Ida's Soap Box

Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant essences like essential oils to support wellbeing and help maintain the balance of the mind, body, and spirit. There are a variety of ways to add a bit of aromatherapy into your life using essential oils. Each oil offers a range of unique aromatherapeutic properties, uses, and effects. Different oils can also be combined to create a synergistic blend with its own unique benefits.

Aging is a natural process of life! Sadly, we are constantly bombarded with commercials and seduced by beautiful ads that promise to eliminate every sign of aging for flawless skin because aging is undesirable and unattractive. To me, it is just noise to make us feel bad about who we are and about getting older.

These days I find nothing more relaxing than a quiet soak in the tub -- it is my act of self-love.  My favorite addition to my tub has always been organic herbs and botanicals. Herbal bath teas are perfect all on their own but anytime you prepare an herbal bath you can combine bathing herbs with other great skincare additives most of which can be found in your kitchen cupboards.

Some "natural/organic" soap companies are using Sodium Coco Sulfate as an ingredient claiming that since it is made from coconut oil it is natural. Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS), like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), is synthetic detergent used to create lather and remove oil and grease. Should it be used as an ingredient in a product that claims to be "natural?"