FAQ
Botanical Oils
Why do we use Jojoba Oil?
Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax ester that closely resembles human sebum. It helps balance the skin, improves hydration, and supports the skin barrier while providing excellent stability in our formulations.
Why do we use Calendula Extract?
Calendula has a long history of traditional use for sensitive skin. Modern research suggests it contains compounds that help soothe the skin and support a healthy skin barrier. We use calendula flowers, calendula extract oil, and calendula CO2 extract.
Why do we use Squalane?
We use olive-derived squalane because it is lightweight, non-greasy, and biomimetic, meaning it closely resembles the skin's natural lipids. It helps reduce moisture loss, supports the skin barrier, and leaves skin feeling soft without clogging pores.
Why do we use Borage Seed Oil?
Borage oil is one of the richest natural sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that helps support the skin barrier and soothe dry, irritated, or sensitive skin.
Why do we use Safflower Oil?
High-linoleic safflower oil is lightweight and helps reinforce the skin barrier while providing hydration without leaving a heavy feel. It pairs particularly well with acne-prone and combination skin.
Why do we use Sea Buckthorn Oil?
Sea buckthorn oil contains carotenoids, tocopherols, and fatty acids, including the uncommon omega-7 palmitoleic acid, which help nourish the skin and support barrier function.
Why do we use Rosehip Oil?
Rosehip oil is naturally rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants that help support healthy-looking skin and improve the appearance of uneven skin tone while complementing the skin's natural renewal process.
Why do we use Tamanu Oil?
Tamanu oil is valued for its rich composition of fatty acids and antioxidants. It helps nourish dry skin and is commonly used in products formulated to support the appearance of stressed or blemish-prone skin.
Why do we use Prickly Pear Seed Oil?
Prickly pear seed oil contains naturally occurring vitamin E, phytosterols, and linoleic acid that help support hydration and protect the skin from oxidative stress.
Suet Rendered Tallow
Does tallow clog pores?
There isn't a single answer that applies to everyone. Skin responds differently depending on the individual and the complete formula of the product you use. That's why we combine tallow with lightweight oils and other carefully selected ingredients to create balanced products for your skin.
Why does Rooted Clinical Botanics use suet grass-fed tallow?
We use suet grass-fed tallow because it provides a rich, nourishing foundation that pairs exceptionally well with carefully selected botanical ingredients. Rather than relying on a single ingredient, we formulate products where every ingredient serves a purpose for your skin.
Is suet rendered tallow suitable for all skin types?
Suet rendered grass-fed tallow is widely used in skincare because of its emollient properties and skin-compatible lipids. Every person's skin is unique, so we recommend patch testing any new skincare product before regular use.
Is your tallow ethically sourced?
Yes. We source high-quality suet grass-fed beef tallow from farmers around the U.S., reliable suppliers that value responsible farming and quality ingredients.
Why doesn't Rooted Clinical Botanics use only tallow on their products?
We believe great skincare comes from thoughtful formulation. While tallow is an excellent foundation, ingredients such as squalane, jojoba oil, calendula, manuka honey, niacinamide and botanical extracts each contribute unique properties that complement one another to help your skin achieve better results.
Manuka Honey
Is Manuka honey the same as regular honey?
No. Manuka honey comes primarily from the nectar of the Manuka shrub in New Zealand and has a different natural composition than most traditional honeys.
Why do you use a true emulsion?
Honey is water-soluble, while oils and tallow are not. A true emulsion allows these ingredients to remain evenly dispersed throughout the product, providing consistent texture and application.
Why not simply mix honey into tallow without water?
Without proper emulsification, honey and oils naturally separate over time. Creating a stable emulsion helps ensure the ingredients remain evenly distributed throughout the cream.
Can Manuka honey replace a moisturizer?
Manuka honey is an excellent humectant, but we believe it performs best when combined with emollients and skin-conditioning ingredients in a complete formulation.
Can you remove Manuka Honey?
We offer whipped body butter without manuka honey that are not emulsify.
Niacinamide
Is niacinamide oil soluble or water soluble?
Niacinamide is water-soluble. Because it is water-soluble, it cannot dissolve in tallow, oils, butters, or balms.
What is niacinamide?
Niacinamide is the active form of Vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin that supports healthy skin function and is widely used in modern skincare.
Is niacinamide good for sensitive skin?
Yes. Niacinamide is generally well tolerated and is commonly recommended for sensitive, dry, oily, combination, and mature skin. Lower concentrations (around 2–5%) are often sufficient to provide benefits while minimizing the chance of irritation.
Can niacinamide be used with Vitamin C?
Yes. Current dermatologic evidence supports using niacinamide and Vitamin C together. These ingredients complement one another by providing antioxidant support while promoting a brighter, healthier-looking complexion.
Why do we use niacinamide?
We include niacinamide because it is one of the most versatile skincare ingredients available. It helps support the skin barrier, promotes a more even-looking complexion, improves the appearance of fine lines, and contributes to healthier-looking skin—all while being gentle enough for most skin types.
THDA (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) - Vitamin C
What is THDA Vitamin C?
THDA (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) is an advanced oil-soluble derivative of Vitamin C used in premium skincare for its stability, antioxidant support, and skin-conditioning properties.
Why doesn't Rooted Clinical Botanics use regular Vitamin C?
Traditional L-Ascorbic Acid is highly effective but requires an acidic environment and can be less stable. THDA offers excellent stability and integrates beautifully into our nourishing oil-rich face oils, balms, butters and creams.
Is THDA gentle on the skin?
THDA is generally well tolerated and is often chosen for formulations designed for sensitive or dry skin.
Can THDA be used with Niacinamide?
Yes. Modern formulations commonly combine THDA with niacinamide because they complement each other and support healthier-looking skin.
Does Vitamin C brighten skin?
Vitamin C is widely recognized for helping improve the appearance of dullness and uneven skin tone while promoting a brighter-looking complexion.
Is THDA oil-soluble?
Yes. Unlike traditional L-Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C, THDA is oil-soluble, making it especially suitable for rich botanical creams and emulsions.
Coenzyme CoQ10
What is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)?
Coenzyme Q10 (also known as Ubiquinone) is a naturally occurring, fat-soluble antioxidant found in every cell of the body, including the skin. It plays an important role in protecting the skin from oxidative stress while supporting normal cellular energy production.
Why do we use Coenzyme Q10 in our formulations?
We include CoQ10 because it is an oil-soluble antioxidant that blends beautifully with our nourishing tallow and botanical face oils. Scientific research has shown that topical CoQ10 helps support the skin's antioxidant defenses and improves the appearance of visible signs of aging.
Is Coenzyme Q10 suitable for sensitive skin?
CoQ10 is generally well tolerated by most skin types, including dry and sensitive skin. It is commonly used in skincare products designed to support the skin barrier and protect against environmental stressors. As with any cosmetic product, we recommend performing a patch test before first use.
Which product of Rooted Clinical Botanics Contain this ingredient?
This ingredient is used on our Manuka Repair Cream, and our face oils.
Can Coenzyme Q10 be used with Vitamin C and Niacinamide?
Yes. CoQ10 pairs well with ingredients like THDA (oil-soluble Vitamin C) and Niacinamide because they provide complementary antioxidant and skin-supportive benefits. Together, these ingredients help support healthier-looking skin and defend against oxidative stress.
Why is Coenzyme Q10 ideal for oil-based skincare?
Unlike many active ingredients, CoQ10 is naturally oil-soluble, allowing it to dissolve evenly into rich oils, butters, and tallow-based formulations. This makes it an excellent choice for nourishing balms, creams, face oils, and body butters while delivering antioxidant support directly through the oil phase.
Colloidal Oatmeal
What is Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is made by finely milling whole oat kernels into an ultra-fine powder that disperses evenly in water. It contains naturally occurring beta-glucans, lipids, proteins, starches, and antioxidant compounds called avenanthramides, all of which contribute to its well-known skin-supporting properties.
Why is colloidal oatmeal used in skincare?
Colloidal oatmeal is widely used to help support the skin's natural moisture barrier, improve hydration, and leave dry, sensitive skin feeling more comfortable. Its unique composition makes it one of the most extensively researched botanical ingredients used in skincare.
Is colloidal oatmeal suitable for sensitive skin?
For most people, yes. Colloidal oatmeal is commonly included in products formulated for dry and sensitive skin because of its excellent skin compatibility. However, anyone with a known oat allergy should consult a healthcare professional before using products containing oat-derived ingredients.
Is colloidal oatmeal FDA approved?
The finished cosmetic products that contain colloidal oatmeal are not FDA approved. However, colloidal oatmeal is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant active ingredient when used according to the FDA's OTC Skin Protectant Monograph. This recognition reflects its long history of safe and effective use in qualifying OTC skin protectant products.
What makes colloidal oatmeal different from regular oatmeal?
Although they come from the same oat grain, colloidal oatmeal is specially processed into an ultra-fine powder that disperses evenly in water and skincare formulations. This allows its naturally occurring beneficial components to interact more effectively with the skin than ordinary rolled or ground oats.
Can I use colloidal oatmeal if I have a dairy allergy, lactose intolerance, or an oat allergy?
Colloidal oatmeal is naturally dairy-free and does not contain milk or lactose, so a dairy allergy or lactose intolerance does not automatically mean you need to avoid it. However, if you have a known oat allergy, you should avoid products containing colloidal oatmeal unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise. If you have sensitive skin or are unsure how your skin may react, perform a patch test before applying a new product.
Please contact me before buying our products and share your allergy with me, I can make a batch without this ingredient just for you.
If you have bought one of my products, forgot to reach out, please make sure to perform a patch test before using.