Garland Skin & Body and Candle Blog http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog Blending Science with Nature Thu, 06 May 2010 17:22:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Best way to catch a sale! http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=62 http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=62#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 17:22:09 +0000 GSBAdmin http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=62 Sign up for our Facebook page here.

By signing up you will be first to know about sales, specials or new products.  It’s a win win situation!

]]> http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=62 0 Ahhh the smell of it… http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=57 http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=57#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 18:22:00 +0000 GSBAdmin http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=57 We are so pleased to inform you that we will be adding oil perfumes to  out collection very soon!  If you are not a fan of alcohol then you will love our Olive Oil based perfumes and colognes.   Look for them in about three weeks!

]]> http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=57 0 New Products Coming Soon! http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=53 http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=53#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:29:09 +0000 GSBAdmin http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=53 Just wanted to let you know that we are currently working on some new fantastic products for you.  We are about to roll out a new shower gell that is SLS/SLeS free!  Our new Collagen and Silk shower gell will gently cleanse your skin and add vital moisture!  We are also working on a new Face Wash that will be sure to perk up your mornings!

]]> http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=53 0 The Making of a Butter Bar http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=26 http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=26#comments Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:49:20 +0000 GSBAdmin http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=26 Many people have asked me what goes into making my natural soap.  While this is a condensed story it will give you the gist of what it takes.

First I line the molds with refridgerator paper.  I hand made the molds myself.  It helps being handy with power tools:-)

Here are the lined molds ready for the raw soap.
Lined Molds

I then measure out my hard oils and melt them to the correct temprature.  These oils have been chosen after many many trials and experiments. 
hardoils

After they are melted I add the hard oils to the Palm oil and other base oils.  The heat from the melted hard oils melts the palm oil and I begin to make my slurry mix.  Once I get all the oils melted and combined I add the lye mixture and it’s soap making time.  Soap is actually a salt.  It is a byproduct of the chemical reaction between a fatty acid (oils) and an alkaline solution. 
slurry

I begin mixing the oils together with a hand blender until they start to form an emulsion also called trace.  Depending on what oils and what recipe I am using this can take anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes.  The more stearic acid an oil has the quicker the trace.  Here is the mix after trace and after I add the fragrance.  This batch is a new Butter Bar Vanilla Jasmine.  Right now is is about the consistancy of thin pudding.  As the reaction continues it gets thicker and thicker.
emulsion

Immediately after I add the fragrance I pour into the mold.  Some fragrances can accelerate the trace so fast that you get soap on a stick.  It can instantly freeze the mix and it is not fun!  So you learn to work very fast in getting it into mold.
ready

After it sits in the mold for about 8 hours I take it out and slice it up using my soap harp.  It’s not really a harp.  It’s jig made from steele and guitar strings that you can actually use as an instrument.  It cuts the soap log into 17 uniform 1″ thick bars.

After the log is cut I put the bars on a drying rack for about 6 to 8 weeks.  Drying is needed to remove the excess water that the bar contains.  The older the bar of soap is the more gentle and great it is.  But after about 6 weeks the soap is ready and perfect!

Hope you enjoyed my little story…

]]> http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=26 0 Big Show Coming Up! http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=13 http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=13#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:44:03 +0000 GSBAdmin http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=13 Mark your Calender!  I have a big show coming up.  I will be a vendor at the 100% Hand Crafted show!

Time:           April 18th  10AM to 3PM
Location:  Robbinsville Highschool
               155 Robbinsville-Edinburg Road
               Robbinsville, New Jersey  
               Click for Directions

I will have all my products (minus Soy Candles) and scents so you can sample and smell them all!For more info go here…

Hope to see you there!

]]> http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=13 0 New Custom Gifts http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=7 http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=7#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:47:14 +0000 GSBAdmin http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=7 GSB has launched a new category called Custom Gifts.  Our new Custom Gift category will enable a customer to create the perfect Custom Gift for a special person.  All they need to do is go through the web store chose the perfect items then chose the correct size for the gift box.  The category is broken down in three sizes.  Small 2  to 4  items, Medium 5 to 7 items and Large 8 to 11 items. 

Go ahead create that perfect Custom Gift right now!

Here is a sample of a medium Custom Gift box!

Small Custom Gift

Medium Custom Gift

]]> http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=7 0 Welcome to the Blog! http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=3 http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=3#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:12:56 +0000 GSBAdmin http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?p=3 Hello All!  This blog will serve as window into Garland Skin + Body.  As new products are being developed I will post on their progress and let you know when they go on sale.  Please follow along and watch GSB Grow.

Thanks for Stopping by!

]]> http://www.garlandskinandbody.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3 0