image courtesy Photobucket.com

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived,  reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the  figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

- Sam Levenson

Audrey Hepburn favored these words so much so that people often believe she wrote them!  I encountered them on the pages of Sagescript Institute, a site well worth checking out for natural products crafted with intelligence.  Cindy Jones, Ph.D. is an author, educator, formulator, and biochemist.  Her blog is required reading for anyone who wants real, factual information about their skincare products.  Cindy’s writing, and that of many other experts, can also be found at Personal Care Truth, a wonderfully informative site working tirelessly to dispel the fear mongering we’re exposed to about our cosmetics. I was very honored to recently have one of my own articles featured there as well.  I’m among very good company.

Thanks for reading, and have a fabulous weekend!

After my well-publicized posts (here and here) on the Colorado Personal Care Products Act of 2010, I’ve remained conspicuously silent about the proposed nationwide Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, a bill that is even more onerous in its intentions and harm to the industry.  I wanted to take some time to reflect on this legislation and my feelings about it.  I’m finally ready to speak.

In case you haven’t heard about it, the best way I can fill you in is by having you read what industry experts have already written.  It all started with a cute video that slams the cosmetics industry. This video was shown to Congress by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a nonprofit (though its associates and creators of the “Skin Deep” database, the Environmental Working Group, are becoming very wealthy) lobbying group (not a group of scientists!) who has nearly completely alienated the cosmetics industry, only partly for using inaccurate science to give natural ingredients negative rankings in their safety database.  Soon, a firestorm raged.

Read more from:

• The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild
• Donna-Maria Coles Johnson at OpposeSCA
• “5 Ways the Safe Cosmetics Act Will Harm Consumers” from Personal Care Truth
• Kayla Fioravanti, Essential Wholesale
• Sagescript Institute: “How the Safe Cosmetics Bill Will Affect Natural Cosmetics”

This is a deeply polarized and emotional issue that leaves natural products manufacturers, and especially those that are microbusinesses,  in a very curious position. What? It’s only intended to protect us all from the “big box” cosmetics companies?  Think again.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, should it pass, will require such extensive reporting, testing, and labeling practices that it will probably shut down artisanal cosmetics, soap, and perfume manufacturers nationwide.   Proponents believe this will protect consumers from cancer and other disease.  Opponents believe it won’t achieve this goal, that cosmetics aren’t the problem, and it will only decimate small business at a time when our economy is in tatters.

It leaves the natural products industry in a real lurch.  The Act will insist that products be labeled to include every trace element of every substance detectable in every ingredient so that consumers can make informed choices.  Even when consumers don’t know what those substances are, their levels present (you understand a toxin is NOT a toxin below certain levels, right?), or what their function is.  Many, many people think that natural products are safer and that only “chemicals” are harmful.  I hate to be the one to tell you this, but everything contains chemicals.  EVERYTHING.  Essential oils contain a staggering amount of chemical constituents.

Remember that whole “if you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t use it” thing?   Well, here’s a sample of what ingredient labeling for a lotion bar containing THREE natural ingredients–olive oil, cocoa butter, and lavender essential oil–will look like under the Safe Cosmetics Act.

Ingredients: Olive Oil (Tri-Glycerides of Palmitic, Di-Glycerides of Palmitic, Palmitoleic, Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic, Arachidic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Squalene, Beta Carotene, Campesterol, Methylenecholesterol, Stigmasterol, Sitosterol, Fucosterol, 28-Isofucosterol, Stigmadienol, Brassicasterol, 7-Cholestenol,Ergostadienol, Avenasterol, Triterpene Alcohols, Tirucallol, Taraxerol, Dammaradienol Beta-Amyrin Germanicol, Butyrospermol, Parkeol, Cycloartenol, Tirucalladienol, 24-Methlene 24-Dihydroparkeol, 24-Methlenecycloartanol, Cyclobranol, 4-Methyl Sterols, Esters of Tyrosol, Esters of Hydroxytyrosol, Vitamin E (Tocopherols), Carotenoids, Oleuropein) Cocoa Butter (Tri and Diglycerides of Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Lead, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Isoleic Acid, Beta Carotene, p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, Vanillic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Syringic Acid, Phenylehtylamine, Theophylline, Aliphatic Esters, Aromatic Carbonyls, Caffeine, Theobromine, Diketopiperazines and Alkylpryazines), Lavender Essential Oil ( Cineole Octanol, Octanone, Alpha Bisabolol, Alpha Cadinol, Alpha Humelene, Alpha Phellandrene, Apha Pinene, Alpha Terpinene, Alpha Terpineol, Alpha Terpinyl Acetate, Alpha Thujene, Alpha Thujone, Beta Bisabolol, Beta Pinene, Beta Thujone, Borneol, Bornyl Acetate, Camphene Camphor, Cineolealpha Terpineol, Carvone, Caryophyllene, Carophyllene Oxide, CIS Alpha Terpineol, CIS Alpha Bisabolene, CIS Carveol, CIA Linalol Epoxide, CIS Ocimene, Citronellal, Citronellol, Coumarine, Cuminaldehyde, Eugenol, Furfural, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Geranyl Butyrate, Hexanol, Hexyl Tiglate, Isoborneol, Lavandulol, Lavandulyl Acetate, Limonene, Linanlol, Linalyl Acetate, Methyl Heptenone, Myrcene, Nerol, Neryl Acetate, Oleanolic Acid, P Cymene, Rosemarinic Acid, Sabinen, Terpinenol, Terpinolene, Trans Carveol, Trans Epoxy Linalyl Acetate, Trans Linanol Epoxide, Trans Ocimene, Ursolic Acid)

(courtesy The Soap Queen Blog, Anne-Marie Faiola, Brambleberry Soap Making Supplies)

Tell me… will you feel safer reading that?  Natural products still look pure and innocent? How do you feel about synthetics?  Think natural products manufacturers are hiding things from you?  (Answer: we’re not.)  How do you suppose the tap water you drink would be labeled, if we used it in a product?  Do you begin to see the magnitude of this now?

Some people are arguing about how to interpret the bill, saying the Secretary can’t possibly mean that every trace constituent will need to be included on the label, only those of concern. My opinion: If that’s true, let’s get rid of all ambiguous wording in the bill, especially in a litigious country like ours.

Many consumers are furious (and that is not too strong a word) that personal care products do not require final batch testing here in the US.  I can completely understand that.  And you know what? I support fair regulation! If the FDA wants a few chunks of Sarva soap to test on a regular basis, bring it on.   I have a few bars to spare and I want my customers to have safe products! If the FDA wants the names and addresses, and possibly other personal data about my suppliers, employees and/or subcontractors, resubmission of these lists when one supplier runs out of lavender essential oil and I have to go elsewhere, resubmission of my formulation data every time I make a minor change, complete revenue reporting for my company, and more, bring it on.  I’m great at administrative tasks.  If it’s really a good idea to make an ingredients list that reads like a novel, and if consumers will truly feel safer when they know every single chemical component of the distilled water I use at a level of parts per billion, bring it on because I type incredibly fast, and I can crank out that packaging.  The FDA wants safety data for all of my raw materials?  Bring it on… where there’s a will, there’s a way. All 50 states want the right to impose further and more stringent laws?  Bring it on… I’ll follow the strictest laws and bring you the most stripped-down product possible while you complain about your lack of choice and price, which is due to all the red tape, and I go out of business.

But do you know what’s really getting to me? The hatred, fearmongering, polarity, divisiveness, and just plain ugliness.  I can’t believe the venom I am seeing online from proponents of the bill, many of them advocates for all-natural and organic products.  The very products which are basically damned under this legislation. Why?

• It will change consumers’ perception of what natural is; labeling will scare and confuse customers.
• The bill is based in bad science that is, amazingly, in favor of synthetic products.  Please revisit this post where I discuss the concept of NOAELs (a “toxin” isn’t a toxin unless its dose is high enough).Many natural ingredients, such as olive oil, will be banned because they contain trace elements of recognized carcinogens.
• Natural ingredients have so much variance from batch to batch, and contain so many chemical constituents,  that continual testing will be completely cost prohibitive. Many of the businesses who make all-natural/organic products are so small as to not be able to afford the mountains of paperwork, testing, and reporting required. They will shut down, or they will make synthetic products, which are cheaper to begin with, and will be cheaper to test because they are standardized and have less constituents to analyze in testing.

It’s stopped being a reasonable debate that is meant to better everyone’s lives, and it’s become an “us versus them” battle where businesses like mine are made out to be villains who are intentionally (or unintentionally, I’m not really sure which), carelessly poisoning every one of you and giving you cancer.

It’s challenging enough that I’m not permitted to tell you these are “aromatherapy soaps”.  The FDA considers aromatherapy a drug, and aromatherapy claims would make Sarva subject to drug regulation: Sarva soaps would have to be tested the same way a chemotherapy protocol must be tested prior to going on the market.  I already can’t tell you how wonderful these products are and I rely solely on your word of mouth.  And now, you are being led to believe that I am poisoning you. Or is it the big box companies who are poisoning you?  No matter, they can afford the legislation and their products will be your only choice.

I, and other artisanal cosmetics business owners like me, am not your enemy.  We aren’t putting things into our products willy-nilly just for the fun of it.  At Sarva, we create from the heart, from a backbone of solid research, and we use the products we make for you in our own home.  We give them as gifts to our own family members.  Do you really think I’d be so careless as to use ingredients that are going to harm my loved ones, let alone open me up to litigation were I to harm a consumer I have never met? Do you really think we don’t do our research?  And if you think that poorly of me, why on earth would I continue creating products for you?

Don’t we have enough of a climate of fear already? How are you feeling as a result of it all?  Let’s be reasonable and work together. Last I looked, we’re all human and we’re all in this together.

The current atmosphere of fearmongering, polarity, and hatred–NOT the fear of legislation–is what will shut down Sarva Soaps. I am not afraid of legislation, but I will not create products for people who think I’m careless or, worse, out to harm them.

You deserve to know the truth about what you are putting on your body, and it is unfair and unethical to frighten you.  Our sense of safety and reality is being manipulated, not just about cosmetics but in countless other areas of our lives, and it makes me downright angry.  We all want safe products from companies we respect and trust. I don’t believe this is the way to achieve it.  If you oppose the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, please sign the petition.

There’s a lot of talk – and hype – about green business and greenwashing, whereby companies try to look greener than they really are in efforts to gain customer loyalty.   I thought I’d take a moment and share with you some of what makes Sarva Soaps a green business.

Ingredients. Our soaps are 100% natural… not 95%, not 99%.  Take a second and think about what synthetics manufacturing and use can do to our groundwater and air.

Sustainability. Two-thirds of our product line contains no palm oil.  Learn why this matters. For the rest, we are phasing in RSPO-certified organic palm oil.  We follow Cropwatch to ensure we do not use essential oils or other ingredients obtained from endangered or threatened plant species. Example: You won’t see a Dead Sea Mud soap at Sarva… the Dead Sea is being depleted and we want no part of adding to such harm.  We offer you beautiful bath accessories made from hemp, one of the most sustainable, eco-friendly fibers available.

Packaging. All of our packaging is 100% postconsumer recycled cardboard, fully recyclable on your end.  No shrink wrap or synthetic organza gift bags here!

Fair Trade. Our beautifully natural, eco-friendly gift bags are carefully selected from sustainable, fair trade sources.

Biodegradable. Our soaps are completely biodegradable, unlike liquid body washes or cosmetic “beauty bars”.

Giving back. We adopt and directly fund the rehabilitation of orangutans whose habitats have been damaged by nonsustainable palm oil harvesting methods.

Repurposing… with meaning. We transform our soap trimmings into brand new bars of soap which we donate to homeless shelters.  What’s more, we sent over 40 pounds of this rebatched soap to Haiti to help maintain sanitation in the wake of the January 2010 earthquakes.

Cruelty free. All Sarva soaps are vegetarian friendly, and all but those containing honey are vegan friendly.  We do not engage in animal testing, nor do our suppliers.

Energy/resource conservation. These things go without saying!  We use only compact fluorescent light bulbs.  We require no electricity for the soapmaking process itself; it’s all done by hand!  We invest in carbon offsetting for the Sarva website.  We use the US Postal Service to ship packages (read why this is a green choice).  We recycle all paper, plastic, glass, and metal. We strive for a paperless office.  We grow many of our herbs ourselves.  We drive a hybrid vehicle to make deliveries and attend festivals.  The list goes on!

We’re always striving to improve on what we do, and I’m thrilled every time I can add another item to the above list.

Thanks for your support, as always, and have a great weekend!

OK, so it isn’t exactly high art.

My grandmother created the painting you see in the photo.  No, she wasn’t a painter.  And that’s precisely the point.  She did it anyway.  Because she had always wanted to.  This was my grandmother’s spirit, though: She was the most feisty, direct person I’ve ever known; not always liked, not always popular.  But she was real.  And she followed her inner spirit.  There’s an arresting integrity there.  If she wanted to do something, she just did it.  Belly dancing? Sure. Trip to Rome? No problem. She read Tarot cards at one point; hey, why not?  She even gave up everything (career, fancy townhome, friends, hometown) to help raise me.

Her painting hangs in the Sarva workshop as a permanent reminder to just “do it anyway” – a reminder that there is a time to engage your spirit, completely and without concern for the outcome.  To savor the process without being driven by a specific desired result.  Or hampered by some niggling insecurity.

I have a lot in common with my grandmother in many ways. And April, and now May, have proven to be tremendously challenging for me personally.  I’ve come to a place where I’m rethinking and evaluating the value and integrity of everything I do… perhaps overthinking would be a better word.  You see, I’m quite the perfectionist and I find it very easy to lose sight of things. Sometimes I have to force myself to simply be.   An ironic statement, yes?

At times like this, I go look at my grandmother’s painting.

(Free spirit though she was, I suspect she’d be less than thrilled that I published it for the whole world to see.  And boy would I hear about it.)

But I’m sharing it with you in case you need a reminder too.  So tell me… I’d love to read your comments:  What’s on your daydream list?  What are you afraid of?  What if you just “did it anyway”?

Oats & Honey soap with Hemp Soap Saver

Hey all, just a quick blog post here. Looked at the calendar and realized… Mother’s Day is coming! Soon! So let’s have a special sale.

There’s still time to get mom some beautiful soaps… and luxury soap is a wonderful way to pamper mom (or wife/mom). We ship Priority Mail, and we can ship direct to mom if you wish.

For some ideas, check out our gift sets (most are build your own, something you don’t find everywhere)… and we also offer some nice accessories too!  (and there are more coming soon…)

So, visit the Sarva website, enter coupon code MOMLOVE at checkout, and enjoy 15% savings on your entire order, no minimum required. Sale ends at midnight on Saturday, May 8. Feel free to tell your friends!

And, wishing a very happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Meet Revive, an upcoming Sarva soap - watch this space!

Hi everyone!  Hope you had a fabulous Easter.  Spring is all around us, and on the days I should have been writing a blog post (!), I was out digging in the dirt and enjoying the sunshine!

Today, I want to share with you the most amazing product review we’ve ever received at Sarva.   I’m so excited!

Sarva Soaps Review and Special Offer – from the Sterling Minerals blog

Now, my excitement is really saying something, considering we’ve been featured by our local media, a writer for the New York Times, many wonderful bloggers, and even selected to represent the Handcrafted Soapmaker’s Guild in national publications. (read more here).

Katherine Corkill of Sterling Minerals knows her stuff.  She’s the founder of an amazing skincare and mineral cosmetics company herself.  Check out her website and blog – it’s a wealth of information.  If you want to know about your skincare or makeup, ask Katherine.  You’ll get the facts and honest, intelligent, meticulously considered feedback.

Recently, I had the pleasure of connecting with Katherine when she placed her first order with us.  (Boy was I nervous!)  Little did I know that just a few days later, after she’d had a chance to try out her soaps, she would write such a glowing review.  Wow!

We gave Katherine a special Sarva discount code for her blog readers to use, and she’s also offering special savings on Sterling Minerals’ Grecian Secret Body Souffle (doesn’t that sound divine?).   So I’d like to pass on the savings to you as well!  The Sarva soaps discount is good only until April 15, so be sure to get it while it lasts!

Of course, after perusing the Sterling Minerals website, I simply had to try some of their products, and I’m hooked.  If you’re a person who doesn’t like to use bar soap on your face (remember, you need to maintain the acid mantle of your facial skin, and many people prefer a special cleanser to do that)… Sterling Minerals offers some fabulous facial cleansers.

If you like what you read, check out Katherine’s recent interview with another personal fave bath and body company owner, Lisa over at Cactus and Ivy.

So!  Visit the Sterling Minerals blog, bask with me in the afterglow of Katherine’s review, and grab some savings on awesome goodies to pamper yourself!

Suds Beer Soap

Gah! It’s been way too serious around here.

Spring’s around the corner; the crocuses are popping up in my garden and the snow is melting! And we have another holiday coming our way. You know, the one where everyone’s Irish.

In honor of St. Patty’s Day, we have a special batch of Suds Beer Soap for you, made with Conway’s Irish Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company.

AND it’s on sale on our website for $7.50 through Sunday March 14, nearly 20% off!

Now, I made absolutely sure this beer was up to par for our fine soaps by testing it out the old-fashioned way first (oh, the hardships I must endure for you). Not that I was concerned! We’re major fans of Great Lakes Brewing Company, and they have so many great beers. But they do more than make great, award-winning beer.  They are one of the most eco-friendly businesses in Cleveland.  We’re proud to have Suds soap featured in the Great Lakes Brewing Company gift shop.

As for the soap… it smells great, it feels great, and it lives up to its name! There’s an ounce of beer in every bar, and I’m no scientist, but I’m pretty sure that Suds’ amped-up lather is a beer thing.  Those of you who are soap-as-shampoo aficionados might want to give this one a try; you know what they say about beer being great for hair.  I still haven’t found a way to describe the scent other than awesome.  Sure, it smells like beer.  But not beery.  It’s fresh, full, spicy, fruity… well, you just have to try it and find out.  Plus, this batch looks way cooler than the photo above.

So, if you’ve been dying to try Suds, here’s your chance, and at a great price!