If you believe everything you hear, you might be under the impression that pregnancy is a magical experience for everyone—your skin glows, your hair looks great and you’re always excited about growing a new life. But let’s face it: that’s not the case for most women, no matter how happy they are to meet their new baby. Pregnancy is often an exhausting, painful and messy process. Customers often ask if they can use bath bombs while pregnant, since bath bombs are a fun and relaxing way to take some of the physical and mental stress out of your daily life.
For the most part, bath bombs are perfectly safe to use during pregnancy, especially when they’re made with high-quality, natural ingredients. However, there are two things you should watch out for when buying bath bombs.
Avoid certain essential oils
When you’re purchasing bath bombs, check the ingredient list first. Some essential oils can cause contractions, which can be dangerous depending on the stage of pregnancy. Always consult your medical doctor about what to avoid—or, if you’re trying to induce labor, double-check to make sure you have your doctor’s approval first.
Essential oils that can cause contractions include clary sage, clove, cinnamon, juniper berry, thyme, mustard, basil, nutmeg and bitter almond. If you see these on the ingredient list, choose another variety—there are plenty of safe scents that won’t harm you or your child.
As long as you pick a safe and approved bath bomb scent, you’ll be free to relax in the tub, free of worry.
Limit your bathing time
Pregnant or not, some essential oils may cause UTIs or rashes if you soak in them for too long. Try to get out of the tub after about 20 minutes, and pay close attention to whether you notice any itching sensations afterwards. You may have a skin sensitivity to the specific ingredients in that bath bomb, in which case you should avoid those ingredients in the future.
Another reason to limit your bathing time is the water temperature—a pregnant woman’s core temperature should be below 101 degrees Fahrenheit. You’re more prone to overheating during pregnancy, so be prepared to take a cool shower if the bath ends up being too hot.
Be careful getting in and out
Finally, make sure you’re careful getting in and out of the tub. This is solid advice for anyone, regardless of pregnancy, but pregnant women are often coping with a different and unfamiliar body shape and center of gravity. Since bath bombs can leave slick residue in your tub, you’ll need to be extra careful not to slip when getting in or out of the bathtub.
As long as you keep these tips in mind, you should be able to enjoy a safe, relaxing bath with your favorite Soaps & Scents bath bombs.
For more information about our bath bombs, including bath bomb safety information, call or visit Soaps & Scents today. Be sure to check out our selection of handmade bath bombs to find your perfect match!
Father’s Day Tip: Handmade Soaps and Sugar Scrubs Are Great for Men, Too!
Skincare isn’t just for women, but most men are hesitant to pick up these types of products, lest they be labeled too “girly.” Maybe the men in your life don’t want to smell like flowers and candy, but there’s nothing like a good handmade soap or sugar scrub to make them feel like a million bucks. If you choose a great unisex scent, you might just turn your dad into a skincare aficionado. Here’s why body scrubs for men make such a great gift.
Exfoliation and hygiene are for everyone
Everyone—men included—can benefit from high quality soaps and sugar scrubs. After all, everyone needs to wash and exfoliate their skin. Even if the idea of sugar scrubs seems too feminine for your dad, he might be pleasantly surprised once he gives them a try.
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. This prevents them from building up, clogging pores and causing acne. Many men suffer from acne on their bodies, but don’t realize that a quick sugar scrub treatment can eliminate the problem entirely. It also prevents ingrown hairs, and when there’s a moisturizing ingredient included, it will leave your skin clean and smooth.
Choosing the right scent for men
Generally, men tend to gravitate toward spicy, woodsy or musky scents. If you’re having a hard time choosing a sugar scrub for the men in your life, try to avoid “sweet” smells. Those are typically associated with women, which could ruin your “stay clean and exfoliated” campaign before it even begins. That means our Sugar Plum Fairy and Jasmine sugar scrub scents are probably out, unless your dad loves to flout convention.
However, citrus and herbal scents are almost always a good bet. For example, lemongrass has a sharp, tart scent, while eucalyptus offers a unisex vegetal note. Adding sage to fruit scents, like our Blackberry Sage and Tangerine Sage scrubs, is a great compromise. The bright, fruity notes are tempered with an herbal note.
When it comes to soaps, our Teak and Sandalwood scent is popular among men—the woodsy notes are clean and masculine. Another great choice for men is the Salty Mariner. If your dad loves to be out on the water, this scent will make him smell like he has been, in the best possible way. If your dad is a fan of musk-based colognes, our Masculine Musk soap will be the perfect complement to his normal routine.
Shop for Dad at Soaps & Scents
With Father’s Day right around the corner, now is the perfect time to upgrade Dad’s daily shower routine. Not sure what kind of scents or bath products he might enjoy? Stop by our store to get help from one of our friendly staff members. We’ll be glad to help you choose the perfect gift for Dad. Call, stop by or shop online today to get the perfect body scrub picked out in time for Father’s Day—he’s sure to appreciate the thoughtful gift, and might even have his eyes opened to other skincare products!
What’s the Difference Between Cold Process and Cold Press in Soap Making?
If you’re new to the processes involved in soap making—or just want to find out what some common soap making terms mean—you might be confused by “cold process” vs. “cold press.” Although these terms sound quite similar, they actually refer to completely different processes. In short, cold process is a soap making procedure, while cold press refers to the process of oil extraction. Although they’re both related to soap making, knowing what they mean can help you choose higher-quality products and better understand the process.
Cold process soap making
Some soap making methods use a heat source, but this is not the case with cold process soap making. This method (which is sometimes called CP for short) combines oils and lye to create a soap. This slows the chemical reaction and allows the soap maker to create elaborate patterns and swirls.
In traditional soap making, the maker might use kettles, heat chambers or crockpots to speed up the chemical process. The heat increases the reaction rate, so the soap blends together faster—but it also doesn’t allow for cool designs.
Cold process just mixes the lye and oils together until it creates a stable emulsion. Then the maker is able to create intricate patterns or other designs without worrying that the soap will cool and harden too quickly. This method is preferred for most handcrafted soaps, while traditional soap making is usually used by industrial makers. Both will turn out perfectly usable soaps—but cold process usually indicates it’s handcrafted.
Cold press
Cold pressing, on the other hand, is a method of oil extraction—which is not a soap making process at all. Cold pressing involves grinding plant seeds or nuts into a paste, then mixing to ensure the oils coagulate. Next, the maker uses a mechanical press to extract the oils from the solids.
The cold pressing method turns out a higher-quality product than other methods of oil extraction, which may use heat or solvents. It’s also environmentally friendly—anytime you can avoid using solvents, you’ll get a cleaner end product that retains more of its nutrients, flavonoids and antioxidants. In other words, if you see the term “cold press” on soaps or essential oils, you know you’re getting a finer and purer product. The only drawback to cold press extraction is that it yields far less oil, making it more expensive.
Get more information about cold process vs. cold press
Now that you know the basic difference between these two processes, you can apply it to soap making and shopping knowledge. In short, cold process soaps will generally have more attractive designs. Since the process takes a lot longer to complete, the soap maker has probably made them by hand, ensuring a higher-quality product. Meanwhile, cold press essential oils are a higher quality oil that retains more nutrients and other positive compounds.
For the highest-quality soaps—made with high-quality essential oils—visit Soaps & Scents today or shop online. We look forward to helping you find what you’re looking for!
Are Bath Bombs Safe to Use During Pregnancy?
If you believe everything you hear, you might be under the impression that pregnancy is a magical experience for everyone—your skin glows, your hair looks great and you’re always excited about growing a new life. But let’s face it: that’s not the case for most women, no matter how happy they are to meet their new baby. Pregnancy is often an exhausting, painful and messy process. Customers often ask if they can use bath bombs while pregnant, since bath bombs are a fun and relaxing way to take some of the physical and mental stress out of your daily life.
For the most part, bath bombs are perfectly safe to use during pregnancy, especially when they’re made with high-quality, natural ingredients. However, there are two things you should watch out for when buying bath bombs.
Avoid certain essential oils
When you’re purchasing bath bombs, check the ingredient list first. Some essential oils can cause contractions, which can be dangerous depending on the stage of pregnancy. Always consult your medical doctor about what to avoid—or, if you’re trying to induce labor, double-check to make sure you have your doctor’s approval first.
Essential oils that can cause contractions include clary sage, clove, cinnamon, juniper berry, thyme, mustard, basil, nutmeg and bitter almond. If you see these on the ingredient list, choose another variety—there are plenty of safe scents that won’t harm you or your child.
As long as you pick a safe and approved bath bomb scent, you’ll be free to relax in the tub, free of worry.
Limit your bathing time
Pregnant or not, some essential oils may cause UTIs or rashes if you soak in them for too long. Try to get out of the tub after about 20 minutes, and pay close attention to whether you notice any itching sensations afterwards. You may have a skin sensitivity to the specific ingredients in that bath bomb, in which case you should avoid those ingredients in the future.
Another reason to limit your bathing time is the water temperature—a pregnant woman’s core temperature should be below 101 degrees Fahrenheit. You’re more prone to overheating during pregnancy, so be prepared to take a cool shower if the bath ends up being too hot.
Be careful getting in and out
Finally, make sure you’re careful getting in and out of the tub. This is solid advice for anyone, regardless of pregnancy, but pregnant women are often coping with a different and unfamiliar body shape and center of gravity. Since bath bombs can leave slick residue in your tub, you’ll need to be extra careful not to slip when getting in or out of the bathtub.
As long as you keep these tips in mind, you should be able to enjoy a safe, relaxing bath with your favorite Soaps & Scents bath bombs.
For more information about our bath bombs, including bath bomb safety information, call or visit Soaps & Scents today. Be sure to check out our selection of handmade bath bombs to find your perfect match!