Lavender and Peppermint Soap

Spring has finally arrived here in Northeast Wisconsin! New Batches of Lavender soap and Peppermint soap are curing and are just about ready to be wrapped for sale. Check at www.midwestgirlsoap.etsy.com or Treasures gift shop at 836 S8th St., Manitowoc, WI want to know more about Treasures? Visit www.treasuresgiftshops.com

What’s so great about Lavender? I think that Lavender essential oil is indispensable in the home, I ALWAYS keep some in the first aid kit for burns and insect bites. The essential oil of Lavender added to handmade soap is great for acne, dermatitis, and eczema. Too much sun over spring break? Lavender soap can assist in healing the skin! Known for its healing and relaxing properties, Lavender is one of the world’s most widely used and versatile herbs. Lavender soap makes a great housewarming gift.

Soothe your hot and weary feet! Soap that contains Peppermint essential oil lends an invigorating, tingling sensation to the skin. While the grassy-minty camphoraceous scent of Peppermint is found in everything from toothpaste to pharmaceuticals, the scent in the morning shower is a great way to put a smile on your face. Peppermint soap makes great gifts for men and athletic youngsters.

A new soap variety that mixes essential oils of Lavender and Peppermint with the soothing power of ground Oatmeal will also be available soon.

What is your favorite use of Lavender or Peppermint essential oil? Leave comments here and you could win a free bar of soap!

Back to Basics

So many times I hear the question "I have never tried handmade soap before; which scent should I use?" I never know how to answer without asking a few questions of my own... Here are some truths about handmade soap in general that hopefully help guide the newbie.

#1. All cold process soap contains GLYCERIN - a marvelous skin moisturizing benefit! This is not by addition but due to the basic chemical reaction of soapmaking. Industrial soap manufacturers either remove this glycerin and add it to thier lotions or manufacture soap with fats or oils that do not contain glycerin. This is why so many industrial bar soaps leave skin feeling dry. Whereas the handmade cold-process soapmaker releases the glycerol attached to the fatty acid (oils) and it remains in the soap as glycerin. So any bar from any coldprocess soapmaker will be more emollient for the skin.

#2. Before choosing a SCENTED bar of soap consider your skin's sensitivity level. Your skin may be happier with an UNSCENTED soap at first. Remember that 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed directly into your bloodstream... so although scent is a huge part of most peoples bathing ritual, when making a switch to natural soap less is more.

#3. An unscented bar of handmade soap can contain additional nutrients! A couple that I love are OATMEAL which adds texture, gently exfoliating skin cells. Hydrating and soothing HONEY, which inhibits bacterial growth; and SHEA BUTTER along with other exotic butters like cocoa or kukui that soothes and softens chapped dry skin.

Once you have found a basic bar that your skin finds favorable, you can then expand your bath arpsenal to include soaps with scent and color. :)

Felted Soap

Trying something new for the new year! I am felting soap and excited to hear the reviews. What is felted soap? In this case felted soap is a handmade bar of Midwestgirl Soap wrapped up in wool which is is then felted around it like a cozy soft sweater! You use the soap the same way you would for any hand or body washing ritual... but you dont need a wascloth! When the soap is gone you have a little piece of felted wool to reuse for any creative or utilitarian purpose.

Oh what fun!

Oh what fun I had vending in 2010! Thanks to everyone who came along and helped me out! Here are some pics...

Kavarna Coffee Holiday Craft Show

Come to Kavarna on Broadway in Green Bay this Saturday for all kinds of gift ideas for the holidays!

Beginnings

A beautiful October day in Wisconsin! Come see us at the Manitowoc Farmers Market today from 2pm - 6pm downtown Manitowoc. Look forward to more posts and information on where to find my handmade soap!