Autumn Updates

It's now Fall and the leaves are starting to change here in North Carolina. This is my favorite time of the year. Pumpkins everywhere, warm tones in orange, yellow, and red, cooler weather, and delicious scents both for food and skincare.

I must say though that while everyone else is gearing up for the change in seasons and the holidays, I am gearing down in a way. With the start of a new journey at a different college, I am placing more emphasis on my schoolwork and less focus on new products. Of course I will make a couple of holiday soaps and restock soaps that are selling, but I will be slowing down on the new product formulations and releases to focus on my studies. In fact, unless there are orders or dire restocks needed during the week, I won't be doing much with my soaps except on the weekend. While I desperately want to open my own shop one day, it's not practical to place all of my efforts on something else when I am trying to push forward with my Accounting studies and career. The handmade soap industry is flooded right now. That means the market is full of talented soapers and competition is tough. Not everyone is going to like your products, and just because you have likes on your page doesn't mean people are buying anything and vice versa. With all of this being said, I am still holding on to my soap shop dream. However, my Accounting career is within real distance while my soap shop dream is further away. I am hopeful that I will get there eventually, but I still have a family to feed and bills to pay just as everyone else does.

So, here is what I've been up to lately.

For those wondering where the Psoriasis & Eczema soap is in my shop, I have made more bars so they will be restocked this week. No more messy petals on top and the Hazelnut Oil has been eliminated due to the shelf life of the oil.

We have also reformulated our Herbal Setting Spray. It's got plenty of natural skin loving ingredients that are known to help with rosacea, acne, scarring, uneven skin tone, spots, and blemishes.

 We've got a restock and new look to our famous Lemongrass soap. Made with all natural colorants such as Green Tea powder and Titanium Dioxide (yes, it is a natural colorant), I am very satisfied with the design of these gorgeous bars. They're are also made with Goat's Milk for a creamy lather. They'll be in the stores this upcoming week!

 The Apple Pumpkin Crunch Cake smells absolutely delicious with a mix of cinnamon, brown sugar, pumpkin, and crisp apple. The scent screams Fall. It's topped with gold melt and pour embeds, and black and orange pumpkin embeds. The tops are also sprinkles with a little red mica to add a bit more color. These will also be in the stores this upcoming week. Note that these are seasonal, so once they are gone, they will not be available again until next year.

 A new scent I have made is the Lavender & Lemon. It's fresh, but floral and little bit herbal. Made with Goat's Milk, Lavender Essential Oil, and Lemon Essential Oil. It has the creamy lather you'd expect from a Goat Milk soap and a light scent of Lavender and fresh Lemon. Coming to stores at the end of this month.

 Our new whipped soaps are creamy in texture but create lots of rich, fluffy lather. They are great for showering, bathing, and shaving. However, I do not recommend guys using our whipped soap for their face. I have just created a men's shaving soap which will be available in stores in October. The whipped soaps come in Apple Toffee, Sweater Weather (Vermont Maple), Soft Cashmere, Peppermint Bliss, and Buttercream. Perfectly delicious scents for Fall! These are already available in our Etsy store and will be available at An Artisan's Emporium within the next couple of weeks.

 I am working on a comfort line that will help people through cold season as well as through times when they just need a bit of comforting and no one else is around. People get down and out and they need some comforting which is why I am working on comfort pillows that have replaceable Lavender sachets. You can sleep with these at night, or just hold them close and breathe in the Lavender for soothing your tempers and emotions. The pillows will not contain essential oils. I currently have shower steamers available in Lavender for relaxation and Spearmint Eucalyptus for sinus and cold. Check them out!

 I am in LOVE with the new Patchouli soap! This Patchouli is replacing my previous Patchouli soap. This batch is made with Cambrian Blue Clay which is very cleansing but not drying. It draws out impurities from skin but also nourishes skin, heals damaged skin, and works wonders on wrinkles and splotchy skin. It is also made with Patchouli Essential Oil, Blood Orange Essential Oil, and Lavender Essential Oil for an earthy scent with a hint of sweet citrus and floral.

 So, I was hoping these Black Velvet soap bars would be more black than cream, but I used a fragrance that accelerated trace and I wasn't ready for it. I think they turned out fantastic still. Scented with a mix of fresh powder, perfumy floral, and sweet, ripened berries. I love love love this fragrance mix. However, these are seasonal, meaning that once they're gone, they're gone until next year. They'll be ready for sale near the end of October.

 My sweet love, Vintage. I love the scent mix with this too. Front notes of fresh floral with a back note of zesty citrus. I love the scent of these. They are also made with Hibiscus Flower powder, Lemon Peel Powder, Carrot Powder, and Titanium Dioxide for the colorants. I'm happy with the swirls. These will also be ready for sale near the end of October.






I sold out of these at the last craft show I attended. So, I will be making a restock of these within the next couple of weeks. People gave great feedback on the fragrance which is a mix of Lavender, Bergamot, and Amber. It's got a darker scent and it goes with the colors. It is a favorite with men as well as women.






Now, so far as events are concerned, I've got a very busy October scheduled.

• Sunday, October 9-- Tractor Supply in Roxboro, NC
• Saturday, October 15-- Warren Family Store in Prospect Hill
• Saturday, October 22-- Carrington Middle School in Raleigh, NC

My last craft show I've got set up is in November. So, that will be my last craft show until Spring. With the weather and the holiday season, Spring through Fall are the better times for me to attend craft shows. I'll be posting as much information as I can with regards to events, news, and products.

Until next time,

Kristine

New & Upcoming Items!

I feel like I haven't written a blog post in years, but it's only been a little over a week. That's terrible! I am sorry for keeping everyone in the dark. I have been working diligently on reorganizing my workspace, restocking materials and supplies, keeping up with custom orders, shipping orders, and planning new projects all while being a mommy and wife. How do I do it all? I don't even know how I managed to get dressed and function properly every day!

So, here's what I've got going on right now. As you may have read from my last post, I've got some new fall scents for my soaps and some new fall flavors and fair flavors for my lip balms. These are absolutely amazing. I will say that my favorite fall scents are the Butter cream and Apple Toffee. Those smell like heaven if heaven were a tasty sweet treat.

I've also got some gorgeous new eye shadows coming out. Yes, they've been made, but I'm not releasing them until August because I like the suspense. They are metallic and sparkly. So, you get the best of both worlds. These are darker shades. They've got a shine and shimmer with a darker throw to them. I love them.

Now, the lip balms are what I've been getting great feedback from. Not to say the soaps aren't good, but people seem to love the lip balm. However, I have had a few that prefer to have the lip balm taste like the real deal. Well, guess what I cam across- realistic Butter Popcorn flavoring and realistic Pepperoni Pizza flavoring. Yes, these are lip balm approved, and yes, I did try the flavoring right from the bottle (I used disposable, clean droppers to taste test! I'm not the type to drink from the carton guys!). I swear, I did not detect the least bit of synthetic taste to these flavoring oils. To be quite honest, I was really nervous about straight testing them from the bottle because the flavorings in the past tasted terrible from the bottle but smelled absolutely divine. So, this has lead me to believe that people are confusing flavor and scent for lip balms.

Whatever the case, I am going to start hoarding these new found flavoring oils because I have finally found some realistic flavors approved for lip balms. I have stumbled upon a massive find here. I am in awe. It's like when your life's work is complete. You feel immense joy and satisfaction. You can finally rest easy! Hallelujah!

Black Dahlia Soapery logo
permission granted by Black Dahlia Soapery

Yeah, it's that great of a newsflash. Anyway, so I wanted to give you a heads up as well. If you all see
this logo to the right, check these folks out. They're an awesome soap company based out of the same city as myself only their products feature a more Gothic, darker theme. I love the darker scene myself. They've got some cool products coming to Etsy. It's going to be epic.






So, for now, I'll try to post some more blogs by the week if not sooner. I still will post some educational articles for why handmade products are better for your skin than commercial products. I'm still compiling my research for that. Yes, it is most definitely homework, but it's worth it to give the gift of knowledge and to share my research with others is very rewarding for myself. I hope you all benefit in some small way from my posts and my shared knowledge.

Cheers!
Kristine

Happy Wednesday!

No, I don't like the words "Hump Day"- it just feels gross in my mouth (haha). Anyway! Today is Wednesday, the middle of the week, the day that gives you a little light of hope that you will once again be able to rejoice in time away from the hectic, stressful, and dreadful for two whole days. Now, I know that some people work the weekends as well, but I hope that you will also be able to get your well deserved time off .

Since it is the middle of the week, let's do something relaxing like putting our feet up and shopping with your favorite store (hint, hint).

We've actually made some new products for you to enjoy.

We've got new milk baths in the Etsy store. One is scented with Oatmeal, Milk & Honey. The other is scented with Heather & Hyacinth. Both are made with cow's milk, colloidal oatmeal, arrowroot powder, and argan oil. The Oatmeal, Milk & Honey contains actual whole oats while the Heather & Hyacinth contains real heather flowers.

1. A new vegan facial soap- Facial soap with French Green Clay and Kaolin Clay, Coconut Oil, Sandalwood & Lavender-infused Olive Oil, Kukui Nut Oil (to balance moisture levels in the soap- French Green Clay can be a little drying to skin depending on the skin type), Avocado Oil, and Mango Butter as well as Tea Tree Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Lemon Essential Oil, and Grapefruit Essential Oil.
2. Another soap we will be making is a vegan formulated body soap for soothing, gentle moisture that contains Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Vegetable Glycerin and Mango Butter. It will be unscented and contain Colloidal Oatmeal. So, it will be our take on the Aveeno Bar Soap.
3. Indigo Child- soap made with Indigo powder and scented with warm Amber, soothing Lavender, and uplifting, fresh, citrusy Bergamot.
4. Bamboo & Citrus- A glycerin soap scented with fresh bamboo, spicy wasabi, and energizing orange. This soap also contains Jojoba beads to help lightly exfoliate skin.
5. Apple Sage- Another glycerin soap scented with the same Apple Sage fragrance as our hand and body lotion. So, feel free to pair the two!

These new items will all be available on the store soon!

Also, don't forget that we can custom make gift baskets for you! Just let us know and we can make one as pictured right. The gift basket pictured is a donated basket to the Cause for Pause event to help foster animals in need! We will be attending the Cause for Paws event in Roxboro, NC this Saturday from 11 am- 6 pm. So, if you are in the area, stop by and see us!

Check back with us over the next few weeks as our posts will get a little more technical as to what goes into making handmade products vs. commercial products.

Cheers!

Kristine

This Month's Sample: Fresh Citrus Lotion

From July 6 to August 6, our new sample-of-the-month is our Fresh Citrus Hand & Body Lotion.
We will send out 1 sample of Fresh Citrus lotion in each order placed. Made with juicy, sweet Valencia Orange Essential Oil as well as fresh and perfectly tart Lemon Essential Oil and Grapefruit Essential Oil for a refreshing start to your day. Need a little pick-me-up to get you through the workday? No problem! The energizing scent and luxuriously rich moisture from our Fresh Citrus lotion is the perfect remedy for those 2 pm work blues!

Our Fresh Citrus lotion is also great for moisturizing dry, rough feet. Think of our samples as a "try before you buy" type of thing. This isn't the only scented lotion we make and we can customize the lotion to fit your needs. For those with scent allergies, we also offer an unscented lotion, so you can have fabulously moisturized, healthy skin without suffering from scent-related allergies.

Order with us today on Etsy and receive your sample today!

Just a few updates-
As many of you may know already, we are switching our email and web address by the end of this month. The website will still look the same and contain the same information (aside from the email address). However, we feel that our website needs to look more professional. Also, our email address is changing to earthndmoon@gmail.com. You will still be able to email us at the old address (kmdnc879@gmail.com), but the email will be forwarded to our new email address from where we will also respond.

Also, we have not changed our logo. It will remain the same. However, we like a fresh look on occasion and our headlines, icons, and site graphics may change from time to time to reflect the season and/or holidays.

We'd also like to share upcoming events with you as we come across them. Pictured right is a list of events we will be attending from now through September. These events are also located on the left side of the blog as well as on ourFacebook page.

The July 16th Cause for Paws events featured at Palace Pointe will be holding a silent auction. One of the items available at the silent auction will be an Earth N Moon gift basket that contains 1 Eucalyptus Mint lotion, 1 pack of 4 lip balms, 1 pack of 3 eye shimmers, 1 Cucumber Melon Whipped Soap, 1 Beauty Mask, 1 Clear Complexion Body Bar, and 1 Clear Complexion Facial Bar. This gift basket is a complete body/spa treatment package!

Next time, we will be focusing on a series of posts that feature information on the specifics of why handmade is better for your skin than commercial or factory made. Come back soon!

Cheers!
Kristine

New Arrivals from Earth N Moon

Hello lovies! Looking forward to a great summer? With all of the fun and sun of family vacations, hiking through the various nature trails, camping, swimming, fishing, and outdoorsy things that everyone is looking forward to in summer, I must be a raincloud on the parade! I know I sound nagging, but let's think about our skin here! Being outside in the heat will dry your poor little lippies out quick not to mention the rest of your skin! Plus, there are all sorts of creepy, crawly, blood thirsty ticks and mosquitoes that live outdoors that would love to feast on you! Plus, when you come back all hot, sweaty, and stinky, you'll need to clean up and take a bath.

With all of this sounding like I'm being more negative than positive about summer, there is a good side to all of this. Trust me, I love being outside in the dirt and doing all of that stuff. However, I also like to keep my skin hydrated, my lips protected from the elements, and I love to take a nice long bath after being outside all day.

What is the point of all of this I'm rambling about? Well, Earth N Moon has just put out some great new products and all of them are must-haves for making sure you and your family have the best summer in terms of safe and effective skincare.

No More Bites Bug Spray
Photo by:Kristine with Earth N Moon

Who likes to go 4 wheeling? If you're like me, it is a fun time in the woods away from technology and cell phones. However, being in the woods without proper repellent is a not a good idea, at least where I'm from which is North Carolina. Here, we have all sorts of little bugs and huge bugs that are waiting to turn you into a snack the moment you walk out of your house! Scary, right?! If that doesn't scare you enough, wooded areas are a great home for ticks which carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I won't get into the details of these nasty illnesses for the sake of staying on topic, but they are very serious illnesses in which can land you in the hospital.

So, with the mosquitoes and ticks everywhere, Earth N Moon's all natural bug spray is a good way to
keep those little biters off of you this summer and keep you out of harm's way! It is made with natural oils and essentials oils to naturally repel mosquitoes and ticks. It is deet-free, alcohol-free, preservative-free, and quick-drying. I use it every time I go outside since the mosquitoes and ticks love me! My husband uses it all the time as well since he works outside every day. He has had no issues with bites this season. It also lasts longer too! I've noticed that many name brand repellents last less than an hour. This natural formula I concocted lasts at minimum 2 hours. It was funny (not really, but still) because when I first tested it out, I forgot to spray the tops of my exposed feet in my flip flops before going outside and I got bites on my feet but no where else. So, give this a try. It can be found in the Etsy store.

All Purpose Healing Salve
Photo by:Kristine with Earth N Moon

For those of you who are allergic to poison ivy and poison oak, being outside in summer means double-checking to make sure you are not brushing up against one of these plants. I had a run in with some Cow Itch when I was younger and it was absolutely the worst experience. I had a rash everywhere! When I say everywhere, I mean it was around my eyes, in my nose, my ears, all over! I was miserable. So, the best way to prevent a catastrophic break out is by avoiding contact with poisonous plants and making sure you wear appropriate shoes and clothes when hiking on nature trails and in the woods. However, if you do happen to brush against a poison ivy plant unknowingly and develop a little rash, my new All Purpose Healing Salve is what you need! It works wonders on bug bits, bee stings, rashes, patches of break out due to poison ivy and poison oak, as well as healing minor cuts, abrasions, and burns. It is made with wild-crafted dog fennel, white clover flower, and plantain to help relieve pain, inflammation, and relieve itching and burning of skin irritations. It is also made with Salvia May Night that I personally grow in my garden as well as Lavender, White Willow Bark, and essential oils which are used as natural antiseptics and disinfectants. I've been wild-crafting and making my own salves for personal use for the past 6 years. However, I am just now starting to feel comfortable selling them. I started out making salves to use on cuts and scrapes. Then I found other purposes for salves such as skin irritations from bug bits and poisonous plants that I just had to put myself out there with everyone else. It does this trick and stays put once you put it on and lasts longer than most ointments.

Watermelon Lip Balm
Photo by:Kristine with Earth N Moon

Cool Peppermint Lip Balm
Photo by:Kristine with Earth N Moon

2-Pack Summertime Duo Lip Balm
Photo by:Kristine with Earth N Moon

Now on to those sensitive lips! Yes, they need love and attention too especially in heat and sun. My new lip balms make fun in the sun fun again with new Watermelon, Strawberry Sorbet, and Cool Peppermint flavors. I even offer a 2-pack which includes 1 Watermelon lip balm and 1 Strawberry Sorbet lip balm. The Cool Peppermint lip balm is tingly and cooling on the lips. So, if you decide to go out in the sun or just outside in general, make sure you are protecting your lips with a lip balm! I have also made a batch of all-natural beeswax and honey called Naturally, Honey. It is made with unbleached beeswax (yellow beeswax) and local natural honey. I LOVE this lip balm. So, I'll make sure to update this post as soon as they are labeled and put on the store site. Ya'll will fall in love with them too, I'm positive!

Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm
Photo by:Kristine with Earth N Moon

Now that you've seen our new items up for grabs in the Etsy store, have fun this summer without being ate up by bugs or having burned and chapped lips. Heal those wounds naturally and get back out there having fun before fall gets here!

Come back to my next post about thirsty skin during the summer months. I'll be talking about my lotions, foot creams, foot soaks, and antibacterial sprays in the next post. See you soon and stay safe!


Cheers!
Kristine

New Items and Sneak Peaks

Rose Water Setting Spray
Photo taken by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

Good afternoon! Hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday!

My daughter is taking a nap right now, so I have some time to get my blog posts done and inventory done. Yes, I religiously keep up with my inventory. Since I am constantly making new products and get in-person sales, I take a complete inventory twice a month. Once at the beginning, and once at the end.

This post features new items I have added to the Etsy store as well as sneak peaks of new items that have either been made and not added yet or items that are still in the planning stages.

My first new item is the Rose Water Setting Spray. It is 100% all natural and made with red rose petals, lavender buds, distilled water (always distilled water in all of my products that require it-no microbes!), Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe Vera, and Tamanu Oil. This is a quick-dry setting spray. After you apply your makeup, just spray all over your face and allow it to dry. Lasts all day!

Black Diamond Eye Shimmer
Photo taken by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

The next item on my list is my new Black Diamond Eye Shimmer. It is a dark gray that is close to black with shimmers of gold, pink, silver, and slight undertone green shimmers. It is the perfect eye shimmer for smoky eyes with a hint of reflective shimmer. Use it with or without an eye primer, it's totally up to you. Washes off easily, but lasts throughout the day.

I do have some more eye shimmers that I am getting ready to put on the site. I am hoping to get those ready before June so they can be included in the June Sale event on the 17th through the 19th.

I get asked all the time if I use my own products, and the answer is absolutely! Why wouldn't I? I make a separate sample for myself to try. If I don't like it, I don't approve it for sale to the public. I also use my own products on a daily basis. Yes, I use the soaps, skincare, and cosmetics because if I can't use anything else. I have noticed a huge difference in my skin's improved complexion, texture, and the overall appearance of my skin. Plus, any product I use that is not handmade or natural dries my skin out really bad. Now, a lot of people mistake all handmade products as being natural products which is not necessarily true. Natural handmade products are products that contain ingredients obtained from nature. In other words, the ingredients are made by nature, not man. Handmade products may be made with natural ingredients, but are not necessarily 100% natural. Some of the items I make are indeed 100% natural like the Rose Water Setting Spray, Antibacterial Spray, Clear Skin Spritzer, Tea Tree Lip Balm, Original Lip Balm, Lemongrass Lip Balm, Lip Butters, Sea Weed Clay Mask, Wheatgrass & Olive Leaf Face Mask, and most of the Eye Shimmers. Check out the Etsy store for individual listings.

Antibacterial Spray
Photo taken by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

The Antibacterial Spray is also a new item in which is made-to-order meaning that it will take approximately two weeks processing time to ensure that I have the bottles and materials ready. Since it is a natural antibacterial spray, I would prefer not to keep these on hand and just make them to order. I also offer rush shipping after the product is made if customers require a faster shipping method than USPS. Normally it does not take two weeks, but I allow myself the specified time just in case something happens. The Antibacterial Spray comes in 1 oz, 2 oz, and 4 oz sizes. Check the Etsy listing for pricing.

On to sneak peaks! We have already made and are packaging the following items which will be at the Virgilina Summerfest in less than two weeks.
We will be introducing:

• Watermelon Lip Balm-This is a tinted lip balm with the flavor of juicy, sweet watermelon. Perfect for starting the Summer off just right!
• Lip Tints-I have already made 4 starter shades that will be introduced along with the Watermelon Lip Balm.
• Raspberry Lemon Fizz Soap-Smells just like raspberry lemonade and made with our Goat's Milk formula for soft, smooth skin.
• Springtime Soap-Scented with Clover & Aloe for a fresh, clean way to start your day.
• Black Raspberry Vanilla Soap-Delicious black raspberry with a slight hint of vanilla. These will come in generous 4 oz. bars. I wanted to see how people would respond to a larger bar. They are $8.00 each which would be the same price for 2 2oz. bars.
• Hot Pink Soap-Scented with a sweet tropical fruit blend and topped with lime. A perfect addition to Summer scents and soaps.

Thank You!
Photo created by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

Wow! That's a lot of new stuff! So, if you have time, check out the Etsy store, and if you are planning on coming to the Virgilina Summerfest on May 28th in Virgilina, VA, come by and see me!

Oh, I also wanted to mention that we have hit the big 100 for followers and fans! Thank you for all of your love and support! 

Check back with me as my next post will feature a recipe for basic cold process soap.

Cheers!

Kristine

Lotions

I am now making lotions. I actually like making these more than the soaps. Okay, maybe that was a little lie. I really like making my soaps but making lotions is easy and the best part about it-you only need to let them set a couple hours before using them.

So, I wanted to talk about lotions today because I will have to use a preservative in order to keep mold and germs from growing in the lotions I make. Now, I know people see the word 'preservative' and they automatically think the worst. They're immediately turned off of a product because of the preservatives. There are all sorts of preservatives that are actually FDA approved and safe for the prevention of mold and bacteria growth in handmade products.

For example, in the Lavender & Basil lotion I made the other night, I used the preservative, Phenonip. Phenonip is a broad spectrum preservative that prevents the growth of mold, bacteria, and any other nasties that could grow in the lotion. Does it contain parabens? Yes, it does. I do have the option of using a paraben-free, formaldehyde-free preservative called Optiphen. However, putting things into perspective, I am selling these lotions and I do not want people to get sick or use a moldy product. So, to be safe, I do use preservatives in my lotions and I do not feel comfortable budging on this.

If you are looking for an all natural, preservative-free lotion, there are tons of DIY recipes online. However, they will not keep as well or as long as the handmade lotions with preservatives. Most of the recipes online for natural, preservative-free recipes will last 2 weeks if that. You will also need to refrigerate your lotion if you opt to not use an FDA approved preservative.

Now, with all of this being said, there are a few myths about natural preservatives. Grapefruit Seed Extract, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, and any other essential oil that you see in natural recipes as natural preservatives are not preservatives. They will not prevent the growth of mold and bacteria although they may help prolong the shelf life of the oils used in the lotion.

So, for anyone who was curious, I do make lotions but be aware that I do use FDA approved preservatives. This is only for the lotions. I do not use preservatives in any of my other items.
If you are curious about the other items I have, look to the left of my blog and you should see a link to the store. Hoping this helps!


Cheers!
Kristine