Question Are you stocked in a store anywhere?
Question Are your products completely Natural?
Question Who is Ethique?
Question What differences will I notice with your products?
Question How are your products Eco-friendly?
Question Do you use fragrance or essential oils?
Question How do we contact you?
Question What are your aims?
Question Why go Solid?
Question Where are you?
Question What awards/recognition do you have?
Question Do you use Bases?
Question Shipping? International Shipping?
Question How Long Can I Expect My Order to Take?
Question What are your categories?!
Question Do You use preservatives?

Want to know more about ingredients?  Read here about some common misconceptions!


Question  Are you stocked in a store anywhere?
Answer     Yes!
We are now stocked in SAFE's cruelty free store in Auckland, as well as Piko Wholefoods in Christchurch!
More to come.
 

Question  Are your products completely Natural?
Answer     No such thing as a skincare product that is completely natural- unless it is something like a balm made just of butters and oils.
All creams/lotions must use emulsifiers and preservatives to ensure it is stable and lasts longer than a week. Do not make the mistake of thinking natural means healthy, or that chemicals are all bad. Water is a chemical (with the oh so scary sounding name of di hydrogen monoxide) whereas the horrendous poison Belladonna is a plant! So completely natural does not mean safe.

A product which has a greater percentage of healthy ingredients (all ours are), backed up by a safe and effective preservative (ours is both, used at a minimal 0.3-0.7%) is a much safer product than something that is unpreserved. Badly, or unpreserved products can lead to terrible infections from fungi and bacteria- not fun.
 

Question  Who is Ethique?
Answer       Ethique was founded and is mainly run by Brianne West (Me). I'm a young University Student (Chemistry and Biology) and I started Ethique after months and months of research and frustration. I am supported and helped tremendously by my Parents, my boyfriend and numerous other wonderful friends who have helped since Ethique's inception.
 

Question  What differences will I notice with your products?
Answer     Mass made products are often petroleum by-products and water. They are weak, watery and devoid of nutrients causing your skin to develop allergies, rashes, eczema and dryness. It is a never-ending cycle.

Our products however are full of great oils, rich butters, nutrient boosting fruit and botanical extracts and pure essential oils.

Our creams are richer and leave your skin hydrated longer. Our cleansers are gentle but more effective, with no 'tight' feeling. They are gentle enough for young skin, yet beneficial on troubled skin. They will last longer, smell different (yet not unpleasant,) have odd colours, and they probably won't be perfectly shaped.

You will love the difference.
 

Question  How are your products Eco-friendly?
Answer     The environment and the animals in it are our primary concern. With that in mind we do all we can to help the environment (along with monthly donations to both WSPA and Greenpeace from Ethique's profits), by using recycled and recyclable packaging (and as little of it as possible), biodegradable ingredients, running our office on recycled paper, reusing as much as possible and making our products by hand- using elbow grease not machinery!

Our major supplier is fantastic and only sources renewable, sustainable and eco-friendly ingredients which takes the hard work out of it for us!

We are also pleased to announce that our solid products are now wrapped in entirely water soluble paper! Simple take the product, wrapping and all in the shower and watch as it dissolves completely! Completely biodegradable and eco-friendly!

We have future plans to have our containers made out of a sugar polymer (like the 'good' water out in stores) and our solid products are fantastic

Our Cause Tees are in the works (watch this space) and they will do some amazing things.

Oh and we are now certified cruelty free by crueltyfree.org.au. This is a big deal with a rigorous certification test so we are very happy!

Recently certified Climate neutral too!
 

Question  Do you use fragrance or essential oils?
Answer     We use predominantly essential oils, and only these on facial, or speciality care products. Our customers have demanded us use fragrance oils in a minority of products such as scrubs and lotions. The amount is minimal and there is always at least one essential oil alternative in every product.
 

Question  How do we contact you?
Answer     info@ethique.co.nz or brianne@ethiquenz.com
 

Question  What are your aims?
Answer     Our aims are simple. We want a fun, but fantastic range of body care products that is affordable for both the consumer and the environment.

We won't have anything to do with animal testing, nor over-the-top packaging, nor non-biodegradable ingredients. We also aim to remove as many preservatives as possible from our range.

We do liquid shampoos- but prefer bars that last three times as long as a bottle, require no preservative and are better for the hair. Our massage and body butter bars are the same.

We have an ethical and environmental conscience and will never give that up.
 

Question  Why go Solid?
Answer     Good question. There are so many benefits to solid products.

1) They last up to 5 times longer than bottled goods. They are super concentrated and deliver an enormous amount of nutrients each use. One shampoo bar will last a family of three up to three months. A bottle most certainly wouldn't.

2) They require very little packaging.

3) They don't require preservatives= so great for the environment and your health.

4) They are easy peasy to use. Don't be put off with something new- you will love them!
 

Question  Where are you?
Answer     We are situated in Christchurch, New Zealand. We also frequent local markets so come down and see us. Flick us an email and we will let you know the next location.
 

Question  What awards/recognition do you have?
Answer     We are newly certified Climate Neutral (watch for the logo on our bottles etc) by climatefriendly.com

Also certified Cruelty free by choosecrueltyfree.org.au.

We were also recently a finalist in www.thedavidawards.co.nz in most socially responsible business! That was in less than a year up and running and out of 90 contestants!! It'll be interesting to see how this year goes.
 

Question  Do you use Bases?
Answer     Nope. I won't buy bulk bases from anywhere and then repackage to sell.
I love formulating and testing and making a product that is entirely my own!
 

Question  Shipping? International Shipping?
Answer     We ship everywhere- there are four options to choose from when you get to the checkout. For sample orders (samples only!) its $3.50 and goes with nzpost. Should take 3-5 days.

Normal orders cost $8 (sorry! cheapest we can do for such a good service) and are delivered by post haste the day after they are dispatched.

International Orders go with an international courier and price depends on region.
 

Question  How Long Can I Expect My Order to Take?
Answer     I endeavour to get your order out asap, but unfortunately I am a one-woman band and I also study full-time at Uni so I'm very busy!
Orders are shipped within 10 working days from the date of payment received. We don't guarantee courier delivery within this time as they are occasionally delayed or misplaced but we always send you a replacement if this is the case! You can check out the status of your order by logging in and going to 'track order' at the top.
 

Question  What are your categories?!
Answer     We like to be unique!
Fair of Face- Our usual range of face care products.
Body Beautiful- All body creams, lotion bars etc.
Squeaky Clean- Everything to do with bathing/showering!
Lock Love- Hair care
Urban Male- For the men.
Healthy Home- Products for your home. Room spritzs, cleaning products etc.
Pure Parties- Our great home spa parties!
Wholesale- Self explanatory.
 

Question  Do you use Preservatives?
Answer     Absolutely. And if you value your health you would also.
We use preservatives; as of course, should any considerate, educated cosmetics producer. The most dangerous bacteria and fungi on the planet love to live in your lotions and potions- Botulism and Staphylococcus among them. That’s why they must be preserved to prevent serious infections or illness. Saying that though, we do believe that Parabens and Formaldehyde donors are best avoided and we use a well tested, eco-cert approved preservative. (See below.)

There is a lot of misinformation out there, making people wary of everyday chemicals like Di-hydrogen monoxide (water), and exposing themselves to dangerous, ‘preservative free’ formulations. There are many, many
preservatives out there that are ‘natural’. Grapefruit Seed Extract is probably the most well-known. A lot of controversy has surrounded it as it has been proven that most GSE was contaminated with Parabens and other chemicals such as triclosan in the refinement process. Tests were completed a short while after that showed absolutely no preservative capabilities when uncontaminated.
There is a company that bring out entirely natural preservatives titled, “Neopein, Biopein” and their newest, “Suprapein.” Yes we investigated but found the odour was so strong that our testers had trouble getting over it. They are also tremendous sensitisers ensuring that our clients with sensitive skin could not use them.

So our preservative is ecocert approved, and is comprised of two ingredients. Dehydroxyacetic acid is derived from salt, is very gentle and is not carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic (means its perfectly safe.) Benzyl Alcohol is safe in much, much higher concentrations than we use internally, let alone on the skin, so it is more than safe. They are mild, naturally derived and very effective. We use them at 0.7% and less. If you are of a scientific bent you may wish to look up their MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets.) We were happy with it- so we are sure you will be.