Scents that make sense...

Within the past few weeks, I have been approached by several people that wanted to know how I pick the scents for my products. As many of you have already noticed, I dont typically sell products with commercial perfume fragrances. I have noticed that other companies that claim to sell natural and organic skin care products use perfumes like Calvin Klien or even Micheal Kors to scent their soaps. News flash! Commercial perfumes are chemically enhanced. They have alcohols, synthetic oils, and while some carry actual essential oils, they tend to cancel out the good qualities of the natural stuff by using the chemical additives that make the smell last longer. 

At Skin Candy, we only use all natural ingredients to add scent to any of our products. For our florals, we use essential oils or infusions of the actual buds or petals within certain products. For the sweeter, more decadent scents like raspberry, vanilla, banana or any of the other fruits, we use real fruit extracts. The spicy scents like currant, ,cinnamon, oregano or mint...those are easy! We use the dried and ground up versions in carrier oils to extract their natural scent. Our carrier oils are either palm oil or sweet almond, which have great moisturizing properties and have no scent.

Its true, our soaps arent kitchy. We dont have expensive perfume smelling products, nor are they fancy molded or have cutesie names to get people to buy them. Our customers fall in love because of they way they feel after using our products. Its that happy feeling you get from knowing you are doing something wonderful for your skin, and the environment.

If you havent tried Skin Candy, now is the perfect time. Feel clean...feel happy... And get healthy doing it! We promise you wont regret it :-) . Www.skincandysoap.com

Chemicals found in well known Baby Skin Products that produce cancer!

The Associated Press released a story this morning that put parents around the world in high alert. Johnson & Johnson, manufacturer of well known baby products like Baby Shampoo, Baby Lotion and adult skin care products like Nutrogena and AVENO, has admitted to using skin irritants and carcinogenic products, like formaldehyde, in the majority of their products distributed in the U.S. The chemicals in question are 1,4-dioxane, considered a likely carcinogen, and quaternium-15, a chemical that releases the preservative formaldehyde.




Johnson & Johnson has stated, that they have already begun to remove the toxic chemicals from their U.S. product line, but that the process will take approximately 2 years to complete. Upon further research, it was found that Johnson & Johnson produces similar products that are distributed in Europe that do not contain these same toxic chemicals. When they were asked why they were using them for their U.S. product line, they simply said, "Because we can".




After reading the story published by the AP, I was absolutely astonished at that the fact that such a trusted a reliable name in the skin care industry would produce products with toxic chemicals, knowing that they are proven to cause cancer. What shocked me the most was to learn that in Europe, those chemicals were outlawed years ago, and the U.S. has not followed suit, having full knowledge of the consequences. J&J also holds a huge responsibility as well, knowing of the effects of the toxins and already had a similar, safer formula in place in Europe.




So the question begs to be answered... Who is at fault here? The FDA for knowing how toxic the chemicals were and allowing J&J to continue to distribute their products here? Or, is it J&J for knowing the same things about these cancer causing additives and continuing to produce them for the U.S.?




According to a recent market study conducted in 2009 by Johnson & Johnson, over 20% of the U.S. population uses one of J&J's skin care products in their homes. Among the most popular are their "Baby" products including the "No More Tears, Baby Shampoo" and their newly rebranded AVENO products that have been marketed as "All Natural" within the past 5 years.




As a mother of two and step-mother of three kids, I have used these products on my kids since birth, simply because they have been the most trusted in the market since it was introduced in 1894. So when a company that has this strong of a reputation for having the "No More Tears" gentlest baby wash in the industry, and an impressive strong hold in the U.S. market, shouldn't they want to ensure that their products meets HUMAN SAFETY standards instead of what certain countries will allow? Being a multi-billion dollar corporation with over 100 different labels around the world, they have more than enough funding and resources to continue to test their products, and develop safer and more natural options.




Making safe and natural products is not rocket since. The research is already there and the formulas identified. We need to all come back to basics and use what mother nature has provided us, to live our lives safely, without the constant threat of killer toxic chemicals. Large companies like Johnson & Johnson seem to only care about one thing... their bottom line. It seems that the only time that they really put any effort into safety is when the "poop hits the fan". Even in this case, they said that they would remedy the situation, but within 2 years from now. And has anyone heard that they are recalling any of these products infused with these chemicals? Not at all. It seems to me that they are simply waiting for this issue to blow over and continue to produce toxic, sub-par products to be sold in the U.S. "Because they can".




As consumers, it's up to us to decide what we want to use on ourselves, and especially on our children. We need to educate ourselves and get back to buying products that have ingredients in them that we can pronounce! If you see something on a product that seems questionable to you, just GOOGLE IT! You can find out exactly what the element is, how it's used, and if it has been known to be toxic or harmful in any country around the world. Then YOU can make an educated purchase and take control of your overall well being.

As a local business owner and producer of all natural and organic skin care products, I have done my research and know what and what not to put into my product line. Even I, as an individual, with far fewer resources, have put in the time and effort into creating a line of skin care products that are safe for everyone to use!  If you are interested in learning more about my products or to purchase on-line, please visit www.SkinCandySoap.com. 

Here's to your Skin!

Bath Salts - Revealed!

Everyone knows what Bath Salts are, but not everyone knows how to properly use them, or what to use them for. Just recently I had several people ask me questions on what Bath Salts are actually used for. One lady said that she would use it in her tub to scrub it down and clean it, while another person said that they used it like a sugar scrub all over their body.  That was a HUGE no no!

Typically, Bath Salts are used to soften water and soften skin while you are taking...(you guessed it!) a BATH!  Not to clean your tub with, nor to use as a body polisher.  In fact, the person that used it as a polisher actually was hospitalized for a severe allergic reaction after using it in that method.

So before I tell you how and what to use this wonderful bath product, lets break down it's anatomy first... Bath salts are comprised of three basic ingredients. The first is obviously SALT.  No, not cooking or table salt. Not even Kosher Salt! What we are looking for here is Mineral Salt Crystals.  They are large chunks of pure, un-iodized salt.  This stuff is as natural and unprocessed as it gets.  Mineral Salt Crystals are used for a variety of things.  It softens the water in your bath by dissolving traces of chlorine and carbon that is used to treat it at water plants.  This is truly beneficial since both chlorine and carbon have been known carcinogens that have been known to cause skin cancer among other serious dermatitis issues.  Mineral Salt is also an incredible anti-inflamatory!

The second element is light, natural oil derived from nuts, like almond or walnut.  These two are favorites of mine because they hydrate your skin, but they don't leave you sticky or slippery.  They also don't have any scent so they make for great carrier oils for the last component to Bath Salts, Essential Oils.

This is where the aromatherapy comes into the picture.  It's been scientifically proven that scent is one of the strongest cerebral triggers for memory and emotional association. For example, if you are stressed or having trouble sleeping, Lavender has been known to calm your mind and help you relax.  Clove is being used to help treat depression and Orange Oil is being tested on people with A.D.H.D. to help them focus!

In a nut shell, Bath Salts can be highly beneficial.  People that work on their feet all day can sprinkle some peppermint bath salts into a small tub of hot water to soak their tired feet.  The peppermint will help your feet feel fresh and tingly, while the real work is being done by the mineral salt as an anti-inflamatory for your joints and muscles, and the oil to soften your skin. After a long day of hard laborious work, or even a good work out, treat your senses and your body to a warm soak in your tub infused with lavender bath salts to help you relax.

Skin Candy Soap has a complete line of wonderful organic & natural products to help you and your body look and feel your best. You can buy the products mentioned above on-line at www.SkinCandySoap.com.  Here's to your health!

OREGANO To Your Health!

Oregano is most widely known for it's strong herbal flavor that gets added into Italian and Latin cooking. It's broad fuzzy leaf is treasured around the world for it's taste and aluring scent. As part of the mint family, it pairs well with both savory and sweet recipes alike. What we know is that it tastes good and smells great. What you may not know is how it effects your body inside and out.

Oregano has been known, within the holistic healing community, as an incredible remedie for many skin and metabolic ailments. For example, did you know that Oregano oil can be used in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema? At the University of Tennessee, they are coming up with some breakthrough medicines that have Oil of Oregano directly infused into them to help treat these very common skin diseases.

Oregano is also a natural and very strong anti-bacterial. In very low doeses, it's been known to be an effective remedie against Staphylococcus bacteria which causes Strep throat. It's actually just as strong as penicillin and other antibiotic drugs on the market today. Internally it's been known to relieve allergies, cure thrust and sore throats and even boost your immune system.

So what happens when we put it directly onto the largest organ on our bodies... our skin? This is where the benefit of oregano really comes in. Aside from a natural remedie for eczema and psoriasis, it also relieves skin allergies, rashes, removes every day free radicles in the air when they touch our skin, and also protects us with it's anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Who would have thought that the popular cooking herb would have worked so well for so many things!

At Skin Candy, we use information and research just like this, to make natural and organic skin products that not only smell good, but that make us FEEL good too! We have recently began to grow Italian Broad Leaf Oregano in our own backyard and have already begun the process of creating a new Soap to add to our line. This new soap blend will contain our standard base of 100% veggie glycerin, vitamin E, Jojoba and Coconut Oils and added to it will be Mint Essence, Oilve Oil and of course our newest discovery... OREGANO!

A very important disclaimer to those that want to try pure Oil of Oregano as a remedie... If you are pregnant or nursing a baby, please do not use this oil internally. If you are taking blood thinners, Oil of Oregano already acts as a blood thinner and shouldn't be combined with any of your prescribed medication. And please, if you are going to start any kind of holistic option for any ailment, please consult with your doctor first.

We will be launching this new soap very soon, so please subscribe to our newsletters that will allow you to keep up with new products, videos and blog posts. Here's to your health and wellness!

Grapefruit protects you inside and out with vitamin C!

Deliciously sweet & zesty, Grapefruits are a perfect summer fruit to refresh and cool you down after a long sweltering day in the sun. But we aren't talking about eating the fruit, we are talking about using it to replenish your skin!

Grapefruit is truly a SUPER-Fruit. It's chocked full of antioxidants, vitamin C and citrus limonoids! (Okay, so it's only fair to tell you what a limonoid is... ) Limonoids are Phytochemicals that are found in citrus fruits. Grapefruits have 50x more limonoids than any other citrus fruit known to man. Currently being researched by labs all over the world, science has discovered so many benefits of this natural occurring chemical. For one, they have found that applying it directly to skin provide ultra UV protection against the suns harmful rays. It's also been known to help fight and prevent skin cancer. Internally taken, grapefruit, in general, also helps to lower cholesterol, therefore, lowering the threat of heart disease!

With the power punch of Vitamin C that grapefruits pack in, it helps to boost your immune system, and helps your body produce collagen which gives skin elasticity. (Great for all those moms out there that just had babies and want to get rid of stretch marks!)

At Skin Candy Soap, we took this information and made a special soap blend that helps to reduce scaring, wrinkles, stretch marks and protect your skin from the sun. All by adding this wonderful summer fruits natural oils to our already moisturizing soap base. Along with the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of natural clover honey, this soap is a powerful addition in your shower! Our Grapefruit and Honey soap is available now in our soap shop in 5oz bars. Stop by and see what other great organic products we have for you.

Here's to your health!