Good question. Fair question. I have been a nurse for 40 years. What made me decide to start making bath and beauty products? Why are my products better than the next person's products?
Basically, why do I do what I do?
First of all, I am a bath person. I believe that you are either a bath or shower person. A bath is my zen place. It allows me to relax, destress, think over the day, and plan for the next. Baths can be very drying on the skin, especially if you like the water temp to be low boil, like me.
What made me decide to start making my own products? My skin used to be so dry after a bath, that i would slather myself with baby oil. It is amazing to be able to use soap, throw a bath bomb in the tub, use some bath salts, and not have to do that. Every time I get into the tub, I can practically feel my skin say "Ahhhhhhh. This feels good".
Why wouldnt everyone else want that?
Why are my products better than the next person's? There are amazing soap makers out there. They are my idols. I truly believe that soap making, as with most things, is an ever changing skill with massive opportunities to grow. I can say that i do research on all of the ingredients that I use in my products. I have made a decision not to use palm oil because of the way it is harvested. I use organic products when available. Every ingredient is paraben and phthalate free. I use my ingredients thoughtfully and appropriately for the product being developed.
Do I use my own products exclusively? Heck yeah! Isnt that the point? I am my own test dummy. If I use it, and like it, I start passing product out to my friends ( you know who you are). Then I take their feedback and continue to develop my product until I am happy with it. Then Labels and oackaging are developed. Only then does a product go up on my websites.
How long does it take to develop a new product? Every product is a little different. It takes the time it takes. A year is how long it took me to develop a soap that felt moisturizing and had a great lather. It took 6 months to develop my lotion bars into a final product. I always have products I am working on. I wont put anything out there i am unhappy with. i guess what I am saying is that it takes time. It's not as simple as grabbing a recipe off Pinterest and running with it.
I chose to become HSCG certified. So what? HSCG stands for Handcrafted Soap And Cosmetics Guild. HSCG is a nonprofit trade organization for small businesses handcrafting soap, cosmetics, and candles. It is the largest organiztion of its type in the world. HSCG offers the opportunty to become certified in soap and cosmetic making. A test is taken, and product recipes and actual product have to be turned in and judged. These exams cover ingredients, safe manufacturing practice, safe use and storage of products, and chemistry (ugh). But i have completed my first two levels of certification, and am working on my next ones!! I am proud of myself for obatining these certifications, and eger for the opportunity for growth.
Hopefully. all that helps explain why I do what I do. I have products still in development, and so many ideas!! There are always new things to make!! I have a comprehensive list, lol!! I have something for the fur babies coming along nicely, as well as something for the littles.
Until next time!
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