Unlocking the Benefits of MSM in Skincare

In the ever-evolving world of skincare, there's a constant search for ingredients that offer natural solutions for common skin concerns. One such ingredient that has been gaining attention for its potential benefits is MSM, or Methylsulfonylethane. While it may sound complex, MSM is actually a naturally occurring compound found in plants, animals, and humans, and its incorporation into skincare products is yielding promising results.

MSM is a sulfur compound that is abundant in nature. It's found in various foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and even in the bodies of living organisms. In skincare, it is often derived from sources like pine trees, or synthesized in a laboratory setting.

The Benefits of MSM in Skincare:

1. Anti-Inflammatory Properties: One of the key benefits of MSM in skincare is its potent anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it particularly useful for soothing irritated or inflamed skin conditions such as acne, eczema, or rosacea. By calming inflammation, MSM helps to reduce redness and discomfort, promoting a more balanced and comfortable complexion.
2. Collagen Production: Collagen is the building block of healthy, youthful-looking skin. As we age, collagen production naturally declines, leading to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. MSM has been shown to support collagen production, helping to improve skin elasticity, firmess, and overall texture. By incorporating MSM into your skincare routine, you may notice a visible reduction in the signs of aging, leaving your skin looking plump and revitalized.
3. Antioxidant Activity: In today's world, our skin is constantly exposed to environmental stressors such as pollution, UV radiation, and toxins, which can lead to the formation of free radicals. These unstable molecules can wreak havoc on our skin, causing premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and other damage. MSM acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to neutralize free radiclas and protect the skin from oxidative stress. By incorporating MSM-rich products into your skincare regime, you can help defend your skin against environmental aggressors and maintain a youthful, radiant complexion.
4. Hydration: Hydration is essential for healthy, glowing skin. MSM possesses humectant properties, meaning it has the ability to attract moisture to the skin and lock it in. This helps to keep the skin hydrated, soft, and supple, reducing the appearance of dryness, flakiness, and dullness. Whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin, incorporating MSM into your skincare routine can help ensure your skin stays beautifully moisturized and radiant.
5. Scar Reduction: Scars can be a source of frustration and self-consciousness for many people. Whether they're the result of acne, surgery, or injury, scars can leave lasting marks on the skin. MSM has been shown to aid in scar reduction by promoting tissue repair and regeneration. By stimulating collagen production and supporting the body's natural healing processes, MSM can help fade the appearance of scars over time, allowing you to feel more confident and comfortable in your skin.
6. Wound Healing: In addition to its scar-reducing properties, MSM has also been found to promote faster wound healing. By reducing inflammation and supporting the body's natural healing processes, MSM can help wounds heal more quickly and effectively, minimizing the risk of infection and scarring. Whether you're dealing with minor cuts and scrapes or more serious injuries, incorporating MSM into your skincare routine can help support your skin's healing process and promote optimal recovery.

In conclusion, MSM is a versatile and powerful ingredient that offers a wide range of benefits for the skin. From its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to its ability to support collagen production and promote hydration, MSM has quickly become a staple in many skincare routines. Whether you're lookign to soothe irritated skin, reduce the signs of aging, or improve overall skin health, incorporating MSM-rich products into your skincare regimen can help you achieve the beautiful, radiant complexion you deserve. So, why not give MSM a try and unlock the transformative benefits it has to offer for your skin?

2024

Another market year has ended and a new one will be beginning soon. 2023 wasn't a great year as far as sales went but I know that times aren't easy for most people right now. Costs, including mine, are rising, causing increases in pretty much everything. It sucks. Hard. 

I have no intention of making this a depressing post. I can't do much about prices of supplies; I can, however, continue to make the best products I know how to make. I've decided that I will probably cut back on a few things so you may see fewer products on my table this year. 

What, you ask, will disappear? Well, my liquid soaps really didn't overwhelm so I think they'll be going on sale until they're gone. I may make some for personal use but that's about it. 

What else? Surprisingly, lip gloss. 

Yes, I said "surprisingly". I truly thought they'd be more popular than they were. By the end of 2023, I had quite a few left over even though they're a great product (I'm not a lip gloss person and I really like these!). I won't be making any more this year. Again, they'll be on clearance once the market season starts up again. 

I'm sure there will be other products we'll be thinking twice about. That said, if you have a favourite product you can't live without, let us know. We're more than happy to make custom orders. 

What can you expect to see on our tables this season? Well, soaps, of course. We're already busy making soap every weekend to get our table fully stocked. We've got some amazing new fragrances that we'll be using in soaps as well as hand/body lotions. Match a soap and a lotion for a perfect quick gift! 

Facial products have been very popular so we'll be bringing back our Instant Facials, as well as a few of our other popular face care products. If you haven't seen, or tried, the Instant Facials, you're in for a real treat! It's not a clay mask; it's more like a cleansing balm that turns into a thick, rich cream with the addition of water. Ingredients are added to turn this cream into a gorgeous, skin-loving mask that rinses off cleanly with water, leaving your skin feeling revitalized and pampered. There will be two or three varieties available; they sold out last year so you don't want to miss out!

Another popular item we'll continue making is our lip balm (as opposed to lip gloss). We have two recipes and both continue to be very popular; we won't stop making them. Our regular lip balm comes in a variety of flavours, including peppermint, orange sherbet, chocolate, and more. We've been using the same base recipe for over 20 years. Why fix what ain't broke?

Our Nourishing Nighttime Lip Masque has become a customer fave over the past couple of years. It's a rich, thick lip balm that sticks to your lips, made with the addition of lanolin and castor oil, helping keep your lips moisturized all night. Most people who use it, though, swear by it as an everyday lip balm that actually works! Me included.

I'm really looking forward to our 2024 season and I look forward to seeing all our new and usual customers. Our first market of the season is the All You Need Is Love market on February 11 at the East Kelowna Market. See you there!

New Product Alert - Rosehip Seed Gel Eye Cream

This is one product I'm really excited about! Our newest product is Rosehip Seed Gel Eye Cream and it is truly special.

This silky gel cream is the perfect blend of gel and cream; it goes on like silk and soaks in quickly. It's made with Rosehip Seed Oil, often regarded as the "oil of youth". Rosehip Seed oil is classified as a "dry oil" due to its thin consistency, which allows it to be easily absorbed without leaving an oily residue on the skin's surface.

It also includes Hyaluronic Acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for maintaining skin hydration and plumpness. When used in skin care products, it can help to boost moisture levels in the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture and radiance. Hyaluronic acid is also gentle enough to use on all skin types, making it a versatile ingredient in any skincare routine. By incorporating hyaluronic acid into your daily regimen, you can achieve a more youthful, hydrated, and glowing complexion.

It's also made with the addition of Caffeine extract, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), and Allantoin, all carefully blended to create a decadent gel eye cream that soaks in quickly and does what it's meant to do.

This truly is a luxrious product and, as always, at an affordable price.

Lip Gloss... Oh Yeah!

 I've got it down now! And I'm very happy with how this lip gloss has turned out. It's taken a bit of experimentation but now? Wow! 

I've never really been a lip gloss fan but I'm finding that, with the right ingredients, it can be more than just glossy; it can be moisturizing, too. We've added ingredients like Jojoba oil, Castor oil, and even Hyaluronic Acid.

So, what's the deal with Hyaluronic Acid, you might be wondering? For one thing, it is a naturally occuring substance in our bodies, generally in eyes and joints. It can penetrate the skin's surface and increase hyration for longer and at a deeper level, promoting a smoother, plumper, and more radiant appearance.

Hyaluronic acid's ability to attract a trememdous amount of water (up to 1000 times its weight!) makes it the skin's powerful natural inner moisturizer. Cosmetically, this translates into soft, hydrated skin that looks firm, plump, glowy, and youthful.

And, we've put it into our lip gloss! 

Adventures in Lip Gloss

 Lip Gloss. It's one of those things that I have a love/hate relationship with. I can remember a little girl, sitting in front of me in church one Sunday morning and, literally, every five minutes or so, she'd apply another layer of Grape lip gloss to her lips. With every application, she scent of the Galactic Grape flavouring oil penetrated my head and I ended up having to leave with a raging migraine. 

That said, the look and feel of a good lip gloss never fails to intrigue me. I've dipped my toe into making lip gloss a little and wasn't very happy with the results. I mean, it looked amazing the day I made it but by the following day, some of them had separated and the oils seeped out of the tubes. Not pretty!

I've been doing as much reading as I can about a very popular lip gloss base but everything I'm finding isn't really answering my questions. Well, over the Easter break, with four days off, I decided to look into it again. I finally found a little more information and I think I've got it figured out. It's still a sticky and messy procedure but at least it isn't separating anymore. 

And, oh my, it feels so nice on the lips. With the addition of some skin-soothing oils like castor, jojoba, and coconut oils, it won't dry out your lips and the gloss! This is what lip gloss should be!

Now, I'm just waiting for a new shipment of some classy tubes. 

New Product Alert - Bakuchiol Hydrating Serum

In looking back at previous posts, I'm not sure I've ever posted about some of our newer products. One that I'm very proud of is our Hyaluronic Acid Serum, made with Vitamins B3 and B5. Our newest version is made with a new to us ingredient, Bakuchiol extract.

Bakuchiol Extracted is extracted from the seeds of a plant native to India and Sri Lanka. Although it is a relatively new ingredient for the skin care industry, Bakuchiol has been a staple in the Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.

It is considered a natural alternative to retinol because it functions similarly in a skin care regimen. However, it is not considered a retinoid or a part of the retinol family because it has a different chemical structure than that of retinol.

Therefore, Bakuchiol offeres many of the same skin care benefits as retinol without causing irritation or dryness. Bakuchiol is also believed to be gentle enough for daytime and nighttie wear and is suitable for use on all skin types.

Update on the Vitamin C Serum

I've been using the Vitamin C serum pretty much daily since I made it in April (is it really that long ago??) and I'm impressed.

The colour of the serum really hasn't changed much, perhaps it has a bit more of a yellow tinge than when I first made it but after six months it really hasn't changed as much as I thought it would. I suppose the fact that it's in a black treatment pump bottle helps. 

I'm almost at the end of the first bottle and will need to make more soon. Christmas markets, however, are on the horizon and that will require my time and attention before I can make anything for myself. 

Vitamin Sea Serum - testing

 Over on my main blog, Strings 'n Things, I wrote about a Vitamin C serum that I'm experimenting with. (I had planned on posting that post here but Blogger wasn't cooperating.) It's made with all sorts of wonderful ingredients, including some that are meant to help keep the Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) from oxidizing. It also includes an ingredient called Sea Kelp Bioferment, which is, basically, lacto-fermented seaweed, which is why the working name for this serum is Vitamin Sea Serum. (Clever huh?)

Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid, is quite stable when it's in a solid (powder) form but when it's in a solution, it oxidizes rather quickly. If you make a very simple Vitamin C serum, you'd have to remake it every 7-10 days. Eventually, the solution will discolour to orange and then brown. That's how you'll know that it has oxidized. It can also discolour your hair if you manage to get it in your hair. As I did. I couldn't figure out at first why the hair around my face was turning orange. Yup, oxidizing Vitamin C serum. 

To that end, I eventually came across the recipe I now use. And, because I know that L-ascorbic acid eventually oxidizes, I decided to put this serum to the test. 

It isn't the easiest to see in this picture but in that pipette is a bit of the Vitamin Sea Serum. I've put in on my kitchen window sill, where it gets full sun in the mornings. I'm going to leave it there until it starts to change colour. I want to know how long that takes. So far, it's been 24 hours with no visible change. 

I'll keep you updated. 

Thrice Rice Soap - Rice Three Ways

 A while back, on the SoapMaking Forum, one of the makers mentioned that she adds rice to her soap and it's one of her favourite soaps. After some discussion, I decided to try it... and immediately fell in love with it.

I decided to use Jasmine rice, just because I happened to have some Jasmine fragrance oil and a large bag of Jasmine rice. First, I washed the rice thoroughly and used that wash water to dissolve the lye. Because of the starches from the rice, the lye liquid quickly turned into a mush, thickening up almost like a pudding. I've never seen that before.

Once the rice was rinsed, I cooked it in more than double the  amount of water usually used for cooking rice and I overcooked it, almost to the point of mushiness. I drained the water, reserving all of it; the rice was blitzed in a Magic Bullet, along with enough of the cooking water to create a fairly loose slurry. 

When I was ready to put it all together, the slurry, along with some rice flour (that's the thrice part) was added to my oils. The lye rice water was added and, once the batter reached trace, I added the Jasmine fragrance oil.

So, what does rice bring to the soap? Rice has been used for centuries in Asian skin care. According to articles I've read, the geisha used to wash their faces in rice water; they were known for their flawless skin. According to an article in the Daily Times of India, rice "revitalizes and protects the skin from sun damage. It comes loaded with antioxidants that fight free radicals and give you a more youthful-looking skin. It helps in skin brightening too. It's considered a mild exfoliator, making it ideal for daily use."

Granted, the article is talking about a rice puree used as a masque and washing with rice water. Truth be told, soap doesn't really stay on your skin long enough to provide any real benefits, other than cleansing. 

In this soap, the rice provides an amazingly silky, creamy lather. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I washed with it. I have dry skin and I found that it didn't strip my skin, leaving that dry, tight feeling. I still used a moisturizer because, as I said, I do have dry skin. The light scent of the Jasmine fragrance oil made this soap feel like an indulgence. I can see why rice soap is as popular as it is.

Soaping Again

It feels like it's been forever since I last made soap. In reality, it's only been a couple of months since making a batch for a challenge on the Soapmaking Forum but, still, it feels like a long time.

This week, I received a phone call from a friend, giving me a heads up that she will soon be out of one of her favourite soaps (and mine), Salt Soap. After explaining that I'm all out and that it would take about six weeks before I would be able to sell it to her, she was very understanding and did let me know that she was down to one bar. That should suffice until the new batch is ready.

And so, today is soaping day. The Salt Soap is already in the molds; some time tomorrow, it should be ready to unmold and then the cure begins. This soap really does benefit from a longer than normal cure. Most soaps are ready to use (not necessarily at their prime) by about 4-6 weeks. I know of people who have left their salt bars for six months to two years before using them and they rave about the soap.

As I'm on my last bar, as well, I'm glad my friend called. I use it daily as a face soap and love it!

The other soap I've had a request for is my Tooth Soap, a peanut oil based soap that contains xylitol, activated charcoal, calcium carbonate, as well as peppermint and anise oils. Surprisingly, the request came from my neighbour's son, a young man in his early 30's. He told me he loves it and some of his friends would like to try it as well.

The Tooth Soap bars are small bars, about 1 oz. each (I suppose I could have made a bigger batch... next time). One bar lasts me about four months, with daily use; I only use it at night, though. In the morning, I use regular toothpaste but I find minty toothpastes too strong to use at night. They burn my mouth and the flavour tends to be a stimulant; I don't find that with tooth soap. And, trust me, it's nothing like having your mouth washed out with soap for swearing. Honest!