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

The Importance of Natural Deodorant

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Is it just me or does it feel like everyone is coming around to the idea of natural deodorant? Or at least we are realizing just how bad run-of-the-mill deodorant is. So with that in mind, I thought it was about time to sit down and dive into deodorant, why we use it, why generic deodorant is so bad, and why we should make the switch to a natural deodorant. Sorry not sorry if this blog post makes you run to your bathroom to check the ingredients on your deodorant, maybe it’s time to try something new. Let’s dive right in, shall we!

What Is Deodorant & Why Do We Use It?

There are two main options on the market, deodorant and antiperspirant. “Deodorant masks odor, while an antiperspirant reduces how much you sweat… Deodorants offer two forms of protection against odor. The first is antimicrobial properties that reduce the number of bacteria producing odor. The second is a fragrance that masks odor that is produced. Antiperspirants block your body’s eccrine glands, which make sweat. This is usually done with an aluminum-based ingredient. Deodorants are considered cosmetic, but antiperspirants are under the classification of a drug.”

We are not going to talk much about antiperspirant in this post but I wanted to highlight the key differences. Now I do understand that some people do truly require what an antiperspirant offers as their bodies naturally produce sweat on a different level. So if that is you, I am by no means wanting to shame you or make you feel bad if a natural deodorant is not an option for you. But I hope this is still an educational post for you and that you find some good information here.

The “stink” we notice coming from our armpits that we generally attribute to sweating, is actually not caused by the sweat at all! Rather it is being caused by bacteria that is able to grow and thrive in the dark, warm and damp environment that is your armpit. We will talk a little bit later about why this is important to know when making the switch to a natural deodorant.

What Is REALLY In Deodorant?

As we talked about earlier, the main purpose of a deodorant is to either kill the odor-causing bacteria or to cover up the odor. So because of this, we can quickly assume that generic deodorants probably contain some pretty harmful ingredients. Deodorant contains either an alcohol ingredient or artificial chemicals such as Triclosan to kill the odor-causing bacteria. But you know what also kills odor-causing bacteria and isn’t toxic for your body? That’s right, soap! You can use something as simple as a wash cloth with some water and soap to clean your underarms on the days where you are not having a shower or know that you need a little extra freshness.

The other purpose of deodorant is to mask the smell of odor-causing bacteria, so this means that the majority of deodorants on the market contain fragrances (fragrance on an ingredient label is a blanket term and it is not required for the company to divulge what exactly is in their “fragrance” concoction.) They also contain parabens, aluminum, propylene glycol, and biological additives.

There are a lot of cases, studies, and arguments over the harmfulness of generic deodorant with some studies stating that you have nothing to worry about when using generic deodorant containing all of the ingredients listed above. While other studies show the direct link from generic deodorants and antiperspirants to things like breast cancer, kidney issues, hormone imbalances, and more. So what is the alternative? Natural deodorant!

Natural Deodorant – The Difference

One of the biggest things that stood out to me when looking into the switch from generic to natural deodorant is that generic deodorant is not recommended for pregnant women. So if it is not recommended and strongly discouraged for pregnant women, then why are we using it to begin with? Shouldn’t we be prioritizing putting clean, non-toxic, natural products on our bodies no matter what, especially for women. As women, our bodies are so sensitive to what we put on our bodies and our hormones are the first to be disrupted when we use toxic and generic products full of fragrance, preservatives, etc. Our armpits are such a sensitive and high absorbency area, so we need to be so careful about what we put on them. So what exactly is in natural deodorant that makes it different? Well, the simple answer is, less. Less ingredients, clean ingredients, and ingredients you can read and understand. For example, the Natural Deodorant Creme from AVNS has a super simple ingredient list which includes ingredients such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, and unrefined beeswax. And it is scented with 100% pure essential oils, no fragrances or fake ingredients.

Now don’t get me wrong, the switch to natural deodorant can be tricky and some of you might have tried it in the past, got frustrated with it, and went back to your old deodorant. I don’t blame you, if you don’t know what to expect or how to make the switch, it can be a discouraging process. As mentioned earlier, what makes us “stink” is not our sweat itself but the bacteria build up in our armpits. So first things first, you want to make sure that your armpits are clean daily. You do not have to shower every day, just take a wash cloth or non-toxic wipe for sensitive skin and wipe down the area before you apply your deodorant. When you apply your natural deodorant, follow the directions given by the brand as each natural deodorant has a different application process. The next step is very important, give your self time to adjust. Your armpits will probably go through a bit of a detox and adjustment period, you might notice the smell gets worse before it gets better, but your body just needs a bit of time to adjust to the clean and non-toxic deodorant. Don’t give up! It is so worth it to stick with it and your body, your hormones, and your armpits will thank you.

AVNS Natural Deodorant Creme (Unscented & Regular)

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.)

Our regular deodorant adds an extra level of protection with the antibacterial essential oils of tea tree, lavender, and lemon.

Made with safe, natural ingredients you can trust:
Organic virgin coconut oil, organic virgin jojoba, organic arrowroot powder, aluminum free baking soda, diatomaceous earth, white kaolin clay and unrefined beeswax. 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.

With so many people making the switch to natural deodorant, it is high time that AVNS put their name in the running for a generic deodorant alternative. With all natural ingredients and tried and true results, the switch to natural deodorant will not only leave your underarms smelling fresh, but your body and hormones will thank you! You can also have peace of mind knowing that you are not putting toxins, heavy metals, or fake fragrances on your body. I truly hope this post was educational, informational, and helpful to you as you take the leap and make the switch to natural deodorant and the next step into a cleaner, non-toxic lifestyle.

What is your favorite natural deodorant brand? What other products do you love to use to promote fresh underarms? 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

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/difference-between-deodorant-and-antiperspirant

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

Top AVNS Products For Pregnant Mamas

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I am not sure what is in the water at the moment but with so many expecting mamas right now, I thought it would be a perfect time to highlight some of the best AVNS has to offer to help expecting mamas feel their best during this special season. If you have ever had the time to sit down and chat with a pregnant mama or have been or are currently pregnant yourself, you will know that there are so many changed your body will experience in 9 short months. Their bodies need as much help as they can get wether that is extra hydration, relaxation, or pain management. Let’s dive right in shall we?

1. Natural Lip Balm

The running theme throughout these products is moisturizing power! There is nothing worse than going to sleep at night and waking up with chapped and dry lips or doing throughout your day with cracked lips. Meet your lips new best friend – the AVNS Natural Lip Balm!

With multiple variations of luxurious lip balm to nourish and heal lips, we have something for everyone! Let’s start with smooth, silky, creamy, rich, buttery goodness for your lips. The following two lip balms are made with organic virgin argan oil, nature’s “liquid gold,” organic virgin jojoba, organic virgin cocoa butter, organic virgin coconut oil, unrefined beeswax, organic olive oil and vitamin E (from Non-GMO Sunflower oil) to keep your lips soft, supple, healthy, and glowing.

  • Lanolin Intensive Lip Therapy: This lip balm was developed for lips in serious need of serious help. Chock full of lanolin, one of nature’s ultimate moisturizers, lanolin not only drenches your lips in rich moisture it also locks it in for the toughest winter days.
  • Vanilla Bean: Made with the addition of an organic Vanilla Co2 extract which is made from Madagascar vanilla beans, this lip balm not only smells wonderful, but also has medicinal benefits from the vanilla bean. The aroma is warm, creamy and sweet. 

Now for the fabulous four! These lip balms are made with organic jojoba, organic cocoa butter, organic coconut oil, unrefined beeswax, organic olive oil and vitamin E (from Non-GMO sunflower oil). Plus we’ve added in a few other surprises to add some yummy love, all the while keeping your lips soft, supple, healthy, and glowing. What is this yummy love? Part one, Stevia! This adds a light sweetness to each lip balm while the other ingredients nourish and revitalize your lips. Part two, amazing ALL natural flavors!

  • Black Cherry: In addition to the base ingredients, this yummy lip balm is made with stevia and black cherry flavoring, which as you may have guessed, comes only from black cherries! A favorite for sure for both young and old alike!
  • Vanilla Latte: Like coffee? Then you truly will LOVE this one! With a hint of warmth from the vanilla (made from vanilla beans), coffee essential oil and then the slight sweetness that stevia brings, it’s really a lip smacking treat!
  • Sugar Cookie: What’s not to like? The name says it all! A taste of almond (from almonds), sweet warmth of vanilla (vanilla beans) and stevia to top it off and you’ll keep coming back for more. Plus you can feel good about letting the little ones layer it on.
  • Peppermint: Do you like a tingle on your lips? Then you’ll love this lip balm! With the added essential oils of Peppermint, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus, this lip balm can help nourish, soothe, and cool your lips.

2. Organic Virgin Jojoba Oil

Moisturizing in its purest form! Unrefined Organic Virgin Jojoba Oil is a multi-purpose product. It makes the perfect belly oil, a hydrating oil for your hair to keep it shiny and healthy throughout your pregnancy, a whole body moisturizer, and the perfect oil for your partner to massage into your feet, legs, or shoulders after a long day.

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. We offer both an Unscented version and a Relax version which has the addition of lavender, benzoin (smells like vanilla), mandarin, geranium, sweet marjoram, frankincense, palmarosa and ylang ylang essential oils.

3. Symphony AVNS Signature Soap

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? Made with the moisturizing organic butters of Babassu and Shea, this is the perfect soap to revitalize hair & skin health. 

Discover the joy and beauty of natural skin & hair care! 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. After many test runs we came up with this amazing shampoo & body bar; a bar that creates a symphony all on its own, with beautiful colors, moisturizing natural ingredients & an uplifting scent, all components harmonize beautifully. Symphony also gives a nod back to the business that Marianne started when her journey in natural skin & hair care began, Symphony Naturals.

4. Arnica Muscle Rub & Pain Relief Salve

The aches and pains of pregnancy and a changing, growing body are no joke! And at the end of a long day (or let’s be real, at any point throughout the day) mamas are looking for something, anything, to help take the edge off. With most painkillers and medications being out of the question during pregnancy, natural remedies it is! Let me introduce you to our Arnica Muscle Rub & Pain Relief Salve.

Crafted with certified organic extra virgin olive oil infused with certified organic or wildcrafted arnica flowers—along with the addition of certified organic menthol crystals and essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, camphor, and clove, this incredible salve is the perfect follow-up to a good work out, and an amazing foundation for the perfect massage! Arnica is known for reducing discoloration from bruising, treating muscle soreness (professional athletes love arnica!) and providing temporary relief from pain. Arnica is also great for sprains, soreness, and swelling and for the relief of arthritis, muscle, and joint pain. If you’re struggling with tight or sore muscles, this is a great salve to help relieve and release strain and tension.

Also, because of the addition of menthol crystals and the specific blend of essential oils, this salve also makes a terrific chest rub to alleviate the discomfort of congestion. It leaves a soothing, cooling sensation on the skin that penetrates into the tissues comfortingly. So if you are struggling with pregnancy congestion and a stuffed nose, just a little bit of our Arnica Muscle Rub & Pain Relief Salve will work wonders.

PLEASE NOTE: All of the products mentioned in this blog post are naturally and ethically sourced and made, however you should still consult with a trusted natural doctor, OB-GYN, or midwife before using these products is you are pregnant.

5. Whipped Body Butter

Body Butter is a MUST for expecting mamas! Not only is it perfect for the growing bump, it is a prefect baby safe moisturizer for your little one as well. Pregnancy can be very dehydrating, so having super hydrating and moisturizing products as a part of your daily routine. Enter, AVNS Whipped Body Butter!

Moisturize and nourish even the most sensitive of skin with our Lavender Vanilla Baby Butter. We’ve used only organic ingredients packed full of healing properties. Safe and effective for our little ones, as well as the young at heart. We’ve included ingredients such as Organic Shea Butter which has a high content fatty acids which gives it the ability to deeply moisturize and retain the elasticity of the skin. And Organic Jojoba Oil which closely resembles human sebum, an oily substance naturally produced by the oil glands below the skin surface, so it is an amazing moisturizer. Jojoba is packed with almost all of the vitamins and minerals needed for healthy skin.

Our body butters are natural, gentle and safe for every type of skin. Please note that just a little bit goes a long way, so use sparingly!

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the summer temperatures and the nature of the body butter to, well, melt. So we have temporarily suspended shipping of the Whipped Body Butters for the season, and resume again in late Sept. early Oct. However, if you live locally in Minnesota, you can stop by our AVNS Boutique in Eagan to shop all of our Whipped Body Butters and Moisturizers.

Are you currently an expecting mama or have you tired any of these products before during your pregnancy? Also, what other products did you use and love during your pregnancy? 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

3 Natural & Easy Product Swaps

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Have you ever looked around at your skin care, hair care, and general everyday products and think to yourself, “there has to be a better option out there than this.” Well, you’re not alone! Many people are starting to come to the realization that the products they use in their homes and on their skin and hair play a much bigger role in their health than they first thought. If you have ever lit a new candle from Target or Bath & Body Works and soon after started to get a headache, there is a good chance they are connected. Maybe you got a new bath bomb or soap bar from LUSH and the fragrance oil used in the product made your head spin or your skin broke out in a rash after you got out of the bath. Again, there is a very good chance there is a connection to be made here. There are countless other examples I could make here but you get my point, there are things in our home and every day products that can cause unpleasant and even serious health issues. In this blog we are going to talk about 3 natural and easy product swaps you can make so that no matter where you are at with your health and natural living journey, you can have peace of mind knowing you are using products that are safe for you and your family and better for the planet.

1. Bath Bombs

Let’s begin with a popular one, bath bombs. Ladies (and men), most of us can say there is nothing quite like a warm soak in the bath after a long week. And to make the experience more enjoyable, we can throw a lovely bath bomb in for fun colors and smells. Well, did you know that most bath bombs contain fake colors, fragrances, and other ingredients that are toxic for our bodies? And we’re sitting and soaking our bodies in that… no thank you! Instead, you can swap out your bath bombs from LUSH, Target, and Ulta for Natural Bath Bombs from Apple Valley Natural Soap.

Our luxurious natural bath bombs are crafted from high quality natural ingredients that are gentle and nourishing to the skin. Our ingredients help to moisturize and soothe the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. 

Many bath bombs being sold today contain harsh ingredients, chemicals and synthetic fragrances that are toxic to the body. These harsh ingredients can disrupt hormones, cause skin irritation, and other health issues. By choosing our all natural bath bombs you will avoid exposing your skin to these harmful chemicals and enjoy a safer, more relaxing bathing experience. 

We have 4 different bath bombs to choose from, plus the option to purchase all 4 in a beautiful gift box at a 15% savings! Give a loved one the perfect gift! Each bath bomb purchase comes wrapped in a waxed paper and sealed with one of our labels. Your purchase will also come with a beautiful card which contains a description and the ingredients for our bath bombs. Try them all and have fun finding your favorites!

Our bath bombs contain a base of Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Epsom Salts & Shea Butter, plus the essential oils. We have 4 different essential oil scented bath bombs to choose from, Lavender Eucalyptus, Grapefruit Mint, Cedar-wood Lavender, and Fresh Citrus.

2. Liquid Soap & Refills with Reusable Soap Pump

This is one many of you might be familiar with at this point, but let’s explore! Liquid Soap is probably one of the most common items you will find in any household. One in each bathroom and some might even change out their soaps to fit the season. Floral scents for Spring, Citrus for Summer, Pumpkin or Apple Pie for Autumn and Balsam Fir or Spiced scents for Winter. And while this might sound nice, there are a few things we need to consider. First, most of the places you might purchase your hand soap from such as Target, the drug store, or Bath & Body Works, are single use plastics, meaning that once you run out of that soap, you just throw away the bottle and put a new one in its place. This is not sustainable and can be harmful for the wellbeing of our planet. Second, these soaps are full of fake fragrances, colors, and other additives that are made to look like they are more moisturizing or anti-bacterial. These ingredients are toxic for our bodies and if the average person washes their hands 9 times throughout the day, just think about how much of that toxic hand soap you are rubbing into your hands. And what about your kids? Their little bodies don’t need all of that nastiness on their sensitive skin.

So instead, you can opt for a natural liquid soap such as Apple Valley Natural Soap’s Liquid Castile or Liquid African Black Soap. Not only is this soap safe for your whole family, it also comes in eco-friendly bottles made from bamboo and sugarcane pulp, which are not only 100% recyclable, but also 98% landfill biodegradable. Take it a step further by adding a reusable soap pump or foaming soap bottle to your kitchen, bathrooms, and wherever else you keep hand soap. This way you can just refill your hand soap whenever you run out and have peace of mind knowing you are taking care of your skin and the planet.

Liquid Castile Soap:

We specifically created this liquid soap with Organic olive oil as the main star, and then added a few other oils to enhance the soaps versatility. By adding other gentle and moisturizing yet cleansing oils, this liquid soap is perfect for hands, face and body, plus it may even help with household cleaning!

Try our natural Castile soap for a nourishing and effective cleansing experience for your hands, face and body. Add you own essential oils for a custom scented cleanse! 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. We offer 3 different non-toxic scent options, Unscented, Lavender, and Lemon Verbena.

African Black Soap:

You can also try our African Black Soap, rich in unrefined Shea Butter & beautifully crafted by families in Africa using only ingredients hand gathered in nature. 

African Black Soap which contains a high quantity of natural shea butter is said to be one of the healthiest soaps for all skin types due to the purity of the ingredients used during production. Handcrafted in small batches with ingredients hand gathered from nature, this soap is created by families who cook over open fires, and the “potash” used to finish the soap comes from the fire pits. This version has no added essential oils, but has a mild scent form the natural ingredients. We offer both Unscented and Peppermint scent options in our African Black Soap.

For both the Liquid Castile Soap and African Black Soap, use with one of our Soap Pump Tops for ease of convenience right out of the bottle! Or select one our of Foaming Soap Pumps by Full Circle made of recyclable glass and bamboo!

3. Essential Oils

Last but not least, let’s talk essential oils. Now, this one is a bit controversial but we are going to look at this from a healthy living and toxic-free home perspective.

Essential Oils are quite simply the oil that is extracted from plants found in nature. There are a bunch of natural benefits, plus essential oils have naturally occurring scents and they smell divine! They are an amazing option for those who are sensitive to strong fake fragrances that you would typically find in candles, soaps, cleaning products, etc. There are so many uses for essential oils but I will highlight a few of my favorite. First, they are an easy swap if you are sensitive to the artificial fragrances in candles, air fresheners, perfumes, etc. Swap out your Bath & Body Works products for a diffuser and lovely smelling essential oils! You can even have fun mixing and matching different oils in your defuser to create new blends. Second, swap out your hand and body soaps that are filled with artificial fragrances for Apple Valley Natural Soap’s amazing soaps that are scented with natural essential oils. Third, swap our your cleaning and home products for those harnessing the power of natural essential oils such as the previously mentioned and very versatile, Liquid Castile Soaps, which are great for household cleaning. Add your own essential oils to the Unscented Liquid Castile soap for a super easy, cost effective way to clean. Have some fun and DIY your own cleaning supplies, laundry soap, etc.

Need some additional help to start? Look no further! At Apple Valley Natural Soap, we have made it our mission to make sure our products are non-toxic and scented with natural essential oils or natural fragrances. Plus, we now offer Organic Essential Oils and Essential Oil Roll-ons.

Organic Essential Oils:

Our Certified Organic therapeutic essential oils have many benefits for all areas of life, from cleaning and skin care to aromatherapy and speeding illness recovery. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for medicinal and health purposes, and they continue to gain popularity as a natural and safe way to treat health concerns. Essential oils are also a safe and effective way to assist with daily needs such as cleaning and body care.

Why Organic essential oils vs non-organic? Organic essential oils are of a higher quality, being produced using high-quality, organic plant material and processed using natural, non-toxic methods. By choosing organic essential oils, you are also supporting sustainable agriculture and methods that are better for the environment. This all means that the oils are more potent, effective, and beneficial.

We offer a variety of organic essential oils such as Organic Eucalyptus Blue Mallee, Organic Lavender, Organic Lemongrass, Organic Peppermint Supreme, Organic Tea Tree and MORE!

Essential Oil Roll-Ons:

Essential Oils when blended carefully create a synergy between their individual properties, which can greatly enhance the individual oils. Our blended essential oils are carried in Organic MCT coconut oil for easy application and perfect for when on the go. All our Essential Oils are 100% natural and pure, plus they are packaged in 10mL dark ultraviolet glass bottles which are designed to block all harmful visible light while beneficial UV and infrared rays extend the freshness of what’s held inside.

We offer 4 different essential oil blend options all designed to help specific needs such as Clarity, Immunity, Lavender (Relaxing), and Serenity. You can use these oils to help with specific needs as well as smelling amazing with a great alternative to perfume.

These are just 3 of MANY product swap ideas we could explore but I hope that this helps to give you a good place to start as you begin your product swap journey. There are things in our home and every day products that can cause unpleasant and even serious health issues. From LUSH to AVNS Natural Bath Bombs, Drug Store Hand Soap to AVNS Liquid Castile & African Black soap, and Bath & Body Works to Organic Essential Oils, these easy product swaps make sure that no matter where you are at with your health and natural living journey, you can have peace of mind knowing you are using products that are safe for you and your family and better for the planet.

Have you made some product swaps in your hair care, skin care, or home care? Do you have favorite or ride or die product swap? Tell us what they are and start a conversation in the comments!

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 skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have a happy week,

Amanda

Castor Oil: What Is It? The History & Benefits of Castor Oil

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What Is Castor Oil?

Another week, another blog! Welcome back everyone, this week we will be diving into the world of castor oil. You have probably heard of castor oil at least once in your life but wether you are a regular user of castor oil or a newbie, this blog is for you!

What is castor oil anyway? Well, according to the National Institute of Health “castor oil is a [thick] vegetable oil made from the Ricinus Communis [the castor bean or castor oil plant], a plant common in the Eastern areas of the world.” Castor oil is a thick and mostly odorless oil but due to how thick it is, it is very tough to get out of clothing and can leave a dark, wet-looking stain. However, castor oil has been used for centuries for many different things such as (and most commonly) a natural laxative, to encourage birth in 40+ week pregnant women, hair and skin care, and so much more.

The History Of Castor Oil

Castor oil’s “first recorded medicinal use goes back to the time of the Ebers papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical treatise… A traditional name for the plant is “Palma Christi” because of its supposed resemblance to the hand of Christ and its widely-reputed healing power.” “Castor Oil has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to 4,000 B.C. Evidence of its cultivation was discovered circa 500 B.C. in central Egypt where it was used in cosmetics, medicines and as a lamp oil. Castor oil is mentioned in the Ebers papyrus in recipes intended to treat numerous health conditions and ailments.” Castor oil has been used for hair and skin treatments, medicinal purposes, to cure leather, and oil lamps (although we can imagine that would not have smelled very nice) among other things. It was used in Egypt and all over the continent of Africa as well as in China, India and Brazil. Castor beans were brought to America and cultivated as early as the late 1600’s.

The MANY Uses For Castor Oil

We have a few of the benefits and uses of Castor Oil listed on our website:

Castor oil’s benefits for hair & body are many, here are the highlights

  • It is reputed to be good for repairing hair, softening skin, and easing aches and pains.  
  • Rich in fatty acids, as well as antioxidants.
  • Contains anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it effective for treating acne-prone skin, as it penetrates the skin easily without clogging pores or aggravating the skin condition.
  • Stimulates circulation to boost hair growth and locks in moisture.
  • Anti-fungal properties can treat scalp infections by eliminating the bacteria and microorganisms that can cause hair loss, dandruff, and infection. 
  • For mature skin types, it may delay the signs of aging by deeply moisturizing, softening and soothing the skin, boosting elasticity, and stimulating collagen production.
  • Restores the skin’s hydration and reduces the appearance of unwanted blemishes and scars when applied regularly.

Medicinally

  • Soothes skin inflammation caused by dry skin, acne, sunburns.
  • Relieves the discomfort of sore muscles and joint pain, especially for those who suffer from arthritis.
  • Antimicrobial properties help it work effectively as a disinfectant for wounds, minor cuts, and scrapes. 
  • Breaking up adhesions or scar tissue.
  • Strengthening the immune system
  • Increases relaxation and improves sleep quality
  • Improving lymphatic drainage
  • Reducing headaches
  • Detoxifying internal organs
  • Reducing menstrual cramps

Castor oil is a highly absorbent oil so if you put it on your skin, it will penetrate deeply and work quickly. It can be used with a Castor Oil Pack to help to break up blockages, inflammation, and bone spurs and growths under the skin. You can also put a little in your belly button with a small piece of organic cotton for better sleep, to relieve constipation, and improve overall health. Use the castor oil with a castor oil pack on your liver, kidneys, or thyroid* to help with detoxification. Use on your stomach and digestive system to improve inflammation, digestion and gut health. It has been said that castor oil can help with fertility in women. It can also be used both externally and internally to induce labor in 40+ week pregnant women. It has been used for centuries to induce labor because castor oil is a natural uterine contractor (which is why it is not recommended for use during pregnancy.)

*Please note that you should talk with a trusted natural doctor or specialist before you use a castor oil pack for detoxification and be aware of the side effects of the detoxification process. You might not feel your best for a day or two during detoxification as your body has to clean out and flush all of that crap (pun intended) from your body. When using a castor oil pack, start with only 20 minutes at a time a couple of times a week for a couple of weeks or so and slowly increase the time and frequency as your body is able. Eventually you will be able to wear your castor oil pack overnight.

Why the Quality Of Your Castor Oil Matters

As with most things, the quality of the product you use matters. As mentioned earlier, castor oil is a highly absorbent oil so if you put it on your skin, it will penetrate deeply and work quickly. If you are putting something onto your skin that will be quickly absorbed deeply into your body, wouldn’t you want to make sure is it the best of the best? If you are getting castor oil for any topical or internal uses, make sure that it is first and foremost Organic. This means we don’t need to worry about it the castor bean plant having been sprayed with chemicals and pesticides or grown with the use of GMO’s. Next you want to make sure it is Cold Pressed and Expeller Pressed, this means it is not heated while going through the extraction process so none of the goodness and healing benefits of the castor oil have been lost or “cooked out” of the oil. And finally you want to make sure your castor oil is Hexane Free. You might be asking, what in the world is hexane? Great question, according to Toxic-Free Future, “Hexane is a solvent widely used as an industrial cleaner and degreaser and is an ingredient in many consumer products. Easily inhaled or absorbed through the skin, hexane has been recognized for more than 40 years to cause long-lasting and even permanent nerve damage in feet, legs, hands, and arm.” Do you want that in your castor oil to be absorbed into your body and organs? Yeah, I didn’t think so. A castor oil this pure can be tough to find but don’t worry! We have an amazing organic, expeller and cold pressed, hexane free castor oil just for you on our website, or if you are a Minnesota local, you can stop by the AVNS Boutique to pick up a bottle.

Organic Cold Pressed Castor Oil | Expeller Pressed, Hexane Free Castor Oil

A beauty staple for centuries, this unrefined (virgin), certified organic, cold pressed castor oil is a nutrient-rich, moisturizing and conditioning oil for hair, skin & nails. Soothe, soften, and promote healing with our rich, nourishing, hexane free Castor Oil.

Use alone, or with a Castor Oil Pack for cleansing internal organs, helping sore joints, & reducing inflammation. Our Organic Castor Oil is thick and undiluted and is packaged in a 16 ounce amber glass bottle.

(Please note that this product is not intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease. Castor oil may stain clothing or other fabrics. Keep out of the reach of children. For topical use only, do not use on open wounds, and do not use if pregnant.)

How To Use A Castor Oil Pack

What You’ll Need:

1. Unrefined (virgin), certified organic, cold pressed castor oil

2. Select your desired Castor Oil Pack (or all of them)

3. A heating pad or hot water bottle if desired. (A heating pad or hot water bottle is recommended if you are only wearing the castor oil pack for a short period of time, it is not necessary if you are wearing it overnight.)

4. A glass container with a lid to store the oil soaked pack in-between uses. A glass mason jar or glass food storage container would both be great options.

5. Old clothes and towels – as mentioned above, castor oil stains so it is best to wear old clothes that you don’t mind having oil stains. And you’ll want to put an old towel down where you are planning to sit or sleep to protect your furniture from the oil.

6. A place to relax that you will be comfortable.

Directions:

1. Choose your relaxing spot and place the towel down to protect the furniture from oil. And wear old clothes you don’t mind getting oil stains.

2. Have your book, TV show, or music and snack or tea ready to go. (Making this an enjoyable experience is important!)

3. Have your hot water bottle or heating pad ready to go where you will be laying.

4. Drizzle your Castor Oil Pack with about 1 Tablespoon of Castor Oil

5. Place the Castor Oil Pack on where you want it (most commonly over your liver or kidney’s, thyroid, stomach/digestive system, etc.)

6. Get into your relaxing spot and put the heating pad or hot water bottle over the pack.

7. Lay back and relax for 20 minutes to an hour. If you have a pack with ties and you’ve gotten used to using the pack, you can go about your day wearing it or sleep with it on.

8. When it is time to remove the pack, gently take it off and wipe off the excess oil with an old towel or rub the excess oil into your skin. Place the pack into your glass container and put the clothes and towels you used into the wash. (Make sure you don’t put your Castor Oil Pack into the washing machine.)

Personal Castor Oil Testimony

I personally have used castor oil regularly and for many things for almost a year now. I was first introduces to Castor Oil and Castor Oil Packs when my doctor recommended it to help with liver detoxification. I used castor oil packs on my liver primarily for many months and then when I started to deal with inflammation in my abdomen and digestive issues, I used the castor oil packs on my abdomen overnight. I also used castor oil in my belly button overnight with a small piece of organic cotton to help with sleep and to fight against inflammation. During this time I have done lots of research on castor oil and its many benefits. I have personally seen the healing benefits of castor oil and have recommended it to family and friends. I have also used castor oil to help fight against dryness and irritation in my ears from years of being a competitive swimmer, countless ear infections, and antibiotic ear drops. During 2023 I was dealing with some health issues and I would get inflamed lymph nodes and adrenal glands frequently, so I would apply castor oil to them to help with drainage and decrease inflammation. A high quality castor oil is an amazing tool to have in your self care collection and I couldn’t recommend it enough!

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 skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have happy week,

Amanda Pehrson

Sources:

The National Institute of Health – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551626/

Health First Network – https://healthfirstnetwork.ca/blog/why-castor-oil-has-been-around-for-centuries/

Qhemet Biologics – https://qhemetbiologics.com/blogs/news/the-history-benefits-of-castor-oil#:~:text=Castor%20Oil%20has%20been%20found,and%20as%20a%20lamp%20oil.

Apple Valley Natural Soap – https://www.applevalleynaturalsoap.com/organic-cold-pressed-castor-oil-expeller-pressed-hexane-free-castor-oil/

Summer Skin Care

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Is It Just As Or More Important Than Winter Skin Care?

With the much anticipated seasonal release of our Limited Edition Summer Skin Saver soap bar, we are invited to ask the question on the importance of summer skin care. If you’re anything like me, you probably grew up hearing about the importance of washing your face morning and night, using SPF to protect against the suns harmful rays, and using clean products. And if you’re ANYTHING like me, you grew up trying every product known to man that was marketed for Acne Prone Skin. But how much of the success of our perfectly honed skin care routine comes down to the season? Yes, that’s right! How much can we blame our skins irritations and imperfections on wether is it Summer or Winter. Join me as we unpack the impact the seasons have on our skin, the benefits of our Limited Edition Summer Skin Saver soap bar, and much more…

Do The Seasons Really Effect Our Skin?

To put it simply, Yes! Seasons and changes in seasons can play a huge roll in the health and life of our skin. In the Winter for example, it is usually dry and cold which can lead to dry and chapped skin prone to cracking. And in the Summer it is usually hot and humid which can lead to sweating, oily skin and breakouts, and sunburns, or hot and dry which can lead to skin dryness and irritation and sunburns that don’t heal very well. With this information in mind, it can help us to adjust our skin care routine, the products we are using, and our daily habits to promote healthy skin no matter the season. In the winter, it is vital to consume extra water as a part of your daily routine and use really healing and moisturizing products to fight against the dryness. So what should we do in the Summer to keep our skin safe?

How To Protect Our Skin In The Summer

1. Products

The products we use in the summer and leading up to summer really sets us up for either failure or success with our skin. Make sure that you are using products appropriate for your skin type, products that will boost hydration in your skin, and avoiding products that can cause harmful damage to your skin. Some of the products I would recommend for summer skin are our limited edition Summer Skin Saver Bar and organic herbal salve. You will also be able to find amazing moisturizers and other skin care products on our website, applevalleynaturalsoap.com. Another product to pay attention to, is your SPF or sunscreen (we will talk about this a little bit in the Diet section as well, but you’ll want to pay attention here too.) We have been told over and over again to wear our sunscreen if we don’t want sunburns, skin pigmentation issues, and even skin cancer. But have you ever thought that maybe it’s what we’re putting on our bodies (and in our bodies, but more on that later) and what it does when it comes into contact with the sun that is the problem? Did you know that sunscreen (or sunblock) started out simply as zinc oxide? But over the years pharmacists, doctors and manufactures started adding more and more ingredients to create what we know sunscreen to be today. However, studies have shown that there are more harmful ingredients living inside your average bottle of sunscreen than good. And we have found that when these harmful ingredients are put in contact with the sun, they react negatively to those rays actually causing skin cancer and other issues. This can happen on such a microscopic level that we have no idea what is actually happening to our skin when we apply these harmful chemicals. Instead, look for a sunscreen with minimal ingredients, the main one being zinc oxide! Some great options to try are the Earth Harbor ECLIPSE Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 that we actually offer in our AVNS Boutique, the Alba Botanica Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, and the Babo Botanicals Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50.

2. Diet

Did you know that what we put into our bodies plays a bigger role in the health of our skin then the products we put on it? It’s true! The products we apply topically morning and night can only do so much to help our skin. What we choose to put inside our bodies will show on our skin. For example, if we partake in a few alcoholic beverages in a weekend without proper rehydration, our skin will show the effects in dryness and dullness with puffiness and bloating in our face and neck. And if we eat a lot of refined sugars, it will most likely make itself known in the next day or two with breakouts/acne and puffiness in the face and neck.

The health of our skin is also a sign of gut health. Do you have dull skin, acne that won’t seem to go away, and dark circles under your eyes even after a good night of sleep? This might be a sign of and unhealthy gut and it might be time to invest in some quality pre and probiotics to help your guts microbiome.

Did you know that seed oils increase the sensitivity of your skin to the suns UV’s? This is a theory that is still in discussion, however most people (myself included) have noticed that with the elimination of seed oils from their diet, the time they were able to be outside in the sun without their skin getting irritated by the sun (sunburned) went up drastically. Plus the severity of the sunburn and rate of recovery from that sunburn dropped (yes, this is a good thing.) Seed oils were first introduced to the United States as early as 1911. Cottonseed Oil was developed and marketed by Procter & Gamble as a creamed shortening called Crisco which was then made available to the public. The first sunscreen in the United States was invented in 1944 by a pharmacist named Benjamin Green which would later become known as Coppertone Suntan Lotion. Coincidence? I think not, but let me know what you think in the comments.

3. Routine

Making sure we have a healthy routine in place, will help the health of our skin for years to come. Getting 8-9 hours of sleep each night, drinking 80 – 100oz of water each day, getting a good sweat in during a workout (but making sure to shower and wash your face afterwards), and applying clean and natural products to our skin after it is cleaned. Staying away from inflammatory foods such as refined grains, refined sugars, and seed oils, taking a high quality pre and probiotic, eating fermented foods, and keeping alcohol consumption in a minimum will all greatly improve the over all health of your skin not just on your face but your whole body during the summer months. Do you love spending time outside in the summer? I mean who doesn’t? One of the best ways to get your skin used to the stronger UV rays from the sun is to sit outside or do something in the sun for very short periods of time everyday. 5, 10, or 15 minutes a day for a couple of weeks and making this a part of your routine will help your skin to acclimate to the suns stronger rays during the summer and reduce the risk of a nasty sunburn.

Summer Skin Saver Limited Edition Soap Bar

With summer comes an increase in outdoor activities, and our skin takes a beating. The negative effects of sun, wind, bugs, and added opportunities for scratches and scrapes require some tender loving care and attention. Gently wash and protect your skin with our limited edition Summer Skin Saver Bar. Super-fatted with lanolin, the oil sheep secrete to keep them warm, dry, and protected, this bar not only cleanses, but it forms a barrier on the skin that locks in existing moisture while at the same time attracting additional moisture from the surrounding air. This barrier created by lanolin is helpful for skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema as it can help seal and protect skin, while also allowing it to breathe and attract moisture.

But that’s not all! Unrefined organic cocoa butter and mango butter add an extra boost of moisturizing benefits while white kaolin clay makes this bar smooth and silky on your skin. We’ve also scented this one with uplifting citrus fruit essential oils. In selecting these essential oils, we made sure that each one either by the nature of the oil itself or by the way it was produced, is NOT photosensitive. Enjoy this zesty, sweet, sparkling bar of happiness for all people everywhere.

Natural Deodorant Creme

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.

Organic Herbal Salve

Chock full of soothing, certified organic herbs infused in a base of organic, extra virgin olive oil and unrefined beeswax, this organic herbal salve is amazingly multi-purpose and economical. Apply it to rashes, bug bites, sun burn, wounds, dry, cracked skin, bruises, diaper rash and more!

St. John’s wort has historically been known to help speed up the healing process and prevent scarring, Echinacea has a long history of success with venomous stings and bites and is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Comfrey & Yarrow have astringent properties and have been used to promote cell regeneration and healing. Plantain is acclaimed for its ability to relieve bee stings, insect and spider bites and rashes. Calendula is impressive because of its ability to speed healing, improve the appearance of the skin, lower inflammation, and protect the skin against infections. Rosemary has natural antiseptic properties, which makes it a superior disinfectant for our skin. It can also help protect skin cells from damage often caused by the sun and free radicals. Grapefruit seed extract is an excellent anti-fungal agent.

Keep a jar of this on your counter top! It is safe for your children to grab and put on their frequent summer scratches, bites, and rashes.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the appropriate skin care routine at any time of year is very important. But during the summer, there are things we want to be aware of that will set us up for either failure or success in the seasons to follow. The seasonal changes play a huge roll in the health and overall wellbeing of our skin and we want to make sure we are giving our skin the best chance to have the best summer this summer and every summer after. Make sure you are using natural, clean products on your skin. Make sure you are cleansing well and applying healing products back on to your skin. If you are using an SPF or sunscreen, make sure it is clean with minimal ingredients with the main one being zinc oxide. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, avoiding large amounts of alcohol, eating fermented foods, taking pre and probiotics, and staying away from seed oils in your food. Set up a healthy routine, getting plenty of sleep, getting a good workout or sweat in, and spend a few minutes outside every day to let your skin get acclimated to the sun. And stock up on our favorite summer skin care products like the Limited edition Summer Skin Saver Bar, All natural, aluminum-free deodorant cremes, and organic herbal salve. Most importantly, don’t forget to have FUN this summer! Summer is an amazing season full of fun, days on the water, bonfires, and time out of doors with family and friends. So enjoy it! It is only here for a short time, so make the most of it starting TODAY.

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 skin care tips with us. We would love to hear from you!

All my love and have happy week,

Amanda Pehrson

5 Unique Eco-Friendly Father’s Day Gifts 2022

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I’ve been scouring the internet for 5 incredible father’s day gifts that are eco-friendly, organic, or produced by a small business! I’m not sure why, but a theme has emerged from this year’s gift guide search and I’m proud to title it: “cooking and cleaning: gifts for the scrupulous chef in your life.” I’m super excited to share these gifts with you today, and I hope they make your father’s day shopping just a bit easier.

5 Unique Father’s Day Gifts

1) BirdmansHome Stoneware Coffee Tumblers & Mugs ($50+)

These beautifully hand crafted, fired stoneware tumblers and mugs are a wonderful and unique gift idea for the men in your life. Sold in a set of two or more they are prefect for having at home, at the office, and a welcome addition to any coffee bar set up.

2) DIY BBQ Making Kit by Grow and Make

What better way to celebrate your bb-cutie than with a BBQ adventure!

Description: Great DIY gift for DAD for Father’s Day!

Make your own tangy barbecue sauces with our Artisan BBQ Sauce Making Kit! Great for family projects. A DIY BBQ sauce kit is the perfect birthday gift for grill cooks, barbecue enthusiasts, or the dad who has everything! Simple instructions make this kit fun and easy for everyone interested in showing off their own exceptional BBQ sauce. Just add tomato paste, oil, and our kit ingredients to make three flavor-packed tomato or mustard-based homemade barbecue sauce recipes. Contains all the grilling spices and seasonings to give your barbecue dishes unique flavor, like cayenne, turmeric, garlic, and liquid smoke.

3) Grill Master Gift Box with Organic Spices by Fresh Jax

This grilling gift set has everything you need for a delicious grill-out!

Description: 

“What’s the hardest part about shopping for the grilling guru in your life? They think they already have everything they need! This Grill Master Gift Set was made with grilling fanatics in mind. This set includes three organic spice blends, a grill master t-shirt to claim reign, grill master koozie to chill drinks, and 4 Alderwood grilling planks!”

Spice Blends

Peppered Habanero Hot Grill Spice: Turn up the heat on steak, kabobs, chili, wings, and caulifower!

Ingredients: Organic cracked black pepper, sea salt, organic cayenne pepper, organic habanero pepper, organic brown mustard seed, organic onion, organic garlic, organic parsley, organic lemon zest.

Grill Master Organic Burger Seasoning: Bean burgers, beet burgers, and beef burgers  alike, will warm you to your core-iander and have you feeling rose-merry with coats of this colorful blend!

Ingredients: Organic cracked black pepper, organic onion, organic paprika, sea salt, organic dill, organic coriander, organic thyme, organic garlic, organic fennel, organic rosemary.

Rosy Cheeks Organic Maple Bourbon BBQ Spice: Craft the perfect backyard BBQ when you use this on chicken, ribs, pulled pork, and baked beans.

Ingredients: Organic paprika, organic light brown sugar, organic cane juice, organic dried maple syrup, cherrywood smoked sea salt, organic onion, Himalayan pink salt, organic cracked black pepper, organic garlic, organic chipotle pepper, organic mesquite, organic flavors, organic cumin, organic turmeric, organic lemon zest.

4) Oven Scrub Cleaner: 100% Natural – Eco-Friendly Cleaner by Everneat

100% Natural Oven Cleaner powered with pumice stone & pure essential oils to deep clean your oven without toxic fumes

– Plant-powered ingredients

– Vegan & cruelty-free

– Powerful cleaning

– Refillable & reusable

– Approved by professionals

– Probiotic cleaning

Safe for:

– Porcelain-enameled steel ovens, racks & oven interior glass

– Cast-iron

– Scratch-resistant metals & surfaces

5) Eco Friendly Pet Hair Remover – Lint Brush by Modern Pets Living

This business sells tons of cool pet products, so if you’re looking for something even a little more “upscale” check out the rest of their site!

“A must-have minimalist design pet hair remover and a great substitute for your traditional lint roller. A comfortable wooden handle and large brushing surface area will make this daily task a breeze.

– 3 colors to choose from

– Natural wooden handle

– Self-cleaning housing

– Modern Matte Finish

– Electrostatic Reusable Brush

– Sustainable, green, and reusable

– Made from recycled materials

– Measurements: 12 in x 3 in x 1.8 in

Care Instructions:

– Gentle hand wash only

– Allow to fully dry before usage”

Much Love,

Nora

New Location Opening!

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You’ve probably heard and seen some buzz about our new physical storefront in Apple Valley…but if you haven’t…here’s all the details!

Grand Opening

Everyone is welcome to come to our Grand Opening weekend! You can pop by on Friday May 20th or Saturday May 21st and we’ll be open both days from 10-5pm! Stock up on your favorite products without having to worry about shipping, discover exclusive products that are only sold in-store, and enter a giveaway for a chance to win a bundle of AVNS products! (If you are out of state keep an eye out for our online inclusive giveaway in June!)

“We are calling the retail space The AVNS Market, and it has grown out of a dream I’ve had for the last few years. A dream to have a retail area where we sell products that are good for us and the environment, products that are fun, sweet & unique, while also being able to support other small businesses. We hope the AVNS Market will offer a relaxing, joy filled shopping experience for all.”

-Marianne Buck

Location:

7570 West 147th Street

Suite 301

Apple Valley, MN 55124

Hours:

1st & 3rd Weekends Of The Month

Friday & Saturday 

10am – 5pm

(Not open Sundays, Holiday hours may vary)

Since purchasing the business in 2018, someday being able to open a physical storefront was always the hope for the future of AVNS. Three years of hard work from the Buck family and AVNS family as a whole has finally paid off as we prepare to open our doors to anyone who wants to visit! 

“When we saw the space in Apple Valley, MN as a possibility for the business I immediately saw the brick wall and knew it could be something special. After deciding to move ahead with signing the lease (a huge scary step of faith), we focused on getting the business up and running for on-line orders. Once everything was running smoothly, I started thinking and processing through what it would take to turn part of the space into a relaxing shopping experience. Once I found some inspiration the transformation took off. 

Now that the shop is ready to open its doors to the public, I’ve found myself doubting the decisions and the journey, but then remind myself that my future doesn’t rest in my hands, I have confidence that God has led us on this journey and He doesn’t make mistakes. Over the last week or so I’ve been blessed with many affirmations about our decision, and recently found out that research is now showing that many people are moving away from doing only on-line shopping as they want to get out and shop in person. They want to touch, feel, smell and be around others after having 2 years of not being able to. I am amazed that a decision that my husband and I made months ago, which we felt was stepping out into the unknown, is now proving to be the right path for us.” 

-Marianne Buck

We love what having an online store has to offer: the ability to cater to customers who live far away, the efficiency that online shopping allows, and we hope to continue growing our online store for all our far away friends! 

We’re excited that our physical store will give people the chance to come and connect with us and our products on a personal level…not sure if you’ll like the smell of a particular soap? Now you can just pop by and sniff it for yourself!

I haven’t had the chance to explore our new line of candles yet, so my visit gave me the chance to sniff around and I absolutely fell in love with the quaint clay pot that the Sun-Kissed Coconut All Natural Soy Candle came in…not to mention the amazing smell and the fact that the lid and pot can be turned into a flowerpot and seeds after the candle has been used up! I had to take one home for a Mother’s Day gift!

I’ve been fortunate enough to have already had the chance to pay the Apple Valley Natural Soap Market an in-person visit, and let me tell you…once you walk through the doors into this dreamy naturally scented haven of crafted goods you’ll want to stay all day! 

One of the most exciting things about the AVNS Market is all the cool products that are only available in-store. Jewelry that incorporates essential oils, eco-friendly dish ware, cotton goods like blankets, towels and robes, reusable beauty products.

Hope you stop by!

Much Love,

Nora