Question: What oils do you use in products and why? April 2, 2013

For the answer to this question, I will focus on oils other than scent oils, since I covered that in a previous post.

-Jojoba oil: I use jojoba oil in the Simply Selkie skin bar, most of the soaps that have natural colourants (such as the Celtic Islands bar and the Limited Edition Sultry Siren soap), the Salty Selkie mineral scrub and the Sensual Selkie massage oil. National research has shown that jojoba oil can slow the outbreak of acne, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. All of these properties make it a perfect addition to any soap. Besides these, jojoba oil is also a great moisturiser. It absorbs well into the skin, making it a good match for my massage oil recipe.

Sweet almond oil: I use sweet almond oil in the Sensual Selkie massage oil. Sweet almond oil contains a number of omega acids and it softens skin. A wonderful emollient, it blends well with jojoba oil to make a skin-softening, slick, absorbing oil that leaves skin soft rather than oily and sticky. Sweet almond oil acts as a humectant, preventing moisture loss. It is rich in Vitamin E and is said to relieve dry, flaking and itchy skin due to eczema, psoriasis and rashes.

Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is used in my Simply Selkie skin bar. The Simply Selkie bar was created by me to be an all-around every day use bar that gave the benefits of an expensive skin bar. It contains nourishing, moisturising skin-beneficial ingredients such as cocoa butter, oatmeal (a mild exfoliant to clear grime and dead skin), jojoba oil and of course, tea tree oil. Tea tree oil, though not thoroughly researched for such, is also used to affect acne. It also has been used for sunburns, rashes, and other annoying skin conditions. It has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

My goal with Selkie Sensuals is to provide products for everyday use, for all skin types that do more than just get you clean and help you feel confident and sensual. Though I have “hit the jackpot” so to speak with my current offerings, I continue to research for even more ideas to add to my array of skin products. As always, lovingly handcrafted in small batches!

So, until next time…stay Sensual!

Serenity

Question: What is SLS/SLES and why don’t you put these in your products?

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are used in soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products to create lather or foaming action.

SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid – SLS is also known as “Sulfuric Acid Monododecyl Ester Sodium Salt” and  SLES is commonly contaminated with dioxane, which is a known carcinogen.

SLES is less irritating than SLS, however, it cannot be metabolised by the liver. Therefore, its effects may be longer-lasting.

SLS dissolves the natural oils on your skin and can cause drying and since it is absorbed into the body through the skin, it could have some very negative effects such as menstrual problems, a drop in male fertility and contribute to female cancers. SLS is a skin and eye irritant and maintains residual levels in our organs, including the heart, liver, lungs and brain…all from contact with our skin.

SLS has been shown to cause acute corneal damage in animals, imagine what it could do to your eyes, or your child’s eyes. I know there are times I am washing my face and I get soap in my eyes. Furthermore, if SLS or SLES is in your soap, it is absorbing into your skin every time you bathe!

Selkie Sensuals makes NATURAL bath and body products…I think it is obvious why we don’t use these chemicals in the production of them. We use our products, in our home, daily. We don’t want SLS on your skin OR on ours!

Rest assured, Selkie Sensuals will NOT put SLS or SLES in our products. Ever.

Until next time, stay Sensual,

Serenity

Question: What type of toiletry oils are there, which do you use, which do you not use and why?

There are a number of oils used in cosmetics and bath/body products. For this post, I will be writing only about the kind used to scent products, rather than the “fixed” oils such as sweet almond, jojoba, etc. which are used as base ingredients.

• Essential oils: Essential oils, often seen just as EO’s are derived from plants by way of distillation, expression, or extraction. They are used in a number of bath and body type products and some can also be used to flavour foods. These oils come straight from the plant, with no additives. Clove EO, or “Oil of Clove”, is exactly that. Clove oil, nothing more. Most people consider EO’s to be the most basic, natural oils one can use in cosmetic/toiletry applications. The techniques and methods for producing essential oils was first introduced by Ibn al-Baitar, who was a chemist, physician, and pharmacist from Andalucia, Spain. Some essential oils should not be put directly on the skin (nor be directly ingested) due to a number of negative possible effects (allergic reactions, irritation, etc). This is why essential oils are placed into a carrier oil (such as olive or almond oil).

• Natural oils: Natural oils/Natural fragrance oils, are listed under the blanket term fragrance oils. I make the distinction between natural oils and fragrance oils because what I refer to as natural oils are essential oils already placed into carrier oils (almond, palm, etc). They are still natural, just not in their (EO) unadulterated form. This type of oil can be safer than EO for direct contact, as the carrier oil dilutes the possible negative effects of the EO.

• Fragrance oils: Fragrance oils (sometimes referred to as aromatic oils) are synthetically produced scent oils made to smell like actual flowers, fruits, etc. Also included in this list would be the artificial flavour oils for making lip balms or cooking.

So, what types of oils does Selkie Sensuals use? Selkie Sensuals uses ONLY essential oils and natural oils. We use NO artificial fragrance oils (*with the exception of the Magickal Mermaid Intention Line). We believe in making our products with natural ingredients, organic and vegan whenever possible. Using (virtually) no synthetically created fragrances (*) is just one part of our mission to create all-natural bath and body products, but it is a part we are very serious about.

(*Magickal Mermaid Intention Tins/Lotions DO use some “aroma oils”. These are the types you would find in botanicas or metaphysical shops for specific purposes such as “Come to Me” oil. These oils are not used in any other applications.)

Until next time…Stay Sensual!

Serenity

Question: How did you come up with the name “Selkie Sensuals”?

It all started when I was born on a Monday morning in July. I was born under the zodiac sign of Cancer, a water sign. Though I admit I am not much of a swimmer, I do so love the water. With that love of water came a love of water creatures, including mermaids, sirens, and selkies as well as those we often see like dolphins, sea stars, etc.

So, I am discussing business names with my husband (who just happens to have a great nose for scent blends!) and we thought something revolving around water would be perfect, since most people use water when they bathe. (grin) The second thing we wanted to convey is that when one is clean and feels good and rejuvenated, one also can feel sexier. We think that women often get caught up in the rat race that is everyday life and forget to take time for themselves, forget that they can be sexy and sensual. The name Selkie Sensuals nearly popped into both of our heads at the same time and we didn’t even throw any other ideas around, it was perfect.

The whole idea behind our product line was to create products that help a woman tap into her inner Goddess, to feel the sensual side of herself and not feel ashamed or shy about it, but to just go with it. At the same time, our products can be used daily, not just the night of that hot date. They are gentle on the skin and full of nourishing butters, oils, and waxes.

…Until next time, stay Sensual…

~Serenity

Question: How did you get into making your own products?

One of the faces behind Selkie Sensuals, Serenity.

People sometimes ask me how I got into making my own bath and body products. So this will be the topic of today’s blog post. It all started when I moved to California back in 1998. I ended up in Santa Cruz, a hippie and surfer paradise, which boasted small, independently run coffee shops and stores, health food stores and shops where one could buy organic clothing, hemp clothing and other natural items. Living there, being surrounded by that kind of lifestyle, made me question just what it was I had been putting on (and in) my body up until that point. I started reading labels and searching the internet. I decided that very night that I wanted to start being more health-conscious, more “green” if you will. What better way to do that than to make my own soaps and body products! I started crafting all-natural products in late 1998 and have been doing so since. Over the years my recipes and products have been honed and culled to the most natural, basic, earthy items I could come up with and I think I’ve got a pretty good bead on it.

I haven’t bought “store” soap for years and I love it!

Until next time, stay Sensual!

~Serenity

Question: If you don’t test on animals, who or what do you test your products on?

We at Selkie Sensuals love our animal friends and we know that how an animal might react to ingredients in cosmetic and toiletry products may not be indicative of how a human would react.

We strive to purchase supplies only from companies that do not test on animals, and we don’t test on animals either.

Who do we test on? Ourselves! Each and every product that leaves the Selkie Sensuals shelf has been used by us, the creators of the product. Simply Selkie bars and Celtic Island bars grace our shower caddy. Salty Selkie mineral scrubs feel really good on my skin after a dirty day in the garden. Sniffly Selkie sinus balms are a staple in our home, just ask our teen son P.I.T! The Sensual Selkie massage oil helps us relax after a hard day.

Selkie Sensuals stands by our motto: At Selkie Sensuals, we never test on animals, unless it is ourselves!

Until next time, stay Sensual

Serenity

Question: Wait, what? Aren’t you supposed to EAT oatmeal?

Of course one can eat oatmeal, not only does it fill you up (especially on those cold winter mornings), but it has great health benefits as well! Did you know that oatmeal is good for your skin?

Yes, that’s right! Oatmeal is good for your skin!

• Anti-inflammatory: Oatmeal can be used topically on the skin to reduce redness and to alleviate the annoying itch of dry skin, eczema, or chicken pox.
• Soothes irritations: Topical application of oatmeal to the skin can help soothe poison ivy and other rashes.
• Helps prevent moisture loss which can lead to dry skin: Oatmeal creates a protective barrier on your skin to help it stay moisturized.
• Exfoliates: Oatmeal is a mild exfoliant. Using soap with oatmeal helps your skin be the cleanest it can be while it gently works away dead, dry skin and dirt. Exfoliated skin is healthier skin!

Selkie Sensuals’ Simply Selkie bar is simply perfect! Tons of oatmeal, ground very fine, helps your skin feel smooth, moisturized and healthier! This soap was specifically formulated to be gentle for all skins types, for everyday use, even on the face!

Oatmeal is also used in our brand new soap Celtic Islands. A large bar with a clean, fresh scent, reminiscent of Scottish breezes blowing over fields of lavender and heather. It is coloured naturally with spirulina for a tint of green!

Until next time, stay Sensual!

Serenity