Skincare Naturals » Jan

5 Shopping Tips for a Natural Homemade Soap Bar

Jan — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:53:36 +0000

Here are a few tips if you are shopping for a good quality natural soap bar. If you can remember to look for these 5 tips, the quality of the soap will probably increase making your soap less drying and leaving your skin with a clean glow rather than dry flakes.

Matter of fact that’s how I test my recipes, if I wash my face and it feels too tight or gets dry I know I need to work on it!

I remember before I started making my own soap when dry flaky skin after a shower was the norm. It doesn’t have to be that way! And a bottled cleanser full of preservatives and who knows what is not necessary either.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

It can be confusing sometimes to find a good natural soap bar since there are so many varieties of soap on the market, both homemade and commercially produced.

1. Check for artificial colouring on the label. If the colour looks artificial it probably is.

2. Check for fragrance oils or scent listed on the label. You are looking for pure essential oils. The bar may be more expensive but there is a world of difference between these two. If pure essential oils are listed, it will very likely be stated as this is a big selling plus and indicates a high quality bar as well as justifies some of the cost as they are much more expensive to use than most fragrance oils.

TIP: If the scent is typically very expensive such as jasmine or rose or a fruit like mango or pineapple, it is likely a synthetic fragrance oil.

Some high end bars do contain the real thing, but they will most likely be either a small bar or very expensive. For instance the soap bar I have pictured is Sandalwood – it is a blend of pure essential oils including Sandalwood so that takes the cost down but still smells divine - there can be variables so don’t be afraid to ask if you’re not sure.

If you have a sales clerk who doesn’t know, it likely is synthetic unless it’s a place that sells a lot of homemade items including high end specialties. Be sharp, some labels can get a little tricky in their descriptions.

3. Check the list of oils. A pure natural soap can be made from these three ingredients and still be a cut above most other soap bars – coconut, palm and olive oil but if you can find soap that also lists at least one other beneficial oil/butter or a few, such as shea, cocoa butter or even castor (not expensive but gives some grand conditioning and bubbles -its not always used or even necessary but it’s nice.) you will increase the odds of having yourself a nice bar of soap (or giving a gift that will be very much appreciated).

BTW, in a 3 oil soap such as the one above, the more olive oil that is in it, the better.

Coconut provides butter and hardness but can be drying if taken too far, palm can be condition but can also be a cheap filler that I don’t find to be extremely beneficial in comparison to some other oils and also can be a sustainability issue.

Olive oil is one of the greats however. Pure Castile soap or a high olive oil content bar will not be very bubbly but will be very gentle and soothing on the skin.

4. What else is included in the bar. If it contains oatmeal, goat milk or dead sea mud, chances are higher that you will have nice bar even if it doesn’t have an added luxury oil or butter.

5. Many glycerin bars are made from a premade base often called melt and pour. There is a huge scale of quality in these bases. Unless you know who you are getting it from and can see an ingredient list for yourself, you may want to avoid these although they sound good.

Dark African Natural Cocoa Butter Prebuy Sale

Jan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 03:38:39 +0000

Here is a bit about the Cocoa Butter…

The dark African Natural Cocoa Butter ™ you find at Skincare Care Naturals differs from the other cocoa butters we stock (organic steam deodorized and organic unrefined) in one major way, it hasn’t been through the fermentation/roasting process that is used to separate the cocao butter or cocoa powder from the bean.

It hasn’t been through the fermentation/roasting process that is used to separate the cocao butter or cocoa powder from the bean.

This leaves all the anti-oxidant (flavonoids) and natural fats, trace minerals and vitamins, intact, making African Natural as close to raw as you can get.

The fermentation and roasting are what create the chocolate taste and smell of processed cocoa butter.

Despite smelling and tasting different than processed cocoa butter, African Natural has all the same physical characteristics except for colour.

This butter smells like the cocoa we make hot cocoa from, which is part of the reason that it is such a popular ingredient. Dark Cocoa Butter is softer and slightly more greasy than other cocoa butters, but absorbs very quickly into the skin.

Use in skin care formulations requiring a thickening agent that will also create a smoothing & moisturizing effect on the skin.

Non-greasy and velvety smooth – it literally sinks right into your skin and hair used in small amounts. Delish!

Physical Specifications

Scent: Smells like cocoa to me. NOTE: The scent in this butter is not strong enough to scent most end products on its own.

Colour: Cocoa – Dark brown blackish colour.

Absorption: Absorbs easily into skin

Benefits: Great for use as a smoothing, moisturizing, thickening agent in soaps & other skin care formulations.

Gives a unique colour – excellent for summer time skin care products if you are wanting to make a dark brown product – or use just a little to control the depth of the final product colour.

I like to use cocoa butters in general for their powdery feel – this one has a totally decadent smoothness too it as well. Besides, it’s just really cool!

No cocoa butter collection is complete without dark cocoabutter. Helps with the prevention of stretch marks. Rich in Vitamin E & anti-oxidants.

Practical Uses…

Dark Cocoa Butter is great to use in your skin care formulations to take advantage of it’s moisturizing, softening, & smoothing effects. It makes a very unique marbly brown soap.

Nice if used in oils such as olive, jojoba or avocado. Or for a really yummy scent, try it with virgin coconut oil.

Dark Cocoa Butter is like any other cocoa butter – you can use it to moisturize your skin and help with the prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy or any time that rapid weight gain (or loss!) is predicted.

Great for use in recipes when a thicker or harder texture is desired. May also help to counteract against the sticky texture of certain fats, such as shea butter.

NOTE: It really is dark in colour and may stain clothing and skin. I did have some melt on a white tablecloth and it did come out when I hand scrubbed it with laundry detergent but it’s something to be aware of.

To see a few ways that I’ve used it for soap…

CROCK POT SOAP (great potential to make a lovely Tigers Eye gem soap)

http://skincarenaturals.com/natural-skin-care-blog/blog/recipes/black-cocoa-butter-homemade-soap-recipe/

HALLOWEEN SOAP

http://skincarenaturals.com/natural-skin-care-blog/blog/recipes/spooktacular-halloween-soap-recipe/

Storage Recommendations Store Dark Cocoa Butter in a tightly sealed container, out of direct sunlight. Will have a shelf-life of up to 3 years under proper storage conditions.

TREAT YOUR SKIN THE HOMEMADE, NATURAL WAY! Dark Cocoa Butter is a great ingredient to use in your all-natural soap and skin care products. Take comfort not only in knowing exactly what ingredients are in the products you are using everyday, but also that your ingredients are 100% pure and natural!

PRICING DETAILS…

Dark African Natural Cocoa Butter Prebuy Sale

Pricing excluding taxes and shipping to you.

25kg – 470.00 (price pr lb – 8.85)
10kg – 200.00 (price per lb – 9.41)
5kg – 105.00 (price per lb – 9.88)
5lbs – 53.00 (price per lb – 10.60)
1kg – 26.00 (price per lb – 12.24)

Order/payment deadline is Sunday Dec. 11

Expected mailout date from me to you is Monday Dec. 19 – 22th.
(note: if that date has to be updated I will keep all participants posted as ordering during the
Christmas Season can be unpredictable.)

Accepted payment method is paypal (using account or credit card processed through paypal) or email transfer.

Money Orders and Cheques are accepted but delivery schedule will be adjusted according to the time line of receipt by me and when
the bank clears the cheque.

Pricing after the prebuy…

25kg – 500.00 (price pr lb – 9.41)
10kg – 225.00 (price per lb – 10.59)
5kg – 125.00 (price per lb – 11.76)
5lbs – 75.00 (price per lb – 15.00)
1lb – 14.99

Please send your order and shipping information to me using the contact form here…

http://skincarenaturals.com/natural-skin-care-blog/contact/

Using Thanksgiving Leftovers for Homemade Skin Care Videos

Jan — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:50:43 +0000

Thanksgiving leftovers for skin care? You bet!

Here are a few videos that I thought you might enjoy to help you clean out your fridge and freshen up your skin.

How to Use Leftovers – on Your Face!

BellaSugarTV: bella.popsugar.tv Facebook facebook.com Twitter: twitter.com This holiday season, find out how your skin can benefit from a Thanksgiving feast. Watch our video to see which fall ingredients make the best beauty boosters, and how to make…

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Leftover Facials

Beauty Expert Stacy Cox showed how Thanksgiving leftovers can be used to reduce wrinkles and under-eye swelling.

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Cranberry Ninja Facial Mask

A fast and easy “double duty” facial mask that you can do yourself! Home-made and organic, this fresh and fab concoction encompasses all of your skin care needs!

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“The Great Pumpkin Facial”

Embrace the autumn season with this tutorial on how to make a fabulous homemade, organic mask in no time at all! Right from your own kitchen, create something that will make your skin glow better and brighter than any jack-o-lantern!

Thanksgiving Facial

Sweet Potato rejuvenating mask facial. Ingredients: 1 Sweet potato or yam. 1 egg Cinnamon Honey DIRECTIONS: Boil sweet potato till tender. Peel skin off potato. Smash potato. Add egg to potato. Add cinnamon and honey to potato. Spread on face and lea…

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LOOKING FOR INGREDIENTS?

If you want a few things to help spruce up your Thanksgiving face mask, you can get some great exfoliants and clays at Skincare Naturals - your do it yourself one stop.

Homemade Face Mask Clays