The best liquid soap is one that gets everything done and clean. If you want a soap that can clean your house, your body, your children, and even your dog…our natural liquid Castile soap can do all that. As with all our other soaps, this liquid soap is cruelty-free, synthetic-free, petroleum-free, free from sulfates, parabens, artificial colors and phthalates.
Why Castile Soap?
Castile-based soap’s main ingredient is olive oil. Our premium Castile type liquid soap’s main ingredient is organic virgin olive oil, which deeply penetrates the skin, moisturizing and nourishing while cleansing. Olive oil is extremely gentle and non-irritating, making this soap a wonderful choice for a household with acne-prone and sensitive skin. For more info on Castile Soap including its origin and history, check out this blog!
When you compare the ingredient list of a popular name brand lavender Castile soap to the Apple Valley Natural Soap Liquid Lavender Castile Soap, you’ll see a few differences. First, you’ll see our ingredient list is considerably shorter. We like to keep our products as simple and as natural as possible.
Purified water, saponified oils of organic extra virgin olive, castor, organic coconut, organic unrefined shea butter, organic jojoba. Mediterranean Sea salt and lavender essential oil.
Second, we want every detail of our products to adhere to our mission of supporting natural, no-waste lifestyles. This is why we package our Liquid Lavender Castile Soap and Liquid Lemon Verbena Castile Soap in eco-friendly bottles made from bamboo and sugarcane pulp, which are not only 100% recyclable, but also 98% landfill biodegradable. For more information on this super cool, super unique packaging you can read the product description here!
If you love Castile soap, but are looking for a hard, long-lasting bar that travels easy and keeps you clean, take a peek at our Castile soap bars! Our Castile bars are made %100 percent from Organic Virgin Olive Oil and scented with high-grade essential oils. We offer four unique scents, each with their own benefits for every skin type!
Marianne has been bringing beautiful bars of soap to countertops since 2018, and the previous owner even years before. We’ve worked so hard to expand our products to fill all of our customer’s needs and we could not be more excited to offer you a liquid soap option. We hope you love it as much as we do!
I’ve been scouring the internet for 5 incredible father’s day gifts that are eco-friendly and sustainable. I found father’s day gifts for fathers who like to cook, father’s day gifts for dads who love camping, and father’s day gifts for fathers who enjoy coffee and a good shave! I’m super excited to share these gifts with you today and I hope they make your father’s day shopping just a bit easier.
“The extra soft blanket is handwoven by the local artisan in the Himalayas. We only use ethically sourced yak wool blend from Nepal to create blankets that wrap around you like a warm hug. On winter nights when you’re away from your loved ones, gift them this blanket as a warm reminder of your love.”
photocredit to himalayanart
Pair this blanket with our Pink Himalayan Salt Bar to completely transport your man to the mountains!
This kit comes in reusable packaging and is the perfect gift for any dad that likes to cook or bake! Pair with one of our salt bars which is the perfect soap bar for your kitchen because it keeps your hands clean and moisturized!
photo credit to Everythingsourdough
“All the ingredients you need to make authentic sourdough bread. My sourdough starter is incredibly healthy and has produced many delicious loaves of sourdough bread, rolls, waffles and other items. Once reconstituted, and fed regularly, my starter has lived in my refrigerator for up to 3 weeks without feeding. Yes, it’s that healthy!”
I’m so excited for this week’s blog because it will kick off the first post in our series of “Meet the Team.” There is an amazing team of incredible people behind AVNS who contribute so much towards the quality of our company and the fantastic products adored by so many people. Being a small business allows us to take the time to put a spotlight of appreciation on every person involved with AVNS which will happen right here every month in our blog. If you’re thankful for the AVNS team don’t hesitate to show the love by giving this post a like and follow our blog!
Marianne Buck: the owner of AVNS
Marianne is easily one of my greatest role models. Her dedication to her craft and business is an inspiration, but equally so is her evident dedication to her family life and most importantly her love and respect of the Lord. This being said, it shocks me every time I realize I’ve only met with her in person 3 times in the almost year and a half that I’ve blogged for AVNS.
Before my time with AVNS, if you’d asked me to imagine what a remote work relationship looked like, the first words that would come to my mind would be detached and professional. While what we do is certainly professional, there has never been a lack of genuine warmth and compassion that fills the void of our long-distance work space and this is because of Marianne! Today I hope you all will get the chance to know the amazing woman who runs your favorite soap company just a little bit better (warning, she’s pretty cool).
Starting Small
It’s hard for me to remember Marianne didn’t always own Apple Valley Natural Soap, in fact, she started out as just another customer with a love for natural skin products. Inspired by AVNS, Marianne began making her own soaps and with the encouragement of friends who had willingly tried her products with satisfying results, she and her husband opened a shop on Etsy. Within the course of two years Marianne was offered the chance to buy AVNS twice, the first time she felt it wasn’t the right time, but two years later after quite a bit of prayer Marianne felt as though the Lord was moving her in a direction she could not refuse. AVNS has continued to grow steadily since, staying focused on finding a balance between making products customers know and love while also staying true to the production of natural eco-friendly products and packaging. Read the full story in her own words here!
Running a Creative Business
Marianne’s work space 🙂
I’d argue that the craft of soap-making is a three-fold artform made up of scent, visual presentation, and sensory experience. Mastering all three of these elements is no easy task, so adding the business aspect on top of everything else is enough to keep anyone busy, including Marianne who, by taking on AVNS, has taken on quite the juggling act, “I love being creative, so I have to make sure I don’t lose that part of me. I am also still learning to balance my time wisely between my family and the business. I learned very quickly running a business can swallow you up!”
So what does Marianne’s work day look like? While it’s fun to imagine her in a white lab coat with a fridge full of fresh ingredients blending, mixing and concocting away…Marianne says otherwise, “I don’t really have a typical work day, but if I’m not running around somewhere with my son getting him to classes and other commitments, you’ll find me at my desk in an office. I like to start my work day between 8-9 am, answering emails, connecting with companies who work with us behind the scenes, and checking orders and questions on our site. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I’ll be getting orders ready to process and preparing the paperwork for one of our employees to package and ship them out.” At AVNS teamwork makes the dream work, and Marianne never hesitates to throw herself into every aspect of her company, “ I also fill in where needed, so occasionally you’ll find me cutting soap, organizing things in the curing room, experimenting with new ingredients or a new product or product line, researching recipes and new ways to improve AVNS. It really can be a never ending list of things to do, but I’m learning to prioritize and adjust my time as needed.”
A Family Effort
Marianne loves reading in her free time!
Behind every small family business is a hardworking family and Marianne’s is no exception. Most members of the Buck family already have jobs or activities that keep them plenty busy, but they’ll all contributed to AVNS at one time or another and are always willing to pitch in when needed, “when we started with AVNS every member of our family was involved…Currently Amanda does photography for us and is also helping in a few other areas where needed…Natasha used to package almost 100% of orders and so has since declared ‘I’m all soaped out for a while’…Ethan continues to do data and timesheet entry for us and occasionally wrapping soap, and Darin helps wherever is needed. This mostly means that when we need to move soap around in the curing room, he’s the muscle!” With such a busy schedule, I was curious to know what Marianne does with any spare time, to which she replied that there currently isn’t much of! “I do love a good book, to go out with my husband, spend time with each of my children (although this doesn’t happen as much as I’d like as they all have busy lives.) To visit with a friend, plus, I love to be creative when I have the time. Being creative can be anything from experimenting with a new product recipe to baking.”
The Future of AVNS
The greatest reward of running AVNS for Marianne is hearing, “the testimonials from customers who love the products…hearing how the products have helped them heal, or that they simply feel better using natural products…I’m reminded how much AVNS is not just a business, but a ministry.” Marianne’s dream is to help more people discover the joy of using natural products while also contributing to the community, “I would love AVNS to continue to grow where we can expand into either our own physical brick and mortar store, or to be in stores across the country. I don’t envision AVNS in big box stores, but smaller boutique type stores where we can support other small businesses.” In terms of products, “the future of AVNS is still going to revolve around our soaps as they are what we are known for and what customers love about AVNS. But we will continue to introduce new eco-friendly, natural products to our customers. I always want to be transparent with AVNS and have gone the extra mile in research and fulfillment to make sure what we use is something I can stand behind with integrity.”
Who ‘Nose’ Where That Smell Is Coming From???
Because AVNS has no official storefront yet, the Buck household is the central hub for everything and anything AVNS, which comes with an unexpected side effect. “Because all finished products end up with us before being shipped out to customers, our home has a wide variety of scents which are always present. So much so that the essential oils have been absorbed into every nook and cranny within our home, but we don’t notice the scent anymore, but when we are out and about, it’s not uncommon for comments and conversations around us to start like this “do you smell peppermint? I wonder where it’s coming from, it smells good. Seriously, do you smell it?”
If there was a bar called “The Marianne Bar” What would the description and ingredient list look like?
“Oooo, it’s totally theLavender Silk Shampoo Bar. I created that bar with me in mind as I love the scent of fresh lavender, and I wanted a bar which would moisturize and strengthen my hair without weighing it down. An interesting thing about this particular bar is that I’ve had customers with hard water who have success using it as a shampoo. I’m sure it’s not a hard water success for everyone, but I heard about it years ago and it always stuck with me.”
Thanks For Reading!
Thanks for taking the time to get to know us! We’ll be back next month with another team member feature.
Whether you’re constantly in and out of the pool, hiking the trails of northern Minnesota, or working a summer job that keeps you outdoors from dawn to dusk, you’ll need to make sure you’re protecting your skin from the constant presence of sun, wind, and water this summer. In response to nature’s call of the wild, we created an amazing bar of natural soap designed to protect against dry, burnt skin. What makes this bar so unique? You’re about to find out!
Why Use a Natural Soap?
Around this time of year, you’ll probably start seeing a lot of big brand soaps hit the shelves that claim they are, “extra moisturizing” or are “made with argan oil for extra hydration.” But if you were to flip over that bottle and take a look at the entire list of ingredients you’d see that argan oil is only one ingredient in a long list of chemical ingredients you can’t even pronounce. Putting one drop of argan oil in a five ounce bottle is not the same as a 2 ounce bottle of pure, organic argan oil. Unlike mass produced soaps which are made with filler ingredients, Natural soaps are made with natural ingredients which oftentimes have additional benefits and run a lower risk of irritating sensitive skin. We work hard to make sure every ingredient we use in a product is contributing some sort of benefit.
Coconut oil is a gentle and effective cleanser due to its fatty acid content. The best part is its ability to moisturize hair and skin and the thick lather it creates! Check out our Coconut Bars for pure coco-nutty BLISS!
Organic Sustainable Palm
This base ingredient is crucial to the soap making process, it gives you a nice hard bar and will enhance lather when mixed with coconut oil. Rated a 1 on EWG’s Skin Deep, this ingredient has little to no risks of causing cancer or containing any kind of toxicity,
According to an article on Healthline, sunflower oil contains antioxidant vitamin E, so applying it topically to skin will allow your skin to benefit from vitamin E (think anti-aging properties, protection from sun-damage…all that awesome stuff). Sunflower oil also contains linoleic acid, an important component of helping the skin retain moisture as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory aid.
Unrefined Organic Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which means it locks moisture into your skin and helps improve elasticity.
Mango butter functions similarly to cocoa butter, but also has an abundance of vitamin E and C which help protect your skin from sun-damage.
Lanolin
A powerful, natural wax secreted by animals with wool coats. Lanolin protects the most sensitive skin from the natural elements. Read more about the uses of lanolin HERE!
Castor Bean
Castor bean is a skin soother, it is both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and can be used on sensitive skin.
We all know the perfect Mother’s Day gift is a beautiful bar of artisan soap paired with asugary body scrub, lip balm, or custom scented jojoba oil, but did you know our soap bars also pair beautifully with other eco-friendly products? It’s true, which is why I hunted down some amazing little companies that strive to make products exist in harmony with the earth we love so you’ll have all the options when it comes to finding the perfect gift for your mom, aunt, grandma, cousin, sister, or just plain wonderful woman in your life this year!
“Our coconut shell boho bowls are sourced directly from rural farms which allows us to work closely with local communities in order to create interesting and unique designs. We go direct to the farmers and each sale helps to support local industry in the region.
Jungle Culture is a proud member of the 1% for the Planet global organisation & movement. We pledge 1% of our sales to the preservation & restoration of the natural environment. We donate to domestic & international grassroots & environmental groups which helps make a difference in their local communities.”
Okay, I know I already talked about coconut bars, but this pairing is just too perfect! Every time you wash your hands you’ll be reminded of the flowery explosion about to burst in your backyard!
photo credit for wildflower bombs: Makersofhyssoplane
Product Information
“Embedded with prolific self-seeding annual and perennial wildflower seeds grown on our solar-powered Virginia farm, including coreopsis, baby’s breath, larkspur, poppy, wallflower, daisy, cornflower, zinnia, black-eyed Susan – these seed bombs gives both humans and pollinators plenty to be excited about.
Our zero waste, small batch paper is handmade with a process that is respectful to water resources, using 100% post-consumer material as a base. No chemicals are used, ever.
Plant in a sunny spot. Push the seed bomb gently into lose, moist soil, leaving the top uncovered. Water well, especially during germination which can take 10-30 days.”
The amazing woman in your life will feel even more amazing as she climbs into a soft set of bamboo sheets after taking a shower and lathering up with our fresh and peppery Bamboo Shampoo Bar. No plastic allowed!
Photo credit for bamboo sheets: Simply Organic Bamboo
Product Information
“Simply Organic Bamboo is proud to provide bedding crafted from organically grown 100% bamboo viscose. All of our products are designed and manufactured responsibly by expert craftspeople.
We can change the world one small step at a time by making responsible decisions. That’s why every day we consciously choose to reduce our ecological footprint and protect the health of our customers because we believe it’s the right thing to do. Sustainability is at the core of how we operate – from sourcing eco-friendly & renewable materials, minimizing waste, recycling, and partnering with like minded suppliers who refuse to use harmful chemicals.
We respect our planet and its environment and only want the best for our family, friends and customers. The earth is our home and we share the air, water, and sunshine with everyone. Organic bamboo grows naturally and provides a beautiful fiber for our products unlike any other. It helps us sleep and rejuvenate in the way nature intended…without toxic chemicals or their byproducts. When we spend a third of our life in bed we want that time to be as healthy as possible. Our Simply Organic Bamboo bedding gives us maximum comfort and the restful sense of knowing that we start each new day in good health and respect for our global home.”
Is your mother a citrus lover? Get her a box of delicious organic citrus fruits that are seasonal and sensational! Pair it with a set of four citrus half-sized bars that will provide her with lasting citrus joy long after she’s peeled her last orange! Pick from our citrus soaps here!
Photo credit for citrus in a box: Frog Hollow Farm
Product Information
“Enjoy a mix of seasonal, certified organic citrus. Boxes are packed with 2-3 different varieties of what’s currently available and may include juicy delicious navel oranges, blood oranges, Meyer lemons, mandarins, tangerines or Minneola. We partner with other local, organic producers to bring you a fresh, rejuvenating mix of the best citrus.”
Do you ever think about how our needs and wants change depending on the season? We wear sweaters in winter and tank tops in summer to help regulate our temperature. We crave a warm bowl of soup in the fall and a cold glass of lemonade in the spring. So maybe it isn’t so surprising that our hair has specific seasonal needs too. If you read our fall hair care guide you know that dryness and dullness are the main culprits of the fall, but spring brings with it an entirely different set of challenges. I’ll be taking you through the top five tips to get your hair whipped into shape for the spring season!
Take on a Trim!
Shed all that winter breakage with a quick trim! Getting rid of dead, split ends will ensure that the breakage does not continue to travel up the hair strand. Your hair will look fuller and thicker and you’ll be able to protect these already healthy strands throughout the summer season.
Harness the Humidity!
This might sound crazy, but I actually love what humidity does to my hair. I’m right between waves and curls, so a little moisture on a hot day does wonders to bounce up my ringlets…but I know not everyone feels the same. If you’re stepping outside right after straightening or curling your hair you’re probably going to be anticipating your fresh hairstyle falling flat and frizzing up within a matter of hours.
My first suggestion is to recognize that your hair’s resistance to heat styling and failure to hold-up in response to natural elements might mean that it is time to give in to what your hair wants. You may find that what you always thought was just unruly, or unmanageable hair was actually hair with natural curl or waves. Switching to products for curly or wavy hair and giving the heat tools a break is your first step to harnessing the humidity and embracing the natural hair you never knew you had!
Didn’t Know You Had Curly Hair?
Meet Maia
Maia is my lovely roommate of three years and she has kindly agreed to let me share some photos of her to demonstrate how big of a difference styling can make for someone with wavy hair. Maia typically just brushes her hair after showering and lets her hair air-dry. The result is mainly straight with a little bit of wave. Maia let me style her hair the same way I style my curls. I used a curl cream, a gel, finger coiled, and finished with diffusing and the results were crazy!
My second suggestion is for those of you who know all about your natural hair and just feel like a different look or style suits you better, or maybe you change it up depending on the day. The best way to fight frizz is with products that are going to seal the hair shaft and add a little weight to weigh the strand down so it isn’t bouncing up. Shampoo bars are a fantastic no-hassle option for fighting frizz because they are cleansers made with natural oils…it’s a two-for-one deal!
Keep Deep Conditioning!
Winter months are cold and dry, but summer can be hot and dry. Continuing to deep condition 1 to 2 times a week will prepare your hair for summer by keeping it hydrated, elastic, and manageable. This is especially important if you are working on length. Our Hemp and Honey 2.0 shampoo bar is fantastic for dry summer months, as honey is a humectant working to pull outside moisture into your hair. Hemp seed oil stimulates the scalp for renewed hair growth, it strengthens hair, improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation, hemp seed oil also protects hair from damage and treats a variety of scalp issues.
That hot sun beating down on you all day might give you cute summer highlights and tan skin, but the consequences of unprotected skin and hair aren’t worth it. Using a daily heat protectant on your hair is the equivalent of using sunscreen on your skin. A natural heat protectant like our Moroccan Argan oil will repair and reinforce your hair while protecting it from environmental damage caused by weather, sun, and heat from blow dryers and hair irons. Celebrities call argan oil “liquid gold” and pay exorbitant prices to purchase it from high end spas and salons. Organic argan oil is truly a luxurious, superior, multi-purpose treatment for your hair and skin.
Stay on Top of Build-up!
Any products you use to either curl or straighten your hair will cause build-up overtime. That includes shampoos, conditioners, creams, gels, oils, mousses, hairsprays, and dry shampoos. Build-up will weigh your hair down, make it dull, and will cause your hair to look dirtier faster. The simple solution to build-up is a hair rinse. My biggest recommendation is to use a hair rinse! A hair rinse like ourherbal vinegar hair rinse will get rid of build-up, nourish your hair, and help the hair shaft lie flat…promoting shine. I find that rinsing once a week works wonders, but every head of hair is different.
What Might A Natural Spring Hair Care Routine Look Like?
This easy spring haircare routine only requires three products!
Pro Tip: Comb hair out gently before rinsing out lather. The oils in the shampoo will protect your strands from breakage while you brush.
Rinse lather out and spray hair down thoroughly with the Herbal Vinegar Rinse.
Pro Tip: Use hands to comb out any more tangles in hair, the vinegar rinse should help as a mild detangler.
Rinse the “rinse” out gently so that you are keeping hair smooth and not creating new tangles.
Use a pump or two of argan oil and distribute throughout hair, You can either finger comb it through or use the praying hands method.
What is the praying hands method? Used to elongate and keep hair from clumping into too small of sections. The praying hands method requires you to lay your hands flat on either side of the section of hair you are applying product to, then slide your hands down the length of your hair!
Finish by drying hair with a cotton towel or dry as usual.
Why Cotton? Squeezing the water out of your hair with a cotton towel or t-shirt won’t disrupt the hair shaft as much as rubbing it vigorously with a rough-grooved towel. Saving you from frizz-city
Spring into Spring!
I hope today’s blog has equipped you with all you need to know to prepare yourself for the best spring hair days ever!
If you’re someone with sensitive skin looking for a skincare routine let me ask you this: have you considered your natural skincare options? As a company focused on making skincare and haircare products with natural ingredients like aloe, oatmeal, and chamomile (just to name a few), Apple Valley Natural Soap is already familiar and knowledgeable when it comes to catering to the needs of sensitive skin. Why? Because natural ingredients such as aloe, oatmeal, and chamomile are some of the best ingredients for sensitive skin! If you’ve been searching for sensitive skin face wash, sensitive skin body wash, sensitive skin moisturizer, or even sensitive skin deodorant we’ve got some incredible natural options for you that won’t break the bank.
What is Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin is any skin type that is more prone to adverse reactions when it comes in contact with…well…a lot of different things. I personally have skin that is prone to flushing, acne, and outdoor allergens. Chemicals, allergens, pet dander, dyes, fragrances, and even natural elements can all be irritants for sensitive skin, and different skin reacts differently. Sensitive skin isn’t limited to rashes. Sensitive skin includes acne-prone skin, over-oily skin, dry skin, and even more. Sensitive skin problems aren’t just limited to face and hands either – although these are common locations, but can be found on the back, décolletage, feet, and armpits…really, there is no area of the body that is safe from sensitive skin. So how do you find products that target all of these sensitive skin areas and give your skin some tender loving care? You can start with checking out these sensitive skin products below!
A hard, long-lasting, super sudsy, uber moisturizing organic coconut oil body bar made with 100% organic coconut oil and nothing else.
Ingredients: saponified organic coconut oil. No added scent.
Does it work?
“For some reason, my skin decided to get really sensitive to everything. I tried different coconut bars with no success. All of them had added ingredients that continued to irritate my skin. I found this website and was excited to try another soap, but with only one ingredient…coconut. It worked!! No sensitivity. My rash and eczema went away and now I am left with happy skin. Thank you so much. I am definitely a believer in this soap. Please do not ever stop selling this soap. I love it so much. It’s unscented, leaves your skin feeling clean, soft and doesn’t leave it feeling dried out.”
A Calendula Castile bar, using 100% organic virgin olive oil, deeply penetrates the skin with its moisturizing and nourishing chemical structure. A true Castile soap is the most gentle and mild of soaps, safe even for babies and those with ultra-delicate skin. You will not get a bubbly lather from a Castile bar, but rather a rich, thick, creamy, highly emollient lather that is perfect for shaving. This is our favorite bar to use on babies and small children and one of our bars is less expensive than other Castile soap brands such as Dr. Bronner’s. This is the bar of choice if anyone in your family has eczema. True Castile soaps made with only olive oil are a gentle and effective option for even the most sensitive of skin.
Ingredients: saponified organic extra virgin olive oil and organic calendula petals. No added scent.
Does it work?
“This product has transformed my skin. It has never been so smooth or so soft. I use it with an eco-friendly soap bag, for both my shower and for washing my face. I am receiving compliments on the way my skin looks! I am over 60 and I feel I look several years younger than that.”
-Happy Customer
“Both I and my daughter have used this for 3 years…since she was 2! She has very sensitive skin that dries out badly with regular soap. Nether of us even has to use a moisturizer (except occasionally in winter) with this bar since it doesn’t strip the moisture out of the skin. Can’t say enough good things about it!”
In a fight with acne? Looking for an anti-bacterial acne soap for pimples and oily skin? This antibacterial soap for acne is formulated with special weapons like organic neem oil, a powerful anti-bacterial oil known to be highly beneficial for battling epidermal conditions. We then included olive, grapeseed and jojoba—oils that do not clog pores, but may help heal acne scars. Bentonite clay works to draw impurities from the skin; colloidal oatmeal gently exfoliates dead skin cells (check out Adventures in Knottyland’s DIY Oatmeal bath recipe); and essential oils like tea tree and lavender, known for their anti-bacterial, antiseptic properties, make this acne soap a beneficial and natural choice for oily or combination skin.
Even though this soap was created for fighting acne, an additional benefit is the combination of ingredients which are known to be helpful with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Neem oil as mentioned, has strong anti-bacterial properties and helps clean up any skin infections that may have developed because of cracked broken skin, it also helps soothe skin redness and irritation. When combined with other effective ingredients such as olive oil, shea butter, oats and helpful essential oils of lavender and tea tree, the natural immunity and health of skin can be enhanced.
Ingredients: saponified oils of organic olive, grape seed, organic coconut, organic neem, organic shea nut butter, organic jojoba, and castor bean, colloidal oats, bentonite clay, rosemary oil extract, and essential oils of organic tea tree, lavender, lemon, organic eucalyptus, and organic rosemary.
Does it Work?
“I ordered this for my daughter in Ohio. I live in Maryland. She called me on day crying about her face and her esteem was hurting her. She has been using the soap for a couple of weeks now and it is working awesomely…thank you so much for being there. I found this website just typing in treatment for painful acne. Thank you again.”
Ingredients: saponified oils of a madagascar vanilla bean infused organic extra virgin olive, organic cocoa butter, and organic coconut oil. No added scent.
Does it Work?
“This bar is so moisturizing for my face, and makes my skin feel so soft, I can use less moisturizer. I live in southern California and the air is quite dry and hot, this bar is wonderful! I love it!”
A 0 on the comedogenic scale, this is one of the world’s most rare and potent beauty serums, this unrefined (virgin), certified organic, Moroccan argan oil is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. As a non-greasy, fast absorbing oil, it offers better protection for skin and hair than any other oil on the planet. Argan oil is high in something called oleic acid and even though it’s still considered a “dry” oil, meaning it won’t leave an oily residue and will absorb quickly, it’s an oil which will keep the skin moisturized, help battle the loss of elasticity and reduce inflammation. Oleic acid adds a richness to oils, making argan oil an excellent deep moisturizer. It penetrates easily and deeply into the skin’s surface, replenishing lost moisture that naturally comes with age, it also helps the moisture from evaporating.
Argan oil’s benefits for skin are many, here are the highlights:
Enriched with antioxidants it protects skin from sun damage and helps with skin repair from sun exposure.
Moistures skin, packed with vitamin E and fatty acids it hydrates, nourishes and moisturizes effectively and replenishes skin cells.
Prevents and reduces stretch marks as it helps improve skin elasticity.
Heals infections with it’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Speeding up the healing process of wounds, infections and burns is a wonderful benefit of this amazing oil.
Treats acne, heals blemishes and even’s out skin tone.
Our luxurious Lavender Lotion Bars combine nutritious organic oils and butters with the healing power of organic lavender essential oil for a powerhouse of moisturizing properties for your skin. With a lighter textured than our Creamy Butter Bar, this lotion is great for everyday use or problematic skin. With the inclusion of organic virgin jojoba, organic virgin coconut oil, unrefined organic cocoa butter, unrefined organic shea nut butter and powerful organic lavender essential oil, this lotion bar is a wonderful option for a wide range of skin types from the delicate, to the problematic.
Why lavender essential oil? Because of its many health benefits for the skin, most of which can be attributed to its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. Lavender essential oil is widely used to treat various skin issues such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions, it is also commonly used to speed up the healing process of wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns because it improves the formation of scar tissues.
Ingredients: unrefined beeswax, organic coconut oil, unrefined organic cocoa butter, unrefined organic shea nut butter, organic virgin jojoba, organic virgin olive oil, organic lavender essential oil and vitamin E oil (from non-GMO sunflower oil). All of our organic ingredients are USDA Certified Organic.
Moisturize and deodorize those pits with our all natural, aluminum-free deodorant cremes. Made with anti-bacterial, odor absorbing ingredients like organic virgin coconut oil, diatomaceous earth, aluminum free baking soda, arrowroot powder, and white kaolin clay, our natural deodorant creme is safe and effective.
Our unscented version fights hard with the anti-bacterial, odor absorbing base ingredients, while our regular deodorant adds an extra level of protection with the antibacterial essential oils of tea tree, lavender, and lemon.
Made with safe, natural ingredients you can trust:
Our ‘regular’ version also contains essential oils of lavender, organic tea tree, and lemon.
Does it Work?
“I really like this natural deodorant. It works really well. I feel better knowing I’m putting something natural on my skin. I have very sensitive skin so I wasn’t sure how this would be on my underarms. Thank you for a wonderful product!”
-Happy Customer
Sensitive Skin Solved
I hope this week’s blog was helpful in providing natural options for sensitive skin care. If this is your first read on the AVNS blog, WELCOME! Check out our Facebook for giveaways and featured soaps, and follow our blog for weekly articles on natural beauty tips, skincare, and haircare. To browse through all our delicious products: click here!
If you’re looking for one of the best exfoliating soaps on the block you’ve come to the right place. This week we will be diving in depth with our limited edition soap of the spring season Gardener’s Citrus Basil Soap Bar, an amazing smelling soap with fantastic natural ingredients.
Exfoliating soap is an absolute must for your shower experience. Soap with exfoliants will scrub your skin free of dead skin build-up, dirt, and grime. Soap with exfoliants will also keep your pores open, preventing ingrown hairs after you shave and allowing any skincare products you apply to more effectively interact with your skin. We are proud to offer a variety of soaps with natural exfoliants. Some natural exfoliants we use in our exfoliating soaps include, salt, pumice, luffa vine, and finely ground nut shells. Why natural? Natural ingredients oftentimes have additional benefits and run a lower risk of irritating sensitive skin. The Gardener’s Bar is a perfect example of a soap that contains natural exfoliants with some super cool extra benefits (as you’re about to learn if you keep reading!)
Ingredients in Exfoliating Gardener’s Bar and Their Benefits
Saponified Oils of Sustainable Palm
This base ingredient is crucial to the soap making process, it gives you a nice hard bar and will enhance lather when mixed with coconut oil. Rated a 1 on EWG’s Skin Deep, this ingredient has little to no risks of causing cancer or containing any kind of toxicity,
Organic Coconut
Coconut oil is a gentle and effective cleanser due to its fatty acid content. The best part is its ability to moisturize hair and skin and the thick lather it creates! Check out our Coconut Bars for pure coco-nutty BLISS!
According to an article on Healthline, sunflower oil contains antioxidant vitamin E, so applying it topically to skin will allow your skin to benefit from vitamin E (think anti-aging properties, protection from sun-damage…all that awesome stuff). Sunflower oil also contains linoleic acid, an important component of helping the skin retain moisture as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory aid.
Shea Butter is fantastic for skin, in fact, we think it’s SO AWESOME that we sell USDA CERTIFIED Organic Raw Unrefined African Shea Butter just on its own. Why? WHY? It has a high content of fatty acids which gives it the ability to deeply moisturize and retain the elasticity of the skin, it is also a great ingredient for those with inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema and dermatitis. Unrefined Shea Butter is loaded with natural vitamins A, E, natural antioxidants and fatty acids for maximum natural moisturizing power, it is an amazing body healer. Try it to help treating skin conditions such as dry skin, eczema, rashes, stretch marks, and burns. It may also help lessen the irritation of psoriasis and eczema, help diminish wrinkles, clear blemishes, and heal wounds, scars & skin discolorations.
Castor Bean
Castor bean is a skin soother, it is both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and can be used on sensitive skin.
Ground Apricot Shells
Made from finely ground seeds of apricots, apricot shells make a natural scrub that deep-cleans and renews skin.
This is the real kicker in this bar, if you love the feel of our seasonal Black Licorice Bar as much as I do then you’ll love this bar because the common component is ground black walnut hull powder which boasts the following benefits: antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic,anti-fungicide properties (people use it to treat bacterial and parasitic infections), rich levels of antioxidants, and beneficial fatty acids that can impact the health and appearance of skin. It has also been known to help clear up skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. P.s. If you wish the Black Licorice Bar was in stock even though it isn’t fall your dreams just came true BECAUSE IT IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND FOR A LIMITED TIME! (can you tell this is my favorite bar???)
With a warm and crisp herbaceous scent, basil essential oil is soothing against skin irritation. It is also full of vitamin C, which helps keeps skin bright and firm.
Every once in a while I like to take a mindfulpause, contemplate the joys and difficulties of our current season of life, and write a more reflective piece for the AVNS blog. Why? It’s my way of connecting with all you wonderful people as a fellow human being. It’s also a chance to remind myself and the AVNS community that behind every beautiful bar of soap is a fantastic team of people who all have stories to share and lives to live. With this being said, I’m excited to share that over time and starting within the coming months we’re hoping to craft feature blogs for all of the amazing people behind AVNS…but for now I’ll have to do.
I sincerely hope the contents of today’s blog are useful to you, wherever you may be on your life-journey and regardless of religious affiliation, however I do want to take a moment to share what stirred me to write this blog in the first place. Today’s blog was inspired by the recent Easter holiday, an important holiday for many AVNS team members, including myself. For Christians, Holy Week is a time of respectful reflection, gratefulness and celebration. Holy Week and Easter are commemorations of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a purposeful and powerful sacrifice resulting in eternal life in Heaven for all who acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and their Savior.
What Does Soap Have To Do With It?
Now you may be wondering, what does Easter, or even Christianity…or even religion in general…or EVEN just the acts of contemplation and reflection…have to do with soap? To be honest, I had the same question…which is why I turned to my Bible. I figured the Bible is just as much a historical account as a religious text, maybe I’d find some ancient soap recipe (probably involving salt…or clay) to write about, but a quick internet search brought me to an even cooler connection…How To Soap.
Our popular Honey Carrot and Tangerine Soap!
The S.O.A.P Method
Well, that’s obvious…right? Just lather, rinse, and repeat with your favorite bar of AVNS soap and you’re good to go. I was surprised to learn that soap or S.O.A.P is actually an acronym for a method to read and reflect on scripture. How cool is that?! I found this method on Love God Greatly, a website for women’s ministry. I share the original method below, but I’ve also adapted each step so that everyone is able to utilize this method.
S.O.A.P
S – stands for scripture, or sentence-by-sentence.
You’ll start by taking your verse or line and actually taking the time to write it out. It’s amazing how just the act of intentionally slowing down will allow you to really focus on what you are reading. If you aren’t so sure about religious texts you could always start with a piece of poetry you love or even song lyrics. If you’re curious or interested in what the Bible has to offer, here are a few verses that I find calming and encouraging.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Proverbs 24:14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
O – stands for observation.
Ask yourself. What stands out to you as you read your text? Which words are repeated? Does it sound different if you read it out loud? Who is the speaker addressing? What is the tone? You’d be surprised how a deeper understanding of a text can teach you so much about life and yourself.
A – stands for application.
When in a religious context, you can ask yourself “How is God speaking to me today?” Also ask yourself in what ways you can apply what you’ve read to your personal life. Are there habits you need to change? Actions to take towards a goal you’ve set for yourself? A comfort you can fall back on in times of stress?
Talk to God. Tell Him about what you learned, ask Him about any questions that came up during your reading. If you aren’t familiar with prayer, think of the p as personal dialogue. Take a walk out in nature where you have some privacy and speak out loud to yourself, it may seem strange at first…but try it. Did you know that the act of talking out loud to yourself, or self-talk can actually improve concentration and self-esteem? If self-talk isn’t your cup of tea, try journaling. Write a letter to yourself, or a friend…even if you don’t plan on ever sharing what you write with them. If you’d like to try praying but aren’t sure how, try talking to God like He’s just another one of your friends or family members who cares about you. God is never judging you, he loves you and wants to know you.
Thank You For Your Time Today
I hope this blog served as a fun and interesting change of pace. If you’re interested in checking out our more typical posts (natural ingredients we use, benefits of the products we offer, etc.) click here!
3 Do-it-yourself face mask ideas for glowing, hydrated, smooth skin
We’ve all been working so hard to mask-up everywhere we go that I thought we’d take a week to celebrate the coming of spring and give our skin a break with a different kind of face mask. Finding face masks that actually work can be difficult, but these face mask ideas use natural ingredients that will be gentle and non-irritating on skin. These masks are meant to hydrate tired skin, clear your complexion, and may even help with acne! They are easy to make with simple ingredients! It’s a spa in your own house!
For a bonus, you can always halve this recipe when all three ingredients have been combined and use half on your face and half as a hair mask!
Banana and Yogurt Face Mask
Is this a face mask or a breakfast parfait?! I’d totally recommend this face mask for breakfast if there wasn’t one key additional ingredient involved…apple cider vinegar! Banana is a hydrating agent for your skin, while the lactic acid in greek yogurt will brighten and smooth skin by way of exfoliation. The apple cider vinegar is a natural cleanser and additional toner that may even help fight acne!
Again, I made this recipe large enough for you to halve it and use half on your hair and half on your face. These ingredients make for a great clarifying and hydrating hair mask!
Charcoal and Aloe Face Mask
This last mask might require some ingredients that aren’t typically already in your cupboard, but once you own these ingredients you can do so much with them! I’m including this mask because the ingredients it uses make up a powerhouse to help combat acne! This mask came from Hello Glow, which says, “Charcoalabsorbs excess oil, while aloe is soothing and anti-inflammatory, making it an ideal ingredient to add to any acne mask.” Tea tree essential oil is known for its antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties.
Mix ingredients together in a small bowl and use your finger to mix together before applying to the skin.
Apply the charcoal mask in circular motions around your face for 1 minute.
Let the mask sit for 10–15 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly and gently with warm water.
Do You Have Face Masks That Work For You?
What I love most about face masks is that there are endless combinations you can make to tailor to what it is your skin needs, for a great glycolic peel recipe click here, for more DIYs click here! ! It is very likely that you have a face mask recipe that you can’t live without. If so, we’d really love to hear about it…we may even add it to this blog!
APPLE VALLEY NATURAL SOAP BLOG 