Petrolatum-free Lip Care - The Study Begins

Well, now it's out of my hands and completely up to the lips that have been chosen to test this unscented, petrolatum-free lip care product. 33 people that normally use petrolatum-based lip care products will be testing (we picked up 3 extra testers along the way).

Calling All Cleansing Bar Crafters

Some of you have written me about trying one of my soap-free cleansing bar recipes and loving it – some of you have written that you are doing your own version and loving it – and it's all GREAT! I'm thrilled that these cleansing bars have taken on a life of their own. (If you haven't tried making one yet you will find an overview of the recipes on this blog right here).

Meantime, I've been inspired by Jana who lives in Slovenia and has a blog called Small Bits of Loveliness. She kickstarted an idea that could become huge – as huge as a worldwide cleansing bar conglomerate!

Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself – because this idea is nothing without you.

How to Make an Oatmeal and Pink Clay Facial Cleanser

It's been over a year since I posted the very first cleansing bar how-to, and your interest in these little soap-free cleansers just keeps growing! I'm absolutely thrilled to experience how many of you have started making your own and have gotten positive feedback from all different skin types as well as age groups spanning from teens to mid 60's.

Today's cleanser is great for sensitive, oily, and combination skin. It is actually a variation on this recipe (also with oatmeal and pink clay), but this one has a somewhat firmer texture and is a tad easier to use.

"Until Proven Otherwise, Mineral Oil is the Best Choice for Skin Care"

I've heard this for years.

• From industry-employed cosmetic scientists
• From science-interested folks 
• From folks who look to test results – and (seemingly) only test results.

"Until proven otherwise, we're going with mineral oil."
"There is no proof that it isn't beneficial for skin"
"It's proven that it doesn't cause allergies"
"Mineral oil is the most efficient occlusive and therefore the most efficient at helping skin maintain moisture."
"It's tested and proven safe."
"There is no proof that it clogs pores"

Well halleluja.

I still think they're all dead wrong.

Johnson & Johnson - Now Chemical Free

It isn't just in Scandinavia we see extreme reactions to scaremongering. Cosmetics giant Johnsen & Johnsen announced last year that they planned to 'remove chemicals from their products'.

?!!??

All of them?

Let me see if I understand this correctly:
no water
no oil
no emulsifiers
no active ingredients
no chemicals at all

So, I'm guessing they're planning on selling... nothing?

Read more about this in Perry Romanowski's article What is wrong with cosmetics companies caving to fearmongers at Personal Care Truth or Scare.

Coily-Kinky-Curly - cKc - Update Me!

As my interest for curls has grown, so has the group of cKc-interested curlies.  Reciprocal love – gotta love that!

Royal Jelly and the Logic of Beauty

If bees make honey, and honey is great for skin and hair, then it stands to reason that the stuff queen bees feed on would be even better for skin and hair, right?

A lot of skin and hair care ingredients (not to mention vitamin supplements) subscribe to a similar logic.

The A + B Equation
The logic is quite simple (making it a breeze to market and sell).

If A = Good and B = Better
then
A + B must surely equal Off the Charts Fantastic.

But is it correct?

Sometimes, But Not Always
I found a few surprising things when I started checking out royal jelly – an (incredibly pricey) ingredient that had a starring role an eye serum I developed not long ago.

Ok, I'll come clean. I didn't research it first. I bought it 'blind' because it became available from one of my regular suppliers and I was curious to give it a whirl.

Here's what caught my attention:

cKc - Perfect Curl & Shine - A New Product

A lot of dedicated curlies made this product happen. Thank you for testing, giving feedback, suggesting names and just generally being fabulous! Above is the finishing spray that YOU helped perfect. A selection of comments and reviews from the giveaway winners are in this post.

I think this name – suggested by one of the regular cKc testers – captures all of your comments and feedback about the product: Perfect Curl & Shine. (I added the Finishing Spray part)

Changing a Scent – Naturally

Recently, I created a personalized whipped body butter. My customer loves how it works but asked if 'something could be done about the scent'. There was no added scent to the original version, which consists of, among other things, lanolin and organic cocoa butter.

Both of these ingredients can seem a tad heavy to the nose, and the effect is increased when they are combined.

The whipped butter has a deep, rich, chocolatey-spicy, almost musk-like scent. Now, that may sound great if you're making a product that is applied sparingly, but if you're slathering it all over your body, it can quickly become overpowering.

I promised my customer to 'make a few adjustments' and got to work.

Colin Sanders Reviews LisaLise Toners

Well color me excited! Color me happy! Color me over the moon ecstatic!