So..... what's in your shower? All of my Fall, Winter & Holiday soaps are available to order! http://stargazersoaps.com
Sunday, October 27, 2013
What's in my shower?
Today I grabbed a new bar of soap for my shower. I usually have 3-6 bars to choose from in the shower, and about as many around my sinks in the home. But as I was moving my soaping room this weekend, (more on that later!), I couldn't help but stop and smell every bar on my curing rack. A newly cured soap is Polaris - A pure silk soap fragranced with strong notes of buttercream vanilla, and hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. I have to admit that I washed more than once - it was just yummy!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
New Soaps
I took advantage of some quiet time today and made 4 batches of soap! My last holiday soap, (really! It is actually the last one!), an amazing Mulberry, and the last two Twilight soaps of the series: Jasper & Edward.
Aurora (Aurora Borealis - The Northern Lights)
Nebula - An amazing Mulberry!
Jasper - A Twilight Soap
Edward - A Twilight Soap
All four soaps gelling in their molds!
Can't wait to cut these!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Colorants
What do I use to color my soaps?
Well, there are many options available to soapers. Clays, Micas, Oxides, Ultramarines, Herbs, Titanium Dioxide, Dyes.
What are they? Micas, Oxides, & Ultramarines are all Minerals found in the Earth. However, they are not safe to use in their pure form. They are processed in a lab, and can even be created in a lab. Some contain dyes, some do not. Bottom line is most are synthetic since they are most likely created in a lab.
Titanium Dioxide - I recently did a post on this colorant Here. But this is also a mineral found in the earth. You simply cannot have white without it. Unlike Micas, Oxides & Ultramarines, it is not lab created. It is processed to remove impurities to make it useable, much like salt.
Clays & Herbs are natural colorants that can also be used in soap making, and are a wonderful addition to soap. I use clays in all of my silk soap.
Last, but not least are Dyes. Dyes are FD&C dyes, and are chemicals. I do not use any colorants that contain dyes at all. I make soap to avoid chemicals, so using these colors defeats my purpose!
Some may have concerns about the use of synthetic colorants. Well, keep in mind that Fragrance oil is synthetic too. This is why I choose to offer 2 options. I have my Silk line which uses color and fragrance oil, and my Natural line which uses natural color if at all, and natural essential oils.
I personally use both soaps in my home for myself and my children. But you must make the decision that is right for you! We have loads of fun with colors and fragrances. But I can tell you in my shower you will find both natural and silk soaps!
One more thing to note - your eyeshadow, lipstick, nail polish? All contain Micas, Ultramarines, Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, and can even contain Dyes!
Well, there are many options available to soapers. Clays, Micas, Oxides, Ultramarines, Herbs, Titanium Dioxide, Dyes.
What are they? Micas, Oxides, & Ultramarines are all Minerals found in the Earth. However, they are not safe to use in their pure form. They are processed in a lab, and can even be created in a lab. Some contain dyes, some do not. Bottom line is most are synthetic since they are most likely created in a lab.
Titanium Dioxide - I recently did a post on this colorant Here. But this is also a mineral found in the earth. You simply cannot have white without it. Unlike Micas, Oxides & Ultramarines, it is not lab created. It is processed to remove impurities to make it useable, much like salt.
Clays & Herbs are natural colorants that can also be used in soap making, and are a wonderful addition to soap. I use clays in all of my silk soap.
Last, but not least are Dyes. Dyes are FD&C dyes, and are chemicals. I do not use any colorants that contain dyes at all. I make soap to avoid chemicals, so using these colors defeats my purpose!
Some may have concerns about the use of synthetic colorants. Well, keep in mind that Fragrance oil is synthetic too. This is why I choose to offer 2 options. I have my Silk line which uses color and fragrance oil, and my Natural line which uses natural color if at all, and natural essential oils.
I personally use both soaps in my home for myself and my children. But you must make the decision that is right for you! We have loads of fun with colors and fragrances. But I can tell you in my shower you will find both natural and silk soaps!
One more thing to note - your eyeshadow, lipstick, nail polish? All contain Micas, Ultramarines, Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, and can even contain Dyes!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Soaps!
I finally soaped last weekend. Yay! Here are the rough images. These were taken just after I cut them, so they haven't been smoothed yet.
Milky Way - Chocolate, Vanilla & Caramel - YUM!
Gemini - A fluffy Peppermint, huckleberry, light floral & vanilla marshmallow.
Rosalie & Emmet - Rosalie - Lavendar, Violet, White Rose & iris. Light and feminine. Emmet - is a very masculine scent of bay rum, lime, mahogany, amber, vanilla and bergamot.
Milky Way and Gemini will be available to ship November 18th. Watch my website for pre-orders! Stargazer Soaps
Sunday, October 6, 2013
More Soaping
Last weekend I made 4 more Twilight soaps - Esme, Carlise, Jacob & Forks. I am pretty happy with how they turned out! They are cut and waiting to be cleaned. Cleaning soap? Yes I know how that sounds! More on that later.
Esme & Carlise
Forks & Jacob
I had said that I was done with my holiday soaps. That was before I discovered Peppermint Candy and Holiday Candy fragrances! So today I am planning on making Peppermint Candy, 2 more Twilight soaps, and perhaps something chocolaty.... Milky Way maybe? I think yes!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Youtube
It's been a while since I have posted! It has been crazy in our household. Everyone is asleep except me, and while I am nursing a migraine I decided to take a few moments to catch up!
As most know, I have a Youtube channel. I don't film 100% of my soap batches, but do film most of them. I have found the videos help me later when I need to remember how I made a soap.
I always find it interesting when people comment. Some are so nice, others not so much. Thankfully most all of the comments I have received have been positive. Some soaper friends I follow have had some nasty comments - it's easy to hide behind a computer screen.
Tonight I had some comments on a video that caused concern for me. The commenter stated that Titanium Dioxide is as natural as dog poo.... and that my caffeine isn't safe as we shouldn't use products from China. He went on to instruct me that I should be testing my products prior to selling to the public. He happily shared more thoughts on how I should make soap, finishing with he has never made soap himself. Well that explained a lot!
So to put the minds of my customers at ease - I do not purchase caffeine from China! It is an American made product, and does not contain fillers or any junk. It is 100% pure.
I have done extensive testing, and tweaking and more testing, and continue to do so. I test every batch of soap I make. If I wouldn't use it on my family, I would not sell it and allow someone else use it.
Titanium Dioxide. Titanium Dioxide is a mineral. (So is Salt!) It is perfectly safe, and 100% natural. Though I would not eat it in the pure form, it can be found in products we consume. Organic and non organic alike. Look at your labels - vitamins? You may be surprised at what you find!
I began soaping because of the research I did on chemicals in soap. The products I use have been throughly researched, and I am careful with what I chose. I disclose 100% of my ingredients so you can have the tools you need to make an educated decision. I want my customers to have confidence in my soap. I use products that I find acceptable to bathe my children with. Everyone in my household uses my soap on a daily basis.
I encourage everyone to do their own research, decide what is and is not acceptable to you, and use the products that meet those needs.
Anyone wanting to see my videos on Youtube, can find me Here.
As most know, I have a Youtube channel. I don't film 100% of my soap batches, but do film most of them. I have found the videos help me later when I need to remember how I made a soap.
I always find it interesting when people comment. Some are so nice, others not so much. Thankfully most all of the comments I have received have been positive. Some soaper friends I follow have had some nasty comments - it's easy to hide behind a computer screen.
Tonight I had some comments on a video that caused concern for me. The commenter stated that Titanium Dioxide is as natural as dog poo.... and that my caffeine isn't safe as we shouldn't use products from China. He went on to instruct me that I should be testing my products prior to selling to the public. He happily shared more thoughts on how I should make soap, finishing with he has never made soap himself. Well that explained a lot!
So to put the minds of my customers at ease - I do not purchase caffeine from China! It is an American made product, and does not contain fillers or any junk. It is 100% pure.
I have done extensive testing, and tweaking and more testing, and continue to do so. I test every batch of soap I make. If I wouldn't use it on my family, I would not sell it and allow someone else use it.
Titanium Dioxide. Titanium Dioxide is a mineral. (So is Salt!) It is perfectly safe, and 100% natural. Though I would not eat it in the pure form, it can be found in products we consume. Organic and non organic alike. Look at your labels - vitamins? You may be surprised at what you find!
I began soaping because of the research I did on chemicals in soap. The products I use have been throughly researched, and I am careful with what I chose. I disclose 100% of my ingredients so you can have the tools you need to make an educated decision. I want my customers to have confidence in my soap. I use products that I find acceptable to bathe my children with. Everyone in my household uses my soap on a daily basis.
I encourage everyone to do their own research, decide what is and is not acceptable to you, and use the products that meet those needs.
Anyone wanting to see my videos on Youtube, can find me Here.
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