Making Sexy Soap

 Wow! I never thought making soap could be so sexy--from the videography to the music. This is not mine but I hope to have one like it someday! Enjoy!



Arts&Crafts IV: Soapmaking from Olha Dmytriv on Vimeo.

Woad Natural Colorant

Woad Natural Colorant--- ***UPDATE***

The woad color has faded to grayish-green color similar to using French Green Clay. I still think it's pretty and this one smells so good!

Cardamom Silk Soap- This Luxurious Silk Soap will make you feel like a day at the spa with Exotic Spices of Cardamon, Pachouli, Sandalwood and Lavender. READY FOR SALE! See it here: http://www.mossycreeksoap.com/natural-soap-styles/cardamom-silk-soap/

Using Woad as a Natural Soap Colorant

I love color, I am always looking for different ways to get certain colors naturally.
Sometimes working with a natural color is the way to go to get that certain blue or green color.  In this post I will share with you how to use both Cambrian Blue Clay & Indigo Powder and Woad Powder.

Here's the recipe I used:

Olive Oil- 1474 gr
Coconut Oil- 623 gr
Palm Oil- 396 gr
Water- 855 gr
Lye- 337 gr

Cambrian Blue Clay- 2 tbsp
Indigo Root Powder- 1/3 tsp
or

For The Woad Recipe

Woad- 1/2 tsp

Mix your sodium hydroxide into the water, then add your clay and indigo into the hot lye.  You will want to extract the colors out of the indigo and the blue clay so we add it to the lye. Blue Clay can sometimes come out very greenish looking so I like to pump it up a little by adding some Indigo Root Powder.

Blue Clay & Indigo in the Lye

Woad in the Lye

At about 110 degrees-mix as you would normally, pour into your molds and after two days remove from the mold. Let cure 4-6 weeks.  

Cambrian Blue Clay & Indigo Root

You can see it's pretty green right now but the blue will develop over the next two days.

Woad in the mold dusted with cocoa powder

When you unmold the woad comes out a little more greenish than the Blue Clay and I hear it has a history of fading.  Only time will tell. I will update this blog as to how fast or slow it fades.

Hope you get the opportunity to work with these two fabulous natural colorants.

Visit our small town american Soapmaking Studio!

 We thought it would be nice to share some new pictures of our soapmaking studio here in Perry, Georgia. We are pretty excited since we've moved from our former location. Lots of space to create, dream and design new projects! We even have a GIFT shop where you can purchase our soaps, soapmaking equipment,fragrance,essential oils and herbs.

                                                  904 Northside Drive, Perry Georgia 31069

Cosmetic Manufacturer or Drug Lord? Which one are you?

Education goes a long way when it concerns safe cosmetic manufacturing and I am not only talking about the "big guys" but also many small businesses as well.  In our quest to make a fabulous product and our passion to share it's wonderful benefits we may in fact be selling drugs. Making health claims on your products is a BIG no no unless you have the data and the license from the FDA to make those claims.  The FDA is very adamant about what you can and cannot say with your cosmetics-

http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/ucm074201.htm

"Intended use may be established in a number of ways. The following are some examples: 

• Claims stated on the product labeling, in advertising, on the Internet, or in other promotional materials.Certain claims may cause a product to be considered a drug, even if the product is marketed as if it were a cosmetic. Such claims establish the product as a drug because the intended use is to treat or prevent disease or otherwise affect the structure or functions of the human body. Some examples are claims that products will restore hair growth, reduce cellulite, treat varicose veins, increase or decrease the production of melanin (pigment) in the skin, or regenerate cells.
• Consumer perception, which may be established through the product's reputation. This means asking why the consumer is buying it and what the consumer expects it to do.
• Ingredients that cause a product to be considered a drug because they have a well-known (to the public and industry) therapeutic use. An example is fluoride in toothpaste.
   

This principle also holds true for "essential oils." For example, a fragrance marketed for promoting attractiveness is a cosmetic. But a fragrance marketed with certain "aromatherapy" claims, such as assertions that the scent will help the consumer sleep or quit smoking, meets the definition of a drug because of its intended use. Similarly, a massage oil that is simply intended to lubricate the skin and impart fragrance is a cosmetic, but if the product is intended for a therapeutic use, such as relieving muscle pain, it's a drug."

Be very careful about making these claims because they do not play when they come knocking on your door. Whether you have stated in your description on your own online website, ETSY or distribute information at your craft shows--seller beware BIG brother is watching you. 

So do not become one of these companies:

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ComplianceEnforcement/WarningLetters/ucm081086.htm

More links you want to know about:

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/CosmeticsQA/default.htm

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/HowDrugsareDevelopedandApproved/ucm2007006.htm
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ResourcesForYou/CosmeticsManufacturersPackagersDistributors/ucm142760.htm
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/CosmeticLabelingLabelClaims/CosmeticLabelingManual/ucm126444.htm#clgk

Are you thinking of making a cosmetic and want to stay within the guidelines?  I suggest purchasing this fabulous book--  

Marie Gale makes it very easy to wade through these guidelines by providing examples to help you comply and not sell drugs without a license.  I hope you have found this information helpful.

Courtesy of: Social Caffeine

We're going to the OSCARS next month!

We're pleased to announce, in association with The Artisan Group, we are participating in a luxury celebrity gift lounge hosted by GBK Productions on February 22-23, 2013 at an exclusive location in Beverly Hills, California, in honor of the The 2013 Oscar Awards Nominees and Presenters. 

Here's a sample of what's going to members of the press at the OSCARS!

Building Your Small Business Credit

Starting a business in a recession is never easy and most small soapmaking business owners fund all their purchases via personal credit.  It’s fine to do in the beginning but when revenues increase and you are making larger purchases you may need to look for new funding.  This is where your business comes in. You will need to first apply (if you have not done it already) for a EIN number with the IRS (this is an Employer Identification Number), Register your business with your local and state agencies and designate a legal entity for your business (sole proprietorship, LLC..etc).

 Remember when you had to establish personal credit?  You applied for credit and used your credit to build a history which was then reported to the various credit bureaus.  Well in business the terminology is a little different and works like this: As a business you will try to establish trade credit and it is when another business issues your business credit= trade credit.

At that point a business trade credit file will then be established, which is then gather by various business credit bureaus:

• Dun & Bradstreet
• Experian Business
• Equifax Business

But the bad thing is that other businesses are not required to send in your information and the credit bureaus may never receive the good credit information that you have established. It will be up to you to check this report and make sure that your business credit is being submitted.  It may not matter to you now but with luck someday you may need to expand and get a loan. Then you will need this credit history.

You can check to see if your business is on file for FREE at DUN & BRADSTREET-  http://www.dnb.com/  and sign up for your DUNS number.  You can also pay to have your credit pulled from the above resources as well.

Some fine points to remember when establishing business credit:
1. Keep a business phone line separate from your personal line if your business is mobile. It sends up red     flags if you do not have one.
2. Update or create your business plan
3. Find businesses willing to extend you small credit and ask to see if they report to the agencies
4. Start at least 6- 8 months before you need the loan.


If you are intrested in starting your own soapmaking business join us for our 2 Day Weekend Workshop Jan 26-27, 2013.   Click Here For More Information!