Informed Alchemy — Legal & Disclosures

Notice: The following disclosures, terms, and disclaimers govern the use of all formulations, masterclasses, written guides, and any and all digital or print materials provided by Informed Alchemy.

01. General Health & Medical Disclaimer

  • Educational & Informational Purpose Only: All content, formulations, recipes, percentage calculators, and masterclasses provided by Informed Alchemy are strictly for educational, informational, and creative purposes. Nothing contained on this platform constitutes medical, dermatological, or clinical advice.
  • Not Intended for Medical Conditions: Formulations created using Informed Alchemy guides are non-prescription personal care and home items. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease, chronic skin condition (such as eczema, psoriasis, severe acne, or rosacea), or any medical ailment.
  • Consultation with Healthcare Professionals: Users experiencing persistent skin conditions, allergies, or medical concerns should consult a qualified dermatologist or physician before attempting to use any new topical ingredient or formulation.

02. Personal Use & Non-Commercial Resale Notice

  • Strictly for Home Compounding: All formulations, guides, database access, and masterclasses are provided solely for personal, non-commercial, home-use compounding for yourself, your family, and your personal living space.
  • No Commercial Rights Granted: Membership, guides, or digital content purchases do not convey a license for commercial batching, mass manufacturing, private labeling, or retail sale under any cosmetic regulations (including FDA or Health Canada cosmetic compliance frameworks).
  • Intellectual Property Protection: Formulations, percentage ratios, video masterclasses, and written guides remain the exclusive intellectual property of Informed Alchemy and may not be redistributed, resold, or republished without express written consent.

03. Formulator Safety & Active Ingredient Potency

  • Assumption of Risk & Home Safety: Compounding personal and home care products involves working with concentrated bio-actives, botanical extracts, essential oils, heat sources, and specialized tools. By undertaking any formulation, you voluntarily assume all associated handling and environmental risks.
  • Natural Does Not Mean Harmless: Being natural or plant-derived does not mean an ingredient is inherently harmless, mild, or free from potential risk. Concentrated botanical extracts, active acids, essential oils, and surfactants contain strong organic chemical compounds that require precise handling, protective equipment (such as gloves and eye protection), and strict adherence to recommended usage rates.
  • Strict Adherence to Formulation Guidelines: Active ingredients, preservatives, and surfactants must be handled strictly according to supplied percentage usage limits, target pH ranges, and safety protocols. Substituting ingredients, altering recommended usage rates, or omitting preservative systems in water-based formulations may compromise stability, efficacy, and product safety.
  • Formulator Responsibility for pH Testing & Adjustment: Target pH ranges provided in our guides serve as benchmark references only. Variations in raw material suppliers, distilled water chemistry, and ambient batching can alter final pH levels. Users are solely responsible for testing, verifying, and adjusting the pH of their finished formulations using proper equipment (such as calibrated digital pH meters or precision indicator strips) prior to use. Informed Alchemy disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for skin irritation, barrier disruption, chemical burns, formula instability, or adverse outcomes resulting from unverified, improper, or unadjusted pH levels.
  • Absolute Disclaimer on Microbial Contamination: Home sanitation procedures, ambient environments, equipment handling, and raw material storage are entirely outside our control. Informed Alchemy disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for any microbial contamination, bacterial or fungal growth, mold, spoilage, or product degradation in any compounded formulation.

04. Patch Testing & Natural Allergen Disclaimer

  • Natural Actives & Sensitivity Warning: Natural, plant-derived, and botanical ingredients are not allergen-free. Cold-pressed plant oils, hydrosols, herbal extracts, and essential oils contain complex chemical profiles that can trigger contact dermatitis, allergic reactions, sensitivities, or severe skin irritation in certain individuals.
  • Mandatory Patch Test Protocol: Users are strongly advised to perform a standard 24-hour patch test prior to full topical application of any newly compounded formulation:
    1. Apply a small amount of the finished product to clean skin on the inner wrist or forearm.
    2. Leave undisturbed for 24 hours.
    3. If redness, itching, burning, inflammation, hives, or irritation occurs, discontinue use immediately.
  • No Liability for Adverse Reactions: Performing a patch test is a recommended safety precaution, but it does not guarantee that a reaction will not occur. Informed Alchemy disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for any allergic reactions, sensitivities, rashes, contact dermatitis, or adverse skin conditions that may occur, regardless of whether a patch test was performed.

05. Release of Liability & Hold Harmless Provision

  • “As-Is” Provision: All formulations, tutorials, and recommendations are provided on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.
  • Hold Harmless & Waiver of Claims: Informed Alchemy, its founders, officers, and contributors shall not be held liable or legally responsible for any harm, personal injury, allergic reaction, dermatological reaction, chemical burns, equipment accident, or property damage resulting directly or indirectly from the handling, compounding, application, misuse, or storage of any formulation or ingredient.
  • Shelf Life Estimates Are Guidelines Only: Suggested shelf lives, stability timelines, and expiration estimates provided across Informed Alchemy guides and formulations are strictly estimates and informational guidelines, not guarantees. Actual product shelf life depends entirely on individual ingredient sourcing, ambient temperature, humidity, light exposure, packaging, and handling. Informed Alchemy disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for premature spoilage, rancidity, separation, or degradation of compounded products.
  • No Guarantee of Results: Because individual skin chemistry, raw material sourcing, ambient temperatures, and handling techniques vary widely, Informed Alchemy cannot guarantee specific aesthetic, clinical, or performance outcomes.

06. Third-Party Links & Affiliate Disclosure

  • Third-Party Vendor Disclaimer: Our platforms, formulation guides, and sourcing recommendations contain links to third-party suppliers, raw material vendors, and laboratory equipment manufacturers. Informed Alchemy does not control, guarantee, or assume liability for the quality, purity, safety, accuracy, shipping, or fulfillment of any raw materials, tools, or packaging purchased through third-party vendors.
  • Affiliate Relationships (FTC Compliance): Outgoing links across our website, guides, and sourcing lists may include affiliate referral links. Informed Alchemy may earn a small referral fee or affiliate commission on qualifying purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. We only recommend ingredient suppliers, glassware, and lab tools that meet our standards for clean, reliable botanical compounding.

07. Questions & Contact Information

Direct Contact: For any questions, concerns, or inquiries regarding these terms, disclosures, or formulations, please contact us at hello@informedalchemy.com.