Refining the formula:

Around 2008, we first developed the basic formula of what was to become the Crème Complete.  We made adjustments over the next year or so, but since then, very little has changed in the formula other than things like: slightly increasing antioxidant content, adjusting essential oil amounts for a better scent, and switching some of the ingredients to organic.

That was almost 15 years ago and we have learned a lot since then. We have learned what people like and dislike, while also learning what makes the Crème Complete good product and what would make it a better product.

In light of better knowledge, we will be making the following adjustments:

•We have switched the Almond oil to organic Jojoba oil.  This makes a slightly less greasy product while also eliminating an allergen (almonds) for many people.

•We have removed the Retinol (Vitamin A).  Retinol can be an irritant to some people, but we never put much in the product anyway; it was initially added to provide minor supplementation for the skin.  We have come to believe the amount we use doesn't really provide many of the benefits people associate with standard retinol serums, and could give a negative impression to people who would rather not have the Retinol in the product.  Also, Retinol needs a higher PH level to be most effective, which is higher than the Crème Complete. There are plenty of Retinol creams on the market that people can use (and we may eventually offer one of our own).

•While eliminating the Retinol, we have increased the Vitamin D and Biotin amounts.

•We have also increased Resveratrol by about 10%.  (This has happened incrementally over the past year)

•We have increased the Alpha Lipoic Acid by about 5% (also incrementally over the past year).

•We have switched to a better form of Vitamin C: L-Hexuron (or Ethyl-L-Ascorbic Acid).  We have traditionally used just plain Ascorbic Acid, which is a great form of bioactive Vitamin C, but it is unstable: it degrades when exposed to air and water (aloe vera in our case), eventually becoming a possible irritant to skin.  It will also cause the whole product to darken with time. So, we have switched the Vitamin C to 3-O-Ethyl-L-Ascorbic Acid.  Ethyl-L-Ascorbic Acid is a superior Vitamin C derivative. It is very stable, and is easily converted to Ascorbic Acid by enzymes in the skin.  

•PH Level.  The PH of the skin is around 4.7-5.5.  To interest of customers using the Crème Complete for Lichen Sclerous, the PH of the skin around the vagina is a little less.  Switching from ascorbic acid to Ethyl-L-Ascorbic Acid will cause the PH of the Crème Complete to be less acidic and closer to the actual PH of the skin as a whole, and also closer to the PH of the vaginal area.

•Essential oils.  After consulting with about ten different companies, we found an organic skin care product formulator and manufacturer we connected with.  We let her tinker with our essential oil combination and selection, and we are switching the essential oils to a combination of: Ylang Ylang, Rose, Lavender (South African), Clary Sage, and Roman Chamomile. 

•A natural preservative:  All water-based (and aloe vera based) creams are prone to bacterial, yeast, and fungal growth.  Up until now, we have relied on essential oils and the potassium sorbate (which comes in the cold pressed aloe vera we use) to act as the preservative in our products.  But a person can use a jar of the Crème Complete for months, possibly contaminating it with every use.  And as more people use the Crème Complete, we feel the need to be more intentional with making sure we provide a product that can withstand contamination. This is especially important for people who use the Crème Complete for Lichen Sclerosus.

•Some essential oils contain compound(s) that are naturally antimicrobial.  One of those compounds is benzyl alcohol. One natural preservative formula that uses benzyl alcohol is NipaGuard® SCA. NipaGuard® SCA is a mild, natural preservative system that is approved by Whole Foods and meets COSMOS and ECOCERT (International Natural/Organic Product Certification) standards.  It is effective at very low concentrations.  This also means we can cut back substantially on the amount of essential oil in the Crème Complete.