Handmade Soaps and Other Lovelies
It is unseasonably terrible outside today. In fact, it has been so all weekend long. A late winter ice storm is slowly blowing through and we are under a winter storm warning.
It is mid-April and we should be getting some early spring-like weather here in Michigan, but instead, we get this: Continue reading “Remains of Winter – What to do in an ice storm”
Several months ago, I purchased a pH meter from Lotioncrafter. At the time, I bought it so that I could measure the pH of my lotions to be sure that they were in the “safe” range for leave-on products (between 4 to 6).
Let’s take a look at why I selected this particular meter, how to calibrate and use it, and how it can help to better create and monitor our products. You may decide you “need” one, or you may decide you can “live without”. Continue reading “What a good pH Meter can do for you”
I was a busy bee this weekend. On Friday, I made Cucumber Emulgel. Saturday, I sewed some coin purse / gift card wallets, and today I made Green Apple & Ginseng Gel Cream, Pink Grapefruit Antiaging & Anti-redness Gel Cream, and a refill of one of my favorite daily-use creams — Rosemary Mint Foot Butter.
It seems like a lot, but the gel creams literally take about 10 minutes each, so it technically takes longer to do cleanup after making them than it does to make them in the first place. Continue reading “Rosemary Mint Foot Butter, Cucumber Emulgel, and Pink Grapefruit Gel Cream”
I realized about mid week this last week that I was almost out of some of my favorite things — Peach Hair Conditioner and Butter Mints Body Butter.
I also dreamed all week long about getting time to experiment further with some more ideas for emulgels, since my first experiment with them turned out so great.
This weekend was spent doing both things! It was a good weekend.
With my recent success at making an emulgel and learning that it is not a true “gel cream” because my emulgel contained a traditional emulsifier (Polawax) along with carbomer instead of using all polymeric emulsifiers, I was left thinking all week long about how to accomplish a true “gel cream”.
I have Sepimax Zen and Carbomer (pre neutralized) so I decided to give a try to a formula containing these two items to make a gel cream.
I did do previous experiments with Sepimax Zen and didn’t care for it, but I thought maybe it could redeem itself in a gel cream rather than as a clear gel.
Part of the perceived value of a product is the packaging. We don’t want to admit it — but it’s so true!
If I were to slap a handwritten label on my bottle of lotion, it would be nice enough, would get the job done, and be presentable for personal use. However, the message that a handwritten label sends is that the product is “homespun” and that has a value attached to it. Some people find that value high (if they are a natural loving person) and some find the value low (if they consider commercial brands to be superior). Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder! A thing of beauty is a joy to behold! (and so forth).
With a product like handmade, natural soaps, the homespun label fits the product type. With lotions, however, there is nothing natural about them and the homespun label would completely send the wrong message — at least for my lotions. Continue reading “Labeling (for personal use)”
Brambleberry’s Island Escape fragrance is one of the scents that is often requested among my family. They just love anything I make from it — soaps, candles, reed diffusers and …you name it. They just love it!
The one thing they haven’t had just yet is a lotion made with this scent, so they are in for a treat this Christmas!
