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What Is Jojoba Milk?

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What Is Jojoba Milk?

While Jojoba in and of itself is not new to the soaping industry, Jojoba Milk is a slightly more exotic ingredient that few crafters know about. It’s actually an emulsion of Jojoba Oil and skin loving additives that create a smooth and creamy, milk-like fluid.
How to Build and Manage Your Online Reputation

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How to Build and Manage Your Online Reputation

In addition to popular social media tools like Google +, Facebook, Twitter, and FourSquare, there are many inexpensive ways to tell your prospects and customers what your business does, where you’re located, and what other customers think. Need proof behind the power of online word of mouth marketing?
Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act

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Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act

The JOBS act signed into law in April 2012 is designed to enable businesses to raise startup and operating capital. It reduces the burden of certain securities regulations to promote equity “crowdfunding” as a viable funding source.

Article

What is Castile Soap? A Guide for Crafters

Castile soap is a traditional, natural soap made with 100% olive oil, water, and lye. Known for its creamy lather and gentle cleansing properties, it's ideal for people with sensitive skin or allergies. With just a few simple ingredients, castile soap is highly versatile, offering a minimalist yet effective approach to skincare. While many castile soap bars are left fragrance-free and color-free to suit sensitive skin, they can also be customized with scents and colors for a personalized touch. This guide will walk you through what castile soap is, what it's made of, and how to make your own. At its core, castile soap is made of: Olive Oil: The star ingredient, responsible for the soap's gentle and moisturizing properties. Water: Helps dissolve the lye and incorporate it into the soap batter. Lye: A necessary component for the saponification process, which turns oils into soap. The simplicity of these ingredients makes castile soap hypoallergenic and widely tolerated. For eco-conscious consumers, it's also an excellent choice because it uses plant-based oils instead of animal fats. Choosing the right olive oil affects the appearance, texture, and curing time of your soap. Here's a breakdown: Refined A Olive Oil: Produces the whitest soap bars but takes longer to trace during the soap-making process. Pomace Olive Oil: A cost-effective option that creates creamy white soap and reaches trace relatively quickly. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Results in a slightly yellow bar and requires more time to reach trace, but it's prized for its purity. Pro Tip:Always buy olive oil from a reputable supplier to ensure it's 100% pure and not diluted with cheaper oils. Quality olive oil contributes to the overall performance and feel of your finished soap. Castile soap offers a range of benefits, making it a favorite among soap makers and users alike: Gentle Cleansing: Perfect for sensitive skin, including babies and those prone to allergies. Moisturizing: The high olive oil content leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated. Versatile: Can be used as body soap, shampoo, facial cleanser, or even household cleaning products. Customizable: Easily tailored with essential oils, natural colorants, and exfoliants like oatmeal or clay. One of the greatest appeals of castile soap is its versatility. Common uses include: Skincare: Use as a gentle face wash or body bar. Haircare: Create a mild shampoo bar for a nourishing cleanse. Household Cleaning: Melt down and dilute for use as a natural dish soap or surface cleaner. Because olive oil-based soaps are naturally softer during the initial stages, using a water discount is highly recommended. Reducing the amount of water speeds up the hardening process, making it easier to unmold and cut the soap. A ratio of 1.5 parts water to 1 part lye works well for most castile recipes. Some soap makers also add sodium lactate for extra firmness. Unlike traditional cold process soaps that cure in 4–6 weeks, castile soap requires an extended curing period due to its high liquid oil content. Allow at least six months for the soap to fully cure and develop optimal hardness. For the best results, let the bars cure for up to a year. This extended time ensures a firm, long-lasting bar with a balanced pH. Can I Add Other Oils to Castile Soap?Traditional castile soap uses 100% olive oil, but some modern adaptations include small amounts of coconut or castor oil for added lather. Keep in mind, this technically makes it a "Bastille soap" rather than true Castile.Is Castile Soap Vegan?Yes! Castile soap is entirely plant-based and free from animal fats, making it a vegan-friendly choice.What Are Common Mistakes When Making Castile Soap? Skipping the Water Discount: Leads to a very soft soap that's difficult to unmold. Rushing the Curing Process: Premature use results in a bar that dissolves too quickly. Not Properly Mixing: Olive oil takes longer to trace, so patience is key. Can I Add Fragrance or Color to Castile Soap?Yes! Essential oils, fragrance oils, and natural colorants like clays or plant powders can be added for customization. Just ensure that any additives are skin-safe.Why is My Castile Soap Slimy?Pure castile soap can feel slimy during use because of its high olive oil content. Extended curing time and proper storage help reduce this texture. Understanding what castile soap is and what it's made of is the first step in mastering this timeless soap-making tradition. Its gentle cleansing, moisturizing properties, and adaptability make it a favorite for both beginners and experienced crafters. Whether you're creating bars for personal use or to sell, Castile soap is a wonderful addition to any soap maker's repertoire.For high-quality ingredients like olive oil, hyaluronic acid, and other soap-making essentials, Wholesale Supplies Plus has you covered. Explore our selection of products to start crafting your perfect bar of castile soap today!
Ways to Connect With Customers Through Email

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Ways to Connect With Customers Through Email

Email marketing can be one of the most cost-effective means of reaching your customers, an effective strategy starts with getting your email noticed among the sea of electronic communications. Here are four clever ways to connect with your customers through email.
Simple Secrets: Creating Custom Molds

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Simple Secrets: Creating Custom Molds

Why Create Custom Molds?Special occasions often call for special molds. While there are many different love and wedding mold options available for weddings, sometimes you're looking for something more personalized. Ordering a custom mold is an option (usually a pricey one), but you can also make one yourself! In this short article, we will show you how we made our own molds to create these guest-sized soaps.
Melt and Pour Soap Ingredients

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Melt and Pour Soap Ingredients

It is very important to educate yourself and your customers about what is in your products. Consumers are becoming more and more wary of reading labels and learning about the ingredients that make up their body care purchases, especially when purchasing handmade items. The following are some of the more common MP Soap Base ingredients. 
If Flax Seeds Could Talk...

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If Flax Seeds Could Talk...

My essential fatty acids keep the skin hydrated and moisturized. Regular intake of flax seeds increases the body’s natural oil production, keeping the skin baby soft. [1] I can control the production of sebum, which is an oily substance produced by your skin glands that helps prevent acne. Eat 1 to 2 tablespoons of milled flax seed daily to achieve healthy and younger-looking skin. [1] Doing a daily massage with flax seed oil can help prevent irritants from entering the pores. The oil also helps to lock moisture into the skin, which is thought to help prevent wrinkles. [1] I’m best known for my high anti-inflammatory levels. You can successfully minimize skin irritation, rashes, inflammation and redness by regularly consuming flax seeds. The omega 3 fatty acids in flax seeds are thought to help increase the speed at which wounds heal. [1] I am an excellent exfoliator for your skin. I function best when in the ground form, added to your favorite recipe as an exfoliant. I will help remove dead skin cells and rejuvenates your skin, leaving it silky smooth and refreshed. [1] Did you know that I’m a great source of omega 3 fatty acids? It’s believed that deficiency in this essential nutrient can make your hair dry and brittle. Regularly eating flax seeds may help strengthen your hair. [1]
4 Simple Steps That Will Let Happiness Find You

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4 Simple Steps That Will Let Happiness Find You

The spring season brings new life: vibrant flowers, beautiful scents, budding trees, and luscious green grass. Our senses blossom as well; the beauty of new life, along with the precious rain that feeds it brings even our emotions to full bloom—and that doesn’t always feel good. We’ve all experienced those dreary days of spring when it’s too easy to fall prey to darker thoughts. But does that mean that you are unhappy? Let’s take a look.
The Millennial Market

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The Millennial Market

If you’re like most small businesses, trends are something you likely follow to help keep your finger on the pulse of what is new, exciting and profitable. Millennials, defined as those ages 18-34, now number 75.4 million, surpassing the 74.9 million Baby Boomers (ages 51-69). Like every generation before them, millennials come with their own set of characteristics that make them unique and companies can’t afford to ignore their enormous purchasing power.
Smells Like Sunshine: 4 Summer 2022 Fragrance Trends to Watch

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Smells Like Sunshine: 4 Summer 2022 Fragrance Trends to Watch

April showers have come and gone, and May flowers now bask in the June sunlight as spring makes way for another summer full of relaxing trips, time spent in the garden and daydreaming in the pool. It’s also time to clear out that spring inventory and make way for products that will complement this season of sunshine. Take a look at some of the top fragrance trends we’re seeing heading into Summer 2022 and get ready to take your new lineup to the next level.
Oval Silicone Lip Tube Filling Tray Video

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Oval Silicone Lip Tube Filling Tray Video

Professionaly and quickly fill oval lip tubes! This video demonstrates how quick and easy it is to fill forty-eight lip tubes using the Crafter's Choice - Oval Silicone Lip Tube Filling Tray (3002). We love how smooth and flat the lip product sits in the tube using this method.