Sunday, February 28, 2010

Here are the pictures of the lotion

These pictures are from my experimental recipe that I used just to see if I could get a nice lotion consistency that does not separate. I used beeswax as the emulsifier. I used olive oil and avocado oil. I really like this recipe! It is thick and creamy, it goes on a little greasy but it absorbs very quickly. It goes on a little thicker and shinier than the DREAM CREAM I got from Lush (which is my inspiration). I like it but it is a bit pricey. Hopefully, when I calculate my cost, I will be able to offer it for less.

Next, I will try it with shea butter and mango butter because I like the benefits of these butters, oh and yes there will be avocado oil also. I'll let you know how it goes!!





I'm sooo excited!!!

The other day I was reminded that I'm supposed to be working on my all natural lotion formula. So yesterday I gave it another try. I used a recipe that uses beeswax as the only emulsifier. I only made a little because I am afraid it will not work. But this morning I checked on it and it is still lotion, (no separation back to oil and water). This is great!!! Because I didn't want to use emulsifying wax because of costs, availability and although it is plant based, I don't think it is all natural by definition.

Also, I have decided to try the flea markets again. I was discouraged in the past because of bad experiences that caused me to give up on that idea. I began to hope that I could just make my website work so that I wouldn't have to go out in public. But I am going to go for it again and see if I can make it work.

I have also formulated a shea butter hair care solution. I am gonna start marketing that soon. The last time I made it some crust or grit had formed. I read that the grit formed because the shea butter was heated to high for too long. So I just softened it and so far no crust. I made this yesterday so I will still give it time to make sure the crust doesn't form.

ok bye bye for now.

Friday, February 12, 2010

2000 soaps by the end of the year

By my calculations, I need to sell 2000 soaps by the end of the year to be able to net the amount that I need to put a dent into my credit card bills. Once I pay off my credit cards, I will be closer to being able to quit my day job and devote the extra time to making my business more successful. But man!! if I was able to sell that many soaps by the end year I would be really pleased with my success this year! Shoot! If I was able to sell a tenth I would be really happy. Anyway back to trying to figure how to make my dream a reality. :)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

A New Year, A Fresh New Start.

Well, as the title suggests, with this new year I want to make a fresh new start. In the past, I have let many obstacles hinder my progress. I have been stressed and discouraged. But the one thing I will not do is give up.

I plan to focus more on promoting my business, making products and finding my market. So far, I have reactivated my Etsy account and I plan to add more products and maintain the products. I have joined Facebook, Twitter and of course this blog. Each are linked to one another so they are all kept up-to-date. I think I get discouraged when I have too many things to do, so this way it saves time. I am on a few other social networking but I haven't figure out how to make them work for me yet.

I would also like to do a tutorial either a video or something like ehow or about.com maybe I could just do it on here. I'm not sure what topic just yet.

Oh and I really need to keep up with my stock at the local store where I display my items for sell. I have issues with that because I work a day job and after a long hard day at work it is really hard to focus on my business when I get home. But out with the excuses and in with success!

Anyway...

I'd like to go all natural with my product line but sometimes I feel that I have put in a lot of time into some of the other products and I don't want to give up on them. I really like doing the soap slices but I use melt & pour soap base to make them. Melt & pour is better than commercial soap but is not as good as cold process soaps or lye soaps. I think I am gonna keep doing them because they are fun and easier than lye soaps.

Well I really wanted to start my blog and even though I feel like I did a lot of rambling about nothing, it feels nice to get somethings off of my chest. Hopefully, next year I will be talking about all of my success!