Essential Summer Skin Care Tips (video)

In this short video from DermTV, Dr. Neal Schultz discusses essential summer skincare tips.:

• Wear sunscreen all day, every day, summer or winter.
• Sunscreen needs to have SPF between 15 and 30 (88-95% protection from burning UVB rays), needs to be labeled as broad spectrum or UVA protection.
• Reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours and immediately after sweating or swimming.
• Wear enough! Traditional sunscreen needs about 1oz to cover your body, natural zinc or mineral based sunscreen requires about 1/3 less.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Memorial Day Remembrance

"As the flowers rest on the decorated graves and the sunlight shines on the beautiful sailboats, Uncle Sam whispers in my ear about how we should care for the soldiers and remember the ones that have died. Swimming pools open, BBQs fry. Today is the day to think of what they have done for us. There are blurs of red, white and blue marching down the street and flags are lowered at half-mast. But we should always remember and never forget what set us free, from this very day on." ~ © 2001 Ali M., 3rd Grader, Academy Elementary School, Madison, Connecticut.

Donald Elmer Kontur, 82, died August 2, 2010

Joseph Cox Elton, Jr., 80, died June 7, 2008.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

The Secret Life of Soap with Kevin Dunn

Kevin Dunn

I'm the first to admit that I've had a fear of soapmaking for years! I get a lot of crazy looks at the HSMG Annual Conference because my response when asked what kind of soap I make is always..."I don't". I do, however, have a deep respect for chemistry and after hearing Kevin Dunn, Professor of Chemistry at Hampden-Sydney College, I've made it a personal goal to make soap at least once before the next conference.

Kevin's lecture this year covered the following points of interest in soapmaking:

• Soda Ash and Other White Blemishes
• Sulfated Castor Oil
• Jojoba Oil and its Substitutes
• The Secret Life of Soap

Some highlights on these topics are:

• Not all white spots are soda ash.
• Soda Ash forms only at the surface of the soap, not within it.
• Soda Ash washes off with water.
• Soda Ash is not very soluble in alcohol.
• Soda Ash appears where lye meets air, so keeping soap covered helps to eliminate soda ash.
• Soda Ash is common in "lye-heavy" soap, so double check SAP values.
• Unmolding soap too soon can cause soda ash, so do not unmold until it is "tongue-neutral".
• Sulfated Castor Oil is also known as "Turkey Red Oil".
• Sulfated Castor Oil does not form "soap-scum" in hard water and is less alkaline than soap.
• Sulfated Castor Oil is a liquid made by reacting castor oil with sulfuric acid and has a SAP Value between 82-97 depending upon the supplier.
• Jojoba Oil is a liquid wax with chemistry similar to spermaceti and sebum.
• Due to rising costs of Jojoba, it may be necessary to use a substitute in your formulations to keep costs consistent. Acceptable substitutes include: Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Oleyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, Cetyl Esthers and/or Carnauba Wax.
• High-water raw soap contains lye droplets.
• Low-water raw soap contains lye channels.
• Soap can be made with lye between 25% and 50% NaOH.
• High-water soaps "gel" at lower temps.
• Mid-water soaps "gel" at higher temps.
• Low-water soaps do not gel.

For those with an avid interest in the science behind soapmaking, Kevin Dunn's book, "Scientific Soapmaking: The Chemistry of the Cold Process" may help demystify the process!

For a full pdf of slides from Kevin Dunn's lecture, click this link

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Offices Closed Memorial Day

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For your convenience, orders can be placed online 24/7/365 or faxed to 330-467-2166. All phone calls will be returned when we reopen on Tuesday. Urgent correspondence should be made to email as we can better serve your requests in this manner.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

The Revolution Will Be...Mobile!

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Susan Kaymon, co-founder of OakMobi (a mobile marketing technology company), spoke at the HSMG Annual Conference about mobile marketing of the future.

Highlights of Susan's presentation follow:

• 80% of adults carry a mobile phone (You are mobile and so are YOUR customers)
•  Mobile technology is effecting you if you have a website, sell online or sell at public events
• Web sites designed for computer monitors do not show well on mobile devices (Look at YOUR website on multiple mobile devices to see how it appears to your customers)
• Advertising via mobile marketing is easy with the prolific use of Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, etc.
• Create instant coupons by using opt-in text messaging campaigns. 
• Don't annoy people with text ads or it becomes spamming.
• Mobile marketing says to your customer instantly: "something is going on RIGHT NOW with something you like."
• Payment processing is one of the fastest changing mobile technologies.
• The US is far behind on the adaptation of mobile payment systems. Japan and China allow consumers to scan cell phones over sensors to pay for products.
• When it comes your web site - you MUST account for mobile users.

Click here for the full presentation handout from the conference (pdf)

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Busting Essential Oil Myths with Robert Tisserand

Robert Tisserand

If you have the good fortune to hear Robert Tisserand speak about essential oils, you won't leave disappointed. Robert Tisserand is one of the world’s leading experts in aromatherapy. He wrote the first comprehensive book on aromatherapy in English in 1977, and The Art of Aromatherapy is still published in 12 languages. In 1974 he established the first company in the UK to market aromatherapy products, promoting the now industry-leading Tisserand branded products. Robert was the publisher and editor of The International Journal of Aromatherapy, for 12 years and in the 1990s, he orchestrated three international AROMA conferences at British Universities. 

Last weeks HSMG Annual Conference was my second opportunity to hear Robert share his aromatherapy expertise.

Robert Tisserand speaks at HSMG Annual Conference

The following MYTHS were "busted" in Robert's lecture:

• Myth #1 Nothing is gained by using natural essential oils in soap
• Myth #2 Essential oils oxygenate tissues
• Myth #3 Tea tree oil makes little boys grow breasts
• Myth #4 Lavender oil is a uterine stimulant
• Myth #5 "Skin Deep" is a reliable information source

1. Nothing is gained by using natural essential oils in soap

Essential oils possess unique features such as the ability to penetrate bacterial membranes and enter the cell. Essential oils may gain access to bacteria more easily than antibiotics and can actually inhibit bacterial virulence making them more effective than commonly used synthetic antibacterials.

2. Essential oils oxygenate tissues

Essential oils only contain "bound" oxygen. Only "free" oxygen can oxygenate tissues, therefore essential oils cannot oxygenate tissues. Air is 20% "free" oxygen.

3. Tea tree oil makes little boys grown breasts

The major constituents of tea tree oil which have the ability to be absorbed are not estrogenic. The absorption rate for most skincare products is very low and retained in miniscule quantities.

4. Lavender oil is a uterine stimulant

Nicholas Culpeper, in 1652, wrote that "Lavender...provokes women's courses" (i.e. stimulates menstruation). He was referring to Spikenard. No other research shows any contraindications for Lavender use during pregnancy.

5. "Skin Deep" is a reliable information source

Inconsistencies abound in the "Skin Deep" database. Dermatologists have demonstrated that 1/3 of so-called allergens present such a low level of risk that the should not be considered allergens at all. EWG has a habit of ignoring inconvenient truths.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Business Tips from Barbara Corcoran

The keynote speaker for the HSMG Annual Conference in Miami was Barbara Corcoran.

After failing at twenty-two jobs, Barbara Corcoran borrowed $1,000 from a boyfriend, quit her job as a diner waitress, and started a tiny real estate office in New York City. Using the unconventional lessons she learned from her homemaker mom, she gradually built it into a $6 billion business. Now Barbara’s even more famous for the no-nonsense wisdom she offers to entrepreneurs on Shark Tank, ABC’s hit reality TV show.

6 Business/Life Tips from Barbara Corcoran:

1. Perception creates reality. People will believe whatever they perceive to be real.
2. All the good ideas are on the outside. Creative ideas don't happen at the desk, you have to get out and find them.
3. Recognition. People need recognition to feel validated.
4. Shoot the dogs early. Don't wait to fire employees or vendors who don't perform. Nipping the problem in the bud early in the game yields superior results, reduces losses and boosts morale of those who ARE performing.
5. Fun is good for business. Reward performers to boost morale. Having fun with your team helps boost creativity, respect and trust.
6. There are only two (2) kinds of people, expanders and containers. Expanders move outwards and upwards to move business forward. Containers help to reign in the expander while keeping things organized and on track. Both are necessary to operate a balanced, successful business.

Do you consider yourself an expander or a container? Who balances you out?

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

HSMG Miami Tweets 5/18/11

 

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Sunscreen is an OTC Drug

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Q: I want to offer a natural sunscreen as part of my product line, but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any suggestions? Carol A., Chicago, IL

A: The best place to start is with the FDA website regarding Sunscreens in cosmetics. Use of the term "sunscreen" or similar sun protection terminology in a product's labeling generally causes the product to be subject to regulation as a drug. However, sunscreen ingredients may also be used in some products for nontherapeutic, nonphysiologic uses (for example, as a color additive or to protect the color of the product). To avoid consumer misunderstanding, if a cosmetic product contains a sunscreen ingredient and uses the term "sunscreen" or similar sun protection terminology anywhere in its labeling, the term must be qualified, in accordance with 21 CFR 700.35(b), by describing the benefit to the cosmetic product provided by the sunscreen ingredient (for example, "Contains a sunscreen to protect product color."). Otherwise, the product may be subject to regulation as a drug [21 CFR 700.35]. For further information on sunscreens, refer to Tanning Products.

Rulemaking History for OTC Sunscreen Drug Products

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

May Is Melanoma Awareness Month (video)

In this short video from DermTV, Dr. Neal Schultz discusses important skin cancer facts.:

Important Skin Cancer Facts:

• 1,000,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year
• 1 American dies every hour from melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer
• A single blistering sunburn in childhood or in adolescence more than doubles your chance of getting melanoma as an adult.
• All Caucasians who live to age 65 in the US, will have a 40-50% chance of developing skin cancer
• The UVA rays, which are the rays that cause skin cancer, are the same everywhere, all day, all the time. They are the same all seasons and all times of the day. Wear sunscreen all the time, every day.

Tomorrow, we make our way to sunny Miami, Florida for the Handcrafted Soapmaker's Guild Annual Conference. If you are attending, look for me and introduce yourself so I can put a face with your name! And remember to wear your sunscreen every single day, not just in Miami!!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

How To: Machine-Free Product Labeling

Improvised Non-Mechanical Label "Machine"

Uneven labels drive me nuts (almost as much as labeling by hand drives me nuts). I used to try all kinds of methods of marking my containers so that the labels would be applied evenly, to no avail. Once we started offering Private Label services through our sister company, AliMar Labs, we decided we needed to create a simple, inexpensive method to easily and accurately label small-run orders. Since most printers sell short run labels as "crack & peel" stickers or on sheets, it isn't possible to use a label machine to apply them. Additionally, since most containers are round or curved, labeling becomes a real pain as your containers roll all over the place and both hands are stuck to the label. I have been seen many times balancing a bottle between elbows with both hands attempting to affix the label...it is not a pretty sight!

Our staff had a powwow and decided we needed to create a tray with grooves large enough to hold a container securely so both hands could be free to label. Our contraption needed to be lightweight and portable so it could be stowed away when not in use. Additionally, it needed built-in accuracy to provide a line of sight for where the label needed to line up each time.

Enter the Wilton Wave Flower Former and a trusty rubber band. For less than $10 you can also label bottles and jars efficiently and accurately by hand. Thanks to Tammy at MilkandCookeez.com for urging me to blog about this super simple and cheap tool that will become indispensable should you choose to use it!

Heather, hand labeling 16oz Private Label Hand Soap

Do you have an indispensible, inexpensive labeling tip you'd like to share? We'd love to hear about it!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference

Every year the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc. hosts an Annual Conference for soapmakers. The conference location moves through different regions of the country on a rotating basis, providing easier access to members, exhibitors and speakers. The 2011 Conference will be held in Miami, Florida, May 18 - 20, 2011. The Keynote Speaker will be Barbara Corcoran.

Our first HSMG Conference was last years conference in Denver. Next week, I will find my way to Miami for my second HSMG Conference as an attendee. If you are going to be at the conference, give me a shout and say hello so I can put a face with your name!

Because we will be short-staffed during the conference, there may be a slight delay returning phone calls and processing custom orders. Our staff will work diligently to ensure your calls are returned within 24 hours and that your orders are processed with a minimum of delay. You may find that you receive a quicker response to customer service questions by contacting us electronically through the following channels:

EMAIL: admin (at) bathbodysupply (dot) com

TWITTER: @BathBodySupply

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/BathBodySupply

I will be tweeting and blogging from the conference. If you'd like to follow the conversation in real time, search twitter hashtag #soapconf11 all next week!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Recipe: Cooling Barrier Cream

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Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. Menthol has local anesthetic and counter-irritant qualities and is often used to create a "cooling" sensation in skincare products.

You Will Need:

8 oz Natural Body Butter 

5 ml Peppermint Essential Oil

2.5 ml Spearmint Essential Oil

Combine all ingredients in a sterile, glass mixing bowl and mix well to incorporate mint oils into the base. Package in an airtight container until use.

FYI: A barrier cream is a topical formulation used to create a physical barrier between the skin and contaminants which may irritate the skin and cause dermatitis.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

How to treat eczema (video)

In this short video from DermTV, Dr. Neal Schultz explains how to control and manage Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).:

Eczema side effects:

• Persistent itching creates an "itch/scratch" loop.
• Infection caused by broken skin resulting from as well as causing chronic itching.

Eczema Myths:

• Oral antihistamines do not work well.
• Heat causes a rebound increase in itching. 

Eczema Treatments:

• Cold Water/Ice Cubes
• Menthol - causes a cooling sensation that fools your brain
• Pressure - squeezing rather than scratching
• OTC topical Antibiotic treatments like bacitracin or polysporin (avoid neomycin which causes further sensitization & itching)
• OTC cortisone ointment for inflammation
• Occlusive moisturizers work by retaining the water that is already present on the skin and locking it in. Some occlusive agents found in various products include shea butter, lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum.
• Replace lost surface lipids with ceramides.

Tomorrow we'll create a cooling product containing natural menthol compounds. Have you used menthol based skincare or cold therapy for chronic atopic dermatitis? What was your experience?

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

What is eczema? (video)

In this short video from DermTV, Dr. Neal Schultz defines and explains Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).:

Eczema is often associated with:

• Allergic rhinitis (hayfever)
• Asthma

Eczema Facts:

• Usually begins in infancy or early childhood.
• Tends to be hereditary.
• True eczema is a medical condition called Atopic Dermatitis.
• The term "Eczema" is often misused to describe other types of rashes.
• Eczema is very itchy, red and bumpy.

Tomorrow we'll discuss the treatment of true Atopic Dermatitis. Have you experienced eczema first hand or have a family member who suffers from atopic dermatitis?

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

New! Lavender Flower Powder, Organic

Lavender Flower Powder, Organic

Many people use lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, or Lavandula officinalis) for its fragrance in soaps, shampoos, and sachets for scenting clothes. The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash." Lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths to help purify the body and spirit. However, this herb has also been used as a remedy for a range of ailments from insomnia and anxiety to depression and fatigue. Research has confirmed that lavender produces slight calming, soothing, and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled.

Now available in a convenient powdered form for use in body powders, facials, salt scrubs, milk baths and soap.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

New! Green Tea Tincture, Organic

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Green Tea Tincture contains polyphenols, particularly catechins, the most abundant of which is epigallocatechin gallate. Green tea also contains carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), minerals such as chromium, manganese, selenium or zinc, and certain phytochemical compounds. It is a more potent antioxidant than black tea. Green tea has 20 times the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E, 6 times the antioxidant effectiveness of black tea. Green tea suppresses inflammation and reduces irritation. Scientists at the University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) found that ingredients in green tea decreased the direct effects of sunburn. 

Applications include anti-cellulite treatments, sun-protectors, anti-wrinkling formulations, irritated and sensitive skin products, and hair care products that improve strength and gloss.

This water soluble extract can be added to the water phase of your formulations at ranges from 0.1 - 2%.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Sale! White Double Wall Jars

The following items are on sale for a Limited Time! They are not being discontinued, we are simply reducing inventory of these items and passing the savings on to you!

89/400 White Double Wall Jar - 8 ounce

89/400 White Dome Lid

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Mother’s Day Beauty & Spa Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 8th and I haven't thought of a gift for my mom yet (I hope she doesn't read my blog)! My mom likes to garden, loves wine and adores flowers but even more, she loves handmade items that incorporate her interests.

Does your mom use wax tarts in fire-less tart warmers? Make her some custom scented beeswax tarts using her favorite scents. 

Recipe Beeswax Tarts

Does she suffer from dry, cracked heels, psoriasis or other dry skin conditions? Make her some uber-rich PediBalm.

Recipe: PediBalm

Is your mom a fan of chocolate but worries about the lasting effects on her hips? Make her some super-indulgent Cocoa Butter Bath Bombs so she can bathe in cocoa without gaining an ounce!

Recipe: Cocoa Bomb

 

Is your mom a nurse or work in a profession that has her on her feet all day? Make her a foot loving Sea Salt Foot Soak to perk up tired toes!

Recipe: Sea Salt Foot Soak

Will you find your mom digging in the dirt in her free time, planting and replanting her garden? Save her cuticles with a simple batch of Hand & Nail Butter!

Recipe: Hand & Nail Butter

Are you more likely to find lip gloss in your mom's purse than lipstick? Make her a personalized Lip Veil in a sheer tint to keep her pucker picture-perfect!

Recipe: Lip Veil

We hope these helpful tips inspire you to create a one-of-a-kind handcrafted gift for your Mom!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com