WHERE DOES THE NAME SORELLA APOTHECARY COME FROM?

The "sorella" in Sorella Apothecary comes from the word "sister" in Italian. The Sorella Apothecary story started with two sisters-in-law on a mission to create a luxury, professional skincare line that infused both the benefits of natural and scientific ingredients. Our co-creators found inspiration from apothecary philosophies of hand choosing ingredients from the apothecary counter and grinding up materials with a mortar and pestle to deliver a unique and powerful remedy for a number of different ailments. Naturally, this is where the "Apothecary" comes from. Together, you get Sorella Apothecary - a skincare line created by sisters and designed to feed your skin and treat your soul!

WHERE ARE SORELLA APOTHECARY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED?

All of our products are manufactured right here in the USA.

WHERE DO YOU SOURCE INGREDIENTS?

Our ingredients are sourced from all over the world.

ARE SORELLA APOTHECARY PRODUCTS VEGAN? HOW ABOUT GLUTEN FREE?

All of our products are cruelty free, paraben and sulfate free but many are also vegan and gluten free!  For our full list of products, see our Vegan and Gluten Free Guide, here.

ARE SORELLA APOTHECARY PRODUCTS ALL NATURAL?

We are a naturally based line, so we use a lot of natural ingredients in the formulation of our products, but we also use some synthetic ingredients. We pride ourselves on being as natural as possible, but sometimes natural isn’t always better. Synthetic ingredients can be made in a purer form than their natural counterpart, which ends up being a safer alternative for some ingredients as this reduces the potential for exposure to chemicals and allergens that can irritate the skin. Synthetic ingredients can also enhance the efficacy and help to stabilize natural ingredients.

Many of our products are over 90% natural (In every product, the percentage of natural ingredients will always be higher than that of synthetic ingredients)!

ARE SORELLA APOTHECARY PRODUCTS SAFE TO USE DURING PREGNANCY?

We recommend you consult your doctor about any potential contraindications that may exist before using our products to ensure the safety of you and your little one. However, it is generally recommended that pregnant women do not use products containing the following ingredients: Salicylic acid (found in the Grapefruit Polishing Powder and the Exfoliate and Heal Chemical Peel), Hydroquinone (found in the Exfoliate and Heal Chemical Peel), and Retinol (found in the All Night Elixir).

DO YOU HAVE HYDROQUINONE IN ANY OF YOUR PRODUCTS?

We have Hydroquinone in our Exfoliate and Heal Chemical Peel.

Hydroquinone has been at the height of controversy due to a flawed study out of South Africa. Despite the controversy, abundant research reports it to be a safe and extremely effective ingredient.

South Africa banned the ingredient many years ago after a study showed that it produced cancer in rats when ingested in very high amounts. The study however, was flawed since the products used also contained mercury and glucocorticoids-among other illegal ingredients. The European Union then followed suit by banning hydroquinone and more bad press followed. However, the FDA saw through the bad press and still considers hydroquinone to be an extremely safe ingredient.

Another very rare association with hydroquinone is a condition known as Ochronosis. This is a reaction where the skin darkens in places where the ingredient has been applied with long term use. Again, this is an extremely rare occurrence and this is also why this ingredient should only be used under the guidance of a professional.

We still use a small percentage (2%) in our Exfoliate and Heal Chemical Peel because of the high abundance of research on the ingredient. Time after time it has shown to be extremely safe and effective.

We only allow this product to be sold to, and administered by a skin care professional.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SUNBLOCK?

Chemical sunscreens contain carbon compounds that absorb harmful UV rays. Chemical sunscreen works by first absorbing into the skin; afterwhich, chemicals will absorb the rays before they are able to damage the skin.

Physical sunscreens work like a barrier to reflect the actual UV rays. Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are the two types of physical blockers. These are minerals that are ground down into a powders. They sit on top of the skin and block the rays instead of absorbing harmful chemicals into the dermis.  All of the Sorella Apothecary SPF products contain a physical block.

THERE IS A LOT OF HYPE AROUND "PEPTIDES".  WHAT EXACTLY ARE PEPTIDES?

Proteins, like collagen and elastin, are very import to the health of skin. Proteins are made up of short chains of amino acids called peptides. Using peptides helps to keep proteins, like collagen and elastin, healthy and abundant in the skin. We use peptides in several of our products!

ARE THERE ANY ADDED FRAGRANCES IN SORELLA APOTHECARY PRODUCTS?

While many of our products are fragranced naturally, some of our products do contain synthetic fragrances that are added to the formulas to enhance the scent of the natural ingredients. Because let’s face it… we like things to smell good! We can ensure the fragrance added to our products are not harmful and will not cause irritation. However, NONE of our synthetic fragrances contain phthalates.

WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF SORELLA APOTHECARY PRODUCTS?

All of our products are recommended to be used within 12 months after opening to ensure best quality.

DO YOU TEST ON ANIMALS?

NO, we do not test on our furry friends and our products are approved by PETA.