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Raven Ridge Naturals®

Soap and Bath Products

Handcrafted in Port Orchard, Washington ~~ "Feel the Difference!"™

Soap and Soapmaking FAQ

Part 1: What's In Your Soap? Real Soap vs "Bath and Beauty Bars"

Become Label Savvy

Most commercially-made bars say "bath bar" or "beauty bar" on their labels. Why aren't they labeled "soap"? The reason is simple: they aren't real soap. And because they aren't soap, the regulations that govern such things as ingredients and truth-in-labeling requires that they be given a different designation...like "bars." By the way, these same regulations say that artificially flavored "imitation processed cheese food products" cannot be allowed to be labeled as "Natural Sharp Cheddar Cheese." It's the law.

So if the 'bath and beauty bars' aren't real soap, what are they?
They are actually DETERGENTS, made with a classification of petroleum-based materials called "Syndets." And, like your garden-variety laundry detergents, they are made up of harsh chemicals, brighteners, and foaming agents. And, by and large, they're junk – designed to maximize corporate profits by using the cheapest ingredients possible.

In spite of their fancy names and big budget advertising campaigns they are simply not healthy for your skin (or the environment, where all things eventually end up thru our water supply).

Do you really want to subject your skin to detergents and more chemicals???? I know I don't. Only real soap can be called "soap." Only real soap breaks down into it's organic components. Check your labels.

What About Glycerine?

Unlike commercially-made bars, real soap retains the correct glycerine ratio naturally inherent in the soapmaking process.

Glycerine is a natural emollient which, in SMALL amounts, increases lather and provides humectant properties. It is often removed during the commercial manufacturing process and sold for use in lotions, cosmetics, and foodstuffs.

It's also used, combined with alcohol, to create those colorful, clear glycerine bars...the alcohol causes the molecules to "line up", resulting in a clear bar. The problem is that

    1) alcohol is VERY drying to the skin, and
    2) glycerine in large amounts, as in 90% of the bar by weight, acts on the skin like reverse osmosis...in effect drawing moisture OUT of your skin.
And they also add synthetic, bright colors...remember, your skin will absorb whatever it comes in contact with, providing the molecules are the correct size. So the alcohol, glycerine, and colorants provide an unhealthy and harsh triple whammy for your skin.

These same manufacturers then replace the natural glycerine they've removed with more chemicals in an attempt to mimic moisturing and softening qualities, and then they want to sell you more lotions and creams (thus adding even more profit) in an effort to rehydrate your skin which has, by the use of their synthetic products, now been stripped of all its natural oils.

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Essential Oils Safety Tips

Essential oils are very concentrated, so it's important to handle them with care. Please read these cautions carefully.

  • Always read and follow all label warnings and cautions.
  • Keep oils tightly closed and out of the reach of children.
  • Never consume undiluted oils. Cook only with those oils approved for food use.
  • Don't use undiluted oils on your skin. Dilute with vegetable (carrier) oils.
  • Skin test oils before using. Dilute a small amount and apply to the skin on your inner arm. Do not use if redness or irritation occurs.
  • Keep oils away from eyes and mucous membranes.
  • If redness, burning, itching, or irritation occur, stop using oil immediately.

Avoid use of these oils during pregnancy:

Bitter Almond, Basil, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Hyssop, Sweet Fennel, Juniper Berry, Marjoram, Myrrh, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Wintergreen.

These oils can be especially irritating to the skin:

Allspice, Bitter Almond, Basil, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud, Sweet Fennel, Fir Needle, Lemon, Lemongrass, Melissa, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Wintergreen.

Other Precautions:

Angelica and all citrus oils make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light. Do not go out into the sun with these oils on your skin.

Sweet Fennel, Hyssop, Sage, and Rosemary should not be used by anyone with epilepsy.

People with high blood pressure should avoid Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme.

Excerpted from Aromatherapy Notes [Copyright Aura Cacia Products]

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