How To: Traditional Wet Shave

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The benefit of a traditional shave or a traditional wet shave is that it will give you a smoother, cleaner, closer cut. All you need for a traditional shave is a quality shaving soap, water, a single bladed razor, and a brush. A traditional shave is sustainable and pairs with with our natural shaving products which are long-lasting, cruelty free, and eco-friendly.

How to do a Traditional Shave

  • Wet your brush under running hot water and allow it adequate time to absorb water.
  • Don‘t tap too much excess water off the brush, then lather up the soap using circular motions directly in a container or vessel of your choice. At first, the bubbles will appear large, but as you keep going, they will increase in number and become smaller. After a short while you should have achieved a thick, warm lather.
  • Apply and massage the warm lather with the soaped brush evenly across your face in circular motions. This will also increase the lather‘s density, soften your whiskers, and allow them to stand up, allowing the razor to sit close to the base of the hair follicle. 

How to Get a Good Shaving Soap Lather

The longer you whisk in circles, the richer the lather, the smoother the shave and the more your skin will be protected.

The Key to a Good Shaving Soap

A high fat content so skin is protected during the shave, it will also nourish your skin so it doesn’t become dry and irritated. A good shaving soap is economically a great choice as it lasts a long time, and it is a wonderful option for your skin because it adds, not detracts, moisture. Ingredients such as olive oil, shea butter and avocado will do just that, nourish and protect skin during and after the shave. Our Men’s Shaving Soaps are all this and more as we’ve also added bentonite clay which brings slip to help the razor glide over the skin, and colloidal oats which help protect and soothe.

Benefits of a Traditional Wet Shave

  1. Effectiveness: cleaner, closer, smoother shave
  2. Non-problematic: reduces amount of ingrown hairs
  3. Process: is more relaxing and enjoyable than shaving with an electric razor
  4. Appearance: a stone shaving bowl set looks much more classy than a metal can of shaving foam.

Easy After Shave Routine Using Natural Products

  1. Gently rinse the shaved area
  2. Pat dry
  3. Spritz an organic facial toner over the area to help clean and balance the skin.
  4. Rub in a few drops of argan or jojoba oil over area to protect and moisturize.

Our Natural Shaving Products

Shaving Bowl and Brush Sets

These beautifully hand crafted, wheel thrown ceramic shaving sets are a must have for those who love the traditional shave. They are a perfect compliment to our round Traditional Shaving Soaps and offer an eco-friendly option for storing and lathering up your soap.  Made specifically for AVNS by 5 Elements Clayworks in Florida, “each piece is hand crafted and therefore no 2 are ever identical. Even similar forms and same glaze combos used can yield different results based on the kiln atmosphere or clay batch used, so you can always look forward to a unique piece. While it is not intended for food use, all glazes are food safe and non-toxic.” 

Select from two amazing colors:

River Rock – Glazed in a combination of blue and brown glazes that create a variegated effect that almost resembles the wet rocks found on a river bed.

Midnight Sky – Glazed in a combination of three blues that create the effect of a moonlit night sky on a clear night.

Bowl/Cup Measure Approximately 3.5-3.75″ in width and 1.5-2″ in height.

Brush Measures approximately 3.5″ in height 1.5″ in width

Shaving Brush

The brush is made from a top quality synthetic nylon that gives a soft, luxurious brushing experience. Plus, as the fibers are synthetic it doesn’t shed nearly as much as many natural hair brushes. These brushes are by nature vegan and perfectly suited for men who are allergic to animal hair or badger hair. When using a synthetic brush, it’s good to know that you will also need about half of the amount of shaving cream or soap compared to an animal hair brush.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, PURCHASE ONE OF THESE SETS AND GET ONE OF OUR TRADITIONAL SHAVING SOAPS 50% OFF!!!

Simply place 1 of these Shaving Sets and 1 of our Traditional Shaving Soaps in your basket, and the soap will automatically be discounted.

(Shaving soap not included with Shaving Bowl and Brush Set unless placed in basket to purchase with promotion.)

“My glazes are personal recipes that either I personally developed over the years or had a hand in developing in ceramics studios. The very few commercial glazes that I use are from an American based company (Potters Choice by Amaco and Mayco. Both are companies that provide safety data sheets for each individual glaze they sell) and they do not use lead in their glazes. This (that there is lead in the glaze even when the company states it’s not in there) is a common misconception that dates back to ceramics from Mexico and other countries that have a long history of lead based glazes, but here in the United States it is very heavily regulated and it is mandatory to disclose such things….I research every product I use. If I think in any way it will be toxic in any way lead or not, I opt out of using it entirely….The truth of the matter is that lead in and of itself is harmless in pottery if it is fired to maturity. It is usually lead in earthenware which is low fired clay that often leaches into food. If the glaze and claybody are fired to full maturity, any and all components are sealed into the piece and removes the threat of leaching.”

–The Potter Virginia Franceschi

The Classic Shaving Soap

A warm woodsy scent with a hint of spice. This shaving soap is great for all skin types, but Classic’s blend of essential oils may assist those with oily skin. Cedarwood can help soothe irritation, inflammation, redness, and itchiness. Frankincense has powerful antiseptic and healing properties, bergamot is a natural cleanser so helps remove dirt and impurities and is great for those with oily skin as it helps to unclog pores, it also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Patchouli helps regenerate skin cells, which assists the healing of wounds and helps fade scars. Litsea cubeba contains antiseptic and astringent properties which makes it an excellent tonic for your skin, it also helps balance sebum levels on the skin surface and controls its production. And coriander is very soothing, plus has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties.

Ingredients: saponified oils of organic olive, organic coconut, organic sustainable palm, castor bean, organic shea nut butter, and avocado. Bentonite clay, organic colloidal oats, rosemary oil extract, and essential oils of organic cedarwood, bergaptene free bergamot, frankincense, patchouli, organic litsea cubeba, coriander.

The Rugged Shaving Soap

A fresh outdoors scent with a touch of citrus and a hint of woodsy spice. It is also great for all skin types, but the blend of essential oils may benefit those with dry skin. Jamarosa oil is an exotic addition which is known for its anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Bay is warm and spicy plus offers antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits. Cedarwood can help soothe irritation, inflammation, redness, and itchiness, and ho wood has antiseptic, analgesic, antimicrobial, and soothing properties.

Ingredients: Saponified oils of organic olive, organic coconut, organic sustainable palm, castor bean, organic shea nut butter, and avocado. Bentonite clay, organic colloidal oats, and essential oils of bay, jamarosa root, organic cedarwood, organic ho wood.  Rosemary oil extract.

Man 2.0 Shaving, Shampoo, and Body Bar

Men, now you can have your soap, shampoo, and shaving cream too. Made with organic olive oil, organic shea nut butter, and organic jojoba oil for an ultra gentle, moisturizing treatment, as well as bentonite clay for slip and silk on your face when shaving, this deliciously scented shampoo bar lathers like crazy and will leave you looking, feeling, and smelling like a million bucks in a few short minutes.

Ingredients: saponified oils of organic coconut, organic sustainable palm, castor bean, organic olive, organic sunflower, apricot kernel, organic shea nut butter, and organic jojoba, bentonite clay, rosemary oil extract, and essential oils of bay, orange, and cedarwood.

Man, after writing this I feel like, as a woman, I might be missing out on this shaving experience! Which begs the question, can this same method work on legs? Guess there’s only one way to find out!

Much Love,

Nora

5 Unique Eco-Friendly Father’s Day Gifts

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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.

FATHER’S DAY GIVEAWAY

Before we jump into this week’s blog I want to announce something super exciting: WE’RE STARTING A GIVEAWAY…TOMORROW.

Here are the details:

Enter to have a chance to win a FREE Stoneware Shaving Set and one of our new Rugged Shaving Soaps!

This Giveaway will start on June 8th and run until Father’s Day (June 20th)

To enter via social media:
1. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook
2. Like the giveaway post on Instagram or Facebook
3. Tag two friends!

For a bonus entry: share this post on Facebook or your Instagram story, announce your favorite AVNS soap, and tag us!

How to enter if you don’t have social media:
1) Follow our blog
2) Like our most recent post

For a bonus entry: share our blog with two friends by sending them our link over text or email…take a screenshot once you’ve sent the link and email it to us with the title: Father’s Day Giveaway!

Contest closes on June 20th, at noon.

Good Luck!

If you aren’t the lucky winner but still want a Shaving Set, you can find them on our website!

This contest is only open to residents of the United States.

5 Unique Father’s Day Gifts

1) 5ElementsClayworks Stoneware Tumblers and Mugs $20-40

These beautifully hand crafted, wheel thrown ceramic tumblers and mugs are made by the same company as our new shaving sets. These shaving sets are a must have for those who love the traditional shave. They are a perfect compliment to our round Traditional Shaving Soaps and offer an eco-friendly option for storing and lathering up your soap.  Made specifically for AVNS by 5 Elements Clayworks in Florida, “each piece is hand crafted and therefore no 2 are ever identical. Even similar forms and same glaze combos used can yield different results based on the kiln atmosphere or clay batch used, so you can always look forward to a unique piece. While the shaving set is not intended for food use, all glazes are food safe and non-toxic.” 

2) CMTImpressions ECO FRIENDLY Father’s Day Gift- Vegan Leatherette Wallet $20

These customizable wallets are made mindfully with:

“- Office Equipment Powered With 100% Sustainable Solar Energy

– Shipped with Sustainable Packaging

– Small Solar Powered Office Reducing Carbon Footprint

– Products Purchased in Bulk to Reduced Incoming Shipping

– Engraved with top of the line Energy Efficient Lasers”

-CMTImpressions
  • photocredit to CMTImpressions

Pair one of these wallets with one of our vegan soaps, and maybe a giftcard to a vegan cafe or restaurant for a fun, vegan inspired gift-set!

3) Himalayanart Extra Soft High Quality Yak Wool Knitted GIFT Blanket $70

“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!

4) Everythingsourdough San Francisco Sourdough Complete Bread Baking Kit and Dried Starter $38

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!”

5) Outdoor Shower Water Bag by Nueby $39

I’m super excited to share this gift idea because it is the perfect pairing to any of our shampoo bars, especially out camping bar!

  • photocredit to Nueby

“The Outdoor Shower Water Bag is amazing for hiking trips, camping, and outdoor adventures!

The water in the bag heats using solar energy. Get a hot shower even in the middle of the forest!

Comes with switchable shower heads for a personalized showering experience.

Right now, the Outdoor Shower Water Bag is on sale!”

Don’t Forget!

To enter our Giveaway! Comment below to let us know which gift the man in your life would love most!

Much Love,

Nora

Men and Women: Get Involved With No Shave November!

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What is No Shave November?

Photo by Yogendra Singh on Pexels.com

For those who aren’t familiar with the origin of No Shave November, it’s just a month of the year dedicated to men growing their beards. However, No Shave November is more than just a month-long beard-growing fest, it’s actually an awesome movement designed to draw attention to and raise money for cancer-related causes. Getting involved is super simple, you don’t even have to have a beard, you just have to read this blog!

Meaning Behind No Shave November

Because cancer patients often experience hair loss during cancer treatments, No Shave November is about growing awareness by embracing hairiness and then donating money that would’ve been spent on hair removal/grooming to cancer-fighting efforts.

Rules of No Shave November

Straight from the official No Shave November website, “The rules of No-Shave November are simple: put down your razor for 30 days and donate your monthly hair-maintenance expenses to the cause.”

Who Can Participate in No Shave November?

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

No Shave November was originally started to raise awareness for men’s health. Despite their logo of a mustache and beard, the official NSN website does not specify who can and can’t participate, but encourages participation at any and all levels (so let’s get to it, ladies!) While most women may not have bushy beards to maintain, the cost of hair removal methods for legs and eyebrows adds up.

How Much Could I Save During No Shave November?

  • Razors (cost $1-$14 for a four pack, and I’m sure they can be even more expensive depending on the quality)
  • Shaving Cream (cost $1-$60)
  • Waxing Services (costs $10-$500)
  • Hair Removal Cream (costs $5-$50)
  • Tweezers (costs $1-$30)
  • Haircuts/Dying/Treatments (costs $10-the most expensive haircut ever cost over $16,000!)
  • Laser Hair Removal (costs $50-$300)

Using Safe Products During the Rest of the Year

So what happens after No Shave November? While you might prefer your new long-hair-everywhere-don’t-care lifestyle, many people will happily go back to shaving. You can never be too careful when it comes to cancer prevention and the products you use in your daily grooming matter more than you think. Just a few days ago I listened to yet another radio announcement warning against the use of a once trusted beauty brand and offering potential compensation to those whose cancer may have been related to use of that product. Going natural with your products will help reduce the risks of this ever happening to you. 

AVNS Wants You to Be Safe

Our entire men’s line, including shaving soaps, and moisturizers will all be on sale during Black Friday. We want you to have safe, affordable options when you start shaving again. 

Shea Butter Skin Therapy

Shea Butter Skin Therapy

New to our collection of butters, experience Intense nutrition for skin with Shea Butter Skin Therapy, this butter is a super food for your skin! Organic, unrefined African shea butter is intensely moisturizing and can not only help relieve dry itchy skin, but can help eliminate greasy scalp and hair issues, as well as balance oil production which makes it also great for oily complexions. We have chosen to use only USDA CERTIFIED Organic Raw Unrefined African Shea butter, this pure and natural organic shea butter packaged in violet glass is the only way to go in order to reap all the benefits. 


What makes Organic Shea Butter so good for the skin? 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. 

Classic and Rugged Shaving Soaps

Shaving Soaps

These nourishing Shaving Soaps are handcrafted with natural and organic ingredients and are created to build a luxurious and satisfying lather during a traditional wet shave. 

The key to a good shaving soap is a high fat content so skin is protected during the shave, it will also nourish your skin so it doesn’t become dry and irritated. A good shaving soap is economically a great choice as it lasts a long time, and it is a wonderful option for your skin because it adds, not detracts, moisture. Ingredients such as olive oil, shea butter and avocado will do just that, nourish and protect skin during and after the shave. We’ve also added bentonite clay which brings slip to help the razor glide over the skin, and colloidal oats which help protect and soothe.

Beard Care

For those of you who want to keep rocking the beard, we have some unique beard care options to keep your beard looking its absolute best all year long.

Nourishing Beard Oil

Help prevent dry, itchy skin and enjoy a conditioned, healthy-looking beard!

Our Nourishing Beard Oil contains seven beneficial premium oils as well as four essential oils which target hair growth and conditioning, as well as beard and skin health.  Full of powerful antioxidants to help nourish your beard and facial skin, this oil may help relieve any irritation of new growth, soften and hydrate dry, brittle facial hair for more control, and rejuvenate facial skin.The unique blend of lipid rich, healing, astringent plant oils make this light weight and residue free oil great tool in tackling dandruff and flakey skin patches. Your facial hair will have just the right amount of control, while toned and moisturized facial skin is soft and clear. Nourishing Beard Oil is safe and effective for daily use and is best when applied after showering while hair is damp and soft. 

Natural Beard Shampoo & Body Bar

Made with premium natural and organic ingredients such as organic unrefined beeswax, organic unrefined raw shea butter & organic olive oil, our Natural Beard Shampoo will gently cleanse and condition for a healthy beard. Apple Valley Natural Soap’s Beard shampoo is a one stop beard care and body grooming solution, a 100% natural shampoo for beard hair, face & body. This shampoo will cleanse, soften & condition beard hair, soothe skin & help with healthy hair growth. Remove harsh synthetic chemicals, sulfates, fragrances & parabens from your cleansing routine and use our eco-friendly, biodegradable beard shampoo for all your cleansing needs. If you love the scent of our Rugged Men’s Shaving Soap, you’ll love this Beard Shampoo as well as our Beard Oil. Present but not overpowering, Apple Valley Natural Soap’s Natural Beard Shampoo has a light and fresh outdoors scent, a touch of citrus and a hint of woodsy spice.

Where Can I Donate for No Shave November?

The NSN organization partners with three cancer prevention programs

  1. Prevent Cancer Foundation

“The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is one of the nation’s leading voluntary health organizations and the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, it has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence and fulfills its mission through research, education, outreach and advocacy. The Foundation has played a pivotal role in developing a body of knowledge that is the basis for important prevention and early detection strategies. Its vision is to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!® For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.”

  1. Fight Colorectal Cancer

“Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) is a leading patient-empowerment and advocacy organization in the United States, providing balanced and objective information on colon and rectal cancer research, treatment, and policy. We are relentless champions of hope, focused on funding promising, high- impact research endeavors while equipping advocates to influence legislation and policy for the collective good. Learn more at fightcrc.org.”

  1. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com

“St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude is where doctors often send their toughest cases, because St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for some of the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer. St. freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.”

Because cancer is so common, it is likely you or a loved one has fought or is currently fighting the battle against cancer. If you are already affiliated with a Cancer Prevention Program that takes donations let us and other readers know in the comments. The AVNS community wants to support you!

Much Love,

Nora

4 Natural Shampoo Bars Our Customers Love

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Reviews Matter

I know school is starting and we’re all very busy, so this week I took the liberty of wading through all our reviews to bring you some of the best bars according to our customers along with what makes them so lovable. I’m also going to give you a crash course on writing reviews so you can leave one on our website that lets everyone else know why your favorite shampoo bar is actually the best.

Why Reviews Matter

I never make a purchase without looking at the reviews first. Why? Have you ever booked a stay in a cute motel room for a surprisingly cheap price and then you get to the motel and step into your room and it looks nothing like the gorgeous photos on the website AND it smells like musty fruit salad? Yeah. That’s why. 

Reviews keeping you from falling victim to the ploys of dishonest online companies. You know what I’m talking about. The companies that show you a picture of a huge area rug, but neglect to mention that it’s actually the size of a placemat.

Online businesses (like those rug scammers) utilize false advertising and make it so much more difficult for all of the honest companies out there that just want to sell amazing products and put smiles on their customer’s faces. Companies like AVNS who aim for transparency in every aspect of their business. Reviews are essential for both the consumer and the producer.

As consumers we’re looking for a product to suit our needs and reviews weed out the scammers and give us insight as to whether the product is the right fit.

Photo by Hannah Nelson on Pexels.com

Pretend you’re looking for a brown hair dye. You’re looking for an ash brown to enhance your natural, cool shade of brown. You find a brown dye in the comments that has tons of glowing reviews, several of which make special note about “loving the warm, chestnut hue” the dye provides. Even though the reviews are positive, you now know the product isn’t exactly what you’re looking for.

Reviews are important to companies, too. Even when a company strives for authenticity, they can’t always predict who their product will best suit. We use reviews as feedback for our products to make sure they are doing what we want them to.

Most Likely To

In the soap yearbook I’ve awarded these four soaps the following superlatives based on customer reviews.

Most Likely The Shampoo Bar You’ll Keep On Hand: Wheat and Honey Almond Shampoo Bar

Wheat and Honey Almond Shampoo Bar

A treasure trove of anti-oxidants from the wheat germ and sweet almond oils are packed in our Wheat and Honey Almond shampoo bar. Nutrient and mineral-rich raw, organic honey will add a lustrous shine to your hair and help keep your skin radiantly youthful and healthy. This shampoo bar is also enriched with unrefined cocoa butter and unrefined shea nut butter for a moisture-drenching, all-over treat. The scent is a sweetened summer honey touched with lemon, lavender, bitter almond, and ginger. Warm and dreamy!

Customers Say

“In an effort to simplify my life and get away from the chemicals used in HBA products, I decided to try all in one shampoo bars. My scalp tends to break out in painful bumps and I have ultra sensitive skin. I really like how my skin and hair felt after using it. My hair is shiny, clean, and it feels thicker, stronger, and healthier. The scent is not overpowering. This will be one of my standard order and keep on hand shampoo bars.”

-Customer Review

“This was one of the several samples that I bought when I first found out about this website. I tried all the samples, but I keep coming back to this one. I love . . . the smell of almonds, how it makes my hair is so soft, and my skin, which tends to be dry, is not dry anymore. So when I need to restock I always buy 2 bars of this soap and 1 bar of something else. Honestly, I could just use this one bar and be absolutely content.”

-Customer Review

“We have tried several shampoo bars over the last six months…we have loved them all! However, this is the one we always keep on hand. It works well with all of our hair types and it smells amazing. Our all around favorite, for sure!”

-Customer Review

Most Likely to Provide Scalp Relief: Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo Bar

Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo Bar

Even though our Peppermint Tea Tree shampoo bar feels great on scalp and skin, the main benefit of this bar is the health it can help restore to both hair and scalp. Nourishment and restorative properties from the specifically chosen carrier oils plus added healing from the essential oil blend.

Some of the benefits, but not limited to, are with ingredients such as Coconut oil which is a super-oil full of naturally present antioxidants, it is an excellent anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Olive oil which is packed with anti-aging antioxidants and hydrating squalene, making it superb for hair, skin, and nails. Jojoba oil is a natural anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, its properties keep the scalp clean and healthy. It can also prevent hair loss and thinning caused by the clogged hair follicles as it dissolves and clears these blockages and promotes the development of new hair cells, which can lead to hair growth. Shea butter strengthens your skin by stimulating the production of collagen, it helps make your skin more supple, more alive, nourished and radiant. We could keep going, but you probably get the idea.

For the essential oils, both peppermint and tea tree essential oils have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory properties. Peppermint adds a cooling effect which can help eliminate the urge to scratch, while tea tree thanks to it’s fantastic anti-fungal properties is great for fighting dandruff. Tea tree oil fights the fungus that causes dandruff without drying out the scalp, it can also serve as a natural conditioner and eliminate problems that lead the scalp to flake.

Customers Say

“I love that this peppermint tea tree soap has helped with my itchy scalp and welts on my scalp. I also use the herbal vinegar hair rinse too it works wonderfully. All the body bars smell fabulous.”

-Customer Review
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

“I have suffered from an angry, oily, sensitive scalp (seborrheic dermatitis) for many years and have long very thick wavy hair. I have tried shampoo soaps from other companies, but they irritated my scalp. Well, last night I tried your peppermint tea tree shampoo bar and guess what? Your shampoo soap did NOT irritate my sensitive scalp or my face! After coming out of the shower, my scalp did NOT start irritating me as it usually does after shampooing. I am now wondering, in the past was I using too harsh shampoo bars from other companies that was making my sensitive scalp worse and drying out my skin? My guess is yes, probably. Well, guess what? Now I’m sticking to just Apple Valley shampoo bars and soaps, which my scalp and hair prefer! This morning (after shampooing last night) my scalp is still clear and not bothering me at all (no itching, redness, or soreness) and my hair is shiny, full of body, and so soft – I can’t stop touching it! Thank you so much Natalie, for this AMAZING shampoo bar! Finally, I found the solution and I’m so thrilled!”

-Customer Review

“I have been using peppermint tea tree shampoo for almost 2 years and love it. My hair is very silky and I don’t get an itchy scalp like I do with other shampoos. And the best part, no bottle to deal with!!”

-Customer Review

Psst. Author Update: Unfortunately, this beautiful bar just went out of stock. If you desperately need a soap that can “scratch that itch” try the Lavender Rosemary Salt Bar (it’s a personal favorite).

Most Likely To Smell Amazing All Day Long: Lavender Buttermilk Shampoo Bar

Lavender Buttermilk Shampoo Bar

Buttermilk, a natural pro-biotic full of lactic acid, is found in many beauty products and is fabulous for softening, brightening and exfoliating skin. Lactic acid is also used to treat age spots and freckles and to tighten skin. Olive oil, organic jojoba oil, and mango butter, with their emollient properties, round out this beauty treatment for your hair and body. Lavender has countless benefits for skin and scalp due to its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. It is used to treat skin conditions such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammations. The vanilla adds a warm, creamy sweetness to the lavender essential oil making this a calming, dreamy, unforgettable scent.

Customers Say

“Pleasant smell. It was a surprise to realize I was able to smell it while I was rinsing my hair. And after a long day with a pony tail, my hair still smells. I will repurchase this one.”

-Customer Review

“I’ve used this on my scalp before. I got cancer, had chemo and was bald. Hair is back and so am I. Lavender is very soothing. I’m in heaven with the feel of my scalp and look of my hair! And the smell is lovely and stays in my hair. Hope it’s never discontinued!”

-Customer Review

“I don’t know why, but this bar seems to lather the best out of the several varieties that I’ve tried from AVNS. Its scent also seems to last in my hair, which is awesome! Even after the ACV spritzes, you can still smell lavender. I think this is going to become my go-to bar.”

-Customer Review

Most Likely to Work Wonders For Your Man (And You): Man 2.0 Body, Shaving And Shampoo Bar

Man 2.0 Body, Shaving , and Shampoo Bar

Men, now you can have your soap, shampoo, and shaving cream too. Made with organic olive oil, organic shea nut butter, and organic jojoba oil for an ultra gentle, moisturizing treatment, as well as bentonite clay for slip and silk on your face when shaving, this deliciously scented shampoo bar lathers like crazy and will leave you looking, feeling, and smelling like a million bucks in a few short minutes.

Customers Say

“I originally purchased this bar for my husband who travels quite a bit as it saves space as an all-in-one bar. However, once I tried it, I loved it for myself and it’s the only thing I now use to shave my legs. It makes for a phenomenally smooth shave. It may be called Man 2.0, but I love it as much for me!!!!”

-Customer Review

“I finally started using this bar not too long ago. Even though it is designed for men, the smell and the effectiveness of it are the reasons why I’m going to order two more bars. It works well on my hair and while it may take a few seconds to lather on my body, it gets the job done. But my face is the main reason. Since it has clay in it, it makes my face so smooth and toned! This bar is a winner and a 4-in-1 for me, which is perfect in my opinion!”

-Customer Review

“I bought the MAN bar 2.0 for my husband who has very sensitive skin. He absolutely will not use anything else now! His skin is smoother and less reactive. Also, no more dry skin!”

-Customer Review

Help The AVNS Community Out by Writing a Review

A huge shout out to all of the fantastic reviews I used above. If you read this blog and recognize one as your own please let me know in the comments so I can thank you personally. Weren’t the author of one of these awesome reviews, but think you’ve got what it takes? Great! I’m going to list a few key ingredients for writing a perfect, helpful review! I’ve written an example review and I color-coded sections of it to match with the tip it follows.

Example Review For AVNS Pink Lemonade Shampoo Bar

Pink Lemonade Shampoo Bar

The Pink Lemonade Shampoo Bar is one of my top three favorite AVNS shampoo bars. I love the soft, sweet lemonade smell and curl enhancing properties of this bar. I have long, textured hair that ranges from a 2a-3a curl pattern. My hair is medium to low porosity, medium to low density and has a medium strand size. I have not used heat tools for two years. I felt this bar gave both my waves and curls great definition and I had lots of small, tight curl clumps when my hair dried (which is hard for me to achieve). I used this shampoo bar in my summer routine: I lathered the bar on my scalp and then squeezed the suds down the length of my hair. I carefully detangled with a wide-toothed comb while the soap was still in, rinsed with water, and then used an ACV rinse. I scrunched out half the water with a cotton t-shirt and then let my hair air-dry the rest of the way.

Share Your Hair and Skin Type

Different products work differently on different hair/skin types. While some of our products seem to work wonders universally, others have special skills to fit individual needs.

Be Specific and Essential

If You’re a curly girl, tell us what your curl pattern is! What is your hair’s porosity? What is your hair’s density? Do you have mature skin? Is it acne prone? You may think you’re sharing too much, but trust me, this is what the rest of us want to know. We’re asking ourselves: if it worked for you, will it work for me? Just be careful to use details relevant to your results. My hair is brown, but I didn’t include it in my review because the product had no impact on the color of my hair.

Tell Us What You Did Right

Give us a little info about how you used the product, did you follow with a hair rinse? Did you detangle before you washed? Did you follow up with any hair oil? Sometimes incorrect use of a product leads to less-than desired results. If you found the holy grail of styling please, please, please share!

Tell Us What The Product Did Right

Did it give you awesome definition? Super volume? Was it convenient for a schedule that involves a lot of travel? Did your kids love it? Let us know because our kids might love it too!

In Review

Now that you’re professional review writers I look forward to seeing your take on our less reviewed products (especially our new shaving bars!). If you love writing reviews you might even consider writing a general fill-in-the-blank review so you don’t have to re-write the same personal information every time! Have a great rest of your week!

Much Love,

Nora

New Releases! All-Natural Products For Men

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Beard Oil? Shaving Soap Bars? Shea Skin Therapy? Oh My!

What’s the difference between beard soap and regular soap? And what about beard oil? Is that oil pressed from beards? Well, my soap-loving friends, this blog is about answering all of those questions. I’m so excited for what’s about to come (coupon offer??? YES PLEASE) and I hope you are too…so read on!

Having Trouble Finding All Natural Products for Men?

Photo by Suliman Sallehi from Pexels

Make manly maintenance a breeze with our exciting line-up of all natural products made with men in mind. Everyone deserves a quality skin care routine that covers all of your face’s needs from scalp to chin and Apple Valley Natural Soap has got one fresh off the press. Shampoo Bars, Shaving Soap Bars, Beard Oil, Skin Therapy Shea Butter and Beard Soap all designed with top-notch, all natural moisturizing ingredients. These products are meant to bring your skin to the next level.

Shampoo Bars For Men

Our natural shampoo bars are nothing new, just some classic favorites with rich, invigorating scents.

Man 2.0 Body, Shampoo, and Shaving Bar

Distrustful of 3-in-1 soap? I was too. With this all natural soap bar you won’t have to worry about low quality because this bar truly does it all.

Men, now you can have your soap, shampoo, and shaving cream too. Made with organic olive oil, organic shea nut butter, and organic jojoba oil for an ultra gentle, moisturizing treatment, as well as bentonite clay for slip and silk on your face when shaving, this deliciously scented shampoo bar lathers like crazy and will leave you looking, feeling, and smelling like a million bucks (and we don’t mean a million majestic male deer).

What The Men Say About This Shampoo Bar

As I always say, “when in doubt, check out the reviews.” These reviews are efficient and to the point, just like the men who probably wrote them.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

“Consistently good. A staple in my morning routine.”

-Customer Review

“This is a great shampoo bar, it lathers up quickly and does a great job…no plastic bottle. Very economical as the bars last a long time.”

-Customer Review

New Shaving Soap Bars

Shaving Soap for men

Nourishing Men’s Shaving Soaps handcrafted with natural and organic ingredients, created to build a luxurious and satisfying lather during a traditional wet shave.

The key to a good shaving soap is a high fat content so skin is protected during the shave, it will also nourish your skin so it doesn’t become dry and irritated. A good shaving soap is economically a great choice as it lasts a long time, and it is a wonderful option for your skin because it adds, not detracts, moisture. Ingredients such as olive oil, shea butter and avocado will do just that, nourish and protect skin during and after the shave. We’ve also added bentonite clay which brings slip to help the razor glide over the skin, and colloidal oats which help protect and soothe.

Classic Shaving Soap

Our Classic Shaving Soap is great for all skin types, but Classic’s blend of essential oils may assist those with oily skin. Cedarwood can help soothe irritation, inflammation, redness, and itchiness. Frankincense has powerful antiseptic and healing properties, bergamot is a natural cleanser so helps remove dirt and impurities and is great for those with oily skin as it helps to unclog pores, it also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Patchouli helps regenerate skin cells, which assists the healing of wounds and helps fade scars. Litsea cubeba contains antiseptic and astringent properties which makes it an excellent tonic for your skin, it also helps balance sebum levels on the skin surface and controls its production. And coriander (my favorite thing in the entire world) is very soothing, plus has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antifungal properties.

Rugged Shaving Soap

Like our Classic shaving soap, Rugged is great for all skin types, but the blend of essential oils may benefit those with dry skin. Jamarosa oil is an exotic addition which is known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Bay is warm and spicy plus offers antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits. Cedarwood can help soothe irritation, inflammation, redness, and itchiness, and ho wood has antiseptic, analgesic, antimicrobial, and soothing properties.

What The Men Say

Photo by Wendy Wei from Pexels

Think you’ve got what it takes to leave a zesty review?

Now is your chance. These brand new products are looking for reviews and if you are among the first 50 people to try either of these natural shaving soaps and leave a review you’ll get a complimentary 10% off coupon for your next order!

Shea Butter Skin Therapy

Shea Butter Skin Therapy

Intense Nutrition for Skin, Shea Butter Skin Therapy is a super food for your skin! We have chosen only USDA CERTIFIED Organic Raw Unrefined Shea butter, pure and natural organic shea butter is the only one to use in order to reap all the benefits. 

Benefits of Organic Raw Unrefined Shea Butter May Include:

  • helping to relieve dry itchy skin.
  • elimination of greasy scalp and hair issues.
  • balancing skin’s oil production.
  • deeply moisturizing the skin.
  • retaining the elasticity of the skin.
  • may help symptoms of inflammatory skin conditions, like eczema and dermatitis. 
  • treating skin conditions such as dry skin, eczema, rashes, stretch marks, and burns.
  • diminishing wrinkles.
  • clearing blemishes.
  • healing wounds, scars & skin discolorations. 

Our Shea Butter Skin Therapy is packaged in a 3.5 ounce violet glass jar with a smooth black lid. We have chosen this method of packaging to retain as much natural nutritional benefit of the product for as long as possible. You can read about the benefits of ultraviolet containers here.

Rosemary Mint Shea Skin Therapy

With the addition of 3 specifically chosen organic essential oils, this Rosemary Mint Shea Skin Therapy has a powerhouse of health benefits:

  • Peppermint essential oil has a soothing, cooling effect and is useful for reducing skin irritation and itching and the antibacterial properties present in peppermint oil accelerate wound healing. You can read a more in depth blog about the benefits of Peppermint essential oil here! Do you love that refreshing feeling on your skin & scalp from Peppermint? In addition to the Shea Skin Therapy, we have Shampoo, Body, Salt and Facial Bars, Body Scrubs, Lip Balms and many more products which contain this amazing essential oil.
  • Spearmint essential oil is not only a restorative, helping to repair the damage done to the body and aid in the recovery from injuries and wounds, it has antibacterial, anti fungal, and antiviral properties which can help get rid of infections. Spearmint essential oil is also an effective insecticide and can be applied to the skin for protection against mosquito bites. 
  • Rosemary essential oil helps heal and soothe eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea and rashes due to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its antibacterial properties that keep skin free from germs and other irritants that further aggravate eczema. 

Lavender Bergamot Shea Skin Therapy

With the addition of 2 specifically chosen organic essential oils, this Shea Skin Therapy is designed to soothe and heal skin.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
  •  Lavender essential oil has many health benefits for the skin. Most of these benefits can be attributed to its antiseptic and anti fungal properties. It is used to treat various skin disorders 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. 
  • Bergamot essential oil has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It has the ability to inhibit the growth of germs, viruses, and fungi. It can also effectively prohibit skin infections and help heal scars and other marks on the skin. It may also make the distribution of pigments and melanin uniform, resulting in the fading away of marks and scars on the skin.

Beard Oil

The moment I know you’ve all been waiting for, what is beard oil? Don’t worry, it is not the oil pressed from beards. 

Beard Oil

Our Nourishing Beard Oil contains seven beneficial premium oils as well as four essential oils which target hair growth and conditioning, as well as beard and skin health.  Full of powerful antioxidants to help nourish your beard and facial skin, this oil may:

  • help relieve any irritation of new growth.
  • soften and hydrate dry, brittle facial hair for more control
  • rejuvenate facial skin.
  • be an invaluable tool in tackling dandruff and flakey skin patches.

Nourishing Beard Oil is safe and effective for daily use and is best when applied after showering while hair is damp and soft (You have no idea how many times I had to go back because I accidentally wrote bread instead of beard).

Much Love,

Nora

Three Unique Father’s Day Gift Ideas for 2020 that were Inspired by Natural Soap

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I don’t mean to brag, but I’m a fantastic gift giver.

I Love Gift Giving for a Number of Reasons

Of course, I enjoy counting all the money I saved in the process because I’m thriving on thrifty, but the best part of gift giving is finding the perfect gift for the perfect person. It’s realizing that taking the time to put together a quality gift for someone you love is more than an obligation. It’s an act of art, love, and acknowledgment. 

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This being said, I’ve always been stumped when it comes to Father’s Day.

Dads, husbands, brothers, sons, son-in-laws, uncles, nephews, grandpas, great-grandpas and all the men who have made a difference in your life deserve a day of recognition, but is there ever a way to truly show the tremendous amount of appreciation you have for them?

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In the time I’ve been with AVNS I’ve come to believe that we have a bar for every occasion. 

Finding the Perfect Father’s Day Gift

So this Father’s Day I turned to some amazing bars for inspiration and came up with three, simple, special Father’s Day gifts that won’t break the bank, but are sure to make the father-figures in your life feel irreplaceable.

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Now, I personally love giving and receiving multipart/themed gifts because I think they show the time and creativity that went into the process. These bars make for great gifts just on their own, but can also be paired with the three inclusive and customizable Father’s Day experiences they inspired for a personal touch. 

*All of these ideas can be accomplished with social distancing in mind

1) Cook a 5-Star Meal with the Man 2.0 Body, Shampoo, and Shaving Bar

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Turn your kitchen into your own personal 5-star restaurant with the help of our Man 2.0 Body, Shampoo, and Shaving Bar. Every great chef needs clean hands before they get to chopping. This multipurpose shampoo bar’s woodsy scent will make him feel like he just spent the afternoon trekking through the forest, making it the perfect scent-appetizer. As a bonus, organic olive oil will leave his skin super moisturized. Make it a romantic evening, or get the whole family involved for a night of culinary creativity. This is the perfect indoor Father’s Day gift for a relaxing night in the comfort of your own home. 

A Soap Inspired Father’s Day Menu

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Let our soap be the opening and closing act for a fantastically themed meal. I was inspired by this shampoo bar’s orange and rosemary essential oil blend and came up with a complementing menu. Try this Orange Rosemary Chicken grilled to juicy perfection and complemented with a show-stealing citrus side salad.

Vegan? So is a Lot of Our Soap!

Instead of meat, try this Creamy Mushroom Risotto. The depth of flavor is out of this world!

2) Un-cramp with a Customized Camping Trip with the Limited Edition Camping Bar

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He’s itching to get out of the house, but if swarms of bugs and “doing your business in the woods” are the only images that come to mind when you think about camping I can see why you’d be hesitant to venture into the deep woods.

The thing is, camping doesn’t have to be all about roughing it. With the right planning and the right soap, camping can be more fun than you’d think! Not only is our Camping Bar biodegradable, it’s also packed with pest-repelling essential oils. This bar can be used as shampoo when used with soft water (lake or river water) and can be used as a body bar with hard water.

You can camp anywhere, allowing you to tailor your Father’s Day trip to perfection.

Glamping (Glamour Camping)

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Celebrate the fantastic father of your children with a childless romantic getaway into the deep woods. Pitch a tent under the stars or have someone else do it for you.

Bamping (Backyard Camping)

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Get the kids involved with a fun night in the backyard! Have a father themed sing-along and get the grill going for a cookout…the ideas are endless. 

3) Horseback Ride with the Cowboy Bar

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Feel the thrill of the Old West with a trail ride. Never ridden a horse? No problem! Many trail riding companies will tell you everything you need to know and will help you find a horse matched to your riding abilities.

Nothing feeds his sense of adventure more than sitting astride a mighty steed as you spend a day on the trail. He’ll feel like a true cowboy when he dismounts with newly stiff legs and covered in some authentic cowboy dirt. 

Don’t like the sound of cowboy dirt? No worries! 

A scrub with our Cowboy Bar will keep him clean and smelling like a fresh man with the smokey scent of vetiver and spicy black pepper.

Making Father’s Day Special

Whatever you plan to do, make this Father’s Day count by letting Dad know you care. You’d be surprised just how much a handmade card and a bar of natural soap can brighten his day.

Much Love,

Nora