FAQ

Common Questions

General questions

To make an online order you must follow these steps:

  1. Choose the item(s) you want to purchase. Tip: Use the Online Store Search Tool or your browser to find what you are looking for.
  2. Add the item(s) to your shopping cart and your purchase will be begin.
  3. Check the status of your shopping cart on the upper right side of your screen
  4. When you are done selecting the items you want to purchase, click the shopping cart icon and select Complete purchase. Tip:If you have a coupon or a promotion code, this is the time to insert it.
  5. Choose the option Payment.
  6. Complete your purchase by filling in all the personal info fields, such as, billing address, delivery address, delivery method, payment method, and then select Confirm Purchase.
  7. You may create an Unii account to have your details in a future purchase in our webshop.

Online payments can be made by using PayPal, bank transfer or through an ATM reference code or mbway.

The confirmation is issued automatically. In case you do not receive it, please contact us via de email address online@uniiorganic.com

Once your payment has been properly verified and received, your order will be expedited at a maximum of 5 business days.

You can only cancel orders that have not been expedited.

In case you wish to cancel an order you must send us an email to the following address online@uniiorganic.com.

When you receive your order, you must check if the packaging and product are damaged.

In case they are damaged, you should not accept the order and it should be returned.

Organii will then proceed with a full refund or exchange of the damaged items for new ones, as soon as the returned order is received and the return process is completed.

For more information on our “Complaint and Return Policy”, please check our Privacy Policy section.

 

You can receive information on our products via the email online@uniiorganic.com or through our telephone number +351 912932221.

Yes!  Unii is a brand that is organic certified Cosmetics by COSMOS label, is vegan and also cruelty-free.

COSMOS is an independent certifier that came to the UNII factory to certify not only the raw materials, but all the processes, storage and cleaning methods and the very manufacture of all its products. So COSMOS is a guarantee that our products are really organic and so are their manufacturing processes. It’s a guarantee of our organic quality!

YES! Every Unii product is vegan and cruelty free. We guarantee that no animal product is used in our products. And all the raw materials and process don´t make any harm to animals. For a organic product to be certified it must abide by these rules (among others): no animal testing on the final product, and no animal testing on any of the raw materials used to compose the final product.

No, we are a family company, 100% Portuguese and with no other holdings in any economic group.

No. We do not sell to China or any other country where animal testing is required to sell cosmetic products. We are against animal testing and therefore do not compromise what we believe in to enter any market.

We have an agreement to carry out Master’s theses with Instituto Superior Técnico and Faculdade Nova de Lisboa. If you do not belong to any of these entities, you can always send an email to comercial@unibio.pt and we can discuss the project.

Today, organic cosmetics has a wide range of brands and personal hygiene products that come from organic ingredients grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides, allowing the extraction of more pure and active extracts. Brands and manufacturers who are serious about these products strive to make its fabrication process as natural as possible and reduce the environmental impact to the very least. To do so, they refrain from using genetically modified ingredients, fragrances, synthetic preservatives and coloring, and chemical additives that are harmful for health and the environment. By reducing the chemical aspect on the ingredients, they will be more authentic and lead to a better and more pure final product, and, consequently, a more effective product.

Organic cosmetics:

  • uses cold-pressure vegetable oils with 100% purity, essential oils and active ingredients (plant extracts) from organic-agriculture or wild agriculture;
  • uses emulsifiers and surfactants of 100% vegetable origin;
  • does not get tested on animals;
  • uses eco-friendly product packaging, carton and ink;
  • has products 100% free of synthetic, conservative, coloring, fragrance, SLSs and SLEs, paraben, silicone, paraffin, mineral oils and other petrochemical derivatives.
  • is certified by an independent organization;
  • has a fabrication process as natural as possible, with the least environmental impact and by resorting to renewable energies.

The skin is the longest organ in the human body. It is a living tissue that breathes, that protects us from external aggressions and that absorbs more than half of what we put in it through the blood stream. This means that the synthetic chemicals used in most cosmetic products are absorbed by our skin. However, our body does not recognize these chemical substances and, therefore, reacts to them as “foreign bodies”. In order to eliminate them, our body overloads the organs – liver and kidneys – responsible for eliminating toxins. However, studies show that most of these substances are never really eliminated from our system. They remain in the body, intoxicating it and causing disturbances that may lead to mutagenic effects. The exact opposite occurs with plant based products. The metabolism of plant cells is the same as human skin cells: life is ensured through biochemical reactions between enzymes, vitamins and minerals, but, and similarly to the human body, plant cells create harmful free radicals that are expelled with flavonoids, vitamins and other antioxidants. Active ingredients act the same way when they enter the human body. Our organism recognizes and understands the active ingredients present in plant cells, which makes it biologically possible for them to interfere and improve the life cycle process of skin cells – and the general well-being of the body. This compatibility is also translated into a higher tolerance by extra sensitive skins as well as hypoallergenic properties. Aside from all of this – which is mostly directed to human beings and their well-being – the meaning of “organic” goes even deeper, for it also means respecting the world and society we live in. Hence, when we mention organic cosmetics and their certification from organizations that follow and ascertain that all parameters are met, other important concepts are present too, such as ecology, fair trade and sustainability. That is why when we buy one of these products we also receive certain guarantees: that is not tested in animals, that manufacturing is safe and not pollutant, that the packaging is carefully chosen to reduce the environmental impact by using recyclable formats and with reduce energy impact.

Having said that, it is essential to stress that he above takes into account an industry that walks hand in hand with scientific investigation by specialists (chemists, pharmaceutics, and dermatologists) who study, research and look for the most optimized results by using technology to retrieve the best that nature provides us with. Science and the world we are lucky to live in are not only not incompatible but, and more importantly, can live in harmony. So it seems that the question should be “Why not go organic?

Natural cosmetics refers to any product that has a natural extract as part of its composition, regardless of its percentage, how it was extracted or the remaining ingredients in its composition – which are, normally, mostly synthetic. This means that under the natural cosmetics designation a number of more or less natural products can be found.

Organic cosmetics, on the other hand, stands for the integrity and purity of the entire transformation process from raw materials to final product, from using organic-ingredients to how the extracts are obtained (without synthetical solvents), from handling the product to conserving it.

Synthetic products that are harmful such as parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalate, SLS and similar ones, vaseline and paraffin (derivative from petroleum), coloring, fragrances, etc., are never part of organic cosmetic products.

In organic cosmetics the biggest concern is how to preserve the products, because, even though it does not happen often, their expiration date is shorter than chemical based cosmetic products. The most famous preservation techniques are more expensive and hardworking: vacuum packaging, essential oils (rosemary, tea tree oil, lavender, etc.) and antibacterial plants (aloe, lemon and other citrus, salicylic acid from white willow tree, etc.). Organic certifications allow for small concentration of food conservatives, such as: benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate.

These techniques make it possible to achieve almost as much durability as conventional products without having to resort to synthetic chemical preservatives.

The absence of specific regulation on organic cosmetics manufacturing, as opposed to the one available for agriculture of organic food products, makes it difficult to establish standard procedures and parameters. Without a legal tool to protect and ensure the values that organic cosmetics stands for, the only solution to guarantee final consumers receive an authentic and pure product is independent certifications. In the absence of certification, the quality and authenticity of the organic cosmetic, or 100% natural cosmetic, will rely on the skills and honesty of the labs and manufacturers. For safety reasons, we defend and try to reinforce the need for a certification.

Truth be told, this is the safest way to guarantee high quality ingredients and the use of products free from harmful chemicals for human health and the environment. The fact that a cosmetic product claims to be natural does not mean its constituents are free from contamination. Also, it does not mean that synthetic substances, such as solvents, preservatives or antioxidants haven’t been added during its manufacturing process. Natural stands for “use of natural extracts”, and not for an entirely natural based final product.

The certification logo on a organic product allows the consumer to identify the type of product in hands – organic or 100% natural cosmetics – without having to exhaustively go through the entire ingredient list.

 

There are several independent entities providing this certification. The majority stands for the same principles and strict demands that include: mandatory use of organic ingredients; animal testing prohibition, prohibition to resort to pollutant ingredients, genetically modified or potentially toxic chemicals (fragrances and artificial coloring from petrol, glycols, DEA, MEA, TEA, paragons, etc.).  A few of the several entities providing this certification are Ecocert, COSMOS, Soil Association, USDA, BDIH, ICEA and Natrue. 

 

As a rule, no product is 100% organic, they normally range between 10-90% since there are several ingredients that cannot be certified, e.g. water (mineral or from stream). This applies, for instance, to lotions, shower gels, shampoos and several other products which contain a very high percentage of water (some 50-70%), which reduces its percentage of organic ingredients.

Another example is mica, clay and other minerals (derivative from stones, sands, quartz) that exist in nature and are often used to protect the skin from radiation, give it a healthier color, make it brighter, but that can’t be certified as organic even though they are natural.

Having a certification guarantees that ingredients used are 100% natural and forbids the use of any synthetic products (from petrol, phthalates, sulfates, etc.), as well as any conventional agricultural product, as they may have traces of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

At Unii it is possible to find products for every age.

The focus is to provide a solution for a need, and this goes from newborns to elders, from hair to face, from men to women, and from basic skins to more complex skins.

Every brand can cause an allergic reaction based on their product components.

In the case of organic brands, the risk of allergic reactions is considerably reduced and very unlikely, but it is still a possibility. 95% of all allergic reactions are due to the use of synthetic ingredients in cosmetic products. Considering that in the case of organic cosmetic products these ingredients are absent, allergic reactions will be reduced to natural ingredients themselves; for example, if you are allergic to orange or strawberry, in spite of their quality or origin, you will still have an allergic reaction, just as you would if you’d eat them.

If you have an allergic reaction to a product please contact us immediately. It is important to understand what products you are using in order to test and sort them out, and identify the active ingredients that might be causing that reaction.

Unii cosmetics do not use ingredients that interfere with breastfeeding or pregnancy. Every ingredient present in our products is safe and with a plant based origin, which means there are no restrictions to the facial use of these products during breastfeeding and/or pregnancy.

The general concern with cosmetic products during these stages (pregnancy and breastfeeding) has to do with the presence of harmful chemicals. However, such syntheticals are not present in organic cosmetic products.

Having said that, what needs your attention is the ingredients present in body products, especially if applied to the breast area during breastfeeding, or belly during pregnancy – this applies to natural ingredients as well. For instance, caffeine is a common ingredient in several body lotions and it can be absorbed by the blood stream and end up present in the milk. Another example is essential oils which should not be applied in the belly during the first trimester. In doubt you can always contact us!

The molecules that are most often imitated are the ones from essential oils, these molecules are laboratory synthesized molecules, which mimic the ones that exist in the nature. Still, even though synthetic production achieves the same molecule, it does not reproduces the same physical conformation. This means that the way atoms are arranged inside the molecule cannot be copied, hence, the molecule physical conformation is not the same. This difference means that synthetic molecules of essential oils reproduce the scent but not the function in the body.

In the case of organic essential oils, they have not be diluted and their extraction respects the plant, which ultimately means that its properties remain intact. These are the oils that have world famous properties, unlike the perfumed imitations that are synthesized in a lab.

All our options are indicated, since our cosmetic products are free from synthetic chemicals and are adequate for sensitive skins or skins that had some sort of problem, compromised immunity, or other problems. Nevertheless, we recommend that you contact us and ask for specific guidance when choosing your products.

We recommend argan oil, castor oil, or even coconut oil to nourish the hair after using our dry hair shampoo and our repairing conditioner.

 

The oils help to retain the hydration and improves the elasticity, as well as softening hair and skin, giving it an immediate shine. It is perfect for extremely dry hair and existing split ends, as well as keeping news ones from forming. It also protects the hair against the blow dryer heat and hair iron. Apply after drying your hair with the towel but before blow drying it.

Cradle cap is a very common thing on babies until they are 6 to 7 months old. There is no need to do anything, but if you want to help it go away, use the argan oil to hydrate the scalp area.

Psoriasis is a disease that causes skin dryness leading to peeling, crack wounds or crust. Typically with an emotional caused behind it, high stress levels are its biggest catalyst.

Pure Unii shea butter is a very effective option, providing a super hydration that lasts almost 24h. All you have to do is heat the product a little in your hands and apply it on the sensitive area. Preferably over argan oil. So we make a double nourishing skin layer: first argan oil and immediately after shea butter.

 

The best treatment for scars, marks, stretch marks is to nourish and regularly massage the area with rosehip oil, argan oil or oil mix that containing at least one of them. The redder the mark or scar, the quicker you will see the results.

Skin sensitivity supersedes all other problems because the skin will reject everything we put on it. The first step (and priority) is to reduce sensitivity to allow skin regeneration, meaning restore the protective layer of the skin. For that we must:

  1. Clean it without water using a rich oil or cleansing balm.
  2. Use a soft tonic for mature, dry or sensitive skins with rose, chamomile or lavender.
  3. Morning and evening hydration with regenerative products.

Most conventional shampoos contain chemicals and synthetic substances that our body does not recognize. These substances are inexpensive but extremely toxic for our organism, such as sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and its derivatives. These industrial chemicals act as cleaning agents and produce foam but are also extremely toxic causing long term reactions on the scalp like peeling, fading, scabs, dandruff.

On the contrary, organic shampoos and conditioners do not contain aggressive chemicals or drying agents, instead they work towards nourishing the scalp by replenishing the follicles with proper nutrition. Additionally, they restore the natural pH balance of the scalp and hair.

A solid shampoo Unii is a shampoo, specific for washing hair and restoring the natural pH of the scalp, while soap and any shampoo derived from soap has a higher pH that is not suitable for the scalp, leading to imbalances in the long term, such as is the case of scalp peeling. Our shampoos have a pH adjusted to the scalp. In addition, it does not create sediments in contact with hard water, as with soap, which are difficult to rinse. Allows you to include actives that are very beneficial for the health of the scalp, such as plant extracts, Panthenol (pro vitamin B5), proteins, etc. We use a particularly mild surfactant, it is biodegradable, accepted by COSMOS organic cosmetics, derived from coconut oil.

The scaling can be typically caused by a very aggressive shampoo, due to the frequency of contact with lauryl sodium sulfate (SLS) and derivatives, and usually caused by stress. A proper wash of your hair with a scaling scalp is essential to see results. We recommend that you wash it more often initially, but with much more protection. As the scalp starts to recover, you can take longer between washings. The protection we mentioned above can be found by applying argan oil before washing or even the night before washing, followed by using a mild shampoo, any of our shampoos are ok. At the end, use warm or cold water to rinse it. You can use conditioner in the hair.