from these countries, please look for a local ecommerce site.

*Although Hurraw! can tolerate higher temps than most balms, please know that HOT summer-time mailboxes and Hurraw! balms don't like to hang out for very long.

USA wholesale orders are shipped UPS and USPS Priority Mail. International Wholesale via USPS Priority, Fed Ex or UPS Int'l Priority (2-3 day). If you require another method of shipping, please contact us.

Returns: We guarantee our balms unconditionally. If you have purchased products on our website and feel that a return is necessary, please contact us!

General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area. It also addresses the export of personal data outside the EU and EEA. Visit gdpr-info.eu for more information.

The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) is a regulation in California state law that gives consumers more control over the personal information that businesses collect about them. This law secures new privacy rights for California consumers, including: The right to know about the personal information a business collects about them and how it is used and shared; The right to delete personal information collected from them (with some exceptions); The right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information; and The right to non-discrimination for exercising their CCPA rights. Visit oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa for more information.

GDPR and CCPA compliant features are built into our website platform. We keep only the necessary info secured in your account to be able to ship orders and send confirmation emails. Our website will use your personal information to block any transactions that appear to be fraudulent through automated decision-making. Our team is knowledgable on data security and will only access your information if they need to fulfill shipping or tracking of products you have purchased.

We offer email updates to our customers that choose to opt-in to our mailing list. To opt-in, submit your email in the form at the bottom of the website. To opt-out click unsubscribe at the bottom of your received email. We do not share our customers contact info with any other entity. You will not find a button that allows you to opt-out of the sale of your personal information on this website as we do not sell your private information.

You will have access to our complete privacy policy during checkout. If at any time you wish to access, view, update, modify, or delete information in your account with Hurraw! Balm, please use our contact page to make this request, or email us at info@hurrawbalm.com

In the unlikely event of a data breach, you will be contacted within 72 hours and informed of the event.

We are manufacturers! If you're looking for real, meaningful work; with a dedicated team of collaborators, you may be a good fit.

Our production crew averages $25 an hour. Team members have a matched 401k plan, pension plan, profit sharing, and health insurance.

Join us in making our internationally acclaimed organic cosmetic products. Attention to detail, finger dexterity, mechanics, standing (and some sitting), in a fast-paced workplace. If you love this stuff, apply! Some long days, and some short days, but plenty of time to get out there and enjoy our mountain community.

In exchange for your positive attitude and kick a** work ethic, we can offer you an amazing hourly wage, and all of those benefits listed above, in a super clean, comfortable, fun, easy-going work environment right in the heart of Whitefish, MT.

Send your resume to info@hurrawbalm.com and we'll be in touch.