All products in the PCA range are toxicology lab tested to make sure that all ingredients in each recipe, in the quantities used, are safe to put on the skin . However if you know of an ingredient that you are allergic to, please view the ingredients listing for each product before deciding to make a purchase. We recommend patch tests for customers using new products.

No! None of the Plain Clothes Angel product range is tested on animals, nor do we use any ingredients that have been tested on animals.

The only ingredients used in the PCA range that are derived from an animal source, are beeswax, honey and powdered milk.

Do not use PCA products on broken skin. If you suffer from a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, please consult your GP before trying a new product.

All products in the PCA range are lab tested and use only gentle ingredients. However, everyones skin is unique and it is impossible to generalize about how your skin will react to every ingredient. If you know of an ingredient to which you are allergic, please view our products’ ingredients listings before deciding to make a purchase. Because even the most gentle ingredients can cause sensitivity in certain people’s skin, we recommend at least 24 hours before use, patch-testing a small amount of product first.

The inside skin of the wrist, elbow or behind the ear are the best places to carry out a patch test. Simply apply the product to one of the areas and if irritation occurs – usually characterized by a rash, a burning, prickly or tingling sensation, redness or any other temporary discoloration of the skin – remove the product immediately with warm water and a damp cloth.

If you have looked at the list of ingredients and carried out a patch test, as explained above, and have subsequently experienced an allergic reaction, please discontinue using that product and contact   louise@plainclothesangel.com.

NB: Please note that several of PCA's products use nut derived oils e.g Sweet Almond oil and therefore should be avoided by those with nut allergies.

Children’s skin is generally more sensitive than adults and PCA products are developed for adult use, therefore it would not be recommended. We are hoping to launch a range suitable for babies and children in the future.

Some of our products contain essential oils which are not suitable for use during pregnancy or while breast-feeding. Please see the A – Z section on ingredients and essential oils it notes specific oils and their contraindications.

For specific advice, please contact louise@plainclothesangel.com

Several of PCA's products use nut derived oils e.g Sweet Almond oil and therefore should be avoided by those with nut allergies. Please check all PCA product ingredients listings before purchasing and again before use.

The essential oils used in Plain Clothes Angel products are derived from organically grown plants,where possible, using traditional methods, thereby avoiding the use of chemical pesticides or herbicides. All the oil products for the shower, body and face contain 100% natural ingredients. Plain Clothes Angel creams and lotions, contain a very low level natural preservative to aid against bacterial and fungal contamination, called Grapefruit Seed Extract. This is necessary because water based products (oil-in-water) have been found to be more susceptible to contamination than oil based products (water-in-oil). Usually the higher the water content of the product the more likely the potential for bacteria.

There are no chemical additives or preservatives in any of the Plain Clothes Angel products

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), this is also known as citrus seed extract and is a citrus seed based anti-microbial used as a preservative in skin care products. GSE is made with the extracts of citrus seeds and pulp. It is blended with vegetable glycerin to make it non-irritating to the skin and mucous membranes when used in formulations. It is said to be anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, astringent and does also have some antioxidant activity. Whilst this is by no means as vigorous as a chemical preservative and the reason for PCA products having a shorter shelf life, we prefer using GSE, to the use of chemicals. No chemical preservatives/ parabens are used in PCA products.

Soy wax is made from a renewable source.

Soy wax is completely natural – It is not made from petroleum, like paraffin candles. Burning of soy candles does not increase the CO2 level in the atmosphere.

Soy candles last longer –They can last up to 50% longer than paraffin candles.

Wax spills are easy to clean – It's very difficult to remove paraffin wax from furniture or textiles. Soy wax spills can easily be cleaned up with hot soapy water.

Soy candles produce less soot – Soy candles produce about 90% less soot that paraffin candles, which can leave black marks on walls and ceilings.

Scented soy candles distribute more aroma – Soy wax burns more slowly and cooler than paraffin wax and therefore they have a faster scent dispersion. The lower melting point of soy wax results in a larger size of the liquid wax pool around the candle wick. It is from this liquid wax pool that the essential oils evaporate into the atmosphere.

The honest answer is no. Whilst we do are up most to maintain consistency with each new batch of products, all the Plain Clothes Angel products are made by hand. Therefore there may occasionally be slight variations in colour or texture, from one batch to the next.

PCA products are made by hand in small batches and decanted into small amber containers to ensure their freshness and quality. Each product label carries a best before date, this is the recommended time in which to use the product at its optimum. For the PCA lotions and creams it is normally three months once the product is opened and for the PCA oils, 6 months. However once the BBE dated has passed, it does not mean that the product will immediately become unusable, just that the quality and effectiveness of the product may start to deteriorate.

PCA products should be treated in a manner similar to fresh food, to keep them at their optimum. Keep the products covered, cool (if in doubt store in the fridge) and out of direct sunlight. Please wash your hands before removing the product from the container or use a spoon/cottonbud etc to minimize the introduction of bacteria. The PCA oil bottles come with a helpful drop dispenser to help combat the introduction of bacteria. Always replace the cap on the containers & keep water out.

It is well researched that certain ingredients leach-out through plastic and this chemical reaction can lead to contamination of the product. Wherever possible with PCA products we use amber glass, as it is known to be the most protective container for naturally active ingredients and protects them from harmful UV light.

PCA packaging comprises mainly of glass containers, paper boxes and bags. All of these items are recyclable where possible. Please check your local recycling facilities for further information.

Making a purchase could not be easier. Just browse our online shop, and click on any items that you wish to buy and put them into the shopping cart. If you wish to change the quantity of an item that you wish to buy, you can change it in your Shopping Basket.

After you have finished your selection, and are ready to pay you can select either "Pay via PayPal" or "Pay by Cheque" from your Shopping Basket or by clicking on "Checkout":

• Pay via Paypal: When you choose to "Pay via PayPal", you will first be asked for your shipping address and then you will be taken to PayPal to make your payment. You do not have to be a PayPal member in order to pay via PayPal and it is completely free to use. Once payment is complete, you will be returned to the PCA website.
  
• Pay by Cheque: When you click on the "Pay by Cheque" button, you will be asked to enter your shipping address and then print the order page. Please post this with your cheque made out to Plain Clothes Angel to: FAO Louise Irving, Plain Clothes Angel, Studio 315, 10 Riverside Yard, Riverside Road, London, SW17 0BB.
• Please note that any orders paid for by cheque will not be dispatched until the cheque has cleared.

Yes. With PayPal, you can shop online securely and conveniently using your debit or credit card, bank account or PayPal balance – all without sharing your financial details with the seller. PayPal helps protect your credit card information with industry-leading security and fraud prevention systems.

"PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information in transit from your computer to ours using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available). Before you even register or log in to the PayPal site, our server checks that you're using an approved browser - one that uses SSL 3.0 or higher.

Once your information reaches the PayPal site, it resides on a server that is heavily guarded both physically and electronically. PayPal servers sit behind an electronic firewall and are not directly connected to the internet, so your private information is available only to authorized computers."*

*Taken from the paypal website. Visit www.paypal.co.uk for more information

Yes, we accept payment by cheque. Please see How do I order? for details on paying by cheque.

At this time, we can only accept orders from within the UK with the exception of our Malini bracelets, which we can post internationally - please contact us for details.