Beauty Out of Africa

Craft Show

Shea Radiance Introduces Black Soap -Alata Samina

An Incredibly Exotic Cleansing Bar  -Natural, Organic Vegan Black Soap from West Africa

It is with much joy that I write this post about our new line of Black Soaps recently received from our producers in Ghana. The Alata Samina black soap is a little different from other black soaps because it is light brown instead of dark in color. The lighter color color can be attributed to the ingredients and the production process.

Sliced Bars of Black Soap

Why We Love Alata Samina
What I love about this soap is is the incredible rich lather it produces. It leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean.  I recommend slathering some rich shea butter based cream after bathing with this soap to complete the luxurious experience.

 

You  Can Get It Here
I have large Bath size bars available at Shea Radiance retail store. If you need bulk quantities check out Shea Radiance Supplies.

Relax and Unwind with Soy Candles from Kandle Indulgence

I caught up with a very busy mum and entrepreneur, Jameel Nolan, and asked her a few questions on the benefits of Soy candles and how they can help us relax

Tell us a little about yourself - family, how long have you been doing this

My name is Jameel Nolan, I’m 28 years old and mother to a 5 ½ year old boy  and engaged to a wonderful man that supports me in everything I do with my business.  I started making candles approximately 11 years old as a hobby.  I had always been involved in the arts in doing sculptures and paintings so making candles was an extension of my artistic talents.  I didn’t become serious with it until after making candle favors for my sister’s wedding and the guest were amazed how beautiful the candles were and the fact I made them.  So I slowly began to create different style candles and took pictures of each of my designs and created a catalog.  My retail business began to grow.

What drew you to making candles in particular

What drew me to making candles was the constant disappointment in purchasing candles from the store.  The candles either burned poorly or didn’t have a scent throw.  So these let my curiosity in making candles that smelled good while burning.  I started out making paraffin candles and that didn’t last long because it was so hard to clean up.  Then I learned about gel candles and this wax enabled me to be extremely creative with embedding objects in the candle.  After about 4 years, I had my son and wanted something more natural and around this time a friend introduced me to all natural bath & body products.  From this introduction I began research again on natural candles and fell in love with soy candles.


What is so special about soy candles

Soy wax is a natural and biodegradable product.  It burns cleaner, longer and cooler than traditional candles on the market.  The big plus that my customers love is when you blow out a soy candle it doesn’t have that fume smell that paraffin candles give off…soy wax actually has a sweet aroma when blowing out the flame.  When we purchase a soy candle we also support our own American farmers.

How can your products help us relax

Kandle Indulgence Co. products can help you to relax with two of our most popular fragrances: Lavender Chamomile Tea and Quiet Time.  These fragrances are made using a blend of essential oils and nature-inspired fragrance oils to promote relaxation and sooth minor headaches.  Our candles alone offers relaxation through the soothing aroma throughout your home and the intimate glow it provides.

Tell us more about the services you offer

My company offers natural dye free soy candles using premium grade vegetable-base fragrance oils, lead-free cotton wicks.  We offer a wide selection of container candles, gourmet pillars, votives, tea light candles and one of our best sellers is the Soy Aroma Melts.  We primarily do business-to-business sales servicing a lot of private labeling to other companies wishing to carry our product line.  For our retail customers, our business is primarily done online through our website: www.kandleindulgence.com.  We provide services for fundraisers, candle favors and home/online parties.

You can reach Jameel at info@kandleindulgence.com or call Toll Free: 877-798-1874

Handling Stress

We all know that as women, we tend to carry a higher burden of stress than we should. If you are like me, you are continuously multi-tasking and have so many balls up in the air at any given time. There are the needs of spouse and children, a job, business, friends, church and other social obligations that can keep us spinning our wheels.

Studies have shown that often we aren’t even aware of our stress levels. Listen to your body, so that you know when stress is affecting your health. Maintaining high stress levels is harmful to your health and also compromises the quality of care you give to your loved ones. I know when I am stressed, I am less patient with those who are closest to me.

Taking time out for yourself may at first seem like a selfish thing to do in light of all the demands on your time. You will find that this time investment in you well being yields dividend of a happier, more relaxed more productive wife, mom friend and worker.

Here are some suggestions to help relax:

• Give yourself Permission to Relax: I know this easier said than done, but you must develop this as a discipline. Give your self permission to take time out for at least 15 – 30 minutes a day.
• Take a walk outside, take a few minutes to sit, listen to soothing music, or read a book.
• Take a Nap. Even if you just lie on your bed and veg-out for 30 minutes, you will find that your mind and body will be refreshed when
• Take a Bubble Bath. Get your portable CD Player, a cup of herbal tea and take a bubble bath scented with some soothing essential oils. My favorite are lavender, Spearmint and Eucalyptus. These scents clear my head and rejuvernate the senses. You can find more details on Aromatherapy at our online store

Shea Butter - Tropical Natural Remedy for Winter Skin

Shea Butter can be found only in the tropical Sahel belt of West Africa and some parts of East Africa, but it's benefits are being enjoyed all over the world. From the frigid climes of Europe and North America to warmest parts of Asia. The growing popularity of Shea butter comes as no surprise to most Africans who have used it for centuries. Shea Butter contains several natural anti-inflammatory agents and a minor sunscreen agent. Clinical studies have shown that this product transforms the skin in as little as 4-6 weeks, into a softer, smoother, and better looking skin. Those who routinely use Shea Butter report a number of other special benefits for skin ailments, including relief from blemishes, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies, and wrinkles. Because of an abundance of healing ingredients, and its superior moisturizing activity, Shea Butter is in a unique class, as a stand-alone personal care product. For more information check out Shea Radiance Unrefined Shea butter.

We attended the HBA Expo in NYC Sept 18th-20th 2007

Hubby and I jumped on the greyhound bus at 6:00 am on Tuesday morning heading for New York City. This is our first time attending one of the HBA Global Expo events.

We decided to make a day trip down to the event to get a feel for the event and checkout the latest trends in the personal care business. We were not disappointed. There were literally thousands of exhibitors showing off the latest designs in packaging, lot's of eco friendly packaging ideas. There were also manufacturers of natural and organic skincare/cosmetic bases and supplies.

We spent the whole day going from one exhibit stand to another. Made lots of good contacts and came back home to Maryland, exhausted but inspired. If you are an indie in the personal care business you owe it to yourself to attend this event next year.

Hubby getting his caffeine fix at the Au Bon Pain at the New York Port Authority.

This is an excerpt from the HBA Site:

                                           

HBA is the definitive event for the cosmetic, fragrance and personal care industry. In 1993 HBA Global Expo was launched as the only event in North America to address the marketing, technical and naturals needs of the entire beauty industry. For 15 consecutive years, the show has created an international marketplace bringing together suppliers and buyers in the beauty industry's number one marketplace -- New York City.   HBA's educational conference program is renowned for providing cutting-edge information on the latest industry trends, new product developments, marketing and advertising know-how, as well as the latest in packaging design and technical advancements. HBA offers midyear conferences focusing on Marketing, Technical and Naturals.    The year's most classic, daring and truly provocative designs are honored at the HBA International Package Design Awards. Hundreds of packages vie to be named the year's Category Leader in Personal Care, Skin, Fragrance and Cosmetic packaging for all types of price points and level of distribution.                      Demographics (Facts & Figures)                   Since its debut, HBA has become a premier gathering place for the entire beauty industry. Showcasing everything from formula to finish, HBA Global Expo includes an increasing number of private labels, raw materials and ingredient suppliers, and contract fillers.

Number of Show attendees: 18,152 Number of Delegates Attending the Conference: 1,605 Number of Exhibitors: 653 with more than 80 Countries Represented Gross Exhibit Space: 228,000 sq. ft.

What's so Special About Natural Cold Pressed Soaps

If you have never tried cold pressed soaps, run don't walk to your nearest natural store or better still check out our online store. There is nothing quite like a bar of natural soap. It is rich in naturally occurring glycerin, shea and cocoa butter and other rich emollients that are so kind to your skin.

Bathing with commercial soaps is harsh on your skin. Commercial soaps have been stripped of glycerin and impart no moisture to the skin. For those who already suffer from dry skin and eczema this can create more discomfort.

What I love about cold pressed soap

• Rich in moisture, I never feel dry after cleansing with these bars
• Generous lather. We all love bubbles and these soaps are rich in glycerin which makes them more lathery
• Great smell from essential and fragrance oils

Natural Soaps especially should be stored in a dry place and not sutting in a pool of water. Find a soap dish to keep your soap dry so it will last longer.

Bottom line, natural soaps are better for you. They may cost a little more but you are worth it.

Spa Treatments for the Busy Mum

It's quite ironic that as maker of spa products I sometimes struggle to take the time to enjoy the products I make. I am surrounded by the finest oils, butters, fragrances, scrubs and salts that would make any product junkie envious, and yet it takes some effort and planning for me to treat myself to a much needed spa treatment. Like most working mothers with a business and household to run it is very easy to neglect taking care of yourself.

Here are a few things you can do to pamper yourself in little or no time.

Cleanse
Always, always use a natural cold pressed soap. You will find that natural cold pressed soaps are rich in glycerin and are further enriched with cocoa and shea butter. Cold pressed soaps are not drying and leave your skin feeling clean and soft

Polish
A good goal would be to exfoliate weekly. You can do this with a sugar or salt scrub mixed in nourishing oils. I like to exfoliate after I take a shower. Exfoliation increases blood supply which in turn improves circulation. Exfoliating also sloughs off dead dry skin. Pay particular attention to rough areas like the knees, elbows and heels. Your skin should feel silky, smooth and moist after exfoliating, never dry.

Moisturize
Slather up with your favorite natural lotion or body butter.You skin will feel revitalized and refined after this process.

Take Care of Yourself

Making Body Butters and Cooking

I love making whipped butters. It's like making a cake from scratch. You whip your butters and oils together into white frothy mousse, drizzle with humectants and then scent with your favorite fragrances. Making bath and body products using natural ingredients is like cooking. You start off with the freshest and best ingredients you can get and create a thing of beauty that is both nutritious and hopefully delicious.

I was in my kitchen the other day whipping up a batch of whipped body butters for my customers, and I it occurred to me that shea butter is like potatoes, yes I said it, potatoes. They are both very versatile products and they are so good for you. Think about the many things you can do with a simple potato. You can cut it into wedges to fry or bake, you can bake it whole, you can whip it, make a casserole, add it to soups and curries and so much more.

You can do a lot with Shea Butter, you can whip it, make a thick body butter, make a light emulsion or a heavy cream, body scrubs, lip balms, therapeutic balm, soaps and more. So ahead and experiment with shea butter. Melt it down, add more oils, scent it and see what happens. Have fun!!

Shea Butter Refined Vs Unrefined

Unrefined Shea butter has a sizable quantity of unsaponifiable fats, vitamins, and other active elements, which help cell regeneration and capillary circulation. These properties make Unrefined Shea an asset against skin aging. Unrefined Shea promotes the healing of small wounds, skin cracks and crevices, and skin ulcers. It provides UV protection because it contains  cinnamic acid.  It is good for dry skin and well tolerated by sensitive skin. It is  great at preventing stretch marks during pregnancy. Shea butter has a natural, earthy and nutty scent.

Refined Shea butter is white and odorless. It has been refined to remove the natural scent and color.  The refining process unfortunately strips natural shea butter of all it's therapeutic properties. It is still a good moisturizer but lacks the healing component.  The process under which Shea butter is refined may involve the use of harsh chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide. Refined Shea butter may be aesthetically appealing, but lacking the true moisturizing, healing, and nutritive properties of true traditional shea butter. The main selling point for unrefined Shea butter is that it has an extended shelf life, a white, uniform color, and no odor.

You be the Judge and decide which of the two is best for you.

Shea Radiance uses only unrerfined shea butter in all its products. Our goal is to provide the dual benefits of moisture and healing in all our skin care products without any additives