Pictures of New Soaps

I have been home since late December on maternity leave and have my days when I am bored out of my mind. Since I have the time I have taken the opportunity, while the little Misses is asleep, to make up new batches of soaps, which I discussed in a previous post. Well today, I had the opportunity to take photos of the cut soaps and to learn many features in Gimp. Gimp is a really cool photo editing, enhancement, creation, etc. software that is FREE and from what I have read on various forums it is much like Photoshop. Here are the pictures that I took using my new Sunpak light box that I got for Christmas and my overdue for replacement Sony Cybershot Digital Camera. By the way my 11 year old who is home due to Track Out stamped each soap for me. He has been a great help these past 3 weeks. From top to bottom, Herb & Sprice, Cucumber & Aloe and Brighter Days. Thanks for looking

Facial Care

Today we will share tips on how to care for your skin and introduce our facial care line that will help you achieve your facial skincare goals.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body that can be damaged by what it is exposed to and is closely dependent on what you eat. Before deciding on what to do with your skin, you will need to find out what skin type you have, which may be sensitive, oily, normal, combination or has been damaged due to the sun and the heat. The basic facial care regimen should contain: cleaning, toning and moisturizing.

Karess-My-Face Product Line
Step 1: Cleanse

Cleaning the skin is one the easiest things you can do. You’ll need to find a cleanser that will give you good results without causing your skin to become irritated. Our Karess-My-Face facial bar gently cleans and exfoliates all at the same time. The addition of rosehip powder deeply removes dead skin cells, while leaving the complexion clean, refreshed and best of all healthy looking. For an even deeper radiant glow, the use of a complexion brush with boars bristles will stimulate lathering action from our facial bar, ensuring a deep, thorough cleansing.

Tip: If you wear makeup, you should carry out the routine of cleaning, toning and moisturizing each evening, as well as washing the face in the morning.

Step 2: Tone

Toners main power lies in their ability to wipe away any traces of dirt, make-up or cleanser that remain after cleansing. Of course, the majority of residue are removed during washing, but following up with a toner finishes the job. It balances skin pH, and tones your complexion while maximizing your skin’s capacity to absorb your favorite moisturizer. Our Lavender & Chamomile Facial Toner brings Organic Aloe Vera juice together with an array of extracts and glycerin to soothe and balance the skin. Cucumber extract moisturizes and restores radiance, while organic black willowbark extract aids in skin renewal.

Tip: Use morning and evening after cleansing to refresh, tone and deep-clean pores

Sept 3: Moisturize

Without moisture, the skin will not remain smooth and supple. The face is exposed to the drying effect of the weather, so moisturizers - which form a film over the skin - contain and augment the natural moisture. Our Karess-My-Face Orchid Facial Serum is an amazing cocktail of natural oils and emollients working in perfect harmony to add moisture to your skin and regenerate new cells, while improving skins elasticity, hydration and smoothness.

Tip: Apply to damp skin (face and neck) immediately after toning

Lip Balm

What is a lip balm?

According to Wikipedia, a lip balm is a substance topically applied to the lips of the mouth to relieve chapped or dry lips, and cold sores. And guess what? Our lip balms do just that. Our lip balm, which is often referred to as lip smacker, is not your ordinary lip treatment. It is made with wholesome ingredients that will moisturize dry lips with just the right amount of glide while lending a staying power that lasts longer than most balms. Each lip balm is hand produced in our home and come choked full of beeswax, sweet almond oil (or apricot kernel), hempseed oil, castor oil, shea butter, Vitamin E and irresistible flavor/essential oils with no artificial color. A perfect treat for those who want to pamper and nourish their lips with the finest oils, butters and flavor nature can provide. Our lip balm is Da Bomb and others feel the same way.

Recently our lip balms placed 3rd in the Best Lip Balm contest hosted by Products of the Day. We were very delighted to receive this honor as we were among many crafters who have taken their businesses globally (we didn’t think we would top them). To be able to stand out from what we consider some of the big guys makes us feel extremely proud of what we do. You can read all about it here

Gardening and Cleansing

Yesterday was work in the garden day. Hubby and I planted some beautiful flowers in a corner in our backyard. We plan to turn it into a meditation area complete with a hammock and water fall. It will be a quiet area where we can go to clear our minds, collect out thoughts, and rejuvenate the thinking process. Of course after spending hours in the sun working with soil I felt really gritty and grimy so I was in desperate need of a good soak and my body, particularly my arm pits, thanked me for it. My hair was in need of some TLC also. So here is what I did:

1. I washed my hands with our Garden & Kitchen soap which contains cornmeal and grits that gently scrubbed my soiled hands clean and gave a nourished, polished look due to the hearty helping of shea butter.

2. Since my hair requires what I consider a pro-long rinse (rinsing hair for about 15 minutes after it’s washed), I have to wash my hair in the shower. I ran a warm, others would say hot, shower and just stood under the shower head while allowing the warm water to open my pores. I stood there for about 5 minutes. Then I grabbed my favorite shampoo Rosemary Mint from LaVida Given By Nature and used only a quarter size to wash my entire head of hair, which is dreaded and about shoulder length. This shampoo is so concentrated that only a small amount is needed to produce loads of lather, which gets my hair squeaky clean. Therefore, you save money and most importantly it is all natural and Vegan friendly. Be sure to get yourself a bottle TODAY!

3. So after washing my hair with loads of lather, I just stood under the shower head for about 20 minutes allowing the water to rinse the lather away and allowing my body to relax. I followed by washing my body with our Sunshine Handmade Soap that really gave my grimy, gritty body a good cleanse. The olive-based bar left my skin feeling very hydrated and the beautiful aroma from a proprietary essential oil blend allow my senses to continue to appreciate a natural aroma (remember the first natural aroma was from the flowers planted, then the Rosemary Shampoo, now the Sunshine soap).

4. My cleaning regime was not over. I had to protect and nourish my hair, so of course I used my favorite Ginger Juice and Berries from Lavida Given By Nature on my naturally dreaded hair. It has the perfect balance, not too thick, too oily or too heavy. Just the right amount of herbs and oils that coat and protect my hair from the environmental elements while still nourishing and strengthening my hair.


So check out Karess Krafters and Lavida Given By Nature to get yourself a natural cleanse from head to toe.

Cast A Spell

Cast A Spell is a very romantic fragrance that mixes a sweet bouquet of mandarin, bergamot and orange enhanced by luscious hints of peach and berries with an undertone of musk. A true aroma that is soft and sensual just in time for hot summer weather. Enjoy the wonderful fragrance with our wonderful bath bombs while relaxing in your tub full of shea butter after a long day. Then lather up with this beautiful aroma with our gentle and mild olive-based handmade soap. Typically after bathing with our bath bomb a moisturizer is not required, however, if you desire to slather yourself with pure moisture-binding luxury our SheaMonoi is perfect for your hydration needs. Available in a clean crisp fragrance or enjoy the natural aroma from its quality ingredients.

April is about Karess-My-Face

It is April and it is all about getting your face in radiant order for the warm months to come with our Karess-My-Face product line. This month we will share tips on how to care for your skin and introduce our facial care line that will help you achieve your skin goals.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body that can be damaged by what it is exposed to and is closely dependent on what you eat. Before deciding on what to do with your skin, you will need to find out what skin type you have, which may be sensitive, oily, normal, combination or has been damaged due to the sun and the heat.

The basic facial care regimen should contain: cleaning, toning and moisturizing

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleaning the skin is one the easiest things you can do. You’ll need to find a cleanser that will give you good results without causing your skin to become irritated.


Our Karess-My-Face facial bar gently cleans and exfoliates all at the same time. The addition of rosehip powder deeply removes dead skin cells, while leaving the complexion clean, refreshed and best of all healthy looking. For an even deeper radiant glow, the use of our complexion brush with boars bristles will stimulate lathering action from our facial bar, ensuring a deep, thorough cleansing. Don’t want to lather up to get a good cleanse, then try our Honey O' facial cleanser in a convenient dispensing bottle.

Our Karess-My-Face Honey O’ cleanser is formulated for sensitive skin with organic aloe juice, oat extract, wheat protein, glycerin, honey and other skin-loving agents to assist in cleaning, lubricating, healing, protecting and moisturizing your skin so that it may function properly. Properly functioning skin is beautiful, clear, and glowing and makes your skin stand out from the rest.

Tip: If you wear makeup, you should carry out the routine of cleaning, toning and moisturizing each evening, as well as washing the face in the morning.

Step 2: Tone

Toners main power lies in their ability to wipe away any traces of dirt, make-up or cleanser that remain after cleansing. Of course, the majority of residue are removed during washing, but following up with a toner finishes the job. It balances skin pH, and tones your complexion while maximizing your skin’s capacity to absorb your favorite moisturizer. Our Botanical Toner brings Organic Aloe Vera juice together with an array of extracts and glycerin to soothe and balance the skin. Cucumber extract moisturizes and restores radiance, while organic black willowbark extract aids in skin renewal.

Tip: Use morning and evening after cleansing to refresh, tone and deep-clean pores

Sept 3: Moisturize


Without moisture, the skin will not remain smooth and supple. The face is exposed to the drying effect of the weather, so moisturizers - which form a film over the skin - contain and augment the natural moisture. Our Karess-My-Face Orchid Facial Serum is an amazing cocktail of natural oils and emollients working in perfect harmony to add moisture to your skin and regenerate new cells, while improving skins elasticity, hydration and smoothness.

Tip: Apply to damp skin (face and neck)immediately after toning

While supplies last, we are offering our facial care products in trial sizes packaged in a convenient take along bag. The set includes a facial bar, honey o' cleanser, toner and serum, just enough product to get a feel of our facial line. As always, spot test any new product.