Our product ingredients

In an effort to provide our customers with as much information as possible, we have compiled a short list of some common Bath & Body product ingredients, additives and what their commonly described functions and benefits are. We hope you will find this list helpful.

Aloe Vera Gel - The Aloe Vera plant has been used for thousands of years for it's healing and moisturizing properties.

Avocado Oil - Emollient used in cosmetics and added to soaps. This thick, nutritious oil is very moisturizing and gentle to the skin. Said to be useful in aiding with dryness and itching from eczema and psoriasis.

Beeswax - Beeswax has the same sweet smell as honey and will impart many wonderful properties to body care products

Cocoa Butter - Natural skin softener & moisturizer. Cocoa butter is also reported to be beneficial for stretch marks, scars etc. Used as an emollient in all kinds of cosmetics.

Goat's Milk - Nourishing & moisturizing to the skin.

Honey - Helps soothe, soften & nourish skin Honey is an excellent moisturizer, hydrator and inhibitor of bacterial growth.

Milk/Dry Milk - Helps cleanse, soften, nourish & moisturize the skin.

Oatmeal - Beneficial to most skin types, even sensitive skin. Soothes, softens & nourishes skin.

Rosemary - Rosemary is stimulating, soothing and helps improve circulation.

Shea Butter - Natural emollient, also known as African Karite Butter. It is extremely moisturizing, is gentle and gives an exotic feel to the skin. Known for it's skin moisturizing properties as well as it's ability to minimize scarring and stretch marks, anti-aging and natural UV protection properties. It has also been said to help speed the healing of burns and cracked skin.

Vitamin E - Natural Emollient & Antioxidant. Vitamin E has long been used for its antioxidant properties in skin care products. It is not a preservative but it will help fight free radicals and extend the shelf life of an oil that seems to be a bit unstable.

Playing in the Mud

Can you remember, as a child, being told not to play in the mud or not to get all muddy? Well today, as an adult, I'm here to tell you it is fine to play in the mud. Actually, it is more than fine, it is beneficial to the health and appearance of your skin, as long as the mud is the rich black mud from the Dead Sea.

Once we discovered the benefits of using Dead Sea mud on the skin we immediately started our research and testing of this ingredient. About 4 years ago Linda made soap with mud and we made every effort to convince people of its benefits and the advantages of using this particular soap. People looked at me as if I had lost my mind suggesting they actually bathe with mud. After all, the purpose of bathing is to get the dirt off not wash with it. We did have a few people willing to try it but not many at that time. Then came Irena's Spa Ice soap made with a very high concentration of salt, this also took a lot to get folks to give it a try but try it they did. Susan then came up with the idea of making a cream facial cleanser similar to the goat milk facial cleanser, using Dead Sea mud instead of goat milk. Now we are seeing a lot of big name brands out there with large marketing budgets talking about products made with Dead Sea mud and salt. The difference is our ingredients vs their ingredients. The only thing in common is the mud. Our bar soap is made with ingredients far superior to what is being offered by this big name brand and more than likely a lot more mud and salt. I am not sure they even offer a cream facial cleanser that not only deep cleans but if left on the skin for a few minutes its similar to having a facial while you cleanse and moisturize. Through our persistence and our willingness to give samples to anyone that will accept them, men, women and teens are experiencing the benefits of bathing in Dead Sea mud and salts.

The benefits provided by use of the mineral salts and/or mud from the Dead Sea are truly amazing although, it is no secret. The Dead Sea has been known for its healing benefits as early as the time of Abraham. Throughout history the Dead Sea is mentioned for medical benefits as well as cosmetic use. Marc Antony fought for possession of this area and won, for his beloved Cleopatra.

Reportedly, the Dead Sea contains 21 minerals, twelve of these are found in no other sea or ocean.

• Sodium - ions remove skin scales, binding the water and generate a feeling of suppleness, ideal for very dry skin.
• Magnesium - essential for cell metabolism. Testing of skin scales of patients with psoriasis has found a significant deficit of magnesium.
• Potassium - improves oxidation.
• Bromide - has a very relaxing effect.
• Bitumen - a natural tar acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
• Chlorine - vital for cell metabolism.
• Iodine - necessary for the production of the hormone thyroxin, vital for both energy and cell metabolism.
• Calcium - strengthens cell membranes and cleanses the pores.
• Zinc - enzymatic regulation of cell proliferation.

The rich, natural minerals of mud from the Dead Sea are all essential for healthy skin. It helps the skin to renew and regenerate cells, preventing aging, stimulates blood circulation, rejuvenating the skin. The tightening action of the mud promotes circulation by increasing the supply of oxygen to and removing the toxins from the skin, toning and firming up skin tissues, leaving the skin radiant. Removal of impurities due to gentle exfoliation and pore penetration it absorbs accumlated dirt, grime, makeup, sebum, skin will be clean not only on the surface, but deep below the surface where problems begin.

Having read all of this and learning skin care products made with the salt, mud or a combination of both have the ability to:

• improves blood circulation and promotes cell regeneration
• exfoliates, deep cleans the skin removing impurities and toxins
• proven to provide relief for psoriasis, eczema, acne and wrinkles
• moisturizes and helps natural skin hydration

What can be more healthful or natural than playing in the mud? If you're in the area, stop by the store and pick up a sample of our mud soap. A purchase is never required.

Ethnic Skin and Hair Care

Ethnic Skin and Hair Care

Ashy skin? Dry scalp? Malnourished hair? All of these problems are significant to ethnic skin and hair. Finding the correct proportions of essential oils and butters without the petroleum byproducts and hard waxes like carnauba, has long been sought in ethnic skin and hair care. Petroleum byproducts are known to clog pours while hard waxes coat the skin and hair shaft not allowing the much needed absorption of nutrients.

Spa Splendors Hair Butter blends Shea butter with Olive and Jojoba Oils which have long been known for their wonderful healthy skin and hair properties. In addition the use of Essential Oils specifically chosen for their beneficial properties to the hair and scalp, makes Hair Butter supreme for not only your hair, but for your whole body. It is all natural with no preservatives which means no Parabens or other harmful manmade chemicals.

Shea butter contains high percentages of Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Vitamin E has long been known to increase blood flow to the skin thus bringing more oxygen to the skin surface. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/pdf/5554.pdf “Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin, is an antioxidant vitamin involved in the metabolism of all cells. It protects vitamin A and essential fatty acids from oxidation in the body cells and prevents breakdown of body tissues.”
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/pdf/5551.pdf “Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, plays essential roles in vision, growth, and development; the development and maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes; immune functions; and reproduction.”

Essential Oil Usage 1

Everyone sees all the volumes of information on essential oils and aromatherapy and wants to try and see if it will help. Most do not realize that they are already using aromatherapy in their everyday lives. Lavender scented candles and fabric softener, citrus scented house cleansers, mint candies. They are all part of aromatherapy. Here at Coast to Coast Soapworks, we do use many essential oils in our products. Much thought and research goes into every scent created with essential oils. It is our responsibility to make sure these blends are beneficial and not harmful to our customers.
A good beginning place is to start with cleansing or detoxifying. Detoxifying is shedding the body and mind from all the toxins that are accumulated in our day to day lives. A blend of Juniper, Rose Geranium, Lavender, Cypress and citrus among others are blended with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil to create an overall detoxifying blend. This blend may be used in a warmer or as a perfume you can even put a few drops in the tub for a relaxing soak. Pure essential oils should always be mixed with carrier oils for use on the skin due to the strengths and possible toxic skin reactions. There are few essential oils that are an exception to this rule. It is always better to err on the side of safety.

Skin Care Regimen

We all know the importance of cleansing daily but, do we realize how important it is to build a skin care regimen and stick to it? Daily cleansing is vital to remove bacteria, germs and dead skin from our bodies to keep our skin healthy and radiant. It is vitally important to cleanse the face at least twice a day, the most important time is at bed time. At the end of the day it is important to deep clean the face to remove dirt, environmental grime, makeup and dead skin cells. A good facial cleanser with a gentle exfoliant such as our Goatmilk Cream Facial Cleanser is an excellent choice for cleansing, light exfoliation, detoxifying and moisturizing the skin. Although goat milk is great for most all skin types, there are those that need just a little bit more.

If you have extremely dry skin we also have a soap-less facial cleanser although it does not contain an exfoliant it does clean the pores, removes makeup (except mascara) and moisturizes deeply. It is a product available in our store and through the Scents of Eden website, called Squalane. Squalane is a blend of olive oil, Squalane, vitamin e and other oils known to be beneficial to maturing skin. We have received rave reviews from our customers that have been looking for a product that will cleanse without further drying out their already dry skin. While Squalane will provide most of what is needed for facial cleansing and moisturizing a gentle exfoliant is highly recommended as part of your daily regimen. In this instance I'd recommend our Date Palm Body Polish. What exactly is Squalane? It is one of the natural moisturizing factors found in the skin. As we age, the ability to produce these natural moisturizing factors decreases. Squalane helps boost the skins ability to regenerate, hydrate and protect itself aiding in the prevention of skin aging.

Exfoliating should be a part of your daily skin care regimen. Our Date Palm Body Polish, as mentioned above is fantastic for facial use as well as all over body use, especially on extremely dry skin. The gentleness of the ground dates will slough off dead skin while the palm and other combined oils will moisturize your skin leaving it supple and radiant.

We also offer a European Spa Salt Body Glow. This exfoliant is a bit more abrasive than the previous exfoliant mentioned. The benefit of using salt from the Dead Sea is its ability to detoxify the skin while buffing it to a healthy glow. The many minerals contained in Dead Sea salt are extremely beneficial especially to those suffering from eczema or psoriasis. Studies of scales taken from skin with psoriasis have reported the lack of magnesium in the affected skin. Dead Sea salt is very high in magnesium and is reputed to aid in the relief of the symptoms of these skin conditions.

Our Brown Sugar scrub is another exceptional exfoliant and moisturizer for all over body use for all types of skin. It is extremely good for maintaining those "sandal feet".

Now that we've cleansed, exfoliated and rinsed well we need to moisturize. Depending on your skin type you will either need a deep moisturizer or something not quite so heavy. I have oily skin so Fresh Face is suitable for my needs. Fresh Face is a light moisturizer/toner/clarifier that contains herbal extracts, such as Calendula and Witch Hazel, both known to have astringent properties, so while it is moisturizing it is tightening pores as well. Those with any other skin type would benefit from our Night Face moisturizer. It is made to replenish the skin while you sleep.

If we get ourselves into a routine of following a daily skin care regimen we'll benefit in more ways than one. When we look good, we feel good about ourselves. Not only the skin is being nourished but the mind and spirit are being nourished and rejuvenated as well.

Some herbs we use

Remember the song “Scarborough Fair”? Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme? They are all herbs, but they do more than make food taste good.

I love working with herbs and essential oils. They are nature’s pharmacy as well as it culinary store. Parsley eaten after a meal freshens the breath.

Rosemary, one of my favorites, is an astringent and stimulant. When used in hair products, it helps to stimulate the hair bulbs and calm dandruff and scruff. In stimulating the scalp with rubbing, it invigorated the blood and oxygenation to the surface. These actions promoted healing cuts and scrapes as well. The astringent part of Rosemary helps in keeping wounds clean and germ free. In aromatherapy, it is used as a stimulant to bring the mind to a more active state.

Lavender has long been known as the “Soother”. It calms and soothes the skin and mind.
Skin irritations appear more soothed and calm in the inflamed areas. The scent is widely used to cover more medicinal aromas in many medicines.

Chamomile is another soother. It helps to relieve the pain from bruises and cuts. When used in hair products, it helps soothe the scalp from all the different stresses we put our hair through. It helps relieve the itchiness from dry skin also.

Linda

Labeling Games

How many times have we all picked up one product or another because the label says "Enriched with Vitamin E" or "100% pure Shea Butter"? If you are a label reader, as I am, you will notice the order of predominance on the ingredient panel. Somewhere, down at the bottom is listed Tocopherol. Tocopherol is the INCI name for Vitamin E. Usually used in formulas for its anti-oxidant properties, aiding in the prevention of other oils going rancid.

My favorite is the one brought to me by a customer, asking if we carry a specific product. We do not sell any commercially manufactured products. Her question was fine with me, she wouldn't know if she didn't ask. This product claimed 100% pure Shea Butter. Opening the jar I could see immediately it was an emulsion, without looking at the ingredient panel this product was indeed not 100% pure shea butter. The shea butter used in the product I'm sure was 100% pure but the finished product most certainly is not. If this were true the ingredient panel would read "Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) fruit. Nothing more. However, this was not the case. Shea Butter being listed 7th in the list of ingredients does not qualify this as 100% pure. How sad is it that a large manufacturer has to use deceitful marketing tactics in order to sell their products? Pretty pathetic, in my opinion.

Manufacturers that use these labeling tactics are targeting an uninformed market. My daily encounters with the public leads me to believe these particular manufacturers will soon be changing their game. People are asking questions, very good questions. They are becoming more and more informed as the days pass by. Information is a powerful tool, provided you have accurate information.

To list an ingredient on the front label the only requirement is that there be a minimum of 1% of that specific ingredient in the formula. Since most of us formulate in small batches of 5 gallons or less that would be a grand total of 6.4 ounces in a 640 ounce batch. Not very much at all. Not enough for me to use that ingredient as a selling point.

The best advise I can offer is, become informed. Ask questions. If you don't feel as though your answer is satisfactory or informative enough ask for literature, research on the web, be satisfied with the information you receive and ask more questions. Information is a wonderful thing as well as very important. After all, we are talking about the health of your skin, the largest, most abused organ of the body. I spend a good part of the day answering questions and offering information that people don't even realize they want or need. I am guilty of getting a bit to technical at times but I know when I've gone that far. People get a look in their eyes, its that "HUH?" look. Thankfully, I'm quickly forgiven. I can't stress enough the importance of asking questions about the ingredients you are considering putting on your body and the bodies of your loved ones.