The latest commercial shows a bunch of women adding their body cleanser to a mirror and then rinsing it off. What’s left behind is supposed to make you gag. Only the mirror lathered with Dove, of course, comes out clear. Again, a natural soap will leave behind a film, a film called glycerin. This is a humectant and a natural by-product of cold processed soap making. Glycerin is a highly prized commodity in the bodycare industry and companies pay alot to have it added to their chemically laden formulas.  Natural soap makers don’t. It’s already in there.

So, I guess if you want to clean your mirror, buy Dove. If you want to clean you, buy something a little less  toxic.

 I cannot say that I look forward to the Dog Days of Summer, when I exit the shower and feel as if I’d never stepped in.  Some like it hot…I’m just not one of them.

As a natural soap maker it poses another problem. I usually do not make soap during the humid days of the year. Glycerin, which is a natural by product of the natural cold processed soap making, is a humectant. The purpose of a humectant is to draw moisture out of the air and cling to it. If you have cold processed soap bars, you may notice “droplets” or “sweating” of the bars. This is the glycerin doing its job. Because of this, the humid summer weather is not ideal for curing large batches of soap, as they tend to take on water rather than allow it to evaporate (which you want for a nice, hard bar).

So, for those of you who faithfully purchase our soaps (thank you), and fall production will be firing up soon enough. Until then, have a great summer and don’t sweat it.

For those skeptics out there….the prayer was answered.

Never underestimate the power in prayer.

I finally did pick up the paper and checked to see if it was published. Not being a “religious” person, or knowing what a Novena was, I searched through the Public Notices section, I look through the classifieds, not knowing what it was I was even looking for. I thought it had something to do with her golfing group.

Then I found it, read the prayer, and immediately knew why she had placed it. I suddenly felt sad and foolish for not getting the paper sooner, knowing now how much she must have cared to have taken the time to call up this paper and placed this Novena in it. And how much she cared for the person she placed it for. (no, not me)

So, if 1 person can care and try to move mountains through Faith, what could 2 people do? Or 3….or more?

Recently, I had a friend state that he isn’t “the praying kind”, but he said a prayer for a friend whose father had died. I told him you don’t necessarily have to be “the praying kind” to care enough about someone to ask God for help for that person. And if you happen to be “the praying kind”…better still.

I decided to publish this myself, in case it helps someone else find comfort in their angst. And for my mother, because I know that 2 prayers are better than 1.

(duplicated as written)

The Prayer to the Blessed Virgin (Never known to fail)

O’most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O’star of the sea, help me and show me where you are my Mother. O’Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to secure me in my necessity. There are none that withstand your power. Show me herein you are Mother.

O’Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x)

O’Holy Mary, Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. (3x)

Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen.

Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days and after 3 days your request will be granted and the prayer must be published. Thank you!

Anyone knowing how soap is made and how it works would never write such a ridiculous ad let alone buy into it, but it got me thinking. Most people DON’T know how soap is made or how it works. Being a soapmaker, the ad really makes my blood boil, since it’s not only misleading, but implies that the toxic chemical bath they want you to purchase, is superior to a simple bar of soap.

Without getting too scientific-y, the simple version of how soap is made is this: you take an oil, add water and (Lye) sodium hydroxide (for bar soap) ,  put them together and poof (a thermal reaction called Saponification happens)-SOAP. (there is MUCH more to it than that, but stick with me- point coming soon) When this soap cures (at least 1 month), the water evaporates out of it and the lye becomes less akaline (safe to use). The longer the soap cures, the more water evaporates. We WANT the water to evaporate. What’s left are the emollient oils that produce the lather and get you clean. This makes for a harder bar, which will last much longer than a soft, soupy mush bar. (Ever leave a natural soap bar sitting in water? Eventually it dissolves) 

 Soap works by trapping the dirt within the “bubbles” (actually called micelles…scientific blah blah I’ll spare you), so it can be rinsed away. Water is only used in the production of the soap to make the lye slightly safer to handle, and to slow down the thermal reaction (more scientific blah blah, I’ll spare you)  So Dove®’s “dry out” claim makes no sense. The water evaporating out has no effect on whether it will dry your skin out or not. Different oils are more drying than others: Coconut will dry skin out much more than Olive; however, Coconut gives a fabulous lather, while Olive will not . That’s why many natural bars have a combination of both.

The other bonus of a cold processed natural soap is that the thermal reaction (saponification) leaves a by-product called glycerin. Look at a few of your body care products and note how many have “Glycerin” as an ingredient. This is a highly coveted commodity in the beauty industry and many commercial soapmakers take the glycerin out and sell it at a higher price to other body care industries.  Then add something like…..I don’t know…..1/4 CUP MOISTURIZING CREAM.  Huh? Why?

Actually Dove®’s Beauty Bar (as well as many others you may find in your local drugstore)  is NOT a cold processed (or natural) soap. It’s a chemical detergent. Would you rather use:

SODIUM COCOYL ISETHIONATE; STEARIC ACID; SODIUM TALLOWATE; WATER; SODIUM ISETHIONATE; COCONUT ACID; SODIUM STEARATE; COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE; SODIUM COCOATE OR SODIUM PALM KERNELATE; FRAGRANCE; SODIUM CHLORIDE; TITANIUM DIOXIDE; TETRASODIUM EDTA; TRISODIUM ETIDRONATE; BHT; D&C RED 17; SODIUM DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE . (Dove®’s Ingredients)

OR:      

Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Castor Oil, Sodium hydroxide. (Natural Soap Ingredients)

??

A list of the most common toxic chemicals was developed in Marin County California because they had the highest cancer rates in the US. These chemicals are found in over 85% of all skin and pet care products and are believed to contribute to numerous skin disorders and elevated cancer rates among people and pets.

This is just an abbreviated list. The “words to be aware of” portion is designed to help you navigate through some of the marketing tools and alternative names that companies use. Check the labeling for the ingredients. Your best defense is to know what every single ingredient in the product is, which can be difficult, especially when ingredients, such as “Fragrance” will probably not list all of the components.

Chemical: Parabens
Found in: Shampoos, conditioners, whiteners, lotions, insect repellents-most skin care products. Used as a preservative in some food products.
Health Concerns: Skin irritation, rash or dermititis or allergic skin reactions. Has been found present in tumors of cancer patients. Some evidence suggests link to cell mutation.
Words to be aware of: methyl- ethly- propyl- etc….paraben, Preservative

Chemical: Phthalates
Found in: Fragrance, hair spray, hair gels, lotions, plastic wrap
Health Concerns: Damage the kidney, liver, lungs. Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity and human reproductive toxicity.
Words to be aware of: Fragrance, Penetrating. Plasticizer- makes ordinarily rigid plastic, pliable.

Chemical: Propylene Glycol
Found in: Shampoos, conditioners, whiteners, lotions, insect repellents and most liquid skin/hair products, Serums
Health Concerns: Alters skin structure, skin itrritant, allergic reactions. Penetration enhancer- may bring undesirable components beneath skin surface.
Words to be aware of: Penetrating, Serum

Chemical: Petrolatum
Found in: Creams, lotions, ointments
Health Concerns: Allergic Reactions
Words to be aware of: Petrolatum, Parrafin, Petroleum (jelly), Mineral oil.

Chemical: Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA
Found in: Shampoo, Body wash, Cleansers, Bath Oils, Liquid Soap, Bar Soap, Moisturizer
Health Concerns: May form carcinogenic impurities called nitrosamines
Words to be aware of: Cocomidopropyl betaine, Coconut Fatty Acid (not always bad), Derived from Coconut (not always bad), Lecithin (not always bad), Sodium PCA

Chemical: Sodium/Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)- This chemical is a foaming agent.
Found in: Shampoo, conditioner, whiteners, laundry detergent, carpet cleaner
Health Concerns: Alters skin structure allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin
Words to be aware of: Foaming, Surfactant, Lathering

Chemical: Diazolidinyl Urea
Found in: Fragrances, shampoo, conditioner, pain relief rubs and ointments. May contain animal products as it is excreted from urine and other bodily fluids. Used to “brown” baked goods, such as pretzels.
Health Concerns: Impurities linked to cancer and other health problems. Is a formaldehyde releaser and according to Wikipedia, was recently re-classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer to its highest toxic class, IARC 1 (known human carcinogen)
Words to be aware of: Urea, Germaben

Chemical: Butyl Acetate
Found in: Nail polish and nail treatments
Health Concerns: Repeated exposure causes skin dryness, cracking
Chemical:Butylated Hydroxytolulene
Found in: Fragrances, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers, lotions
Health Concerns: Eye and skin irritant

Chemical:Ethyl Acetate
Found in: Perfume, fragrance and whiteners. Most commonly used as a solvent
Health Concerns: Eye and skin irritant


Chemical: Tolulene
Found in: Nail polish and hair dyes
Health Concerns: Potentially cancer causing, liver damage, irritating to the skin and respiratory tract

Chemical: Triethanolamine (TEA)
Found in: Shampoo, lotions, cremes, soaps, eardrops
Health Concerns: May form carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines on the skin or in the body after absorption- among the most potent cancer causing agents found
Words to be aware of: TEA, PH Balanced or PH Balancer

Beyond the Dirty Dozen are a few others of increasing concern:

Skin & Hair Lighteners: Hydroquinone, sodium nitrate
Anti Aging: Lactic Acid, Glycolic acid, AHA (Alpha hydroxy acid), BHA (Beta hydroxy acid)
Sunscreen: Padimate-O, PABA
Antimicrobial Liquid Soaps: Triclosan

This list is not intended expressly to scare you. It is meant as a tool, one of many, that hopefully, will help you navigate the waters of the chemical cosmetic realm.

Be sure to keep checking back for more articles and news regarding chemicals and toxins.

This blog is dedicated to the discussion of things related to toxicity, health, wellness and the relationship of these to your environment. You’re welcome to read, join the discussion, or just lurk in the background.The Long Rose LLC is a little shop located in historic and beautiful Skaneateles NY, part of the glorious Finger Lakes region of Upstate NY. The shop is off the beaten path at 22 Jordan St, in the back of a little mall and was started by Marita Len, a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, who wanted to offer products to the public that were low in chemicals, low in toxicity and high in quality. It’s an evolving process, as new information is revealed almost daily. With knowledge, some products come….some go. If you are a person who spends hours at the store, reading labels and trying to decipher what’s good, what’s bad and what to avoid completely, The Long Rose LLC prides itself on taking much of the guesswork out.

Keep this blog in your scope, as we try to unravel some of the mysteries….

www.thelongrose.com