I offer a sunscreen, a fabulous recipe I came up with, a product that I have tested and used and have had terrific success with. I recently made a poor choice to purchase an ingredient from a different source and made a batch to sell at market. I spoke with many about the wonderful product I had but thankfully only one person bought the sunscreen from me. This sunscreen was made with a coconut oil I recently purchased. It was not the quality or type of oil I preferred and it made a product I do not like at all.
Here is the story.
I purchase the ingredients for my natural care product recipes from several sources. I am always trying to stay as local as possible with all I purchase, but some items I need to get online. I have found the few sources I need for those items to be very natural, healthy and reasonable. Some ingredients can get very pricey and I try to make cost as low as I can so as to give the customer an opportunity to get a healthy natural product of fine quality at a fair price.
Recently I thought I came across a source for Coconut Oil that offered a terrific price and was a company where I had obtained other ingredients and was very pleased. I ordered the oil and used it to make the sunscreen just before coming to market last weekend. I thought it was okay, then as we were at the stand it started to look wrong. I noticed the longer we were there the more the sunscreen looked as if it were separating and not blended properly. I thought maybe the temperature was effecting the sunscreen but I knew this hadn't happened before.
By time I got home and unpacked I realized the sunscreen I had made was all separating and not at all a product I feel good about selling. I am not sure if it will even be as protective, and this was really disappointing. I had many people purchase other products from me but there was only one who purchased the sunscreen, I hope I find them some time soon and am able to explain to them what happened and make it right.
After repeated discussions back and forth with a representative from my source we realized this coconut oil I had purchased was processed, not virgin or organic like I thought. The process alters the structure and effect of this oil in recipes. I could not have made my smooth creamy sunscreen with this oil. Mystery solved, adjustment made, new oil ordered...but I am so disappointed this happened.
I attempt to create products I can be proud of. I offer items I have tried and use and know work terrific. This is the only way I can sell anything. I am not a salesman type who feels comfortable selling anything I do not fully believe in.
From now on I will stick to my tried and true ingredients, from the sources I know clearly what I am getting and that I know for sure work as expected. I hope to have a fresh batch of sunscreen this week or next, it will depend on when I receive my shipments. In the mean time if you have that bottle of sunscreen, please bring it to me at the market, I am glad to offer you a replacement, even larger in size, of a much better product and my sincere apologies!
Thank you for taking the time to read about my mishap.
Here's to better products from here on out!
Take care
BettyK
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