Cheeky Maiden Blogs

4 Ingredients We'll Never Use in Our Products

2011-04-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

NewHope360.com, one of the leading natural products information sites online, posted an article listing "4 controversial personal care ingredients to know."

Some of these ingredients haven't necessarily been definitively been proven to cause harm, but there's been enough concern in the marketplace over them that more and more people are looking for items without them.

The four controversial ingredients are: Parabens, Nanoparticles, Synthetic Fragrance, and Sodium laureth sulfate/sodium lauryl sulfate. We've never used, and will never use any of these ingredients in any of our products.

To check out our full line of bodycare products that are pure, natural, handmade, fair priced, and made in Alabama, go HERE.

We're on a mission...

2011-04-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

Plain and simple, you could say that our mission is to make really great soap. To turn ordinary shower experiences into extraordinary events. Frankly, over the years I've been amazed at what a difference in quality of life a good bar of soap can make for someone.

Recently I was challenged to come up with some core values. Our values are what keep us going, and what ultimately filters what we do and how we do it. Over the last few months I've just been observing things here at the Cheeky Maiden house and I made a little list.

You could call it our Five Core Values.

Cheeky Maiden Soap Co operates with integrity and transparency. Not only do we seek to always deliver exactly what we promised, we disclose all ingredients. We won't give you the impression that our soap is all natural and then slip in some fake stuff when no one is looking.
Purity and quality are our #1 concern in manufacturing safe soap and body care products for your family (and ours!). We research ingredients, question the producers of those ingredients, and refuse to ever lower our standards. All of our colorants are plants, clays, roots, seeds, or charcoals- never anything synthetic being passed as "natural". All of our scents are from steam distilled essential oils- straight from the plants! No synthetic fragrances- ever.
Cheeky Maiden always wants to provide outstanding customer service. We are not out to "make a quick penny" and take pride in our work. If you aren't satisfied, please let us know so that we can make it right! Since every product is made by our own hands, we love to hear how they are working for our customers.
Cheeky Maiden seeks to influence the surrounding community. We love to get involved in the good stuff going on around us, as well as participating in community enrichment projects such as Farmer's Markets. (This summer we'll be doing four markets! We love to meet our customers face to face and get to know y'all!)
Cheeky Maiden promotes healthy families. We work as a family to produce the items that you purchase from us. Everyone but the baby has a job, and we love having our kids work by our side. In the future, we'll be looking for ways to get involved in promoting healthy families in the communities around us!

You can't cry at this party!

2011-03-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

Just because we call it Pitty Party doesn't mean we want to make you cry!

We released the beta version of our new Pitty Party

All-Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorants shortly before Christmas last year.

You may not know this, but we have a system for trouble shooting new products. First, we give it out to all the guinea pigs we can find. If the product in question meets our test group's demands, we offer it discounted to our larger customer base.

We did just that with the Pitty Party deodorants and we want to say Thank You for all the feedback.

First, we got it too hard. (Sorry.)

Then we made it too soft. (Sorry again.)

Eventually, we got it juuuuuuust right. Soft enough for our male users, and hard enough not to make a mess and go on smoothly. If you bought your Pitty Party around the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011, chances are you got one of the beta versions. (Sorry. Again.)

Still crying?

There was just one more FAQ about the natural deodorant darkening some fabrics.

There is a very short answer to that question:

You're probably using too much! In perfecting our recipe, we have added more essential oils for stronger anti-odor benefits, so you don't need as much. (We've added "apply sparingly" to the labels to help you remember.) To the best of our knowledge it is the coconut oil that is darkening under arm fabric and this is totally preventable by just swiping once and allowing your under arms to dry a little before getting dressed. Easy!

Sage?

There seems to be confusion about the Clary Sage oil used in our Clary Sage and Lemongrass flavor of Pitty Party. Clary Sage is NOT the same thing as Sage! While Sage has a camphorous medicinal smell, you will find that Clary Sage has more of a floral citrus scent.

Not your cup of tea? We have a Spearmint Rosemary flavor too!

SWEATING IS GOOD, STINKIN' IS BAD

Why isn't our Pitty Party also an antipersperant? Simple. We're crazy enough to believe that there's a reason why you sweat. Your skin is responsible for removing 1/3 of your body's toxins. It's important to allow it to do that. You need to sweat. Your body needs to get that stuff out.

We want you to sweat. In fact, we encourage it.

But please don't stink.

That's where we're here to help. You want an under arm product that will work with your body's natural toxin eliminating processes. You want to smell good without giving your body more toxins to get rid of.

If this is you, we're having a Pitty Party and you're invited! Pitty Party All-Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorants are 15% off this month! Give it a try!

Rave Reviews: "You can't beat it with a bat!"

2011-02-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

Just today our mail box held several rave reviews.

Stephanie says:

Oh My Goodness! Thank you for making the Dental Soap w/xylitol! I think I ordered the soap from you in the summer and I'm just now reordering. My mouth and teeth feel and smell clean. My 8yr old doesnt like it, due to the soapy taste, so she uses coconut oil. If you ever make one that has more xylitol to mask the soap taste please let me know. $2.99 for over 6 months of use? You can't beat that with a bat! Thanks Again

(Tip for using Dental Soap with kids: Just use a tiny bit! They don't need much. To start, I just dab a wet tooth brush once on the soap and brush with that. You will be surprised at how much lather you get with just a dab. Your child will find the soap taste is pretty much gone!)

Marcella says:

I was given a box full of your products as a gift. wow!

how do you get the shea butter fluffy?

Answer: We whip it. That is the only secret to our whipped shea butter. It is, indeed....whipped. =)

We love to hear from our customers! Feedback is always appreciated and we're happy to answer any questions, anytime!

Where ARE my elves????

2010-11-06T17:00:00.001-07:00

Cheeky Maiden Soap Co. gets excited about the Holidays. We love the yummy goodies, the time with families, the exchanging of gifts to show that you care. And we play Christmas music sometimes while we're working on our lovingly crafted items. We make everything from scratch in our workshop at our home.

Welcome to the soap room, real time:

Cheeky Maiden is toting these huge jars of salt just about everywhere these days for our salt parties:

There is a growing army of robots, butterflies, owls, and monsters!
Thank you for the overwhelmingly positive response to our newest offering- Pitty Party!
This little guy has been waiting forever to get sent off to South Carolina! =)

Lavender Oatmeal, curing as quickly as possible:

Woops! Our secret is out. Someone spotted an empty carton of all natural Pumpkin Ice cream with coffee grounds in the trash. Let's just say, everyone has their vice.
Finally, some elves!

Have you tried the new Chai Latte Soap?

We make the molds for our new beeswax candles ourselves and hand pour each one.

Bath Bombs. What more could be said????

We're stocked as good as we possibly could be. We have lots of local events. Consider yourselves warned. There may be a soap shortage in the future ;)

Revolutionize your Soap Nuts!

2010-10-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

A Cheeky Maiden Soap Nut user recently blogged a review and shared an awesome technique for using them!

Rather not dig the soap nut bag out of your wet laundry? Want to use a liquid form but not have to worry about it going bad? Curious about how Cheeky Maiden Soap Nuts stack up to other brands?

Check out what she's got to say!

We love you a latte.

2010-10-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

We let the cat out of the bag a few days ago on our Facebook page. (If you don't like us on Facebook, you should! You're missing chances to vote on upcoming soap flavors and short run sale announcements!)

Anyway, the Maiden was shopping at her favorite organic grocer the other day, in the bulk aisle, and lo and behold....Chai Tea.

Sniffing, sniffing, and sniffing some more, we've blended our own essential oils to get a really true chai latte scent.

The smell was heavenly when we poured it into our homemade log molds.

With just the right amount of real chai tea speckled throughout, and a gorgeous black swirl...

We think this one's gonna be a winner! You'll be able to enjoy it by the beginning of November 2010.

...and we hope you love it a latte.

Host a SALT PARTY!

2010-09-20T12:30:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered what your house would smell like if Cheeky maiden moved in for a couple of hours?

This holiday season, gather your friends for a good dose of aromatherapy for a Cheeky Maiden Salt Party! Each guest will have the opportunity to create their very own custom bath salts from a variety of high quality spa salts from around the world, classic herbs and flowers, and 100% pure essential oils.

Cheeky Maiden will educate you about the fine art of bath salts and provide some recipes to get you started.

This is a great opportunity to create some home made gifts for friends and family members! Each jar includes a label that signifies that you made it yourself.

Details:

If you would like to host a party, and live in the metro Atlanta, GA or Birmingham, AL areas...

Contact us at missi (at) cheekymaidensoap (dot) com for time and date availability
Invite 10-20 of your friends. (We'd love it if you had a minimum of ten guests committed to coming.)
You provide snacks, wine, coffee, etc and we provide everything else
Parties last about 2 hours, usually beginning with a very brief intro of what Cheeky Maiden is, highlights of our best products, and Q&A. Then we'll move on to the fun part and get busy creating.
Guests can purchase an unlimited amount of their own hand made bath salts at $5 per 8 oz jar. We bring high quality amber jars to ensure that the purity of your salt bath creation lasts. Again, this is a GREAT opportunity to make some special gifts for others!
We will also bring along Cheeky Maiden Soap products for purchase.
Party host receives 25 % off of her order for the evening/afternoon and the pleasure of having a great smelling house.

Clean mouths spout off about Dental Soap

2010-08-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Cheeky Maiden loves feedback. It's important to us to hear how our products are helping you have healthier skin, happier bodies, and cleaner...teeth? Yes. Teeth.

Here is just some of the feedback we've gotten recently about our Dental Soap.

"...the toothpaste is wonderful as well--my teeth don't feel sensitive and it feels very natural and i think even more clean than when i use the store brand..." (Kelsey, TX)

"I also started using the dental soap a while ago with my now 2 1/2 yr old. It has worked great! I have a bar I use for myself as well." (Elizabeth, GA)

"Just a note to tell you that I have been using the mint dental soap for the last couple of days and it is delightful, no soapy taste at all. Whatever your formula is, I like it better than the Perfect Prescription Mint and at 1/8th the price.

I find that I prefer the bar form to the shreds.

I'm anxious to try the clove, my cat showed some interest in the fragrance :-) but I don't want to have several open at the same time.

Bravo! I know that some people think that dental soap is a very weird concept but I will never go back to toothpaste!

Thank you!" (Maria, MD)

Bird Brained

2010-08-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

(alternately titled, Why We Don't Use Emu Oil)

We've been busy this summer doing a rash of farmers markets. My favorite part of these is getting to talk to our customers, find out what is working well for them, and what they'd like to see more of!

I keep getting asked for Emu Oil Soap.

As you may know, we completely avoid the use of animal fats in our soaps and body care. (In fact the only "animal" ingredients you'll ever find are occassionally beeswax or raw milk, from local happy bees and cows.)

It's not that I'm a vegan, but mostly that the idea of rubbing animal fat on my skin sort of grosses me out.

Upon getting asked why we don't have emu oil soap, I usually respond that we don't use any animal fats. This last week I was met with, "Oh, it's not an animal fat. It's an oil."

Very reasonable confusion has amounted to exactly what is emu oil. They certainly are not squeezing the oil out of emus, I can tell you that much. It is not anything like the manufacture of lanolin from sheep either.

The emus are farmed, killed, ground up, and "rendered", and THAT is what you are receiving to rub on your crow's feet or whatever.

Not to mention, the high amounts of oleic acid found in ~~emu oil~~ rendered emu is comedogenic. (That's fancy talk for it can clog your pores.)

Why use emu oil when you can use pure and clean oils such as Neem Oil or Shea Butter for special skin needs? We find both of these oils/fats to be more than efficient!

Neem oil is the active ingredient in Cheeky Maiden Complexion Soaps. It gently refines the pores and can be helpful for both acne and aging skin. We've been selling our Complexion Soap for over three years and it works well for all skin types!

We also use 100% raw, unrefined shea butter in almost all of our soaps, as well as offer it on it's own as a moisturizer.

As far as emu oil goes? We think it's for the birds. ;)

Happy Soapy Summer!

2010-06-28T13:08:00.001-07:00

Not only is it our 7th Anniversary of being married, but it has also been a great day for Cheeky Maiden Soap!

First of all, we are working on adding two more farmer's markets to our summer schedule and found out that we are eligible for a grower's permit with the farmers market authority. This means that we don't have to charge sales tax on any purchases made during market hours!

Birmingham people, head on down to the Calera Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 3-7 pm, Homegrown Alabama Market on Thursdays from 3-6 pm (Staring July10th), or the Helena Market Days on Saturdays from 8 am- noon (starting July 12th) to get your Cheeky Maiden fix, tax free! We also have special deals available at the markets only!

Next, we had a great conversation with one of the producers from our local FOX News station. They are doing a piece on local eco-friendly products, and after a short conversation realized that it doesn't get more earth friendly than Cheeky Maiden Soap. No one in Alabama offers soap as pure as ours, so they are considering coming out to our Soap Studio to do some filming very soon.

And last, but certainly not least, I woke up with a fire burning in my belly to make some soap. And when that happens, there is no stopping it! What happens when you mix chocolate and soap? Texas Ranger Man Soap! Makes any man irresistable to his woman with the slight scent of cocoa mixed with woodsy Cedarwood. Ladies, come get your man some! And we rolled out another batch of our oh so adorable Kid Soap on a Rope! This time we colored each little critter using all natural herbs and clays of course. The day was completed with a fine batch of Foot Scrubbies, just in time to repair your feet after visits to the beach or one too many days in flip flops!

Have a Happy Summer!

Tips for using a Shampoo Bar

2010-06-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Shampoo Bars aren't nearly as scary as they sound and are a wonderful solution for 100% Natural hair care! It's totally possible to successfully go detergent free and not end up with dread locks. (Although, if you have dread locks, shampoo bars work great for that too!)

With a little bit of effort, you will find that your hair can be naturally healthy, strong, and shiny. Before long you will be using less product (gels, conditioners, etc) and have healthier hair!

Getting Started

Did you know that all shampoos leave a residue on your hair? Because of this, you are going to have to give a shampoo bar some time to lovingly and gently remove the yucky residue left over from your synthetic shampoo. You can aid this process with a couple of vinegar rinses, especially if you use a lot of product in your hair (such as hair spray, gels, etc.)

The Vinegar Rinse

Once you get the vinegar rinse right, you find that you have totally spoiled yourself! When you are just getting started with shampoo bars and need to rid yourself of those yucky synthetic residues, we recommend using a 1:1 ratio of Apple Cider Vinegar and Water in a squirt bottle in the shower. After you shampoo, squirt this all through your hair and scalp. (You may or may not use the entire bottle, depending on how much hair you have.) Then rinse it off. Don't worry, once your hair is dry you won't smell the vinegar.

With each consecutive shower day, add a little more water to the bottle, lowering the ratio of vinegar to water.

FAQ

Do Cheeky Maiden Shampoo Bars lather?

Yes! Like crazy! Lots of foam! In fact, you really don't need to use much. Just a few quick passes over your head with our shampoo bar and you'll have all you need.

Which Shampoo Bar is right for me?

Based on customer feedback, it seems like the Tea Tree Shampoo Bar works great for those with coarse or curly hair or scalp issues. Our Nettle Shampoo Bar seems to work good for those with straight hair, thick hair, oily hair, regular hair, and especially brunettes looking to naturally enhance their hair color.

How do I use Shampoo Bars?

Cheeky Maiden Shampoo Bars now come in a cube shape. Regular bar shaped soaps tend to break in half and melt faster in the shower. A shampoo cube will last longer and is also easier to hold on to.

Some folks like to work up a lather in their hands and then work it through their scalp and hair. Others like to just rub the shampoo bar directly onto the scalp.

Shampoo Bars are completely customizable. How you end up using it, how often, and what sort of rinse you do (or don't do) completely depends on your water (hard v soft), your hair, what other sorts of products you use, and your shower habits.

What's the difference between Shampoo Bars and Commercial Liquid Shampoo?

First of all, Cheeky Maiden Shampoo Bars are 100% Natural. Most commercial liquid shampoos contain synthetic detergents and all sorts of chemicals that function to make it pearly, get rid of the chemical scent, balance the pH of the liquid, etc.

Shampoo Bars are just soap that is formulated for use on the hair. We make them using the same method as our 100% Natural body soap.

You hair is going to respond differently to a shampoo bar than commercial detergent shampoo. You may find that you don't have to wash as often. You will definitely need a lot less conditioner! You also won't have to switch brands. Shampoo Bar is here to stay!

What Conditioner to you recommend?

We recommend using Apple Cider Vinegar as a conditioner. And entire gallon costs less than $5 and will last you for a year or longer. We've tried it on all sorts of different hair and it just depends on you and how you like to do it.

Some natural hair fanatics do an in-shower rinse. How much ACV to water you use is completely up to your personal preference. You can wash it out or leave it in. Personally, I like to do a spray of it after my shower and before I towel dry my hair. I have thick hair with a normal scalp. I keep a spray bottle of 1:1 ratio ACV to water in my bathroom. After I shower, I spray my hair down good with that and then wrap it up in a towel. By the time I'm dressed and ready to dry (or not) my hair, I have really super soft hair and tangles that are easily combed through. This prevents any sort of product buildup in case I want to get fancy and use hair spray.

Find your Hair Mojo

Once you figure out what works for you, you've found your Hair Mojo! And shampoo bar users everywhere will tell you that it is totally worth the effort. Shampoo bars should be used for a couple of weeks before you decide if it's working for you. Your hair and scalp are going to have to adjust to not being harshly treated.

Getting Shampoo Bars right involves:

Choosing the right shampoo bar
Washing intervals
Vinegar Rinse (or not!)

Please contact the Maiden with any questions! We can help you work out a hair care regimen that fits your lifestyle and needs.

Happy Lathering!

Missi

The Cheeky Maiden

In the soap box!

2010-06-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

'Handmade' doesn't have to be synonymous with 'boring'!

When a creative mood strikes Cheeky Maiden, you just never know what you'll end up with, but you can bet that it is going to be unique, original, and fabulously good for your skin!

We'd like to introduce you to our 'Soap Du Jour' category. That's fancy talk for "whatever we felt like making".

Today the Maiden mixed up a super fat (soap talk for "extra creamy and conditioning") batch of soap with loads of Cocoa Butter and completely raw Shea Butter, along with pure Olive, Coconut, and sustainable Palm Oil. It's hot here in Alabama, so Peppermint sounded nice and cool, and who doesn't like some Lavender while we're at it???

She cut up some fresh and colorful handmade soap and skillfully stacked it in the molds, with the help of Thing 1 and Thing 2 (aka, our 4 and 5 year old daughters). We think we came up with a pretty rad design:

We did six logs just like that:

And then poured that super fat Peppermint & Lavender soap right over it:

We can't wait to show you the finished result in a couple of days when we slice these soap logs!

(Did you know that fresh real handmade soap takes a day or two to harden before it can be removed from the mold and sliced. Then we have to wait an agonizing 4 to 6 weeks before it's ready to use! Good things are worth waiting for!)

More Natural Laundry Options

2010-05-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

Cheeky Maiden Soap Company is proud to supply Hope Suds with premium handcrafted soap for their All Natural Laundry Soap Powder.

From their website:

Our all-natural detergent powder combines lovely Cheeky Maiden soap with mineral-based borax, washing soda, and baking soda. We add essential oils to give it a fresh scent every time you open the bag. This is a great detergent for sensitive skins. We’ve road-tested it with several large families (including our own) and found it to be perfectly adequate for cleaning whatever messes we make.

100% of our proceeds assist families in their journey to adopt orphans worldwide. Every load of laundry means Hope and Home to these precious children.

Do Laundry. Save Orphans.

For once, you can feel GOOD about doing your laundry!

Buy it here.

What is 'Sodium Olivate' and what is it doing in my soap?!?

2010-04-15T12:33:00.001-07:00

A customer recently wrote in with the following questions:

HI Melissa, I got the box and the soaps are lovely. The shea butter is out of this world. Beautiful packing for the soaps as well. It was like getting a spa in a box. I have a question I hope you can clarify for me. I told a few friends about your site and one ask the following question. Regarding the ingredients using Olive oil , coconut oil and palm which are all fantastic oils, the concern was it said olivate on all oils. She said her research shows when it is not from the pure oil, coconut or palm oil it takes on a different ingredient. She believes the olivates are toxic and thus not being the true ingredient. I looked on the internet to see what it said and it seems what she is saying has some merit. Can you tell me about your process and ingredients? I am sure you are using first class stuff. I just need to know how to answer this question. Thanks so much. Can't wait to order again. Celina

My answer:

Hi Celina,

I'm glad you loved everything you ordered. Your friend is a little off track with her information. Sodium Olivate is simply the INCI nomenclature for "Olive Oil Soap".

ALL soap is made by combining water, sodium hydroxide (lye) and a fatty acid (such as olive oil, lard, coconut oil, etc.) Lye (sodium hydroxide) is incredibly caustic, and is not in the finished product. A bar of soap is obviously NOT "olive oil" else it would be liquid. It IS Sodium Olivate, which simply means saponified olive oil. So, while neither simply "olive oil" or "sodium hydroxide" are in the soap, they have combined to create "sodium olivate".

This "olivate" in soap is NOT the same as "cetearyl olivate" or "sorbitan olivate" for example.

Basically there are two different ways of labeling soap. 1)Listing all ingredients as they went into the soap or 2)Listing what is in the actual finished product. I feel it is misleading to list "sodium hydroxide" since there isn't any sodium hydroxide left in the soap you are using, and if there was it would be dangerous!

I can assure you that pure olive oil, pure palm oil, and pure coconut oil were used to make all of our soap.

I did a youtube video on the chemistry of soap making a couple of years ago that you and your friend might find helpful:

Some other helpful links I found:

http://www.herc.org/hercarticles/natural.htm

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient/706147/SODIUM_OLIVATE/

That last link is to the Cosmetics Database, the most strict rating system for cosmetic toxicity and safety. Sodium Olivate is rated a "0" showing no hazard. If you keep searching their site, you will find "PEG-4 Olivate" for example, which is surely very toxic (and not at all the same thing as Sodium Olivate).

Soap making is all about chemistry!

Good question! I love consumers that are digging deep to get the dirt out of their skin care. This is why I insist on being so picky about everything that goes into our soap. If there is any question about the safety of an ingredient or any evidence to show that it causes cancer or birth defects, I absolutely won't use it.

Thanks!

Melissa Burgess

Cheeky Maiden Soap, LLC

www.cheekymaidensoap.com

Top 10 Classes of Ingredients to Avoid

2010-03-12T20:05:00.000-08:00

This article was originally published March of 2009 by Cheeky Maiden.

As some of you may have noticed, natural foods store across the nation are raising the bar on “acceptable” ingredients in skin care. We applaud these stores for taking this step on their own, without being mandated by the government or any other higher authority to help us all avoid toxic overload!
Whole Foods Market has developed a “premium” line. You can be sure that any product marked “premium” in the store is going to be free from this list of ingredients/ingredient classes.
I also point out with much pride that Cheeky Maiden Soap Company already complies with all of these standards and our formulas never contain any of the following toxic ingredients!
Synthetic Fragrance: Due to philosophical and safety reasons, only natural essential oils and components of natural essential oils will be allowed as fragrances. Synthetic fragrances can be highly irritating to sensitive individuals and are also a potential source of questionable sub-ingredients such as phthalates.
Formaldehyde-donor preservatives, such as diazolidinyl urea, dmdm hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate: Under certain circumstances of formulation and storage, these ingredients have the potential to release formaldehyde in very small amounts. These are banned and/or highly restricted in other countries. Because there are higher quality preservatives available, these are not necessary and should be avoided.
Chelators, such as disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA: Chelators sequester metal ions and are used in personal care products to remove impurities from low quality raw materials. There is environmental data showing that chelators do not readily biodegrade in the environment. Furthermore, there is no reason to have these ingredients in high quality natural products, since they function to remove impurities from low quality raw materials.
Ethoxylated ingredients, such as sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol: Ethoxylated compounds are emulsifiers that are typically derived from petroleum. The problem with ethoxylated compounds is that it is not a clean process to manufacture these compounds, so contaminants can be produced during the manufacturing process.
Chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate: Chemical sunscreens have safety concerns since many have been shown to have endocrine disruption activity.
Quats, such as benzalkonium chloride, steardimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide and cetrimonium chloride: Also known as quaternary amines, quats give a positive charge to conditioners in order to prevent static. They are necessary for conditioners, however many are biologically active, and they are also persistent in the environment. Cheeky Maiden recommends diluted apple cider vinegar as a great conditioner for your hair!
Antibacterial compounds, such as triclosan and chlorphenesin: These preservatives do not break down in the environment and may contribute to bacterial resistance. Furthermore, a recent FDA advisory panel report stated that antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soaps.
Synthetic polymers, such as sodium polyacrylate and carbomer: These viscosity agents are petroleum derived and highly processed, and it is not a clean process to manufacture these ingredients.
100% petroleum derived ingredients, such as mineral oil and petrolatum: 100% petroleum-derived ingredients were excluded from Premium for environmental and philosophical reasons, primarily because they are derived from non-renewable resources. In addition, 100% petroleum-based ingredients were avoided for functional reasons, since they form a barrier when applied to skin that does not allow it to breathe, and they can also contain impurities as a result of the manufacturing process.
Parabens: There is indication that parabens act as potential endocrine disruptors, and due to the fact that there are alternative preservative systems available, these are totally unnecessary.
An extremely fascinating site to check out is Skin Deep: The Cosmetics Database. While it is important to point at that we do not agree with the stance this group has taken on government regulation of cosmetic ingredients, it is a great resource for double checking your own skin care products and ingredients. (Cheeky Maiden is no longer a signer of their compact, not because we do not believe that toxic ingredients shouldn’t be in skin care, but because we believe that “We the people” should decide what we want to put on our skin, not the government.)
Products are rated on a scale of 0-5. 0 being the safest, and 5 being the most dangerous. Of particular interest are baby care products, many of which are rated a 4!! (Cheeky Maiden’s baby soap should come up at 0.)

Antibacterial Soap and Key Ingredient Triclosan

2010-03-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

This article was originally published in February of 2008 by Cheeky Maiden.

Antibacterial Soap and Key Ingredient Triclosan
Someone recently requested a tip on soap, and I’ve wanted to share the research I’ve been doing on Triclosan.
Triclosan is the key active ingredient in antibacterial soap, some toothpastes, acne treatments, deodorants, and dish soaps. There are a number of concerns about the overuse of antibacterial agents and its effect on our health and the environment.
In fact, a study done in 2000 found that over 75% of liquid soaps and nearly 30% of bar soaps—45% of all the soaps on the market—contain some type of antibacterial agent. The most common active ingredient was triclosan, a chemical that is used so commonly it actually makes its way into our bodies. A 2002 Swedish study found high levels of triclosan in 3 out of 5 human breast milk samples.
Triclosan is extremely effective when used in hospital settings, where disease and infection are prevalent. But no current data demonstrate any extra health benefits from the use of antibacterial soap and cleanser in a healthy household. A study of over 200 healthy households found that households using antibacterial products did not have any reduced risk for runny noses, coughs, and other symptoms of infectious diseases. According to the American Medical Association, “Despite their recent proliferation in consumer products, the use of antimicrobial agents such as triclosan in consumer products has not been studied extensively. No data exist to support their efficacy when used in such products or any need for them … It may be prudent to avoid the use of antimicrobial agents in consumer products ….”
Damaging Effects of the use of Triclosan
According to EPA, triclosan “could be” and is “suspected to be” contaminated with dioxins. Dioxins can be found in triclosan as impurities formed during the manufacturing process. Dioxins are highly carcinogenic chemicals that can cause severe health problems such as:
weakening of the immune system,
decreased fertility,
altered sex hormones,
birth defects, and
cancer.
Triclosan and Allergies
Overuse of triclosan (and other antibacterials) is also linked to allergies. This is based on the “hygiene hypothesis,” which theorizes that there is a correlation between “too much hygiene” and increased allergies and asthma. The concept is that children who are raised in an overly clean environment have immune systems that are not challenged and thus do not develop and mature properly.
Triclosan and Antibiotic Resistance
Many recent studies have raised serious concerns that triclosan may promote the emergence of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. One concern is that bacteria will become resistant to antibacterial products like triclosan, rendering those antimicrobial products useless to those who truly need them, such as people with compromised immune systems.
Scientists also worry that because triclosan kills bacteria in a similar way as antibiotics, bacteria that become resistant to triclosan will also be resistant to antibiotics. Triclosan does not actually cause a genetic mutation in the bacteria—which is part of the process by which they acquire resistance—but by killing the normal bacteria, it creates an environment where mutated bacteria that are resistant to triclosan are more likely to survive and reproduce. Laboratory studies with triclosan have already found a number of different strains of mutated bacteria that are resistant to triclosan and to certain antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly serious problem worldwide, and overuse of triclosan may exacerbate this problem.
Environmental Effects of Triclosan
Over 95% of triclosan uses are in consumer products that are eventually disposed of down sink drains. Wastewater treatment plants cannot remove triclosan from water, so large quantities of triclosan are continuously discharged into local waterways. Numerous studies have detected triclosan in streams and rivers. In a US Geological Survey study of 95 organic wastewater contaminants in US streams, triclosan was one of the most frequently detected compounds, and at some of the highest concentrations observed.
Triclosan is highly toxic to algae. Because algae are the first-step producers in aquatic ecosystems, researchers believe that high levels of Triclosan discharged into the environment may destroy the balance of aquatic ecosystems. The risks are especially high immediately downstream from wastewater treatment plants.
Staying Clean without Triclosan
Research has shown that Triclosan is no more effective at killing bacteria on hands than plain old fashioned soap (such as Cheeky Maiden Soap!) Simply washing your hands more frequently and at key times such as before eating, after going to the bathroom, or when someone is sick is enough.
Natural soap will not strip your skin of its own natural oils or alter the pH, both of which act as a first line of defense against germs and disease.
Tea Tree Oil is a natural antimicrobial. We use it in our Kid Critters soap and our Complexion Soap.
Your tip for this week is to avoid Triclosan! It is also known as Irgasan and Microban on some labels.
It’s also important to understand that this differs from the alcohol based products that you apply to the skin without the use of water (such as Purrell). These work in a different way and usually don’t contain Triclosan.

We're NUTS for natural laundry!

2010-02-26T11:56:00.000-08:00

Why Use Dental Soap (aka Tooth Soap)?

2010-02-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

The idea prompts many to reflect back on days when they got soap in the mouth as a punishment. So, why in the world would people want to brush their teeth with soap?!

More people are finding out the benefits of using pure handmade soap to clean their teeth. Just a brief rundown includes:

No fluoride
No sand, silica, or other abrasives
No artificial flavors or dyes
No glycerin to coat the teeth (preventing the natural building up of enamel.)
Our dental soap produces a very pleasant lather, no gooey tooth paste mess!
Rinses completely off (conventional tooth paste can leave a coating on your teeth)
Specially formulated for use on the teeth (has a more mild taste than body soap)
Natural gentle whitening effect
Teeth feel as though they've just been cleaned professionally every time you brush!
Easy to use and economical (one small chunk will last weeks!)

Cheeky Maiden has the best prices on soap for teeth! Our dental soap is only $2.99 for a one ounce chunk.

How do you use dental soap?

We prefer to rinse the bar and use a wet tooth brush to work up a good lather, then clean the teeth. Store your tooth bar soap separately from hand soap, and if in a shared bathroom, you may want to store it in your medicine cabinet.

Some folks like to shred the tooth soap for sanitary purposes, or for travel. Simply take one shred and place it between your teeth. Bite down and brush. (Our dental soap can easily be shredded at home using a cheese grater.)

Keeping the soap from reaching the back of the throat is key to having a pleasant experience brushing!

Is it safe for kids?

You should judge for yourself whether you think dental soap is a good match for your child, but we have used it successfully with all of ours! It's safe and gentle. Our five year old loves it, our four year old tolerates it, and our two year old doesn't know any better. As soon a the baby gets some teeth, she'll be another dental soap child in this house.

Indian Green Beans (Recipe)

2010-02-25T17:42:00.000-08:00

2T Olive OIl
2 t carraway seeds
1 large onion, sliced thinly
1 lb green beans (frozen)
1/2 cup green peas (frozen)
1 1/2 c rice (basmati, brown, jasmine, whatever)
1 t turmeric
3 sticks cinnamon (or 1/2 t ground)
6 bay leaes
1 c coconut milk
2 c water
1 1/2 t salt
1/3 c roasted cashews (I’ve never added this part. always forget!)

Fry carraway seeds in oil 10 seconds. Add onion and saute till brown. Add beans. Saute 5 min.

Add rice and stir fry over high heat 4-5 min. Add water, coconut milk and spices.

Boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20-25 min. Add peas, cover and leave over low heat 5 min. Add nuts and serve (don’t forget to catch those bay leaves!) I’ve also made this with ground turkey and it is soooo yummy!