EFFECTIVE WELLNESS

Partial Disclaimer:

ALWAYS remember, I am NOT here to give you the reader any kind of medical advice. I am just here to help you the reader to think.

There are many herbs out there that can alleviate most if not all of someone's pain and discomfort, there are also many herbs out there that can cause severe pain and discomfort. So, one must use common sense.

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Please use it...

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Please use the advice your medical professional may give you.

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Please leave chemistry to the legal professional chemists.

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There are so many benefits of learning about the plant life out there that provide us comfort, delight, healing, a sense of well-being, safety, and a full stomach at times.

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There is always a dark side to it, and here it is:

Not all plant life out there is made for human consumption. Some of it can make you extremely ill or is downright DEADLY if consumed and some even when just touched or smelled or tasted.

There is even a very small... minute... few... amount of professional herbalists out there that have a hard time distinguishing a poisonous plant from a nonpoisonous one. However, they would never (should never) just use it unless they are 100% SURE they are dealing with the plant they intend to use.

Don't think for a moment that you're a professional just because you've read a few books.

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SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MEDICAL ADVICE OR HERBAL ADVICE!

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My story.

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Hi, I'm hoping that tiny little partial disclaimer didn't thwart you from reading on. If you've made it this far...

CONGRATULATIONS!

Just to get to know a little about me;

I enjoy nature and the wonderful complexities it has to offer.

I enjoy making things that come from nature that benefit me and my family.

I enjoy making things that come from nature that are good for me and my family.

Here, on my site, you will find the things my family and myself enjoy.

On my site, you will find information that you may or may not utilize for your benefit, and may or may not like some of the things I like or do for that matter. But here is, nonetheless;

PERSONAL:

I am a husband, I am a father, I am a son, I am a brother, I am an uncle, I am a nephew, I am a cousin.

I am a lover of family, life, knowledge, nature, the creation of things, common sense, and all that is good.

I have zero tolerance for foolishness, blatant disregard for life, evil people, and unnecessary waste.

I am not limited to loving or having zero tolerance for the things previously listed.

I am a family man, a soap maker, an herbal tea maker, and I cook well.

Ok, at least my family and I think I cook well...

I am quick with a smile and/or a short friendly chat and I pick, very carefully, those with which I choose to personally associate myself and my family.

I am blunt (not rude), and try to be as concise as possible with everything I say or do. Some people find offense in my bluntness. I can't help how you feel, how thick or thin your skin is, or how you handle or conduct yourself with outside stimulation. If you are easily offended by truth then I don't know what to tell you. I will not argue.

Rudeness, narcissism, and pessimism in ANY form will not be tolerated.

I respect bluntness as long as you can adhere to the written and unwritten rules of engaging me in conversation.

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SOAP MAKING:

I've been making soaps for a while now and I have to say that it's the most RELAXING business/project/hobby that I have EVER had the pleasure of doing. Making teas is not a close second as it is just as equally rewarding and relaxing. I have been making teas for quite a many years and I love the positive feedback I receive from those I make teas for. It feels so good to know that I've at least helped some people find their way to a better life with better health.

I am hoping to go forward with my soap-making to help those that would like to care for their skin better.

After all, it's the biggest organ on one's body, right?!

That being said, with my soaps I am looking more into the health of the skin, more than the aesthetics of the soap itself.

I am in NO way knocking those absolutely wonderful-looking bars of homemade soaps out there because there are a lot of people that do a fantastic job with them AND use minimal to zero amounts of bad things to make their soaps.

I am just saying that my focus is more on the ingredients of my soaps.

I make vegan-friendly soaps not Vegan Soaps, for two reasons I say vegan-friendly because everything I use aside from the honey and/or milk is plant-based and you can choose for yourself if you want to, or do not want to, use any of my soaps made with honey on your body. They are not for consumption, hence the reason they are not vegan soaps.

(not to mention I've never heard of an edible soap, vegan or otherwise)

There are some ingredients I use in my soaps that may not be suitable for vegans to use due to ethical reasons that I can not control but I DO research and find out which ones are sustainably sourced AND cruelty-free.

I use ZERO animal parts in my soaps.

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I use both honey and/or milk.

Honey is a modified engineering of plants by way of a beautiful and beautifully complex insect called the bee (most commonly known as honey bee "Apis Mellifera") and not a part of their bodies themselves.

Milk is a nutrient-rich liquid food production of proteins, lactose, and antibodies mostly intended for, but not limited to, the young by way of a delivery system called the mammary and is not a part of the body itself.

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I DO use many different kinds of oils/butters including oils/butters derived from tree nuts.

These oils/butters include:

Almond Oil

Castor Oil

Coconut Oil

Olive Oil

Shea Butter

Palm Oil

(an ingredient some vegans don't like to associate with due to some companies (un?)ethical practices)

Avocado Oil

Neem Oil

Jojoba Oil

Apricot Kernel Oil

Argan Oil

Babassu Oil

Cocoa Butter

Grapeseed Oil

Hazelnut Oil

Hempseed Oil

Macadamia Nut Oil

Mango Butter

Flaxseed Oil

Meadowfoam Oil

Pumpkin Seed Oil

Wheatgerm Oil

Evening Primrose Oil

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I do not use:

Tallows or "Sodium Tallowate"

or any form of Lards.

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As previously stated, I do use milk and/or honey in some of my soaps.

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I make all my handmade soaps in small batches. This insures quality. This means that every lovingly made, unique bar is going to be different in shape, coloring, size, and specific weight.

I formulate, mix, and cut each bar myself and as I try to make them all the same in weight, I cannot. So as they may be shown as a certain weight, they can be larger. In other words, you will never get a bar that says 5oz. and it weighs less than that. It can weigh more or exactly what is printed.

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To my knowledge, I do not use any synthetic preservatives, such as, but not limited to:

Butylated hydroxy Anisole or Butylated Hydroxytoluene, or any other nasty substance such as Formaldehyde which you'll find in: quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, Diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol).

Also no usage of the synth preservatives like Methylisothiazolinone & Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Parabens, or anything with the ending -paraben.

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A quick note on parabens:

Parabens are found in many natural foods. Blueberries, Mangos, Strawberries, Peaches, Carrots, Onions, etc., etc...

The DIFFERENCE is that those NATURAL foods are just that. NATURAL.

The parabens found in most beauty products and soaps are not natural at all and are synthetically made in laboratories.

 

I use only plant (seed and/or fruit) oils for fats that are sustainable and gathered cruelty-free.

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To the best of my knowledge, I do not EVER use paraffin wax, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), CADG, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Cocamidopropyl dimethyl glycine, Cocoamphocarboxypropionate, Cocoamphodiproprionate, Disodium cocoamphodipropionate, in any of my soaps.

Triclocarban, and Triclosan which have been banned, have definitely NEVER been used in any of my soaps.

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I use Essential, Absolute, Fragrance, or Co2 oils for scents in my soaps.

There is a lot of controversy on the use of fragrance oils versus always using essential oils.

SOAP IS A RINSE-AWAY, WASH-OFF PRODUCT.

It's not like make-up or lotion which stays on your skin for hours at a time.

I do use fragrance oil in my soaps and they are labeled "FOS" as opposed to my soaps that have essential oil which I label "EOS"... You will always know which one you get from me if you read the label.

(maybe I'll stamp it on each soap from now on...)

Speaking of, so you know, there was/is a big deal about the use of titanium dioxide in soaps because it was "known to cause" lung cancer in animals. The exposure can cause irritation to the eyes throat and nose. That tells me you probably don't want to breathe in the raw ingredient for long periods of time or rub it raw on your face and leave it sit. Also, it's stated in many places that such substances may also have the potential for causing reproductive damage in humans.

Ok, let's get to the point here. Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occurring inorganic compound. It's used as a pigment to make things white or black depending on the kind you get. It is not an inhalant, not a lotion, and not for food typically although there is a "food-grade" TiO₂. So if you are breathing in the powder or rubbing your face and mucus areas with TiO₂ then you may have to fill out a full-page ID-10T form...

Do stupid things, get stupid prizes.

Soap is a rinse-away product as stated before, not a "leave-on" product. Using this in soap has not ever been scientifically proven to do any harm; acute, minute, severe, or otherwise. So please stop the propaganda on how "bad" it is for people when used in soapmaking.

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As I'm quite sure there are several different resources one can go to to find what Titanium Dioxide is; I have nonetheless given you the reader here a partial excerpt from Wikipedia...

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Titanium dioxide

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Description

Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula TiO ₂. When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6, or CI 77891. It is a white, water-insoluble solid, although mineral forms can appear black. -Wikipedia

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Read a Toxicology Study on Titanium Dioxide and decide for yourself!

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BACK TO MY SOAPS...

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I have been learning and using the different techniques of swirls and other designs in my soaps but it's most certainly not my main focus. My focus is quality in ingredients and not a pretty soap.

PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG!!!!

I do try to make them pretty.

I'm not great at it yet.

I use only herbs (botanicals) that have been collected sustainably and without cruelty.

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This next statement about me may unintentionally dissuade some from even thinking about purchasing my product. However, I am being transparent.

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So, as I do love animals;

I am not a vegan or a vegetarian. I do however respect your life choice on your dietary needs.

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That being said...

If I find a particular ingredient in my soaps that are found to be unhealthy or detrimental to one's body I will discontinue the use of such ingredients and find a better, healthier substitute.

If it's an ingredient with any controversy, then said controversy must be proven and backed by, or backed up with, full scientific evidence and proof of its method, and not just biased propaganda or hearsay.

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My goal as a soap maker is to create soaps that do what soap is intended to do:

CLEAN

by way of a fat mixed with an alkali.

Nothing more.

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As I do strive to make soaps that are healthier choices than any store-bought cleanser, dubbed soap, for the body:

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DISCLAIMER:

•  My soaps are not designed to make YOU the user smell good or deodorize one's body.

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• My soaps or ingredients within are not purposely designed or intended to diagnose, cure, prevent, or treat any disease, illness, or problematic skin issues.

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• My soaps are not purposely designed to make you look better.

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• My soaps are not purposely designed to moisturize your skin.

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Most of the ingredients in my soaps have been known to help with some of the previously mentioned matter, but I do not claim that such things can or will happen by using my soaps.

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• My soaps are not allergen free just because they're natural. Please make sure to check for known sensitivities to the ingredients of each soap. It is strongly recommended for those with sensitive skin or a history of sensitive skin that you do a patch test 24 or more hours before general use of my soaps.

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• My soaps aren't for everyone. Due to the different essential, absolute, fragrance, or Co2 oils used in some of my soaps, there are some ingredients in my soaps that pregnant or nursing women and infants should avoid. Please check with your physician first before using or administering my soaps.

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• My soaps are not edible. Just because I say vegan-friendly or the fact that they smell delicious does not mean you should eat them.

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• I have and hold the right to refuse any orders with or without reason at any time.

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• My business and the soaps that you utilize or use are not responsible for any accidents, injuries, or any type of damages whether personal or property, that result from the improper or proper use of my products. The care, that is in your hands only, must be taken when using my soaps in any wet, damp, or dry environment to prevent any falls, accidents, injuries, or damages.

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So, as much as I hate having to make disclaimers, there are many of those out there who either have zero common sense or are just out to get something for nothing. 

And as we, the legitimate business person, try to make an honest dollar, there are those out in the world with zero scruples or a purely vindictive persona that believe they need compensation just for the fact that their heart beats.

Therefore the reason nearly all businesses, unfortunately, need a disclaimer.

Not that our product is less than good or inferior or anything like that.

It's added to make sure that everyone else is sure that we know what our product can and can not do with or without the negligence on another's behalf.

The old saying; "The reason that rule, law, or ordinance was put into effect was {I'm sure some ID-10T form was filled out} because someone had zero common sense and we have been through that headache", is more understandable when one looks at it that way. Because for the most part, it is so true!

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