Soaps For Spring

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Happy Spring everyone! I can’t believe it is finally here with it’s promise of warmer, sunny days ahead. Today I thought we should address a very important subject, soaps for the spring from Apple Valley Natural Soap. What are important things to look for in your spring soap bar? What are the best scents to have in a soap bar for spring? We will talk about all of that in this post and give you all the links you need to make shopping easy and make sure your home is stocked with only the best for the spring season ahead.

Gardeners Citrus Basil Soap Bar

Back in time to take care of hard working green thumbs! The Gardener’s Citrus Basil Soap Bar is packed with ground apricot shells to effectively scrub off dirt and grime, black walnut powder for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungicide properties, plus moisturizing unrefined organic shea butter to keep your hands soft and silky.

Did you know that black walnut has rich levels of antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids can actually impact the health and appearance of skin? It has also been known to help clear up skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, which makes black walnut a wonderful addition to this natural hand soap. You’ll also LOVE the warm, spicy essential oil blend of bergamot, basil, lemon, and grapefruit. The perfect bar for busy hands this spring!

“[I] gave this to friends who are always hard at work in the garden, all kinds of work maintaining [the] home and cleaning. They love how soft and moisturizing the lather is and how their skin feels. They said the scent lingers slightly on the skin later. Thank you AVNS, it’s a lovely bar for hardworking hands!!”

(Please Note: We make limited quantities of our Limited Edition soaps, so once they are sold out, they are gone for the season.)

Honey Carrot and Tangerine Face and Body Bar

If you want to spin around and keel over from happiness, this bar is your ticket to glory. Made with freshly juiced, organic carrots instead of filtered water, this gorgeous, vitamin A packed bar will nourish your skin. Perfect for your face and all over too! Raw honey acts as a humectant, trapping moisture in your skin cells, and rich, emollient oils and butters will leave your skin soft and silky. But one of the best things about this bar is the juicy carrot tangerine scent that makes you think you died and went to tangerine carrot honey heaven. 

“I have sensitive skin and have been using this for a month now. I love it! Creamy, gentle, moisturizing, and a delightfully delicious scent. What more could a person want? Its color makes it a beautiful gift and I actually gave several as gifts before I even tried it myself. I’ll keep buying this bar in the regular and half size for me and others! Please keep making this soap!”

Cucumber Lime Face and Body Soap

Cucumber lime, with a light, refreshing, “green” scent, features cucumber peel extract which acts like a skin toner, helping to freshen and brighten skin, tighten pores, and leave skin feeling soft and silky. We have also added Spirulina to the mix which has so many wonderful benefits for the skin, we couldn’t say no! Spirulina is a natural antimicrobial, it actually kills off candida, which can be an underlying cause of acne. It also contains 8 Essential Amino Acids, and is high in protein, which is necessary for cell repair and growth. On top of that, Spirulina contains a rare fatty acid known as Gamma Linolenic Acid. That combined with being a rich source of antioxidants makes this a highly effective tool against free radicals. When free radicals are eliminated, this increases the skin’s metabolism, and helps your body produce new, healthy cells faster. What’s not to like? Use this bar all over your body for the same beneficial effect everywhere.

“I LOVE this soap! It has such a wonderful smell and it gets nice and sudsy! One of my new favorites! I hope you keep making it!”

Symphony – The AVNS Signature Soap

From the captivating fresh scent and nourishing ingredients, to the beautiful variations of color, we hope our Symphony Signature Shampoo & Body Bar will remind you that beautiful things come in small packages, and that the simple pleasures are all you need. With beautiful colors, moisturizing natural ingredients & an uplifting scent, all components harmonize beautifully. Fall in love with this all natural soap which is made to retain all the natural glycerin from the natural oils & butters. A bar that gently cleanses while nourishing & rejuvenating hair, face & body. Beautifully scented, beautiful variations of natural colors & beautiful packaging, what’s not to love?

“I love everything about this bar! Color, scent, lather and how my skin and hair feels. Another great bar from AVNS. I recommend this one to everyone.”

Wether you are looking for something warm and floral or exfoliating and earthy, Apple Valley Natural Soap has all the bars for spring in your home. Spring is warm, wet and a beautiful promise of what is to come so make sure you are stocked up on soap that will not only keep up with the demands of the spring season (gardeners, I’m talking about you!) but add to your spring. And of course these bars only scratch the surface of what Apple Valley Natural Soap has to offer! Be sure to visit our website for not only spring staples but for fun products year round.

What are your favorite spring hair and skin care soap bars? What other products do you love during the spring season? Let us know what you thought in the comments below and let’s start a conversation.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it too, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

My Favorite Bath Accessories From Apple Valley Natural Soap

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We know that nothing helps to elevate your bathroom, beauty, and skin care routines quite like the perfect accessories to pair with your products. Keep reading for some of my favorite bath accessories from AVNS and all of the links to shop and add to your self care routine.

1. Eco-Friendly Soap Trays

AVNS has a couple of different options to choose from when it comes to soap trays, but the concept is the same. Elevate and show off your beautiful bar soaps with Eco-Friendly Bamboo or Bioplastic Soap Mats. They are the perfect way to help style up any sink in your home and keep your soap high and dry so it doesn’t get mushy.

The Eco-Friendly Bamboo Soap Trays allow water to drain and air to circulate, ensuring no mess is left behind while preventing your natural soap from turning to mush. To clean, just hold it under running water! They are the perfect size for our full sized soaps, and with 3 different designs to choose from, refresh your look with this aesthetically pleasing, compostable, earth friendly, natural soap tray that is sure to brighten any bathroom. 

The Eco-Friendly Soap Mats from AVNS work perfectly for our organic & natural soaps! Made from bioplastic to allow the water to drain and air to circulate, they prevent your natural soap from turning to mush. These soap mats are made from eco-friendly, BPA and phthalate free bioplastic – right here in the USA! With 15 colors to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect color for every sink in your home. Plus, they are reusable, so once you are ready to switch out your soap bar, don’t throw your mat away! Simply clean your soap mat of the soap residue by holding it under warm running water.

2. Natural Sea Sponges

Say goodbye to the plastic luffa and hello to the natural and antibacterial powers of your new shower BFF, the Natural Sea Sponge! These natural sea sponges are sustainably harvested maintaining strict industry regulations and are naturally eco-friendly and biodegradable. AVNS has 3 different sizes to offer –

The Yellow Sponge is named after its beautiful color! These sponges are firm, absorbent and durable, a great addition to your bathing routine. Harvested from the Gulf of Mexico waters, these beautiful natural sponges gently cleanse skin when used with one of the natural soaps from AVNS.

The Wool Sea Sponges are the softest most absorbent sponges available, the champion of all-natural sponges. Harvested from the Gulf of Mexico waters, these beautiful natural sponges gently cleanse skin when used with one of the natural soaps from AVNS.

The Prime Wool Sea Sponge is again, the softest most absorbent sponges available, the champion of all-natural sponges. Harvested from the Gulf of Mexico waters, these beautiful natural sponges gently cleanse skin when used with one of the natural soaps from AVNS.

Sponge harvesting isn’t an easy process, but the results are worth it! These beautiful natural sponges will last for years if taken care of and have additional benefits to the skin. Did you know that natural sea sponges are actually hypoallergenic? They also contain an enzyme that makes them naturally antibacterial, preventing the growth of bacteria, mold & mildew. Plus they contain nutrients such as magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium and more, all beneficial minerals for the skin.

3. Foaming Liquid Soap Pump

This beautiful foaming liquid soap pump is a new addition for all our liquid soap lovers! Wonderfully functional and visibly pleasing, the frosted glass foaming soap dispensers from AVNS have a wide solid base for no tipping, and a neutral appearance that coordinates with any bath or kitchen space. Each dispenser holds approximately 8 fluid ounces, has an elegant frosted glass base with easy to fill opening and a white pump. It pairs perfectly with one of the Liquid Castile Soaps or Liquid African Black Soaps from AVNS!

4. Reusable Beauty Cloths

Made from premium hemp, bamboo & organic cotton, these cloths are created from some of the most sustainable fabrics in the world, bringing you a luxurious cleansing experience. The cloths are perfect for removing make-up, oil cleansing and much more. Hemp is an exceptionally durable and strong fabric and when mixed with the softness of bamboo (cream cloth), not only do you get our most sustainable fabric, but one of our softest and most luxurious. Premium hemp & organic cotton also delivers a luxurious, hypo-allergenic cloth, perfect for light exfoliation, removing make-up and oil cleansing. 

Cream Hemp & Bamboo Beauty Cloth – This premium hemp + bamboo fleece creates a luxurious, hypo-allergenic cloth perfect for oil cleansing and removing makeup. Hemp and bamboo make one of the most sustainable fabrics. Made from 55% hemp and 45% bamboo.

Black Hemp & Cotton Beauty Cloth – Use this premium hemp & cotton fleece for a luxurious, light exfoliation or for removing make-up and oil cleansing. Made from 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton.

I hope this gave you a few ideas on ways that you can elevate your bathroom, beauty, and skin care routines with the perfect accessories to pair with your products. These products from Apple Valley Natural Soap also make the perfect socking stuffers and gifts for the self care lovers this holiday season.

Which of these bath accessories are you going to add to your self care routine? Maybe you have already tried a few of them, if so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

The Best Pumpkin Loaf For Autumn

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You all absolutely loved the Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread recipe I shared a few weeks ago, so in the spirit of Autumn and pumpkin spice season, here is another favorite loaf recipe of mine, Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting. The perfect way to spice up your baking and embrace the Autumn season for pumpkin lovers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Loaf –

  • 1 Cup of Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
  • 1 Cup Pumpkin Purée
  • 1/2 Cup Browned Butter
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup White Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar

Cream Cheese Frosting –

  • 6 Oz of Cream Cheese (room temp)
  • 1/4 Cup of Butter (room temp)
  • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
  • 2 Tablespoons of Milk
  • A Pinch of Salt

Recipe:

Pumpkin Loaf –

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Coat a loaf pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices.

In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs with the sugar until creamy.

Add melted butter, pumpkin purée and vanilla bean paste to your eggs and sugar mixture.

Add the wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir gently to combine with a spatula until the dry ingredients are incorporated. (Do not over mix!)

Pour your batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 40-45 minutes or until a cake tester is inserted in the center and comes out clean.

Let the loaf cool in the pan for a few minutes once you remove it from the oven. Then remove the loaf from the pan (use the parchment paper to help you remove the loaf from the pan – please be careful when handling the hot pan!)

Allow the loaf to cool on a wire rack completely before adding the frosting so it doesn’t melt.

Cream Cheese Frosting – While Your Pumpkin Loaf Is Cooling

Using a hand beater, beat together the butter and cream cheese until its fluffy.

Add salt, vanilla bean paste and powdered sugar and combine until smooth.

Add your milk as needed until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.

Add the frosting to your pumpkin loaf once it is cooled.

Dust the top with some extra pumpkin pie spice if you want, slice & enjoy!

This Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting is the perfect pairing with your cup of afternoon coffee or as a sweet treat to enjoy cozied up at home on a cool autumn evening. I hope this recipe brings all of the cozy, autumnal vibes into your home and I hope you love it as much as I do.

Be sure to let me know what you think if you try this recipe out and feel free to share your favorite autumn recipe in the comments!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Make The Most Of This Autumn Season

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Autumn is a very divided season! Some love it, while others look upon it with dread. For some, it is a refreshing season, the coolness in the mornings and evenings is a welcome change after the heat of the Summer. Others look at the Autumn months as nothing more than the gateway to winter. Too cold. Too gray. Marking the end to yet another gloriously warm Summer. Well, I am here today to do my best to help you embrace the change in season for all it can be – fun, refreshing, cozy, and oh so enjoyable. Here are my top tips for embracing the Autumn months and finding joy in the changing seasons.

1. Nature Walks

There is quite simply nothing like getting outside in October and going for a walk in nature! The vibrant colors all around you, the coolness in the air, and the sounds of nature preparing for a season of rest. There is something truly magical about how the trees put on such a show for us with all of their fiery yellows, oranges, and reds and dark greens. Wether you go with your family, a friend, your kids, or just by yourself, I encourage you to find a nature park or trail near you, get outside, and enjoy a walk surrounded by nature embracing the changing season.

2. Apple Orchards

Nothing screams Autumn quite like going to a good old apple orchard. The kids love it, the adults love it, and even grandma loves the fresh apples she gets to turn into yummy pies, jelly’s, and apple sauces. Find a local apple orchard, pack up the car with your family or friends, bring a picnic lunch, and enjoy a Saturday at the orchard picking apples, eating fresh apple cider doughnuts, and enjoying the cooler weather.

3. A Bonfire Night With Friends and Neighbors

One exciting thing about Autumn is the cooler mornings and evenings! Perfect for a warm bonfire outside with some toasty marshmallows. Invite your friends and neighbors to come over and join you by the fire (maybe with a Hot Toddy in hand) and let yourself relax into the simplicity of the night, the community, and crisp Autumn air.

4. Hot Apple Cider

You can pair this one with the one above, but I thought it was only right to give it it’s own feature spot. Apple cider is an Autumnal staple, some drink it cold (weirdos), while us normal people drink it piping hot. And some even like to spice it up a bit by making a Hot Toddy for a little extra warmth on a cool night. But no matter how you like to enjoy your cider, we can all agree it is a staple in Autumn and there is something both cozy and refreshing about drinking an apple cider a the orchard, around a bonfire, or cozied up on your couch in the evening with a good movie or book.

5. Baking An Autumnal Recipe

There are so many options to choose from, just pick your favorite! Pumpkin, apple, zucchini, molasses, maple, cranberry, and the list goes on. Choose your favorite flavors and spend some time in the kitchen with a candle, a cup of coffee or cider, and bake a delicious Autumnal recipe for your family and friends (or eat it all yourself, there is no judgement here.) Pumpkin loaf with cream cheese frosting. Apple pie with maple ice cream. Chocolate chip zucchini bread. Molasses cookies. Maple brown butter cookies. White chocolate and cranberry scones. Pick your favorite and start baking!

6. Decorate You Home For Autumn

This might be one of my favorite ways to embrace the changing season. I love a fresh space that welcomes the season and brings a bit of newness into my home. And the fun part is, there isn’t just one way to decorate your home! That is entirely up to you and your personal style. You can take inspiration from Pinterest, seasonal home magazines, or home decor shops. Or you can go entirely off the vision in your head! Have fun with it, bring your favorite parts of the season into your home, wether that is pumpkins, oak branches, or wheat. Oranges, greens, or golden yellows. Get creative and have fun! You can also bring Autumn into your home with scents through candles and soaps. Stock your bathrooms and kitchen with Apple Valley Natural Soap Seasonal Fall Soaps like Pumpkin Spice, Spice Cake, and Black Licorice.

Wether you already love the Autumn season or this is a season of dread for you, I hope this blog gave you some inspiration on ways you can embrace the change in season and enjoy it for what it is. A new season, a fresh start, full of new possibilities, and ready for you to make new memories. I hope I was able to help you embrace the change in season for all it can be and you were able to find some good take-aways from my top tips for embracing the Autumn months and finding joy in the changing seasons.

Do you have a favorite way to celebrate the changing seasons, specially this autumn? Share with us in the comments below and let’s start a conversation!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite autumn hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Our Favorite Soaps For Autumn

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It should be no surprise to any of you that at Apple Valley Natural Soap we love any excuse to celebrate the changing of the seasons. And autumn is no joke around here, we love all things cozy, warm, & pumpkin spice. Give us all the autumnal cozy vibes! This is why we created our Seasonal Fall soap line featuring all of our favorite things about the autumn season. Our Fall soaps are filled with pumpkin, apples, spices and everything we love about the cozy vibes of autumn and they are available now! We make limited batches of these natural Special Edition Soaps for the Fall season, specially formulated to not only bring the warmth of the season into your home, but to give your skin and hair the extra special care needed during the cooler & dryer months. They make the perfect addition to any home during the autumn season and they make amazing gifts for family and friends as well. Our fabulous fall soaps are around for only a limited time so stock up now!

Seasonal Pumpkin Spice Hand & Body Bar

Let’s kick this list off with a crowd favorite, everyones go-to autumn treat, Pumpkin Spice! If you are a pumpkin spice lover, then you will just adore this hand & body bar. Along with pumpkin, we’ve added rich baking spices like cinnamon, clove, and ginger to this amazing soap making this seasonal Pumpkin Spice Soap a feast for your skin. Lots of rich, fluffy lather and the scent of orange and clove will warm your body, heart, and soul. This natural soap bar makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“This soap has an amazing lather and scent. Perfect for cool mornings as a way to start your day. I highly recommend this luxuriant fall special.” – T. Happel

“The scent was amazing and my skin felt clean and fresh.” – J. Yannuzzi

Seasonal Spice Cake Hand & Body Bar

There is nothing quite like a spicy baked treat to get you into the autumn mood! We love to celebrate autumn with a natural soap that smells just like freshly baked spice cake stuffed with ingredients which are good for your skin. Made with apple, spices, moisturizing mango and shea butters, our Spice Cake bar is totally natural and smells just like Grandma’s house on a crisp, autumn day. An added benefit of this bar is the light exfoliation power due to the salt, it makes a wonderful bar to have by the sink, or in the shower. Also, we don’t use any fragrance oil, instead we’ve created a blend of essential oils that smell sweet and spicy. Here for a limited time only, this natural soap bar also makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“Oh my goodness I love the smell of this bar!! So wonderful and perfect for my bathroom sink in the fall!!” – Michelle

Seasonal Black Licorice Hand, Foot & Body Bar

Calling all black licorice lovers! This bar was made for you! The release of this fantastic soap was our first nod to the change of seasons and cooler months. This amazing black licorice soap is for those who simply just LOVE the scent of black licorice. Brace yourself for an incredible licorice scent along with a satisfying exfoliation experience from the black walnut hull powder, which also gives it the dark coloring. Licorice root not only smells great, but has many health benefits. The herb is used directly on the skin to help with eczema, skin rashes, psoriasis, and itchy, dry skin. Black walnut is also regarded to be useful in the treatment of skin diseases and complaints such as eczema, ringworm, athlete’s foot etc. It’s long been used as a natural remedy for acne, canker sores, psoriasis and other fungal infections. There’s nothing like it! Here for a limited time only, this natural soap bar also makes a fun, practical hostess gift during the holiday seasons.

“This is my favorite body bar. Light exfoliation and great for my skin.” – M. Hetrick

“I love the exfoliation, but not too harsh. I enjoy the smell. One of my favorite soaps!” – Melissa

Our Fall Soaps are filled with pumpkin, apples, spices and everything we love about the cozy vibes of autumn and they are available now! We make limited batches of these natural Special Edition Soaps for the Fall season, specially formulated to not only bring the warmth of the season into your home, but to give your skin and hair the extra special care needed during the cooler & dryer months. We are so excited that the autumn season is back again and cannot wait for you to try out our homage to fall with these seasonal, limited edition soaps.

Do you have a favorite way to celebrate the changing seasons, specially this autumn? Share with us in the comments below and let’s start a conversation!

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite autumn hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Your Shaving Routine – Featuring A Traditional Shaving Method

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Men and women have one (among many) very normal thing in common, and that is the need for quality shaving products that not only provide the smoothest and cleanest shave, but that are also clean and safe for your skin, hormones, and the planet. Apple Valley Natural Soap understood the assignment with their products for skin prep, shaving, and moisturizers to finish everything off. Keep reading for the next products to add to your shaving routine and for a traditional shaving method…

Step 1 – Prep The Skin

The preparation we give our skin before the shave is just as important as the shave itself! For facial shaving, prep your skin for the shave with a wash with an exfoliating soap such as Grapefruit Peppermint Luffa (Loofah) Body Bar or the Peppermint Patchouli Pumice Body Bar.

For body shaving, you can also give your skin a preparatory wash with the Grapefruit Peppermint Luffa (Loofah) Body Bar or the Peppermint Patchouli Pumice Body Bar or you can go straight for the Body Polish. Prep your skin with Apple Valley Natural Soap’s incredible exfoliating and moisturizing Body Polishes in blends like Sweet Rosehips or Sweet Berry, Citrus Sugar, Matcha Mint, and Sweet Vanilla.

Using only oils that are fabulous for absorbing right into the skin without leaving an oily feeling, these exfoliating, moisture-drenching polishes will leave your skin sweetly and delicately scented, soft, silky, and moisturized. No need for lotion! The exfoliation of the sugar crystals is very pleasant and soothing and will leave your skin glowing with health.

Step 2 – Shave (Traditional Shaving Soap)

A good shave requires a good shaving soap! 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. These soaps are perfect for both men and women for face and body shaves.

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.

The Classic Shaving Soap has 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.

The Rugged Shaving Soap has a fresh outdoors scent with a touch of citrus and a hint of woodsy spice. This shaving soap is also great for all skin types, but the blend of essential oils may benefit those with dry skin.

Shaving Bowl & Brush Set

Available in limited quantities, our hand crafted, wheel thrown ceramic shaving sets are a must have for those who love a 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, “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.” 

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.

Directions For A Traditional Shave

– Use one of our Traditional Shaving Soaps in our wheel thrown ceramic shaving bowls & brushes.

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

– Empty excess water from the soap container and leave it open so it can air-dry.

Man 2.0 Natural Shampoo, Body & Shaving Bar

For those who are looking for another option or a 3-in-1 bar, we have got you covered with the Man 2.0 Shampoo, Body, & Shaving Bar. Men (and women too), you now 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.

Step 3 – Moisturize

And finally, last but not least, you want to make sure you are fortifying your skin post-shave with amazing moisturizer and hydration for soft, glowing, and healthy skin. A few options I recommend are:

For Mature & Dry Skin – Reset Beauty Oil

  • Do you love soft, radiant, glowing skin? Penetrating quickly, our luxurious Reset Beauty Oil will help hydrate and firm skin leaving it soft, radiant and glowing. Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids with remarkable absorbency, these ingredients are known to nourish, moisturize and improve skin elasticity, tone and texture, while reducing the appearance of age spots. Perfect for dry skin that needs extra hydration, especially in dry hot areas and during winter.

For Combination to Mature & Dry Skin – Moisture Rich Face Cream or 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil

  • Do you love only having one lotion to cover many facial needs? Then this is the lotion for you! Watch it nourish and revitalize skin around the eyes & mouth, see it naturally deliver rejuvenation for beautiful, radiant facial skin. 
  • One of the world’s most rare and potent beauty serums, this unrefined (virgin), certified organic, Moroccan argan oil is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. As a non-greasy, fast absorbing oil, it offers better protection for skin and hair than any other oil on the planet. Argan oil is high in something called oleic acid and even though it’s still considered a “dry” oil, meaning it won’t leave an oily residue and will absorb quickly, it’s an oil which will keep the skin moisturized, help battle the loss of elasticity and reduce inflammation.

For Oily to Combination Skin – Unrefined Jojoba Oil

  • 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.

There that is a need for quality shaving products that not only provide the smoothest and cleanest shave, but that are also clean and safe for your skin, hormones, and the planet. Apple Valley Natural Soap saw the need and worked to create a truly on-brand solution that both men and women can use and enjoy. From exfoliation and shaving soaps, to post-shave moisturizers and oils, AVNS has what you need for a beautiful shave that your skin will thank you for.

What are some of your favorite shaving products? Maybe you have a favorite razor that you would like to share with us? Let us know in the comments below and lets start a conversation.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Your Thoughts Matter To Us

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Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you are all doing well – there is a very important topic I wanted to bring to your attention today. Your voice! Did you know that Apple Valley Natural Soap would not be able to do what we are doing today with you? Yes YOU! We have been able to develop some amazing new products, hire a wonderful team, and even open our very own boutique because of your support. And for that we are forever grateful for you. With that being said, we could use your help…

We Want To Hear For You

Did you know that one of the best ways you can support AVNS is by leaving us a review? I don’t know if you are anything like me, but when I am looking into purchasing something new wether that be skin care, hair care, clothing, a new phone, even watching a new movie or trying a new restaurant, I first need to read the reviews. The reviews left by others (people I have never met) help me to make an educated decision on if I am going to go through with the purchase and if I am going to give something new a try. If I see an item with no reviews, I can be hesitant to try it out. However, if I see that those who have left reviews have just adored the product, movie, restaurant, etc. I am so much more likely to give it a try myself. So let me ask you a question now, do you love Apple Valley Natural Soap? Do you have a favorite product from Apple Valley Natural Soap? Have you visited our AVNS Boutique in Eagan, MN? If so, would you be willing to leave us a review?

Leave Us A Review

We want to know what your thoughts are! We want to hear from you and lucky for everyone there are a few easy ways to do that.

1. Leave Us A Review On Google: You can use this link HERE to take you to our Google Review page for AVNS Boutique and you can leave us a review about our shop, the products we have stocked, the atmosphere, whatever is on your heart.

2. Leave Us A Review On Our Website: This one is super simple, do you have a favorite product from Apple Valley Natural Soap? If so, head over to our website, use our handy search bar (the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner) and search for your favorite products. Click on the product you wish to review, and on the right hand side, under the product title, you will see “Write a Review.” All you need to do now is to click on “Write a Review” and fill out the information prompt boxes and hit “Submit Review.” Do this for as many products as you would like! Your voice matters and your reviews are important to us.

BONUS! When you leave us a review (wether on Google or on our Website) you get the chance for your review to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook and in our weekly newsletters on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Ultimately, we just want to hear your thoughts, your testimonials about your experience with our products, and help us get the word out to more people so we can provide amazing and natural hair care, skin care, and home and beauty products to more people just like you.

What are some of your favorite Apple Valley Natural Soap Products? Have you left a review for us before? Let us know in the comments below and lets start a conversation.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Go To Battle Against Acne With The Acne Battle Face & Body Bar By AVNS

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We all know someone who struggles with acne, or maybe it’s you yourself who has been fighting against it for years. I know that I personally spent most of my teenage years trying to clear, hide, and heal my acne and the scars left behind. It is nothing to be ashamed of, everyone can struggle with it to varying degrees, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying or make you feel any less self-conscious about it. Enter, the Acne Battle Face & Body bar from Apple Valley Natural Soap. This bar has been specially designed to help you win your fight with acne and give your skin the boost it needs to fight, win, and heal.

What Is Acne & What Causes It?

“Acne is a common skin condition that happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged. Sebum—oil that helps keep skin from drying out—and dead skin cells plug the pores, which leads to outbreaks of lesions, commonly called pimples or zits. Most often, the outbreaks occur on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders… For most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their thirties, but some people in their forties and fifties continue to have this skin problem.” There are different types of acne breakouts such as Whiteheads, Blackheads, Pimples, and Cystic Acne.

Acne can be the cause of different environmental and internal factors from the quality of the air and the water, the cleanliness of our clothes and bedding, to the things we eat and drink, plus the products we put on our skin. Acne can also be caused by buildup of dead skin, excess oil production, and the growth of bacteria in the pores. And finally emotional factors like stress and hormones can also cause acne.

Stock Your Acne Fighting Arsenal

What do we need in our “Anti-Acne Battle Kit” to fight this annoying skin condition? First of all, soft and filtered water to wash your face with will help to make sure your skin is getting the best water with no added chemicals, chlorine, or harsh effects. Second, a good acne fighting cleaning soap! Some like to do the double cleanse method with an oil based cleaner to get all of the makeup or dirt and grime off from the day, and then an acne fighting foaming cleanser or soap to wash off the oil cleanser and clean the face. (Believe it or not, but an oil based cleanser is not going to make your breakouts worse. It has been shown that an oil based cleanser can actually help to balance out the excess oil production in your acne-prone skin.) Third, you will want to have a clean towel or cloth to pat dry your face after it has been washed. You can either use a clean wash cloth or make-up removing cloth, or some people opt for the disposable dry towel to make sure there is no added bacteria being put back onto their skin. Next you will want a nice gentle toner, either a spray, or one you apply with your hands will work well (just make sure your hands are clean.) Now, there are a variety of other products you can add to your routine such as serums, creams, and gels, each with specific goals in mind. But most importantly, you will want to finish it all off with a good, high quality moisturizer that will put wonderful anti-acne ingredients into your skin and protect your skin for the day or night ahead.

Our Favorite Acne Fighting Products

Acne Battle Face & Body Bar

We have mentioned this a few times, but we have to start off with our star of the show, the Acne Battle Face & Body Bar by AVNS. Acne can happen anywhere on your body, not just on your face. So this bar does it all, use it to cleanse your face morning and night as well as to clean your body in the shower to help fight against back and chest acne. It has the oils to help remove dirt and grime, plus the foaming cleansing power to refresh and remove residue.

We formulated this antibacterial soap for acne with special weapons like organic neem oil, a powerful anti-bacterial oil known to be highly beneficial for battling epidermal conditions. (This is what gives our Acne Battle bar its unique, nutty scent.) We then included olive, grapeseed and jojoba—oils that do not clog pores, but may help heal acne scars. Bentonite clay works to draw impurities from the skin; colloidal oatmeal gently exfoliates dead skin cells; and essential oils like tea tree and lavender, known for their anti-bacterial, antiseptic properties, make this acne soap a beneficial and natural choice for oily or combination skin.

All Natural Facial Toner

Follow your cleanse and prep your skin for your serums and moisturizers with an all natural toner from AVNS!

Calming Toner: This faintly sweet, 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.

Naturally Clear Skin Face Lotion

Wether you go straight from a toner to a moisturizer or have more steps in-between, we could not recommend your final step in your acne fighting skin care routine to be anything other than the Naturally Clear Skin Face Lotion by AVNS.

Our Naturally Clear Face Lotion is a favorite of teenagers and young adult’s alike for keeping skin clear and moisturized without weighing it down. What do we love about about this lotion? Naturally Clear contains ingredients known to help keep acne at bay while moisturizing & revitalizing skin. Our Naturally Clear lotion is applied morning and evening after gently cleansing facial skin with any of AVNS soaps for combination or oily skin.

Directions: Apply morning and evening after gently cleansing and toning skin.

Whether you yourself or someone you know is fighting against acne, we hope this blog post was informative, helpful, and hopefully introduced you to some new products and ideas to try out. For many of us, this is a battle that might take many years to win, but know that you are not alone. Acne is annoying and can eat away at your self confidence, but it is truly nothing to be ashamed of. Just remember, your skin and the acne on your skin does not define you. You are beautiful both inside and out, and none of the worlds standards of beauty could ever take that away. You are loved!

What are some of your favorite acne fighting tips and tricks? What other products do you love to use to fight acne on your face and/or body? Let us know in the comments below and lets start a conversation.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Sources:

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/acne

Soaps Of The Summer

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Happy Summer everyone! I can’t believe it is finally here in all of its warm and sunny glory. Today I thought we should address a very important subject, soaps for the summer from Apple Valley Natural Soap. What are important things to look for in your summer soap bar? What are the best scents to have in a soap bar for summer? We will talk about all of that in this post and give you all the links you need to make shopping easy and make sure your home is stocked with only the best for the summer ahead.

Kitchen Salt & Spice Bar

The best selling Kitchen Salt & Spice Bar is an excellent choice for cleaning odors from hands with its rich, spicy, fabulous scent. It is Marianne’s favorite bar for the kitchen, especially after chopping onions or working with garlic or peppers. It has two odor-killing ingredients: coffee and anise essential oil. This bar is also my dads favorite for getting the dirt and grime off his hands after working outside or in the garage, he says there is nothing like it! 

“Whether you are a cooking enthusiast, a gardener, a fisherman, or a mechanic, this is what you’ve been looking for!“

Need exfoliation? Ground coffee beans and salt will do the trick to get off stubborn dirt. But you’ll also want to keep your hard working hands moisturized, softened, and protected, so we have packed this bar with loads of unrefined shea nut butter. European spa salt makes this bar antibacterial, rock hard, and long lasting. No more mushy soap by the kitchen sink. Really, there’s nothing not to love about this bar.

Limited Edition Gardeners Citrus Basil Bar

Back in time to take care of hard working green thumbs! The Gardener’s Citrus Basil Soap Bar is packed with ground apricot shells to effectively scrub off dirt and grime, black walnut powder for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungicide properties, plus moisturizing unrefined organic shea butter to keep your hands soft and silky.

Did you know that black walnut has rich levels of antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids can actually impact the health and appearance of skin? It has also been known to help clear up skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, which makes black walnut a wonderful addition to this natural hand soap. You’ll also LOVE the warm, spicy essential oil blend of bergamot, basil, lemon, and grapefruit. The perfect bar for busy hands this summer!

“[I] gave this to friends who are always hard at work in the garden, all kinds of work maintaining [the] home and cleaning. They love how soft and moisturizing the lather is and how their skin feels. They said the scent lingers slightly on the skin later. Thank you AVNS, it’s a lovely bar for hardworking hands!!”

(Please Note: We make limited quantities of our Limited Edition soaps, so once they are sold out, they are gone for the season.)

Limited Edition Camping Shampoo & Body Bar

This one is for all you outdoorsy, adventuresome folks who like to go camping and fishing, but still want get an all over clean right there at the campsite. The Camping Shampoo & Body Bar will clean you from head to toe, is biodegradable and safe to use at campsites near bodies of water. Please note that I said “near” not in!  The “Leave No Trace” guidelines state that even with biodegradable soap, the earth is needed to filter the soapy water, so it is strongly recommended that you shower or wash up 200 feet away from any body of water. (Read more about LNT.) When you go camping with this bar, you can rest assured that you are using a product which is safe for the environment and good for you! Plus, as it’s also made with fantastic bug repelling essential oils, there’s the added benefit of an extra layer of protection from little pests.

“…I tent camp an average of two months a summer. Often in rustic campgrounds. Looking forward to testing this out next summer. Looking forward to seeing the results of the bug repellent capabilities!…Love your products!”

(Please Note: We make limited quantities of our Limited Edition soaps, so once they are sold out, they are gone for the season.)

Lavender Lemon Salt Bar

Lavender and lemon – a summer match made in heaven! Marianne loves this bar in the kitchen and the bathroom. Also, have you ever wondered if you can use a salt bar for a shampoo? Well, the answer is yes you can!
This salt bar, plus our Lavender Rosemary Salt Bar make a wonderful shampoo for those with itchy scalps who have tried everything under the sun – including a wide range of our products to alleviate the itch. Even some of our team members who periodically get itchy scalps, find relief with these 2 salt bars. (If you do choose to try a salt bar as a shampoo, try a sample or half bar first as this bar won’t be for everyone.)

“I have this bar in the bathroom and love everything about it. I have not found a soap at Apple Valley Natural Soap that I dont love, and really enjoy trying new ones. I will be purchasing this one again!”

Pink Lemonade Shampoo & Body Bar

Pink Lemonade, name one thing that says summer more than lemonade! This bar is for all pink lemonade and summer lovers. It is sweet, bright and a great choice for normal to oily hair. It features rose kaolin clay which keeps skin hydrated, detoxifies, increases circulation, encourages new cell growth and reduces inflammation and irritation. Along with the amazing base oils and butters, its lemony scent essential oil tops this bar off perfectly.

“Just the name alone caused me to order this one. Come on who doesn’t love pink lemonade. This is a summer hair must. I love it! The look, smell and lather of this one are superb. It’s also a must as a body bar too. This is another re-order pick for me!”

Wether you are looking for something sweet and citrusy or exfoliating and moisturizing, Apple Valley Natural Soap has all the bars for your summer. Summer is hot, sweet and a ton of fun so make sure you are stocked up on soap that will not only keep up with the demands of summer but add to your summer. And of course these bars only scratch the surface of what Apple Valley Natural Soap has to offer! Be sure to visit our website for not only summer staples but for fun products year round.

What are your favorite summer hair and skin care soap bars? What other products do you love during the summer? Let us know what you thought in the comments below and let’s start a conversation.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it too, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

GIVEAWAY TIME! AVNS x Seven Weeks Coffee

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We have a really exciting blog post today! Apple Valley Natural Soap and Seven Weeks Coffee are collaborating on a GIVEAWAY over on our Instagram and Facebook. In this blog post we are going to take an in-depth look at the products featured in this giveaway and a special feature on Seven Weeks Coffee. Details for how to enter the giveaway will be at the bottom of this blog.

Cafe Mocha Shampoo & Body Bar

One of the products featured in our giveaway is the Cafe Mocha Shampoo & Body Bar!

Do you love the scent of freshly ground coffee? Then you will LOVE this shampoo bar!!! Full of rich moisturizing oils and butters plus oodles of coffee essential oil, all of which have amazing benefits for both skin and hair. No soft water? No problem! due to the high quantity of moisturizing ingredients along with the added stimulating power of coffee, this soap makes an amazing body and even facial bar!

What Other People Are Saying:

“I want to let you know that it’s perfectly lovely! It smells wonderful, and I like how it makes my skin feel. It doesn’t dry it out, even on my face! I love it!”

Organic Argan Oil

The second product featured in this giveaway is 100% Pure Organic Moroccan Argan Oil!

One of the world’s most rare and potent beauty serums, this unrefined (virgin), certified organic, Moroccan Argan oil is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. As a non-greasy, fast absorbing oil, it offers better protection for skin and hair than any other oil on the planet. Argan oil is high in something called oleic acid and even though it’s still considered a “dry” oil, meaning it won’t leave an oily residue and will absorb quickly, it’s an oil which will keep the skin moisturized, help battle the loss of elasticity and reduce inflammation. Oleic acid adds a richness to oils, making argan oil an excellent deep moisturizer. It penetrates easily and deeply into the skin’s surface, replenishing lost moisture that naturally comes with age, it also helps the moisture from evaporating.

What Other People Are Saying:

“This Moroccan Argan Oil is the real deal. I’ve tried others and immediately I noticed a huge difference when I applied this oil to my face. This is high quality and a little is all you need. My face is soft and those fine lines around the eyes are almost not there! I highly recommend buying it from AVNS.”

Seven Weeks Coffee

Who and what is Seven Weeks Coffee?

Seven Weeks Coffee is organically farmed, freshly roasted, mold and toxin free, and ultra-low acidity coffee with even more to offer. They also support pro-life organizations with every order. “When you drink our coffee you will help save lives because we donate 10% of every sale to pro-life pregnancy care centers—this is upwards of 50% of our profits. It’s simple: Drink Coffee, Save Lives.” Seven Weeks Coffee started in 2021 on a mission to save the unborn by providing the world’s best specialty coffee and donating 10% of every sale to pro-life pregnancy care centers across the nation. Seven Weeks Coffee proudly partners and supports over 850 pregnancy centers nationwide.

Seven Weeks Coffee gets its name because “At seven weeks of development a baby is the size of a coffee bean—and for the first time, a heartbeat is clearly detectable.”

“Not many coffee companies can trace their crops to the farmer level…we can. Through our sourcing partners we personally know every farmer who grows the coffee you drink. This type of sourcing is know as Direct Trade, which is the most ethical way to source coffee. It allows you to enjoy unparalleled quality and support local farmers. Furthermore, we pay our farmers 300% more than fair-trade coffee requires.”

You can shop their website for single origin coffee, coffee pods, premium blends, decaf coffee, and roasts all the way from light to espresso. You can also choose from one of their bundles of three coffees and save on your order.

Giveaway

So how do you enter this AMAZING giveaway? It is simple!

Head on over to our Instagram or Facebook and look for our AVNS x Seven Weeks Coffee Giveaway post. Then all you have to do to get entered to win the products listed above is:

  1. FOLLOW – Make sure you are following both Apple Valley Natural Soap and Seven Weeks Coffee
  2. LIKE – Like our giveaway post on Instagram or Facebook
  3. COMMENT & TAG – Comment on the post and tag a friend in the comments
  4. BONUS ENTRY – Share the post to your story and tag both accounts

Simple as that! Giveaway closes on Friday, June 21st at Midnight and there will be ONE winner chosen and announced the following week. GOOD LUCK! 

Have you tried any of these products? Have you tried Seven Weeks Coffee before? Let us know what you thought in the comments below and let’s start a conversation. Be sure to head over to our Instagram and Facebook and get entered into our giveaway.

If you found this post interesting, learned something new, or think of someone who might enjoy reading it too, please share this blog post with your family and friends. It means the world to us! You can also leave us a comment to let us know what you learned or share one of your favorite hair care or skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda