Conundrum

There are times retail confuses me. Products I think will be popular aren't and products I wish weren't popular... are. Two prime examples are lip gloss and bath bombs.

Lip glosses are easy to make, relatively inexpensive, look and feel amazing. Unfortunately, they get very few likes on Instagram when I post about them (2 likes in a month) and they don't sell well. Lip balms, sure! Lip glosses, don't bother. I don't get it. 

Bath bombs, on the other hand.... I posted this picture on Instagram and within minutes, it had almost 10 likes (I know, that isn't a lot but you get my point, right?). I really don't like making them, though. They're finicky and messy, and I decided long ago not to make them for sale. 

 What would you do? 

Meanwhile, over on Instagram...

I've never been afraid of the computer and anything related so, when ChatGPT arrived, I was more than happy to dip my toes into the AI pool. I've watched You Tube videos about the app and I've learned a lot. I'm also a Canva Pro user and, using the two together has completely changed my use of both.

Using the two together, I've created a couple of series of posts, 10 posts each. The first series is a "Did You Know?" series about things you might not know about soapmaking and soapmakers. 

The second series features Ingredient Spotlights of ten ingredients commonly used in the skin care industry. 

I had a lot of fun creating both series and am looking forward to creating more of these educational and, hopefully, fun posts. Let me know what you think!

Oh right! Do you follow us on Instagram? You can find us here.... MMSoapery

Ingredient Spotlight - Marula Oil

I was perusing the internet a while back and came across numerous mentions of Marula Oil in skin and hair care. I was intrigued and decided to buy a bottle. I get it! This oil is really, really nice on the skin. My skin feels incredibly smooth and silky after applying just a few drops. A couple of drops massaged into my hair made it shine and tamed some of the flyaways. So, what's so special about this oil?

Marula oil is a nutrient-rich oil derived from the marula tree, which is native to Southern Africa. It has been used for centuries by the local people for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Marula oil is a popular ingredient in many skincare and haircare products due to its numerous benefits.

Firstly, Marula oil is rich in antioxidants, which help to protect the skin from free radical damage caused by environmental factors such as pollution and UV radiation. This makes it an excellent anti-aging ingredient as it can help prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

Secondly, Marula oil is also highly moisturizing, making it perfect for dry or dehydrated skin. It contains high levels of fatty acids, including oleic acid and linoleic acid, which help to seal in moisture and keep the skin hydrated.

Thirdly, Marula oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce redness and inflammation in the skin. This makes it ideal for people with sensitive or acne-prone skin as it can help to soothe and calm the skin.

In addition to its skincare benefits, Marula oil is also great for hair. Its moisturizing properties can help to hydrate and nourish the hair, leaving it soft, shiny, and more manageable.

Overall, Marula oil is a versatile and beneficial ingredient that can provide numerous benefits for both the skin and hair.

Ok, so I looked into where it's available (apart from my supplier) and was apalled to discover it at Sephora for $92 for 30 ml. $92??? For 2 tablespoons???

I decided, right then and there, that I'd bottle up what I have and offer it to my customers... at a substantially reduced price. It truly is luxury in a bottle but now I can offer truly affordable luxury. No one should have to pay $92 for 30 ml. of an amazing oil... no one!

New Product Alert - Rosehip Seed Gel Eye Cream

This is one product I'm really excited about! Our newest product is Rosehip Seed Gel Eye Cream and it is truly special.

This silky gel cream is the perfect blend of gel and cream; it goes on like silk and soaks in quickly. It's made with Rosehip Seed Oil, often regarded as the "oil of youth". Rosehip Seed oil is classified as a "dry oil" due to its thin consistency, which allows it to be easily absorbed without leaving an oily residue on the skin's surface.

It also includes Hyaluronic Acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for maintaining skin hydration and plumpness. When used in skin care products, it can help to boost moisture levels in the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture and radiance. Hyaluronic acid is also gentle enough to use on all skin types, making it a versatile ingredient in any skincare routine. By incorporating hyaluronic acid into your daily regimen, you can achieve a more youthful, hydrated, and glowing complexion.

It's also made with the addition of Caffeine extract, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), and Allantoin, all carefully blended to create a decadent gel eye cream that soaks in quickly and does what it's meant to do.

This truly is a luxrious product and, as always, at an affordable price.

Lip Gloss... Oh Yeah!

 I've got it down now! And I'm very happy with how this lip gloss has turned out. It's taken a bit of experimentation but now? Wow! 

I've never really been a lip gloss fan but I'm finding that, with the right ingredients, it can be more than just glossy; it can be moisturizing, too. We've added ingredients like Jojoba oil, Castor oil, and even Hyaluronic Acid.

So, what's the deal with Hyaluronic Acid, you might be wondering? For one thing, it is a naturally occuring substance in our bodies, generally in eyes and joints. It can penetrate the skin's surface and increase hyration for longer and at a deeper level, promoting a smoother, plumper, and more radiant appearance.

Hyaluronic acid's ability to attract a trememdous amount of water (up to 1000 times its weight!) makes it the skin's powerful natural inner moisturizer. Cosmetically, this translates into soft, hydrated skin that looks firm, plump, glowy, and youthful.

And, we've put it into our lip gloss! 

Adventures in Lip Gloss

 Lip Gloss. It's one of those things that I have a love/hate relationship with. I can remember a little girl, sitting in front of me in church one Sunday morning and, literally, every five minutes or so, she'd apply another layer of Grape lip gloss to her lips. With every application, she scent of the Galactic Grape flavouring oil penetrated my head and I ended up having to leave with a raging migraine. 

That said, the look and feel of a good lip gloss never fails to intrigue me. I've dipped my toe into making lip gloss a little and wasn't very happy with the results. I mean, it looked amazing the day I made it but by the following day, some of them had separated and the oils seeped out of the tubes. Not pretty!

I've been doing as much reading as I can about a very popular lip gloss base but everything I'm finding isn't really answering my questions. Well, over the Easter break, with four days off, I decided to look into it again. I finally found a little more information and I think I've got it figured out. It's still a sticky and messy procedure but at least it isn't separating anymore. 

And, oh my, it feels so nice on the lips. With the addition of some skin-soothing oils like castor, jojoba, and coconut oils, it won't dry out your lips and the gloss! This is what lip gloss should be!

Now, I'm just waiting for a new shipment of some classy tubes. 

Overnight Lip Masque

I love me a good lip balm but one thing I love even more is a lip masque that is rich and sticky enough to last all night. Ingredients like castor oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, and shea butter are great ingredients for an effective lip masque but if it could have hyaluronic acid added to help combat and minimize those stubborn little wrinkles and lines that develop as we age, it would be even better!

One issue is that hyaluronic acid is water soluble, not oil soluble and lip balms are, generally speaking anhydrous (they don't contain water). 

This little tube of lip balm has become one of our bestsellers and, apart from containing all the beautiful oils listed above, it's made with an oil soluble form of hyaluronic acid!

This rich, lovely lip balm is perfect for night time application as it sticks and lasts, helping to keep your lips soft and supple throughout the night. Personally, it's my favourite lip balm for day or night... hands down! I've already noticed that those little lip lines are diminishing with regular use.

It's lightly flavoured/scented with just enough peppermint essential oil to provide a bit of a tingle without drying out your lips.