Let’s talk about shelf life! When formulating your product, understanding the shelf life of the oils you are using is an important step in ensuring quality and longevity for your customers. If you’re anything like me, I don’t usually need to worry about the expiration of my cooking oils because I seem to go through them very quickly; that is, … Read More
All About: Exfoliants
Let’s face it; making beauty products is like a giant science experiment in your kitchen. (Well, unless you are already a pro and you have moved onto bigger and better things!) One of my favorite parts of making beauty products is experimenting with different exfoliating ingredients. There are literally so many different exfoliants to choose from you will never be … Read More
Common Scents: Rose Absolute
Welcome to our series, Common Scents! Common Scents is a series of articles exploring the history of commonly used essential oils and how they became so popular in modern day soap and cosmetic crafting. This week, we’ll be talking about Rose Absolute! Think of a flower. Was it a rose? If it was, that’s no surprise; the rose is one … Read More
Color Me Clean: Colorants in Soap and Cosmetics
If you make your own soap and cosmetics, and especially if you make soap and/or cosmetics with bright colors and beautiful patterns, I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “It’s so pretty, I don’t want to use it” more than once! While breaking the barrier between decoration and usable product is a challenge in its very own category, another challenge that … Read More
Common Scents: Sweet Orange
Welcome to our series, Common Scents! Common Scents is a series of articles exploring the history of commonly used essential oils, and how they became so popular in modern day soap and cosmetic crafting. In this edition of Common Scents, we will take a look at the uplifting history of sweet orange, often referred to simply as orange or orange … Read More
Building Your Empire: The Basics of Starting a Handcrafted Business
We probably don’t have to tell you this, but Handcrafters are a very unique group of people! When you speak to someone who makes handcrafted soap and/or cosmetics, you are talking to a creative mind that is a blend between science, art and a desire to make products that genuinely make the consumer feel good. While some Handcrafters achieve a … Read More
How To Represent Your Brand: Naming Your Products
There are so many moving parts when it comes to launching a business, it’s difficult to know where to start! One of the considerations you will have to face is the naming of your products. Whether you choose elaborate or simple terms, naming your product line gives you great creative influence over how your customer perceives what you have to … Read More
Common Scents: Peppermint
Welcome back to our series, Common Scents! Common Scents is a collection of articles exploring the history of commonly used essential oils, and how they became so popular in modern day soap and cosmetic crafting. This week, we’ll talk about peppermint! Peppermint is one of the most recognizable scents in existence. Its strong, refreshing scent elicits thoughts of winter, chilly … Read More
Business Etiquette: The Holiday Edition
Saying that the “holiday season is upon us” might be music to consumer’s ears (think sales, discounts and BOGO galore), but to small businesses and large businesses alike, it can be a bit ominous. Now more than ever, consumers are driven to merchants who they perceive as sharing the same beliefs and values as they do, which can translate into … Read More
Legislation: Update on Advocacy Efforts
On April 20th, Senators Diane Feinstein (CA) and Susan Collins (ME) introduced S. 1014, The Personal Care Products Safety Act. The bill was drafted to update The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 and was intending to give the FDA more funding and oversight over the cosmetic industry. As many of you know, the HSCG has been involved in … Read More