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IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Plant-derived ingredients call for a bit more attention. They have a life span, deteriorate and break down quite rapidly.
That is not a bad thing.

It’s also what makes natural ingredients difficult to test, rate and regulate. In the convenient chemical model, one batch result ensures dependability with identical formulation. With real ingredients, as with all agriculture, how and where the plant was grown, harvested, processed, stored, weather and everything else influence quality and value. Any reading— SPF being one example— is only general and approximate.

Heat destroys essential oils.

They don’t have to be kept in the fridge, but store out of direct sunlight in a cool spot. If you leave them in the sun in a closed car on a paved lot it’s all over.

Attention Please:

USE AS NEEDED, avoiding eye area, mouth and nostrils. Essential oils are not generally recommended for pregnant women, or for those with serious health concerns (epilepsy, for example). If in doubt, please consult your doctor before use. Allergic reactions are possible with all products, and applying a small amount to the inner wrist or arm as a skin test is recommended. redclay.me wares are NOT CLINICALLY TESTED, and are FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. They are not offered as a cure for any condition. redclay.me ingredients are carefully, responsibly sourced from reputable producers and suppliers. The wares are made in small batches, using only essential oil preservatives. USE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE.

Please Note:

New ingredients this year include Pomelo essential oil, reputed to be effective against ticks. Pomelo is one (non-phototoxic) parent of the modern grapefruit. Being somewhat rare, the fruit oil has not been studied for contraindication with some cholesterol drugs.
Although amounts of pomelo essential oil would be ‘trace’ in the final dilution, used and prepared as directed (in the case of the concentrate), and since grapefruit and pomelo are related, caution is advised.
If you are taking cholesterol management drugs, please seek medical advice before use.

Reuse your bottle and save the world, maybe.

Glass bottles are the new normal. Yes they can break, but don’t have to, with some care and attention. They can be used multiple times and are less likely to end up in the ocean.

For those who have been using BUG SCREEN for years, apologies for the aluminum bottles not being reusable. They were the best RECYCLABLE solution at the time, but they are NOT REUSABLE for BUG SCREEN. Reuse them for something, but not with essential oils or any other volatile substance on the skin. The epoxy lining dissolves into the solution by year 2, which is unpleasant to think about.

If you have a BUG SCREEN aluminum bottle, or say you do (attaching a photo is optional) send an email when ordering refills, a NEW! IMPROVED! amber glass bottle will be included with your refill as thanks for your continuing support .

To save waste, printing is limited.

Instruction PDF for DIY BUG SCREEN refill: LINK

HERE

and then there's the sun, SPF and everything

Sun Protection Factor ratings depend entirely on how products are tested;

predictable SPF ratings are possible only with the use of chemicals strong enough to damage coral reefs., even diluted in the ocean. There is also some speculation that high SPF sunscreen use could interfere with the assimilation of Vitamin D. It’s also worth noting that since sunscreens became The Thing, skin cancer rates have not declined.

Further reading:

https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/sunlight-and-vitamin-d-theyre-not-the-same-thing/#comments

Additional Information

INGREDIENT LIST FOR 2020 PROJECT reported benefits and uses

organic cold-pressed mango butter
soothing, moisturizing, and protective properties, vitamins A, C and E, essential fatty acids, natural antioxidants, oleic and stearic acids light protection against harmful UV rays

organically crafted cold pressed Kokum Butter
used extensively for damaged skin, citric acid and vitamin E, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, anti-bacterial, non-comedogenic, up to 80% Stearic-Oleic-Stearic triglycerides, readily absorbed

organically crafted cold-pressed Buriti Oil
from the seed of what’s known as "tree of life" because of the oil’s soothing and reviving properties, vitamin E. It’s the richest source of natural beta-carotene (Vitamin A) known, neutralizes free radicals from pollution, softens the effects of sunburn, Omegas 3, 6 and 9, antioxidants

wildcrafted cloudberry oil
Oleic, Linoleic and Alpha-linolenic acids, Vitamin E and plant sterols, antioxidants like carotenoids that may help increase protection against UV rays, phytosterols that may help strengthen cell membranes, vitamin C antioxidant, benzoic acid, a natural preservative

organic unrefined cold pressed red raspberry seed oil
protective and healing, calming and soothing, essential fatty acids, vitamins A and E., antioxidants, tocopherols and tocotrienols, ellagitannins, UVA & UVB blocking properties, linolenic acid. SPF 28 – 50

organic unrefined cold pressed Cranberry Seed Oil
balance of Omega 3-6-9 fatty acids rare in natural oils, antioxidant, eight forms of Vitamin E Tocopherols and Tocotrienols., Carotenoid forms of antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, mild sunscreen

organic cold pressed carrot seed oil
carotenoids, antioxidant protection from UV and elemental damage. SPF between 38 and 40, organic wildcrafted cold pressed bacuri butter traditionally used against insect bites, treatment of skin problems, rich in essential amino acid, Methionine, the body's primary source of sulphur

organic olive squalane
hydrates and protects, regenerates cells, anti bacterial properties, stimulates blood circulation, antioxidant

zinc oxide

non-nano mineral rosemary antioxidant, coconut-based distributing agent

ESSENTIAL OILS of:
backhousia, basil, calendula, catnip, cedarwood, eucalyptus, helichrysum, lavender, peppermint, mastic, melissa, nutmeg, patchouli, pomelo, vanilla, white camphor, wild turmeric

A FEW LINKS

Interesting information:

https://essentialoils.org/

https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/default.asp

Tisserand Institute:

https://tisserandinstitute.org/

Robert Tisserand's blog:

https://roberttisserand.com/blog/

Nature's Gift blog:

http://naturesgiftaromatherapy.blogspot.com/

The Environmental Working Group's SKIN DEEP database is a constant reference:
https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
You can look up most commercial products to get a sense of their safety.

article about how essential oils work:

https://phytovolatilome.com/how-essential-oils-work/

fun reading:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24449446/

Old article, still relevant:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm