The Little Cornish Soap Company

A Dozen Ways That Epsom Salts Can Help You!!

2012-02-21T12:14:00.000Z

We have listed a dozen ways that Epsom salts can help you. These ailments/conditions are as listed on The Epsom Salt Councils Website and Saltworks Website, but the recipes are those of The Little Cornish Soap Company.

1) Summer Ailments: (Bee Stings, Mild Sunburn, Poison Ivy and Mosquito Bites)

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops Lavender Oil, Soak yourself or the affected area this will help soothe the irritation, sting or Sunburn

2) Splinters

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops Lavender Oil

Again soak the affected area, the Epsom Salts will soften the skin, so making it easier for the splinter to be removed and the Lavender is an antiseptic so it will help eliminate any bacteria

3) Deep Pore Cleansing

½ Cup Epsom Salts

For Oily Complextion add 5 Drops Lavender & 5 Drops Tea Tree

For Dry Completion add 5 Drops Geranium Oil

Get a large bowl of hot water, place the Epsom Salts & the required oils into the bowl. Then place your head over the bowl with a towel over your head and stay like that for about 3 – 4 minutes. This opens up the blocked pores enabling the dirt and bacteria to be easily cleaned, when your time is up and you have removed the towel get a clean cotton pad and wipe over the face area

4) Muscle Soak

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops Lavender Oil

5 Drops Marjoram

3 Drops Black Pepper

Place the mixture into a bath, relax & soak

5) Foot Bath

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops Peppermint

5 Drops Eucalyptus

5 Drops Rosemary

5 Drops Black Pepper

Place the mixture in a bowl of warm water and place your feet into the bowl sit back and relax

6) Pedicure

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops Tea Tree

3 Drops Lavender

Place the mixture & your feet into a bowl of warm water and soak for about 10 – 15 minutes, then when you have removed your feet, file the dead skin off with a pumice stone and then massage in plenty of rich cream and place some cotton socks on your feet and leave the cream to soak in over night, by the morning your feet should be lovely and soft.

7) Exfoliation

½ Cup Epsom Salts

1 teaspoon of Grapeseed Oil

For Cellulite

5 Drops Grapefruit Oil

3 Drops Geranium

Dry Skin

5 Drops Lavender

3 Drops Geranium

Place the mixture into a muslin bag or cloth tie together, get into the shower and massage the required areas.

8) Athletes Foot

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops of Peppermint

5 Drops Tea Tree

Place the mixture into a bowl of warm water and soak your feet.

9) Body Detox

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops Grapefruit

5 Drops Juniper

3 Drops Geranium

Place the mixture into a bath of warm water, relax and soak and make sure you drink plenty of water before & after to help eliminate the toxins from your body

10) Facial

A small handful of Epsom Salts

5 Drops Lavender

Place mixture into a bowl of warm water and use small circular movements all over your face, then rinse with cold water to help the pores close and pat your face dry.

11) Relieve Headaches

½ Cup Epsom Salts

5 Drops Lavender

4 Drops Marjoram

3 drops Peppermint

Place the mixture into a bowl of hot water, place your head over the bowl with a towel over your head and breathe deep for about 3 – 4 mintues.

12) eczema

Place ½ cup of Epsom Salts into a warm bath, relax & soak, if you would like you can add a couple of drops of Lavender.

Whilst researching this article, I have learnt a lot of interesting facts, especially the benefits of Epsom salts in treating Autism www.treatingautism.co.uk. I have where possible credited quotes to the specific places where they are quoted from.

Everything else in this article including the recipes for the dozen ways that Epsom Salts can help you, are solely my interpretation and any resemblance to any other article/recipe, of which there are approx. 500,000 “Epsom Salt recipes”, 350,000 “Epsom salt uses” and 1.6 Million “Epsom Salt” searches listed on goggle, is purely coincidental.

Sources:

http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/about/

http://www.saltworks.us/salt_info/epsom-uses-benefits.asp

http://www.naturalnews.com/029397_epsom_salt_magnesium.html#ixzz1n0es9hmO

http://www.treatingautism.co.uk/

Epsom Salts & The Benefits

2012-02-21T11:05:00.000Z

As most of you are aware I did a blog recently about Aromatherapy Bath & Epsom Salts, due to a complaint about a potential breach of copyright, I was given an option to either credit my article to another site or remove it.
As I wrote the article in good faith and in my own words and I felt that by informing the public of the benefits of Epsom Salts would be beneficial to all commercial outlets, considering I don't actually sell epsom/ bath salts yet! I have decided to remove the article from my blog, website, facebook page and twitter account.
I must thank the complaintant as this action has forced me to write, what I see as a more informative article, including a piece about the benefits of Epsom Salts in the treatment of Autism.

Epsom Salts & The Benefits

According to the Epsom Salt Council and yes there is such a council. “They are eager to let everyone know the benefits of their product”. Formed in 1993 to help spread the word about the wonder of Epsom Salt a time tested mineral compound and its dozens of uses.

The benefits of Epsom salts are often queried; this article is an article to break those myths. Epsom Salt is made up of magnesium and sulphate, named after the town of Epsom in England, where it was first produced by distilling water. Magnesium has been shown to help ease stress and improve concentration leading to the common use of Epsom Salt as a bath salt. Magnesium is also essential for muscles and nerves to function properly. According to an article written on Naturalnews.com , “Magnesium lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes and helps in recovery from heart attacks and strokes. Magnesium also maintains proper muscle function. Sadly, most Americans are deficient in this important mineral. Therefore, it is no wonder that the incidence of serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis, stress-related illnesses, and chronic fatigue are so prevalent.”

According to the Epsom Salt Council, the sulphates in Epsom salts are also beneficial. Sulphates can help the body flush toxins and absorb nutrients more efficiently. Sulphates complement magnesium’s benefits to joints and tissues, Sulphates have also been shown to help prevent or mitigate headaches.

Epsom salt is a pure compound that gently exfoliates the skin and smoothes rough patches. Regularly used, it has become a popular choice for beauty enhancement.

According to a UK based charity “Treating Autism “.

‘Epsom Salts are widely used by our members as an intervention which can help to alleviate some of their children’s autism related symptoms. Dr Rosemary Waring found that most people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder have a deficiency in a key detoxification pathway, known as sulphation. This detoxification process can be ameliorated by supplementing with sulphate. Sulphate is poorly absorbed when taken orally, but is more easily absorbed through the skin. For this reason, some parents of children with autism add Epsom salts to their bath water, with many reporting benefits such as better sleep, calmer behaviour and improvements in skin conditions such as eczema. Magnesium, the other component of Epsom salts, can also be absorbed through the skin, and since children with autism are often deficient in magnesium too, a bath with added Epsom salts can provide a beneficial boost in this essential mineral as well.’

We, The Little Cornish Soap Company, know that because of these benefits, “Flushing of Toxins”, “Exfoliation” and “Absorption”, That Epsom salts can help bring our skin back to life, looking fresher through exfoliation. Epsom Salts are also renowned for health issues such as Athletes foot, Bee Stings, Mild Sunburn, poison ivy, Sore muscles, splinters and Deep Pore Cleansing , to name but a few!

So the next time you take a bath, add a cup full of Epsom salts, this will allow the natural chemical compound in the salts to release and if you mix it with a few drops of your favourite essential oil, you will feel the benefits. So for relaxation, add a few drops of Lavender essential oil, this will help relax the body. From personal experience, I know that In a normal bath, the body is renowned to sink to the bottom, where as if using Epsom salts, it gives you that floating feeling, you feel like you are being wrapped up in a Epsom wrap, as you feel the salts soaking into your skin. We also recommend using Epsom salts for dry, cracked feet. Making your self an Epsom salt foot soak is quick and easy (See below for recipe) The foot soak will soften the skin, remove any dead skin and also alleviate any bad odours that may be lingering!

Sources:

http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/about/

http://www.saltworks.us/salt_info/epsom-uses-benefits.asp

http://www.naturalnews.com/029397_epsom_salt_magnesium.html#ixzz1n0es9hmO

http://www.treatingautism.co.uk/

Soap Of The Week

2012-02-19T07:26:00.000Z

Rosehip & Geranium

An olive oil rich soap further enriched with rose hip oil. Geranium and Rose essential oils give this soap a wonderful floral scent with a rich nourshing lather. The addition of finely ground hand picked rose hips means it also gently exfoliates leaving the skin feeling extra silky smooth.
This soap also makes a fantastic shampoo bar for Greasey & Combination Hair, it lathers up beautifully, givi...ng off small gentle bubbles and leaving the hair squeaky clean, I recommend that you use on alternate days with you normal shampoo.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Rosa Mosqueta (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens, Rosa Centifolia in Vitis Vinifera, Ground Rosa Mosqueta.

In the making of this soap we use Palm Oil, Now "Don't Panic" We source our palm oil from a supplier that is registered with The Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) this means that all of our Palm Oil comes from sustainable sources and is guaranteed not to endanger animals such as the orangutang. We pride ourselves on our Environmentally Freindly Stance and source such ingredients only after researching the supplier in depth.

A Big Thank You!!

2012-02-09T16:24:00.000Z

Long time no speak lol…

I would like to send a huge thank you to Nicola for featuring our Mothers Days Gift on her blog http://three-cats-craft.blogspot.com/ and to Handmade for U uk for their link http://handmadeforyou.weebly.com/soaps--fragrance.html

We have a lovely selection of Gifts for Mothers Day as well as Birthday's and Little Thank You Gifts for any occasion, starting from under a FIVER yes I Said UNDER £5.00, so why not check out either our Facebook Page The Little Cornish Soap Company or our website www.tlcsoapcompany.co.uk for ideas we also have outlets on Ebay & Folksy.

The English Rose Gift Set £9.50

We've had quite a restful day here at The Little Cornish Soap Company no soap making today, as it was such a lovely day and all children were in school we went to Advent Church and took some pictures and then we had a rather lovely lunch at the Old Inn, in St Breward on Bodmin Moor, sat next to a roaring fire…. My idea of heaven. Mind you my darling husband decided he was going to photograph everything we had, so my Hot Chocolate wasn't hot by the time I got to drink it boooo and he tried to snaffle my Sausage & Egg Bap, so I cut it in half so he got half my bap and I ate it the other lol… then after a relaxing morning it was back home to the chaos of the children getting in from school, homework and tea.

Gardeners Gift Set £9.50

3 Down 9 to Go!!!

2012-02-07T14:18:00.000Z

Well that’s 3 of the new soaps made, The Baby, Coconut Dream & Sea Spray. Firstly The Baby Soap, which has been made with Mandarin & Chamomile Essential Oils, will be ready by the 20th February, The Coconut Dream, which has no fragrance to it, but has been with Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil & Dessicated Coconut, will be ready by the 5th March and Finally the Sea Spray, which has been made with Seaweed, Green Clay, Marjoram & Cedarwood Essential oils, will be ready by the 10th March. So all 3 soaps will be Launched at the Crocadon Produce Market on the 17th March. Which I know will be a good excuse for my darling husband to get his camera out and take some more pictures (well I don’t like to think of him having nothing to do lol)….

I have also been working on my new creams, well I use the term 'Creams' loosely as they are more of a balm consistency just a little bit softer, but the Calendula one is coming along nicely, I've been using it for about a week now and my skin already feels softer, mind you I know this one works as It was one of the very first creams I ever made, about 6 years ago, so I cant wait for the certification to come back on it so I can launch it. It compliments the Sunflower & Calendula Soap really well.

Well till next time….

Lauri xx

We Are Now On Ebay & Folksy

2012-02-05T19:24:00.000Z

Crikey what a weekend!! There has been steam coming off my poor husbands fingers, not only has he taken a load of new product photos which most of you will hopefully now have seen not only on the website but on Facebook as well, he's totally rebranded our website and other media but he has not stopped there we have now opened a shop on Folksy and uploaded a load of our soaps on to Ebay. So tomorrow its my turn, I need to give his blistered fingers a rest, and I will be making our new creams and some more of our new soaps. I have already made the "Coconut Dream", this one is a hard soap, but I wont know for sure how they have turned out for another 3 weeks, but they are looking really nice, they have a lovely soft creamy white colour and smell of Cocoa Butter...

Busy Busy Busy!!

2012-01-25T14:59:00.000Z

Yippee, the baby soap has been de-moulded (if that’s an actual word), and is looking lovely the chunks are a beige colour on the outside and what can only be described as a dusky rose colour on the inside, and they smell light & fresh almost fruity, yes I know they contain Mandarin, but you know what I mean lol…. The hearts are again a caramely beige colour and are looking quite smooth, the total opposite of the Sunflower and Calendula one's which are bobbly to the touch, its funny how different soaps vary so much even though they have been made with almost the same ingredients. I promise I will be taking so pictures and uploading them soon…… onest…. Lol.

I've busy making my Baby & Nipple balms (no jokes please as I think I have heard all of them)… The Baby Balm is good for all over use, especially on very sore bottoms, it acts as a protective barrier and it doesn't sting, which I found a certain high street brand did, and my little one wouldn't let me near her with it, so I created my balm, and we don't have any tears, in fact when I'm putting it on she starts to giggle and tells me I'm tickling. it also works extremely well on cradle cap as well. The Nipple Balm, helps soften the skin when breast feeding and helps prevent it from getting sore & cracked, but I also have a couple of Runner/ Joggers who use it to protect them from getting friction sores.

Lauri xx

New Baby Soap!!!

2012-01-23T16:07:00.000Z

What a morning!!! I have two children off sick, I've cleaned the bathroom, sorted the dog out & now I have almost completed my first batch of baby soap, I am just waiting for it to cool down so I can blend and mould it…. So I just thought I would make a start on my blogg, this soap is made with water infused with rosehips, borage oil and gently fragranced with Mandarin & Chamomile. Its seems to be taking ages to cool down to the blending temperatures though!

Well finally after 20mins the mixture cooled down enough for me to blend and mould, lovely! I have made 12 hearts & 16 chunks of soap, chunks don’t you just love that word, it can describe a multitude of things. But I think I use it quite eloquently in describing my soaps lol…. Any how, I have got way off the subject, this soap will be suitable for Babies, children & people with sensitive skin.

Back in the Saddle again!!!!

2012-01-19T16:37:00.000Z

God it feels good to be back in a routine and to be making again, I must admit I haven't been as productive as I should have been, but hey baby steps lol. I have made and de-moulded my new Sunflower & Calendula Heart soaps (which should be ready for Mother Day), I was going to take pictures of them today, but they were still abit soft & gooey to be placed at photographed so I'll leave them to harden up for a week. The Muscle & Joint Gel will be back on the website tomorrow as I made a rather large batch of that and also the Cooling Head Ease & Soothing Face & Eye Gel. Today I boxed up a couple of orders & got them posted out and then I made the Honey & Oatmeal Soap, which, if I do say so myself its looking rather nice.

Oh before I forget I am at Crocadon Market on Saturday 21st, 9am to 3pm so hopefully I'll see some of you there.

Laurix

New Year New Start

2012-01-16T19:13:00.000Z

16/01/12

Well here goes, it’s the New Year so my work room has been top & tailed, its been stripped, cleaned, mould proofed, painted twice and in some places 3 times, everything has been sorted, tidied and put back together, so its as fresh as a daisy all ready for me to crack on.

My first mission is to make Heart soaps ready for Valentines & Mothers Day, I will be doing these in Sunflower & Calendula and Rose & Ylang Ylang, and possibly Lavender & Thyme, but we'll see how the others turn out first. I will up load photos when they have cured for 48hrs, so fingers crossed.

Then I have my usual stock to build up then hopefully next week I will start playing around with some of my new recipes, it works out instead of 10 I have 12 new soap recipes, the first 3 will be the Kitchen Scrub, which is made with Coffee & Vanilla, Just Olive which is mainly made with Olive oil and Sea Spray, which is made using seaweed & green clay. These will all be ready for sale hopefully by the end of February as promised, all three of these soaps will be cut into cubes and sold as they come.

Soap of the Week

Lavender & Thyme Soap

This Lavender & Thyme Soap offers Antiseptic benefits, protecting, nurturing and moisturising the skin. Our Lavender & Thyme Soap contains natural bacteria fighters such as lavender, and thyme essential oils, along with moisturising Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil and Lavender Petals.

Our lavender and thyme cold pressed soap is designed for frequent use. The ingredients gently remove soil and bacteria without drying, chapping or irritating skin.

Your hands will love our NATURAL Handmade Soaps.

Due to the handmade nature of our soaps weights and shapes will vary, We endeavour to make all soaps to am approximate weight of 90gms.

No Artificial Colourings, No Artificial Fragrances and No Parabens.

Ingredients:

Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Prunus Dulcis (Almond) Oil, Aqua, Lavandula Angustifolia, Thymus Vulgaris.

Texture:

This soap has a fairly strong and long lasting clean/ fresh fragrance, it is a medium hard soap and lathers up beautifully giving plenty of small soft bubbles.

Soap Of The Week

2012-01-08T10:18:00.000Z

Gardeners Soap

This soap is perfect for people who love to do a spot of gardening. Made with 100% pure and sustainable oils creating a wonderfully natural mild bar of soap with no chemicals to irritate the skin. We have added Shea Butter for extra luxury.

Made with the antiseptic qualities of Tea Tree and Eucalyptus essential oils combined with the rough texture of ground pumice, ground rosemary and poppy seeds should help to remove mud after a hard days gardening.

Tea Tree essential oil has a clean fresh medicinal aroma. Tea Tree is one of only two essential oils (Lavender being the other) that can be used neat on the skin in small amounts. It is a non-toxic natural antiseptic ideal for cuts, insect bites, blisters, warts and other topical infection.

Similar to Tea Tree essential oil, Eucalyptus essential oil has a medicinal earthy aroma. The principal active ingredient in the oil is ‘eucalyptol’ which gives it its strong disinfectant properties.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Melaleuca Alternifolia, Eucalyptus Globulus, Papaver Somniferum (Poppy) Seeds, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Ground), Pumice Powder.

In the making of this soap we use Palm Oil, Now "Don't Panic" We source our palm oil from a supplier that is registered with The Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) this means that all of our Palm Oil comes from sustainable sources and is guaranteed not to endanger animals such as the orangutang. We pride ourselves on our Environmentally Freindly Stance and source such ingredients only after researching the supplier in depth.

Texture:

This soap gives off a gentle aroma with a soft creamy lather & gentle bubbles, yes Tea Tree & Eucalyptus are strong oils, but this aroma is subtle & not overpowering, also if you a in the throws of a horrible cold, after washing you'll find the eucalyptus has a clearing effect on your nose. The Poppy seeds, ground Rosemary & Nettle Leaves make for a soft & scrub, so its not to harsh on your hands but enough to get them clean.

Test blog

2012-01-07T20:31:00.000Z

We are testing our blog feed to twitter and facebook.....Here goes

Alert!! Bath Salts the New Legal High

2012-01-06T14:15:00.000Z

I did a couple of bloggs a couple of months ago about the new craze that was going around about kids using commercial bath salts as the new legal high, well getting back on to that subject I came across the article below in a magazine that I subscribe to and I thought many of you may find it interesting, yes I know its American based, but at the end of the day it effects us on this side of the pond as well. So I though I would post it…… I hope you find it informative and eye opening.

The Dangers of Bath Salts

by Stacy Reckard

A Growing Menace

When someone begins a conversation about their favorite bath salts, odds are that you’ll think of the type you drop in the tub for a relaxing soak. You might just be wrong, though. In the United States, law enforcement is warning everyone about a dangerous new product: Bath Salts. These are definitely not the bath salts we’re used to—instead, they are a complex chemical compound containing the
stimulants mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). Sold as a powder under a variety of names such as “Ivory Wave,” “Purple Wave,” “Red Dove,” “Blue Silk,” “Zoom,” “Bloom,” “Cloud Nine,” “Ocean Snow,” “Lunar Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” “White Lightning,” “Scarface,” and “Hurricane
Charlie,” this drug has lawmakers everywhere scrambling to pass legislation to prevent it from being sold legally to anyone, including children. The intersection of bath and body products with drug use has happened in the past, as evidenced by the use of lye in the production of Methamphetamine, a powerful central nervous system stimulant. This latest confluence of drugs and bath products is particularly alarming, though, as the product names and packaging of the drug create an environment
of fear and places suspicion on every small business marketing the ‘real’ product intended for the tub. With that in mind, every business owner who markets bath and body products should educate themselves on the issue of this synthetic drug.

Dangerous Reactions

Bath Salts are typically taken through one of three methods—users either administer them orally, by inhalation, or by injection. When inhaled or injected, the outcomes can be deadly. Mephedrone is of particular concern. Research has shown that mephedrone presents a high risk for overdose; when used in combination with MDPV, the chemicals act in a manner similar to cocaine and, like cocaine, cause high abuse and addiction rates. In what seems to be a perfect storm of side effects, Bath Salts also
trigger intense cravings similar to those experienced by methamphetamine users. Unfortunately, Bath Salts is also producing very dangerous reactions in users, many ofwhich have led to alarming actions. According to news reports, a man who inhaled Bath Salts took his skinning knife and slit his face and
stomach repeatedly; in another incident, 21-year-old Dickie Sanders cut his throat and then ended his life with a gunshot. In a recent AP News article, Dr. Richard Sanders, a general practitioner from Covington, La., shared the story of his son’s terrifying experience with the drug. After snorting the Bath Salts, the young man went through three days of intermittent delirium, during which he attempted to take his own life by slitting his throat. The younger Sanders missed major arteries and his father
tried to keep him calm and safe after treating his wound, but was unsuccessful. Waiting until his father fell asleep, Dickie Sanders went into another room and shot himself. In Florida, police pushed for a ban of the drug after several encounters with individuals high on the substance. In Panama City alone,
officers were alerted to the serious side effects by two separate incidents. In one, several officers were needed to subdue a man who tore a radar unit out of a police car with his teeth, while in the other, police reported that a woman attacked her mother with a machete while intoxicated by Bath Salts; she claimed her mother was a monster.

Current Legislation

In light of these extreme reactions, several states have already passed laws which make the product illegal, and it is already banned in the United Kingdom and several other countries, including Israel, Australia and Canada. In the U.S., Vermont has become the latest to ban the product, amending its regulated drug rule to include bath salts. The move was prompted by the spread of the drug into the state, where the Northern New England Poison Center confirmed that by November of 2011 it had
handled nearly 200 cases of bath salt abuse. Of those, 147 were in Maine, 35 in New Hampshire
and 11 in Vermont.

Protecting Your Products

Thankfully, there are several easy steps entrepreneurs can take in order to avoid having legitimate product lines confused with this dangerous drug. The most obvious move might appear to be adding the disclaimer ‘Not For Consumption’ to product labels, yet this label has already been employed by clever drug pushers, who are trying to use it to circumvent the law. Rather than turning to a disclaimer,
those retailing genuine bath salts can ensure they avoid falling on the wrong side of the law by simply including an accurate ingredients listing on their packaging. Of course, this might mean a label redesign, but in the long run, it is in the best interest of both a company and its clients to have accurate ingredient lists.

Happy New Year!!!!

2012-01-06T13:30:00.000Z

Crikey Where Has The Time Gone!

Well here it is, the New Year, all the decorations are down and hopefully in most households anyway, everything has returned back to some form of normality. I suppose a lot of people out there view normality differently, my form of normality is my husband doing the yearly accounts, (but this year that’s fallen in my lap, ohhh joy… lol) repainting my work room, deciding what's first on my making & to do lists and then trying to get into a rhythm again. Because I find it hard, its so easy to put it off until next week then next week comes and before I know it the month has passed and I have fallen behind so panic sets in…..

This year is going to see some major changes to the business, some people call it stream lining, I call it "oh my god what am I doing". I have had to put these things in motion mainly because of my husbands illness, I have cut down on the amount of products that I make, (but I will be introducing new ones over the course of the year) and you may not see me out and about as much but everything will be fully available on line, through our website's & facebook plus other mediums as well.

My New Ranges will consist of Bath Salts, Facial Oil's, 2 new Hand/ Face Creams & of course 10 New Soaps, hopefully if everything goes to plan some will be launched at the beginning of Spring, others in time for summer & finally some for Christmas 2012.

Till Next Time

Laurinda x

Soap of The Week

2011-12-11T07:25:00.000Z

Rose & Ylang Ylang Soap

A creamy moisturising soap offering a delicate, floral combination of english roses and oriental ylang ylang. Helping to leave the skin feeling cleansed, refreshed and subtly scented with a delicate floral scent.

Very sensual, balancing and comforting. Ylang Ylang has a soothing and calming effect on the skin and helps regulate sebum production keeping complexions balanced and clear. This Soap is suitable for all skin types. Rose is a natural anti-inflammatory with healing, soothing and calming characteristics.

Ingredients:

Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Aqua, Prunus Dulcis (Almond) Oil, Rosa Centifolia in Vitis Vinifera, Cananga Odorata, Goats Milk Powder, Rosa Centifolia Petals.

Soap Of The Week

2011-11-25T06:51:00.000Z

Sunflower & Calendula Soap

A light, refreshing handmade soap. Made using Sunflower oil, which is rich in vitamins & minerals to help to nourish the skin.

The healing properties of Sunflower and Calendula provide an antiseptic action which can help the relief of skin infections such as acne and athletes foot, while Calendula's anti-inflamatory properties can aid sufferers of eczema. The Vitamin E found in Sunflower, can also help fight the signs of ageing. This soap can also help very dry hands which have a tendancy to split & crack, by softening the skin and with the help of a good hand cream, it can make a big difference. This soap is also fragranced with Bergamot, Neroli & Chamomile.

Ingredients:

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Aqua, Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Citrus Bergamia, Anthemis Nobilis, Citrus Aurantium Amara, Calenudula Officinalis Flower.

Soap Of The Week

2011-11-18T07:18:00.000Z

Rosehip & Geranium

I have found over the past couple of months of trailing this soap that it reacts differently on the skin and on the hair, it wasn't made as a shampoo bar, but has proven itself invaluable for the head area.

Its an olive oil rich soap further enriched with rose hip oil. Geranium and Rose essential oils give this soap a wonderful floral scent with a rich nourshing but gentle lather, it doesn't however have many bubbles on the skin. However the addition of the finely ground hand picked rose hips means it gently exfoliates leaving the skin feeling extra silky smooth. This soap is also a fantastic shampoo bar, it lathers up lovely on the scalp giving the head an all over massage while giving off a gentle lather with soft large bubbles to clean the hair.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Rosa Mosqueta (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens, Rosa Centifolia in Vitis Vinifera, Ground Rosa Mosqueta.

Soap Of The Week

2011-11-01T06:47:00.000Z

Soap Of The Week

Honey & Oatmeal

Start your day with Oats and Honey.

Start the day the Cornish way with a helping of porridge oats. Ideal for sensitive skin; irresistible to everyone else. Oats are soothing for the skin, while honey is moisturising. Rise and shine with some delicious porridge.

It's a nutritious bar of Soap.

This bar of soap is a very gentle soap that really helps to care as it cleans. When the oats mix with hot water, they create a calming milk that softens your entire body.

Oatmeal has been used for centuries to treat all types of skin irritations, dermatitis and for is gentle exfoliating properties while Honey has wonderful moisturizing qualities and adds soothing qualities to the soap. Oats and Honey are blended together to create a gentle and moisturizing soap that smells good enough to eat! This soap is wonderful for children and adults with dry, itchy and sensitive skin.

This is a truely Cornish Soap, With Natural Cornish Spring Water, Cornish Honey and Cornish Beeswax, all sourced within 20 miles of our hometown of Bodmin.

Ingredients:

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba, Avena Sativa, Honey

Due to the handmade nature of our soaps, they will vary in shapes and weights, although we do endeavor for an approximate weight of 90gms.

My Soap Diary

2011-10-22T16:02:00.000+01:00

Reviews On My Soaps

Hi Everyone

I just thought I would review some of the soaps that my family & I have managed to try, so that I can give you as the customer a good idea of what you might expect. All the soaps have been used by myself, my husband, my 3 children (all of varying ages the youngest being 4yrs old and having sensitive skin) & some unsuspecting guests that have visited us. And the feedback especially from my children (who are my hardest critics) has been positive. So here goes I hope you find it informative & helpful making your decision a little easier:

Lavender & Thyme

A rustic soap made with Lavender & Thyme essential oils which give this soap a strong and long lasting fragrance. It’s a soft soap which gives off lovely soft bubbles and a good lather. Its suitable for most skin types. Vegan Friendly. Lavender oil is very calming on the skin and thyme has antiseptic properties.

Sunflower & Calendula

A Bright, sunny & soothing soap, infused with Calendula petals & Sunflower Oil. It has the light, gentle fragrance of Bergamot, Chamomile & Neroli. This is a soft soap which gives off a lot of soft bubbles and a good lather. Its suitable for all skin types and is especially good for those who suffer with dry & callused hands from manual work . Vegan Friendly.

Rosehip & Geranium

A delicate soap pebble dashed with ground rosehips and enriched with moisturising rosehip oil. The soft pink colour will darken & mellow over time.

This soap is Slightly grainy but firm, it doesn't give any obvious bubbles and very subtle lather. Its very good for using as a massage soap for the thigh & bottom area. Rosehip seed oil contains Vitamin A, which helps with cell regeneration helping the skin to heal itself. Geranium oil is also a good hormone balancer so aiding problematic skin to restore its natural balance

Rosewood & Honey Shaving Soap

This shaving soap has a good earthy aroma with the sweetness of honey, its gives a gentle lather with soft bubbles giving a smooth & gentle shave, especially for those men that suffer with sore skin after wet shaving. Rosewood oil is a good oil for cell stimulant and tissue regeneration, making it a valuable ingredient in skin care. Honey has now become one of the top researched natural ingredients for skincare as it helps support the skin's ability to rejuvenate and refresh depleted skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple.

I also welcome and value your feedback as the customer, so please let me know what you think of my soaps.

Soap Of The Week

The Gardeners Soap

Ingredients:

In the making of this soap we use Palm Oil, Now "Don't Panic" We source our palm oil from a supplier that is registered with The Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) this means that all of our Palm Oil comes from sustainable sources and is guaranteed not to endanger animals such as the orangutang. We pride ourselves on our Environmentally Friendly Stance and source such ingredients only after researching the supplier in depth.

This soap is sold in cubes only so you can get a good grip on it without it slipping out of your hands. £3.25

Also sold as part of our Gardeners Gift Set, which also includes our Gardeners Hand Cream: £9.50

Regards

Laurinda

My Soap Diary

2011-10-17T15:57:00.000+01:00

17/10/11

Its Official

The Official Launch of the soaps is fast approaching, I am about half way through wrapping and labelling the slices which I have been doing all day today and tomorrow I will hopefully be moving onto the boxing of the cubes. For those of you which don't know the Soaps are already on the website but the Official Launch including our new look stand will be happening on Saturday 29th October at Cedarcroft Farmers Market. I will also be doing a Soap Of The Week, which will get repeated promotion everyday and a prominent display at the events, So here goes the First Official Soap of the Week:

The Gardeners Soap

Ingredients:

In the making of this soap we use Palm Oil, Now "Don't Panic" We source our palm oil from a supplier that is registered with The Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) this means that all of our Palm Oil comes from sustainable sources and is guaranteed not to endanger animals such as the orangutang. We pride ourselves on our Environmentally Friendly Stance and source such ingredients only after researching the supplier in depth.

This soap is sold in cubes only so you can get a good grip on it without it slipping out of your hands. £3.25

Also sold as part of our Gardeners Gift Set, which also includes our Gardeners Hand Cream: £9.50

ReBranding Complete

2011-10-07T12:00:00.000+01:00

As you may have been aware, TVO Natural Skincare has been under going some changes over the last few weeks, we are now pleased to announce that the rebranding of our business is complete:
So what will you find!

A New Look Website:

A New Sister Company Launched:

A New Look Blog:

The Same Great Quality Products:

More Natural Products:

The Same Great Customer Service

Our New Sister Company, Making Natural Soaps using the traditional cold pressed method.

TVO Natural Skincare still offering quality Natural and Organic Skincare & Personal Care Products and Gifts.

You will find a variety of Vegan Friendly Soaps in our shop.

We hope that you enjoy our simplistic new look sites and we can ensure that the quality of the products and service remain at our original high standards.

My Soap Diary & Christmas Gifts

2011-10-07T07:19:00.000+01:00

My Soap Diary

05/10/11

Well the packaging has begun, I have wrapped the Oatmeal & Honey soap, The Lavender & Thyme soap & The Gardeners Soap, I have also made my first gift boxes: The Gardeners Gift Pack which contains and Gardeners Hand Cream & a Gardeners Soap, and even if I do say so myself, they look really good and I am really chuffed the Jute Gift Boxes that I'm using blend really nicely and the wrapped soap look's really bright & colourful, everything's coming together really nicely. I will be uploading the gift boxes on to the website over the weekend so you can all have a sneaky peak.

07/10/11

Christmas Gifts:

The Count down has begun there is 77 days til Christmas Eve, I know I know, I can hear you all screaming at the computer NNNOOOOO!!!!! Lol, I went to Trago yesterday to buy my new Table Cloth for the stand and they had all their Christmas decs out, and my youngest started singing Jingle bells lol. But it is getting close and before you know it is been and gone. I do the sensible thing and start buying bits in June/ July when I see them, especially because I have 3 children it spreads the cost a little, but I do think I end up spending more lol. My Christmas Gift boxes will go on sale within the next 2 weeks, or you can make your own up and choose from the wide selection of products that I do and I can put them into a gift bag or box for you, just drop me an email. I will be attending a small selection of Christmas Events so I will keep you posted on those or check out the website under the Events Page and it will let you know what I'm doing and where I'm going. I will be at Saltash Wesley Church on the 15th October & Crackington Haven on the 16th October, so I will hopefully see you there. xxx

My Soap Diary

2011-09-26T16:29:00.000+01:00

23/09/11

Hiya everyone, I'm sorry I really feel like I'm neglecting all you guys, but my word its been another busy week, I should be used to this by now, but it always creeps up on me, I've finished another wholesale order and 3 out of the 12 buntings are ready, all the fabric has been cut its just stitching them together, I could make my life easier by doing them on a sewing machine, but where would the fun be, but I do wonder sometimes whether I take on too much, with a poorly husband and a disabled child too, but hey, I'm not the sort of person to sit around all day and do nothing, I think I drive my husband mad because of that, but like the Bon Jovi song "I'll sleep when I'm dead" lol. I have also made another 2 batches of Rose & Ylang Ylang soap as well today. My word I think I'm going to treat myself tonight to a nice glass of wine and a pat on the back.

26/09/11

We are now getting close to the launch of the soaps, all the packaging is here, and today we played around with it, yey!!!

I must say I am quite pleased with the packaging, I know it will probably need refining, but that comes with time and practise. We were going to keep the soap's on the TVO natural skincare site, but scott got creative so we have now launched or should I say launching, www.thelittlecornishsoapcompany.com site, because we are not quite ready yet.

I love working under my own steam, because I am sat here with a lovely cuppa and a fresh cream scone. I have made 4 more batches of soap today, but it never seems enough lol. The Flower Fairy Bunting I'm making is coming along lovely, and it’s a good way of relaxing, it’s the one thing in my life that isn't stressful, I know its for an order and I know I only have until next Tuesday to complete it, but I can sit down in the evening and watch tele while making it. Don't get me wrong I'm not falling out of love with making the soap or the skincare but when you have a major task master cracking the whip, telling you, you need so many of each to be made, it does tend to take the edge off it, I know when I have bulked up the stock I will only need to make a couple of batches each week to keep on top of the stock, then I will enjoy it. Mind you I am nearly there, I don’t need to make any more Gardeners, Rose & Ylang Ylang or Rosehip & Geranium. So that’s 3 down 7 to go lol.

My Soap Diary

2011-09-18T10:20:00.000+01:00

Sunflower & Calendula Soap

13/09/11

Hiya everyone, sorry I've been kinda busy setting up at St Swithians for a craft fair and getting orders out, so I haven't made any soaps for at least 3 days and believe it or not I've already got withdrawal symptom's lol. Ah well, but I have cut up all the blocks I have made and I must say they are looking good and smell great, hopefully I will get back into the swing of making tomorrow, I will be ordering the rest of my packaging next week so I will be able to start wrapping my first batches which should be ready the last week of the month, so the Lavender & Thyme slices and the Oatmeal & Honey chunks will be on the website by the 1st October I cant wait.

Rose & Ylang Ylang Soap

14/09/11

Well I've been busy busy busy today, after getting rid of the kids to school, feeding the husband and walking the dog, I finally made a start at 10am, I was quite surprised I actually made 3 loaves of soap, which was the Rosehip & Geranium. I know it doesn't sound much, but as I am working around 3 children and a poorly husband having the time to make 3 loaves is a good day lol. I then cut chunks of The Gardeners, the Sunflower & Calendula and The Rosewood Shaving Soap, (which smells amazing, its now gone from a Gingerbread to a liquorice fragrance). At 4 o'clock I thought I would call it a day and leave the rest until tomorrow, mainly because I have had an order for 12 strings of Flower Fairy bunting and the fabric arrived yesterday so I need to crack on with that tonight. Well its now 8pm and I have cut up 2 pieces of fabric and made 24 individual flags which are now ready to be stitched together, I am calling it a night.

15/09/11

Well that’s another hard days work over with, it started pretty much the same but today I have made 4 trays of Gardeners Soap, I did have a close call, just a warning, I doesn't matter if your wearing Rubber Gloves & Goggles, well to say it doesn't matter it does what I'm trying to say is, even though I was wearing the right gear I thought I got lye solution in my eye, I took my goggles off to wash up and a bit of water from the sink splashed up when I put everything in, I felt a sting and then my eye got all blood shot, so I followed instructions by rinsing my eye with cold water, but luckily it wasn't it must have just been a bit of washing up liquid, but to say it didn’t scare me was an understatement, so be careful, like I said it doesn’t matter if your wearing the full gear, you let your guard down and the lye could still get you, I know it sounds a bit mellow dramatic but hey isn't better to be dramatic and stop someone else getting hurt or just brush it off and not mention it. I know what I would prefer.

Lavender & Thyme Soap

Citrus Cleanser

Rose & Ylang Ylang

Gardeners Soap

Sunflower & Calendula

Rosehip & Geranium

18/09/11

Well that was another busy week, I de-moulded the Rosehip & Geranium and the Gardeners Soap yesterday, both are looking really nice, I am going to leave them until mid week before I cut them. The reason I'm doing this is mainly because they have hardened up slightly, and they are less likely to squish when you cut them and get all mis-shaped.

I have really enjoyed doing the soaps again, even though I was only going to do a couple and it seems to have taken control and doubled, I now have a further 10 recipes ready to send off, but they wont be launched until after Christmas.

Its not just about Soap

2011-09-10T15:39:00.000+01:00

09/09/11

Hi there everyone, I hope you are enjoying my soap diary as much as I am writing it, but I was thinking the other day, it shouldn’t just be about soap, I do so many other things as well, so I am now going to add some new bits. I have always had a fascination with herbs and oils, but I have never had the time to do anything about it, well hopefully in the next coming months I will finally be able to. I have studied Aromatherapy although not in depth, but I have enough knowledge and understanding in the Values and Usage of oils. Now its time to learn everything I can about Herbalism, as it is one of the oldest & original forms natural healing & natural medicine. And the more we can learn about our environment the more we can learn about how to heal, as many scientists have said there is a cure for every disease in this world we just have to know where to look & find it, but its also about the knowledge & understanding of nature and taking the patience to look & learn what she has to offer, so below is just a taster of what other things are to come. You may ask yourselves why have I done a section on Herbal Vinegars & Oils well Herbalism is also as much about healing the inside as well as the outside.

HERBAL VINEGAR AND OILS: MAKE AND MARKET YOUR OWN

Herbal vinegars and oils are products that have become increasingly popular in kitchens around the world. Bottles of them line the shelves of gourmet cooking shops and upscale delicatessens.

When a herb is steeped in an oil or vinegar base, the flavour of the herb permeates this base. Dashed into soups and stews, used in marinades or splashed onto fresh salad greens, these oils and vinegars are a cook's delight.

If you have a herb garden underway, you may want to look at these herbal gift products you can make and market yourself. Home-made oils and vinegars are attractive to many people and they sell nicely at farmer's markets and craft fairs. They usually do not require a lot of effort and expensive equipment to make or to package.

Popular herbs for vinegars are majoram, mint, rosemary, tarragon and thyme. Other herbs which make good vinegars are basil, bay, dill, lemon balm and sage.

Making the Base

Use apple cider or any good white vinegar as a base. just before they flower for the best Use about one cup of herbs for each two cups of vinegar.

Method

Crush or bruise the leaves and loosely pack them into a large clean jar. Pour slightly warmed vinegar over them to cover and place a non-metallic lid over the jar. Be sure all of the herbs are covered with the vinegar so that they do not mould.

Place the jar in a dark cupboard, so that the leaves retain their colour, and shake or stir daily for two weeks. Test for flavour at the end of that time. You can always add more herbs for a stronger taste or leave it as is.

When it's ready, strain the herbs through a piece of cheesecloth and place the vinegar into an attractive bottle. I use old salad dressing bottles which have been sterilized. You can buy new bottles in many different colours for your product.

Three Bottling Tips

Place a single sprig of the herb into the bottle for easy identification.

Find a label for your product. There are many interesting stick-on labels available from stationery stores. Some have stunning Celtic borders or borders of bright fruit and flowers. You can also computer-generate labels, adding interesting colours and designs.

Create your own unusual label - you can write on it the date, name of the vinegar and identify yourself as the grower of the herb. Labels can then be further adorned with small stickers - I often use tiny moon and star images, making each bottle unique.

Now you may want to think of a name for your new herbal vinegar business!

Dual flavours

As you become confident with the process, try experimenting with dual flavours. I have combined basil-mint, dill-lemon balm and thyme-rosemary with great success.

You can also try floral vinegars by using edible flowers - lavender, rose petals, pinks, violets and marigolds. Fruit vinegars can be made from almost any type of berry, although raspberries are the most commonly used.

Fruit should be bruised before the vinegar is added. Once it has steeped to your satisfaction, strain into a pot, add a little sugar to taste, and simmer on the stove for 3 - 5 minutes. Skim off the foam as it develops and let the mixture cool before pouring it into your attractive bottles.

Popular herbs for oils are basil, garlic, fennel, majoram, mint, oregano and thyme. Rosemary, tarragon and savory can also be used.

As with herb vinegars, you can loosely pack your bruised herbs into a jar and covered with the warmed oil. Use a good quality safflower, grapeseed or olive oil and be sure all the herbs are completely covered by it. Close the jar with a non-metal lid and let the oil sit in a sunny window to steep. Allow it to steep for at least three weeks and stir daily. When it is ready, strain it through cheesecloth, bottle and label.

Making oils

Oils can be used much like the vinegars - wherever you want a fresh dash of flavour. Use in marinades, over salads or for frying. Basil oil is particularly delicious on salad or poured over sliced tomatoes. Fry sliced potatoes and onions in an oregano or thyme oil and you will have the taste of Spain!

In the next part of this I will be talking about Aromatherapy Bath & Massage oils

My Soap Diary

2011-09-10T15:15:00.000+01:00

08/09/11

Its amazing how tiring making stock is, I fell asleep at 9 last night and today I feel like I've been partying the night away, so I decided to have the day off, apart from taking the other soaps out of their moulds.

I removed the Sunflower & Calendula Logs out of their mould, they were covered in a light film of oil, this isn't a major problem as soap tends to re-absorb any oil that’s sat on the surface, but it will better for me if I leave this soap to cure for the full 6 weeks, I will cut this soap after a week of drying out. The Citrus Cleanser, I don’t know if McVities still do them but does anyone remember Jaspers, well that’s what my Citrus Cleanser Soap smells like, yummy. The Rose & Ylang Ylang soap looks absolutely fine, the Rose petals which I scattered on top have turned black but that’s down to the oils again they will dry out. I will look at cutting this soap probably on Monday. The Rosewood Shaving Soap's are I think going to take the full 6 weeks as well, the Castor oil seems to make the initial soaps soft and moist so we'll see how they dry out over the next 6 weeks, but on the upside of things they smell like warm Gingerbread.

Crikey that was hard work its taken just over an hour, 2 freezer trips and a heck of a lot of banging to get the Lavender & Thyme Soap out of the mould, The second batch of Sunflower & Calendula just slipped out no problem at all.

Lol I have just read the last couple of lines and it makes soap making sound quite saucy lol..

My Soap Diary

2011-09-07T15:07:00.000+01:00

07/09/11

Well all three children left for school this morning, our house was like "The first day of the Next Sale" lol I didn’t know whether I was coming or going, I needed a brandy in my coffee once they had gone lol….

So now on with the important stuff, SOAP MAKING….

I have just taken my Gardeners Soap out of the mould with a little help from the freezer, yes that’s right, it was being stubborn so I put it in the freezer for half an hour and hey presto out it pops, I also checked on the 1st batch of the Sunflower & Calendula (that was the disaster at the beginning of the week) and it looks lovely, I'm still not going to take it out of the mould until Friday to give it a better chance. I made my 2nd batch of Lavender & Thyme Soap, this one is going into the chunks while the first one was sliced, hopefully this afternoon I am going to make the Sunflower & Calendula one, again this one will be in the form of chunks as well and then that will be it for the day as I have just about run out of Moulds. Yippeeee my Cornish Spring Water has just turned up, thank you Just Water Ltd.

Well over the past couple of days I've learnt so much about soap making, some of it is basic common sense, which is in very short supply in my life and some of it you learn as you go and hope beyond all hope that it turns out ok, here are just a few, for those of you that are just starting out:

Castor Oil seizes the mixture, so you need to move quick.

The Sunflower & Calendula mixture is sloppier than all the rest, even though I do nothing different.

The freezer is a god send when having difficulty get the soaps out of the moulds, even if you loose a little with the fragrance.

And finally

48hrs is better than 24hrs for curing.

My Soap Diary

2011-09-06T17:12:00.000+01:00

06/09/11

Happy Tuesday to all those parents who have Kids that go back to School today, we have our lives back Yippppeee. Now on with the soap making.

Well that went great, I have just finished making the Rose & Ylang Ylang Soap with added Goats Milk, and out of the whole lot that was the smoothest, I must be getting the hang of it now, hey! I better not speak to soon I have 2 other Soap's to make today, The Citrus Cleanser and Rosewood & Honey Shaving Soap, so there's still time for it all to go pear shaped…(Ye o'little faith!) It had to be raining today, because how mean do I feel, booting the dog outside while doing the lye, its typical the rain had stopped for 5 sec's and the moment I think great and put him out it absolutely buckets it down so he now looks like a drowned rat and the filthy looks I'm getting, no amount of soap will clean them up, thank god for Ginger Nut biscuits lol…. I will win him back round….

See I told you I spoke too soon, I found out today Castor Oil can seize the soap mixture, well I presume it was the Castor Oil mainly because both the Citrus Cleanser & Shaving Soap have Castor Oil in and both of them starting setting in the pan, to which I quickly shovelled it into the moulds, yes I said shovelled, not a technical term I know, but that’s what it probably looked like. But saying all that, they both looked and smelt really good, and like all good disaster's in the kitchen, they normally turn out for the best and are usually very hard to replicate so fingers crossed.

Help me to secure funding

2011-09-06T15:00:00.000+01:00

Afternoon,

Enterprise Nation, is a small business support system and through them and Fund101, in partnership with Paypal and Intuit, They are offering companies the chance to secure up to £500 in funding.

I have applied and need to secure 300 votes, all you need to do is follow the link, sign up, vote for The Natural Skincare & Soap Co. Thats it......

Each vote secured is classed as £1 in voting terms, so I have applied for £300 for marketing my new soaps, therefore I need 300 votes.

Please help me launch my new soaps in style

Vote now at http://enterprisenation.com/funding-applications/the-natural-skincare-soap-co/

Thank You!

Better When Wet!

2011-09-06T12:05:00.004+01:00

Last piece of thejigsaw in locally sourced ingredients,

falls into place.

The ethos of our company is to source localingredients where possible: So with the impending launch of our new “NaturalCollection” of soaps, we have secured our main ingredient supplier, right onour door step. One of the main ingredients in Soap is unbelievably Water!

So The Natural Skincare & Soap Co are pleased toannounce that, all of our soaps will now be made using Natural Cornish SpringWater, from right here in Bodmin. Yes that’s right, Trekillick Farm on theoutskirts of Bodmin is home to a company called Just Water Ltd.

The water is protected from any possiblecontamination from surface water, the water is filtered in the most naturalway, making its way to the surface from deep under the Cornish hills, becomingenriched with minerals as its passes through the rocks.

Our supplier, JustWater Ltd is a family run business from a farm on the outskirts of Bodmin, Just Water was another product born out ofthe crisis in farming. “With dairy farming at such a low in 2000, they lookedat how they could boost their income on the farm by diversification,” Tests onthe farm’s spring water returned excellent results and the family began tobottle it in 2002. They now produce around 1.5 million bottles a year.

Just Water has a very strict environmental policy, which is another reasonthat we decided to use their product. They keep their packaging to a minimum byusing shrink film only and no cardboard trays or boxes and being local, meansthat product mileage is kept to a minimum.

The name Just Water was chosen because that is exactlywhat is in it - just natural spring water. The quality and purity of the watercomes from deep under the Cornish countryside, becoming filtered through andenriched with minerals, as it makes its way to the surface.

Why Not Just Use Tap Water?

Well Tap water sometimes has various chemicals added to it;it also has a habit of becoming discoloured through Iron, along with a strongfluoride taste at times. So the water quality although drinkable, is not alwaysperfect. But the “Natural Spring Water” from Just Water is tested by TradingStandards to check its quality. These checks take place throughout the year ona regular basis. It is also free from any potential discolouration and anyother chemicals.

The Natural Skincare & Soap Co prides itself on beingjust that “Natural”, by combining Just Water’s Spring Water into our handmade soaps;we have a final product that will be 100% Natural, after it has finished curing,and truly Cornish!

Written by Scott Taylor
On Behalf of
The Natural Skincare & Soap Co
www.tvonaturalskincare.com

Learn More About Just Water and it’s benefits at www.justwater.biz

My Soap Diary

2011-09-05T16:42:00.000+01:00

04/09/11

You know when you have one of those weeks when everything comes at you from all directions…. Well that was last week, what with Doctors appt. packing down & setting up for events and making up 2 wholesale orders I don't think I stood or sat still for any period of time, how I used to cram in 3 days at Tavistock Market is beyond comprehension. I feel absolutely shattered I am so glad its Sunday, I did some work this morning making up a few orders and returning a couple of calls to customers, then I sat down and I have only just woken up lol….. Well I obviously needed it. Now I have time to sort out my schedule for next weeks soap making.

05/09/11

Well if today is anything to go by, I think I'll scratch this week, go back to bed and start again next week lol….. No seriously it wasn't that bad, in fact I got quite a bit done today. I finished off one of my wholesale order's and nearly completed the second I am just waiting on some ingredients and 3 x 1 litre bottles to turn up and then I am done. As for the soap making we'll get to that in a minute, I asked myself today why am I writing this diary, well here was my answer: I am writing this diary mainly because I can't make head nor tail of some the blogs out there (No offence) and if you ask a question it seems like it takes forever to get a reply that’s if you get one and forever isn't good enough when your in dire need of help, so I thought if I write a diary as I am going then I can find my own answers and if this diary help's someone else out, out there then bonus I have done my job, right I'll stop waffling now.

The one piece of advice I can give out today is: DO NOT under any circumstances buy a hand blender that has a plastic attachment on the Stainless steel whisk part, the reason for this is what I found out today while I was trying to Trace my Calendula & Sunflower Soap. The Caustic Solution eventually eats through the Glue that binds the Stainless Steel & Plastic Attachment to the Motor of the Hand Blender, hence while blending the metal piece kept coming away from the Plastic, so because of that I think I might have to write off Calendula & Sunflower Soap,(We've heard you say that before I hear you say), I don't think I traced it properly, it seemed very sloppy when I poured it into the moulds. I will let you know. My other batch of soap (The Gardener's Soap) seemed to turn out ok, mainly because I did the batch in half the amounts of what I wanted to do so there wasn't too much bulk in the pan while blending so no drag was created to pull the whisk out of the motor. I am going to leave the Calendula Soap until the end of the week to see how it turns out, but the Gardeners Soap I will check on tomorrow. So Until then Happy Soaping xxx

My Soap Diary

2011-09-02T12:18:00.000+01:00

Brain Storming

02/09/11

Well I'm sat here on this gorgeous day letting the sun and nature inspire me, while sorting out my next lot of soap recipes, and balancing the oils, butters & wax so that they give you the customer a long lasting bar but also making sure you get all the benefits possible from the natural ingredients, here is a sample of what's to come: Christmas Dream's (which is a Frankincense & Orangey soap), Memories of Noel (which is a Cinnamon & Clove spice soap) & a Castile one. As from the 5th September I will be having a soap making week and this is when I will hopefully be making my complete range which I have just Launched, then once that is done I will be doing the finishing touches the my next chapter, with a (fingers crossed) Launch date of November just in time for Christmas…..

My Soap Diary

2011-09-01T19:11:00.000+01:00

Honey & Oatmeal Soap Update

31/08/11

Well, I think the luck of the gods is on my side, I have just taken the soap out of the mould and it looks ok, there's a bit of condensation on the corners making them really soft and it looks to have sweated on the bottom, but that’s nothing that 4 - 6 weeks curing won't (excuse the pun) cure. I tested it with a pH tester and it is reading 7 at the moment, so I am pleased with that. There are some websites out there that say anything less than 8 is considered synthetic, well I can assure them there is nothing synthetic about my soap, and then there are other websites out there that say anything between 7 - 10 is absolutely fine, and considering that water has a natural pH level of 7 then how can it be synthetic. What amazes me is there is absolutely no colouring in the soap and yet it looks like a yummy Honey & Oatmeal Cake and it smells just as good as something I have baked. I can't wait to try this one.

01/09/11

Today I checked on the Honey & Oatmeal Soap to make sure everything was ok, and it was drying out nicely, it also smelt absolutely divine, when I used to make this one 5 years ago it was my favourite, it turns out to be a hard soap with a soft and gentle lather so it doesn't produce large bubbles, its gentle on the skin and the oats act as a soft exfoliator so its brilliant for sensitive skin.

Handmade Honey & Oatmeal Soap

2011-08-31T12:53:00.003+01:00

The Natural Skincare & Soap Company are pleased to announce the second soap in their "Natural Collection" is.....The Honey & Oatmeal Soap, made using Cornish Spring Water, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Beeswax, Cornish Honey & Oats. This soap smells good enough to eat...although not recommended! After 48 hours sitting in it's mold, This delectable soap was ready to cut:

~The Honey & Oatmeal Soap~

The Honey & Oatmeal Soap is very long-lasting and gently cleans the skin, without drying it like commercial soaps tend to. Hand-made with pure, natural plant oils and butters, With locally sourced Honey from Saltash. The Honey & Oatmeal soap gently exfoliates to leave skin soft and smooth.

This soap has the sweet scent of Cornish Honey, with the exfoliating texture given by the oats, This soap smells divine, but as always all of our soaps are "Better When Wet!"

Now all we have to do is wait! 4 - 6 weeks for the soaps to cure....

The next soap to make is......You'll have to wait until my next blog...

www.tvonaturalskincare.com

The Natural Skincare & Soap Company

is Based in Bodmin, Cornwall.

This is our brand new Natural and Organic Skincare Brochure

2011-08-29T22:20:00.002+01:00

This is our brand new Handmade Soap brochure

2011-08-29T22:18:00.000+01:00

My Soap Diary

2011-08-29T17:08:00.000+01:00

Tuesday 23rd August

Thankfully everything has now arrived, to say I excited about making my soaps again I think is an under statement lol, but I think I have now managed to get back to the point where I was last time, before I bought Granny M's, they always say if you wonder off the right path for what ever reason you will inevitabley find you way back even if it is a couple of years down the line, don't get me wrong I have enjoyed making the skincare and it has given me opportunities I don’t think I would have ever tried or experienced if I hadn't done it. So here we are, back on the right road, and I am getting the look and stand I have wanted to achieve for the past 6yrs, so fingers crossed, and I will be incorporating the skincare into this, but in a different way.

So here's my Soap Diary, I hope you have as much fun reading it as I do making them……

Lavender & Thyme

1st Batch Made: 24/08/11

Results: This Batch took 48hrs to set properly, because after 24hrs there was a small layer of oil on top and soda ash, I think the oil was the lavender oil and because I'd never done super fatting before, I also think a little was Olive Oil, but even so the soap batch itself was firm to touch. After the 48hrs the oil had been absorbed back into the soap, I then put the mould into the freezer for about an hour to help ease out the block of soap from the mould, which worked nicely. Once cut the slices smelt gorgeous of lavender but I couldn't detect the thyme, that is now coming through after 3 days of curing so hopefully after the 4 weeks there should be a nice balance.

28/08/11

The Next Chapter: 10 down and I am now over halfway through working out my next 10 recipes, I only have another 4 to do but I have a feeling its not going to stop there, I have ideas popping into my head all the time, but I have to remember I have the other products to work on too, like the Balms, Salts & Oils, which are all in their early stages, but I need to get all 20 soap recipes done first and then I must do the measurements for the other products, they will hopefully be winding their way to the certification process after christmas, but I would like to have some of them ready for before christmas, especially the facial oils.

Honey & Oatmeal

1st Batch Made: 29/08/11

I couldn't wait to get home today, we had been shopping in plymouth for my daughters school shoes, luckily that was all we needed so once they were purchased there was no excuse to stay……

Results: The Consistency looks lovely, but I did have a little trouble putting the lid on the mould, so I think I lost a little heat, fighting with this, but its now wrapped in 3 towels and has been place in a drawer on top of a towelling robe, so hopefully this has been incubated well, we'll see in 24hrs, ( I have just read this back and it sounds like I'm trying to hatch chicks lol, but I suppose it is the same labour of love and care that goes into both that matters). I have a suspicion we might have to wright this one down to experience, fingers crossed.

The First Batch Of Soap is Made:

2011-08-27T15:34:00.000+01:00

I cut our first batch of Lavender & Thyme Soap yesterday:

The Natural Collection is a collection of handmade natural soaps. The first of which is our ~Lavender & Thyme Soap~ Made with Cornish Spring Water, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Thyme Essential Oil and Lavender Petals.

After 48 hours of setting in the mold, The soap was ready to pop and enter the curing stage:

~ Lavender & Thyme CP Soap ~

A relaxing blend of Lavender & Thyme Essential Oils, Enjoy as a facial or all over body soap. (Suitable for all skin types)

This soap has the sweet scent of Lavender and under lying tones of Thyme, but with any soap, they are always "Better When Wet", The rich luxurious lather, met by the cleansing qualities of each bar, offering lucious moisturising effects, with unbeatable qualities in every bar!

Now all we have to do is wait! 4 - 6 weeks for the soaps to cure....

The next soap to make is......You'll have to wait until my next blog...

www.tvonaturalskincare.com

The Natural Skincare & Soap Company

is Based in Bodmin, Cornwall.

New Poster Unveiled

2011-08-26T16:27:00.000+01:00

The Natural Collection by The Natural Skincare & Soap Co.

2011-08-26T16:08:00.000+01:00

The Natural Skincare & Soap Co takes it's inspiration from nature, making soaps using the highest quality ingrdients, from sustainable sources.

All of our soap is made with the passion and care that they deserve. Every soap is packaged to ensure it exceeds all expectations and would be perfect for that special gift.

We Promise that:
~We do not test our products on animals
~We do not use parabens or sodium luryl sulphates
~We do not use any artificial fragrances or colourings
~We do not sell anything that we wouldn't use ourselves!

Better When Wet!

All of our soaps are made from either Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Sunflower Oil or Sustainable Palm Oil with Cornish Spring Water. Combined with the highest quality essential oils, giving the soaps the finest natural fragrance, which benefits your skin.

These soaps smell great, but as the Title says "Better When Wet!" These soaps really come to life, when water is applied, giving a rich luxurious lather, met by the cleansing qualities of each bar, offering lucious moisturising effects, which in turn offers unbeatable qualities in every single bar!

The Natural Collection Includes:

~Sunflower & Calendula~ (V)
~Lavender & Thyme~ (V)
~Rose & Ylang Ylang~
~Honey & Oatmeal~
~Citrus Cleanser~ (V)
~Baby Soap~ (V)
~Gardeners Soap~ (V)
~Rosehip & Geranium~ (V)
~Oakmoss & Patchouli Shaving Soap~ (V)
~Rosewood & Honey Shaving Soap~

(V) means suitable for Vegans

The first batches of these have been made and will be ready for sale in approx 6 weeks time. Keep an eye out on our website or here on our blog for more announcements.

TVO Natural Skincare

2010-04-01T10:54:00.000+01:00

Well here we are, TVO Natural Skincares NEW Blog site, what we hope to acheive is to tell you all of our news, events and share some simple tips with you. You are very welcome to let us know what you think about our products, website and ask any questions.