Dead Sea Salt: Is it really better?

Today we take a look at one of the ingredients I use in my B&B products: Dead Sea salt!

Dead Sea Salt refers to salt extracted or taken from the Dead Sea. It is a popular ingredient of many common bath products including bath salts, salt scrubs, foot scrubs, body wraps, bath bombs, soaps, and a wide variety of other cosmetic products, including makeup.... but is it all it's cracked up to be? It appears so!

Dead Sea salts have been reported to have the following benefits:

• Rheumatologic Conditions – Dead Sea salts can be effective in balneotherapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Osteoarthritis. The minerals are absorbed while soaking, stimulating blood circulation.
• Common Skin Ailments – Research has demonstrated that skin disorders such as acne and psoriasis are relieved by regular soaking in water with added Dead Sea salt. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends Dead Sea and Dead Sea salts as effective treatments for psoriasis. One study concluded that the high concentration of magnesium in Dead Sea salt was instrumental in improving skin hydration and reducing inflammation. Another study conducted at the University of Negev, Israel also looked into the claims of Dead Sea Salt and found that although common salt provides benefits to psoriasis suffers, Dead Sea Salt does a slightly better job at reducing it's symptoms (when soaking it salt baths regularly).
• Allergies - The high concentration of bromide and magnesium in the Dead Sea salt can relieve allergic reactions by cleansing and detoxifying.
• Skin Aging – Further research into Dead Sea salt benefits has shown a 40% reduction in the depth of wrinkling.

What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade in Skin Care Products

Batty's Bath only purchases ingredients from Fair Trade Compliant companies and I often get ask what exactly this means. The fair trade program has come out of the human rights & ethics movement. It's in place because many people (such as myself) are sickened that already impoverished countries are continuing to be exploited for their resources.

The basics of Fair Trade are...

...that the profits go back to the communities that produce the goods, that environmentally friendly production methods are used, and that forced labor is never used. I couldn't sleep at night if I wasn't doing what I could to ensure that each aspect of my business is only helping and not hindering anyone, anything, or any place. It's a high ethical calling but I can't imagine running a business any other way.

For more information about fair trade, check out what About.com says about it:

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What is Fair Trade? Do you ever wonder what the term "Fair Trade" means when you are shopping for skin care and beauty products? Here are the fair trade basics when it comes to skin care and beauty products.

When you're shopping for skin care and beauty products, you likely will notice when a product label reads "Fair Trade", but you might be wondering, "What is fair trade"?

When you look at the list of ingredients your product has, you may notice ingredients such as cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe and seaweed, just to name a few, that make the skin care products what they are. These natural ingredients come from farmers who provide to the skin care companies.

What typically happens is that the farmer sells to a middle man, who may sell to another middle man, who then sells to the company who makes the products. This leaves the farmers who produced the ingredients with only a small piece of the profits they worked so hard for. Many times the farmers and communities are taken advantage of, and are left to take what they can, instead of what they deserve.

When a company chooses to get these ingredients in a way that treats the producers fairly, they work directly with them and pay them a fair wage for their work, and their product.

Many times these working relationships coincide with marginalized communities who make their entire living producing and harvesting. Having a fair trade contract gives them the money they deserve, getting out of poverty, creating an opportunity for children to go to school, giving the community the funds to provide what is needed, such as water wells and hospitals for example.

While fair trade is growing in popularity, it is definitely not the norm. If you would like to support marginalized communities with your everyday purchases, read labels, ask employees and do your research. If you're going to make a purchase anyway, it's always nice to know that your purchase made a direct impact for the good.


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Easy Green & Natural Polisher You Can Do at Home!

Although I've never tried it myself, I've read that pineapple is natural skin polisher that comes with a clinical proof of efficiency! Apparently, just rubbing your skin with a slice of pineapple works magic on dilated pores and minor skin flakiness.

So what is it about pineapple that makes it so special? Bromelain! Pineapples have an abundance of this enzyme that is clinically used as a skin debrider (dead tissue remover) when treating burns.

Additionally, I found out that in a study done by the University of Honolulu, the researchers found that bromelain interferes with growth of malignant cells (essentially slowing down the growth of these malignant cells ) while also decreasing inflammation! Now that's some sweet stuff :)

Natural Focus: Herbs That Help with Anxiety

Passionflower - an ingredient that is often used in natural medicine, alleviates hyperactivity, anxiety, insomnia, nervous tension -- and is even sometimes used to treat Parkinson's Disease. Passion flower soothes and calms and can lower high blood pressure.

Lemon balm - a general restorative for the nervous system, can reduce blood pressure and also calm the digestive system.

Lavender - an excellent anxiety treatment and one of the best natural panic attack treatments. Lavender is a general tonic for the nervous system and a natural relaxant.

Valerian - a popular natural ingredient that can be used as a sedative and a painkiller. It is often effectively employed as a treatment for anxiety and for insomnia, as well.

Rosacea Skin Care

Wondering if You have Rosacea?
Rosacea is a frustrating skin condition that begins subtly, with the intermittent appearance of redness along the cheeks and nose. If left untreated, rosacea almost always worsens. Read More

Here are the signs to look for:

• Red flushing over the cheeks and nose
• Consistent, though random, and often extreme skin sensitivity
• Acne-like bumps (but the bumps are not acne)
• Flakey skin, sometimes accompanied by oily skin
• Visible tiny blood vessels that may become more noticeable over time
• Other concerns, which can still be present: dry skin, wrinkles, sun damage, and skin discolorations
• Almost anyone can get rosacea, but those affected most often are lighter skinned women. Men are less likely to have rosacea, but when they do, they have more noticeable problems, including swollen bumps along the nose called rhinophyma.

What causes rosacea?
Although the exact cause of rosacea is unknown, various theories about the disorder's origin have evolved over the years. Facial blood vessels dilate too easily, and the increased blood near the skin surface makes the skin appear red and flushed. Various things -- called trigger factors -- can increase this redness response. Acne-like bumps appear, often in the redder area of the central face. This may be due to factors related to blood flow, skin bacteria, microscopic skin mites (Demodex), irritation of follicles, sun damage of the connective tissue under the skin, an abnormal immune or inflammatory response, or psychological factors. None of these possibilities has been proven, although potential inflammatory pathways have been identified in recent ongoing research -- including an immune response triggered by a type of antimicrobial protein known as cathelicidin. A recent study also found that certain bacteria present on otherwise harmless Demodex mites could prompt an inflammatory response in rosacea patients.



What You Should Eliminate from Your Skin-Care Routine:
If you have rosacea, it is critical that you eliminate the parts of your normal skin-care routine that increase inflammation, and make skin redder, such as the following:

• Harsh cleansers such as "beauty bars" that contain detergents
• Drying liquid or lotion cleansers (again, that contain detergents)
• Toners with alcohol and fragrance
• Abrasive scrubs
• Rough washcloths
• At-home facial peels
• Using too many products at the same time.

What to Eliminate: Specific Ingredients
Skin-care ingredients that make rosacea worse include the following, and, shockingly, they often show up in skin-care products whose labels claim they are specifically for those with rosacea:

• Fragrant plant extracts such as cinnamon, rosemary, lavender, and rose
• Some Synthetic fragrances
• Lemon, lime, menthol, peppermint, pine, and cedar
• Alcohol
• Witch hazel

What are the benefits of Jasmine?

Did you know that Jasmine's warm, floral aroma, soothes aching muscles, induces sound sleep and the scent is reportedly an aphrodisiac! It is a sensual, soothing, calming oil that promotes love and peace.

Since ancient times, Jasmine has been referred to as the King of oils (Rose is the Queen). Apparently this is because Jasmine is the most masculine of all the floral oils.

It is also interesting to note that it takes 8,000 carefully hand-picked blossoms to produce 1 gram (about 1 ml.) of Jasmine Absolute.

Pore Clogging Ingredients

"Noncomedogenic" basically means "non pore clogging". You've probably seen "won't clog pores" or noncomedogenic on products before but how can you be sure? We've all learned by now that it's hard to trust advertising and packaging claims, especially when they are products of a big faceless company. Handmade, approachable, small time sellers are usually more trust worthy as they are often up front about their ingredients - including why they include them in their formulas - but it's alway best to educate yourself first - it's your best line of defense about false or uneducated claims. Today I wanted to share with you a few ingredients to look out for when it comes to facial skin care. The last thing you want to do is use something that's supposed to clean or hydrate your skin that actually ends up clogging pores and causing breakouts. Although there are some exceptions to using comedogenic ingredients in your skin care routine, today I'll just stick with the general comedogenic ingredients that shouldn't be part of a daily routine.

Some of the most common ones are:

• Isopropyl myristate
• Cetyl alcohol
• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
• Laureth-4
• Cocoa butter
• D & C red dyes.

Even the prescription acne medication Retin-A (in the cream form) has one of the worst offenders - isopropyl myristate. If that doesn't make you paranoid about who to trust with your skin, I don't know what would! Be your own advocate for your skin and check the ingredients.

If you have acne on your body and/or near your hairline, be sure and check your hair products, especially hair rinses that leave a residue on the hair. These could be contributing to body acne - beware of every product you put on your body and hair that might come into contact with places you find particularly prone to acne. Moreover, get rid of any products that are stripping your skin of it's natural oils! I know I've said this many times before, but I'll continue to say it because it's so important when it comes to combating skin problems! As soon as you use these types of products (think commercially made body wash, "beauty bars", and the like) that include detergents in them, your skin's natural oil balance becomes out of whack which results in overly dry skin or an over production of oil (both of which can cause breakouts)!

New Release: Hair Therapy Shampoo Bar

All-in-One 100% Natural Cold Press Soap Bar:

Shampoo Bar, Body Bar, & Facial Bar for Acne Prone Skin (Great Travel Bar!)

This large handcrafted premium shampoo soap bar is rich in nourishing Organic Hemp Oil, Tea Tree, Rosemary & Peppermint Essential Oils. This is an all-in-one bar for both hair and body that helps to treat a dry scalp as well as acne. This bar is great for traveling!

You'll find Batty's Bath Hair Therapy Shampoo Bar available

on Etsy as well as at BattysBath.com

Our Hair Therapy Shampoo Bar is the first release of our 100% Natural Cold Press Soap Line! You can except more releases on Etsy shortly, or go to BattysBath.com to see the full line now!

**Read all about our 100% Natural Cold Press Soap Line below**

Batty's Bath Cold Press Soaps are 100% natural and made from scratch using old world techniques & ingredients. The care that was put into soap making years ago as well as the recipes that were passed down from generation to generation make their come back with these creamy, soft soaps that produce spectacular lather! The luscious lather from these soaps are not produced by any synthetic ingredients or chemical boosters; instead Batty uses specific oils in her soap batches that are known to be mild on the skin while producing great lather! In fact, they lather up so well that they can easily be used to shave with!



There are no short cuts when it comes to the cold press method - these soaps take weeks to cure but are well worth the wait! Batty's Bath handmade method of soap making ensures the most amount of glycerin possible is retained unlike commercial soap making. Retaining the glycerin makes a softer, milder soap which is emollient and moisturizing to the skin.



Batty's Bath Cold Press Soap is ideal for those with sensitive skin, for conditions such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis or anyone allergic to commercial soap because they don't strip the skin of its natural, beneficial oils. In fact, they are mild enough to use on babies' delicate skins.



These 100% natural soaps do not contain any synthetic ingredients, colours, or scents. Instead they are made with the freshest, highest quality natural ingredients, colored with natural clays, and scented with aromatherapy grade essential oils.



If you haven't experienced the world of Batty's Bath Cold Press Soaps then you are in for a real treat! Many bath & body lovers say that once you try natural cold press soaps that have been made with the finest ingredients and utmost care, that there's go going back to anything they were using before!



Size of Each Soap Bar: 153 g / 5.4 oz

All our cold press soaps are beautifully packaged in repurposed materials and because of this no two soap wrappings look the same!Read more about our unique packaging here.

What are Essential Oils?

If you've been following me for sometime, or are a serious bath & body addict, you've heard of essential oils and their healing properties. Today we will take a look at exactly what essential oils are!

So what are they?
An essential oil is a concentrated liquid usually obtained by distillation from various parts of a plant. It is an entirely natural substance, completely free of any harmful chemicals, and has the specific fragrance and aroma of the plant it was derived from. An essential oil is basically the essence of a plant. Essential oils are highly volatile, that's why they are sometimes also called volatile oils, and are also very concentrated. Therefore, they should always be handled with care.

The whole practice of aromatherapy is based around essential oils. Some of the most widely used essential oils are lavender, eucalyptus, rose, cedarwood, patchouli, orange and others. Each type of oil has its own special properties, some of which have been known from ancient times. Actually, essential oils have been used for healing purposes for centuries and they have a long tradition in various parts of the world.

Essential oils have many therapeutic uses for the prevention and treatment of both physical and psychological conditions. They can be used to heal digestive problems, skin issues, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression and the list can go on. Essential oils are either inhaled or applied directly to the skin, but only in diluted forms. A common treatment involving essential oils is a body massage. Compresses are also used to alleviate various pains. The inhalation of essential oils can be done in several ways: by placing the oils in a diffuser, which spreads the fragrance across the room, by dry evaporation or by spray.

Essential oils are also effective in dealing with stress and are commonly used for relaxation purposes. They have many benefits, but they can also become dangerous if not handled properly so leave "playing around with them" to the experts!

Beware of Anti-Bacterial Soaps

Why are so many commercial products bought and produced by adding bacteriocide Triclosan? bacter-what you say? ... Think anti-bacterial soaps or personal care items that proclaim the equivalent of ‘Kills Bacteria On Contact,’ or, ‘Kills the Germs That Cause Bad Breath.’

The claims sound great but the triclosan in antibacterial soaps and cleaners are a gender bender that is disrupting the natural growth of frogs and was found in 55% of the rivers and streams in America is 2002.

As far as I'm concerned the age old quote that states "soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants" says it all. We don't need to be washing with triclosan. But don't just take my word for it. Molecular biologist John Gustafson of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces says:

"What is this stuff doing in households when we have soaps? These substances really belong in hospitals and clinics, not in the homes of healthy people." - Scientific American

Moreover, Scientific American teaches us that triclosan does more harm than good. It appears that after, say, spraying a counter with an antibiotic cleaner, some chemicals linger and continue to kill bacteria but don't get all of them. The ones that survive develop a tolerance: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" Soon we have populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Thankfully everyone can find a handmade soap maker (usually in their own community!) that still makes soap from scratch with the purest ingredients. If you haven't switched to handmade soap yet, now is a great time! Your skin (and the tadpoles) with thank you :)

Want Extra Lather From Your Shampoo?

With many people switching to sulfate free shampoos, there has been some concern over the amount of lather they produce. Sulfates are added to dozen of products to great lather - many of you have probably heard me explaining to someone that SLS is a "booster" meaning it's what makes the bubbles.

Although all my shampoos are sulfate free, there's no need to worry about not getting a great lather. Yes, they will lather less than shampoos with sulfates, but I've picked out the best natural ingredients that are known to lather up nicely. But with that being said, did you know that you can get a lot more lather if you wash your hair twice? If you've worked in the food industry and come home with hair smelling like a deep fryer, you know about lathering up twice! The reason that shampoos lather up better the second time is that the first wash cleans away any "anti-foamers" like dirt and excess oil that stop the shampoo from lathering up as much. So, when you shampoo again, you get a lot more lather than the first time because there's nothing in your hair to stop the lather from foaming up!

But is shampooing twice bad for your hair? It depends. It depends on the type of shampoo you're using. If you're using a shampoo that's damaging your hair by drying it out with harsh detergents, than yes, shampooing twice would be bad for your hair (as would the first time!). But if you're using a mild formula, there's no reason why you can't lather up twice. Just be aware that you might need more conditioner :)

7 Things You May Not Know About Chamomile

1. Because if its distinct apple smell the Greeks named it Kamai – Ground Apple and the Spaniards named it Manzanilla – Little Apple

2. Peter Rabbit's mother gave him chamomile tea when he was feeling ill.

3. A German study found that the herb inactivates bacterial toxins.

4. Chamomile comes in capsule, liquid, and tea form.

5. European herbalists call chamomile "the mother of the gut."

6. People have collected the herb from the wild or bought it from the herb seller for more than 2,000 years and used it to treat digestive illnesses.

7. Chamomile is a member of the Daisy Family.

Click here for more blog posts about chamomile.

H2O: Dangerous Chemical - How Gullible Are We?

H2O: Dangerous Chemical!

A student at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide".



And for plenty of good reasons, since:



1. it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting

2. it is a major component in acid rain

3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state

4. accidental inhalation can kill you

5. it contributes to erosion

6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes

7. it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients



He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.



* Forty-three (43) said yes,

* six (6) were undecided,

* and only one (1) knew that the chemical was water.



The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"



He feels the conclusion is obvious.

(This was found on the newsgroup: rec.humor.funny)

A note from Batty:

I thought this fit in extremely well into some of the junk science that is out there pertaining to beauty products! See the "be informed" section of this blog for more insight.

The Wonderful Shea Butter Tree

The Shea Butter Tree is highly valued in Africa. Shea Butter from the Shea Tree which is also known as the African Karite Tree. Shea Butter is world renowned for its exceptional moisturizing andskin-softening effects, and has traditionally been used for its anti-irritant and sunscreen properties. The Karite tree is very unique in that it cannot be cultivated as we know cultivation. The fruit from the Karite tree is dark green and falls to the ground when ripe. The fallen fruit of the karite tree is picked from the ground. Shea Butter, extracted from the nut of the Karite Tree is one of the most healing, nourishing, soothing, and protective emollients available.

Shea Butter is a skin conditioning agent that coats the skin with a fine film; thereby diminishing water loss and leaving the skin softened and protected. Shea Butter has numerous benefits, including the treatment of dry skin, sunburns, dermatitis, and stretch marks. This natural fat obtained from the fruit of the shea tree is a valuable, nourishing addition to moisturizers for the reduction of wrinkles and to improve the elasticity of the skin and protect it against environmental aging. So pure, so wholesome, it accommodates all skin types, from the most tender to the toughest.

The Shea Tree grows up to 60 feet and can live up to 300 years. It is known as the “Tree Of Life” to the people of Africa. The Shea Karite Tree is most active in June and July. The Karite Tree produces its fruits once a year. also known as karite butter (fruit of the karite tree), is a natural moisturizer. Extracted from the nut of the karite tree found in west and central Africa, this amazing, naturally vitamin-rich butter is one of the most healing, nourishing, and protective emollients available.

The Shea Tree takes 25 years before it starts to produce fruit, which looks similar to a large plum. The nuts from the Shea Tree is what Shea butter is extracted from. Shea Butter—This fat obtained from the fruit of the karite tree is a skin-conditioning ingredient that is well-known for its skin-smoothing property.

7 Things You May Not Know About Jojoba

1. The story goes that an unknown observer asked the Native Americans the name of the oil they were rubbing on their bodies and hair and then wrote the name "jojoba".

2. Jojoba has been assigned the name Simmondsia chinensis by the botanical world. The name however comes about by an error. Link, a botanist, traveled around the world collecting seeds and plants to catalog and describe. By mistake he got the seeds of the jojoba plant mixed up with seeds that he had collected in China.

3. Jojoba "oil" is a natural mimic of the oil secreted by human skin so it may be used to protect and lubricate skin and hair. It is soothing, stops multitudinous skin problems and protects against premature aging and wrinkling of the skin caused by exposure to ultra violet radiation.

4. Jojoba has the distinction of being the first native plant since corn to be successfully domesticated.

5. U.S.A. university studies in the twenties and thirties confirmed the fact that the valuable sperm whale oil and JoJoba oil had identical characteristics and structure with the notable exception of a fishy odor.

6. JoJoba is odorless and absorbs deep into the skin, resulting in a smooth satin appearance, it does not lay on top looking sticky.

7. All vegetable oils contain insaponifiables to some degree, most around 2 to 3%. JoJoba has 50%.

Click here for more blog posts about jojoba.

6 Things You May Not Know About Shea

1. The shea fruit consists of a thin, tart, nutritious pulp that surrounds a relatively large, oil-rich seed from which is extracted shea butter.

2. it is believed that some of the early users of shea butter were such noted women as Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba.

3. The Karite tree(shea tree) grows without assistance from man. In fact, most attempts by the Europeans to cultivate it have proven to be unsuccessful.

4. Shea butter is a particularly effective moisturizer because contains so many fatty acids, which are needed to retain skin moisture and elasticity.

5. Shea butter protects the skin from both environmental and free-radical damage. It contains vitamins A and E, and has demonstrated both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

6. Shea butter has been used to help heal burns, sores, scars, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, and stretch marks.

Click here for more blog posts about shea.

The Benefits of Shea Butter

I mentioned in a previous post that I would start to spotlight the ingredients I use and today is shea butter's turn to be in the lime light! I use shea butter in a lot of my products including many of my soaps, solid perfume and body butters because of all of it's amazing benefits! Keep reading to find out exactly why I'm so attached to this marvelous butter :)

What is Shea Butter?

Shea Butter is only found in the tropics of Africa. It is extracted from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree which begins to bear fruit after about 15 years; and can take up to 30 years to bear a quality crop of nuts with a high content of irremovable fatty acid. It is this irremovable fatty acid that gives Shea Butter its unique healing properties and makes it far superior to cocoa butter and other vegetable butters. Traditionally, Shea Butter was extracted by people who picked the nuts, cracked them, grilled them and pounded them. They were boiled in water for hours until the Shea Butter rose to the surface. It was then scooped into gourds and left to cool and set. Shea Butter is solid at room temperature although it quickly liquefies right around body temperature. This Shea Butter is called unrefined Shea Butter or raw Shea Butter. Since Shea Butter is an all natural product, it can vary widely in quality, appearance and smell depending on where it is produced from and how it is refined or extracted. Most Shea Butter comes from West Africa. Although a more soft and smoother variety from East Africa is beginning to appear on the market.

What skin problems can Shea Butter help with?

Shea Butter can provide relief from everything from just dry skin to many minor dermatological diseases (if you have a serious skin condition, you should see a doctor). It has been clinically shown to provide benefits. Here are some of the benefits of Shea Butter for the skin:

• Skin moisturizer (face and body)
• Dry skin relief
• Dry scalp relief
• Skin rash- including diaper rash
• Skin peeling, after tanning
• Blemishes and wrinkles
• Itching skin due to dryness
• Sunburn
• Shaving cream to reduce razor irritation
• Small skin wounds
• Skin cracks
• Soften tough skin on feet (especially heels)
• Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy
• Minor burns
• Eczema
• Sun and wind protection
• Even skin tone
• Reduce blemishes and scarring
• Eliminating scalp irritation from dryness or chemical processing
• Preventing bumps after shaving
• Reducing acne (especially in combination with patchouli)
• Absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue (an important quality for my solid perfumes)
• Helps restore elasticity to skin

How does Shea Butter benefit the skin?

Shea Butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E help maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy. They are particularly helpful for sun damaged skin. They help prevent premature wrinkles and facial lines. Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator. It soothes rough, dry or chapped skin and helps soften dry or damaged hair. Shea Butter is high in unsaponifiables (a type of fat). Shea Butter has between 7-12% unsaponifiables. For comparison, avocado oil, a well known skin conditioner, has between 2-6%. This high level of unsaponifiables is one of the properties that makes Shea Butter so invaluable in treating the conditions listed above. Also, Shea Butter easily penetrates the skin allowing the skin to breathe and not clogging pores. Shea Butter has a high level of cinnamic acid, a natural sun screen. So, it provides some degree of protection from the sun. Shea Butter is also anti-inflammatory making it useful in treating rheumatism.

What Batty's Bath Products Contain Shea Butter?

Solid Perfumes

Body Butters

Soaps

(in a variety of scents!)

Patchouli Facial Moisturizer

(for problem skin)

Facial Primer & Day Moisturizer

Cucumber Shea Butter Soaps

Paraben Free Batty's Bath Products

You may have noticed that “paraben free” labels have been popping up in the Batty's Bath Online Shop and wondering what that is all about. I've decided to go paraben free with many of my products and in this blog post, I'll share a little bit about why I've decided to make that change.

What are Parabens?
Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in personal care products; they stop fungus, bacteria and other microbes from growing in your favourite creams and makeup, especially in the moist, warm environment of a bathroom. You’ll find them listed on thousands of personal care products such as shampoos, mascara, foundations and body lotions.

What's the Problem?
"Over the past few years, a debate has been building among scientists, product safety regulators and cosmetic manufacturers about whether these ubiquitous chemicals, used for almost 70 years, may actually be harmful to our health.

Some of the questions being asked: Is the rising incidence of breast cancer linked in part to the fact that parabens, which have a weak ability to mimic estrogen, have been found in breast cancer tumours and can be isolated from other body tissues? Are declining sperm counts and increasing rates of male breast cancer and testicular cancer related to the fact that these chemicals can be absorbed into our skin, potentially disrupting our endocrine systems?

We don’t know yet. But some researchers feel there may be reason for concern. One of the most vocal is Philippa Darbre, a senior lecturer in oncology and researcher in biomolecular sciences at the University of Reading, in England. She specializes in the impact of estrogen on breast cancer. In 2004, Darbre’s team published a pivotal study that detected parabens in 18 of 20 samples of tissue from breast tumour biopsies. Her study didn’t prove parabens cause cancer, only that they were easily detected among cancerous cells. The study was criticized for not comparing paraben levels in normal tissue, but nevertheless, the results called out for more investigation.

• “We’ve known for more than 25 years that estrogen exposure is linked to breast cancer development and progression; it is the reason tamoxifen [commonly prescribed to women with breast cancer] is used to disrupt estrogen receptors,” says Darbre. “So it is not such a leap to be concerned that repeated, cumulative, long-term exposure to chemicals that weakly mimic estrogen might be having an impact.”

She notes that research has found that roughly 55 percent of all breast cancer tumours occur in the upper outside portion of the breast, the section closest to the underarm. The U.S. National Cancer Institute has partly dismissed the claim, maintaining that at present, there is no decisive evidence to conclude that the parabens in these products are linked to breast cancer, but that more research is needed." - A.Mullens, Best Health Magazine.

So What Does All That Mean for Batty's Bath Products?
It means for now, I'm playing it safe where I can. Many formulas are extremely difficult to create without parabens, particularly lotions and creams, but for other products like deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, body wash, and bubble bath, the switch comes without as many complications. This is why there has been a "make over" of several of my products to insure they are as safe as they can possibly be. I'll continue to stay educated on the most up-to-date research reports and findings to ensure that my family, friends, and supporters are using the highest quality products - both in safety, ingredients, and presentation.

New Release: SLS Free Body Wash, Shampoo, and Conditioner

I'm super excited to announce my newly formulated

Body Washes, Shampoos & Conditioners!

Now they are all free of SLS, Phosphate, BHA, BHT, Parabens, DEA, MEA, TEA, Dibutyl Phthalate, Formaldehyde-releasing Preservatives, PEG compounds and Siloxanes!

The old formulas were free of most of these ingredients but I decided to make the full leap into making liquid formulas that are free of SLS.

So what does all this mean to you?

It means that Batty's Bath products are even more

skin loving, eco-friendly, and natural than ever before!

Enjoy the new formulas loaded with

Hemp, Aloe, and Natural Botanicals!

Go to the online shop for more information on each product.

My newly formulated goodies have been flying out of my online shop and
out of my studio locally faster than ever before! I'll be adding new
scents daily so stay tuned and snatch up what you want FAST
before someone else beats you to it :)

Ingredients to Stand By

In the Batty's Bath studio the first thing you'll notice is the wonderful smells wafting out. In fact, you'll notice this before you've even entered our house! Our neighbors recently told my fiance that they love going out to the car in the morning because the studio window faces their drive-way and they can always smell wonderful soapy scents coming from our place! I've gotten used to the blend of scents and don't notice it much until we leave for a few days and come back. After we got back from my brother's wedding I realized that our place really does smell like a "soap or candle shop" like everyone says it does! Behind those scents are wonderful, high quality ingredients such as essential oils, shea butter, coconut oil, palm oil, caster oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba beads, apricot shells, brown sugar, soy butter, olive oil, and more! Keep watching the blog as I'll be featuring these skin loving ingredients! Or click the "ingredients" link under the blog topics heading on the sidebar.

Today I'll start by featuring essential oils.

An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils, contrary to the use of the word "oil" are not really oily-feeling at all. Most essential oils are clear, but some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemongrass are amber or yellow in color.

Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. The chemical composition and aroma of essential oils can provide valuable psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These benefits are usually achieved through methods including inhalation and application of the diluted oil to the skin.

Some of the essential oils I use the most are patchouli, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, peppermint, and orange. Read more about them below:

Patchouli Essential Oil
Despite its aroma being an "acquired taste" (so to speak) for some, Patchouli Essential Oil is remarkably versatile. Often associated with the hippies and the 1960s, the fragrance of patchouli is rich, earthy and grounding. It is helpful for most all skin types ranging from dry, cracked skin all the way to helping to regulate oily skin and acne. Those with eczema, psoriasis and dandruff have said that patchouli is especially helpful for them. Emotionally, patchouli is calming and grounding. Spiritually, patchouli has been used alone or in blends during prayer and meditation.

Patchouli Essential Oil can be found in the following Batty's Bath products:

Patchouli Glycerin Soap and Patchouli Facial Moisturizer. Both of these products are made especially for problem skin.

Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon Essential Oil has been historically recognized as a cleanser. It is reputed as being antiseptic, and as having refreshing and cooling properties. Lemon oil can be very beneficial to the circulatory system and aids with blood flow, reducing blood pressure and helping with nosebleeds. It can help bring down fever, helps relieve throat infections, bronchitis, asthma and flu. It boosts the immune system and cleanses the body, improves the functions of the digestive system, and it is helpful with constipation, dyspepsia and cellulite. Lemon oil soothes and relieves headaches and migraines and is helpful for rheumatism and arthritis. It is also used for clearing acne, cleaning greasy skin and hair, as well as removing dead skin cells, easing painful cold sores, mouth ulcers, herpes and insect bites. The therapeutic properties of lemon oil are anti-anemic, antimicrobial, anti-rheumatic, anti-sclerotic, antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrisant, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, haemostatic, hypotensive, insecticidal, rubefacient, tonic and vermifuge.

You can find Lemon Essential Oil in the following Batty's Bath products:

Foot Loving Scrub

Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit Essential Oil is useful for more than just fighting cellulite and boosting your lymphatic system - it positively affects your mood and revives the mind while stimulating the digestive system and clearing up congested oily skin and acne. Grapefruit has a high vitamin C content and is therefore valuable to the immune system. It helps protect against colds and flu, has a very positive effect on obesity and also has diuretic properties, helping to remove excess water from the body and is therefore also great for treating cellulite. It has an uplifting effect on the mood and helps with stress and depression. It is used with great success to combat muscle fatigue and stiffness while stimulating the lymphatic system and thereby clearing the body of toxins. It helps to clear congested oily skin and also assists with acne, while toning the skin and tissues. Grapefruit is used in hair care to promote hair growth.

You can find Grapefruit Essential Oil in the following Batty's Bath products:

Foot Loving Scrub and Grapefruit Essential Oil Deodorant.

Lavender Essential Oil
It is with good reason why lavender oil is one of the most favorite essential oils, as it has wonderful qualities and also smells great. It is a calming, relaxing oil, which combats stress and crisis, while the antiseptic properties helps with cold, flu and other ailments. It is excellent for asthma and migraines. Apart from that it supports female health and on the skin it has a healing effect, while preventing scarring and balancing the skin. It is also very beneficial for problems such as bronchitis, asthma, colds, laryngitis, halitosis, throat infections and whooping cough and helps the digestive system deal with colic, nausea, vomiting and flatulence. Lavender oil relieves pain when used for rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago and muscular aches and pains, especially those associated with sport. On the skin, lavender oil tones and revitalizes and it is useful for all types of skin problems such as abscesses, acne, oily skin, boils, burns, sunburn, wounds, psoriasis, lice, insect bites, stings and also acts as an insect repellent.

Lavender Essential Oil and Lavender Botanics can be found in the following Batty's Bath products:

Natural Lavender Bath Tea, Lavender & Chamomile Shampoo, Lavender & Chamomile Conditioner, and Lavender & Chamomile Body Wash.

Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil is excellent for mental fatigue and depression, refreshing the spirit and stimulating mental agility and improving concentration. It helps for apathy, shock, headache, migraine, nervous stress, vertigo and faintness and in general respiratory disorders, as well as dry coughs, sinus congestion, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis and cholera. For the digestive system, peppermint oil is effective for a range of ailments, as it stimulates the gall bladder and the secretion of bile. It is used for colic, cramps, dyspepsia, spastic colon, flatulence and nausea and can relieve pain in cases of toothache, aching feet, rheumatism, neuralgia, muscular pains and painful periods. On the skin, peppermint oil is used to relieve skin irritation and itchiness and also helps to reduce skin redness, where inflammation is present. It is used for dermatitis, acne, ringworm, scabies and pruritus and also relieves itching, sunburn and inflammation of the skin, while at the same time having a cooling action.

You can find Peppermint Essential Oil and Peppermint Botanics in the following Batty's Bath products:

Foot Loving Scrub, Peppermint Essential Oil Glycerin Soap, Natural Peppermint Bath Tea, and Peppermint Essential Oil Deodorant.

Orange Essential Oil
This unpretentious essential oil is used in aromatherapy to create the feeling of happiness and warmth, while calming nervous digestive problems. It deals very well with colds and flu, eliminates toxins and stimulates the lymphatic system, while supporting collagen formation in the skin. It is a sunny and radiant oil, bringing happiness and warmth to the mind and helps people to relax and helps children to sleep at night. When used in a cream or lotion it also assists the lymphatic system, helping to detoxify congested skin and although it is a good general skin tonic, it is great for older more mature skin, dealing with dermatitis, as well as acne and soothing dry irritated skin. The general tonic action seems to stem from the action it has on supporting collagen formation in the skin, which is required for a healthy, young-looking skin.

You can find Orange Essential Oil in the following Batty's Bath products:

Foot Loving Scrub, Sweet Orange Essential Oil Glycerin Soap, and Sweet Orange Essential Oil Deodorant.