What's in the soap that I'm making?

People are understandably concerned about what’s in the products they’re using, and that’s really nothing new. Years ago, I questioned why formaldehyde was in every shampoo on the market, and in Art school, I expressed concerns about the toxic discharge of raku kilns next to a hospital and students mixing chemicals such as arsenic for glass blowing.  Later in life I thought it unthinkable that the company was spraying my office with the now-banned Malathion while employees had left cups and dishes of candy on their desks, and I was told that it was perfectly safe; I was always made to feel like I was the only person ever concerned about these things. Still, I fought for the Children's Protection Act to stop unsafe spraying of pesticides in schools and on school fields without parent's knowing even though my daughter was nearly grown at the time.

You might say things have changed, but I rather think that there are far more like-minded people shaping the commercial production of the products we use. Thank you for your voices, even if it is only sounded by the choices you make in the products you buy!

I’d like to share some information about what goes into the soap I’m making.  I use three vegan friendly types of soap bases of the highest quality, my basic glycerin soap base, the extra clear soap base and the three-butter soap base and I also use a popular goat's milk base.

The basic glycerin base is detergent-free and contains no sodium lauryl sulfate, so it’s great for people who have sensitive skin or react to SLS or other detergents. The glycerin also leaves your skin feeling soft and has some protection from the dry air. The ingredients in this soap base are sodium cocoate (this is the fatty acid salts of coconut oil), proplylene glycol (a stabilizer, preserative and moisturizer; it’s an ingredient in food and supplements that’s non-irritating to the skin), sodium stearate (a type of surficant, an agent that makes it easier for water to remove dirt from your skin), glycerin (good for sensitive, easily irritated skin because it prevents skin dryness with its moisturizing properties), water, and sorbitol (sugar alcolol, used to keep the soap in a dry state).

One other base I use is the extra clear soap that I use more for the fun designs of my novelty soaps, such as the rainbow soaps. If you have sensitive skin, the basic glycerin soaps or the three-butter soap is probably a better choice for you. This soap base has all the same ingredients as my basic soap base, except that it also contains sodium laureth sulfate (a foaming agent and emulsifier that’s less irritating than sodium lauryl sulfate), sodium myristate (a fatty acid cleansing and emulsifying agent used in soaps and flavorings), sodium cocoyl isethionate (a sodium salt derived from coconut oil that helps water cling to the dirt and oil on your skin, allowing it to be washed away. Because of it’s mild nature, it’s often found in toothpastes and baby soap) and  triethanolamine (a pH balancer).

The most luxurious of my soaps is made with a three-butter blend soap base that contains shea butter, cocoa butter and mango butter. It made with all the same quality ingredients as my basic soap base and also shea butter, cocoa  butter, mango butter and titanium dioxide (white coloring).  The shea butter is from Ghana, West Africa and is expeller pressed, not extracted with chemicals such as hexane. This allows the shea butter to retain its beneficial properties. Shea butter is said to be beneficial for many conditions, such as dry skin, eczema, blemishes, burns, and aging skin, and is a beautiful moisturizer for healthy and baby’s skin as well. Cocoa butter creates a barrier between sensitive skin and the environment, helping to retain moisture, and also is known to relieve symptoms of dermatitis and eczema. Mango butter is full of nourishing antioxidants, is used to treat skin rashes, reduce wrinkles and has a protective effect against UV radiation. Basically, you’ll probably  find that my three-butter soap is the nicest soap you’ve ever used!

Any of my soaps can be made with a variety of fragrances, or just using natural essential oils, or unscented. Most of the colors I use are mica, which is the highest-quality coloring used in eye shadow and other high priced cosmetics. I use other natural additives such as calendula petals, ground bamboo and mint leaves.

You can shop with confidence at www.SavonSalon.com Thanks for visiting!

The interesting story of Argan Oil

The recent popularity of Argan Oil would have you wondering whether Argan Oil is the new Shea Butter. The valued oil’s antioxidizing effects benefits the hair and skin, it’s rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids providing unbeatable softness and shine for your hair. The oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin and it’s said the anti-inflamitory effects can reduce and heal redness and scarring. It’s nutty flavor also makes an excellent dipping oil for bread. If you’re concerned about the safety of your cosmetic products, it’s nice to know when the product you’re using on your skin and hair is safe enough to eat!

The interesting thing about Argan Oil is how it was originally harvested and the economic and social impact it’s popularity has had on the region where it’s produced. It comes from the Argan tree which is native to Morocco in Northern Africa. Because the tree is specially adapted to grow in drought and harsh conditions, at one time it was found all over North Africa, but today, Argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world because of its limited growing areas.

In ancient times, the oil was produced by collecting the pits of the Argan fruit from the waste of the goats that climbed the trees to eat the fruit. Contemporary production uses the pits of the fruit directly from the trees, but the cracking of the nuts to obtain the kernels is still a manual process, making the oil very expensive to produce.

The popularity of the oil has helped prevent the trees from being cut down and initiatives to plant new trees have been undertaken.  It’s had a beneficial environmental impact; the tree canopy provides shade for other agricultural products as well as the leaves and fruits providing food for animals. Socially, the production of Argan Oil supports millions of people living in the region, and much of it is produced by women’s cooperatives. This gives the women a source of income to support their families and to educate themselves and their children.

How many products are there that are so good for your body and support the environment and provide a social benefit, too?

Sea Glass Soap

After making this sea glass soap for a customer to use to make wedding favors, I started thinking about other ways to incorporate sea glass into my sea-inspired product line. I made sea-glass soap bars and they were very popular at a craft fair on Cape Cod this past weekend.

It's been many years since I was a student at Mass College of Art where I learned so much about glassmaking, and the idea of sea glass brought about a whole host of ideas as well as bringing back childhood memories. I loved glass from the time I was a teenager, and would had covered the inside of my bedroom window with bits of sea glass, pieces of stained glass, and nautical glass balls.

The idea of collecting sea glass is so nostalgic, add to that our attraction of the sea and it's no wonder so many couples have beach-themed weddings. Sea glass soaps are the perfect favor or welcome bag gift for those who share a love for the ocean.