NourishUs Naturals Blog

Discover what makes NourishUs Naturals a standout manufacturing partner: transparent pricing, reliable lead times, flexible MOQs, and meticulous documentation (SDS, COA, IFRA) backed by collaborative R&D and strict, claims-safe compliance. Learn how our small-batch expertise, sustainable sourcing, and white-glove support help brands scale without sacrificing quality.

Do you run your own natural and naturally derived cosmetics brand and hope to obtain recognized cruelty-free approval for your business? Or are you a consumer who consciously supports companies that sell cruelty-free cosmetic products? In either case, it is important to understand how to identify products that are aligned with a credible third-party standard, and what steps may be involved if you want that type of approval for your own product line.  One of the best known programs in this space is the Leaping Bunny Program, which provides a published corporate standard and a globally recognized rabbit logo for companies that meet its criteria. The program was developed by an international coalition of animal protection organizations and is administered in North America by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), with partner organizations in Europe and other regions. Leaping Bunny focuses on documenting that approved companies do not conduct, commission, or be a party to new animal testing for their approved cosmetic, personal care, household, and cleaning products and their ingredients after a fixed cutoff date, and that they have a supplier monitoring system in place. Some companies will use a certification logo without actually having the rights. Make sure to not only refer to the Leaping Bunny website, but also note that the logo is blue and black or single color. That is the only allowance for colors when Leaping Bunny certifies a company.   Leaping Bunny was originally created in the 1990s at a time when many brands were creating their own “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals” logos without a consistent definition or verification process. Because the term “cruelty-free” is not clearly defined by law, the Leaping Bunny standard and logo were designed to give consumers a more reliable way to find products that meet a specific, audited set of animal testing criteria, and to help companies communicate those practices more transparently. You can learn more specifics about the Leaping Bunny Program and its requirements on their website.  NourishUs Naturals is proud to participate in the Leaping Bunny program as a certified company for our entire product range. We’ve pulled together some Questions & Answers (Q&As) to help explain what that means for us, and how we support our customers who are interested in pursuing Leaping Bunny approval for their own brand. Q: What does it mean to be Leaping Bunny certified? What does “cruelty-free” mean in this context? A: Leaping Bunny approval is a third-party program that sets specific requirements for companies that want to market certain products as cruelty-free, including commitments related to animal testing for finished products, ingredients, and formulations. In this context, “cruelty-free” means the approved company has agreed not to conduct, commission, or be a party to new animal testing for its approved cosmetic and/or household products and their ingredients after a fixed cutoff date, and to maintain documentation from manufacturers and suppliers supporting that commitment. Because “cruelty-free” is not legally defined in the United States, using a recognized independent standard like Leaping Bunny helps provide clearer, more verifiable support for this type of claim. Q: Why did NourishUs Naturals choose to participate in the Leaping Bunny program? A: Our customers care about how products are made, including the avoidance of new animal testing for cosmetics and personal care products. NourishUs Naturals does not conduct animal testing on our products, and by participating in the Leaping Bunny program, we align our internal practices with a published standard that includes supply chain monitoring and documentation related to animal testing. This participation helps provide additional third-party assurance about how our approved products are developed and manufactured, subject to Leaping Bunny’s own requirements. Q: Will you be adding the Leaping Bunny logo and Cruelty-Free statement to all your product labels? A: The Leaping Bunny logo may be used when a company has all their products and ingredients falling within the scope of Leaping Bunny approval and any applicable logo use or licensing agreement. For all products we have included the Leaping Bunny logo on all our labels, in line with Leaping Bunny’s brand use guidelines and applicable advertising and labeling laws in the markets where the products are sold. Q: Can I put the Leaping Bunny logo on my product? Can I say my product is cruelty-free? A: Use of the Leaping Bunny logo is controlled by Leaping Bunny and is subject to its approval, licensing, and territory specific rules. If you purchase products from NourishUs Naturals that are manufactured using ingredients and processes that meet Leaping Bunny criteria, those products may be eligible to be included in your own application to Leaping Bunny, but we cannot guarantee approval, certification, or logo use. You are responsible for ensuring that any “cruelty-free” statement you make about your brand or products is truthful, not misleading, and compliant with the laws and guidance in the countries where you sell. We are happy to provide information about our role in manufacturing and ingredient sourcing (for ingredients we supply) to support your application and claim substantiation. Q: What if you are making a custom formula for me? Is my product automatically covered by Leaping Bunny? A: Since Leaping Bunny is companywide specific, NourishUs Naturals can only purchase ingredients that can be certified by Leaping Bunny or its partner organizations, thusly custom formulas will automatically be covered by Leaping Bunny. If you request an ingredient that cannot be Leaping Bunny certified, we will not purchase or use that ingredient.  If the product is manufactured by NourishUs Naturals using our Leaping Bunny approved ingredients and you, as the brand owner, apply to Leaping Bunny, the product may be considered as part of your brand’s application. However, only Leaping Bunny (and its partner organizations) can decide whether your brand and specific products are approved and authorized to use the logo, subject to their standard and any applicable regional rules. Q: How does NourishUs Naturals support my Leaping Bunny application? How do I receive my Leaping Bunny approval? A: We can provide information about our manufacturing processes, the ingredients we supply, and our internal practices related to animal testing to help you complete Leaping Bunny’s required declarations and documentation. However, if you apply directly to Leaping Bunny and let them know we are your manufacturer, we won’t need to supply you with documentation. While we cannot provide legal advice or guarantee that you will be approved, we aim to make the process more straightforward by responding promptly to Leaping Bunny’s verification requests and by sharing supporting technical information that they typically request from manufacturers. To register for your company’s use of Leaping Bunny, you may register at http://www.leapingbunny.org/company/register. Still have questions? Email us at contactus@nourishusnaturals.com

Please contact customer service if you'd like a quote for a refrigerated shipment. HOT 1. Always maintain proper hygiene when handling products. Wear gloves and a hair net, and sanitize all implements and equipment used. 2. Immediately open your products to release the hot air and pressure, and stir until homogenized. 3. Dry off and clean the inside lid of your container. Use lint free cloths or paper towels with alcohol and let dry before reclosing the container. 4. Place your product in a room temperature or cooler environment for a minimum of 24 hours.   5. Once your product has cooled, reopen and stir again. 6. Pour off your products into resale or smaller storage containers. 7. Store your products in tightly sealed containers with minimum "headspace". 8. Protect your products from moisture, extreme temperatures, and direct UV light. Preferable temperature is always room temperature around 65-72F Any essential oils or Vitamin C products should be stored in opaque containers (glass for the essential oils). COLD 1. Always maintain proper hygiene when handling products. Wear gloves and a hair net, and sanitize all implements and equipment used. 2. Immediately open your products to release the cold air and pressure. 3. Dry off and clean the inside lid of your container. Use lint free cloths or paper towels with alcohol and let dry before reclosing the container. 4. Place your product in a room temperature environment for 24-48 hours. 5. Once your products have warmed up, open and stir to ensure it's completely homogenized. 6. Pour off your products into resale or smaller storage containers. 7. Store your products in tightly sealed containers with minimum "headspace". 8. Protect your products from moisture, extreme temperatures, and direct UV light. Preferable temperature is always room temperature around 65-72F. Any essential oils or Vitamin C products should be stored in opaque containers (glass for the essential oils) You’ll find that by following these directions, most finished products will usually balance their composition. BONUS - We use 100% sorghum starch packing peanuts which are all-natural with no toxic chemicals, easy to dispose of (please compost!), and high-humidity proof. Why Does Temperature Affect Your Product? Why do NourishUs Naturals' emulsions viscosity change in extreme temperature fluctuations, but then resolve their viscosity once the hot or cold air has been released and the product has been placed in a room temperature environment? Why can temperature fluctuations influence the rheological behavior (how the product flows) of cosmetic emulsions, potentially causing shear-thinning effects among others? First, we think it makes sense to define Newtonian. Newtonian fluids are products that have a constant viscosity regardless of the applied shear rate (e.g., water), whereas Non-Newtonian fluids have a viscosity that changes when a force is applied. NourishUs Natural's emulsions fall into this category. This non-Newtonian property is what gives our emulsions their smooth and spreadable texture. Non-Newtonian emulsions will have certain behaviors that allow products to spread and be applied to the skin much more efficiently and provide a more luxurious feel upon application. These behaviors include the following: Shear-Thinning (Pseudoplastic): Most cosmetic emulsions exhibit this behavior. They become less viscous under shear (like when you apply and massage them onto your skin) and return to their original viscosity when the shear is removed. Shear-Thickening (Dilatant): Less common, these become more viscous under shear. We do not often experience this in our emulsions. Thixotropic: These emulsions decrease in viscosity when sheared and take a finite time to return to their original viscosity when at rest. This is why we provide information in the form of packing inserts when you receive your order. Rheopectic: This rare behavior is the opposite of thixotropy; viscosity increases with shear over time. In the same fashion of Shear-Thickening, we do not often experience this in our emulsions. Now the science behind this and if I bore you, I apologize, but isn't learning and understanding the most fun and fundamental part of life? So why does this non-Newtonian situation occur? Well for one, the internal structure of the emulsions changes under stress. For instance, the alignment of particles or structural breakdown of certain bonds can lead to varying viscosity. Extreme temperature changes can cause this molecular structure change. Some of the most common non-Newtonian products you are probably used to are ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, etc. When you squeeze these out of the container without shaking the container first, you will notice water or oils coming out first. There is a reason we shake before we squeeze. So don't worry about the viscosity change, just follow our instructions above and rest assured that the product effectively delivers the ingredients and maintains stability during use. If you have any questions, you can always reach out to us at (866) 252-9639 or contactus@nourishusnaturals.com. We are happy to help with this or any other questions you have about your NourishUs Naturals products.

Have you ever shopped online for skin, body, or hair care products, only to feel utterly confused about whether the product you’re considering is actually safe for you or your family? Perhaps the product’s ingredient deck (INCI) is buried on the webpage, or the words “all-natural” just don’t give you enough information about the product’s certification to put you at ease. At NourishUs, we are committed to transparency and full disclosure of the ingredients we use in our natural skin, body and hair care products. In order to make shopping on our site easier for our customers, we list a series of attributes to indicate product features like “vegan”, or “no added” indicators. Under all of our products: Leaping Bunny NourishUs’s products carry the “Leaping Bunny” logo, which you will see on all of our product labels. This is the internationally recognized symbol that indicates “cruelty free” cosmetics. Established by the Coalition for Consumer Information in Cosmetics (CCIC), a group of eight national animal protection organizations, the leaping bunny represents a single, comprehensive standard. Whenever you see this logo, you can be sure neither the product, nor any of its ingredients has been tested on animals. Vegan Indicates that products are not made with, and do not contain animal-derived ingredients No Added Phthalates Phthalates are often used as solvents and fixatives in fragrances or to increase flexibility in products. No Added Paraben Indicates that we do not add parabens to our products, a preservative used in many cosmetics No Added Gluten Indicates that we don’t add gluten and we don’t cross-contaminate in our manufacturing

NourishUs Naturals makes many products with a wide pH range, and we have had some customers rather irritated that we "obviously don't understand skin or pH requirements", so we want to explain why our range is wide. We have a pH range of 4.2–5.8 on most products and this might seem wide, but there's a good reason for it! Because most of our products are sold as customizable bases, many of our customers add their own actives, extracts, or specialty ingredients. When those additions are made, the pH of the final product can shift. So, we design our bases to stay stable and effective across a wider range on purpose! This way, the formula still performs beautifully, even after you've made it your own. The entire base is formulated and tested to stay stable throughout that range, so whether your end pH ends up at 4.3 or 5.7, you're still getting a safe, high-quality product. If you're ever unsure about how your added ingredients might affect pH, we're more than happy to help you troubleshoot or recommend ways to keep everything balanced.

At NourishUs Naturals, we're always keeping a close eye on industry changes that might impact your business—and one of the biggest shifts in 2025 is the rollout of new U.S. tariffs on imported goods. These tariffs, which are essentially taxes on materials and products coming into the country, are part of a broader government effort to support domestic manufacturing and respond to changing global trade dynamics. While these policies aim to strengthen the U.S. economy, they can create ripple effects in the personal care and skincare industries.

Please note that we here at NourishUs Naturals do not adhere to the “comedogenic” chart as it depends on many different issues. These charts can be misleading because pore-clogging potential depends on many factors beyond a single ingredient score.  The reasons why are: The test was conducted on rabbit ears which are far more sensitive than human ears and have a different pore setup. This test was first conducted in the 1970’s, and then retested on male prisoner’s backs in the 1980’s. The comedogenic scale ranks ingredients from 0 to 5 based on their likelihood to clog pores, but it was developed using rabbit ears and not to predict performance on human skin. So while it can be a helpful reference, it’s not a one-size-fits-all rule. An ingredient might be “comedogenic” at 100% concentration, but in a well-formulated product, it might only be used at 1-5%, where it has no comedogenic effect at all. Remember, once you add one ingredient to another, it’s a completely different chemical makeup. The way ingredients interact with each other in a full formula changes everything. A “comedogenic” oil in one product might not behave the same in another. The base, emulsifiers, texture, occlusive nature, and skin affinity all affect how a product behaves. Remember again, once you add one ingredient to another, it’s a completely different chemical makeup. Everyone’s skin reacts differently. What clogs one person’s pores might be totally fine for another. Genetics, environment, skin condition, and microbiome all play a role. An oil like coconut might get a bad reputation for being comedogenic, but often it’s not the oil itself — it is when oils and ingredients become rancid and oxidize that it can cause skin issues. Fresh, stabilized oils in proper formulations can perform very differently.   While we here at NourishUs Naturals do not adhere to the comedogenic scale, our Equalizer line has shown to be great for all skin types. Created without the use of Coconut oil in all except the exfoliant, we use some of our favorite teas, vitamins, and skin-conditioning botanicals that help balance and nourish the skin, and is gentle enough for sensitive skin… but remember to patch test first!  How to Patch Test for Pore Congestion (Comedogenicity): Apply a small amount of the product to an area of skin with active oil glands, such as behind the ear. Leave it on and monitor the area for a few days to see how your skin responds before incorporating it into your routine.  How to Patch Test for Skin Sensitivity: Apply a small amount of the product to a discreet, thinner-skin area such as the inner elbow (crick of the elbow) or behind the knee. Leave it on and observe for a few days for any signs of irritation before full use.    Our Equalizer Line Our favorite teas, vitamins, and nutrients come together to equalize and hydrate skin of all types. Equalizer Cream Facial Cleanser: This light, non-foaming cleanser glides smoothly across the skin and rinses clean, leaving the complexion feeling soft, refreshed, and comfortably conditioned. Always the first step in any skincare routine. Equalizer Facial Exfoliant:  Designed to provide soft, gentle exfoliation while offering a comfortable, hydrated skin feel, featuring Aloe Leaf Juice and Coconut Oil for a smooth, conditioned skin feel. This cream-based formula supports a smooth, refreshed appearance and complements a wide range of skincare preferences.. We highly recommend exfoliating a few times a week, as the second step in your skincare routine.  Equalizer Cream Facial Mask: Focus on hydration retention and balanced skin with this creamy yet lightweight mask. Deliver comforting nourishment with star ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, vegan DMAE, and MSM that make this mask feel truly special. Skin will feel soft, conditioned, and refreshed after this pampering treatment.  Masks and exfoliants aren’t part of the “everyday skincare routine”, but should come after the cleanser, and can be done as frequently or as little as you or your customer pleases.  Equalizer Facial Serum:  A lightweight serum featuring responsibly sourced herbal extracts that help support skin’s natural moisture balance. This creamy, fast-absorbing formula glides on smoothly and leaves the skin feeling soft, comfortable, and conditioned.  Designed to complement any skincare routine, it offers a gentle, hydrating feel suitable for a wide variety of skin preferences. Featuring extracts of Rooibos, Calendula, White Tea, and Lavender, along with sustainably sourced MSM and moisture-supporting Hyaluronic Acid. Unscented for easy customization with your preferred aroma.  An essential part of the everyday skincare routine, this should come as step two or three (depending on if an exfoliant or mask is used).  Equalizer Facial Moisturizer:  A lightweight facial moisturizer enriched with vitamins and herbal extracts to support a soft, hydrated, and well-conditioned skin feel. This smooth, fast-absorbing formula layers beautifully under additional skincare and can be used both day and night.  Featuring botanical extracts and supportive ingredients such as OptiMSM, vegan DMAE, and Hyaluronic Acid, this moisturizer helps enhance the look of refreshed, well-cared-for skin.  Use this morning and night as step three or four (depending on if an exfoliant or mask is used) in your skincare routine. 

Businesses that resell NourishUs Naturals products can avoid sales tax by submitting the appropriate certificates in advance. Sales tax cannot be refunded retroactively. NourishUs Naturals uses Avalara to manage tax collection and recommends customers work with their tax advisors to understand where they may have tax obligations.

We all know that projections and budgets are built on "reality hopeful", but can (& often do) change once company budgets are put into effect and "reality happens". If one researches, knows their customers, and understands their business, their plans should be close. However, when the economy takes an unexpected dip, it's easy to assume consumers will cut back on all non-essentials such as beauty. But history tells a different story. Enter the Lipstick Effect... a term Estée Lauder's Leonard Lauder coined during the early 2000s recession. He noticed that while people were spending less overall, sales of lipstick actually went up. Also, his mother, Estee, created her beauty company during the Great Recession. So, the "lipstick effect" shows that even in tough times, people crave small indulgences that make them feel good. While it's coined for lipstick, it refers to the beauty industry for small items you can take home and use to feel better, such as lovely, scented body wash, creams, lotion, etc. What Is the Lipstick Effect? A psychological and economic phenomenon where consumers continue to spend money on small luxury items during a recession or financial downturn, especially on beauty products. It's about affordable escapism, a feel-good pick-me-up that doesn't break the bank. From the Great Depression to the 2008 recession, beauty sales were consistently proven resilient. Consumers might not have splurged on designer bags, but they could have bought a $20 lipstick. That’s still doable and said to be emotionally satisfying. So why is NourishUs Naturals writing about this? Well, if you're in the business of selling beauty, this should give you hope. Even when wallets tighten, your products still offer value, not just functional but also emotional. Lip balm, eye cream, or a fresh shampoo bottle can feel like a little reset for your customers. How to Lean into the Lipstick Effect Position your products as affordable luxuries. Highlight the feel-good factor. Aromatherapy benefits are just as significant as results. Use storytelling. Remind customers of the confidence and joy beauty can bring. Focus on self-care and small wins. Even a swipe of lip balm or a calming cleanser can be part of a powerful daily ritual. The beauty industry isn't just about appearance; it's also about empowerment. And that empowerment doesn't disappear in hard times; it becomes even more essential. So, keep showing up, keep creating, and keep spreading beauty. Your customers still want it - maybe now more than ever. Beauty is resilient because people are resilient. The Lipstick Effect isn't just an economic theory; it's a reminder that hope, confidence, and joy can be found in even the most minor things. So to all the beauty entrepreneurs out there: don't give up. Your products and brand matter; your customers still reach for that feel-good moment. Let them find it with you.