Castile My Heart!! *Sigh*

And yes, the plays on words WILL continue! It's my gift, I gotta practice lol.
So I have discovered the wondrous world of Castile Soap and I don't ever want to go back! For those who are unfamiliar, this is Castile Soap-

It can also be purchased as a bar, but that doesn't suit my purposes this time.

So Castile soap has a multitude of uses, if it needs to be cleaned, there's a good chance that Castile will get the job done. Just having a conversation with my mother about it (and showing off the amazing smell), she read off just a few things you can do with this liquid goodness. You can make body products, fruit cleaner, laundry soap, hand soap, dog shampoo...etc I think you get the picture. PLUS it's made with organic oils and is certified fair trade if you purchase the Dr. Bronner's brand. This makes my heart happy.

The first recipe I tried was for a basic cleansing sugar scrub recipe I got from Native Glow and it turned out more like what I'm used to getting at my favorite bath and body store- liquid based sugar scrub lol. This one separated on me creating a foamy layer on top, a liquid layer in the middle and the sugar layer in the bottom that actually looks pretty cool! 

Don't get me wrong, it works wonderfully and is incredibly versatile, you just have to mix it up a little to use it! You can add any oils or butters you want and really play with it. I stuck with jojoba oil this time for the sake of keeping it simple.

Another scent I've fallen in love with is the mix of almond and peppermint. Have I mentioned that Dr. Bronner's has a bunch of different scents? OMG I'm in soap heaven for real lol. Take a look around at your local pharmacy or even a big box store and most of them sell it in bottles from travel size 2 ouncers on up to 32oz and you can mix and match scents or buy it unscented and add your own fragrances.

Gallons are available, but that seems to be something you find more readily online.

My second scrub attempt was quite a bit more solid, I found this recipe from www.wholehealthdana.com, but I didn't have quite the same ingredients as the recipe called for, so I got creative! (I had to nix the rosehip seed oil though, I'm just not there yet) I was nearly out of Shea butter, but I did have some mango butter on hand, so I tried that instead and added some vanilla for a vanilla almond scent.  I swear I sent myself straight to the pearly gates y'all.

So, as you can see, this one definitely did not separate lol, the mango butter is a bit more firm, so it held together just fine, but that foam layer is still there. No worries! I used organic sugar in this which is a bigger grain so when you scoop this out of the jar it's like a very thick paste. The moment you add water to it though, the magic starts...you'll definitely want to experience this for yourself.

So get out there and start making some! Wash & exfoliate yourself at the same time and enjoy the heavenly scent while you're at it!!! *Mind Blown*

Shopping list

Here are some recommendations on where to get supplies.
My favorite place by far is Brambleberry, their products have not let me down yet, they answer all my tedious questions, and shipping has been on point.

I hear amazing things about Nature's Garden. I plan to purchase from them as soon as humanly possible.

Two Wild Hares, she has an Etsy shop and has some recipe she sells, I have purchased from her but have not been able to utilize just yet. She has some cool molds and is certified so there's comfort in that.

Bulk Apothecary has jars that I really like, for some reason they sell their lids separately, which I don't like or understand, but they're very popular.

Uline is another place where I got my jars in a bind. They are very nice, and got here quickly.

Costco, Costco, Costco,  I buy my sugar, baking soda, coconut oil, Avocado oil, Apple Cider Vinegar,  and what ever else I can get my hands on. Buy in bulk, saves so much money, and time.

I personally need to see things to learn them, here are a couple of people who make step by step videos and blogs to help you make your products. Also the companies I discussed above. Good luck!

Http://www.Brambleberry.com

http://m.naturesgardencandles.com/

http://www.bulkapothecary.com

https://m.uline.com/h5/r/www.uline.com/Grp_287/Jars?pricode=WZ507&AdKeyword=uline%20jars&AdMatchtype=e&gclid=CJm2wb3G-tICFYhsfgodxRALnA&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://youtu.be/vr6kA9uBgCk

https://www.soapqueen.com/

http://www.specialtybottle.com/plastic-jars/https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes

http://teachsoap.com/2012/04/19/business-insurance/

Colorants

Wondering where to find colorants? Well let's take the guessing out of it. There are so many companies in the U.S. to get them but you want them to be FDA approved. Especially if you're going to sell your products. I personally LOVE Brambleberry, and doing my own research they are FDA  approved. There's a list on their website that let's you know what's approved,  the company name and the lot number. So if you don't know what you're looking for, here's a small breakdown. I want Brambleberry's red, it's listed as Liquid Cherry, under description it gives ingredients:

Botanical Name:  Glycerin, D&C Red No. 27 Lake (CI 45410)
Common Name:  Glycerin, Red 27 Lake

So you'd look for D&C Red No. 27 on the FDA website. Boom done. Easy peasy.

Always research before purchasing, always list all ingredients so you're not liable to be sued. Hope this helps and happy soaping!

https://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/ColorAdditiveInventories/ucm115641.htm

Frustrating!!

I have been looking for weatherproof labels, since my products go in the shower, and no matter who I ask they tell me to use Avery labels. I've been using them for two years, while they are nice, they don't stay on. I keep telling everyone who will listen that I don't want to use Avery, and yet, after hearing this, they still suggest it to me. Labeling is important because you need to list your ingredients in case your customer has an allergy and it defeats the purpose if they fall off. Each country has rules on labeling that I'll link in a following post. Here is a list of label companies that have been suggested to me for labels. Keep your heads up! -Maria

Vista Print

Online Labels

Uline

I'm with dummy

Welcome, I'm Maria, SAHM of two demons, and I say that lovingly. I have a very morbid sense of humor, so bear with me. I got started in making natural beauty products when my mother passed away. I had gained so much weight I felt like I was about to pop like a balloon. I finally got off the fence and decided to have gastric sleeve surgery to help me get my life back on track. So, I took the plunge, lost weight, but then my mind naturally started to evolve with the change. Why am I eating healthy but putting chemicals on my body? So, I started making beauty products for my family. I loved it so much and the endless possibilities that I started my own little business. I'm going on my third year and I'm still not bored with it. I hope that we can help others or at least point them in the right direction. 💜