Handcrafted Soap versus Commercially Made Soap

Today, much commercially made soap is not soap at all. They are actually harsh detergents. Detergents are less expensive and easier to manufacture than soaps. Would you buy a bar labeled as a detergent? I would not, but then many people don’t really read the label on their bars of soap. If you have read the label on your soap bar you may have seen sodium tallowate listed as one of the first ingredients. Many of you may know what sodium tallowate is. For those of you who don’t, I will tell you or you may check with your favorite search engine. Sodium tallowate is a natural result made by combining sodium hydroxide (lye) with beef tallow (beef fat). Tallow has been used in soap making for hundreds of years. Commercial soap makers use tallow due to it being inexpensive, plentiful, processes quickly and produces a hard bar. Some people say that tallow clogs pores, causes blackheads, acne, irritates eczema and is not for people with sensitive skin. The pioneers had no choice but to use tallow. Today we have many vegetable oils readily available for our use in soap making. While vegetable oils are more expensive than tallow, they produce a superior bar of soap.

Some other ingredients you may see listed on the wrapper that are not desirable in a bar of soap are:

Pentasodium penteteate is an inorganic salt used as a water softener, emulsifier and dispersing ingredient in cosmetic cleansing creams, lotions and soaps.
Tetrasodium EDTA is a synthetic preservative - can be irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes. Sodium isethionate is a synthetic detergent. It acts as a moisture absorber, surfactant and anti-static agent.
Sodium cocoyl isethionate is a synthetic detergent. It is an anionic surfactant, which means it reduces surface tension, making water ‘wetter’.
Trisodium etidronate is a preservative and possible skin irritant.
BHT - (butylhydroxytoluene) is a synthetic antioxidant to keep oils in the formula from going rancid. Sometimes used as a food preservative. BHT is sometimes used as a food preservative. When ingested, BHT has been implicated in tumor formation and liver enlargement in rodent tests.
Disodium phosphate is a buffering agent used to adjust pH in the soap.
PEG-6 methyl ether is a synthetic polymer made from oxirane (ethylene oxide) - used as a solvent.
Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid usually derived from tallow or lard and sometimes palm oil. Stearic acid contributes to a harder, more long-lasting bar of soap.

Much commercial soap has chemicals, fat, detergent and petroleum products. While these degreasers will cleanse your skin, they will also remove the natural oils leaving you with dry skin. Some people will say they do not want to use a soap made with lye. All soap has sodium hydroxide (lye) or it will not be soap. One difference in handcrafted soap and commercially made soaps is the fact that the handmade soap retains all of the natural glycerin. Glycerin is produced as a byproduct of the soapmaking process. The cosmetic industry uses glycerin in their products so it is removed from the soap and sold by the commercial soap manufacturers to the cosmetic industry. It is a profitable business venture for the commercial soap manufacturers but results in a less moisturizing soap and the use of harsher chemicals. Handmade soap retains all of the natural glycerin and results in a more moisturizing, superior bar of soap.
If you want to experience a “true” bar of soap with all of the natural, moisturizing ingredients– check with one of our many e-tailers that make their own soap. Soap makers have their own recipes and not all soaps are created equal (so to speak) but I have tried many of our e-tailers soaps and have not been disappointed with any of them. There are several different processes for soapmaking. We'll explore those later.

Give your skin a treat!

Here's a handy list of some of the e-tailers that create soaps:

A Woman With Scents, Candles and Woodcrafts, Country Keepsakes, Delightfully Wed, Ginger's Garden, Lathered Up, Laura's Lathers, Mrs. Sterlings, The Mom Lady, Tuxedo-Enterprises, and Uniquely Pampered.

Candles and Woocrafts has a sale posted on their website.

January Sample Box Info

If you are interested in being an e-tailer in the January Snowberry Creek Sample Box, the samples (or full-sized products) are due Jan. 15. You may choose to send sample-sized items or full-sized items, the choice is yours. The minimum is 10 - you may send any amount over 10 that you wish to send in. If you want to send in some items, please send us an email at snowberrycreek@hotmail.com along with your banner (not required) and a description of your products. We will get you added to the website, begin to promote your website and products. We will be happy to put you in the "e-tailer spotlight" or the "product showcase", if you are an e-tailer. This is a free service for our e-tailers.

Our boxes are full of goodies such as soaps, tarts, candles, bath teas, bath salts, lip balms, bubble baths, sugar scrubs, salt scrubs, wax melts, herbal teas, coffees, suckers, lotions, and many other wonderful creations. 99% of the items are handcrafted by independent business owners. We believe in supporting independent businesses as we are independent business owners, too.

If you are looking for a new product or a new place to shop, please visit some of our e-tailers websites. Many of them are having special promotions, deals, and discounts at this time. You won't be disappointed. I have personally shopped with many of them and I have been delighted with my purchases each time.

Our January boxes will be on sale Jan. 25th.

Visions of Sugar Plums Dancing in Our Heads

Wait! That’s not sugar plums – it’s lotions, gels, lip balms, bath salts, perfumes, tarts, candles, soaps, and all sorts of hand-crafted wonders. These e-tailers are offering specials, sales, promotions and discounts on many of their items. If you have someone left on your list and don’t quite know what to get for them, maybe one of these sites will be able to help you out. Who knows – you may find something for yourself.

We are starting a list of fantastic bargains for you. We will be updating this list as we receive more information. Check back often. Feel free to leave your comments, as we welcome any and all feedback.

Merry Christmas to all!

30% off with Promo Code DEC2008 through December 24, place your order NO LATER THAN December 12, so your order from Alaska will arrive in time for Christmas.

http://www.themomlady.com/























Free shipping on orders over $25 from http://www.gingersgarden.com/ Just use code GG123108 in the comments section of the shopping cart and your discount will be processed manually







http://www.lemonlollipop.com/


12 Days of Christmas FREE PERFUME GIVEAWAY! I'll draw a name from my subscriber list once a day for 12 days starting December 13th. Winner gets their choice of any one item!










http://www.mrssterlings.com/

Ultra Soy Body Cream 1 oz. $4.95 2 oz. $9.50 5 oz $19.95 (usually $24.95)
Fragrance Black Raspberry Vanilla

Ultra Soy Body Cream $19.95 (Usually $24.95)Buy one 5 oz size receive a 1 oz FREE Fabulous cream and the fragrance is irresistible.Paraben free and all ingredients are derived from botanical products.Fragrance - Black Raspberry Vanilla Most popular

Chocolate Covered Cherry Body Lotion $9.50 Buy one 8 oz. receive 2 oz Body Wash Free!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Body Wash $8.50 Buy one 8 oz. receive 2 oz Body Lotion Free!









http://www.lauraslathers.net/

Lotions; soaps; body sprays; all handcrafted and formulated with ingredients that are not only cleansing, but, great for your body!Don't forget to check my candle line also!

Free shipping on orders placed between December 9th and December 14th - on orders
totaling $25.00.



We are having a huge Teddy Bear Sweater Sale! We have teddy bear sweaters for every season!
These won't last too long! Save some money!
Plus we are having a Teddy Bear Sale! Save 25% off retail. Who doesn't love a teddy bear?
And our site is full of new Teddy Bear Clothes for your holiday shopping!
http://www.teddybearclothes.com/



Pink Papaya Parties at http://www.shop323.net/


Get Some GlamSpoil yourself or someone else with our sexy holiday eye & lip coordinated combos. Each set combines a dimensional eye shadow & mineral shadow (warm ~ blackened jewel & gold minx - cool ~ luminized & ink) luxe crème liner ( warm ~ brown sugar – cool – glacier) & liquid lustre lip lacquer (warm ~ plush – cool ~ pink kisses.) Receive a free mini flat liner brush & champagne quilted make-up bag!

Holiday Vacation SetLook sunkissed & glowing on your vacation or "staycation" without the damaging rays of the sun! Exfoliate first with our newly formulated paraban free ISLAND sweet sugar scrub and get a shimmering bronze glow with our paraban free Sun Glitzed, fortified with Vitamin E and botanical extracts. Purchase the Island Sweet Sugar Scrub and receive Sun Glitzed for $5.00

Holiday TreatsPurchase this combo to indulge a bestfriend or cross two people off your Christmas list. 100% soy candle will fill the room with our signature body & bath fragrances, perfect for the holidays! Combined with our three well kit of paraban free eye shimmering satin shadows in catwalk, sable, & shy to create a perfect gift for someone special.

Pretty as a PrincessSweet as candy and always a princess to you, this is a special gift for the princess in your life. Purchase our sterling silver Princess Necklace and receive our candy super gloss lip gel for $8.00. A perfect stocking stuffer.

Shop under the Specials tab from the online catalog

visit Pink Papaya Parties via www shop323.net