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Home > Blog > Archives for Soap Science

Sunday Soap Case: Tea for Two, and Two for Tea…

August 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

Tea Rooms, Tea Sets, and Tea Soaps

It’s FOOTBALL SUNDAY, Sudsers! I hope everyone has had an opportunity to check out some preseason games today, if you’re into that sort of thing. If you’re not into football…I don’t know what to do with you, really. The Soap & Clay family has been busy putting the finishing touches on our brand spankin’ new storefront this week. And by busy, I mean it has consumed every available second of our lives. And by finishing touches, I mean we started this week with roughly 10% of our task items completed. So yeah – it’s been a bit insane.

Earlier this week when I was covered in paint and construction dust, I hit a wall. I was tired. I didn’t want to paint anymore, I didn’t want to build anything, I didn’t want to go home to see my soap shop in disarray as we’ve been prepping for the move. I wanted to sit in my reclining wingback with a book and a cup of tea and shut out the world. As I walked through Freighthouse Station, dreaming of a cuppa and some quality time with the new Harry Potter book, I bumped into Becky from Claudia’s Attic. Becky and her sisters run an adorable vintage store at Freighthouse Station, and getting to see the new treasures they put on display really is the highlight of my mornings.

Thrift shop freighthouse square tacoma wa

She put this dress out last week. I bought it.

pinkdress

She put this one out the following day. Bought it, too.

Host your own tea party with Claudia’s Attic Tea Sets…

Claudia's Attic Freighthouse Square Freightouse Station TacomaWhen I ran into Becky, I was not looking for dresses (focused on tea, remember?), so you can imagine my delight when she told me that their tea sets were on special. I wandered into her shop to ooh and ahh over the beautiful china sets with their swan-like spouts and their gold rimmed saucers. She had wonderful information about the complete sets available – this one is super old and in mint condition!
Freighthouse Square Claudia's Attic Vintage apparel treasures thrift shop

Becky asked me if I had been down to check out the tea room in Freighthouse Station. Now, this building is BIG and full of hidden treasures around every corner, and I had not found anything resembling a tea room during my explorations. I asked for directions and set out.

…or let Olive Branch host it for you.

Olive Branch Cafe Tea Room in TacomaOn the far west end of Freighthouse Station, I found it. An honest to god tea room in Tacoma. With full tea service, private rooms, a light lunch menu and beautiful Victorian Era decor, this is just the perfect place to sit and enjoy an afternoon with friends after shopping.

olive branch tea room tacoma freighthouse square

Full service luncheon in a number of private or semi-private rooms to choose from. Did I mention their prices are great?

 

And the staff? Delightful. I was greeted by a lovely lady who immediately commented on my t-shirt (Chicago Bears) and we began talking about all things football. She was married to a member of Emmitt Smith’s family back when the Cowboys were a force to be reckoned with, so I enjoyed listening to her Super Bowl stories while we waited for the owner, Terry, to finish up with a group of guests.

tea shop olive branch freighthouse square station tacoma

Kids tea room is equipped with stuffed animals, hats and gloves, and a side table for the grownups.

Terry is just the exact type of person you’d expect to see running a tea room – she’s warm, welcoming, and filled with love and humble pride for this masterpiece she’s created. As we wandered through The Olive Branch (which is huge), I saw a group of teenagers in prom attire, several couples tucked away in small rooms enjoying an afternoon date, a few birthday parties, and a group of kidlets hosting a tea party for their favorite dolls in their own miniature room. Terry thought of everything, and she is equipped to handle visitors from all stages in life.

This afternoon of exploration lifted my spirits, but didn’t get me any closer to my dream of a book and a cup of tea at home. The only thing that was going to get me there? Work. So back I went to finish up the dirty stuff and headed home to make a batch of one of my personal favorites: lemon and black tea whipped sugar soap scrubs.

Tea in the Tub

sugar scrub soap scrub black teaThis one was where the dual purpose soap-scrub began. When I was designing my product line, I wanted to make a soap using black tea because I love tea so very much. I also like a spot of sugar in my tea, so I started working on ways to incorporate both into a standard soap batch. Sugar doesn’t do well through the saponification process, though, so I knew I would have to add it to already cured soap. So I formulated a cream soap, which starts out much like standard soap but is saponified over heat and requires a six week cure in a crock pot. This is kind of a pain, but it produces a soap that is perfect for whipping into a light, airy, whipped cream like product that can hold the large amounts of sugar I use for my scrubs. I’m a big fan of dual purpose products, so a soap that scrubs and cleans is a winner in my book.

Once it’s cured, I toss it in my stand mixer and whip it for around 20 minutes before adding the goodies. The goodies include a black tea extract infusion, lemon, glycerin for added moisture, sweet almond oil for the EFA benefits, and sugar (obvs). The final product is a beautiful scrub that also cleanses and rinses cleanly away with no greasy residue.  It is an exfoliating dream – super effective but gentle enough to use on sensitive areas.whipped soap sugar scrub lemon soap black tea scrub

For those that have read through to the end, here it is – your weekly freebie coupon code. For those who didn’t read anything above, NO CODE FOR YOU! Just kidding; I can’t make my site distinguish between the two.

Enter coupon code TEAINTHETUB for a free mini-whip! Coupon valid through next Sunday, August 21st.

But really – if you’re in Tacoma, stop by Freighthouse Station. Come and say hi. And make sure to stop in and see the lovely ladies at Claudia’s Attic and Olive Branch. You won’t regret it! If you’re not in Tacoma, go like their Facebook pages anyway – it helps with their analytics. Until next week, Sudsers!

Happy Sudsing!

Filed Under: Soap Science, Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: black tea, Claudia's Attic, cream soap, food, freighthouse, freighthouse square, freighthouse station, gifts, lemon, Olive Branch, parties, sugar, sugar scrub, Tacoma, whipped soap

Sunday Soap Case: Like a (soap) Duck to (bath) Water

July 11, 2016 Leave a Comment

Rubber Ducky, You’re the One…

Happy Sunday! The Soap & Clay family spent the weekend at the Momtrepreneurs Event at Tacoma Freighthouse Square, and we had a grand time. I really enjoy booth events because I have the opportunity to hang out with the locals that come out to support our little businesses. I also love getting to catch up with my fellow makers on the circuit and see what new creations they’ve come up with since I’ve seen them last.Admit it - you want it all.

I mean, wow!

I mean, wow!

A number of my faves were in attendance, including Chris from Country Home Furnishings, whose repurposed and refurbished pieces never miss the mark. His attention to detail is exquisite, his prices are fabulous, and his setup is always on point (and all for sale!).

 

 

*heart/melt/swoon*

*heart/melt/swoon*

Also in attendance was the lovely Brittany Jurgens, a Direct Sales pro who has recently taken the plunge into the artisan world. Her new business, Mama’s Chalk Shop, centers around adorable, custom made chalk signs. Her prices are great, her items are beautiful, and she can custom make anything you could possibly want on a chalk sign. I’ve already commissioned a few pieces from her for my booth signs, and she took my high-maintenance custom needs in stride. She launched her website the day before the event, which is pretty impressive in and of itself! Head on over to her page and give her some love!

For my part, I said goodbye to a few old product lines (I’ll miss you, Game of Soaps!) and added some new ones to the lineup for this event. I will be working on getting said new products on the site this week, starting with the topic of today’s post, Rubber Ducky, You’re the One! Read on for more information, then make sure to head over to the site and get yours!

Rubber Ducks + Awesome Soap = The NEW Ultimate in Bathtime Fun!

 

tarts solo

Yawn.

In the Soap & Clay Kids Line we have bath bombs, which are awesome. We have soapy balls Bubble Baubles, which are also awesome. We have Lego Soaps – again, awesome. And then we have…Soap Tarts. Which are okay – they smell nice, they effectively cleanse skin without drying out our precious littles, and they’re gentle enough to be used on the mini-est of minis. But they’re kinda boring.

ducksoapcase

ERHMAGERD!!!

When the Soap & Clay girl-children were helping me choose toys to put into a batch of Bubble Baubles, my 3 year old was drawn to a giant box-o’-rubber ducks. She’s an obsessive collector of all things (stickers, blind bags, rocks, random scraps of paper), so I braced myself for the mommy can I please have a bajillion rubber ducks query. Instead of asking for herself, however, she surprised me. Kids do that. She thought rubber ducks would be a pretty great addition to S&C Kids, and I agreed. Abandoning our mini-fig search, I grabbed the box and we giddily began planning our next adventure in soaping.

The Soapy Specs

Peppa the Owl-Duck.

The shape of the Soap-Tarts was a great starting point; they were already the perfect size for smaller hands. The formulation of the Soap-Tarts was also great; this recipe was designed to be mild enough to use on newborns but effective enough to ensure an easy clean every time. So I made a batch and cut the discs thicker than the original to support the ducks and ensure longer tub life. I then used the cream soap I usually reserve for my cupcake bath bomb tops and piped the ducks into place. The result? The cutest soaps I’ve ever seen!

For FREE?!?!

These soaps are perfect for tub time, make great gifts, and have become my most requested baby shower and birthday party favor items. The girls had a ton of fun selecting the perfect ducks to put on each disc, and while they were helping they named each and every one. They’re very excited to see No-Beard, Peppa, Cuppie and the rest of the gang go to their new homes, so I’m giving them away for a week! Enter coupon code GOTANYGRAPES at checkout to get a free duck soap of your very own. Coupon code expires Sunday, July 17th 2016.

Filed Under: Soap Science, Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: fun soap, gentle soap, kids soap, mild soap, rubber ducks, sensitive skin, Soap & Clay Kids

Sunday Soap Case: Wicked Fun Soap for Wicked Awesome Kids

June 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

Bubble Baubles:

Fun Soap + Clean Kids = Happy Parents!

It’s Sunday, which means another Game of Thrones episode, work tomorrow, and this week’s Soap Case. On the agenda today: Bubble Baubles! Read on for more information about a new twist on an old Soap & Clay product.

Where have all the prizes gone?

I’ve noticed a trend in kids products lately. Well, maybe it’s not a new trend; I am a mother of monsters children under four, so my reintroduction into the world of tiny humans is fairly recent. But I seem to remember a lot more toy prizes when I was growing up. Bought a box of Cheerios, got a mini-terrarium. Bought a mystery novel, got a secret decoder ring. Bought a box of Cracker-Jack, got some 3D glasses. I just don’t see this anymore! We go through a lot of cereal in this house, and I can count on one hand the number of times General Mills felt the need to hook me up with some swag for choking down a bowl of Wheat Chex.

I have to download an app, and then give my child control of my iPhone? Umm...no.

I have to download an app, and then give my child control of my iPhone? Umm…no.

Even Cracker Jack, which you only purchase for the toy because the popcorn tastes like stale garbage, has moved from prizes to digital codes (which my children proceed to shred into a thousand pieces and call confetti).

What gives? It’s not like kids don’t appreciate the thrill of the unknown that comes along with toy prizes anymore; surprise eggs, blind bags, and Kinder eggs show that in spades. Just last week my three year old was walking beside me in the grocery store, examining a pack of socks while pondering “I wonder what’s inside? Maybe a new Slime-ball!” Kids LOVE surprises, even in socks.

Side note: if this soap thing doesn’t work out, I am going to let her start her own YouTube channel devoted to opening up random bags o’ stuff. She’ll make a killing.

Grown-up merchandise often comes with prizes – you can buy a freaking candle with a freaking ring inside of it, for crying out loud. So in an effort to put an end to the anti-prize madness, I decided to take a suggestion from my coolest Mini-Sudser of the male variety (my awesome nephew Liam) and play with embedding toys into soaps from the Soap & Clay Kids line.

The Goal: Fun Soap (obvs)

These orbs have been a site offering since I started the company, and they’ve been fairly popular. I did have a few problems with them, however.fun soap

One: the name. These brightly colored beauties started out as Super Soapy Bouncy Balls, which of course confused customers. Do they bounce? I played around with wrapping the soaps in rubber so they would bounce, but it was a phenomenal pain, not very eco-friendly, and had the potential to anger a boatload of parents after their kids hurl them through a wall in an attempt to make them bounce across the room. I had a difficult time renaming them; they went to Soapcraft: the Minecraft Edition for a bit, but selling orbs for a cube game didn’t make much sense.

Problemo Numero Dos: they’re just round soaps. I mean, the soap itself is GREAT. It’s lather-riffic, smells amazing, and has a tub-load (a little soapy humor) of glycerin. Glycerin soap is great for young skin – it keeps the skin moisturized, smooth, and germ-free. But all of my soap does that, so what makes this kid-specific product any different than the rest of my lines?

The Solution

bubblebaublestapedispToys. Because, toys. Each orb is now filled with an adorable collectible – consider it a prize at the end of a successful soaping regimen. Each soapy ball is roughly 2 ounces and will last a few weeks in the bath or shower – it can last several months as a hand washer at the sink! Each time your kiddos use it, they will get a bit closer to their prize. Kinda like a Tootsie Pop, but without the cavities. The toys run the gamut of all things fun and weird – from animals to footballs to miniature play food and superheroes – there’s a lot of  variety. And, as always, the soap itself is bubbly and ultra cleansing and is scented with Soap & Clay’s signature Soda Pop Shoppe line. Great soap, fun toys – what more could you ask for?

And to celebrate the new addition to the line, I’m giving them away! Enter coupon code SOAPYBALLS with your next order to receive a free set of Bubble Baubles. Offer good through Sunday, June 19th.

Soapy balls. I am a child. And I’m basically fine with that.

Happy Sudsing!

Filed Under: Soap Science, Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: ball soap, glycerin, round soap, Soap & Clay Kids, super soapy bouncy balls, toys

Sunday Soap Case: Shine Bright with Amibrite!

June 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

Shine Bright Like A Diamond…

Happy Sunday, Sudsers! It’s June, which is my favorite of all of the months. The sun is bright, the days are long, and there’s no shortage of fairs, festivals, and outdoor activities. All of that extra time spent outside can result in dry, burnt, tight and weathered skin though, so I thought that today I should do a write-up on my favorite women’s exfoliating and rejuvenating soap: Amibrite.

The Starting Point

Most of my soap recipes start with the same question: what do I want the soap to do? I always want a bubbly lather that doesn’t take an hour of bar massage to obtain. I always want the bar to effectively cleanse and moisturize without drying the skin (or leaving it greasy, which soap should obvs never do). But after that, then what? Do I want the soap to polish the skin, to promote cell turnover, to soothe skin conditions such as eczema? After smelling the blend that ultimately went into Amibrite, the answer to all of the above questions was yes. This scent was so amazing that I wanted this bar to do it all. I wanted it to super-cleanse. I wanted it to super-lather. I wanted it to super-moisturize. I wanted it to super-scrub. I wanted it to be super-rific.  So I got to work.

shine bright

The Lineup

Rice Bran Oil – as far as skincare is concerned, rice bran oil is an absolute powerhouse. This lightweight, cold-pressed oil is high in Omega 6’s and Vitamin E, absorbs easily, and naturally protects against free radicals and UV damage. Rice bran oil is commonly used in high-end skincare products as it helps keep skin smooth and wrinkle-free. This oil is so effective and so nourishing that it is a staple in every bar of soap found in the Hey, Girl line.

orangepeel

Photo Credit: Dvortygirl

Orange Peel Powder – this antioxidant rich powder is a natural cleanser, promotes cell turnover, fights blemishes, and can help lighten scars on skin from sun damage or injuries (or both, if you’re Mrs. Soap & Clay). It acts as a skin brightener to boot! It’s also a mild exfoliant and has a wonderful citrusy scent.

Jojoba Beads – I have been a microbead fan since microbeads became a thing. Every skincare product I purchased had to contain them – until I learned what they were made of, and how terrible they are for our aquatic friends. The jojoba bead is the microbead’s cooler, healthier, sexier cousin. Completely biodegradable, jojoba beads are derived from jojoba oil (another staple of mine in soap recipes), are perfectly round and won’t cause microscopic tears in the skin, making them the perfect scrubby companion.

The Blend – this scent blend is my happy. One of them, at least. Bursting with citrusy goodness, this blend contains all of my favorite fruity treats. Orange, grapefruit, and tangerine mixes with blackberry and mango and finishes with a warm coconut scent that is just…well, it’s my happy for a reason. It’s bright, uplifting, energetic and all things summer. Once fully cured, the scent reminds me of Nerds candy.

Yes, I just provided you a link to buy Nerds in bulk. You’re welcome. It’s Prime eligible!

The Pour and the Name

As stated above, this scent is my happy. And sometimes my happy can be…a bit over the top. This pour reflects that manic excited state. Using my two happy colors, I drop-swirl the loaf from staggering heights while employing my very best mad scientist cackle. Then I take a skewer to it while unabashedly belting out Mandy Moore’s Candy loud enough for the neighbors three houses down to hear. And complain about. Because they’re jerks. And because I’m tone-deaf.

The end result amibritelineis a bright, beautiful bar of soap with bold streaks of color interspersed with wispy swirls. A pour like this is not uniform; each bar is a bit different than the next.

The name dates back to my very first batch of this soap. After cleaning up the soap shop, I called Mr. Soap & Clay in to admire the freshly poured loaf. With a grin on my face and a lye burn on my neck (a story for a later date), I stepped back and allowed him to inspect my handiwork. Before he could say a word, I proclaimed “that ish is AMAZING, amirite?” That was the first time I had ever used the term amirite, so I felt an homage to that moment was fitting.

So now that you’re to this point, here’s what you do. Click the link. Add the bar to your cart. Use coupon code LIKEADIAMOND and get a bar of Amibrite on me. Coupon code is valid on all orders between now and next Sunday (June 12th). Happy Sudsing!

Filed Under: Soap Science, Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: amibrite, citrus, happy, hey girl, jojoba beads, know your soap, natural, orange peel powder, rice bran oil, sunday soap case

Sunday Soap Case: Bath Bombs

May 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

Bath Bombs for DAYS!!!

Sunday Soap Case: Bath Bombs.soap case: bath bombs

Greetings and Salutations! I hope everyone’s May has been amazing. Here at Soap & Clay, we have hit the busy season for vendor events and booth exhibits (and by we, I mean myself and my super helpful booth designer, Mr. Soap & Clay). I’ve done a number of shows over the past few weeks, and I have noticed a new trend in visitor questions. Customers have been asking me about my soaping process; what I put into soap recipes and why, the color and design selection, and the overall inspiration behind my product lines. While this may have something to do with my newly released Game of Soaps line, answering questions about the method to my madness (there is one, I promise) has been so much fun! So, I decided to start a new weekly series, showcasing products and/or lines and my creation process. The idea to make this a weekly series comes from one of my favorite entrepreneur/blogger/soaper/kick-ass women on the planet, Anne Marie Faiola. Do check her out, she has a wealth of knowledge. But then make sure to come right back and read Sunday Soap Case: Bath Bombs to learn some cool things about my fizzy favorite!

Bath Bombs – A Basic Primersoap case: bath bombs

I may have exaggerated a bit when I said “favorite.” Bath bombs and I have a dysfunctional relationship. I love using them, I love smelling them, I love designing them. When it comes to making them? We tend to butt heads. There are too many uncontrollable variables in a bath bomb recipe. With a soap recipe, I know that if I use the proper percentage of certain oils, soap at a certain temperature, and use the proper amount of scents and additives it will yield a successful batch of soap with exceptional lathering, cleansing, and moisturizing properties. It’s not so with bath bombs; they are finicky.

This may have something to do with the extras I put into my bath bombs, however. A basic bath bomb can be made with baking soda and citric acid. But I’ve never been one for “basic” anything. So I try to throw a ton of skin loving ingredients into each bomb so they’ll be both fun AND beneficial. Some of the extras I put in my bath bombs include:

Cornstarch juicebomb

From balancing skin’s pH, soothing red, inflamed, or sunburned skin to treating diaper rash, cornstarch is pretty amazing stuff. It’s a natural cleansing agent, helps with conditions such as athlete’s foot, and is an excellent odor eliminator – cornstarch does it all. As such, I throw some into every batch of bombs I make.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salts soothe sore muscles, help detoxify the body, and can ease the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia! Pretty cool, right? I thought so, too. So Epsom salts also find their way into my bombs.

beachbombswirlExtracts

Avocado, chamomile, primrose, carrot, buckthorn (an actual thing) – there are loads of extracts available that help with a slew of skin ailments. When used topically (like in a bath) some soften skin, others help with the pains of eczema, psoriasis, PMS, and others tone the skin and assist in achieving a healthy glow. While I don’t use these in my kid’s bombs, I do add extracts to my adult bath bombs quite regularly.

Oils

With all of these dry ingredients, it makes sense to add a skin loving oil to the mix. I tend to favor sunflower oil for its high content of linoleic fatty acid chains. This means sunflower oil is lightweight, ultra-hydrating and anti-inflammatory, all good things when dealing with the skin.

Melts & Botanicals, Soap & Sparklesberrybomb

Making all of the above ingredients play nice is difficult enough, so of COURSE I have to play with inserting bath melts and botanicals into my bombs. Bath melts are great as they add a bit of cocoa or mango butter to the bath, thus extending your tub time. Botanicals such as rose petals or lavender buds are said to have therapeutic properties, but I add them because they’re pretty and make me feel like royalty as I’m lounging in the tub with my candles and book of the week.

Whipped soap tops and sparkly surprises are just the epitome of bathtime fun. I often experiment with both to add a little something special to my bombs. Necessary? No. Fun? You bet your booty.

Soap & Clay’s Bath Bomb Line

Outside of holiday specific gift sets and custom orders, I have been dragging my feet in regards to putting bath bombs on the site. I’ve had a tough time deciding which bombs should make the lineup. I finally decided that the best way to solve this dilemma is to change the line when the mood strikes. As such, the new line will basically always be a new line, so make sure to check back regularly!

Oh, and one last thing for those diligent Sudsers that have managed to make it this far. A coupon code. For a free bath bomb. Consider it a reward for reading (hooray, literacy!). Enter coupon code BOMBSFORDAYS to get a bath bomb on the house. Offer is good on all orders placed between today and June 5th (next Sunday).

 

Filed Under: Soap Science, Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: bath bombs, detoxifying, dry skin, fancy bath, relaxation nation, sensitive skin, skin ailments, skin care, sunday soap case, take a bath

Artisan Soap: Cruelty Free, Vegan Friendly, Gluten Free…?

December 10, 2015 Leave a Comment

Soap Science: Gluten in Skincare

Good morning, Sudsers! This week has zoomed by, right? I’ve been busy with holiday orders, activities with the Soap & Clay kidlets, and booth events. I’ve spent the past few weeks at vendor events around the greater Seattle area, and I loved mingling with members of the community, chatting about soap and skincare needs. I tend to field a set of basic questions regarding my soaps multiple times throughout any event, questions I can readily answer and provide takeaway literature for, but the lovely community members in Bellevue, WA threw me a curveball on Saturday. I still got the basics: are your products responsibly sourced and cruelty free, do you have any vegan offerings, do you stock anything for sensitive skin, but there was one question I wasn’t prepared for. Are your soaps gluten free? 

Gluten free? Hunh. Admittedly, my first thought in response to this question was, you don’t EAT soap. Please don’t eat my soap.

gluten free

Don’t be like this kid.
Who also happens to be my kid.

Gluten free?

I answered as best I could, which was basically an inelegant stammering consisting of “I don’t use flour in my soap recipes, so I think I’m gluten free…wait, is oatmeal gluten? No? well it’s likely that I don’t…I want to say yes, but I’m really not sure.” Surprisingly, in spite of my less than stellar speaking skills, this customer still purchased some items and I sent them on their way, but not before collecting their email address to get them a definitive answer on the gluten question. A few minutes later, another patron asked the same thing: are your soaps gluten free? Four other customers asked about gluten over the course of this event, so the moment I got home, the research began.

What is Gluten?

First off, I obviously needed a better understanding of gluten and what those with gluten sensitivities actually need to avoid. My belief was that gluten sensitivity was a food concern; anything that a person ingests that contains gluten can have a negative impact on their body’s overall health. And while this seems to be the general consensus in the medical world, there is also a case to be made for removing gluten from skincare products as well. Which makes sense; every soap in my line has been designed to produce specific, topical results as the skin readily absorbs many things. In this day and age, there are even drugs that are administered topically because certain components can and do enter the system through the skin. So gluten in skincare products? Could be a concern.

So what is gluten? According to celiac.org, gluten is the name given to the elastic proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and various other grains to a lesser degree. For those with Celiac disease (about 1% of the population), this protein can cause a number of health problems if ingested. Through further sleuthing, however, I came across a number of articles discussing potential problems with Celiac patients and gluten found in topical products. The Mayo Clinic has some interesting information regarding topical gluten, which you can find here.

So is there gluten in soap? How about other cosmetic products? Yes, in large part. Turns out it’s pretty difficult to find commercial products that don’t contain gluten (another way of adding insult to injury for the gluten sensitive among us).

How about Soap & Clay products?

Well, that depends. Soap & Clay soaps contain no gluten. My basic soap recipe contains olive oil, coconut oil, responsibly sourced palm oil, canola oil, and sweet almond oil. I then add extra goodies, mostly in the form of oils, butters, and exfoliants. So according to this list of safe vs unsafe products for those with Celiac/gluten intolerance, Soap & Clay does not use any ingredients that contain gluten in the soaps themselves (**see below for a note about bath bombs). However, a number of Soap & Clay soaps contain oatmeal, an item that is listed on both sides of the safe/unsafe list. The reason for this is cross-contamination; any oatmeal that has been processed in a facility that also processes wheat, barley, or rye can come into contact with gluten. I use gluten-free oatmeal in my soap recipes, so by happy accident I can say that we are gluten free!

**A note about bath bombs: I’ve been unable to find definitive information regarding corn products and Celiac, so in the spirit of full disclosure and transparency, a word of caution for those concerned with gluten: all of my bath bombs contain cornstarch. If you have been told by your medical professional to avoid cornstarch, either topically or internally, please avoid Soap & Clay’s bath bombs.

So there you have it, Sudsers – all of the information you never knew you needed about soap. Remember – check your labels, know your labels, and if you have any questions, please contact me! Don’t forget – we have FREE SHIPPING through December 16th and gift boxes are still on sale. I’m hearing “craft time” turning into “mess time” in the kitchen, so I’m off to wrestle a glue stick away from a Soap & Clay kidlet. Enjoy the rest of your day!

gluten

Glue stick. Not gluten free.

Filed Under: Know Your Labels, Soap Science, Uncategorized Tagged With: artisan, bath bombs, celiac, commercial, gluten, gluten free, oatmeal, soap, Soap & Clay Kids, vegan

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  • Benita on Sunday Soap Case: Activate your Girl Game!Good luck! You're going to do great!
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  • Benita on Sunday Soap Case: Sweet Eats and Sweet TreatsWould love to try the Sangria 🙌🏾🍹
  • Danielle on Soap Challenge – Circling Taiwan SwirlYour soap turned out so beautiful! You taught...
  • Amy Warden on Soap Challenge – Circling Taiwan SwirlExcellent post! You have to be the only...
  • Debi Olsen on Soap Challenge – Circling Taiwan SwirlYour colors are beautiful! Well done!
  • Sly on Soap Challenge – Circling Taiwan SwirlBeautiful colors! nice swirls! and the scent sounds...

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2712 6th Ave
Tacoma, WA 98406

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