I haven't updated in ages, but to be honest I haven't done anything soap-related since last year. Spent and unexpected (and unbudgeted) Christmas/New Year break in Paris with family so the last few months have been focused on debt-management.
Its looking like I may have some new career opportunities in the coming months so I expect the handicrafts will be taking an extended back-seat ride for a while yet. We'll see what happens when my current stash runs out tho. My focus this year is to get back on track financially and while it doesn't need to be expensive, I do spend a lot of money on this hobby. But the silver lining is that good financial practice now may mean prospects in the future. Once things are back on track I'm certain I'll get back into it in full swing.
Until then..
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sunday, October 26, 2008
bare skin community
In response to a great suggestion I have created a new Live Journal community:
bareskinbeauty
So join, read, learn and post feedback! Everyone is welcome.
bareskinbeauty
So join, read, learn and post feedback! Everyone is welcome.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
BareSkin: First Sample Allocation
Firstly, thank you for the overwhelming response to be testers. Its nice to know that so many people trust me enough to try my products. As luck would have it, I have 9 pots available and 9 people interested in testing.
So to get things started I am going to offer two samples:
1. Yellow clay mask with rosemary and lemongrass essential oil.
Yellow French Argiletz clay is a high quality pure clay that is suitable for most skin types. It draws out the oil and impurities in your skin but is milder than its well known green cousin. Rosemary essential oil can improve blood circulation and decongest the skin while lemongrass essential oil has antiseptic properties and can open blocked pores and tone the skin. Both have energising scents and will leave you and your skin feeling good. I have also added a touch of avocado oil which is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals and suitable for oily skin so it will help moisturise and protect while the clay works its wonders.
I used this mask the other night on my skin that had suddenly broken out quite badly. The next day the inflammation was gone and my skin felt much cleaner. I am really impressed with this mask's deep cleaning abilities.
Ingredients: Yellow French Argiletz clay, water, avocado oil, rosemary essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, preservative.
Suggested use: up to 2 times a week. I like to use a mask on a Sunday and Wed/Thurs night as it seems those times are when my skin really needs attention.
Cost: $1.50
2. Rosemary and lavender face cream.
This face cream is a combination of water and sweet almond oil. Sweet almond is an extremely light oil, full of vitamins and essential fatty acids, that is readily absorbed by the skin. It can help relieve irritation and is tolerated by oily skin types. I have also added vegetable glycerin to the cream, which assists in retaining moisture on the skin.
I know when most people think of lavender they conjure up images of their Aunty June who lives in a house full of floral pillow cases and scented drawer inserts. But lavender has a whole range of fantastic qualities that shouldn't only be reserved for your grandma. First and foremost lavender is a potent calmative, the scent of lavender will relax your body and your mind. Its a very well known cure for sleeplessness. It also has strong antiseptic qualities and can help your skin heal faster, with less scarring. Lavender oil can balance the skin and has soothing anti-inflammatory properties. I could go on, but take my word for it, lavender is an oil you won't regret putting on your skin.
To balance it out I have added rosemary essential oil, with its energising and skin decongesting properties. This combination will calm your mind but keep you alert at the same time, all while keeping your skin healthy and happy.
Ingredients: Water, sweet almond oil, emulsifying wax, vegetable glycerin, grapefruit seed extract, lavender essential oil, rosemary essential oil, preservative.
Suggested use: Whenever you want! This cream is light and easily absorbed and the essential oils will pick you up and calm you down. Great for stress and mental fatigue. The lavender may even help you sleep easier. This cream spreads very well, so you only need to use a small amount at a time to get good coverage.
Cost: $1.00
Have I convinced you that you really want to try both? Well you are quite welcome to. However, right now I only have enough pots for one sample each. I will be putting in an order for some more pots next week tho so assign a preference for one now and I'll let everyone know when more pots arrive. I also have a order arriving next week with a bunch of new oils so I should have some more ideas soon.
Shayna, you're welcome to both if you'd like. I think I can fit 4 pots into a small post pack and postage looks like it'll cost about $5 all up. I have a few other ideas on the way so to save on postage I might hold off for another week or so before I send yours.
Is there a time next weekend that everyone can get together to receive their first sample? Amanda, I know your house gets used for everything, but you do have a nice space for get-togethers. Do you mind if we congregate at your place? Any suggestions are welcome. I appear to have no plans but I don't keep up with all the social gatherings.
So to get things started I am going to offer two samples:
1. Yellow clay mask with rosemary and lemongrass essential oil.
Yellow French Argiletz clay is a high quality pure clay that is suitable for most skin types. It draws out the oil and impurities in your skin but is milder than its well known green cousin. Rosemary essential oil can improve blood circulation and decongest the skin while lemongrass essential oil has antiseptic properties and can open blocked pores and tone the skin. Both have energising scents and will leave you and your skin feeling good. I have also added a touch of avocado oil which is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals and suitable for oily skin so it will help moisturise and protect while the clay works its wonders.
I used this mask the other night on my skin that had suddenly broken out quite badly. The next day the inflammation was gone and my skin felt much cleaner. I am really impressed with this mask's deep cleaning abilities.
Ingredients: Yellow French Argiletz clay, water, avocado oil, rosemary essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, preservative.
Suggested use: up to 2 times a week. I like to use a mask on a Sunday and Wed/Thurs night as it seems those times are when my skin really needs attention.
Cost: $1.50
2. Rosemary and lavender face cream.
This face cream is a combination of water and sweet almond oil. Sweet almond is an extremely light oil, full of vitamins and essential fatty acids, that is readily absorbed by the skin. It can help relieve irritation and is tolerated by oily skin types. I have also added vegetable glycerin to the cream, which assists in retaining moisture on the skin.
I know when most people think of lavender they conjure up images of their Aunty June who lives in a house full of floral pillow cases and scented drawer inserts. But lavender has a whole range of fantastic qualities that shouldn't only be reserved for your grandma. First and foremost lavender is a potent calmative, the scent of lavender will relax your body and your mind. Its a very well known cure for sleeplessness. It also has strong antiseptic qualities and can help your skin heal faster, with less scarring. Lavender oil can balance the skin and has soothing anti-inflammatory properties. I could go on, but take my word for it, lavender is an oil you won't regret putting on your skin.
To balance it out I have added rosemary essential oil, with its energising and skin decongesting properties. This combination will calm your mind but keep you alert at the same time, all while keeping your skin healthy and happy.
Ingredients: Water, sweet almond oil, emulsifying wax, vegetable glycerin, grapefruit seed extract, lavender essential oil, rosemary essential oil, preservative.
Suggested use: Whenever you want! This cream is light and easily absorbed and the essential oils will pick you up and calm you down. Great for stress and mental fatigue. The lavender may even help you sleep easier. This cream spreads very well, so you only need to use a small amount at a time to get good coverage.
Cost: $1.00
Have I convinced you that you really want to try both? Well you are quite welcome to. However, right now I only have enough pots for one sample each. I will be putting in an order for some more pots next week tho so assign a preference for one now and I'll let everyone know when more pots arrive. I also have a order arriving next week with a bunch of new oils so I should have some more ideas soon.
Shayna, you're welcome to both if you'd like. I think I can fit 4 pots into a small post pack and postage looks like it'll cost about $5 all up. I have a few other ideas on the way so to save on postage I might hold off for another week or so before I send yours.
Is there a time next weekend that everyone can get together to receive their first sample? Amanda, I know your house gets used for everything, but you do have a nice space for get-togethers. Do you mind if we congregate at your place? Any suggestions are welcome. I appear to have no plans but I don't keep up with all the social gatherings.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Volunteers Requred: Human Test Subjects Needed for New Product Trial.
Always wanted to be a lab rat? Well here is your chance.
What I need is people to test the products that I make and give me feedback on whether they like them or not. Don't worry, I test everything on myself first so if I don't like it then I won't pass it on. This is open to both girls and guys. We all wash and we all have skin so don't be afraid to try. Guys, I wont force girly things onto you I promise.
Right now I have quite a few ideas of creams, soaps, masks and balms that I'd like to trial. I've made two batches of face cream that Lucas and I routinely use but 100ml of each goes a long way and I don't feel like waiting around for it to finish before I make another. I would also prefer the input of others to see where I can improve my recipes but I don't expect everyone to commit to a large batch of something new without first trying it.
For me smaller volumes mean better turn around, more feedback and an opportunity for new products. It means that if you don't like the product that much then you haven't just bought 50ml that you don't know what to do with. It also means that you can try lots of new things without having to spend lots of money. If you really like something (which I hope) then I can make you a larger volume for you to continue to use.
So here's what I propose to do:
1. A Tester will purchase a 15ml mini pot for $2.
2. I will post updates of new products that I want to trial along with a price for the sample volume. I anticipate the average price will be around $1-2.
3. Whoever is interested can request a sample and I will fill a pot for you.
4. I will deliver the sample pot to you in exchange for an empty pot and some feedback on the previous sample (obviously this wont be applicable the first time).
5. If you want a new sample and your current pot isn't empty then you can buy another pot and have two (or more if you want) on the go. I will keep track of the pots so they don't get lost.
6. When you've finished your sample you can request another and the cycle continues.
7. Once you have bought your pot you only need to pay for the samples that it is filled with. The pot belongs to you, its just being recycled and saves you extra packaging costs.
Feedback can include comments on the product itself (ie, too runny) or a suggestion for a different scent (ie, floral or citrus). The more specific the better but even a little feedback will be helpful, you don't have to mix your own scents or ingredients, just suggest something you like. Also, if there's a product you'd like me to try then suggest it and I'll see if I can make you a sample. I can't think of everything so this will be a good way for me to see what people want.
Here's an example of a 15ml mini pot filled with a clay mask that I mixed up today. This sample is worth $1.50. You should only use a mask two times a week so this much product should last around a month.
Ingredients: Superfine yellow French argiletz clay, water, avocado oil, lemongrass essential oil, rosemary essential oil, preservative.
To apply, leave me a comment and I'll start working up a sample list for you.
Thanks for your help.
What I need is people to test the products that I make and give me feedback on whether they like them or not. Don't worry, I test everything on myself first so if I don't like it then I won't pass it on. This is open to both girls and guys. We all wash and we all have skin so don't be afraid to try. Guys, I wont force girly things onto you I promise.
Right now I have quite a few ideas of creams, soaps, masks and balms that I'd like to trial. I've made two batches of face cream that Lucas and I routinely use but 100ml of each goes a long way and I don't feel like waiting around for it to finish before I make another. I would also prefer the input of others to see where I can improve my recipes but I don't expect everyone to commit to a large batch of something new without first trying it.
For me smaller volumes mean better turn around, more feedback and an opportunity for new products. It means that if you don't like the product that much then you haven't just bought 50ml that you don't know what to do with. It also means that you can try lots of new things without having to spend lots of money. If you really like something (which I hope) then I can make you a larger volume for you to continue to use.
So here's what I propose to do:
1. A Tester will purchase a 15ml mini pot for $2.
2. I will post updates of new products that I want to trial along with a price for the sample volume. I anticipate the average price will be around $1-2.
3. Whoever is interested can request a sample and I will fill a pot for you.
4. I will deliver the sample pot to you in exchange for an empty pot and some feedback on the previous sample (obviously this wont be applicable the first time).
5. If you want a new sample and your current pot isn't empty then you can buy another pot and have two (or more if you want) on the go. I will keep track of the pots so they don't get lost.
6. When you've finished your sample you can request another and the cycle continues.
7. Once you have bought your pot you only need to pay for the samples that it is filled with. The pot belongs to you, its just being recycled and saves you extra packaging costs.
Feedback can include comments on the product itself (ie, too runny) or a suggestion for a different scent (ie, floral or citrus). The more specific the better but even a little feedback will be helpful, you don't have to mix your own scents or ingredients, just suggest something you like. Also, if there's a product you'd like me to try then suggest it and I'll see if I can make you a sample. I can't think of everything so this will be a good way for me to see what people want.
Here's an example of a 15ml mini pot filled with a clay mask that I mixed up today. This sample is worth $1.50. You should only use a mask two times a week so this much product should last around a month.
 |
| From 05-Oct-08 - Clay Mask |
To apply, leave me a comment and I'll start working up a sample list for you.
Thanks for your help.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Packaging, moulds and ingredients
I went to Spotlight today to see if I could find something nice to package up my soaps and make them look more presentable. Unfortunately the invention of scrapbooking has done a serious disservice to other crafts by completely taking over the whole section. Now everything comes in little pre-cut packages, which are just perfect for the time-strapped scrapbooker but bloody annoying for me who is looking for a sheet of corrugated card or a roll of raffia. So I left empty handed and checked out the $2 shop instead. There I found a huge roll of plain brown paper and a packet of shrink wrap.
The shrink wrap is awesome and the best part is that it locks the smell in, which means it wont fade while its not being used. It also means that they can be picked up without getting the soap on your hands. Much nicer all around really.
I spent the morning making up some soap moulds so I can get a nice rectangular log that will fit into my mitre box for cutting (a rather nifty idea I found on another website). After looking at the prices online for wooden and plastic moulds I thought that a better idea would be to cut up some heavy cardboard instead and see how that goes. I think they turned out rather well and the old washing detergent box I used is rather fitting. They're very sturdy and now they just need to pass the actual soap test. I bought some foam sheets to make a removable liner, but I'm having a bit of trouble putting that together.
I put in another order for some more ingredients yesterday. I need to make up a batch of super-mild soap for a friend at work and I need to get some more soap curing so that when the current batches run out I don't have to wait another 4 weeks for more.
 |
| From 07-Sept-08 New Soap Batch |
The shrink wrap is awesome and the best part is that it locks the smell in, which means it wont fade while its not being used. It also means that they can be picked up without getting the soap on your hands. Much nicer all around really.
I spent the morning making up some soap moulds so I can get a nice rectangular log that will fit into my mitre box for cutting (a rather nifty idea I found on another website). After looking at the prices online for wooden and plastic moulds I thought that a better idea would be to cut up some heavy cardboard instead and see how that goes. I think they turned out rather well and the old washing detergent box I used is rather fitting. They're very sturdy and now they just need to pass the actual soap test. I bought some foam sheets to make a removable liner, but I'm having a bit of trouble putting that together.
 |
| From 07-Sept-08 New Soap Batch |
I put in another order for some more ingredients yesterday. I need to make up a batch of super-mild soap for a friend at work and I need to get some more soap curing so that when the current batches run out I don't have to wait another 4 weeks for more.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
New soap batch!
After weeks of being locked away in a box my new soap batch is ready to use.
Top: Vanilla and cinnamon vegetable soap
Price: $5.00
An extremely limited batch due to the high cost of vanilla essential oil. A sweet and spicy soap that smells good enough to eat.
Ingredients: Vegetable oil, water, coconut oil, beeswax, ground cinnamon, cinnamon essential oil, vanilla essential oil.
Middle: Cedarwood and kelp olive oil soap
Price: $3.50 - Available soon. Still a bit soft but I'll take orders for when they're ready.
Made with olive oil this soap contains a mix of soothing cedarwood essential oil and organic kelp. The kelp not only offers benefits to the skin it also acts as a mild exfoliant.
Ingredients: Olive oil, water, beeswax, organic King Island kelp, cedarwood essential oil, chromium oxide (green).
Bottom: Lemon myrtle and oatmeal vegetable soap
Price: $3.50
A great exfoliating bar combined with the revitalising scent of lemon myrtle. Lemon myrtle is also a powerful antiseptic and insect repellent.
Ingredients: Vegetable oil, water, coconut oil, beeswax, oatmeal, lemon myrtle essential oil.
All bars are between 100-120g.
 |
| From 07-Sept-08 New Soap Batch |
Top: Vanilla and cinnamon vegetable soap
Price: $5.00
An extremely limited batch due to the high cost of vanilla essential oil. A sweet and spicy soap that smells good enough to eat.
Ingredients: Vegetable oil, water, coconut oil, beeswax, ground cinnamon, cinnamon essential oil, vanilla essential oil.
Middle: Cedarwood and kelp olive oil soap
Price: $3.50 - Available soon. Still a bit soft but I'll take orders for when they're ready.
Made with olive oil this soap contains a mix of soothing cedarwood essential oil and organic kelp. The kelp not only offers benefits to the skin it also acts as a mild exfoliant.
Ingredients: Olive oil, water, beeswax, organic King Island kelp, cedarwood essential oil, chromium oxide (green).
Bottom: Lemon myrtle and oatmeal vegetable soap
Price: $3.50
A great exfoliating bar combined with the revitalising scent of lemon myrtle. Lemon myrtle is also a powerful antiseptic and insect repellent.
Ingredients: Vegetable oil, water, coconut oil, beeswax, oatmeal, lemon myrtle essential oil.
All bars are between 100-120g.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Took my first crack at making some face cream today and I'm happy to say that it came out fantastic. I flavoured it with lavender essential oil because that's all I really had so it will make a rather soothing night cream.
I dropped the water volume by a bit because the batch that our instructor made at the course I did came out rather thin. This batch, however, has come out really thick and creamy and I can't wait to start using it. I need to put an order in for a whole range of essential oils I think. I've only got a few right now and I'd like to see what kinds of combinations I can come up with. Should buy a book on aromatherapy so I can learn about the qualities of each of the oils I buy. I also need to put a Bamix on the list coz the cheap stick mixer I have puts masses of bubbles in the cream, which is a nuisance.
I dropped the water volume by a bit because the batch that our instructor made at the course I did came out rather thin. This batch, however, has come out really thick and creamy and I can't wait to start using it. I need to put an order in for a whole range of essential oils I think. I've only got a few right now and I'd like to see what kinds of combinations I can come up with. Should buy a book on aromatherapy so I can learn about the qualities of each of the oils I buy. I also need to put a Bamix on the list coz the cheap stick mixer I have puts masses of bubbles in the cream, which is a nuisance.
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