Essential U Blog

Wordless Wednesday #12: The Glamorous Way I Saw The World

I Was On the Etsy Virtual Soap Symposium

I had so much fun today as a “speaker” at the Etsy Virtual Soap Symposium on the topic of essential oils and safety.  It literally was a virtual room and I presented in two sentence written blocks and took questions.  I was done presenting pretty quickly and most of my time was spent answering questions.  We were in the virtual symposium for nearly two and a half hours – and since it was virtual I didn’t lose my voice with all that talking!  I thought you might all enjoy reading my notes from the symposium. 

      

Welcome to Essential Oil Safety Class at the Virtual Soap Symposium hosted by S.A.F.E.  My name is Kayla Fioravanti. I am an Aromatherapist. I was certified through a NAHA aromatherapy course shortly after I discovered aromatherapy in 1998.  NAHA is the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapist which sets standards for certification programs.  I am also a Registered Aromatherapist through the Aromatherapy Registration Council which sets even higher standards for aromatherapy education and practice.

The Infamous Swedish Police Incident of 1978

As we approached the dock we noticed a large crowd gathered there.  They glared at us coldly as the Swedish police escorted us to the dock.   My mother waited there with a mixture of anger, worry and relief reflected on her face.  

      

Let me take a few steps backwards in this story to unfold the details of the infamous Swedish police incident. I was a child and camping with my family along a beautiful river in Sweden.  We decided that it would be fun to go fishing for our dinner.  My mom, not being a water person, decided not to come with us.  My dad, brother and I rented a boat and all the necessities from the camp store and headed out for a day of fishing. 

Chemically Speaking Regarding: 1,4-dioxane

Recently, 1,4-dioxane has gotten some bad press.  It has been found to be a trace contaminant in some bubble baths, shower gels and shampoos. 1,4-dioxane is a by-product compound that is produced by the hydrolysis of ethylene oxide in the process of manufacturing some surfactants.  Two molecules of ethylene oxide dimerize to form dioxane with ethylene glycol as an intermediate in the synthesis. This end product is a clear, water soluble, hygroscopic liquid that contains solvent properties.

 

 

 

In terms of human biology, organic solvents such as 1,4 dioxane can have some adverse effects if one should become exposed to the toxin in large quantities. Exposure to1,4-dioxane can occur through inhalation or from ingestion. Recent studies on rats have shown that exposure to this chemical may result in mucous membrane irritation, skin irritation and depression of the central nervous system. Chronic heavy exposure to 1,4 dioxane has shown to cause damage to the liver and kidneys with death as a probable outcome of prolonged heavy exposure.

Do You Want the Good News or the Bad News First?

At Essential Wholesale we have continued working with Donna Maria Johnson Coles of Indie Beauty Network and our colleagues in the beauty industry to advocate for the beauty industry regarding the FDA Globalization Act of 2009 (HR-759). Donna Maria, Essential Wholesale, Marie Gale and Leigh O’Donnell of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Lela Barker of Bella Lucce, Anne-Marie Faiola of Brambleberry have all remained involved in an attempt to positively affect the legislative process on behalf of thousands of small cosmetics manufacturers nationwide.

  

As we have mentioned before - you spoke and Congress listened regarding the fees originally attached to the 2008 version of the FDA Globalization Act. With your support signing the Indie Beauty Petition, writting letters to and meeting with your representatives, we were successful in having those fees and other portions of the law removed. The battle is won but our advocacy continues, including efforts to seek language in HR-759 that empowers the FDA to define "small businesses," and grant waivers from parts of the registration requirements when they would be in the public’s interest. You can read our latest letter to Congress in that regard at this link.

Wordless Wednesday #11: Never Too Old!

Take a Potty Break Before They Slap the Handcuffs On

Small piece of advice: take a potty break before they slap the handcuffs on.  Honestly, I’ve only had the pleasure of wearing handcuffs twice in my life, which I know is less than some and more than others, so I don’t know if I qualify as an expert on the subject or not.  But the two times I found myself handcuffed all I could think of was how badly I needed to use the restroom.  It distracted me from concentrating on the serious subject matter at hand. 

 

      

 

Small matter of housekeeping: I had only broken the law the one time and the second time I was completely innocent.  The short story of my first run in with handcuffs includes my stupidity as a teenager, a bottle of beer and long wait in the back of a police car handcuffed.  That night I performed the longest stationary potty dance ever waltzed and took a somber trip home with a ticket for minor in possession in my hand for the forced confession to my parents.  I actually think I am still grounded from that one.   

New Organically Preserved Soothing Shaving Creme

Organically Preserved Soothing Shaving Creme is here!  This new 73% organic content shaving creme is a non-foaming creme that creates a smooth glide of the razor over the skin.  Reviews of this new shaving creme have been wonderful from both men and women.  It contains all the good stuff that your skin needs and leaves out the common harsh chemicals of shaving products.  Order a sample today and see for yourself what reviewers have been raving about. 

Chemically Speaking Regarding: Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

From a chemical standpoint, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate is a very unique surfactant. It demonstrates outstanding performance in cleansing, foaming, wetting, viscosity building, mildness and emulsification. It is an excellent surfactant for any water hardness and is biodegradable making it a versatile ingredient in cosmetic formulation. Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate was specifically developed to be mild to the skin. It is commonly the surfactant of choice for formulators developing products that are designed for those who have sensitivity to other soaps. The sodium lauryl sulfoacetate molecule is a valuable and unique molecule that has been in use for over 30 years in cosmetics.

  

Some common characteristics of sodium lauryl sulfoacetate are that it is relatively non-hygroscopic (it does not absorb or retain moisture from the air) and is resistant to hydrolysis (it does not react with water to produce other compounds) even at high temperatures. It is especially stable at the common cosmetic pH range of 5.5 to 7.8. Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate is biodegradable and has shown in laboratory studies to undergo both primary and ultimate biodegradation. This product has a good toxicological profile which makes it an ingredient of choice for dentifrice (toothpastes), shampoos, cleansing creams, sensitive skin soap bars and shower gels. To add to its track record, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate is registered in the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia and is compliant with the EU regulations.

Meet Your Private Label Sales Team

Our Private Label Contract Manufacturing Sales Team includes some familiar faces and two new additions. Laura has returned from maternity leave and is heading up the team as the General Sales Manager.  There is no one more qualified to lead this team than Laura.  She is a licensed esthetician, has a long history with our company, is amazingly knowledgeable about this industry and customers love her.  She is passionate about skin, natural cosmetics, helping her customers succeed and has amazing leadership skills. 

        

Jasmine is so effective at her job that she simply can't do it all any more.  She already works long hours to make sure that every detail of every customer's project is taken care of correctly and in a timely manner.  It was time to bring in a full sales team to keep up with this green industry.  Which brings me to my introduction of Kedric and Alec.  They have been through extensive training all week long from Dennis, Laura, myself, Kacie and Ryan in addition to being trained on the spot at Natural Product Expo West where some of you were able to meet them. 

Regular blog readers might recognized Kedric from company party pictures.  Kedric is married to Maria in customer service.  The housing industry crash has given us the opportunity to snatch up a great salesman with incredible customer service skills that normally wouldn't be looking for a job.  Alec is also another amazing catch for Essential Wholesale since he only became available for hire after the banking industry disaster.  Both are survivors of the current economy who decided to change fields.  We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to add Kedric and Alec to the Essential Wholesale/Essential Labs team.