Mint and orange soap

This soap is meant to bring you joy to the skin and eyes as well. The dark side contains activated charcoal (a natural detoxifiant) and dark cocoa powder rich in skin rejuvenating flavonoides. It is perfumed with refreshing mint essential oil. The orange side contains beta-carotene and vitamin E, antioxidants well-known for fighting free radicals. It is scented with orange essential oil.

The blend of oils is the same as the one used for the baby soap, with two exceptions: instead of 5% castor oil I added 3% cocoa butter and 2% beeswax.

[Sapunul acesta se vrea si o incantare pentru ochi, nu doar pentru piele. Partea neagra contine carbune activat (un detoxifiant natural) si pudra de cacao dark, bogata in flavonoide menite sa ne intinereasca tenul. Acestei parti i-am adaugat ulei esential de menta, pentru efect racoritor. Partea portocalie contine beta-caroten si vitamina E, antioxidanti bine-cunoscuti in neutralizarea radicalilor liberi. Aceasta parte e parfumata cu ulei esential de portocal, dar care nu se simte foarte intens. 

Uleiurile esentiale de citrice au combustia foarte rapida. Amestecul de uleiuri folosit este acelasi de la sapunul pentru bebelusi, cu doua exceptii: in loc de 5% ulei de ricin am pus 3% unt de cacao si 2% ceara de albine.
P.S. Nu e de mancare ;)]

Grapefruit seed extract - devil in disguise

I came across this interesting article. I must admit, I was tempted to use grapefruit seed extract as a more natural preservative for cosmetic products. Now I'm glad I didn't. It appears that the grapefruit seed extract itself has nothing to do with the preservation of cosmetics, but the chemicals traced in its composition do.

From the article: "According to the Swiss Toxicological Information Center: Grapefruit seed extracts containing benzethonium chloride in concentrations of 7-11% represent a major health risk if larger amounts of a concentrated solution are ingested (i.e. by mouth). Exposure of the skin or the eye may cause toxic symptoms."

EWG also lists the following contamination concerns for this product: BENZETHONIUM CHLORIDE, METHYLPARABEN, TRICLOSAN

[Am dat peste un articol foarte interesant despre extractul de samburi de grapefruit, des folosit in produse cosmetice ca si conservant 100% natural (am observat aceasta tendinta mai ales la mamici care prepara creme si lotiuni pentru bebelusi). Se pare ca acest produs este de fapt ceea ce se numeste in termeni populari un lup in blana de oaie, pentru ca extractul de samburi de grapefruit in sine nu prea are legatura cu conservarea.

Proprietatile de conservant sunt date de niste chimicale reziduale folosite in procesarea acestui produs, cum ar fi benzethonium chloride - nu stiu cum se numeste in romaneste dar se gaseste formula chimica pe net. Din articol: "Conform Centrului de Informatii de Toxicologie Elvetian: Extractul de samburi de grapefruit care contine benzethonium chloride in concentratie mai mare de 7-11% reprezinta un risc major pentru sanatate daca se ingereaza o cantitate mare. Expunerea pielii sau ochilor la acest produs poate cauza simptome de toxicitate."

EWG listeaza urmatoarele suspiciuni de contaminare ale produsului: benzethonium chloride, methylparaben si triclosan.]

Gentle baby soap / Recipe

This Saturday I met with a soap maker friend, Carmen, and we managed to create a very gentle baby soap.
What is the difference between this soap and the previous ones?

It's very soft on the skin and hydrating, due to the blend of oils we chose: 40% olive oil, 25% coconut oil, 15% palm oil, and 5% each of sweet almond oil, avocado oil, castor oil and shea butter. You can run it through SoapCalc to check it out;)

[Sambata m-am intalnit cu o prietena in ale sapunaritului, Carmen, si am turnat un sapun special conceput pentru copilasi. Care e diferenta intre acesta si celelalte? 

E mult mai bland cu pielea si hidratant, proprietati rezultate din amestecul de uleiuri folosit: 40% ulei de masline, 25% ulei de cocos, 15% ulei de palmier, si cate 5% ulei de avocado, migdale dulci, ricin si unt de shea. In loc de apa distilata am folosit infuzie concentrata de galbenele, si la trace am adaugat o mana de petale de galbenele proaspete, culese din gradina bio a parintilor mei. 

Acum sta frumos la uscat.]

Rich body cream shea butter and avocado oil

I made this body cream a while ago following a recipe from this site but it turned out that I didn't respect the instructions very thoroughly and it took a while until it gained its consistency. Also, at first, I didn't have lemongrass essential oil and I must admit that this makes all the difference for this recipe.

It contains: shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, lemongrass essential oil, vitamin E.

[Am facut crema aceasta cu ceva timp in urma dupa o reteta de pe site-ul Elemental, dar se pare ca nu am respectat intocmai instructiunile si nu mi-a reusit consistenta din prima. Plus ca initial nu am avut ulei esential de lemongrass, si trebuie sa marturisesc ca acum ca l-am gasit si l-am adaugat in crema, diferenta e substantiala.

Crema contine unt de shea, ulei de cocos, ulei de avocado, ulei esential de lemongrass si vitamina E. Se foloseste pe pielea usor umeda pentru a favoriza absorbtia.]

Soap labels & wraps

Hearts bath fizz

Sweet almond oil bath fizzes with frankincense, geranium and lime essential oils.
Rose petals and new heart shapes.

Rose garden bath bombs

Luxurious bath bombs with avocado oil, essential oils of geranium, frankincense and lime and dried rose petals.

[Bombe de baie bogate cu ulei de avocado - un ulei gras, foarte hranitor pentru piele si par si petale uscate de trandafiri bio - din gradina Corinei :P. La aromele de tamaie, geraniu si lime, se adauga mirosul crud, specific de avocado formand un amestec ca intr-o gradina de trandafiri, inaintea unei ploi de vara. 

Un desfat binemeritat dupa o zi de canicula, si nu foarte costisitor ;)]

Men soap

This soap was especially formulated to appeal to the masculine taste. I used mainly coconut and shea butter, but also palm oil, olive oil and castor oil. It's a very hard bar, with strong cleansing properties, and rich lather. The brown color comes from brewed coffee used instead of water for its peeling properties.

The perfume is  a mixture of basil, rosemary, sage, frankincense, and lime - and I have to say, I am very proud of this blend. I think it's very manly.

[Iata si o reteta dedicata sexului puternic, ca tot se plang ei mereu ca sunt nedreptatiti:). Am folosit in cea mai mare proportie ulei de cocos si unt de shea, dar nici uleiul de palmier, masline si ricin nu lipsesc. Am vrut sa fac un sapun de anduranta, asa ca are o duritate mare (cam cea mai mare admisa pe soapcalc) - acest lucru insemnand printre altele ca se va consuma greu. De asemenea, am cautat sa curete bine si sa faca spuma bogata, asa ca si aceste proprietati au fost bifate. 

Cel mai greu a fost cu mirosul. Cum sa faci sa obtii o aroma masculina dar care totusi sa nu fie banala gen cuisoare, sau pin. Asa ca am cautat sa ma orientez un pic dupa parfumari si sa introduc note de baza - tamaie, de mijloc - busuioc, salvie, rozmarin si de varf - lamaie verde. Si cateva picaturi de lavanda asa, la deruta ;). 

Mie mi se pare foarte reusit..]

Geranium soap

This weekend I tried a new essential oil called 'geranium', said to have astringent, cicatrisant and tonic properties. IMO it smells a lot like rose water. The soap also contains powder milk, lavender essential oil  and activated charcoal.

[In acest weekend am incercat o noua aroma, mai exact uleiul esential de geraniu, foarte popular printre sapunarese. Se spune ca are proprietati astringente, cicatrizante si tonice. Mie mi se pare ca miroase foarte asemanator cu apa de trandafiri. I-am mai pus lapte praf, ulei de lavanda si carbune activat.]