But Why? The Importance of Natural Products

Jenn, the Glynne's Soaps Soapmaker May 3, 2012
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I had a woman come to our booth at the Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning and say, “My daughter says I need to switch to natural soap because of the dangers of parabens in commercial soap.  Why?  And how do I know if my soap contains parabens?”

In case you are wondering the same thing, I will tell you what I told her – Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in many cosmetic and skin care products.  Parabens mimic estrogen which is thought to play a role in breast cancer.  There also is some evidence that parabens disrupt development and growth by mimicking hormones, fooling the body.  And, since there are paraben free products out there, why not avoid something that could possibly lead to cancer or other health problems.

The safe alternative is to use products that do not contain parabens; unfortunately, you can’t look at a list of ingredients and immediately see the word “paraben”, since there are many different chemicals that are types of parabens. The six most commonly found parabens are:

  1. methylparaben
  2. ethylparaben
  3. propylparaben
  4. isobutylparaben
  5. butylparaben
  6. benzylparaben

The safest thing to do for the health of your family is to avoid products that contain one or more of these ingredients, and purchase natural products, like Glynne’s Soaps whenever possible.

 

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An All Natural Riddle

Glynne's Soaps Staff November 10, 2011
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What do you get when you cross a bar of all natural soap, hair from a llama, some elbow grease and a little ingenuity?

Give up?

A llama loofah!

Glynne’s Soaps is proud to unveil one of it’s latest creations – the Llama Loofah.  A Llama Loofah is a bar of all natural soap that has been felted with llama fibers.  The fibers shrink and form a tight weave around the soap.  This creates a loofah with soap inside.  When you use it, you have the exfoliating scrubbiness of a loofah combined with the benefits of all natural soap from Glynne’s Soaps.

Just use the Llama Loofah like a regular bar of soap.  The lather will work it’s way through the felted llama fibers as you scrub, cleaning your skin while exfoliating away the dead skin cells.  As the soap is used, the llama fibers will continue to shrink until the soap is gone.  You can then use the llama fibers as a loofah all on it’s own, or throw it away.

Glynne’s Soaps All Natural Llama Loofah comes in two scents - Hipp”E” (made with patchouli and clove oil) and Citrus Zing (made with orange and ginger oils).  The Llama Loofah makes a great gift.  Get one for everyone on your Christmas list.

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Happy National Coffee Day!

Glynne's Soaps Staff September 29, 2011
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Today is national coffee day, and if you are anything like us, you start your morning with at least one cup of coffee.  Besides tasting good, there are some health benefits to enjoying that daily grind.  It has been linked to lower instances of type II diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and even cancer.

As if that weren’t enough, we here at Glynne’s Soaps know that there is more to coffee than just drinking it to jump start your day.  You can also wash with coffee if you use our all natural Java Scrub soap.  Made with fresh brewed coffee, this soap has a wonderful aroma that will help wake you up.  It also includes coffee grounds for an exfoliating benefit.  Coffee has also been linked with the removal of cellulite.  

Glynne’s Soaps Java Scrub also makes a great addition to your kitchen.  The coffee does an exceptional job at removing odors such as onion, fish or garlic.  Keep this soap by your sink and you won’t have to worry about everyone in the movie theater smelling your fish dinner.

In honor of National Coffee Day we are offering a 20% discount on Java Scrub.  Just use the code COFFEE at checkout.  The discount is good through Friday at midnight so get yours today.

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Living Green

Glynne's Soaps Staff October 14, 2010
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Yesterday we attended the Green Living Conference and Expo in downtown Wilmington NC. It was a fun event with many like-minded people. It is so nice to attend an event where the environment takes center stage! More and more everyone is realizing that everything we do affects the environment in one way or another.  Moreover, the things that have a harmful effect on the environment can have a harmful effect on our health. One area that can be improved is in the area of skin care. If the products you are using have a negative effect on the earth, they probably are not the best things you could be putting on your skin.

There are many reasons to go green with you skin care:

  • To keep your skin safe. The FDA does not require safety tests before personal care products enter the market. The chemical ingredients listed on the back of your favorite soap may not be healthy for you or the environment.
  • To keep the earth clean. Just because something is touted to clean your skin, does not automatically mean it is clean for the earth as well. If you see the ingredients mercury, lead acetate, toluene or petroleum, you might want to consider something that is safer for our rivers, lakes and oceans.
  • To support a sustainable economy.  Contributing to companies that have products and services that are healthy for you and the environment goes a long way toward bettering the planet and the global economy.

What are some things to look for when trying to keep your skin and the earth safe from dangerous chemicals? Research states that 60% of what you put on your skin gets absorbed into your blood stream. Be on the look out for these in the list of ingredients:

  • Parabens – including methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben — might be associated with skin problems like irritations, dermatitis and allergic reactions
  • sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
  • sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
  • artificial fragrances
  • lanolin
  • phthalates – dibutylphthalate, diethylphthalate, and butyl ester- have been linked to birth defects
  • petrochemicals – petroleum-based substances like mineral oil and paraffins – petroleum products not only take hundreds of years to biodegrade, but they might be linked to skin irritation, allergies and cancer. •
  • DMDM hydantoin – breaks down to release formaldehyde, which is classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Many natural ingredients can be used to protect, rejuvenate and soothe your skin. They are to numerous to list here, but here are a few examples of ingredients to look for when buying green skin care products.

Plant Extracts:

  • Cucumber soothes and reduces inflammation. (Like our California Cool)
  • Green and white teas have antioxidant properties that protect the skin from free radicals. (Like our ZenAura)

Essential Oils:

  • Tea tree oil is an antiseptic and provides light hydration; it is great for acne-prone skin. (Like our Misty Mountain)
  • Lavender oil evens skin tone and balances moisture levels. (Like our Perfect Peace)

Other Natural Aids: •

So, as you are looking for ways to “go green”, do not forget your daily cleaning regimen. You can find all the soaps mentioned on our website. Your skin and your earth will thank you.

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Coffee – It’s Not Just for Breakfast

Glynne's Soaps Staff September 10, 2010
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For the longest time, we have kept a bar of our Java Scrub soap near the kitchen sink. The coffee soap was great for removing odors from our hands while cooking. Smells from foods like onions, fish, and garlic were gone with a quick wash. It was great! Then we learned from a friend of ours, who also does a lot of aromatherapy work with her spa clients, that the caffeine in the coffee soap can also reduce cellulite. A bar of Java Scrub soap was immediately carried to the shower.

Approximately 85% of all women have some cellulite on their bodies; that lumpy, bumpy, cottage cheese look just under the skin. It occurs more frequently in older women or larger women, but even those with low body fat can usually find some cellulite. Dr Ava Shamban, who owns the Laser Institute for Dermatology and European Skin Care in Santa Monica, Calif., states that cellulite “is a structural problem. It’s not only the fat, but it has to do with the connective tissue. The connective tissue acts as a mesh to keep the fat close to the legs, which happens for men, but not so well for women. So, in women, sometimes this connective mesh opens up and the fat bulges out. That bulging is cellulite” (http://www.cbsnews.com“Caffeine is Latest Cellulite Weapon”)

The theory behind the benefit of caffeine is that it will increase your metabolism, which will reduce fat. The caffeine also will reduce some of the swelling or edema of the fat cells by drawing out water, making your skin smoother.

Other reports suggest that the benefits of the caffeine in soaps or creams can be enhanced by massaging and rubbing the needed areas. This breaks up the fat cells and decreases the lumps and bumps even faster. Our Java Scrub soap contains real coffee grounds which, aside from being exfoliating, can aid in this massaging process.

Still one more benefit of the Java Scrub lies again with its caffeine content. Just like drinking a cup of coffee, showering with coffee soap gives you that morning pick me up. Inhaling that great coffee scent will help wake you up in the morning and also can provide the afternoon boost without having to drink a cup of coffee.

So, pick up some Java Scrub for you and all your friends. Your thighs will thank you.

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Product Spotlight

Glynne's Soaps Staff August 31, 2010
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Alongside giving you important information regarding the benefits of using all natural products for yourself, your family and your pets, we like to, on occasion, highlight some of the products that we offer and give some additional, in depth information about them.

California Cool Soap – We frequently get asked if we have a soap that is a good facial cleanser.  We always point people toward our California Cool soap because it is made with fresh cucumber juice and lime essential oil.  The fresh cucumber is very beneficial for your skin.  They are an excellent source of silica.  Silica is a trace mineral that is helpful in building and strengthening the connective tissue that holds our bodies together.  Because of this, it can help in the reduction of wrinkles and promote smooth skin.  Cucumber is also a good source of caffeic and ascorbic acids which prevent water retention and decrease puffiness.

Lime essential oil acts as an astringent which increases and skin tone.  It also will detoxify and clear the skin of any toxic materials and oils.

California Cool is a soothing gentle soap that makes a great face soap.

Wrigley’s Dog Soap – Wrigley’s soap contains Cedarwood essential oil.  Cedar is a fresh smelling essential oil that is great for stinky dogs.  Bathing your dog with Wrigley’s soap will kill the bad smell and leave everyone happy.  Cedar essential oil also will relax and calm your dog and it does have flea repelling properties.

Wrigley’s Dog Soap is the best choice to get rid of that stinky dog smell.

Both these soaps, along with all our other products, can be found on our website.

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How to Care for Your New Soap

Glynne's Soaps Staff July 9, 2010
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Last week at the Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market, we were asked by no less than three people about how to care for soaps. Of course, we were happy to share our (Jenn’s) knowledge on the subject. It made us think we should revive a post from last year on how to care for your new soap.

Once you bring your new soap home, there are some things you can do to help it last as long as possible. I know when I have a new soap that lathers great, smells wonderful and leaves me feeling soft and smooth; I don’t want to waste any of it. Just following these few simple tips will keep your soap (and you) happy longer.

1) Any moisture will dissolve your soap, even if you aren’t using it. Don’t let it sit in a puddle. A draining soap dish or a mesh bag hanging in the shower will help dry your soap between uses. If you don’t have either of these, minimize the area of your soap that comes in contact with the wet area; sit it up on it’s side or prop it on the edge of the soap dish. Any air circulation will keep your soap drier.

2) The longevity of your soap improves if you use a loofah, washcloth or sponge instead of rubbing the soap directly on your body. You can purchase some nice accessories on our website

3) Before use, store your soap in a cool dry place. Under the sink is bad because the soap can pick up moisture from condensation on the pipes. Some people store it in a linen closet or dresser drawer so the scent can freshen towels or clothing.

Since true natural soap has no chemical preservatives, it will not last as long as detergent bars purchased at the grocery store.  However, with just a little planning, you can extend the life of your soap.

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Why Soap Works

Glynne's Soaps Staff May 20, 2010
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Many people have asked us, since the start of our soap making adventures, ”How does soap work?” If you read our twitter feed, you probably know that Gayle has a keen interest in trivia (I’m no slouch either). So, I thought I’d do a little research, using my Chemistry education, and give you the real answers. Who knows, this could someday be the final Jeopardy answer.

Water has surface tension, which means that the individual molecules of water are attracted to each other. This is why water beads on certain surfaces and why you can fill a glass with water a little bit over the rim. In order for cleaning to occur, something has to break the surface tension of the water, so it can spread and get things wet. Enter the soap, or surfactant (something that effectively breaks the surface tension of the water). Surfactants do other things too; they loosen dirt and oils and keep them from sticking to the item being washed, until the water can rinse them away.

Soaps are made be treating fats and oils (weak acids) with a strong alkali (base). When the chemical reaction is complete, each soap molecule has an end that is highly attracted to water and an end that is highly attracted to oil and grease. So, it works like a chemical magnet; pulling the grease, dirt and oil off of your body, or out of your clothes into the water, where it is washed away.

Hope I haven’t bored you or been too technical (I can get carried away). The bottom line is soap works and All Natural Soap words with out the harsh chemicals that are so bad for your skin.

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Run, Not Walk

Glynne's Soaps Staff March 31, 2010
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If you are a regular reader of our blog, you probably know that our soapmaker Jenn, in addition to having her Master’s Degree in Chemistry, also aspires to be a triathlete.  So, while the name of this post is “Run, Not Walk” there are benefits to walking as well as running, especially if you are a beginner or have health or skeletal issues (aka-bad knees).  With that in mind, we encourage you to - Run, not walk, to your bathroom and read the ingredient list on the soap boxes, shampoo bottles and lotion bottles that you find.  If you see any of these words, carry the bottle to the trashcan.  All of these are alternate names for a chemical called Diethanolamine.

  • Cocamide DEA or Cocamide Diethanolamine
  • DEA Lauryl Sulfate or Diethanolamine Lauryl Sulfate
  • Lauramide DEA or Lauramide Diethanolamine
  • Linoleamide DEA or Linoleamide Diethanolamine
  • Oleamide DEA or Oleamide Diethanolamine
  • Any product containing TEA or Triethanolamine

Now I know that might be seen as a bit extreme, however I wanted to bring to your attention something that has recently caught mine. Diethanolamine (DEA) is a chemical found in most commercial soaps, shampoos and lotions.  It’s purpose is as a “wetting and thickening agent” which means that it thickens lotions and adds lather to soaps and shampoos.  Supposedly, DEA by itself is not the danger, however it will combine with other chemicals to form a compound called nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA) that is not so nice.  NDEA is easily absorbed by the skin and has been linked to liver, bladder and stomach cancer.  The other listed chemicals are also considered toxic.

As more research is performed, the hazards of DEA are coming to light.  A study done at UNC and reported in Science Daily showed that DEA inhibits brain development in fetuses.  It also inhibits a body’s ability to absorb the nutrient choline which is essential for cell growth.  Pregnant women who can’t absorb enough choline can’t pass this nutrient on to their babies who in turn will not be able to develop properly.  Scientists are quick to say that the amounts of DEA needed to interfere with brain development are higher than what is routinely absorbed from personal care products, but why take that risk?  Why knowingly use something on our bodies that will cause us harm when there are alternatives?

Glynne’s Soaps has the alternative.  All of our all natural soaps and lotions are free from any harsh chemicals.  The soaps are specially formulated to have a great lather, without the use of chemical “wetting agents” such as DEA.  If you had to throw out all your soap in the beginning of this blog, give us a try!

Don’t forget to comment on last week’s post “Soap on the Run” and enter to win some Soap on the Run.

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Soap on the Run

Glynne's Soaps Staff March 25, 2010
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The Glynne’s Soaps R&D group has been jumping lately.  It seems that there are quite a few new all natural products that are available now, or will be available soon.  We thought we’d take a minute to give you a sneak peak at what’s coming this spring.

Our first new and exciting product is called “Soap on the Run”.

Soap on the Run

It’s an all natural soap, scented with eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils.  The best part about this soap is that it comes in its own container.  You can toss it in your gym bag, overnight bag, travel bag or desk drawer at work.  When you hit the showers, you have a safe gentle all natural soap that is great for your skin.  You don’t have to worry about a plastic bag full of slimy soap that is disintegrating and becoming unusable.  You won’t lose sleep wondering if your liquid soap is small enough to pass airport security yet large enough for you to use it your entire trip.  You won’t have to be concerned about what harsh chemicals and nasty preservatives are in the soap dispenser at the gym.  You will know that the soap you carry is all natural and good for you in a container that won’t set off alarms or leak all over your bag.  Going along with that, the essential oils used to scent “Soap on the Run” are great for active people.  Eucalyptus oil is the best all natural remedy for soothing sore, tired and achy muscles.  It also will combat mental fatigue.  Because it is an antibacterial, it is used as an all natural deodorant.  Tea tree oil is a natural therapy for bacterial and fungal skin ailments including acne, oily skin, athlete’s foot, insect bites and dandruff.  The next time you need an all natural soap that you can take with you, get some Soap on the Run.

But Soap on the Run is not the only thing that is new at Glynne’s Soaps.  We also have developed a soap that we are calling “man soap”.  It’s a manly sized bar, with 12 oz of soap scented with Grapefruit and Eucalyptus essential oils.  Man Soap is currently in the human and animal testing phase of Glynne’s Soaps R&D process.  (This means that we have given some to friends of ours and they are using it and giving feedback.)  It will hopefully be available on our website soon.

We have also developed a new scent that is currently available at festivals and will soon be available online.  It is called “Rejuvenation” and is a refreshing combination of Peppermint and Eucalyptus essential oils.

Our last new venture is still in the Glynne’s Soaps laboratory, but should be available for testing soon.  It is something we are very excited about – bath fizzies!  Be on the lookout for this and all our other new products.

On another note, it is time again for our monthly contest.  Thank you to everyone who entered last month’s contest!  We loved learning about your passions and what inspires you.  If you weren’t sure what your passion is, hopefully we encouraged you to find it and do something about it.

Now, on to our winner -

According to the random number generator which spit out the number 5, our winner is Jessica P. who wrote, “I am passionate about art. I am always thinking of new ideas to make and create…”

Thanks for entering our contest Jessica, and congratulations!  Please contact us via the “Contact Us” page of our website and we will discuss how to get you your soaps.

For those of you who didn’t win, thanks again for sharing your passion.  Feel free to head on over to our website and purchase some soap for yourself.  You might as well be clean while pursuing your passion.  Or afterward, as some of you expressed that gardening and digging in the dirt was what you enjoyed.

This month, leave a comment letting us know where you would most like to travel, taking a container of “Soap on the Run” with you (of course).  Leave your comment before April 7th.  The winner will receive a container of “Soap on the Run”

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