Weekend Wonderings: Reminder about the soapmaking challenge. Phenoxyethanol and polysorbates!

I hope you’re all enjoying your long weekend – if you get one – spending time with family and friends! I’m spending the day with my bestie playing with this stuff called Inkodye, which silk screens fabric using the sun! I’ll post results when we’re finished. We had great fun making gummies (video) and lollipops...

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Why are preservatives considered a “necessary evil”?

Surfing around the ‘net the last few days, I keep coming upon people commenting that “Preservatives are a necessary evil…” or “I don’t like preservatives, but I’m using them…” (I guess I should be happy you’re using them!) What’s not to like? Preservatives make it possible for us to make lotions that last longer than a week....

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Debate: Water soluble or oil soluble preservatives in a scrub

There is quite a lively debate ongoing in the bath & body community about what kind of preservatives to use in an oil or emulsified scrub. (Heck, there’s a debate about whether we need to use a preservative in a scrub, but I’m firmly on the side of “yes” for that one!) The question is...

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Weekend Wonderings: Why are you using willow bark in a rinse off product? Do we need preservatives in our cleaning products? Why doesn’t handmade soap make a good shampoo?

In this post, Experiments in the workshop: A 3-in-1 that might be good for swimmers, Marg asks: Can you explain your thinking on adding white willow bark extract to your 3 in 1? I love that product, and use it in my aftershave lotion to soothe tiny nicks or scrapes, but not sure if its...

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Weekday Wonderings: More comments! Can we add anti-oxidants to anhydrous products? Rocky Mountain Soap’s preservatives?

In this post, Lotion bars: Tweaking the waxes, Tracy asks: I was wondering if it would be okay to add an antioxidant like ROE or Vitamin E T-50 to extend the life of the oils? If so, does it matter which one is used? Yes, you can add anti-oxidants to any oil soluble product to extend...

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