Ancient Beauty Secret

Many consumers don’t realize something that people living millennia ago in ancient Greece took for granted; that extra virgin olive oil, all by itself, is one of the best beauty secrets. In addition to being a natural, hypoallergenic way to moisturize skin, extra virgin olive oil has the added advantage of providing strong antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E that help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution, and other modern-day environmental hazards – like cigarette smoke and fast food. These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state.

To provide a slightly more scientific explanation, this damage is related to the destructive activity of oxygen-related free radicals produced by skin cells. Polyphenolic components of olive oil have been compared to traditional antioxidants, such as tocopherols, used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry to prevent skin damage. There are a number of simple and inexpensive ways to get the best skin care and beauty benefits out of a single bottle of extra virgin olive oil. The rich emollients in olive oil allow just a little to go a long way.


SKIN CARE AND OLIVE OIL

Skin Moisturizer

Whether applied to face or body, olive oil will penetrate deep into the skin and provide a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple. Used either as a night cream or daily moisturizer, it is best applied to damp skin, when water can help reduce any feeling of greasiness. We recommend using extra virgin olive oil.

Followers have also suggested that a little lemon juice mixed with olive oil can provide a more bracing and refreshing feeling. In her best-selling book The Passionate Olive, Carol Firenze suggests making a moisturizer made of Italian parsley, water, and extra virgin olive oil.

Expect the natural benefits of olive oil to take a bit longer to be absorbed into the skin than most lightweight packaged skin products. But the advantages can be longer lasting too.

Exfoliator

If dry and scaly skin is a problem, Carol Firenze also suggests mixing olive oil and sea salt in a rub and massaging it into the affected area to slough off dead skin and enrich the healthy layer beneath it. Or add a few tablespoons of olive oil with a drop or two of lavender essential oil in a bath. This is a luxurious way to relax, soothe and moisturize the whole body.

Nail and Cuticle Care

Extra virgin olive oil makes the perfect, simple solution for dry nails and cuticles. Simply rub a few drops into the cuticle area and around the nail. Cuticles stay plump and moist, and nails respond with a natural shine.

Eye Makeup Remover

Just a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton pad is all it takes to gently and effectively remove eye makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye area. The biggest added advantage is that when used consistently, olive oil can soften the skin around the eyes and smooth out wrinkles.

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Sampler Bags!

Hey guys!  Been busy, busy, busy with soap wrapping and packaging, etc. for a couple more local shows around here.  Just wanted to take a minute a get some feed back on a new package I have added to my product line.  I call it Southern Pines Sampler Bag.  I have included some pictures too.  I'm hoping it will be popular for giving inexpensive but nice gifts to teachers, secretaries, bosses, etc. for christmas.  It includes a sample size of my soap, whipped sugar scrub and bath salts for $5.00.  Let me know what you guys think in your comments.  Until next time......

 

FREE SOAP WINNER!!!

Hi all!  It's been a little while since I had time to write.  We had a beautiful weekend for the Hahira Honey Bee Festival! Thanks to all who visited and especially those who purchased!  I know you've been waiting to see who is getting the free soap and "THE WINNER IS!!!!"  Bobbie Moore of Broken Arrow, OK!  Congratulations Bobbie!  Hope you enjoy the soap.  Now the next thing is what scent got the most votes.  The new scent for Southern Pine Soaps will be Vanilla!  Not sure what version of this scent I'll use yet but it was a very popular scent.  Thanks everyone for participating.  I'll keep you posted when we have another give away!  My next endeavor to promote Southern Pine Soaps is a Home Spa Party.  I'm very excited about this and would enjoy any input or ideas you may have.  Please feel free to comment.  Hope you all have had and continue to have wonderful days and great success in your lives.  Until next time!

Don't Forget!

Hey everyone!  I've been busy making soap, wrapping soap, etc. for my show coming up.  You get the picture so I haven't had much time to post, but here goes.  I've made a batch of lemongrass, spearmint and lavender since the last time I wrote here.  I've also been working on potty training my 2 year old son.  Let's just say the soap making is going much easier. (LOL)  Anyway, hope you are all doing well.  I wish you could see the view from my kitchen window.  I'm going to post a picture, but it doesn't do it justice.  It's a beautiful cotton field ready to be picked!  Even though it's not as hot here as it has been I can't wait for some cool weather to come our way.  98 degree days are starting to get rather old if you know what I mean. 

Isn't this lovely!

The free soap promotion is still on until September 24th so don't forget to leave a comment and vote for what you think our next new scent should be and register at the web site to qualify to win the free soap!

Lemongrass on the curing rack.  Smells Wonderful!



Festival Time!

The smell of Fall is in the air, festivals abound.  It's that time of year again when the leaves begin to change color and let go of the trees, children get excited about Halloween, the air is a little cooler and soapers get busy making soap.  Fall festivals are all around and I have to have enough to go around!  As I sit writing this and drinking my second cup of joe I have rampant thoughts of my first festival of the season running through my head.  It will be the Hahira Honey Bee Festival on October 8th and 9th.  This is the first year I will be attending this particular festival and I'm very excited!  I will be sharing a booth with a friend who has a brick & motor shop in town that carries hand made jewelry, handbags, personalized embroidery, and childrens' educational materials, and of course Southern Pine Soap.  So many things to do and plan.  Must do an inventory and see what kind of soaps I need to make, new ways to dispay said soap to catch the eye of the festival goers, getting soap wrapped and labeled, and so on and son!  I love  this time of year!  I hope we do well and have lots of fun too.  I better get up and get busy!

FREE SOAP PROMOTION

As you all know, to sell a product you must sell what clients wish to buy.  The hand made soap business is no exception.  I have tried to add new products along the way periodically that people have either asked for that I didn't already have or was special ordered.  Trying to anticipate what the public may want is extremely hard to do and since I can't read minds I thought "Why not just ask them what they want?"  I have been contemplating what scent or type of soap to add to the product line and have been stumped because there are so many to choose from.  Please leave a comment and tell me what your favorite kind of hand crafted soap is.  At the end of a two week period starting September 10, 2010 and ending on September 24th I will tally the votes for each different kind and that will be the new scent for Southern Pine Soaps.  Please check out my site and see what I already have so you won't vote for a scent already there.  Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.  One lucky participant selected randomly will recieve two hand made bars of soap free!  To be considered for the free soaps please click here and leave your name, email and street address for shipping should you be the lucky winner!  The winner will be contacted via email to find out what scent they would like to recieve.  Thanks in advance for participating and good luck!

In The Beginning

I began my soap business in the fall of 2008 as a way to generate income from home when I had my son.  It was a fairly inexpensive business to start.  My husband being supportive and a handy sort of guy made my molds for me out of scrap wood we had in the barn.  And so began Southern Pine Soaps.  It has been an interesting journey that is still in progress. 

I have yet to run into anyone who makes cold process soap in my area of the state, if there are any of you close please contact me.  I would love to here from you.  However, nationwide there are many, many soapers and the hand made soap business is very competitive. 

My first festival was in Lake Park, GA at the Alapahoochee Antique Tractor Show.  Interest was slow at first, but I did alright by the end of the weekend.  I have gone back to this festival every year and it has gotten better each time. 

Since then a retail store in Quitman, GA has carried my soap; JEM's Unique Boutique and a gallery in Boston, GA; Cat's Eye Studio.  I will be attending the Hahira Honey Bee Festival in Hahira, GA on October 8th and 9th, 2010, so be sure and stop by if you're in the area.

Without the help of my friends and family this endeavor would not have happended and I appreciate all the support you have shown.  If you have not checked out the progress of Southern Pine Soaps and the products we have to offer I encourage you to do so and see what you have helped make possible.