Sample sizes

When I was asked about soap samples all I could think of was "do I have a small mold" and "how the heck am I going to package them". If you saw my cucumber melon post, I was able to improvise.

To test, I sliced some soap that is almost done curing. Hard to do without breaking and cut it to fit the packaging without wasting soap. Some came out better than others. Of course the simplest thing to do is slice it up after unmolding.

I have some sample boxes to use. It does keep the soap clean but labor intensive for the labeling. Here's a few that were done.

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Shaving Soap

Just poured a new batch of shaving soap. I love this soap! The clay in the soap makes your razor glide close to the skin for an incredible shave. Don't let the color make you think it's just for the guys either. Ladies this can be used for shaving your legs and underarms.


Bentonite clay is a gentle clay that gives a silky slip to soaps. That's why it is popular in shaving soaps. It also makes an excellent facial bar for those with oily skin.

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I took the Handmade Pledge

Handmade products should not be a dying art. A lot of time, thought, research, creativity and joy goes into each and every product made.

When you receive a handmade gift it shows that the giver thinks that you are some special and knows you will appreciate the item. When you purchase the item for yourself you feel that you deserve it and you do.

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Hair Conditioner Update

The feedback has been trickling in. Most loved the scent which is in our other hair products, so no surprise there. Here's some of the rest of the results:

Tester #1 - fine short hair, colored, washes hair everyday (oily) and uses styling products: Scent is great, used the conditioner and used just a small amount for my hair type. It helped to keep my hair soft, almost too soft. I don't think I could use this everyday, maybe once a week.

Tester #2 - coarse short hair, washes every other day (dry) and uses styling products: Had to use more than I usually do. This conditioner is not as thick as my usual brand. Still liked the scent. I would love to be your next tester when you make this thicker.

Tester #3 - medium length hair, permed, washes every other day and does not use styling products: The scent is wonderful. I usually use more conditioner but I overdid it. Had to back off on the amount I used. It held up and my hair was soft with some shine. I would like more gloss for my hair so the curls stand out.

Tester #4 - My original tester was not able to use this as her son got to it first. Apparently he liked everything except the fragrance. I guess he won't be sneaking Mom's products again.

Tester #5 - Just wrote that they liked it.

Tester #6 - thick hair, uses regular shampoo and uses a lot of styling products: I like this conditioner. It made my hair feel soft. I blow dry my hair every day and use hairspray. I noticed that I didn't have alot of frizzes. Thanks!

I will reformulate again and go with one thick formula and one for every day use.

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Cucumber Melon

This one is special because it's made with pureed cucumbers. Beautiful specks of green with a fresh cucumber melon fragrance. Cucumbers are an astringent so it's great for oily skin. This is a lovely bar to use on your face.


It's in the mold so it will be ready to go by the end of September. I'll add a picture after it's sliced.


Update: This is a small batch so it's getting cut into sample sizes. It smells so good!

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Lip Dews

By request, I'm back with formulating lipsticks. I tried them quite a while ago and while it was fun, it was tedious getting the right formula for color consistency and the right firmness.

So I have some batches cooling and it will go out to testers for feedback. If that goes well, perhaps expanding to lip pencils. Now those were fun!

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