Hi! I am Karen Rysavy. I hand-craft all Re-Dew natural body products and cosmetics myself, very thoughtfully, according to recipes that I personally created. I have spent years testing and improving the products that I proudly make available to you now, using:
- NO Parabens
- NO Phthalates
- NO Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
- NO Silicones
- NO Sulfates such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a.k.a. “SLS”, Sodium dodecyl sulfate, or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a.k.a. SLES, its slightly less evil cousin.
- NO products that I find “questionable”(safety questions or ecological concerns, etc.)
I do my utmost to avoid harmful substances (though I do offer artificial fragrances in some products). I choose my ingredients and suppliers very carefully and I avoid unnecessary additives or fillers, to reduce packaging waste. I don’t use any pre-made bases, or take other shortcuts, and I follow or exceed Good Manufacturing Practices (industry standards) and State and Federal laws at all times.
HOW
Raw, Organic & Natural – First
I choose raw and unrefined products wherever I safely can (such as fair-trade African shea and mango butters). I buy them in small quantities and carefully refine the raw ones myself at low temperatures, to preserve their natural goodness. I only use high quality, pure essential oils and base oils. Not all of my ingredients are organic, but when I can (or more importantly, when I think that I should, based on current common growing and manufacturing processes) source things organically, I do so.
I prioritize quality and health first and foremost, at all times, and produce all of my products at or above professional standards. I encourage you to web-search product ingredients found on the labels of my products (as well as any other products that you use regularly – ESPECIALLY the other labels!), and to then make more informed choices about what you are/are not willing to introduce into your body and bloodstream on an ongoing basis.
“Additives” – are good, sometimes
One example: Cocamidopropyl betaine is a derivative of cocamide and glycine betaine. In other (more normal) words, it is made from coconut oil. It gently cleanses skin/hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed off. Its pH range contributes a mild germicidal effect as well as loads of lather, so I consider it a beneficial additive to my shampoos and liquid soaps. It is called out as “all natural” by many, but I won’t go that far myself since it is a highly processed DERIVATIVE of coconuts, at best. There are some concerns, but mostly regarding possible contaminants. I choose my suppliers carefully, to mitigate that risk.
There are some other things I use that are only “derived” from natural products, but worth using. My favorites in this category are Panthenol (also known as Pro-Vitamin B5), Honeyquat aka Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey (honey with the sticky removed), Hydrolyzed Oats, and Silk Amino Acids (from empty silkworm cocoons). I have had a great time refining my choices in the products that I proudly offer you now.
Preservatives – only as needed
All-natural sounds lovely – until you realize that flesh-eating bacteria is “natural”, too … EEK! Preservatives are a necessary component in water (or aloe, etc.) based formulas (creamy lotions, body sprays, shampoos and conditioners, etc.). A lot of companies that loudly proclaim “No Preservatives” simply do not offer these types of products, which I consider a cop-out. I am just not ready to do without a pump-able lotion or creamy hair conditioner, so I do use carefully chosen, “green” preservatives in these products. In oil-based formulas (such as body butters, deodorant, salves. lip balms) and in products like soap with a very high PH value, preservatives can be safely omitted.
WHY
WHY do I hand-craft body products and natural cosmetics? Just look at those faces! These are my eldest “GrandAngels” and I want to provide them with the healthiest choices in all things.
I was born in 1965, a true child of the 70’s, and remain a proud “old hippie” with all that entails. I grew up in Maine, where frugality is just common sense, and I have been living the principles of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle for far longer than it has been called that. I remember helping (probably more like watching and getting in the way) the older sisters of my friends make their own cosmetics, but back then, mail-order was a rarity, and decent ingredients were almost impossible to source.
These days – well, things have CHANGED! I can now make products that are chock-full of healthy ingredients that work BETTER than the ones in the store, unlike the results we were able to obtain back in the ‘good ole days’. That’s really important, because the skin is the largest organ in the body. It works incredibly well, which means that most of whatever you put on it ends up going into your bloodstream.
I started this quest just for “me and mine”, after I decided I couldn’t afford to actually buy the few products I could both find locally, and which I approved of. Once I started proudly gifting my finished products to friends, it became obvious that they were very willing to pay for my stuff, if only I would make enough of it.
By marketing my products directly (locally, online, and via word of mouth, but not in retail stores) I can sell them for only a little more than you would spend on their “regular” (read that: full of harmful, nasty chemicals) counterparts in the grocery store – and usually for far less than you will find them in health food stores or salons. Once you try them, you will see just how well they work, and how good you feel using them, and I have every confidence that you will be back for more…. win-win for both of us.
