Help Center

Yes of course, we offer subscriptions on all our products.

You can use any major debit or credit card, including American Express and PayPal.

Yes, of course.  You'll find PayPal, ApplePay and ShopPay at checkout.

I'm afraid we can't accept cheques.

I'm afraid we can't accept cash.

Yes we do!

You can, but it's much faster and safer to order online via our website.  This way, there won't be any delay as we can't always answer the phone and we won't need to take your credit card details.

It's super safe, we use Shopify as our platform and those guys are as safe as safe gets.  Is Shopify PCI compliant?

From Shopify themselves: "Shopify is certified Level 1 PCI DSS compliant. This compliance extends to all online stores powered by Shopify. We are very serious about securely hosting your online store and have invested significant time and money to certify our solution is PCI compliant. From annual on-site assessments validating compliance to continuous risk management, we work really hard to ensure our shopping cart software and ecommerce hosting is secure."

We also get an A rating from Qualis SSL Labs (not many sites get an A!).

You'll find your delivery options at the checkout page.  

We offer free standard delivery on all orders, with no minimum spend. 

DPD Next Day is also available for £5.50, if you need a faster delivery service.

We treat each order like we did our very first one – with care. We hand wrap your Bare Biology in recyclable, protective packaging and send it on its way as soon as we can. If for any reason you're not happy with our delivery or the condition of your Bare Biology, we’d really like to hear from you.

No, not at all.  Only our liquids need to be refrigerated once they are opened.

Unfortunately, due to delivery issues we've had to stop shipping internationally. We're hoping this will be temporary and we'll let you know as soon as anything changes!

For now, you can buy our products via some of our lovely online, retailers. Here's our full stockist list. Content Beauty, Victoria Health and Bodykind are all still shipping overseas, so you may like to give them a go.  

You can check on your parcel's journey via your tracking info. It's possible you'll need to arrange a redelivery, or collect your parcel from the local collection point, if you weren't home when Royal Mail attempted their first delivery. Your tracking info should be included in your despatch email. If you haven't received this email from us, it's best to check your spam folder first, just in case it's ended up there by mistake! 

Otherwise, please get in touch via info@barebiology.com, or live chat, and we'll be very happy to help. 

We cannot cancel orders or payments that have already gone through. The system is is fully automated and the warehouse packs the order within minutes of receiving it. It's then impossible to retrieve that package from a mountain of other packages waiting for collection. 

You can, of course, return your order to us once you receive it and we'll issue a refund as soon as we've checked the items are in good condition.  You will need to pay for the return postage and we strongly suggest you use a signed for option, as we can't issue a refund until we receive the goods.

We cannot cancel orders or payments that have already gone through. The system is fully automated and the warehouse packs the order within minutes of receiving it. 

We send a reminder email 3 days before your shipment date, so you have time to cancel, skip a delivery, or arrange an alternative date. You have until 10am on the day of your charge to do this. 

Make sure you don't miss the email reminder 3 days before and add us to your contacts if necessary (add info@barebiology.com), to avoid the risk of it going into your spam folder. 

Hopefully you won't need to return your products, but if you do, please kindly re-package your return with a note including your name and order number, and send within 45 days to:

Bare Biology Ltd,

Haul + Store

Unit 17, Admiralty Way,

Camberley,

Surrey,

GU15 3DT

We can only process refunds for returned products that arrive in a re-saleable condition. We can't cover postage costs. 

 Please help us to ensure you qualify for a full refund by:

✓ checking the safety seal on the product is intact

✓ ensuring the product is well packaged 

✓ obtaining proof of postage

We recommend using a trackable service, as we can't process a refund until we receive the goods.

You can find our products in some of the best shops in the UK: Selfridges, Planet Organic, Whole Foods, Victoria Health, John Bell & Croydon and many more.  Please see our list of Stockists to find your nearest retailer.

Simply select Subscribe & Save (15%) at the product shop pages.

You'll need to activate your Bare Biology account before you can use it. Click here to request an invite.

If you do have any problems, just drop us an email at info@barebiology.com

You can. Simply log into your account here and follow the instructions below. You have the option to skip your upcoming charge, or you can select a new charge date. 

 We also have a handy instructions video you can check out, here.

Log into your account here. Once you're in the subscription portal, find the product you'd like to resume and click RE-ACTIVATE.

Make sure your scheduled charge date is correct and edit if needed. 

Yes, of course – you’re completely in control. 

You can adjust your delivery frequency by logging into your account, here.

Click EDIT for the product you want to update. You'll see a DELIVERY SCHEDULE section, allowing you to EDIT your frequency. You can also adjust your upcoming charge date anytime.

We also have a handy instructions video you can check out, here.

Log into your account, here and follow these steps:

1. Click through to your SUBSCRIPTIONS portal.

2. Find the subscription product you want to cancel and click EDIT. 

3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click cancel subscription.

4. Tick the reason you want to cancel and proceed.

Absolutely, you're in charge. You can also reactivate your subscription if you change your mind.

Of course! To do this, log into your account here and follow these step: 

1. Click through to your SUBSCRIPTIONS portal and select EDIT next to the product you'd like to skip. 

2. Select the SKIP SHIPMENT button on the next page and confirm your skip. You'll know your skip has worked from checking the date shown in your NEXT CHARGE DATE section. 

If you'd like to skip more than one subscription product, click back to your subscriptions list and follow the same process. 

We also have a handy instructions video you can check out, here.

Simply log into your account, here and follow these steps. 

1. If all your subscriptions products have the same shipping address assigned, you can update for all via SHIPPING ADDRESSES, in the drop down menu of your subscriptions portal.

2. Click the drop down arrow next to the address you want to edit and click EDIT SHIPPING ADDRESSES. You'll be able to update your details and hit SAVE.

3. If you want to change the shipping address for a specific product, click EDIT next to your chosen product. 

4. You'll see a SHIPPING ADDRESS section that you can EDIT. 

5. Click the editing pencil next to the shipping address you want to change and update your details, making sure to SAVE. 

Log into your Bare Biology account, here. Your next charge date will be listed under your active products in your subscription overview. You have until 10am on the day of your charge to make any changes. Click EDIT to adjust or skip your charge date. 

Log into your account, here. Once you've clicked through to your SUBSCRIPTIONS portal, you'll see a button allowing you to ADD A PRODUCT. 

Log into your account, here. 

1. Select SUBSCRIPTIONS to go to your subscription portal overview.

2. From the dropdown menu select Billing. 

3. Click the drop down arrow next to your expired payment details and then EDIT.

4. Request to SEND UPDATE EMAIL. You'll be sent an update billing form to the email associated with your subscription. 

Log into your account, here. 

From your SUBSCRIPTIONS overview, click Purchase History in the drop down menu.

When you take out a subscription you’ll be billed that initial day and every time it recurs.  So, for example, if you select to have it recur every 4 weeks, you will be billed exactly 4 weeks from the date your subscription order processes.

If a payment card is declined, you’ll receive an email asking you to update your payment information. You can do this by requesting a billing update form, once logged into your Bare Biology account, in the billing section of your subscription portal.

The service will make 6 charge attempts, every 24 hours, before cancelling your subscription.

To start earning points simply sign up here. This will automatically create your Bare Biology account and you’ll receive your first 75 points. 

If you already have a Bare Biology account, you don’t need to sign up again - you’re automatically a Flourish member! 

You can check how many points you’ve already earned in the ‘Rewards’ section of your customer portal, where you’ll also find a list of all the other ways you can earn points. 

You earn points every time you shop of course.

Absolutely! Every time your subscription order is placed you’ll automatically earn points. Once you’ve collected enough points, you can create a code for money off upcoming subscription orders. 

Anything! At checkout you’ll be able to choose how many points you want to spend and they’ll be deducted from the price. 

You can also redeem vouchers in the Flourish section of your account. If you have an active subscription, you can create a code for money off upcoming subscription orders. 

Nope! It's the same. You access your Flourish 'Rewards' portal, by logging into your Bare Biology account here.

You can keep an eye on your points in the ‘Loyalty’ section of your Bare Biology account, by logging in here. 

You don't have to spend your points and they expire every 6 months. 

But if you'd rather opt out of the Flourish scheme completely, just pop us a message at info@barebiology.com. 

Yes! Please get in touch with us at info@barebiology.com and we can transfer the points over for you. 

Changes to your personal information won't affect your points. 

If you change your subscription products, the points you earn will change to reflect your new charge amount.

We'll be happy to help with this! Please send us a message to info@barebiology.com explaining the issue and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible. 

Thanks for the compliment! Please email us at info@barebiology.com with your details. We’ll send you our catalogue with information about our range and how to become a stockist.

No we don't, we only sell direct to retail clients.

It really depends on how much you take.

There’s 150ml in each bottle of Life & Soul. Here’s the maths:

• 1 teaspoon or 5ml a day = 30 days
  
• Half a teaspoon or 2.5ml a day = 60 days
  
• 2 teaspoons or 10ml a day = 15 days
  
• A drop or 1ml a day = 150 days

Yes, they can – from when they’re a year old. But because of its DHA to EPA ratio, Life & Soul is best for children over 12 and adults.

• A teaspoon or 5ml gives you 3500mg of omega-3 (2000mg EPA and 1000mg DHA).
  
• A half a teaspoon or 2.5ml gives you 1750mg of omega-3 (1000mg EPA and 500mg DHA).
  
• A single 1ml drop gives you 700mg of omega-3 (400mg EPA and 200mg DHA).

Most of the omega-3 benefits you’ll read about have come out of clinical or medical trials. The doses they use are normally much, much higher than typical fish oil supplements – similar to a dose of Life & Soul. Here’s an example: the approved health claim for normal blood pressure is 3000mg of EPA & DHA each day. Life & Soul liquid is the only product on the market that gives you this in a single spoonful. 

Life & Soul liquid gives you much more for your money than most other omega-3 fish oils. In other words, to get the omega-3 that’s in one teaspoonful of Life & Soul from another well-known brand, you’d have to take 28 capsules. And this would cost you around £120 a month instead of £47.50 for Life & Soul.

There’s what you pay, and then there’s what you get. 

All of the fish oils in our range are safe to take when you’re pregnant. So by all means, finish off your bottle and then you can switch over to Mums to Bumps.

We looked into this and decided it wasn’t worth the cost it would add. Most people prefer to use their own spoons – either medicine spoons or standard household ones. If we have lots of requests for this, we’ll think again.

For optimum absorption, quicker results and higher concentration of EPA & DHA, Life & Soul Liquid would be your best choice. If you’re oil shy or like to travel with your omega-3 – whether across the world, at the office or in your gym bag - than we’d recommend Life & Soul Capsules. 

There are 120 capsules in every bottle. So, if you take four a day, your bottle will last for 30 days.

You can if you like, but we’ve made them so that they’re easy to swallow. So you could take two in the morning and two in the evening, or most people take four in one go. 

Four tiny capsules will give you 1300mg of omega-3 (that’s 860mg EPA and 440mg DHA). This is more than you’d get from a tin of sardines. Plus, they’re small and easy to swallow.

We only ever use fish gelatin, as we don't think it's right to put fish oil in pork or beef. And of course this is much better for people who don't eat meat.

They’re each good for different reasons. If you’re after a strong, pure and quick-acting omega-3, Life & Soul liquid is the one for you. If you need omega-3 on the go, or aren’t keen on taking oil, then our capsules are probably your best bet.  We use exactly the same oil for both, so the quality is exactly the same.  You just get more on a teaspoon than in a capsule.  Our capsules are high strength though, so both are great!

Our capsules are fine for kids below the age of 12 to take, but at a smaller dosage to the adult dose.  Of course, all children differ in size and weight but you could start with 2 capsules a day (430mg EPA and 220mg DHA) and see how you get on.  

Click here for a photo reference.

There are 60 capsules in every bottle. So, if you take two a day, your bottle will last for 30 days.

Click here for a photo reference.

100 days or three months, if you use 1ml a day. There’s 100ml in each bottle.

Each 1ml drop will give your child 600mg of omega-3 (that’s 500mg DHA and 100mg EPA). This is as much as a whole tin of sardines (with bones!) – and a lot easier to get into kids.

Each bottle of Action Heroes comes with a handy syringe that you plug into the bottle top.  Just draw out 1ml and squirt it straight into your child's mouth or into food.

Wash them in hot, soapy water with the washing up.  Swish soapy water in and out of them a few times to get rid of any residue, or they could smell a little fishy after a while.

No, you can just pour a tiny amount on to a spoon.  It's not a medicine so it doesn't have to be exact.

We’ve created Action Heroes for kids from 6 months to 12 years old. Teenagers and adults over 12 (especially pregnant women) can take it too, but teenagers would benefit from more EPA and could switch to Life & Soul.

Put simply, it helps children’s brains and bodies develop. 

DHA omega-3 is a major component of our brain, eye tissue and skin. So much so that during pregnancy the body feeds the mother’s DHA to the baby, and breast milk has elevated levels. In fact, the amount of DHA in the brain increases by 30 times between the first 24 weeks and two years of life*.

But most children don’t get enough DHA in their food. And this matters. 

Studies show a direct link between low levels of DHA and poor learning and behaviour. The 2012 Dolab** study found that DHA is ‘a safe and effective way to improve the reading and behaviour in healthy, but underperforming children in mainstream schools’. And an earlier study by the same researchers in Durham also found that increasing omega-3 in the diets of children between 5 and 12 significantly improved their reading, spelling and behaviour over three months.

*Neonatal network, 2007, 26:229-234

**The Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Oxford Learning and Behavior Study, 2012

The DHA Oxford Learning and Behaviour Study (DOLAB) is one of the most significant on the effects of DHA on children’s learning and behaviour.  Our founder, Melanie, met one of the lead investigators, Dr Alex Richardson, and was struck by the view that omega-3 supplementation and dosage recommendations are too low.  In this particular study, 4 to 7 year olds were given 600mg DHA per day (in the form of algal oil).

Many factors, including diet, can impede children’s ability to synthesise omega-3 fatty acids and the recommended doses aren’t likely to have any significant impact on their health. (Reference Superko RJ, et al. Circulation, 2013. 128: p. 2154-2161). 

DHA plays a super critical role in the structure and function of the brain and eyes.  Most young and older children don’t have enough in their diet, making supplementation a key component of their nutrition.  Doses as high as 5,000mg are well-tolerated by children and adults (EFSA Journal, 2012. 10 (7):2815). 

From our own personal experience and from the countless reviews we’ve received from customers, the health benefits from taking between half and 1ml of Action Heroes a day are incredible and support our view that it is not only safe but very beneficial for children who don’t get DHA from their diet.  The great thing about liquid form is the dosage can be varied and we always recommend parents consult a registered nutritional therapist for guidance.

Our bodies can’t make omega-3 so it’s essential we get it through our diet. The richest source of omega-3 is oily fish but if you follow a plant-based diet or have a fish allergy, this isn't an option. Many Nutritional Therapists we work with have vegan clients and have emailed us over the years asking if we would consider creating a plant-based option. After a year of hard work we can finally offer what we think is the best plant-based product you’ll find.

Schizochytrium sp.

Yes, and the two types of algae in this product (Schizochytrium sp. and Haematococcus pluvialis) have been approved by the EFSA for supplemental use in over 18s.

No, the EFSA has approved algae based oils and astaxanthin for over 18s only.

No, we don't recommend it for pregnancy or breastfeeding due to the astaxanthin. There haven't been enough safety studies at this point, so safer to avoid for now.

Modified corn starch, carrageenan (red seaweed), Glycerol BP MB, Sodium Carbonate Anhydrous

The capsules are dark red in colour due to the Astaxanthin - a pink/red carotenoid pigment extracted from the alga Haematococcus pluvialis.

It is a powerful antioxidant and type of carotenoid.

Haematococcus pluvialis

• May improve gastric health
• May improve symptoms of age-related forgetfulness
• May help refocus tired eyes
• Can enhance overall skin health by improving skin moisture, elasticity and reducing wrinkles
• Improves muscle performance and recovery
• Can contribute to improved cardiovascular health
• Possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties
• These claims are backed up by studies using relatively few subjects and have no associated approved health claims, so they can not be used on the packaging

The most expensive part of our product is the ingredients and the manufacturing of the capsules. As this is a trial, we ordered the minimum quantity which means we paid the highest price. Same goes for the pouches, we had to buy the minimum order whereas with the jar and lid we get economies of scale as we order them for our fish oil products. The cost of both formats is therefore almost identical. If we decide to phase out jars and replace with pouches, we'll get much better prices and hopefully that means we won't have to put prices up in future.

One month. There are 30 capsules in every bottle, and we recommend taking one a day. The capsules are small (just 800mg) and easy to swallow.

Each capsule has 560mg DHA. That’s more than a whole tin of sardines, and much easier to swallow.

DHA omega-3 is a major component of our brain, eye tissue and skin. So much so that during pregnancy the body feeds the mother’s DHA to the baby, and breast milk has elevated levels. In fact, the amount of DHA in the brain increases by 30 times between the first 24 weeks and two years of life.  It's therefore the most important omega-3 during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Yes. Our fish oils don't contain vitamin A, which is the reason pregnant women shouldn't take cod liver oil.

We also make sure our products are very pure and extremely safe – good for bodies at any stage of life.  We have every batch independently certfied by IFOS which is a guarantee our products are free from heavy metals or other nasties. 

Yes, absolutely. It's really important to build up your reserves of DHA before getting pregnant and to replace the DHA in breast milk.

Mums & Bumps is also brilliant for anyone who wants to take high DHA without the EPA.

Click here for a photo reference.

There are 30 capsules in every bottle. So, if you take one a day, your bottle will last 30 days.

Omega-3 is made up of EPA and DHA. Both have their uses in the brain but it's the DHA component that's considered most important when it comes to our mental health. DHA is a major structural fat found in all the tissues of the body but it's particularly concentrated in the brain. 

Life & Soul liquid contains almost double the DHA of Mindful in one teaspoon and a large amount of EPA. It's our most ‘therapeutic’ product, but not everyone likes a liquid or wants to spend the extra money for the EPA and the higher dose.  If you prefer capsules, Mindful is a really easy and affordable way to get a tin of sardines worth of DHA (essential for brain health) in one daily capsule. Life & Soul capsules are a good option if you need a smaller dose of EPA and DHA.  

Click here for a photo reference.

Collagen offers support to everything from our skin, muscles and bones to our fingernails and hair. 

Read more about the benefits here.

Bovine is made from hide, bones and muscles of cows. Skinful is marine collagen made from hydrolysed codfish skin. 

Yes – 100%. Our fish are caught within the strictest international guidelines. Our collagen manufacturer is MSC certified. MSC labelled cod comes from a fishery that has been independently assessed to the MSC Fisheries Standard. 

What's more, we use the skin only which used to be discarded and thrown away.  

Consult your doctor before taking if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have any medical condition or are on medication.

We used a food based source of Vitamin C from acerola.

We put a lot of care into the ingredients in our supplements and try to always use as few as possible. E numbers (the E stands for European) are codes that identify ingredients and their safety is approved by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) It’s a misconception that all are bad for you - most are very natural and all the ones used in Europe (and the UK) have been approved! Including the dash of natural sweetener (steviol glycosides from stevia plants) and the hint of pink (from beetroots!) in our strawberry Skinful powder. Malic acid (similar to citric acid found in fruit) adds the tang to give an extra layer of deliciousness and maltodextrin is a natural starch that keeps the powder smooth (no nasty clumps!). 

Deficiency signs:

• Muscle weakness
• Aches and pains 
• Frequent or recurring infections 
• Low mood or depression
• Worry and anxiety 
• Hair loss

You can get your Vitamin D levels tested through a GP, NT or you can buy a finger prick test either online or at your local pharmacy. 

When it comes to vitamin D, taking too much for too long can cause more harm than good. It’s currently recommended that you don’t take more than 4000 IU a day, and for good reasons. You would have to take 8 capsules of Rise & Shine a day to reach this upper limit. Taking too much vitamin D means you can end up with toxic levels of calcium in your blood. This may lead to nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, dizziness, fatigue, excessive thirst, poor appetite and frequent urination. If vitamin D toxicity is left uncorrected then risk of kidney complications may occur so sticking within the 4000 IU limit is essential. 

Understanding mcg vs IU The dosages of vitamin D in different nutrition supplements may seem a little confusing because there are two ways of measuring vitamin D. ● Micrograms – notated as mcg or ug. ● International Units – simply notated as IU. Using the conversion rate of 1 mcg or ug being equivalent to 40 IU, you can calculate, two capsules of Rise & Shine deliver 25mcg or 1000 IU of vitamin D3. Here’s a quick conversation guide. 1 mcg or ug – 40IU 10 mcg or ug = 400 IU 25 mcg or ug = 1000 IU 50 mcg or ug = 2000 IU 100 mcg or ug = 4000 IU Get your vitamin D levels tested If you are experiencing some of the symptoms associated with low vitamin D or if eating oily fish isn’t part of your daily or weekly diet, then it could be a good idea to get your vitamin D levels tested. You can either request a test through your GP or you can buy a finger prick test either online or at your local pharmacy.

2 daily Rise & Shine capsules provides a plentiful dose of Vitamin D3 and omega-3:

755mg of EPA, 377mg of DHA and 25ug (micrograms) of Vitamin D3 or 1,000iu, 

the most widely recommended daily dose.

Suitable for adults (including pregnant women) and children over 12.

Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system

● Vitamin D interacts with the immune cells that form the body’s first line of defence. 

● Vitamin D helps regulate and modulate the immune response and the inflammatory response

● Vitamin D helps regulate the immune cells that if confused or overactive create autoimmune reactions 

Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones

● Vitamin D contributes to normal absorption/utilisation of calcium 

● Vitamin D contributes to normal blood calcium levels Osteoporosis is strongly linked to low vitamin D status  

● Menopausal women have higher risk of thin, brittle bone and osteoporosis 

● Supplementing with Vitamin D and calcium may help small increases in bone mineral density. 

Vitamin D has a role in the process of cell division and contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function 

● Low levels of Vitamin D are associated with poor posture, weak muscles. 

● Vitamin D influences the speed at which muscles contract

● Vitamin D  interacts with neuromuscular function,

● When Vitamin D is low there's a higher percentage of fat in the muscles

● As Vitamin D levels increase the level of fat infiltration into muscle tissue declines. 

● Lean muscle provides better strength, more power and enhanced physical performance. 

The omega-3 fats and Vitamin D3 are absorbed into the bloodstream shortly after you take them so your body benefits from these potent nutrients from the very first day. However, if you have a diagnosed health condition, are living with suboptimal health or have a high level of stress, poor sleep, high alcohol intake and poor diet - then it could take a while before you 'feel' the benefits. 

When taking a new nutrition supplement it's good to reassess how you feel after 1-3 months.

The carrier oil for the Vitamin D3 raw material is MCT (medium chain triglycerides) oil.

The fish oil in Rise & Shine is the same as the iconic Life & Soul omega-3 with the added benefit of Vitamin D3. Rise & Shine contains slightly less EPA and DHA per dose compared to our Life & Soul range to make room for the Vitamin D3.

Life & Soul capsules cost £28.50. For this you get:

• 860mg EPA
• 440mg DHA

With Rise & Shine you get:

• 755mg EPA
• 377mg DHA

• 25 Micrograms (1,000iu) Vitamin D3

Roughly speaking, you get around 13% less EPA and DHA in R&S but you get Vitamin D3. 

If you were to take 13% off the price of Life & Soul, this would make the price around £24.80 just for the omega-3. So that's 13% off the normal price of Life & Soul. 

At £29.50, it's costing £4.70 a month for the Vitamin D3 which is 15p a day. (£24.80 + £4.70 = £29.50). In comparison, Wild Nutrition Vit D costs 50p a day.

So to get only 13% less omega-3 than Life & Soul but the recommended daily dose of Vitamin D3 for only £1 more than L&S, it's very good value.

You could, but it wouldn't be necessary and would cost you more money. You'd be better off buying Rise & Shine if you want a maintenance dose of omega-3 and Vitamin D. If you want more Vitamin D, you should buy Life and Soul and a separate Vitamin D.

Are you getting enough Vitamin D?

There’s now general recognition that vitamin D deficiencies are widespread in countries across Europe and national health surveys indicate that as many as 60% of Europeans aren’t getting anywhere near enough vitamin D which may leave some of us more vulnerable to catching an infection. 

In the UK vitamin D deficiency is extremely common. The NHS report that 1 in 5 in adults and 1 in 5 children are living with vitamin D deficiency which can result in rickets (poor bone development) in children and osteomalacia (softening of the bones) in adults. Everyone in the UK is at greater risk of low vitamin D during the winter months. 

Most people get some of their daily vitamin D requirements from the sun, but this needs to be topped up by eating foods rich in vitamin D and/or taking a daily supplement such as Rise & Shine to safeguard against a vitamin D deficiency. 

High risk groups

It’s pregnant women, children under 5, people with malabsorption conditions (IBS, Crohn’s, colitis, coeliac disease), those who suffer from autoimmune conditions, people who are overweight or obese and vegetarians and vegans that are most at risk. As you grow old, your skin’s ability to make vitamin D starts to drastically decline which is why the elderly are also at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.   

Dark skin lowers vitamin D

Darker skin has a much higher level of melanin, the brown pigment which functions to filter and protect the skin from UV rays. The darker your skin more efficiently you block out UV rays decreasing your skin’s ability to make your own supply of vitamin D. Supplementing with Rise & Shine gives you a plentiful daily dose of vitamin D3 enabling people with darker skin tone to minimise their risk of developing a deficiency.

Vitamin D2 vs D3

There are lots of different types of vitamin D and each one has a slightly different chemical structure. When it comes to vitamin D supplements, some forms are easier for your body to absorb and utilise. The two main types are vitamin D2 and D3, both of which need to be converted by your liver and kidneys into bioactive vitamin D (calcitriol) which your cells can then use.  

Vitamin D2 - known as ergocalciferol, is found in mushrooms and the synthesised (made in a laboratory) form of vitamin D2 is often used in fortified foods and some nutritional supplements. However, this form tends to be poorly absorbed and the liver conversion rate for vitamin D2 is slow and produces low levels of calcitriol. Vitamin D2 is considered by experts to be a low-quality source of vitamin D. 

Vitamin D3 - called cholecalciferol or calcifediol, is found in oily fish, liver, egg yolk and butter. We formulated Rise & Shine with vitamin D3 because this form of vitamin D has 3 unique credentials:

1. higher rate of absorption and utilisation compared to vitamin D2

2. faster conversion of vitamin D3 with higher yields of calcitriol compared to vitamin D2

3. 5 times more efficient at raising blood levels of vitamin D compared to vitamin D2 

Pure fish oil (sardine, anchovy, mackerel), carrier oil (medium chain triglycerides), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), antioxidant (mixed tocopherols). Coating: fish gelatin, glycerol British Pharmacopoeia.

One serving (a tablespoon or 5g) of Skinful contains just 19 calories..

Hydrolysed wild codfish skin (Gadus morhua). Made in Norway.

Collagen in the body is either type I, II, or III.  Our collagen is type I. Most anti ageing collagen powder supplements for the skin will contain type I, and it’s the type that’s found in large quantities in marine collagen.

We all know collagen is good for our skin but the real magic lies in the levels of amino acids they contain. 

Collagen peptides normally contain around 19 different amino acids, including eight of the nine essential amino acids. The important amino acids glycine, proline and hydroxyproline are the most prevalent in collagen peptides, making up 50% of its total amino acid content - the same amount that's in human skin. 

You can find our amino acid profile on our shop pages.

There are no traces of iodine in our Skinful Marine Collagen products. 

The fish skin that is used in our production of collagen goes through several cleaning and filtration processes before it ends up as collagen peptides.

If that’s the case, unfortunately our products aren’t for you.

Skinful may contain traces of Shellfish. Our manufacturer produce products that contain shellfish. This production takes place in a completely different part of the factory part of the factory but it is possible there may be traces. 

Collagen supplements are generally well-tolerated with no known drug interactions. However, some people have been known to experience mild side effects, ranging from feelings of fullness to mind diarrhea and on rare occasions, skin rashes. Taking collagen supplements with food may help to avoid any gastrointestinal problems.

Some people notice that they feel thirstier when they consume more protein. Listen to your body and drink extra water if you need to.

Collagen can possibly reduce your serotonin levels. There is a small amount of tryptophan in our marine collagen but the other amino acids cause the liver to increase uptake of it by the liver and reduce uptake by the brain, therefore leaving less in the blood to be used to make serotonin. Please always consult your GP if taking SSRI's. 

Our collagen tubs are fully recyclable; as is our postal packaging which is paper-based, so you can recycle that too!

We're the only company we know of that publishes full test results (certificates of analysis) for every single batch. We're also the only UK company certified by the International Fish Oil Standards program, an independent laboratory that tests every single batch of our oils. We have absolutely nothing to hide – we’re pure, and proud of it. You can find our independent test results on the shop pages.

We also get our batches tested a second time by IFOS (The International Fish Oil Standards Programme). Here are the reports for our current batches:

Life & Soul Liquid

Action Heroes Liquid

Life & Soul Daily Capsules

Life & Soul Daily Mini Capsules

Mindful Capsules

Mums & Bumps Capsules

Vim & Vigour Capsules

Rise & Shine Capsules

Absolutely not. Lemon is the only thing you’ll smell or taste in our liquid oils. This is because they’re such good quality. Essentially, fish oils turn rancid when they come into contact with oxygen – which is why fish straight out of the sea don’t smell. Ours are super fresh, with much lower levels of oxidation than other brands. 

Very fishy smelling or tasting oil is usually a sign that it’s turned rancid. As long as you keep your bottle closed and in the fridge, you’ll never experience this with our fish oils.

No – cod liver oil really does come from the livers of cod. As this is where toxins and contaminants are processed, this kind of oil is more likely to contain heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs.

Our oil comes from sardines, anchovies and mackerel. These have very high levels of omega-3, but are small and have short life spans – so they have little time to build up pollutants.

Also, our oil tastes amazing, whereas cod liver oil is a bit of an acquired taste.

We only use wild sardine, anchovy and mackerel from deep waters. 

We use small fish like sardine, mackerel and anchovy.  This is because small fish are at the bottom of the food chain and therefore contain fewer heavy metals and other pollutants such as PCBs.  The higher up the food chain you are, the more toxic build up you get.  This means that larger fish like pollock, salmon and tuna are likely to carry more heavy metals and chemicals.

Yes – we make sure of it. Our fish are caught within the strictest international guidelines. And we only work with Norwegian fisheries and manufacturers certified by both Friends of the Sea and IFFO-RS, the global responsible supply standard.

As quickly as we can - always within 24 hours, in line with the EU regulation EC 852/2004. All the fishery plants we use are in Norway and registered and approved by the EU to produce fish for human consumption.

Our oils are extracted using molecular distillation.  The oil in our pregnancy product, Mums & Bumps, uses this same process, but we add a further step using a natural enzyme to get to the highest DHA levels.  This is a green chemistry process so it is very mild on the oil.

No, no toxic chemicals or solvents are used in any stage of the manufacturing process.

Very carefully. It goes through a variety of processes, including molecular distillation at a low temperature and filtration to remove saturated fats and other solids. This is all done by our expert manufacturer in Norway.

Our oils are not cold pressed.  However, we do not use flash distillation either, which exposes the oil to high heat.  During molecular distillation, the oil is exposed to heat but with a very low residence time and under extreme vacuum.  We use a  special deodorization process called think film; which means a gentler and very short time exposure.  This is a far superior process to batch deodorization, which subjects all the oil to heat for a longer period.

Due to the nature of our products this may vary from batch to batch.  However, we are one of the very few fish oil companies that are accredited 5 stars for purity and freshness from the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS).  Among many other criteria, they test oxidation levels with every single batch we manufacture before sale.  As far as we are aware, we're the only fish oil company that publishes every test in full on our website.In short, our oxidation levels are well within the range of the approved level for safety.  You can find the most up to date analyses, including the current oxidation levels on each of our product pages on our online shop.

You can also take a look at the IFOS website to see their independent tests on each batch we produce.

The shelf life of our capsules, unopened, is 2 years from the date they were made.  The shelf life of our liquids, unopened, is 2 years from the date they were made.  For the expiry date for current batches, please see the Ingredients tab for each product.

Our liquids can taste good up to 4 months, depending on how well the lid has been sealed after opening.  Our capsules are fine until the expiry date.

Once opened Life & Soul Liquid and Action Heroes need to be refrigerated with the lid tightly screwed on. We advise you treat our oils like fresh food; we’ve kept our oils as pure as possible and have chosen not to laden them with preservatives so that you get more fish oil with every bottle. 

Our capsules keep well in ambient or cool storage.

If you want to take a higher dose to address a particular health concern we recommend seeking guidance from a registered healthcare practitioner first. 

Our fish oil is made in Norway, we then bring it to the UK where it is bottled or made into capsules and packed into containers.

Meal times, preferably at dinner. This helps your body absorb and digest it, and makes it easier to get into the habit of taking it at the same time every day.

Some of our customers do, but it’s a good idea to check with a medical expert or nutritional therapist before you do this. You should also be mindful if you’re on medications such as blood thinners.

Our fish oils have a long shelf life, so you don’t need to store them in special conditions until they’re opened. Once you’ve opened our liquids – Life & Soul liquid and Action Heroes – please keep them closed and in the fridge. Just like you would something fresh such as juice.

You can keep our capsules wherever’s handy – in a cupboard or drawer, on the countertop, or in your bag – as long as it’s not excessively hot or cold.

If you have any medicine spoons or teaspoons around the house, these are usually 5ml. Most medicine spoons also have 2.5ml markings. You can also use baking and cooking measuring spoons.

Action Heroes comes with its own handy syringe. But if you want to measure out 1ml of this with a regular teaspoon just pour a tiny amount – literally a drop.

It's not essential but, as with most supplements, Lion Heart is best taken with food because it helps with the apsorption.  If taken at mealtimes, there are more contents in the stomach and intestines,, so the capsules can be broken down much more effectively.  As a side benefit, it may also increase absorption and utilisation of fat soluble vitamins and minerals in your meals.

The aim with establishing good nutrition is consistency.  If you find it difficult taking your oil at meal times and it's easier not to, then by all means you can take the product on an empty stomach.

The oil is extracted on the fishing boats, wherever they are.  The oil is sent to Norway where it is purified.  It is then tested in Norway by our manufacturer (we publish those results on our website for each batch) and is also tested by IFOS in Canada.

The oil is shipped in sealed drums (we check the seals when they arrive here) so no additional oxidation occurs.  But to be safe, when the oil arrives at our encapsulators, the oxidation level is tested again before encapsulation.  Likewise, after it is bottled, we test the oil here in the UK for oxidation and bacteria/microbes/contamination before it is bottled and after and IFOS test the finished bottled/encapsulated product.

Nitrogen flushing is used during the liquid oil bottling and capsule filling, to help minimise its exposure to oxygen. 

For our capsules, the fish oil is tested for various things, including freshness, and any drums opened are purged with nitrogen prior to resealing. The oil is encapsulated under nitrogen and the flow is checked and confirmed hourly during production.

The fish are wild caught by 'purse seine' fishing fleets.  Purse seine is a type of trawler net.

Our fish oil manufacturer is Friend of the Sea certified, which strictly regulates the fishery.  

Friend of the Sea sustainable fishery criteria requires:

• non-onverexploited target stock according to FAO, Regional Fishery Bodies and National Marine Authorities
• no relevant impact on the seabed
• selective fishing method (max 8% discards)
• no bycaught species included in the IUCN Redlist of endangered species
• compliance with legal requirements (incl. TACs, no IUU, no FOC, mesh size, min size, MPA, etc)
• energy balance and yearly fuel efficiency improvement
• waste management
• social accountability

We have absolutely no indications that omega-3 decreases in an open container exposed to oxygen and light, based on our experiences, testing and studies. However oxidation will start and continue once it’s been exposed which will affect taste and smell over time in a fish oil. We do not see any correlation between oxidation and omega-3 content.

We do not recommend exposure to temperatures above 40C.

The TG values are for the fatty acids as triglycerides (in nature they exist as triglycerides, so three fatty acids joined together along with a molecule of glycerol). It means that some of the weight can be attributed to glycerol, hydrogen and oxygen.

The free fatty acid (FFA) values are for the fatty acids themselves (alone, no glycerol).

That’s why the TG values always look higher on the spec than the FFA values.

Effectively, the TG amount and the FFA amount are measuring the same amount but one is showing the weight as triglyceride and one is showing it without the added molecule of glycerol.

The most important types of omega-3 for our health are EPA, DHA and to a lesser degree, DPA.  We list these for obvious reasons.  However, there are lots of kinds of omega-3 but each batch would need to be analysed in extreme detail to split them all out.  This is very expensive and would mean the price of the fish oil would increase.  We therefore don't do this analysis but, don't worry, they're all safe and for sure also have health benefits. Here's a table of the omega-3 types, courtesy of Wikipedia...

Just a little vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that helps preserve the oil. Our liquids also contain a tiny amount of natural Sicilian lemon oil to help them taste good.

Yes. We only ever use fish gelatin, as we don't think it's right to put fish oil in pork or beef. And of course this is much better for people who don't eat meat.

Absolutely not.

We simply don’t need to. Our oil is so fresh that it never repeats on you, so there’s no need to 'mask' any fishiness. And we want to fill up our capsules with as much pure fish oil as possible, not unnecessary flavourings.

Yes, all Omega 3 supplements provide DPA. 

Here's the dose for each of our products:

Life & Soul liquid (previously Lion Heart): 200mg

Action Heroes liquid : 65mg

Life & Soul mini capsules (previously Lion Heart): 80mg

Life & Soul daily capsules (previously Lion Heart): 80mg

Mums & Bumps capsules (previously Bump & Glory): 60mg

Mindful capsules: 60mg

No our fish oils don't contain any vitamin D.

Our fish oils contain 0% iodine

Absolutely. There’s no trace of shellfish in our fish oils.

If that’s the case, unfortunately our products aren’t for you – sorry.

We use natural mixed tocopherols derived from non-GMO soybean oil, which has no allergy risks associated to it as there are no traces of soy left.

None that we’re aware of. Some studies say that very high doses may upset your stomach, but this is quite rare, especially if you take it with food.  Of course, you should always check with your doctor before taking if you're on any medication, such as blood thinners.

You could buy a soya lecithin supplement to take with it, or take it with food.

It’s always best to check with your doctor if you have a serious condition or are on medication. One of the effects of Omega 3 fish oil is to thin the blood, so if you’re about to have surgery or take blood thinning medication you shouldn’t take fish oil supplements.

Fish oils are contraindicated with all blood thinning drugs.  Therefore, it is not recommended that anyone takes our products (and any other omega-3) while on them.

Similarly, there is a contraindication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.  We would recommend to wait at least 4 hours after taking these drugs before taking fish oil.  If you have been taking such drugs for long periods of time, you should consult your GP or a registered healthcare practitioner.

The glycerol comes from vegetable origin including: Palm oil, Palm Kernel Oil, coconut oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil.

The palm used is RSPO Mass Balance palm - this means it is from sustainable supply.

All our liquid and capsule bottles are made from pharmaceutical glass, which means they’re sterile and safe for foods.

Our glass bottles are all recyclable; as are the outer boxes, the inner sleeve and leaflet. And all our postal packaging is paper-based, so you can recycle that too!

Our pouches are fully biodegradable (including the internal zipper!), so if your council won't accept them in your green bin, you can pop them in your general waste and they will decompose.

Yes! The pouches include an inner metallised film liner, which acts as an excellent barrier to moisture and UV/visible light. They keep your capsules lovely and fresh, exactly like the jars, so while you can use them as re-fills, you can also keep them as your main container if you'd prefer! 

There’s been a lot of press recently suggesting that krill oil is a better source of omega-3. We’ve done our homework on this (tons of reading and speaking to experts) – and we feel that there isn’t yet enough evidence or human trials using krill oil. We’re also very mindful of the ecological impact of increased fishing on the marine food chain. So, for now, we won’t be using krill oil.

It’s important to eat well a healthy, balanced diet even when taking supplements – and oily fish is of course a great source of omega-3. 

But even with the best will in the world, it’s hard to eat enough oily fish to get the levels of omega-3 you need. And sadly, with fish comes risky levels of heavy metals and toxins. This is why it’s important for pregnant women and children to limit eating fish like tuna and to avoid things like swordfish and marlin altogether. 

Our oil gives you all the benefits of eating fresh fish – great omega-3 content in its natural triglyceride form – with absolutely no heavy metals or toxins.

There's a good article about this in our magazine here.

Both omega-3 and omega-6 are essential fatty acids.  They're essential because they make up our cell membranes and are concentrated in certain tissues such as our brain, skin and eyes.  Unlike other omegas, the body cannot produce omega-3 and 6.  So we have to eat them.  Omega-6 is readily available.  In fact most of us are eating far too much of it.  You can find it in abundance in meat, poultry and various plant oils, nuts and seeds.  There are many types of omega-6, all of which are made in the body from the parent form Linoleic Acid (LA).

The controversy with this omega is that before the body can make the healthful types of omega-6, it produces a type of omega-6 that is highly inflammatory.  It's called Arachidonic Acid.  Therefore, when you consume too much of it, it can drive inflammation in the body leading to ill health.  The other issue is that the body uses the same enzyme to metabolise omega-6 and 3 - they compete with one another.  Therefore, when there is too much omega-6, this can affect the metabolism of omega-3.

Although omega-6 is readily available in the diet, some people supplement with it because they don't consume meat or poultry.  However, the most common reason relates to a type of omega-6 known as DGLA.  This is the type that is abundantly found in evening primrose oil.  Some people struggle to convert the LA into DGLA.  They choose to supplement with it because it is anti-inflammatory.  In this sense, it complements omega-3 really well.

In general EPA is anti-inflammatory. DHA is primarily beneficial for neuron and brain health.  

Put simply, it helps children’s brains and bodies develop. 

DHA omega-3 is a major component of our brain, eye tissue and skin. So much so that during pregnancy the body feeds the mother’s DHA to the baby, and breast milk has elevated levels. In fact, the amount of DHA in the brain increases by 30 times between the first 24 weeks and two years of life*.

But most children don’t get enough DHA in their food. And this matters. 

Studies show a direct link between low levels of DHA and poor learning and behaviour. The 2012 Dolab** study found that DHA is ‘a safe and effective way to improve the reading and behaviour in healthy, but underperforming children in mainstream schools’. And an earlier study by the same researchers in Durham also found that increasing omega-3 in the diets of children between 5 and 12 significantly improved their reading, spelling and behaviour over three months.

*Neonatal network, 2007, 26:229-234
**The Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Oxford Learning and Behavior Study, 2012