The New Year season is especially sentimental for me because it’s around the time I composed and released my first blog for Apple Valley Natural Soap. I had just returned home to Minnesota from my three month study abroad trip in Europe, and having suffered recent loss, felt lost myself. Starting my work with Apple Valley Natural Soap brought me the joy and focus to work through that time, and my first blog helped me process the grief and change that life brings with it.
Last year we faced grief and uncertainty together, as the pandemic stretched out before us with no clear definition for the type of world we would be left living in. Yet, we chose to look forward. To push forward into the next year believing that good was in store for us and to turn to those around us for support and camaraderie. To me, this includes the beautiful AVNS community.
So once more, I’d like to take pause. To turn around from my spot on the mountain, see what I’ve come from, and take a breath before turning back to the path. I hope you’ll take the time to join me on this journey. Lay down the burdens, challenges, joys, and accomplishments you’ve accumulated over the past year and think about where you’ve come from and where you’re going.
I won’t lie, this was a difficult year for me. It seems the older I get the more grief I’m given to deal with. I am thankful that my ability to comprehend and grow through this grief continues to expand as well. I know I’m not the only one facing hardships in the AVNS community, as both I and the Buck family have had to say goodbye to our favorite furry friends this past season. I imagine many of you have faced grief to, and I can only offer my most sincere condolences.
I usually start thinking about how I want to approach the coming year before it’s even arrived. Whether it’s focusing on the small things, or trusting God with the bigger picture…there is always something clear on my mind and this year was no exception.
We think about New Year’s resolutions as new starts, new habits, a brand new us. But this year has me thinking, what was so wrong with the old me? Does growth ever include backtracking? What about the pieces of myself I loved that got lost somewhere along the way? For the first time, I’m contemplating the idea that the process of growing yourself is not solely the accumulation of new growth, but the continued nurturing or intentional revival of the best parts of yourself throughout your lifetime.
This year, I’ve picked my resolutions from a pool of things I’ve loved about my past self and life. Things that have brought me great joy, things about me that have made the world a better place even if just on a microscopic level, things that have grown me and stretched me and got me to where I am today. Things I want to reclaim for the life ahead of me.
I invite you to grab a paper and pen and sit down with me as I list the three things I want to rediscover in my life. Let’s not only write them out, but let’s brainstorm ways in which we can make these resolutions realities too, sound like a plan?
Get back into improv comedy
Why: connects me with others, teaching it brings joy to others, brings joy to me.
Offer to lead a beginners workshop at my workplace.
Teach a workshop for my old college improv troupe.
Branch out and see if there is a school or theatre program that would want to start an improv troupe.
Freshen up my Spanish skills
Why: connects me with others, expands my world of communication, brings joy to me
Try downloading an app like Babble or Duolingo.
Read children’s chapter books in Spanish at my own pace.
Find a Spanish club in the local area.
Dance more
Why: dancing makes me happy, keeps my body happy and healthy.
Make more time to dance for fun in the living room.
Take a Zumba class.
Take lessons to learn a new style of dance.
What I love about the theme of this year’s resolutions is the do-ability and stress-free nature of the goals I’ve set for myself. I’m not focused on scrambling up the ladder of success, I’m building that ladder stronger so that when the time comes to climb I feel safe and supported in my endeavors. I’d love it if those who have read this blog would take the time to leave a comment with one New Year’s Rediscovery they’d like to focus on this year.
Phew! Sneaking in right under the wire today with my top three picks for AVNS products in 2021. Apple Valley Natural Soap prides itself on having a HUGE selection of products. I’ve been working my way through them for about two years now and have yet to try all of them! We love being able to offer something for everyone, from naturally moisturizing oils, to natural salves, deodorants, and muscle relaxing cream…and of course all of our fantastic soaps! While customers have agreed on our best smelling soaps, bars that work best for skin issues and conditions, and soap bars that are just plain lovable…today is all about me and what I think (it’s like an early gift to myself, heehee). You can read last year’s list here!
How Do You Pick AVNS Products?
There are a couple ways to pick out AVNs products based on what you’re looking for! There are three resources to help you find exactly what you need and they are as follows.
The AVNS website menu: we try to make our website menu as easy and as personable as possible. Many of our soaps are sorted by scent, our shampoos are sorted by hair care needs, and our skincare products are often branded with skin sensitivity levels in mind. This is the most basic starting point for helping you find what you’re looking for.
Reviews: I believe reviews are essential! Many of our customers know how to write a fantastic and detailed review and will let you know exactly what worked or didn’t work for them. Reviews are how I first made my AVNS product selections.
Our blog: I am constantly doing all the hard work for you. This is your number one spot to find in-depth info on our soaps and other products. I pull together skincare routines, do product features that go over ingredient benefits in detail, and compile reviews to make product recommendations based on what our customers love. If you need help, there’s probably a blog that covers it. And if there isn’t, just let me know in the comments!
Description: 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!
Ingredients: saponified oils of organic coconut, organic shea nut butter, castor bean, organic sunflower, unrefined organic cocoa butter, organic jojoba, wheat germ, and sweet almond, raw organic honey, rosemary oil extract, and essential oils of lemon, Sweet Orange, Eucalyptus, fragrance.
What I love about this product
I’ll be honest people, it’s the smell. Oh my sweetness. The Wheat and Honey Almond Shampoo Bar smells AMAZING. I buy this bar just to sniff it. I’ve smelled a lot of Bath and Body Works candles in my day, but they can’t compare to this soap. I love that this bar isn’t cloying, it isn’t an overwhelming sugary sweet, but it isn’t subtle either. It honestly reminds me of a shortbread or almond biscuit. Very buttery and warm! I also love that it has so many moisturizing, nutrient rich ingredients including sunflower oil, sweet almond oil and honey! When you unpack this bar and take your first sniff you’ll close your eyes and let out a satisfied sigh. It’s that good I promise.
Description: Looking for an all natural body lotion that will leave your skin luminous and softly scented? Our pure, organic jojoba is the most natural way to moisturize both skin and hair. The benefits of jojoba are numerous and unparalleled. Jojoba is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and easily absorbed into the skin, leaving no oily residue, making it the perfect massage oil. It is used to maintain skin elasticity and leaves skin literally glowing. You can use jojoba to remove makeup, combat conditions like athlete’s foot, dandruff, eczema, skin bacteria and other skin infections. It improves hair quality and stimulates hair growth.
Just a little goes a long way. Use it as an all over body moisturizer after a shower, or do what I do and use it in the shower after you’re done washing. Simply pump the jojoba on your arms and legs, rub in, and you’re good to go! It’s my favorite, fast way to moisturize my skin. Jojoba also makes an incredible massage oil.
Our Organic Jojoba comes unscented, just pure Organic Virgin Jojoba oil, or lightly scented in our Relax blend (A BLEND THAT SMELLS DREAMY!) which has the addition of lavender, benzoin (smells like vanilla), mandarin, geranium, sweet marjoram, frankincense, palmarosa and ylang ylang essential oiis. The last three essential oils are not listed on our labels as the blend was revised after the labels were printed.
OR get your jojoba CUSTOM MADE in any of our soap scents for $19.95. Just select the Custom Jojoba option and let us know what you want in the Instructions to Seller portion of the check out page. If you’re looking for some scent ideas for your custom Jojoba, simply scan through our many soaps and let us know the name the soap which appeals to you and we’ll custom make your jojoba. If we are unable to fill a specific scent profile we will contact you. (Please allow an additional 24 hours processing time for your custom jojoba.)
This smooth, silky, body-drenching goodness comes packaged in a 4 oz bottle with a convenient Yorker twist top for easy application.
What I love about this product
I love our jojoba oil for an easy light lotion or a couple drops in my hair for extra shine and protection. I feel like maybe I was late to the game…because I don’t know why you’d order plain jojoba oil when you can custom scent it. This has to be one of our best kept secrets and it isn’t even a secret! Your skin and hair can smell like whatever you want it to! I would recommend getting it scented like our Bella Rose Bar or our seasonal Black Licorice bar (two of my favorite products from last year…hmm, maybe we could even scent it like our vanilla latte lip balm?) I’d also love to get a jojoba oil custom scented like our deodorant…speaking of which…
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 (perfect for sensitive skin), while our regular deodorant adds an extra level of protection with the antibacterial essential oils of tea tree, lavender, and lemon.
Do you have sensitive skin? Check out this article with product suggestions for those with sensitive skin!
Made with safe, natural ingredients you can trust:
Our ‘regular’ version also contains essential oils of lavender, organic tea tree, and lemon.
Directions: Using a dime-sized amount of deodorant, allow it to warm between fingers before gently applying to the underarm area until fully absorbed. Use as needed.
UPDATE: These deodorants are now have a new look! The same fantastic odor fighting ingredients are now packaged in Eco-Friendly glass containers. Also, some of the ‘Regular’ deodorants were accidentally filled to the top of the jar making them 2.7 ounces instead of 2 ounces. A little added bonus until the extra full jars are sold out.
Don’t be alarmed! This is not an unpleasant sensation. It feels like you have a very lightweight lotion on your armpits. I hated when my previous deodorants would make my armpits kind of crusty and waxy.
You might want to wash your hands after applying.
I massage a pea sized amount of deodorant into each armpit with my fingers so I always wash my hands after because I don’t like excess product on my hands in general. Yes it is an extra step in my morning routine, but honestly it never hurts to wash your hands, especially when you use non-drying natural soap!
Taking care of build-up is easy!
This lightweight, breathable formula is perfect for sensitive skin, but if you feel like you are still experiencing clogged pores you can use this simple routine in the shower to help! Whenever you shower, just gently scrub your arm-pits with one of our exfoliating bars and follow with a spritz or two of acid rinse on each armpit. You can use our Herbal Hair Rinse, or Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water! This will help remove any build-up on the skin since vinegar acts as a chemical exfoliant!
Both Regular and Unscented Cremes smell amazing!
The Regular deodorant creme has essential oils and is a scent for everyone! It is very fresh and reminds me of a mojito!
The unscented deodorant creme has a natural, gender-neutral coconut scent, my boyfriend and I both love it!
Long-lasting.
One container could easily last six months and maybe up to a year!
I have never have body odor when I use this deodorant and my armpits stay clean even after a long, physically demanding work shift!
Let me know if you also love these products! Or which one you’re planning to try first!
From festive facial masks, to Christmas themed foot soaks, we’ve even got some easy to make facial scrub recipes that you can give as gifts! Get in the Christmas spirit with these holiday DIY spa ideas that smell great and have wonderful benefits for your body! I might even throw in a hair mask recipe for good measure! All recipes have been selected from some awesome and super creative blogs, so be sure to check them out for more inspo! And don’t forget to stock up on all your Apple Valley Natural Soap favorites! Our Limited Edition Christmas soaps make the perfect spa touch!
How to make a cranberry and nutmeg Christmas face mask
Blend the berries and grapes before adding in the other ingredients one by one
Apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing off
Apple and Cinnamon Face Mask
While Cinnamon can be a powerful ingredient in a beauty regiment, this recipe only requires a dash. The oatmeal in this holiday face mask makes for a gentle pick-me-up for your skin!
Huge shout out to Alex James for these super fun facial scrubs!
Minty Candy Cane Scrub
Ingredients:
½ cup of coconut oil (or any other oil or your choice, but I personally recommend coconut oil)
1 cup of granulated sugar
Peppermint extract*
Green/pink food colouring**
Vitamin E oil
How to make a minty candy cane scrub
Mix the coconut oil with the sugar. If you prefer a coarser scrub, add more sugar, and if you want it smoother then add less sugar. Play around with the consistency to your preference!
Add peppermint extract to preference, as well as vitamin E oil.
*As a natural soap company AVNS suggests substituting extract for a couple drops of essential oil (if you’re making a small batch less is more!) We also recommend adding a drop or two of tea tree oil for someone looking for help with acne-prone skin, as tea tree oil may help due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
**Keep your recipe natural by skipping the food coloring! Especially if you have sensitive skin!
Honey and Gingerbread Scrub
This recipe is full of yummies! Sweet almond oil is a fantastic moisturizer and so is honey!
Mix all the dry ingredients together first, and then add the liquids in while mixing well. For this particular scrub I decided to use a mix of almond oil and honey, as raw honey is antibacterial, full of antioxidants and super moisturising. It’s probably better than vitamin E oil, except that it’s slightly sticky! This scrub probably smells the best, and it’s edible too (which means that it’s safe for kids and can double as a lip scrub!)
While I always shop at AVNS for all my big holiday gifts, sometimes you need a quick, easy go-to that you can make by the batch for smaller Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. I plan on making this soak for all my co-workers this year, it’s so easy to make.
Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and potassium, so it soothes the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth. To make a pumpkin hair mask, blend two cups of chopped cooked pumpkin*, one tablespoon of coconut oil, one tablespoon of honey, and one tablespoon of plain yogurt. Apply the mixture to damp hair and let it soak for 15 minutes. Rinse and shampoo for smoother, shinier strands.
*make it easy for yourself and use canned pumpkin!
We also recommend adding a dash of cinnamon, which is great for an itchy scalp and will boost the smell experience!
Remember to stay hydrated, moisturized, and smelling great during this bitterly dry season!
I love using gift guides for finding unique Christmas gifts, and eco-friendly products make some of the best Christmas gifts for family and friends because they utilize so much creativity! I’ve pulled 6 super cool gift ideas into an eco-friendly gift guide and paired each of them with an Apple Valley Natural Soap Product to create the perfect gift set for a loved one (or an enemy, let’s set aside the rivalry and spread the holiday cheer…am I right?)
“ESTABLISHED IN 2010, THE BEEZ KNEEZ WAS BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP IN MINNEAPOLIS. AFTER 11 INCREDIBLE YEARS SERVING THE BEE COMMUNITY AT THE BEEZ KNEEZ HONEY HOUSE, IN 2021 WE MOVED OUR HEADQUARTERS TO OUR FARM, TRADE RIVER RANCH LOCATED IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY JUST SOUTH OF GRANTSBURG, WI. WE ARE A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WORKING TO REVIVE THE HIVE FOR HEALTHY BEES, HEALTHY LIVES. WE MANAGE 150 HIVES USING SUSTAINABLE BEEKEEPING PRACTICES, BICYCLE-POWERED HONEY PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY. WE EDUCATE BEEKEEPERS VIA CAMP BEEZ KNEEZ AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN HEALTHY BEES HEALTHY LIVES”
Beez Kneez offers a bountiful selection of different kinds of honey, and who doesn’t love putting honey on baked goods or in their tea? If you know someone who thinks bees truly are the bees knees, then this company offers an immersive experience a step above a jar of honey! You can take a beekeeping workshop and learn how to extract honey! Such a unique gift experience would go perfectly with our Wheat and Honey Almond Shampoo Bar, a bar that smells as sweet as honey.
I love this little excerpt written by the owner, I think it speaks so much about the passion that goes into this company and the careful love and upkeep of the bees that produce such amazing honey:
“I will never forget my first date with honey bees. It was in August of 2009 at my aunt and uncle’s bee ranch. My uncle took me out to check some of his apiaries. The minute he cracked that first hive, the sweet smell of nectar, wax and smoke filled my nostrils, millions of little fuzzy bodies were flying above my head, thousands of workers moving strong among the frames and I had my first taste of real, raw basswood honey. It is cliche to say, but I fell in love. I could not get enough. The way they communicate by dancing, how the hive functions as a superorganism, the fact that all the workers are female, that they collaborate extremely well to do incredible things, that they help flowers reproduce and make honey…what is not to love? The more I learned the more I wanted. I was love sick for honey bees.”
These beautiful jewelry pieces made by SmartGlassKP are made from recycled glass bottles reminiscent of sea glass! The perfect gift for someone who loves the ocean and beachside strolls. Bring the ocean to your shores by pairing it with one of our Salt Bars! These long lasting bars contain high quality salt which cleans and refreshes your skin!
“Very beautiful necklace and ring. Such simple and elegant designs. Love themI would highly recommend!”
A big part of the holiday season is sending out cards to loved ones! This fun alternative by Forest Nation makes a great case for a good cause! Send someone you love a chance to support ecosystem restoration and a tree of their very own to nurture! As it grows it will be a reminder of your love for them, how fun is that?! In keeping with the theme, try our popular Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo Bar. Hey! Did you know that when you check out AVNS products online you can add a donation that will reduce your carbon footprint? We’ve partnered with a cool system called Eco-cart in order to do this!
An eco-friendly twist on giving and getting socks for Christmas! Thriving Earth’s Bamboo Socks are known for being soft and breathable and for each pair of socks sold by this company a pair of socks is given to someone in need! Pair this with our Bamboo Shampoo Bar, which is high in hair strengthening Silica!
Photo Credit: Thriving Earth
“I bought these as a birthday present and they were very popular and much admired. The quality is excellent and the design is lovely. The colours are rich and the socks are really well made. I am hoping to buy more as Christmas gifts! Thank you very much.”
Recycled Glass Tumblers by GoGiftid
This is such a cool gift to give to a special man in your life. This company GoGiftid up-cycles glass bottles into funky, fun glasses and bowls. Of course, we have to recommend giving this gift with a bar of our Root Beer Float Shampoo and Body Bar
Looking for something crafty to do that doesn’t create unnecessary waste?
Photo Credit: Elemental Leaf
This sun print kit made by Elemental Leaf makes a great gift for an artsy teen or young adult. How does it work? It’s a light sensitive paper that takes on the shapes of shadows in blue and white! It’s kind of hard to explain, so check out this tutorial!
If you’re looking for one of the best shampoos for dry, brittle hair, you’ve come to the right place! This week we will be diving in depth with our limited edition soap of the winter season Winter Wonderland Shampoo Bar, Marianne’s favorite Christmas bar. This shampoo bar not only smells amazing, but is packed with ingredients chosen because of their highly moisturizing properties for hair. We’ll talk about why hair care in the winter is so important and what makes this bar so perfect for giving your hair everything it needs during the cold, dry months!
Why Does Hair Get Dry In The Winter?
The winter season brings joy, but it also brings dry skin, red cheeks, and brittle, lifeless hair. You may think these problems have to do with the freezing cold weather…but the quality of your hair in the winter is not affected by the temperatures so much as the lack of moisture in the air during the winter months. In fact, the winter air is actually so harsh that it tries to pull moisture from your hair. Luckily, there is an easy fix to this problem. Adding extra hydration into your hair care routine will help to maintain your hair and will keep it healthier overall. We designed our Winter Wonderland Shampoo Bar with hydration in mind. We’ve got naturally cleansing elements to keep your scalp clean, but not stripped of natural oils. Moisturizing butters to deep condition your strands. And fortifying oils to lock in moisture and keep hair shiny and strong!
Ingredients in the Winter Wonderland Shampoo 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,
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.
Castor Bean
Castor bean is a skin soother, it is both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and can be used on sensitive skin.
Unrefined Organic Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which means it penetrates the hair strand to give you strong, glossy hair.
If you’re a loyal AVNS customer or blog reader, welcome back! This newsletter is full of info on our latest releases and upcoming events that I knew you’d want to know about. We’ve got some really exciting products on the shelf right now that you or a loved one needs to try!
We’ve just released our first product in our new line of handcrafted skincare products! Marianne has been perfecting this line of products made with natural ingredients that work to bring your skin to perfection from any state! Keep on eye out for more products to follow.
Facial Toners
Our renewing natural facial toners are made from organic hydrosols and natural extracts. From our supplier of hydrosols; “We source only the finest quality organic hydrosols from highly regarded suppliers from around the world….A hydrosol is the aromatic water remaining after producing an essential oil via steam distillation. Steam distillation results in two complementary products – the essential oil and the hydrosol. When the plant material is brewed with water in the cooker, steam fills the pot, and as it rises, causing the plant’s glands to release its oils and essence into the steam. The aromatic water that was steamed with the original plant material is referred to as a “hydrosol”, which is like a much less concentrated essential oil. During this distillation process, the plant matter actually imparts the hydrosol with the water-soluble aromatic and therapeutic properties of the plant. They contain the essence of the plant in every drop, just like essential oils, but in a milder form.”
Hydrosols make fabulous ingredients for facial toners. Why? When you wash your face with cold process soap (which is slightly alkaline) and following up with a hydrosol toner (which is slightly acidic) it gently helps rebalance the pH of the skin. Your skin’s acid mantle is what keeps in moisture and blocks out toxins from the environment, so this is an important step in your skin care regimen. To these hydrosols we’ve added some amazing natural extracts which boost the skins ability to regenerate through enzyme and antioxidant activity.
A toner has multiple benefits for your skin and plays an important role in your skincare routine. A good toner can act on several levels adding and retaining moisture in the skin, gently exfoliating the skin for a bright fresh, clean look, and soothing the skin for a calm complexion!
This faintly sweet, floral, and citrusy toner is great if you have oily/combination skin. Neroli hydrosol contains alpha hydroxy acids which help exfoliate the skin, and is anti-inflammatory so helps soothe and calm skin inflammation like acne, eczema etc. It is also antibacterial, which is another reason it’s great for treating acne, plus is highly astringent, as well as rich in vitamin C. The combination of the Papaya and Mango extracts increase enzyme activity and are attributed with soothing skin irritations and exfoliating dead cells. Papaya contains arginine, which is an amino acid that smoothes skin and aids in cell regeneration and Papain possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
Restorative Toner – Organic Rose Otto (Rosa damascena) hydrosol, Glycerin, Rose Otto (Rosa damascene) petal cell extract, Radish root (Leuconostoc) ferment.
This very hydrating toner nourishes skin health and helps restore skin’s radiance, beauty and youthfulness. Rose hydrosol* helps to balance the skin as it regulates sebum production, has antibacterial properties, helps heal sunburn and improves circulation. It is also a mild astringent, and attracts moisture making it very helpful for all skin types. With it’s light floral scent and vast number of therapeutic applications, this hydrosol from organic roses rejuvenates, hydrates, softens, and if used over time, can help reduce facial lines and wrinkles. Suzanne Catty, author of Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy, states that rose has an affinity with the heart and the emotional spheres of the mind, body, and spirit. It is known to promote emotional balance and a sense of well-being.
Rose extract also comes from the Rose Otto (Rosa damascene). It is extracted from the petals of rose flowers and contains over three hundred different compounds which not only help with premature aging, but also benefit skin in many other ways; anti-inflammatory, great for sensitive skin, treats redness and irritation, contains high amounts of Vitamin C, known to aid skins natural sun protection, promotion of good skin tone as well as improvement of skins elasticity. Plus let’s not forget about the wonderful aroma which is a known as a mood enhancer.
*Rose Hydrosol is often referred to as Rosewater or Rose Floral Water but is actually a different product. Where Rose Hydrosol is the distillation of rose essential oil made with fresh-picked fresh rose petals and contains the essence of the plant in every drop. A flower water or rosewater, by contrast, is water that has been scented using essential oils. In addition, rose water will typically have additives that rose hydrosol will not.
To use – After gently cleansing skin morning and evening, mist evenly onto the face, neck and décolletage and allow to dry. Follow with moisturizer or facial oil like our Organic Moroccan Argan Oil. The moisturizer/oil will lock in the toner, leaving your skin soft and glowing.
We released our liquid Castile soap line several months ago, and we are adding two new varieties to the collection! One is limited edition so get it while you can!
Our premium Castile type liquid soap’s main ingredient is organic virgin olive oil, which deeply penetrates the skin, moisturizing and nourishing while cleansing. We’ve also chosen to combine the olive oil with a rich blend of premium oils to create a thick and versatile soap with creamy lather, gently cleansing while moisturizing, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.
For hands and face; fill one of our hand thrown ceramic soap pumps for everyday use by the sink, or dilute this soap with water and fill a foaming soap pump.
For body; use in the shower or bath as a rich and cleansing, yet gentle body wash. Some even love using it as a shampoo!
For the household; dilute with water and use it to rinse food, clean dishes, mop, wash your dog, as well as your laundry.
Made with all natural and organic ingredients, the uses are endless.
As with all our other soaps, this liquid soap is cruelty-free, synthetic-free, petroleum-free, free from sulfates, parabens, artificial colors and phthalates.
Relax into the aroma of Christmas, with warm spice notes from classic cedarwood, cozy cinnamon and clove, infused with a touch of sweet orange and vanilla. Our Limited Edition ‘Spirit of Christmas’ premium Castile type liquid soap is a wonderful festive scent for this Holiday season!
Ingredients: purified water, saponified oils of organic extra virgin olive, castor, organic coconut, organic unrefined shea butter, organic jojoba. Mediterranean Sea salt. Essential oils of cedarwood atlas, sweet orange, cinnamon leaf, clove bud and vanilla dark.
Our candles are going to hit the shelves any day, they go quick so keep an eye out!
New Website Updates!
We are always working to make the AVNS website the most convenient, pleasant experience it can be for our customers. We don’t have a physical shop, so we want our website to feel like a welcoming and personable place to be! We are so excited to offer a new option at checkout called EcoCart. You can choose to add a small amount of money to your order and that amount goes toward offsetting your carbon footprint! One of our main goals as a natural soap company is to leave as small a trace as possible, which is why we work hard to create reusable and recyclable packaging…and we are so pumped for this neat, online addition!
Thanksgiving Sale!
Keep an eye out for our fantastic Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale! Details will be on social media and in our newsletter!
Pop-up Shop!
WE ARE SO EXCITED! Our products will be available at a pop-up shop coming soon! Check out our retail location list to see if our products are coming to you anytime soon!
Do not wait to do your Christmas shopping until the last minute, take advantage of these deals and order now and during the sale so that you get everything shipped to you in time for Christmas!
Please note that although the natural soaps mentioned in this blog have worked wonders for many customers, none of them are intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.
The Benefits of Natural Soap
Dealing with skin conditions like eczema, acne, rashes, or even sensitive skin? Not a fan of expensive lotions, extensive skincare routines, and acne-kits that burn your face and bleach your towels? Try starting with a bar of natural soap. Natural soap is not a guaranteed miracle cure, but its unique composition and nature of ingredients has benefits that many of our customers agree have brought relief to skin conditions from acne to eczema. How is this possible? Natural soap is made in such a way that it retains moisturizing elements. Unlike many mass produced bar soaps, natural soaps clean your skin while also imparting additional hydration and moisture which helps soothe and strengthen skin. Natural soap is made with natural ingredients, the basic components of which are less likely to aggravate problematic skin. Natural ingredients also have so many natural vitamins and minerals that benefit your skin and keep it clean and clear! This combination of hydration and natural nourishment makes natural soap a wonderful starting point for skin conditions at a great price!
This week I’ll go over some very common skin conditions that many people deal with. I’ve also pulled some of our top soap bars that have time and time again helped with customer’s biggest skin issues!
Eczema
Eczema can wreak havoc on the quality and appearance of your skin. Discoloration, dryness, bumpy or scaly texture, itchiness, and sensitivity are all symptoms that may accompany eczema. Eczema is caused by a gene variation that causes skin to be unable to retain moisture and keep bacteria and irritants out. Eczema often precedes asthma and can also be triggered by food allergies, especially in children. There is no cure for this condition, but supplying skin with moisture can help relieve symptoms.
Acne
Acne surfaces when your skin is clogged with oil and bacteria. Acne can range from mild whitehead and blackheads to deep cystic acne. Acne can be difficult to prevent, since there are so many factors that cause acne. Diet, hormones, and day to day contact with surfaces are all reasons why you might have acne. Over the counter acne remedies are expensive, only work short term and can oftentimes aggravate the skin further. Check out a great, natural acne routine here!
Having sensitive skin varies incredibly from person to person. Sensitive skin is any skin that is abnormally prone to a reaction of some sort. Acne, rashes, dryness, and discoloration can all be the results of sensitive skin. Many people with sensitive skin have to be extra careful about what skin products they use because certain detergents, dyes, and fragrances can easily cause the skin to react. Finding products that work best for your skin is the easiest way to combat sensitive skin, but the road to finding those products may not be easy or enjoyable!
Uniquely formulated with organic virgin olive oil and calendula, this simple bar has been a wild success for many customers and is a huge hit with the babies!
“I had developed flaking skin around my nose and on my cheeks. probably an allergy. After using this soap for about 10 days, that condition is nearly gone. A wonderful product, would recommend it to anyone who has sensitive skin. Will buy it again.”
“I just love this bar of soap. It makes my 9-month-old’s skin soft and clean. He had a spot of diaper rash on his bum that was stubbornly hanging around and this soap moisturized it and helped it to heal. Hooray! It cleans us all up quite nicely and doesn’t leave behind any scent. I am all for simple when it comes to products that I use on my kids. Basically, I have tried to limit the things I put on their bodies and only use edible ingredients. Not that we *would* eat soap, but the ingredients are pretty simple nonetheless :-).”
“I use this bar on my daughter who has eczema, it is so mild and soothing for her skin. I use it on my 9 month old too. It feels good knowing that I am using something natural on their sensitive skin. Love all the products from Apple Valley Natural Soaps.”
Neem oil, clay, and oats make this bar a powerful tool in combating bacteria, impurities, and build-up.
“I have dealt with cystic acne on my chin for the past 15 years. It was so deep that nothing could quite go deep enough into the skin layers to deal with the inflammation, and the top layers of skin were thicker in the acne spots. Since using these soaps for the past 6 weeks as well as a exfoliator 2 times a week and tea tree oil applied each time, and It seems the layers of skin have been able to soften and bring up the cysts. 4 of the spots have healed completely already and 2 more are beginning to reduce and are much less inflamed. My skin overall is smoother and more even in skin tone. My skin’s moisture level seems much better balanced as well. I am looking forward to my chin being healed completely in the coming weeks. Thanks Apple Valley.”
“I just received my second order of acne battle bar. First off, the shipping is extremely speedy and the customer service is great. Second, the soap itself lasts a very long time. Third, it really does the job (just be patient and give it time) to heal your acne, cleanse your face and leave you feeling extremely refreshed afterwards. With acne there are no quick fixes but this soap has a combination of detoxing and cleansing ingredients that work extremely well. The neem oil (Indian plant that is known to be a purifier) is a nice touch that is hard to find in many western products. Try this soap out, I’ve recommended it to many friends and I’ll be buying this stuff for years. I can’t imagine using any other kind of soap. Thanks so much Apple Valley!”
“Ok I am 40 with seriously oily skin that is constantly broken out. Been dealing with this since I was in 4th grade. I try everything on the market just to see. I spend 150.00 a month on really expensive cleansing cream and acne cream to help. The routine was ok but I still had enough acne I would not go out without makeup on. My daughter (16) told me about the shampoo bars and I decided to try this acne bar. Again I try everything for this problem. I can’t believe my results. I was so worried it would make my acne worse but it has been a lifesaver. I am saving so much money. It’s so simple, one product. My face has just a few and I mean few small pimples. It isn’t dried out. I have yet to use an acne cream with it. And I can go without makeup because you really can’t even see the few pimples I do have! I could cry I am soooo happy. All my life dealing with this problem and this simple bar has taken care of my wreck of a face and turned it into something I can let the world see without embarrassment! If you have problems you really got to try it. It took only three days to notice a difference. I have used this now for two months. The only time I break out is well we all know. But even then it isn’t bad. I can’t say enough how wonderful this is”
“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.”
“I was plagued with eczema and numerous cysts that kept appearing and I had no answers from my doctors. Nothing was helping and I was so miserable. I searched and searched for a soap that was natural, scent free and made of only coconut. Natural coconut has antibacterial and antifungal properties that are so good for your skin. This soap leaves your skin soft and clean without that tacky soap feeling. I am happy to say my eczema and cysts went away within a week and have not been plagued with it since. I love this soap. Please do not stop carrying this product. It is the best I have found on the market.”
More Soaps That Could Change your Life
The following soaps have been reviewed continually for their skin-improving abilities! Feel free to read through the reviews for yourself!
Have you ever used a product and had a bad reaction to it? Maybe your makeup caused a breakout, or your cheap lotion caused an angry red itch on your hands? Some people deal with even worse reactions, and it’s called Environmental Illness. Environmental Illness can result in symptoms from a number of different systems in the body including neurological, immune, respiratory, and skin (just to name a few). These symptoms, which can range from a headache to irritated eyes, are brought on by chemicals in one’s environment. People with Environmental Illness are at constant risk of being exposed to chemicals which could trigger a reaction. Most people don’t think that a perfume or air freshener they use in their room or on their body could make such a negative impact on someone else’s wellbeing, but this is the case!
While we think of toxic chemicals like exhaust having an impact on our health, we do not consider other day to day chemicals that live on our shelves and in our cupboards. Many fragrances are created with synthetic chemicals that are incompatible with our bodies and end up as an irritant whether it be physical or sensory.
History of Our Naturally Scented Products
We offer a variety of soaps ranging from unscented to scented with phthalate free fragrance. We are always working towards scent options that are the most natural, but we sold some of our soaps for over four years under the impression that the pre-mixed blends we were using in a few of our bars were pure essential oil blends. Since that time it was discovered that those blends contained pure essential oils AND a small percentage of phthalate-free fragrance oil to boost the natural scent. We had to decide whether to discontinue those bars and disappoint many of our regular customers, or to continue to carry them and give people the choices they wanted. We made the decision to carry the bars, and let our customers make their own choices in this regard.
What is the ratio of scent in our soaps?
All of our scented varieties of soap contain 2-3% essential oils—to add scent as well as therapeutic value—and 98% other ingredients (oils, water, clays, milks, etc.). The few soaps that contain the uncertified blends ALSO have therapeutic grade essential oils in them. We did a lot of experimenting because we wanted to make our scents totally unique. The fact that these soaps contain a mix of the blends in question PLUS our own essential oil additions also drives any percentage of any fragrance oil down even further (less than .5-1% of the entire batch).
If you are a purist (please see 2020 UPDATE), these are the soaps/products that are scented with a mix of pure essential oils AND may also contain a minimal amount of phthalate-free fragrance oil which augments and enhances the scent:
2020 UPDATE: We have started introducing a natural plant based fragrance alternative to some of our soaps which once had the essential oil & phthalate free fragrance blend. This is only happening to soaps and products where finding a scent match with essential oils is not possible. Our desire would be to only used essential oils as they give benefit to the hair and skin as well as scent, but when this is not possible, we have chosen to use natural plant based fragrances. These natural fragrances are plant-based aromatics which are produced using pure essential oils and aromatic isolates derived solely from natural, raw botanical sources. All of these natural fragrances are certified to be free of synthetic ingredients.
Products currently using the natural plant based fragrances:
Be mindful of those around you who may have an intolerance to fragrance while still smelling great! Our unscented soaps and shampoos may be fantastic options for teachers and other employees who work in fragrance free zones! Try our Simply Shea Shampoo Bar or wash your hands with our Salted Chocolate Sink Bar!
Goat milk is an underrated ingredient in the skin care community with unparalleled benefits. We here at Apple Valley Natural Soap are such huge fans of goat milk that we decided one bar with goat milk wasn’t enough! This week’s blog is all about our new Limited Edition Geranium Blossom Goat Milk Shampoo Bar and why it is so fantastic. We’ll also explain exactly what it is that makes goat milk such a must have in your skin and hair routine!
Goat milk has a ton of fantastic agents contributing to its overall beauty enhancing structure! Goat milk works mainly to smooth and enhance skin, and works its wonders on even the most sensitive of skin.
Smooth
Vitamin A and lactic acid content in goat milk help to gently exfoliate skin.
Enhance
Lactic acid acts as a humectant drawing moisture into your skin. Lactic acid also elevates the production of ceramides, which helps to tighten and strengthen your skin! Check out our Lavender Buttermilk Bar for more of this goodness!
Gentle on Sensitive Skin
Goat’s milk has the same pH as human skin,which means it is extremely compatible with our skin’s surface and won’t cause reactions.
Goat Milk For Hair
Goat milk works a similar magic on hair as it does skin! Not only does it moisturize a dry, flaky scalp…but the protein content is fantastic for strengthening and protecting the hair shaft. Goat milk is a great natural ingredient for curly hair because of its protein content!
Apple Valley Natural Soap Goat Milk Shampoo Bars
What is the easiest way to get goat milk into your skincare and haircare routine? Try using it in a bar of soap! We have two super different, very unique bars that incorporate goat’s milk for an all over gentle cleanse from head to toe!
Description: This beautifully scented floral shampoo bar has been created with some pretty amazing ingredients which we think you’ll love. Do you love floral scents? The essential oil blend of geranium, orange and lavender will transport you to a summer flower garden. Not only that, but if we’re loving everything floral, why not consider our addition of Rosehip extract? Rosehips are high in antioxidants which can help improve the appearance of hair as well as help protect it. But we didn’t stop there, we’ve also added rich goat milk which brings its own fantastic benefits to this shampoo bar. Goat milk helps leave hair soft and manageable, it also repairs damage, is good for dry scalp and helps with dandruff, leaving a healthy scalp. Goat milk along with the following ingredients create a regenerating, nourishing and sudsy shampoo bar for those who love everything floral!
Coconut oil which is a super-oil full of naturally present antioxidants 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.
Goat milkis rich in calcium and protein as well as vitamins and minerals, all of which aid in strengthening and maintaining healthy hair.
Rosehip extract is high in antioxidants and may help improve hair’s healthy appearance by supporting the restoration of moisture in hair strands, eliminating frizz or split ends, and may also help protect against hair loss. Because of these qualities, it may also be a benefit to hair which is chemically treated, bleached, or otherwise damaged due to heat or coloring.
Description: Can’t afford the time or money for a trip to the Italian Riviera? Don’t let that stop you from treating your HAIR to the delectable fruits of Italy! We stuffed this bar with emollient olive oil and grapeseed oil, rich goat milk which leaves hair soft and manageable, repairs damaged hair, is good for dry scalp and helps with dandruff and leaves your scalp healthy. We have also added a mysterious and intoxicating essential oil blend that includes marjoram, mandarin, lavender, petitgrain and geranium. Fantastico!
The soap for pumpkin spice fanatics who love pumpkin spice everything! This Pumpkin Spice Hand and Body Soap is one of our signature fall limited edition soaps. What does this pumpkin spice have that wins out over the competition? Natural ingredients that will benefit your skin every time you wash! The Pumpkin Spice Hand and Body Soap makes a GREAT gift, too!
Why Use A Natural Soap?
Natural soap is an absolute must for your shower experience. Soaps made with natural ingredients and scented naturally means you get all the natural benefits (like the therapeutic benefits of essential oils!). Soaps made with natural ingredients are also more gentle on sensitive skin!
This fall soap looks beautiful in any bathroom, with its rich, nutty brown color and cream stripe along the top. It makes the perfect hostess gift!
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!
Organic Sunflower:
Sunflower oil is FANTASTIC because it is a 0 on the comedogenic scale, which means it won’t clog pores. This oil can be used to moisturize any skin type…and that isn’t all it will do!
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.
Organic Olive Oil:
Super gentle on skin, olive oil cleanses, moisturizes and renews skin. For pure olive oil soaps that will love your skin, check out our castile bars or our new liquid castile soaps!
Organic Shea Nut Butter:
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.
Pumpkin:
Pumpkin is full of skin-helping vitamins and antioxidants! What do these do? In short, think anti-aging and skin protection!
White Kaolin Clay:
This clay works wonders for deep skin cleansing, as it draws out impurities and sebum without stripping skin and making it dry.
Raw Baking Spices:
Including cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. All three of these spices are actually used in skin care for their anti-aging effects! And of course their amazing scent blend never hurt anything.
Organic Raw Cacao:
Improves circulation, skin complexion and is full of antioxidants!
Organic Sugar:
Sweeten the scent and get a little gentle exfoliation!
Sea Salt:
To enhance the natural scents and add some more gentle exfoliation! For more salt, check out our salt bars!
Rosemary Oil Extract:
This aromatic scent may repel certain bugs, perfect for those bugs hanging around your door!
Grapefruit Seed Extract:
A gentle skin toning ingredient!
Essential Oils of Orange, Clove, Ginger, & May Chang:
A delightful scent blend to energize and alert your senses!
APPLE VALLEY NATURAL SOAP BLOG 