If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, knowing the ingredients in your bar soap is essential to reducing irritation. While some ingredients irritate, others promote healing. One of these is colloidal oatmeal, which is available in our almond oatmeal bar. While oatmeal soaps and baths are not a cure, they can reduce your symptoms. Here is how colloidal oatmeal works for skin conditions.

What is colloidal oatmeal?

Colloidal oatmeal is oatmeal that has been ground into a fine powder, then suspended in liquid. This allows the oatmeal to be absorbed into the skin and soothe conditions such as bug bites, poison ivy or oak, eczema and sunburns. It is a natural anti-inflammatory, and allergies to oatmeal are very rare.

Oatmeal is also a sworn beauty treatment. It is gentle on facial skin and controls acne without excessive drying. Colloidal oatmeal is a primary ingredient in gentle baby products, as well as specialized products for skin conditions.

You can make your own colloidal oatmeal by placing one cup of oatmeal in a blender and grinding it into a fine powder. Test the powder in a glass of warm water. If it absorbs quickly into a milky liquid, the powder is fine enough. If not, keep grinding it until it achieves the correct consistency.

How do I use it?

The most common option for oatmeal treatments is a soak in your tub. You can buy oatmeal bath products or use the colloidal oatmeal you made in your blender.

This is how you prepare an oatmeal bath: Take your one cup of colloidal oatmeal and run it under lukewarm water in your bathtub. If you have a large tub, make another cup of it and run that under, too. As the tub fills, mix the oatmeal with your hand. The mixture should have a silky texture and appear milky. If it appears watered down, add more oatmeal.

It is important to avoid hot baths with this treatment. Depending on your condition, you could cause further inflammation from the heat of the water. Keep the water close to a lukewarm or cooler temperature, like that of an unheated pool on a summer day. If you are treating sunburn, you will likely want it cooler, but make the water hot enough to absorb the oatmeal.

Soak for about 10 minutes to relieve itching or inflammation. If you soak longer than that, you risk drying out your skin, which defeats the purpose of the soak in the first place. Once finished, you may feel like your skin is encased in a film. If this is bothersome, rinse off in a lukewarm shower, and once done, pat yourself dry with a towel. Do not rub, as that can cause further irritation.

If you are not a bath person, there are other options available. There are oatmeal-based shower gels, as well as lotions that work well with prescription eczema treatments. You also have the option of bar soaps, which you can buy from specialized retailers like Soaps & Scents.

Soaps & Scents offers gentle bar soaps containing oatmeal for sensitive skin. Learn more by paying a visit to our storefront in El Cajon, CA. We’d love to help you find the ideal product!

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? What better time to enjoy your favorite summer treats! And now you can breathe in those amazing treats as well as taste them. Our soap store is offering a variety of fragrances that please the senses in celebration of your favorite ice cream flavors.

Don’t miss out on these delights! Soak them up while you can. Our current offerings include the following incredible selection:

  • Bar soaps: Wash off the summer heat and sweat with your favorite scents that honor National Ice Cream Month. Lather up with orange peel, strawberry vanilla or peppermint.
  • Sugar scrubs: Nothing says “summer” like a refreshing orange sherbet delight. Or try our warm vanilla sugar scrubs—you’ll be amazed at the pleasing aroma.
  • Candles: Enjoy unique scents this summer with Turkish mocha, café au lait and pumpkin souffle. Take yourself away to an island of paradise with coconut vanilla. These pleasing aromas are sure to enhance your summer.
  • Wax melts: Do you prefer wax burners to candles? We have you covered. Choose warm vanilla sugar, Turkish mocha or pumpkin souffle. And if you’re in the mood for Christmas in July, choose candy cane!
  • Cupcake soaps: What goes great with ice cream? Birthday cake is the perfect companion! In fact, many people like to combine these two with birthday cake ice cream. It’s a common favorite flavor. In honor of this popular pairing, check out any of our cupcake soaps.

National Ice Cream Month

Are you wondering how all this got started? Your local soap store did not initiate this celebration—it is truly a national event. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day and the month of July as National Ice Cream Month. He encouraged all Americans to observe these celebrations with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” We believe soaps and candles qualify!

Join the Ranks

Of course, ice cream in its many forms has not always been available like it is today. Still, this summertime favorite has quite a lengthy history. Famous figures through the ages as early as the Roman emperor Nero are known to have enjoyed ice-cream-like treats. Nero collected ice or snow and flavored it with honey. Alexander the Great is reported to have enjoyed icy drinks with honey flavor as well.

Ice cream is first mentioned in American history in a letter dated 1744. Not long after, in 1790, George Washington is on record for spending $200 on ice cream. Thomas Jefferson made his own ice cream recipe, and Dolly Madison served ice cream at her husband’s second inaugural ball.

It was in 1843 that ice cream became available for the common folk, when Nancy Johnson patented the hand crank ice cream maker. Today, with modern freezers and ice cream factories, we can all enjoy this delicious treat any time, in a variety of forms—and National Ice Cream Month is the perfect opportunity!

Celebrate with Spectacular Aromas

Are you ready to join in the celebration of National Ice Cream Month? Dip into your favorite flavors in a new way with soaps, candles and wax melts from Soaps & Scents. Our soap store has everything you need to make your July smell great.

Father’s Day will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to show your dad how much you appreciate him. Dads can be notoriously challenging to shop for, and you don’t have much time to find that perfect gift, but there are a few great ideas out there that are sure to impress your dad. Read on for more ideas about how you can surprise your dad with one-of-a-kind Father’s Day gifts.

Soaps, scrubs & scents
for Father’s Day

A lot of people assume that their fathers want grilling equipment, power tools and car accessories for Father’s Day, but you can also give your dad the gift of relaxation and self care. No matter who you are, everyone can use a little bit of pampering every once in a while, and you can help your dad unwind with soaps, scrubs and scented products.

Facial hair looks great, but it can be difficult to keep it growing healthy. Whether your dad shaves his facial hair or not, you can give him the gift of a soap made with olive oil and shea butter to provide lasting moisture and a great lather that’s perfect for shaving or trimming facial hair. Soaps that are fortified with olive oil, shea butter and other naturally moisturizing elements can help your dad keep his skin healthy while he cares for his facial hair.

Another great gift option for your dad is an exfoliating sugar scrub. Sugar scrubs contain abrasive components as well as moisturizing ingredients and scents for a complete rejuvenating experience. Sugar scrubs can work through facial hair to leave your dad’s mustache and beard feeling, looking and smelling great, while providing lasting moisturizing effects for facial skin.

At the end of the day, everyone needs to take more time for self care. While your dad might not be in the practice of pampering himself, it would likely do him some good to relax and unwind with some specialty bath products. You can remind your dad about how much you love and appreciate him and encourage him to take care of himself by buying him a gift that he can use and enjoy every day. Regardless of what his specific preferences may be, you can get him something that he really loves.
Find Father’s Day gifts

At Soaps & Scents, we know how important it is to find a great gift for Father’s Day, and we are here to provide you with the perfect items to wow your dad. We offer a wide variety of products, including several specialty Father’s Day gifts, like a brown wood shaving soap box with luxurious shaving soap and a soap brush included. We also offer several popular soap scents for men, including teak sandalwood, frankincense and myrrh and lemongrass.

Our Father’s Day gifts will be ready for pickup on June 8, so make sure to get your order placed soon! Give us a call to find out more about everything that we have to offer.

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