Handmade Beauty Connection
January 31, 2005
A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Vol. 6, Issue 5
To subscribe, click here.
1. IBN Update: Welcome New & Renewing IBN Members!!
2. Feature Article: Salt & Light
3. Handmade Beauty Recipe Of The Week: RIO Jumbo Sea Salt Crystals
4. Beauty & The Business Trivia Question: win some exotic incense!
5. Handmade Beauty Book Review: Aromatiques by Eva-Marie Lind
1. IBN Update: Welcome New & Renewing IBN Members!!
5-Year Renewing Members!
All this year, HBC will highlight members who are renewing for their 5th straight year of membership! Our 5-Year Renewing Members joined IBN in 2000 and have this week renewed their memberships for a 5th year without interruption. I am eternally grateful to all IBN members, but especially these who put their faith in IBN in the early days when there was no track record and no one was sure it would last. I'm excited to say that IBN has lasted and so have these members! Please visit their websites. Be inspired and buy something new and delicious just for you!
Burson's Corner | Colleen
Burson | North Carolina
* 5-Year
Renewing Member;5-Year
Renewing Member; home-based
business making all of their soaps from scratch from the finest ingredients
we can find -- essential oils and flowers and herbs from their organic
garden. The soaps have a gentle, creamy lather that is moisturizing to the
skin. Delicate scents, soothing properties all the way around. Visit their website
for more details!
Renewing Members!
Bottlesandjars.net | Anne
Kremer | New York
* large selection of plastic
and glass bottles and jars; no minimums
Fallen
Muse WebWorks | Kim Baron | New York
* a fantastic
website designer with "value added" skills to help any small
business launch and maintain an unbeatable presence on the Web! As many of
you know, Kim is the designer for all of IBN's online homes -- she maintains
and hosts the site, plus provides training at an hourly rate so I can learn
to do some minor things myself saving me time and money and saving her a few
headaches! If you need a website, you can't go wrong checking in with Kim to
see what she can do for you! Visit her website
here!
An Rogha
Essentials | Mara Fraser | Minnesota
* high-quality bath and body products,
individually crafted by hand and custom made to order
Sweet
Grass Farm Soap Co. | Deb Ludington | New Hampshire
* affordable handcrafted olive oil soaps
body salves, balms, and luxury bath products all formulated with natural, wholesome ingredients.
Private label formulation/filling services with small minimums
New Members!
Ancient
Oracle Soap Company | Nancy Underwood | Maine
* a full
range of shea butter products and our Monoi de Tahiti oil products; check
out our Pamper Me Parties for a great girls night out
Learn more about our members and their exciting activities by visiting their Web sites through IBN's Online Member Directory, now with 4 ways to search: (1) by state/country; (2) by member business name; (3) by keyword search; or (4) using our new alphabetical listings.
2. Feature Article: Salt & Light
If you're into handmade beauty, chances are you have come
across ingredients of all kinds to use in your products. Sometimes, it's hard to keep them all straight! This week,
IBN member Naomi Novotny of Saltworks, Inc., is here to help up shed some light on the subject of
sea salt, in particular as it pertains to use in our handmade beauty
goodies.
dM: We've all heard of "sea salts" and hear that soaking in them is good for the skin and body. What exactly are sea salts and where do they come from?
Naomi: Unrefined sea salts are simply evaporated ocean water. Unlike ordinary table salt, that is created under pressure and heat, unrefined sea salts retain valuable trace minerals that our bodies can easily absorb through our largest organ - the skin!
dM: What is the history of use of salts in bath care?
Naomi: Salts have been used since the days of Cleopatra to aid in health and beauty. Sea salts help to regulate body function, relax muscles, increase circulation, soften skin and clear acne. When mixed with essential oils there is a multitude of aromatherapy benefits as well.
dM: What are the various different geographic origins of salts, and does their origin make them more or less effective for body care?
Naomi: The origin of a salt can make an incredible difference. The ocean that the salt comes from, he area where it is evaporated, even the altitude and other environmental factors during evaporation a difference. Dead Sea Salt for example, originates either from Jordan or Israel. The Israeli Dead Sea Salt, like Bokek, comes from the southern Dead Sa and has a higher mineral content. It is a dry, natural white crystal. Dead Sea salt is a great example of how a type of salt can very dramatically from other salts. It is very low in sodium chloride and contains natural skin softeners and muscle relaxants. It is important to know where your salt is coming from. There are many companies falsely claiming to sell Dead Sea salt, but they actually come from Salt Lake in Utah. Other companies sell Dead Sea salt that has been refined so it is mostly just sodium chloride and does not contain the valuable minerals that make salts so good for bathing. To be sure you are getting genuine salt from the Dead Sea, look for a certificate of origin for the salt and a chemical analysis showing sodium chloride content of 15% or less.
dM: How are various kinds of salts processed for sale to the bath products industry? How can we know we are getting salts that are the most effective?
Naomi: The best sea salts are unrefined, solar evaporated and sold in bulk quantities. Always buy salts from a trusted source that can provide a Chemical Analysis and Certificate of Origin document. Most quality sea salts sold for bath purposes are also high end gourmet salts. Many also have health benefits when taken internally. Authentic Dead Sea salt is the exception. It is shockingly bitter tasting and is not intended for consumption. If your Dead Sea salt tastes like salt, it's not the therapeutic variety.
dM: I've heard a lot about Dendritic salts. What are they and do we need them for anything?
Naomi: Dendritic salts are kiln dried, usually very fine, salt. Some even contain formaldehyde. They are used to absorb fragrance oils and essential oils in bath salts. Since sea salts are more porous than Mined Salts, you generally don't need to use any additives. Bokek Dead Sea Salt, Bali Reef salt and Breton Grey sea salts will all absorb fragrances exceptionally well, due to their crystal make up.
dM: What is the shelf life of sea salts?
Naomi: There is no shelf life for pure sea salts -- it's indefinite. If they will be stored for extended periods of time, they should be kept in airtight containers in a cool, dark place to keep moisture out. Salt is a natural disinfectant and preservative. When mixed with essential oils or synthetic oils, the fragrance may lessen over time but the salts will not spoil.
dM: How can salts be packaged in a way that prevents evaporation and sticking?
Naomi: The best way to pack finished bath salts are in airtight containers. Glass or PET (a type of plastic) work best as they will not be affected by essential oils. If using PET jars make sure your lid has a foam liner. PET standup pouches with zip lock tops are also a great way to package finished salts.
dM: How many different things (fragrance oil, essential oil, milk powder, etc.) can we use in salts and have them maintain integrity in packaging?
Naomi: Not all salts are the same when making bath blends. Bokek Dead Sea Salt, for example, is very hydroscopic. It will absorb moisture from the air and become "wet" if not stored properly. This makes it ideal for mixing with essential oils. It is very important that you let the oils completely absorb into the salts before mixing with powdered ingredients. If the mixture is exposed to any moisture it will clump. Because of it's unique composition. Dead Sea salts are wonderful "as is" or simply mixed with essential Oils. Breton Grey sea salts have a high moisture content. For this reason they shouldn't be mixed with powdered ingredients but are beautiful mixed with dried herbs. Ceara Atlantic sea salts are less finicky. They can easily be mixed with powdered ingredients, herbs, essential oils and colorants. Ceara sea salts are also great mixed with herbs and essential oils for bath teas.
dM: Do we need a preservative in our salts products?
Naomi: Salt naturally preserves. When adding powdered ingredients, herbs or essential oils you won't need to add any extra preservative. The exception to this would be if you add a carrier oil to your salt. Since carrier oils eventually go rancid, it's wise to consider adding a preservative if a significant amount is used.
dM: What are some of the best therepeutic applications for sea salt?
Naomi: There are many. Here are some of my favorites.
Balneotherapy - a range of treatments with warm mineral sea salt water, from bathing or underwater massage jets to plain drinking. Alkaline water helps stimulate the secretion of bile, while hypotonic water has diuretic effects and is often used for treating kidney stones.
Heliotherapy - use of the sun's creative properties. Despite recent increased awareness of sun induced skin cancers, the sun still remains an excellent source of energy. It boosts immunity and stabilizes mood when used appropriately. Skin treatments combine this with sea salt baths but should only be used together under the supervision of a doctor.
Phytotherapy - treatments with wild-growing herbs, plants, flowers or leaves. Used in salt baths, oils or infusions, their effect can be superior to pharmacological treatments for some medical conditions. Perfect for combining with sea salt.
Thallasotherapy - therapeutic baths using warm seawater. The application of seawater (which is very similar to the body's own internal fluids) allow magnesium and potassium to be drawn into the blood stream while toxins are actively eliminated.
For more information about various sea salts you can use in your handmade beauty products, and some you can also use at your dinner table, contact Naomi at Saltworks.
3. Handmade Beauty Recipe Of The Week: RIO Sea Salt Crystals
RIO
Sea Salt Crystals are a unique way to add color and fragrance to your
living space.
When you visit MakeYourCosmetics.com, it's easy to buy the ingredients you need by clicking on our Selected Supplier links:
Essential
Wholesale: pure essential oils, over 200 cosmetic bases, hundreds
of carrier/fixed oils such as meadowfoam, cranberry, jojoba and shea
butter plus a new Short Run Private Labeling Program!
Bramble
Berry, Inc.: over 105 different fragrance
and essential oils (including their exclusive "Energy" and
"Relaxing"), all soap tested, soap molds and unscented soap
bases!
SunRose Aromatics: pure essential oils (many organic), carrier oils and other aromatherapy products, each carefully selected for quality. Check out their new Perfumer's Emporium.
The Scent Shack: fragrance oils and soap supplies. Fragrance oils are pre-tested in cold process, melt & pour soap, and candles, and test results are listed at the Web site. Scents tested by soapers for soapers!
From Nature With Love: over 1,600 ingredients and supplies, including cosmetic ingredients, spa supplies, bath accessories and packaging supplies!
4. Beauty & The Business Trivia Question: the winner of last week's contest was Kris Findlay of Rock Island, IL. Kris won a copy of the Handmade Beauty Cookbook!
Last Week's Question:
As reported in a previous issue of this publication, the inspiration behind IBN comes largely from a dear friend of mine who passed away in 2004. To win this week, state her name and the state where she lived.Last Week's Answer: Nancy Manville from Grapeland, Texas. To read more about Nan, click here.
This Week's Question: What are IBN's 3 missions?
Be the first to correctly answer this week's question and win some exotic incense!
Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry. Put "TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWER" in the subject line or your answer will not be considered.
While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants,
the winner's name will be announced in the next newsletter!
5.
Handmade
Beauty Book Review: Aromatiques by Eva-Marie Lind
Aromatiques
128 pages, soft cover
For those of you looking for an alternative to the "high pressure" aromatherapy books out ther, you may enjoy "Aromatiques." It's a great introductory book that is fundamental but not so elementary as to be boring and unchallenging. I love this book for, among other things, its subtlety. Isn't that the way essential oils should be displayed? In a manner that allows their subtle effects to shine through.
To enjoy the entire book review, plus my experience with the recipe for "Blossomed Exotica,: click here.
Visit The Handmade Beauty Connection Archives.
Visit our suite of Web sites serving the handmade toiletries
industry:
HandmadeBeauty.com: the
leading industry trade organization
MangoButter.com:
450+ suppliers of raw materials and packaging, updated weekly!
MakeYourCosmetics.com:
ingredient encyclopedia & original cosmetics recipes
DonnaMaria.com:
sound advice for your small business, Create The Life You Love™
Have your ad seen by nearly 5,000 subscribers! ! Click here to see why Essential Wholesale says that the returns from their newsletter ad "just keep on coming," and why The Scent Shack says, "Our sponsorship of The Handmade Beauty Connection went over very well, we had a huge number of hits on the day the newsletter was published, plus we got quite a few new customers."
Donna Maria, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief, DonnaMaria@HandmadeBeauty.com
The Handmade Beauty Connection
The Indie Beauty Network | www.HandmadeBeauty.com
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2005 by The Indie Beauty Network (IBN) and Donna Maria. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized distribution or reproduction is prohibited. IBN does not necessarily endorse any product, event or ideology featured in The Handmade Beauty Connection (HBC) or on IBN's website. All information is provided on an "as is" basis and no express or implied warranties are given. Any use of the information contained in the HBC or on IBN's Web site, including Recipes, is solely at your own risk. IBN and Donna Maria disclaim any liability in connection with the use of all recipes, products reviewed and other information. Except for sponsorships, HBC refuses compensation from companies to feature or mention their names or products. Opinions expressed in any Product Review are personally those of the reviewer and do not represent the views of IBN, Donna Maria (unless she is the reviewer) or any other person or company.
