I have to admit that when I first opened my Etsy Shop in November of 2008 I didn’t get it.  I had just found out about the site, Etsy.com, and had no clue what it was about other than it allowed me to sell the goods I made by hand.  At first I was all excited because it looked pretty cool, was relatively inexpensive and I thought it would help me generate some sales.  So one evening I uploaded a few product pictures and descriptions and anxiously waited for some sales.

The next day I went looking on Etsy for my product listings and found that they had been buried in a sea of other products.  I was heartbroken and immediately gave up.  To be honest now looking back I realize that at that time my photos looked like crap, I didn’t really put much effort into my descriptions and I didn’t even have a banner for my store.  I have to laugh now at that.. what the heck was I thinking?

Now after a few years have past I finally understand what it is all about. It’s not just about the sale of a product but about the presentation and representation of a lifestyle…an artisan showcase.  For myself my work is my passion and a true artist wants nothing short of perfection when showing off a product from start to finish.  In the past few month’s I have put a real effort into getting my shop looking great from shop appearance to profile to photos.  I spend more time these days on photos and descriptions than ever and I have to say I am hooked on the whole process.

Uploading my photos is a real joy for me.  I get the warm fuzzies when my product pictures turn out great and I click that ‘finish’ button.  Not to mention when someone ‘hearts’ my item.. Woohoo!  It’s like being handed a warm chocolate chip cookie unexpectedly.

Another great aspect of selling products within a community like Etsy is how much the other shop owners support each other.  I have found that we all share a love for handmade products and we are our own cheerleaders so to speak.  Encouraging each other, helping each other out with tips-n-tricks and giving newbies such as myself advice on how to generate some business.  It all makes sense to me now.  It’s like a quaint little market street where people can spend the day shopping at niche stores and delighting in their lovely finds.

Speaking of supporting each other.. check out this blog post called Love Handmade.  I was mentioned in this morning by a fellow Etsian Delightful Scents.  Her shop is lovely and so is she!

So what’s the deal with Preservatives in Natural Skin Care Products?  Preservatives are additives used to protect a product from developing harmful bacteria, mold, discoloration and spoilage.  Without preservatives your favorite water or aloe vera based creams and lotions will certainly spoil and grow the undesirables such as fungi or mold which may or may not be visible to the naked eye.

The good news is that there are natural preservatives that can reduce microbial activity such as Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E and Grapefruit Seed Extract.  Many people do not pay any attention to what type of preservatives are used in their favorite products.  Or they would like to believe that these products are preservative free and they think that is healthier.   But Preservative free products will not last for more than a couple of weeks and they must be placed in the refrigerator.  I don’t know about you but I prefer to apply lotion that is room temperature.

Products that are not preserved will turn rancid.   It is the same concept as food…. if you leave it out.. it will spoil.  There are some natural preservatives that will increase the life of natural skin care products and are safe for your skin called Antioxidants.  Unfortunately Natural Preservatives or Antioxidants will not keep the product as long as we would like but they will considerably slows down the process.   The top three natural antioxidants used in natural skin care are listed below:

• Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract) also known as rosemary oleoresin. Distilled from rosemary leaves, rosemary extract is perhaps the most effective antioxidant available.  Using this preservative sometimes gives off a strong smell which makes it difficult to use in some products, but works nicely in formulas that highlight the rosemary scent.
• Vitamin E ( Tocopherols) is probably the most well known of antioxidants and it has great skin moisturizing properties as well.  Vitamin E is comes in two forms which include natural and synthetic.  Only the natural form will deliver the antioxidant properties and can be used as a preservative.
• Grapefruit Seed Extract (Citrus Grandis and Glycerin)  comes from the extract of pulverized grapefruit seeds. Many people use GSE for its anti-fungal properties and some antimicrobial activity. It is considered a more powerful preservative because of its anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties.  Some manufacturers carry extracts that are made with synthetic compounds that include methylparaben so it really is a matter of the consciousness of the formulator.

Again it is important to note that the above preservatives will not make a product last forever.  Only chemical preservatives are considered broad-spectrum and will protect a product for a desirable length of time.  I prefer to use a non-toxic, paraben free  preservative to protect my products from decay.

When I want to have a special meal for family and friends there is nothing better than serving up a warm, soft, freshly made loaf of Italian bread straight from the bakery.  I mean come on!  It makes the meal really don’t you think?  Add a side of EVOO with a little parmesan and you’ve got it covered.  Nothing better than fresh wholesome goodness..  Food for the soul.

That is why to me, food we put on our skin is just as important as food we put in our belly.  Would you settle for plain ol’ Wonder bread instead of freshly made Italian on that special night?  I wouldn’t… so why settle for less for your skin?

I get the warm fuzzy’s when I make a fresh batch of lotion or balm..  Nothing like the feeling of warm, freshly made Shea butter lotion slathered on my skin… Ahhhh.. the sweet smell of essential oils and fabulous, oh so good for your skin creams.   (Did I mention I love the word “slather?”)

Anyway you get the gist.. Fresh is best.. Fine skin care the el’ Natural way, made from wholesome, down home ingredients and a little love..   Food for the mind, body and soul!

Natural Ingredients

Natural ingredients must come from ingredients found only in nature including flora (plant), fauna (animal) and minerals (earth).

Overall, synthetic ingredients used on your skin and found in natural personal care products should be avoided whenever possible. Using a synthetic material is only acceptable when there is no viable natural alternative and it has absolutely no negative effects—on you or the environment.

Certain synthetic ingredients should never be used in any natural personal care products. This includes ingredients like parabens, phthalates, glycol and petrolatum. These types of ingredients are currently deemed safe but only because they are not regulated as of yet by the FDA. However, there is evidence questioning their safety that natural alternatives should be used instead.

Why go Natural??

One of the biggest global trends in the past 20 years has been the growing need to make choices that positively impact ones health and well-being. Natural personal care products created with the right ingredients can be profoundly effective, safe and contribute to your overall health and well being and are healthy for our environment.  Finally we realize that we are only as healthy as what we put in and on our bodies.

Your Skin acts as a sponge:

What you put on your skin is absorbed. If you put harmful chemicals and toxins on your skin you are putting them into your system. When a mother washes her infant with synthetic baby wash she is exposing her baby to an array of harmful toxins and chemicals that have demonstrated to be harmful when tested on animals. Bottom line is our skin is our largest organ, and what we put on it gets absorbed into our bodies just as someone who inhales smoke puts chemicals into their lungs.

Natural History:

Natural skin care is not a new thing as many of our natural ingredients have been around for centuries. But as we have evolved so has skin care and throughout the years commercial giants decided to use synthetic substitutes for natural ingredients because they are cheaper, easy to use and reliable. From a company’s bottom line stand point that sounds great but they failed to take into consideration the health and environmental risks associated with the use of synthetics because they are not always biodegradable or renewable, as in the case of petrolatum. Most consumers prefer knowing their personal care products don’t carry these risks because they are natural.

Why Use Natural Skin Care??

Many are surprised to learn that make-up and body care products have been linked to allergic reactions, birth defects, and even cancer. It is finally a medically recognized fact that our body absorbs significant amounts of what we put on our skin. (over 60%)

With certified organic food rapidly becoming the nutrition of choice by the health conscious amongst us, why would we accept any less for our skin? One environmental health specialist based at the Sterling University in Scotland, Dr. Baillie-Hamilton details how toxins may be linked to dozens of serious health problems, including immune system diseases, neurological disorders, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, hyper-sensitivity, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders and childhood health problems. “These chemicals are simply not going to go away,” Institute reports “pesticides are a likely cause of immune suppression for millions of people throughout the world” and that 25% of the chemicals in the environment are neurotoxins linked to increased incidence of brain disease.”

I’m sold.. you?