Why Real Handmade Soap?

Why you may ask, should I buy handmade soap when I can get more soap for less money at the grocery store…

Generally, the commercial soaps carried at most chain stores are full of chemical additives that not only dry out your skin, but can lead to rashes and other irritations. This is not only because of the synthetic additives in the soap, but also because most soap companies take the glycerin out of their soap. The commercial soap bars that line most grocery stores' shelves are actually synthetic detergents. While that's great for your dishes, it's not very good for your skin.

Our handmade soap is soap in its true, pure form. It gently cleanses away excess oils and bacteria, but doesn't strip your skin of its natural oils. They have no harmful or potentially harmful chemicals. If the commercial soap companies do put in natural ingredients along with its synthetic ones, they do so in such small quantities, as for it to be inconspicuous in the soap. The main purpose is to catch the eye of the consumer and give them the illusion that their soap is more natural. If you read the ingredients label through, the soap is still primarily made with synthetic ingredients.

 

Using commercial soaps over time will leave your skin dried out or way too oily, feeling like it is never clean. Our natural handmade soap that only uses natural ingredients can restore the moisture in your skin, while still getting you clean. You will be amazed at the difference!

 

What is Handmade Soap, Really?

Handmade soap is a cleanser made with simple ingredients that are good for your skin. In the handcrafted soap making process, oils and fats are combined with lye to produce soap and glycerin. Some people may question the use of lye in handmade soap, however the fact is that all soap is made with lye. What needs to be made clear is that once the process of saponification is complete, the lye and oil molecules have combined and chemically changed into soap and glycerin. ALL bar soaps are made with lye, however, when made correctly, there is NO LYE remaining in the final bar of soap. Whether your soap is manufactured by large corporations or small handcrafted soap makers, the above rings true, regardless. Lye must be used to make the soap but there should never be any remaining lye in the final bar to hurt the skin. Saponification is the chemical reaction created by combining these oils or fats with lye and water.

 

How Our Handmade Soap Is Made.

Soap is made by adding water, oil, and butters together along with something to form them into soap—an alkali. An example of an alkali is Sodium Hydroxide, which is lye. Saponification is a chemical reaction that takes place when oil is mixed with an alkali solution, water, oils, and butters. In other words, the oil and lye combine to make soap. When the proper amounts are used at the proper temperatures, all of the lye and oil are consumed by the reaction and only the soap remains. We add extra oil during the final stages for added moisturizing properties and to ensure that all the lye is used up in the curing process. 

 

The resulting reaction creates soap and glycerin. Soap cleanses the skin while glycerin moisturizes it. You'll find that our handmade soap is lusciously different because it is full of pure, natural glycerin!

 

What Is Glycerin?

Glycerin is naturally produced during the soap making process. In fact, pound for pound, glycerin costs more than soap, which is why most soap companies remove the glycerin and sell it to the cosmetic industry. We do not remove the glycerin from our handmade soap. When you purchase soap made by us, it contains all of the naturally occurring glycerin. Glycerin creates that lovely, silky feel associated with our bars being made from scratch. Our handmade soaps have excellent benefits for the skin, easing conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

 

More Benefits of Using Our Handmade Soap

Our handmade, all natural soaps are safe to use in every facet. Not only can they be used on the body to achieve softer and more hydrated skin, but they can also be safely used on your face as well as your hair. You will start to notice the results of using our handmade soap right away. Your skin will feel softer and smoother. It is also one of the easiest ways you can eliminate the use of toxic chemicals right away. There is no reason to use chemicals on your skin daily that have been linked to cancer. Switching to our handmade natural soap is one way that you can not only save your skin and promote a healthier environment, but is a way that you can actually work to prevent problems to your health.

 

How We Better Our Already Great Soaps

We use a computer program and scientific data on the properties and qualities of different oils to make our soaps. The result is a very mild, ultra enriched soap with a creamy, silky lather that gently cleanses the skin while leaving it soft, moisturized, and nourished. All of our soaps are made in small batches to ensure the quality of each batch. We hand stir, hand cut, and hand wrap every bar. Each bar is given a long cure period so that when it reaches our shelves, the bar is mild and ready to use. The luxurious natural oils in our soap are all vegetable, containing no animal fats.

We select the highest quality, pure skin loving oils and rich butters to further enhance the moisturizing capabilities of the soap. Each oil is chosen carefully for its lathering, moisturizing and other unique qualities depending on the recipe.  These are then added in the correct proportions even down to the hardness to give the best results. These oils are more expensive than those used by large commercial manufacturers but the resulting soap is superior in texture, moisturizing properties, and cleaning abilities. In addition, each bar is super fatted for even more emolliecy. Each ingredient is carefully chosen for its many benefits—moisturizing, cleansing, and soothing just to name a few.

 

What We Use

• Olive, sunflower, coconut, castor, almond, avocado are just some of the high quality oils we use in our soaps. We do not use any cheap filler oils such as Tallow (animal fat), which is the main ingredient in Dove, or Soybean Oil (Genetically Modified) because they have no real benefits for the skin.
• Mineral rich clays
  • Clays are used to absorb oil, dirt, and toxins from the skin.
  • Rejuvenate, revive, and purify the skin.
  • Exfoliate and help promote blood circulation while adding silkiness to the bar, leaving the skin pure and invigorated.
• Organic earth pigments are used to add some color.
• Stearic Acid (a natural hardener) to make the bar of soap last longer.
• 15% Shea Butter, or Mango Butter, or Cocoa Butter for a more luxurious, richer, moisturizing lather.
• We use the highest quality essential oils and Phthalate Free fragrances (does not disrupt hormones) formulated specifically for use in soap and cosmetic skin care products.

 

Usage and Storage

Do not unwrap until you are ready to use. Since our handmade soaps have no synthetic chemical preservatives, we use Rosemary Oleoresin (ROE), your bar of soap needs more care and diligence to insure a long life. Oue Handcrafted soap is best stored out of water so that it air dries. Rest your soap on a draining dish or stand it on its side out of the spray range of the shower head. If left in water, it tends to dissolve due to the soap and glycerin molecules that wash clean with water. Use within one year to ensure overall freshness. Although our soaps are gentle, they are not tear-free. Avoid eye areas.

 

 

Why Bath Salts?

Bathing with bath salts is great for the skin. It draws out impurities, softens, smoothes and restores moisture balance, heals irritations and scars, and encourages the skin to renew itself. It has also been shown to soothe skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. For your health, it can detoxify your body, improve circulation, relieve arthritis, and rheumatism,  while relaxing tense aching muscles.

 

Bathing with bath salts is also good for the mind. It can induce deep relaxation, relieve stress, tension, and promote restfulness.

 

 

Creams, Lotions, and Butters

Your skin is a living, breathing organ and should be well cared for. As we begin to age, the cell renewal process slows down and the skin becomes drier. Applying a moisturizer is necessary for skin to maintain its elasticity and to prevent premature skin aging. When you have glowing, healthy skin, you feel better.

 

Lotions - have a larger percentage of purified water and are most beneficial to keep skin hydrated. Lotions are generally better in the summer time or in climates with higher moisture content in the air.

 

Creams - have a larger percentage of oil content and are most useful to deeply nourish and hydrate very dry skin. Creams are generally better in the winter when there is less moisture in the air, or in dry climates.

 

Body Butters - have no added water to make for a more luxurious, rich, and advanced moisturizing. Beneficial for very dry, rough, chapped skin. Soothing for worst cases of dry skin and sunburn.

 

Lotion Sticks - have no added water, more concentrated than traditional lotions. Great for on-the-spot treatment of chapped or dry hands, knees, heels, elbows, and knuckles.

 

What makes our moisturizers better?

• Our lotions and creams are thicker (not watered down) like commercially made brands
• Optiphen and Cosmocil CQ are used as gentle, effective preservatives that are Paraben free and do not release formaldehyde.
• We combine nourishing oils, butters, clays , milks and botanicals to purify, remineralize and soothe.
• Hydrovance – to draw and retain moisture to the skin, (less tacky than glycerin).
• Dimethicone – to protect and leave a luxurious, elegant feel to the skin.
• The final result – to soothe, protect, and nourish while leaving your skin soft, supple, healthy, and vibrant!
• We do not use mineral oil (by-product of gasoline) clogs the pores and very toxic to the skin!

 

 

Scrubs

Salt Scrubs - have natural, relaxing, and soothing properties, helps circulation and exfoliates your skin, works especially well on knees, elbows, hands, and feet.

• Dead Sea Salt – promotes skin healing and cell renewal
• Himalayan Salt – known for its powerful detoxifying and cleansing properties. It brings nutrients and minerals to the skin. Your skin will feel softer, smoother, healthier, well nourished and balanced.

Sugar Scrubs - tend to be gentler on the skin. Great for sensitive skin and less drying than salt scrubs. They can be used on the face with caution. A gentle yet effective treatment for dry, rough skin. Moisturizes and softens your skin while stimulating circulation. Leaves you with a fresh, youthful complexion.

 

 

What do you want to put on your lips?

We now know that petroleum-based lip balms DO NOT help chapped lips, since petroleum jelly (also known as petrolatum) is not absorbed by the skin. Petroleum based products simply coat the skin, similar to wrapping the skin in plastic food wrap, inhibiting its ability to breathe, absorb moisture, and release toxins.

 

Petroleum based lip balms provide a quick fix for dry, chapped lips by trapping the moisture on the surface of your lips. Although your lips may feel less dry, you must continuously reapply the petroleum based lip products in order to keep your lips feeling moist. These products prevent the thin lip skin from breathing and may cause greater irritation or even infection when bacteria become trapped between the petroleum lip coating and the lip skin.

 

A moisturizing lip balm, like a good skin cream, should penetrate the skin and not simply coat in the skin's surface and feel greasy. Because our lip balm absorbs quickly, you will not feel a slippery gloss that stays on the lips surface as with commercial lip balms. The moisturizing oils and butters, rich in Vitamin E, will penetrate deep into the skin cells where they belong, to hydrate and moisturize your lips.

 

Our lips balms contain no petroleum jelly, mineral oil, parabens, alcohol, or paraffin waxes that are common in most lip balms.

 

 

 

Perfume & Cologne Oils

A healthy alternative to alcohol based perfumes. Many people are allergic to Ethyl Alcohol which is also very harsh on your skin. The designer brand perfumes are compromised of 75% – 85% alcohol, ethanol, and/or water. Alcohol and ethanol make your perfume smell much stronger than it really is and it fades within a few hours. Alcohol is a drying agent and as your perfume evaporates, it not only takes your fragrance but your natural oils with it, drying your skin as it goes.

 

Our Perfume & Cologne Oils contain absolutely no alcohol, ethanol, or water. They are pure, concentrated perfume oils giving your skin a softer, smoother feeling. Use sparingly as they are strong and concentrated. They will last 2 or 3 times longer than a large spray bottle of perfume or cologne. When wearing you only need to apply just a dab at a time.  Keeping your skin moisturzied will help the oils last longer

 

However, if you have very sensitive skin, just apply a dab on your arm and wait 24 hours to make sure that you do not occur any redness or rashes. If you do, immediately discontinue use,. Keep out of reach of children and do not apply to clothing as it may stain. To store perfume properly, keep away from heat and light.

 

 

Dead Sea Mud

Deeply cleanses, purifies, nourishes, and disinfects the skin while refreshing, revitalizing, and mineralizing. Mud from the dead sea is known to cure skin disorders, maintain the skin's chemical balance, stimulate blood circulation, eliminate toxins, and gently exfoliate, peeling away dead skin cells to reveal more youthful, healthier skin. Draws out oils and impurities from deep down in your pores. Dead Sea Black Mud is also often used as a hair mask, leaving your hair silky soft and helps prevent dandruff.

 

 

Why Use a Clay Mask

We are bombarded with pollution, dirt, grime, and oil every day.  Even the best of skin care can leave behind a layer of dead skin and debris.  A clay mask binds to that layer and lifts it away allowing your beauty products to absorb fully and be more effective

The many benefits of clay masks are:

• Stimulates & increases circulation.
• Tightens sagging skin.
• refines enlarged pores
• Exfoliates by lifting dead skin cells
• Cleanses & purifies

They are good for all skin types.  Your skin will be freed from impurities, dirt, contaminants and excess oil.  Leaving you glowing & vibrant!

Benefits of:

• Sea Greens – stimulates & improves blood & lymph circulation.
• Re – Balancing
• Nourishing
• Hydrating
• Cell regenerating
• Detoxifying
• Purifying
• Oxygenation
• Re – mineralizing

These are achieved due to the high concentration of these elements:  Mineral salts, Amino Acids, Vitamin A, C, B1, B12, E, PP, K, D, and trace elements.

 

 

Hair Shampoo Bars

Yes, this is real shampoo in a solid bar! It's an all-natural product that contains only the ingredients that it needs. Most over the counter shampoos are 97% water and often damage and strip hair of its natural lipid coating, leaving hair dry, brittle, and lacking luster.

 

Commercial shampoos are often detergents that strip the hair entirely and then use chemical additives to correct the problems they create. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, often manufactured from petroleum, are harsh detergents added to create foam as you shampoo. The same substances occur in car washes, engine degreasers, and garage floor cleaners. If you experience eye or scalp irritation, or tangled hair after shampooing, sodium sulfates are a likely cause.

 

Two other petroleum derivatives, Propylene Clycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol (BG), work to deliver shampoo formulas, but they do so by soaking into your skin and debilitating the protein and cellular structures there. Consider whether you want a substance on your hair that can remove barnacles from boats and is found also in industrial-strength antifreeze.

 

Check your commercial shampoos also for any variety of Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl). These chemicals extend the life of bottled shampoos by limiting microbial growth, but they have a negative effect on our natural hormone production because they are estrogenic. Our exposure to them may be a link to breast cancer.

 

For further avoidance of cancer-related agents, you will want to be on the alert for any of the synthetic colors and dyes. They are shown in animal studies to be carcinogenic. These additives carry the label FD&C or D&C followed by the name of a color and then a number. For example: FD&C Red No. 6.

 

Carcinogenic as well are Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA), used as emulsifying and foaming additives. It is the ammonia in their chemistry that delivers the toxicity. Ammonia is also capable of causing eye irritations, other allergic reactions, and, paradoxically, dry hair and skin.

 

If you are not used to solid shampoo bars, the concept may sound a bit strange, but they are wonderful! They naturally clean and condition, leaving your hair soft and shiny. Our shampoo bars are specially formulated with natural plant oils and exotic butters to nourish your hair and scalp. Individual recipes are meticulously designed with specific hair care needs in mind. Special natural botanical essential oils and herbs known to fight oily skin or dry skin are also included. Our super rich and foaming Shampoo Bars have an absolutely fabulous fluffy lather! 

 

What We Use

• Jojoba Oil - Closely resembles that of your own skin sebum. Penetrates the skin and scalp, easily providing moisture without an oily feel. It also promotes hair growth while improving hair condition and has great cleansing properties.
• Coconut Oil - Fluffy lather! Stimulates the regrowth of hair while providing natural proteins to damaged hair.
• Castor Oil - Lots of lather! Conditioning for damage or brittle hair.
• Rice Bran Oil - A tradition in Japan for silky, shiny hair! Promotes manageability while imparting shine and moisture. Also contains protein to help strengthen your hair shaft and improve overall hair health.
• Grapeseed Oil - For oilier hair types. Promotes healthy hair.
• Olive Oil - Treats dandruff while adding moisture leaves hair shiny and silky.
• Mango Butter - Provides relief from dryness and eczema while nourishing.
• Avocado Oil - Vitamin rich, hydrates dry and damaged hair while adding luster.
• Neem Oil - Antiseptic properties to treat scabies, dandruff, and problem skin.
• Baking Soda - Softening and cleansing properties.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - Balances PH, removes product build up, controls dandruff, and helps with tangles.
• Clays and Sea Salt - Mineral rich cleansing and purifying properties.

Our shampoo bars will last up to 5 times longer than conventional liquid style shampoos and most people don't even need to use a conditioner because the natural oils don't get stripped out as with detergent shampoos. Because they are simply soap, shampoo bars will not strip color from your hair as fast as the detergents in commercial shampoos. Perms may also stay "fresher" longer. Tangly hair is another story. The strong detergents in commercial shampoos open the cuticle even more, making it more prone to tangles. 

 

Please do not use a shampoo bar once or twice and decide you don't like it. You need to give the shampoo bars a week or two to rid your hair of the old residues from your commercial shampoo. You may notice your hair feeling different after washing than you may be accustomed. This is normal. You will love how your hair feels after it dries. It will be much softer!

 

If your hair feels stiff or sticky, you can use an apple cider vinegar rinse (2 parts apple cider vinegar to 3 parts warm water). Do this at least for the 1st -2nd week and periodically thereafter to remove residues from the previous commercial products, to balance PH, help with tangles, and control dandruff. Our shampoo bars are very mild and may not clean these products from your hair like detergent shampoos. Pour the vinegar rinse over your hair and distribute with fingers. Then rinse. The scent is gone when your hair dries.

 

 

 

Soy Candles and Usage

Soy Wax

• Made from 100% soybean wax.
• Does not emit toxins while burning the most environmentally safe candle wax available.
• Emits an incredibly small amount of soot.
• Biodegradable.
• Water-soluble.
• Burns cooler and slower and lasts up to 50% longer.
• Renewable resource.
• Supports US farmers and our own economic growth.

Paraffin Wax

• Made from petroleum by products.
• Emits 11 known toxins while burning.
• Emits large amounts of soot.
• Non-biodegradable.
• Not water-soluble.
• Burns hotter and faster.
• Non-renewable resource.
• Creates further US dependence on foreign oil.
• Research suggests that breathing paraffin fumes from a burning paraffin candle in an enclosed room may have the same detrimental effect as inhaling significant 2nd hand tobacco smoke or even the exhaust fumes of a small diesel engine.

Safety Notes & Burning Tips

Keep all lit candles burning within sight, out of reach of children and pets. The maximum recommended burn time for candles is four (4) hours per burn. Always burn candles on a stable, heat resistant surface in areas free from drafts and away from flammable objects such as drapes, furniture, etc. Avoid placing your candles in areas of extreme temperature changes as this will cause discoloration of your candle. Burn candles long enough to have a melted pool all the way to the edges for maximum candle life and to prevent "tunneling." Allow candles to cool and harden before relighting.

 

When trimming your wick, only trim the "Carbon Ball' off of the end. This will help keep your soy candles burning good. Avoid trimming your wick too short as this will cause improper burning conditions. Your wick should be 1/4 inch from the soy wax. If your candle is producing black soot, it is possible that your wick is too long. The important thing to remember is that our candles do not contain toxins within its soot and the amount of soot produced will be far less.

 

Discontinue use when only 1/4 inch of wax remains in the bottom.

 

Bring back your used candle jar with the lid and we will give you $1.00 OFF of your next Soy Candle purchase!

 

 

 

How To Go Green With Sunscreen

Being sunscreen savvy is one of the best ways to keep your skin healthy and smooth. Natural ingredients help the marine ecosystem and will be better for your skin!

 

Go Mineral - Zinc and Titanium Dioxide are great alternatives to those with chemicals such as Oxybenzone, Benzophenone, Octinoxate, Hemosalate, and Avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789). These chemicals interfere with human hormones and break down in as little as 30 minutes when exposed to sunlight. They also increase skin absorption of pesticides. Zinc and Titanium physically block UV rays from reaching your skin. as opposed to other sunscreens that use chemicals to absorb UV rays. Minerals are considered the best protection against sunburn because they block both UVB and UVA rays.

 

Sun Protection Ratings - High SPF ratings sell a false sense of security because most people using them stay out in the sun longer, still get burned (which increases the risk of skin cancer), and subject their skin to large amounts of UVA radiation (the type of sunlight that does not burn but is believed responsible for skin damage and cancer). High SPF products which protect against sunburn, often provide very little protection against UVA radiation. Most people don't get the high SPF they pay for. They apply about a quarter of the recommended amount. Any SPF rating above 30 is unnecessary as they aren't actually more effective, but contain more chemicals that could be more harmful.

 

Pick Healthier Ingredients - Not all sunscreens claiming to be natural are equal. Many cosmetics and sunscreens, even those with natural and organic labels, contain preservatives to insure products remain as fresh as possible. Avoid ones with harsher chemical preservatives, such as Parabens (including Buty/Paraben and Methylparaben), which have mixed health reviews. Look for milder preservatives such as Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Cosmocil CQ, and Optiphen.

 

Steer Clear of Petroleum Based Ingredients - These include Mineral Oil (a byproduct of gasoline which clogs pores). Look for natural emollients such as olive, sunflower, jojoba oils, shea, and cocoa butter to name a few. Avoid allergenic synthetic dyes and fragrances. Make sure to read the list of active ingredients before purchasing because some sunscreens contain Zinc and Titanium in combination with other chemicals. If you can't pronounce an ingredient, it is most likely not natural!

 

Think Prevention - While you are greening up on your sunscreen, don't forget about all of the other advice you have heard over the years. Wear sunscreen even on cloudy days and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10AM and 4PM. Buy protective clothing you can wear in the water and on the beach. Be especially cautious with babies under 6 months old as they should avoid the sun all together. Like most things, think in moderation. A little bit of sun can be a good thing, just don't overdo it!

 

 

 

Body Powders

Body powders are an important addition to your personal natural beauty regime. They make you feel clean & refreshed by providing your skin with disinfectant protection and absorbing excess moisture while diminishing odors and allowing your skin to breath & perspire in a natural way.

 

Talc is found in a wide variety of consumer products ranging from home & garden pesticides to flea & tick powders. However, the products most widely used & that pose the most serious health risks are body products.
 

Talc is toxic and is a carcinogen!! Talc particles cause tumors in human ovaries & lungs. Clearly, dusting with talcum powder endangers an infant’s lungs at the prospect of inhalation. Exposing children to this carcinogen is unnecessary and dangerous.

 

Our body powders are all natural and talc free! Here's what we use:

• 100% Arrowroot Powder - Made from the root of Arrowroot plant (maranta arundmacea), a natural substitute for talc powder that imparts a velvety feel.
• 100% Pure Natural Cornstarch Powder – Made from the Zea Mays plant imparts a smooth velvety feel.
• 100% Pure Natural Baking Soda Powder - Has great absorption, deodorizes, and is healthy for the skin.
• 100% Pure Natural Rice Flour Powder - Has exceptional absorption and is an excellent choice for deodorizing.
• 100% Pure Oat Flour Powder - Has exceptional absorption and is an excellent choice for deodorizing. Healthy for skin.
• Natural Aloe Vera Powder - Has healing and soothing properties for damaged dry skin. It is soothing for burns, skin irritations, and raw open wounds.
• Natural Zinc Oxide - Forms a protective physical barrier over the skin and stops harmful UV rays, as well as repels against wetness (for diaper rashes) and kills bacteria, making for an excellent deodorizer.
• Chamomile Powder – Anti inflammatory and soothing properties.
• Kaolin Clay - For sensitive, dry or maturing skin as it does not overly “pull” the natural oils form your skin. Gently exfoliate and cleanses.
• Betonite Clay - Draws out oils and impurities while cleansing.
• Lavender Powder - A natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and detoxifier which promotes healing. Also very relaxing.
• Essential Oils - Healing and therapeutic properties.
• Phthalate Free Fragrance - Delivers the scent (does not disrupt hormones).