How I Got Into Soapmaking

I remember distinctly the day I read you could make soap from scratch.  I have always been the kind of person who enjoys doing things from scratch.  I enjoy canning, baking, sewing, crafting, anything from its raw material base.  So when I read in the newspaper an article on making soap from scratch, 25 years ago, I began collecting the ingredients.  Beef fat from the butcher at the grocery store.  Coconut oil from the health food store.  Lye from the grocery store.  The first batch was a success.  I knew I’d be making soap again!

I went to the local bookstore and bought the one and only book they had on soapmaking.  To this day it is my favorite book on the subject.  I then began making soap every 6 months or so, adding fragrances and herbs for variety.  I found a bar of handmade soap made an excellent gift. 

When my husbands business slowed during the recession of the early nineties, I was looking for someway to supplement our family’s income.  But the problem for me was I had 5 children.  Can you imagine what childcare for 5 children would be?  I had to find a job I could do partially at home and take my children with me to work.  My friend Cindy, who had been a recipient of my soap, solved my dilemma.  I was telling her my plight one day.  She responded “Karita, you ought to try selling your soaps”.  She had traveled extensively doing flea markets with her husband, and she observed people would buy cleaning supplies and food.

I thought about it and decided to give it a try.  That was 15 years ago.  It was a wonderful solution to my dilemma.  I made soap at home, and on the weekends my children and I would go to the farmers’ market to sell them.  I tell my customers I am one of those rare people who work at what they love.  I am at home during the week, which I love.  I leave home once or twice a week to sell my soaps, which I love. Can it get any better than that? 

Check out Karita's soaps at http://karitashandmade.com/soaps.htm

Healthy Skin Care

I am an alchemist.  I concoct.  I make skin care products.  When the spirit moves me in a creative direction I get excited.  When I branched out from soaps and began making skin care products, I wanted them to be beneficial.  So I had to do my homework.  I read about the skin, what factors cause dry skin and wrinkles.  My research led me to this conclusion.  Skin problems inevitably begin inside our bodies, with poor eating habits, not enough fluids consumed, not enough fats in the diet, immoderate habits and too much sun.  Wrinkled skin is a lack of either oil or water in the body’s system.

So what makes beautiful healthy skin?  Our lifestyle, stress, even our attitude can affect our skin. Lack of water, (dehydration) vitamin deficiencies, improper nutrition, alcohol, caffeine, and smoking can all affect the skin's health.

Protecting your skin from within is the first line of defense.  A glowing, youthful complexion begins with good nutrition. When your diet contains fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, legumes, and omega-3 fatty acids, the skin is nourished. Preventive measures for skin care include wearing sunscreen, maintaining a good skin care regimen, following a good diet; eat healthily (plenty of fruits and vegetables), drink plenty of water,  take vitamins,  and exercise regularly.  All  will have a positive effect on the health of the body and the skin.  You'll be rewarded with younger looking, more radiant healthy skin!

Exercising regularly invigorates circulation to the skin.  Get plenty of sleep (natures repair systems of the skin need rest so cells can regenerate properly.)

Sun damage is the main external factor of aging.  Daily sunscreen is imperative for healthy skin. Sunscreen helps protect the skin from the sun, prevents "age spots" and helps prevent collagen loss.


Quality skin care products used regularly to cleanse, moisturize, and protect the skin are part of a well-planned skin care program. Remember what you put on your skin your body absorbs or drinks.  The fewer the ingredients the better.  Water, oil and beeswax (as a binder) are really all that is necessary in a skin care product.

Remember too being happy and thinking positively can also have positive effects on the skin! 

Check out Karita’s Skin Care Products at http://karitashandmade.com/products.htm

Lavender

Lavender has been called a breath of fresh air.  And indeed it is!  Lavender is used extensively in herbalism and aromatherapy. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) yields an essential oil with sweet overtones, and can be used in balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. Lavandin, (Lavandula intermedia) yields a similar essential oil, but with higher levels of terpenes including camphor, which add a sharper overtone to the fragrance. Mexican lavender, (Lavandula stoechas) is not used medicinally, but mainly for landscaping.

According to folk wisdom, and Wikipedia, lavender has many uses. Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Infusions of lavender soothes, heal insect bites and burns. Bunches of lavender repel insects. If applied to the temples, (lavender is one of only a few essential oils that can be applied undiluted on the skin) lavender oil soothes headaches. In pillows, lavender seeds and flowers aid sleep and relaxation. An infusion of three flowerheads added to a cup of boiling water soothes and relaxes at bedtime. Lavender essential oil heals acne when used diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it also treats skin burns and inflammatory conditions.

Flower spikes are used for dried flower arrangements. The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris. Lavender is also used extensively as herbal filler inside sachets used to freshen linens. Dried and sealed in pouches, lavender flowers are placed among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and to deter moths. Lavender is also popular in scented waters and sachets.

How to use it:

10 – 12 drops lavender essential oil to 1 oz either water or carrier oil is sufficient.  Leftovers should be stored in a dark bottle, in a cool place.

Karita’s Handmade uses lavender extensively in many products. http://karitashandmade.com/products.htm

Benefits of African Shea Butter

From Nuts to Butter

Shea Butter is the oil from the nuts of wild Shea trees  scattered throughout the wooded savanna of West and Central Africa.

Women Gathering Shea Nuts

Shea Butter has been used for centuries in Africa as a decongestant, an anti-inflammatory for sprains and arthritis, healing salve, lotion for hair and skin care, and cooking oil.  

African Shea or Karite butter contains an abundance of healing ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, proteins and unique fatty acids, and is a superior active moisturizer. Unlike petroleum based moisturizers, Shea butter actually restores the skin's natural elasticity, promoting cell renewal.  Shea butter enables your skin to absorb moisture from the air, and as a result, it becomes softer and stays moisturized for longer. In addition, Shea butter has natural sunscreen properties (SPF 2-6) and anti-inflammatory agents. Because of its amazing properties, Shea butter is an excellent ingredient for soaps, lotions and creams. Regular users of  Shea butter notice softer, smoother, healthier skin. Shea butter has also been shown to help with skin conditions and ailments such as extreme dryness, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, skin allergies, fungal infections, blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, scrapes, and more.

Check out Karita’s Exquisite Skin Creme and lip balms with African Shea butter at

http://karitashandmade.com/products.htm

Patchouli

Pogostemon  Cablin

Ah patchouli – means different things to different people.  A love hate thing, there are generally no in betweens.

Two women in their mid fifties stopped by my booth one Saturday at the Farmers’ market.  One loved patchouli, while the other hated it!  The one hating it said she always thought it was the smell of marijuana.  The one loving it said it was what they wore to cover up the smell of marijuana.  They both laughed, and went their separate ways.  So it goes with the scent of patchouli!

Patchouli oil is steam distilled from the dried leaves and stems of the Pogostemon patchouli plant.  Indonesia is the leading producer of it's oil. 

Patchouli is an important essential oil in perfumery.   In aromatherapy, there are top, middle and base notes, like in music.  Top notes don’t hold very well and are fleeting.  Middle notes keep the scent together, while base notes or fixatives hold the overall scent together for a long time    giving it greater intensity.

For instance, I make a lemongrass soap.  The dominant essential oil is lemon, which is a top note.  I add to the lemon, lemongrass, geranium (which are middle notes) and patchouli.  Using patchouli in the blend keeps the lemon scent in the bar, so it doesn’t fade.

Externally patchouli is used in skin care products to promote healing, to rejuvenate old, wrinkled and tired skin. It is considered antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

Internally inhaled it is calming, and some say it has aphrodisiac properties.

Karita’s Handmade uses patchouli in some soaps, skin cremes, and bath salts. Check them out at:
 www.karitashandmade.com/products.htm