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Frequently Asked Questions
Company
PAAVANI means purity in Sanskrit. We believe in sourcing only the purist ingredients to formulate our products. All ingredients are directly from the earth and as natural as products were in the ancient days of India.
Apothecary
We use companies that we know we can trust to provide us with sustainably grown, organic, high-quality ingredients. Mountain Rose Herbs, Banyan Botanicals, Starwest Botanicals, Gary N Sun and DoTerra are the main suppliers of most of our ingredients.
All of our products are handmade in small batches by our team of Ayurvedic Practitioners who carry the deepest intention of spreading the wisdom of Ayurveda, health and wellbeing.
Our products are made in our apothecary in Grass Valley, California.
Although we have not gone through the process of certifying our products as organic, almost all of the ingredients that we source are certified organic or wild harvested, therefore making our products as organic as we possibly can.
With our company still growing and developing, co-owners Leah and Trudy, are completely involved in the entire product making process; form the formulation of products, to the ordering of ingredients, to the herbal medicine making, to the infusion of mantra and sticking of labels. Our passion and love for the wisdom of Ayurveda is infused into every step of our offerings.
All of our products are vegan with the exception of Ghee, which contains organic milk fat.
NO! We believe in the safe and beloved treatment of all beings. We will NEVER test on animals and will NEVER purchase product ingredients tested on animals. ALL products are certified Cruelty Free with PETA.
We recommend using our products within 6 months to a year of purchase. This ensures that the herbs will have the most beneficial action for your skin, body and mind.
To maintain the shelf life of our products we advise our customers to avoid allowing moisture into any of the containers.
*Special caution for the Cleanser & Mask. When using, remember to tap out the Cleanser & Mask into the palm of your hand or into a bowl then add the Floral Water to make a paste. Since we use no preservatives, if water gets into the Cleanser & Mask with the lid sealed, mold may form. If you accidentally get water into your Cleanser & Mask jar, simply keep the lid off for some time to allow the moisture to evaporate and the product to dry. You may close the lid once all moisture is out of the jar.
At PAAVANI, small batch means that products are made with:
🌱 fresh, organic, herbal ingredients = higher potency of plant medicine
🌱 focus on quality over quantity
🌱 loving hands & healing mantras
🌱 an artisanal, herbalist approach in an Ayurvedic apothecary
🌱 love, appreciation & respect for the plant medicine & the land that they come from
🌱 deep reverence for the ancient teachings of Ayurveda
We recommend using our products daily for at least 2 weeks in order to see the luminous benefits of Ayurvedic, all-natural skincare. Although we recommend 2 weeks, you most certainly may see and feel the benefits upon first use.
Packaging
It was a clear decision for us to package everything in glass versus plastic (even our samples are in glass containers), because glass is made of natural ingredients and has a longer shelf life. Glass is also impermeable, therefore it is chemically inert and does not degrade like plastic and leach into the products it is containing. Using glass packaging allows for our products to remain pure and clean.
Since we don't use any preservatives in our products, the brown bottle provides UV filtering properties that are necessary for protecting the shelf-life of the oils.
We believe that it is our responsibility to put the earth first, especially when it comes to our shipping materials. That’s why we use paper packaging tape to secure our packages and ship in boxes and padded envelopes made of 100% recycled materials or even re-use boxes and packaging materials that have been previously sent to us from our container and herb suppliers. Additionally, we have said farewell to recycled plastic bubble wrap and hello to die cut kraft paper to securely wrap and ship all products. This provides a sustainable, biodegradable and recyclable alternative to traditional bubble and also, it makes for a lovely unboxing experience. Thus, you can feel good about purchasing online, knowing that we use earth-friendly practices to package your orders.
Sustainability and cultivating a green business is important to us. Thus, our labels are printed digitally, using water-based inks that generate little to no paper waste and no harmful VOCs. Also, we source our labels from a company that uses wind-generated electricity. Their label printing equipment, lights and even coffee makers are wind powered. Lastly, but definitely not least, our labels are printed on recycled label stock.
Shipping + Returns
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, please feel free to e-mail us at CustomerService@PaavaniAyurveda.com. We will allow for a store credit or exchange within 15 days from the date of purchase. Store credit will honor the cost of the product(s) but will not cover shipping costs. Please make sure the return is in a properly packaged box to ensure no broken bottles.
Send Return to:
PAAVANI Ayurveda
12540 Loma Rica Dr.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
SKIN CARE
To use your PAAVANI Cleanser & Mask as a cleanser, mix 1 tsp of the powder with your PAAVANI Floral Water to create a thin paste. Then apply the paste to your skin in upward, circular strokes. Once your entire face is gently cleansed with the paste, simply rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat dry.
To use your PAAVANI Cleanser & Mask as a mask, blend a larger amount of the herbal powder, about 1 tbsp, with your PAAVANI Floral Water. This will create a thicker paste for your mask. Apply the paste to your skin in gentle, upward strokes and allow the mask to sit until it starts to dry. Leaving the mask on until completely dry is not recommended as it can be over-drying and irritating to the skin. We suggest laying down to rest and/or meditating as the mask dries on the face.
We recommend using Floral Water to receive the greatest benefits from our products; but using tap water, filtered water or any other kind of water may be used instead.
Ayurveda recommends cleansing (cleanser & mask), nourishing (toner) and moisturizing (serum), twice per day, in the AM & PM. You can certainly follow this traditional protocol or you can experiment and see what works best for you, your skin and/or the particular day. For example, maybe you find that you can’t live without this ritual twice per day or maybe you will find that once a day is enough for you and your skin. You may also find that in the morning you like to skip the cleansing process and just splash cool water on your face followed by the PAAVANI Toner and Serum, and save the full 3 step protocol for the evening. If you decide that you would only like to practice this ritual once per day, we believe that it is most important to practice the 3 step skincare ritual in the evening so that your skin can be purified of all the environmental toxins and build-up that have accumulated throughout your day. It is also beneficial for the skin to receive the replenishment and nourishment from the toner and serum prior to getting into bed. This will ensure that you are maximizing your beauty sleep!
An herbal powdered cleanser is the classical Ayurvedic approach to cleansing the face. Ayurveda explains that herbal powders have the ability to gently exfoliate the skin as well as deliver essential vitamins and minerals into the skin’s layers. When you gently exfoliate your skin daily, you assist the skin’s natural process of sloughing off dead skin, making way for fresh, oxygenated skin cells to take its place.
When water is blended with your Serum (oil), the water acts as an emulsifier and allows the oil to not just sit on the surface of the skin but actually penetrate deep within the skin’s layers where it can work to better moisturize, balance and repair. The synergistic blend of water and oil optimally moisturizes, protects and oleates the skin’s layers, providing the ultimate nourishment without leaving an oily residue on your skin. Plus, we find that this allows for less serum to be needed with each use, as the addition of water provides an even distribution of the oil over the surface of the skin.
Your skin may experience a natural detoxification process for the first 2-4 weeks that you are using your PAAVANI skincare products. This process is completely normal and just implies that the earth-based ingredients are doing their job and drawing impurities to the surface of your skin. For example, our Pitta Cleanser & Mask contains detoxifying bentonite clay and neem (among other herbs) which literally pull toxic residue from deep within the skin and to its surface. Once the initial detoxification period is complete, you should start to see and experience a smoother, clearer complexion. If after 4 weeks this is not the case, please discontinue use of the products and contact us, as you may need to explore alternative PAAVANI skincare products or you could have an allergy to one of the ingredients.
Ayurveda recommends warming your Body Oil to a pleasant temperature and massaging it into the skin through a practice called self-abhyanga. Traditionally, you would then allow the oil to absorb into the skin for about 30 minutes prior to taking a shower. Once in the shower, the steam and hot water will open the pores of the skin, helping the Body Oil to penetrate even further into the skin’s layers. An alternative method is to apply your Body Oil after your bath or shower. With this method you will apply the Body Oil while the skin is still moist or slightly damp. This will allow the oil to absorb quickly into the skin. Air drying the body works best, but you can also have a designated robe or towel to use after your abhyanga that you don’t mind getting a bit oily. Make sure that the oil is completely absorbed into the skin prior to getting dressed.
Yes! What you are noticing are the live cultures present within the apple cider vinegar, which is a main beneficial ingredient in this product. Since these cultures are live bacteria they will continue to grow over time. You may notice this as stringy mucous at the bottom of your Clarify Toner or Anti-Itch Remedy. The presence of these cultures only means that the beneficial bacteria in your product(s) have increased, making your product even more potent in its healing actions.
Accessories
Yes! Our PAAVANI Tongue Cleaner is made of 100% copper - a highly revered metal in Ayurveda due to its naturally antimicrobial & antibacterial properties. In ancient Ayurvedic texts, copper is indicated to help heal various ailments such as digestive upset, conditions associated with a weakened immune system & inflammation, just to name a few.
Pure copper is subject to oxidation (the removal of electrons from the copper) which creates discoloration on your tongue cleaner after using it for awhile.
To keep your tongue cleaner looking shiny & new, we suggest occasionally cleaning it following one of our simple methods.
While using your Kansa Wand you may notice a subtle greying of the skin. This is due to the fact that kansa, also known as bronze, transmits electromagnetism which reacts positively when acidity is present. Therefore, if you see the greying effect, it means that you are effectively eliminating excess acid & toxins, while reducing inflammation in the subtle electrical fields that run in the collagen & fascia layers of your skin - which is a good thing!
If greying occurs, simply wipe off the grey oil with a steamed towel & a mild cleanser. Greying will not happen every time, as it depends on how the environment has affected your skin, so don’t worry if you don’t see greying every time.