Your new must have for fall winter 2015

Your new must have for fall winter 2015

 

Today is a post by Caron (the other bloom of Two Blooms)

The essential oil of lemon is going to be your new ‘must have’ for winter 2015 and at the end of this teeny, tiny blog post you’ll be wanting to send me presents.

First of all, ALWAYS ask the origin of your essential oils and are they steam distilled (you never want chemically distilled oils). Secondly, Do. Not. Ingest. essential oils.  These are for topical use only and never use them neat (straight out of the bottle onto your skin).  ALWAYS use a carrier oil to blend them with.

Now on to the star of the show…Miss Lemon Essential Oil 2015!!!

 Lemon Essential Oil

Feeling a little stuffed up?  Congested?  Put a few drops of our lemon essential oil in your diffuser and if you don’t have one, put a few drops in a pot of water and put on the stove to simmer.  Try and stay in the same room and inhale (do not inhale the burning hot steam coming off the pot, just a reminder).

Works as a wonderful room freshener and can help increase alertness and concentration.  Add a few drops to a spray bottle and spray frequently, astringent properties mean you can use it as a face toner for oily skin and as a hand cleaner, even use it in the kitchen to wipe down all your surfaces.  Your kitchen/bathroom/living room will smell so fresh and pure. 

Don’t have a spray bottle?  Dip tiny cotton balls in our lemon essential oil and put them in a bottle cap and place on bookshelves or behind lamps (out of the way).  This way the air will be permeated with the scent of fresh lemons and you’ll reap the benefits including calming and distressing.

Lemon is a powerhouse for its cleansing properties but it also has calming effect.  We only sell steam distilled lemon essential oil and yes, its ‘therapeutic grade’.  We use this term to state our essential oils are the highest quality that we have personally sourced and are not diluted.  Also it’s a widely used term that customers look for when purchasing essential oils.

Here’s to a winter of less colds/flu’s and seasonal stresses, all thanks to the lemon!!

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Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

Smoke & Mirrors

Smoke & Mirrors

Today is a guest post by Caron (the other bloom of Two Blooms Design Studio.

You have to admit, those photos with inspirational quotes can just be the best.  Growing up I had a giant poster of a ballerina in leg warmers filled with holes, her toe shoes were taped up and I don’t even remember the quote – something about working hard to make your dreams come true.

And when people say “oh, you’ll have to work hard if you have your own business’ you imagine working night and day filling orders non-stop.  You have to hire busloads of staff and you buy city blocks of factory space.  Yes you’re working hard, but the money is falling from heaven.

Well, that last story is definitely about us, in case you were wondering.  While I type this, I can hear the hum of the factory next door – thousands of bars of soap are being poured and the post truck comes by 3 times a day for pick ups.  It’s a glorious life and maybe I’ll post an inspirational photo for you all to attain to. (KIDDING).

Are you still with me?  Here’s the thing.  So much of what we see out there is ‘smoke and mirrors’.  Yes, we were interviewed 3 times in 2 weeks by a national tv station and a local one, yes when you look at our page you can see our media coverage and as someone said to us the other day “you’re just killing it”.  And yes, after THIRTEEN YEARS we are indeed thriving.  But there are still days when you lose accounts or don’t get chosen for the ‘it’ store.  Suddenly you feel like the kid who didn’t get chosen for the baseball team.  Everyone got scooped up quickly and you were left, the very last person.

Being self employed is like that some days.  It seems like EVERYONE ELSE is killing it and you’re in your studio pouring over new recipes and ideas.  Their Facebook feeds are filled with the 87,000 new accounts they just picked up, how everyone loves their stuff and how amazing they are – and you’re plugging away.

The dream will take time.  There will be fabulous days.  And there will be many more days when you feel like you’re not doing it right and its soul crushing.

 It doesn’t matter.  You stay in the game.  And when you’re called, you get up and you play the best you can.  Maybe you don’t hit a home run, but you show up.  And every day you show up and put one foot in front of the other and you keep going.  And along the way dreams may happen and sometimes you spend your days helping other people find their dreams.  Just keep going because its true, the dream really does take a lot of time, relax, we’re in this together.

Like this post? Want to see more? Then stay up to date with our blog.

Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

Got the munchies? Try this protein rich snack.

Are you noticing the changes with the fall season?  Leaves are changing colours, the evenings are cooler, it's time to layer and enjoy cozy nights. This recipe is perfect for this time of year.

This recipe holds a special place in my heart.  Years ago I had the amazing chance to go the Philippines (see my previous post about this experience) to work as a volunteer with a humanitarian aid organization.  I lived there among the people and culture for 3 months. One of the snacks I loved while I was there was cooked chick peas that were flavoured with curry and salt. You would buy them in a clear baggie and pop them in your mouth like popcorn. To this day I love chick peas and always remember the Philippines.

Chick peas are so good for you for many reasons. They are high in protein, low in fat, rich in zinc and folic acid and a healthy source of carbohydrates.

Protein Rich Snack Recipe

• 1 1/2 cups of raw chick peas (makes about 3 cups cooked) You can buy them in a can but they are so high sodium and honestly the raw taste so much better for this recipe. I tried them both with raw and cooked and the canned are more dense and mushier (still good just not the ultimate that they could be)
• 1 1/2 curry powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 TBSP of olive oil for your pan
• Cast Iron pan
• Salt to taste

1.  First you want to take your 1 1/2 cup of raw chick peas and put them in a pot and cover them with water (no heat needed you are not cooking them yet) and soak them overnight. This is the trick to plump them up. 

2.  After they've soaked overnight, rinse them thoroughly and put in a pot with water and cook  them until they are soft.

3.  After they are tender, rinse them again and put them in a clean towel for at least  10 minutes to get them as dry as possible (I wrapped them up like a mummy and kept batting them around to get them all dry.)  

4.  Get your pan (cast iron work really well) with oil heated up, once the oil is hot, toss the dried off chick peas in and keep shaking them in the pan.  It takes at least 10 minutes before they start crisping up.  

5.  Once they are crisped up, transfer them to a bowl. Now take your seasonings (be creative, use whatever you have on hand, I saw a recipe for blackening seasoning which would be so good but I didn't have on hand. Throw in hot sauce, whatever you want).  Sprinkle the seasoning over the chick peas tossing them to coat.  

6.  Once they cool, eat (although we can never wait until they cool down, we eat them hot:)

If you don't want to crisp them in a pan you could try (after step 3) putting your chick peas in a pan and baking them in the oven or a toaster oven. I'm planning to try that next.

What are your favourite snack recipes? Let me know in the comments below.

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Hi, I’m Michelle the founder of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. I’m in charge of production, designing all of our labels in house, photography, customer service, alchemist behind all of our scent blends, designer, creator and pretty much whatever else needs to be done.

Toner Your New BFF

Toner Your New BFF

   

There are two bottles that sit on my dresser, our Rose Toner and our Orange Blossom toner.  Yes, they do everything they’re supposed to do.  They moisturize, they tone your face, they act as a make up remover in a pinch, they set my make up but wait there’s more.

I use them as a light fragrance and spray them liberally on my hair and clothes and don’t need to worry that it will be too strong or too offensive.  In fact, I am always asked why I smell so good whenever I get out of my car or go to the bank.  And one more use?  They act as a de-stresser, whenever I am feeling overwhelmed I walk over to the bottles, pick each one up and choose which scent I need.  The rose is a gentle mist that promises of better days ahead while the Orange Blossom reminds me of the spring time and it calms me.

Both of these toners can act as an astringent which fights acne and reduces blemishes.  As well, they are a natural, mild antiseptic that helps to reduce inflamed skin by stimulating the circulation in tiny blood vessels beneath the skin.

As well, they help to maintain the pH of your skin and helps to soothe insect bites and sunburn.  Spray on your face for a cooling and relaxing feel on your skin and both toners are ideal for all skin types.

So see, these two powerhouses are indeed your new best friends and give new meaning to the words ‘multi-taskers’. 

Shop our Rose Face Hydrating Mist & our Neroli Face Hydrating Mist.

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Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

Have you experienced the amazing properties of olive oil?

Have you experienced the amazing properties of olive oil?

Organic Olive oil is used in the majority of our products and I’m here to explain the marvelous benefits of this wonderful oil.

We love that it’s vegan and has a multitude of uses including for the body and hair.

Vitamin E has 3 antioxidants: Vitamin E, Phytosterois and Polyphenols. It is said that when you apply oil olive on the skin it may help with premature again. The vitamin E protects your skin from ultraviolet light and keeps it smooth.

It does not clog pores although many people are afraid to use olive oil on their face. It goes deep into the skin and offers a cleansing effect.

It is useful when exfoliating your skin. Try adding some sea salt to olive oil to slough off dead skin cells. The combination of the abrasive sea salt and the deep penetrating benefits of olive oil make a great combination.

Olive oil can be used used to heal and soothe dry or irritated skin. It can also be used to calm sunburns.

Did you know it can help prevent stretch marks?  Olive oil helps skin become more supple and allows it to regenerate.

If are worried about the oily feeling on your face you can wipe away the dirt or makeup on your skin and then rinse off with your favourite cleanser. Better yet try our Organic Bamboo Charcoal Face Soap.

If you want beautiful shiny hair then try this little tip.  Slightly heat olive oil and apply all over your head and wrap with a towel then shampoo as normal.

 

Why not try our Organic solid perfumes infused with olive oil and our natural essential oil blends?

 Organic Shine Solid Perfume

Organic Bliss Solid Perfume

What are you favourite ways to use olive oil?

 

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Hi, I'm Michelle the artist, visionary, creator and designer of Two Blooms Design Studio. I moved from a big city to Vancouver Island and fell in love with the west coast. My world is surrounded by beautiful scents, on trend design and endless possibilities.

Are you living the dream?

So in my haste yesterday I forgot to include the  link to the rest of the post from the flax seed crackers. I've added the rest of the steps and you can find the full recipe here.

Are you living the dream?

   

“There’s always tomorrow for dreams to come true” just came swimming into my head.  Thought for sure it was a Disney movie with a lovely princess but actually its from “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Christmas anyone??

Been pondering dreams a lot lately, not the sleepy time kind, but dreams we hold in our heart.  Things we’ve held on to for a long time (hello size 6 jeans hanging in my closet) and things we’ve haven’t let go of yet.

My sister and I have been toiling for the past 13 years on our dream.  To be fair, it was off the side of our desk for the first 9 years, we attended weekly farmers markets and kept our full time jobs.  It was fun, it was exciting but it wasn’t our full time job.

 

 

Four years ago, we decided to sink or swim, jump right in and make it happen.  We left our lovely jobs and started working full time on Two Blooms.  We didn’t really have a plan, we knew we had a good product but we didn’t have a business background.

So we relied on our brilliant sense of humour (“oh, you wanted a receipt?  Oh, sorry I’ll email it to you when I get back”.)  And we continued with our amazing customer service.  We bent over backwards for everyone making customer scents and products for customers, rushing orders to get them on time (or early) and never really charged enough money. 

Now we’re smarter (I hope), we’ve found some good people to align ourselves with and most importantly, we’ve started believing our dreams.  Its not just hard work because we both work non-stop, one of us is on social media all day, sprucing up photos and text, plus photographs and on it goes.  Its more like a marathon to get to your dream.  You will hit walls and you will cry and want to give up, but the next day you’ll fall in love all over again and decide to make a new product or dream a new dream.

So if I could amend Burl Ive’s song I would. Its not just tomorrow for dreams to come true, its getting a solid group of people to walk through your dreams with you.  Who will love you enough to tell you when to either stop or find another way.  So yes, there are always tomorrows for dreams to come true, but its more like there are always tomorrows for more 24/7 work weeks.  Dreams don’t always come true, but you just never know when its going to happen and chances are, it may be better than what you could have ever dreamed.

P.S. We are checking our comments. We noticed some comments from posts back and tried to respond to all of them.

See our posts as soon as they are published.

Is Titanium Dioxide really harmful to your health?

Is Titanium Dioxide Really Harmful to your health?

   

So you’ve heard titanium dioxide is a scary ingredient and maybe to you it is based on some research, so let’s shed more light on this white substance.

Let’s start by talking about the definition of titanium dioxide. It’s a white, fine powder that is a pigment often used in food, sunscreen and cosmetics. When used in food or cosmetics it provides a whitish colour, in sunscreen it protects against UV rays. To get more technical let’s look at the Wikipedia's definition:  Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula TiO2. When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white,Pigment White 6 (PW6), or CI 77891. Generally it is sourced from ilmenite, rutile and anatase. It has a wide range of applications, from paint to sunscreen to food colouring. When used as a food colouring, it has E number E171.

Even though titanium dioxide has become controversial in recent years, its been around for a long time  and is one of the top 50 chemicals made.  If you look at some research it’s linked to cancer but when you read further it states that it has low skin penetration and it’s a concern if you inhale it.  It is naturally occurring but is chemically manufactured to remove impurities leaving behind a pure white pigment. It has no odour (which is probably why it’s used in so many products), and is absorbent. According to the FDA it is listed as a safe pigment with no adverse affects in cosmetics when it’s pure.  What you should be concerned about is ultrafine or nano particles. 

Did you know that Dunkin’ Donuts removed titanium dioxide from it’s donuts because of pressure from the advocacy group As You Sow.  The reason is due to nano particles which is the controversial subject out there.  Researchers know that the smaller the particles are, the more toxic they become. The type used in food has a particle size of about 200 nanometers in diameter which is one five hundredth the width of a human hair. If you were to inhale large quantities of this it would begin to affect you.

A customer once asked me why soaps contain titanium dioxide? The simple answer is that they are used for cosmetic (colouring) purposes. So unless you are taking large amounts of nano titanium dioxide and dumping it in your hand and sniffing it, its harmless.   We use a non nano form of titanium dioxide in our organic soaps and nail polish.  To cater to those who prefer soap without titanium dioxide we offer a vast range of soaps without it.  Here is one example.

See our new blog posts here.

 Hi, I'm Michelle the artist, visionary, creator and designer of Two Blooms Design Studio. I moved from a big city to Vancouver Island and fell in love with the west coast. My world is surrounded by beautiful scents, on trend design and endless possibilities.

Let me show you how to turn a lemon seed into solitude

Photo Credit: Unknown

 Let me show you how to turn a lemon seed into solitude

Plant. Wait. Grow

The cashier asked me where I got the glue.  I waved over to the front of the store and she said ‘school supplies?’ and I said ‘yes’, because that was the area I bought it in.  She automatically reduced the price assuming I was buying school supplies for my children.  What does this have to with lemon seeds and solitude? Read on to find out more.

It didn’t dawn on me until I got home what she meant.  I thought she was referring to the section of the store, she meant were they school supplies.  I tabulated the nine cents of savings and decided it wasn’t worth the drive back to the store.

Its ingrained in me after years of teaching school.  No matter where in the world I taught (Canada, US, Hawaii (I know its in the US, but it deserves special mention), Panama, Fiji, Russia – the school year brings a sense of anticipation to children worldwide (and the same sense of relief to parents :)
It’s a new school year and to me it’s the real new years.  It’s the time to clean up from a wild summer of BBQ’s, lemon iced tea, beach parties and trips to the cabin (or, if you’re an entrepreneur, a summer of working way into the night and catching glimpses of the neighbours as they come home with tales from the beach :)

So whether you’re prepping for school lunches or just slogging away at the same old, same old – I have a challenge for you.  The lemon you squeeze in your water?  Take those seeds and plant them in a pot of soil.  Put it on your windowsill and watch the magic of newness unfold.  Even if it doesn’t sprout into a lemon tree, the new leaves unfurling will remind you that there’s still a whole lot of life still to be lived.  New challenges, new joys and new days ahead.  So don’t get too bogged in the day to day stuff, plant something and watch what blooms and enjoy the solitude.

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About Caron:  Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

What is the Fuss with Bamboo Charcoal Soap?

Photo Credit:  Google Images

What is the Fuss with Bamboo Charcoal Soap?

“I need some of that black soap, you know, with the burnt stuff in it”.  I stared sweetly at my customer at the market wondering how long I’d let her struggle.  She started laughing and I pointed to our Bamboo Charcoal Soap, which she clutched to her heart and kept saying “yes, that’s it, thank you SOOO much”.  The customer beside her watched in fascination and when the transaction was complete, asked me what the deal was with the bamboo stuff soap.

Here’s what I told her and since I am an expert on all things apothecary, you should believe every word I tell you.  Bamboo is a grass (not a tree) and as the garden centre once told me, is the fastest growing wood plant in the world and the great thing, it regrows when you cut down the stalks.  Thus, this is an extremely environmentally friendly plant.

Now what about bamboo charcoal soap? What’s the good in that?  Well here’s the thing, it is very absorbent and cleans the skin amazingly.  It absorbs minerals, toxins, impurities from your skin leaving it clean and clear.

Troubled skin?  This soap can help eczema, psoriasis and dry cracked skin. The friendly bamboo kills bacteria and cleans the skin thoroughly and allows the body’s natural moisturizers to work effectively.  In fact these tiny particles of bamboo are not only antibacterial but also anti-viral, anti-fungal and antimicrobial – any bacteria based skin problems don’t stand a chance.

Yes, it may leave some colour on a brand new white wash cloth but it does wash off, use a dark coloured wash cloth and you won’t have a problem.  We recommend our Organic Bamboo Charocoal Soap.

Any questions or any other topics you’d like me to discuss, just leave us a comment (we love comments :)

See our blog posts when they are published.

About Caron:  Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

Look How Far We've Come

Photo Credit:  Google

Yesterday as we were at our farmer’s market we had the chance to meet some new people. One of our old friends came up to our booth with his son. His wife used to run the market we sell at. Caron and I couldn’t believe how tall his son was as he was a wee little lad all those years ago. Today he was twelve. We got to talking about the old days and he commented that the market had changed. While talking to him and after he left I realized just how much the landscape of the market had changed. I can tell you from memory where certain vendors used to sell.   Customers have changed as well, new vendors have come in and it’s a whole different market.  When I came home later that day I was working on labels and came across an old soap label and also realized how much we’ve grown as a business.

Caron and I so appreciate all the local support we’ve received over the years and couldn’t do what we do without you our customers.  Our local mayor dreams the way we do, that stores in our downtown area would continue to support local artisans and not rely on importing so much. Not that there is anything wrong with imports, but it would be nice to see something from the city we live in.  We are in a high tourist area and I would think someone visiting would want to take something home from an artist in our city.   Whenever I travel I always like to pick up something from that city to bring home to remind me of that place.

We can’t forget to thank our customers outside of Victoria, they're the reason we’ve been able to continue to do what we love.

I’ve seen this online many times but when you continue here...

 Hi, I'm Michelle the artist, visionary, creator and designer of Two Blooms Design Studio. I moved from a big city to Vancouver Island and fell in love with the west coast. My world is surrounded by beautiful scents, on trend design and endless possibilities.

Look Ahead

Mount Douglas Park in Victoria, BC Photo Credit:  Caron Somers

Look Ahead

This post was published on our blog late last night by the other bloom Caron.

My friend sent me an email tonight, she’d been suddenly let go from a job she loved and one that she’d been good at.  I felt so bad for her.

And then I looked at the date and I remembered.

This time last year,  I too had been let go from a job I loved.  It was a family run business, had worked there for 6 years and been a part of the company for 13.  Called into the new bosses office one afternoon and let go.  No severance pay and no farewell cake with all the staff either, I never got to even say good bye.  I walked out to the parking lot, called home and sobbed.  Last summer was a blur of crying.  I cried clear to Christmas.

In January I tried to convince myself I was over it all but I hadn’t counted on feeling shunned.  How no one bothered to call to see how I was, no one checked to see if I was ok.  February – June still crying and thinking I’d never get over this.  This would be my undoing and I’d never amount to anything ever again.

I can’t say there was one clear moment when the sun began to shine and birds started chirping again.  But it happened.  And I didn’t even realize it, until my family mentioned that I didn’t cry anymore.  The answer was to have people in my life that loved me regardless, that pushed me to see that there was life after getting fired.  That I had value and I would heal.  And I did.  So much so, that I walked into a gathering where my old boss was and I didn’t even flinch.  I sat down, enjoyed the program, hugged a few people and walked away.  The pain had gone, the sting had subsided and I had not only forgiven the players, but moved on.  And if you had told me this time last year, I would never have believed you.  But I guess that’s what faith is, just putting one foot in front of the other and looking ahead.

About Caron:  Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

Must Have For Fall

 Must Have For Fall

Each purse is hand sewn and fully lined with a repurposed vintage fabric.  Zipper with pull with your choice of a hand stamp, embroidery or pattern.  Embroidered initials can be ordered (up to 5 letters).  Can be used as a make up bag, throw into your purse with your phone, keys and lip balm or just about anything else.  Lovely bridesmaid gift, thank you or a gift just for you.

These come in various sizes and colours.  Each one is unique in size and style.

Jean Pocket Style (red/white lining) Available here. 

Bottom Middle Photo


Size 4.6” W at the widest part going down to 4.75” W at the bottom 5.18” H

Comes with a guest size (51 g) Organic West Coast Trail Soap, Shine Organic Solid Perfume in slider tin (0.25 oz) and Fusion Organic Lip Balm tube (Lemongrass/Lavender 0.15g) Black Tassle on Zipper

Jean Pocket Style with smaller Bike (blue/white) check lining Available Here

Top Row Left Photo

Size 4.9” W x 5.25” H

Comes with a guest size (51 g) Organic Bliss Soap, Bliss Organic Solid Perfume slider tin (0.25 oz) and Roses in Bloom Organic Beeswax Lip Balm (0.15 g) Blue Tassle on Zipper

Tree Style Purse (blue/white lining) Available Here

Top Row Middle Photo


Size 5.9” W x 4.5” H

Comes with a guest size (51 g) Organic West Coast Trail Soap, Shine Organic Solid Perfume in slider tin (0.25 oz) and Fusion Organic Lip Balm tube (Lemongrass/Lavender 0.15g) Blue and White Zipper Tassle

Rectangle Bike Style (white/blue square lining) Available Here

Bottom Row Right Photo

6.25" W x 4.5" H

Great for the gents:  Comes with Single Malt Organic Beard Oil (0.15 oz). Can sub for Nerola or Amber Organic Nourish Oil. Leave note when ordering. Organic On the Coast Fragrance Free Lip Balm. Blue Ribbon Zipper Tassle

See the rest here.

Hi, I'm Michelle the artist, visionary, creator and designer of Two Blooms Design Studio. I moved from a big city to Vancouver Island and fell in love with the west coast. My world is surrounded by beautiful scents, on trend design and endless possibilities.

What is the Dealeo with Colourants?

    Various Colourants

What is the Dealeo with Colourants?

 

All Photos Shown are via Google Images

Another topic with so many views out there. So I’ll explain briefly the various colourants and what we use in our products.

There are FD & C colourants usually indicated on the label by D&C Red 7 or sometimes just Red 7 etc.  These are cosmetic dyes that are synthetic and there is much controversy surrounding these.  In the USA these are certified by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that controls the specifications and use for all food, drug, and cosmetic colors.  In Canada this falls under Health Canada. Most makers use the approved varieties of these colours.  The most controversial of these colours is the Red Dye 40. Remember a lot of these dyes are found in the foods we eat.

FD&C Dye Colourants

The next group of colourants are the Oxides and Ultramarines. These are commonly used in makeup and mineral makeup.  They are bright colours.  The majority of sellers use cosmetic grade. This type is skin safe.  They can be found in raw form but they are not safe due to lead and heavy metals.  In order for them to be skin safe  these colours are synthetic and created in labs.  These are usually labelled oxides, ultramarines or CI77289

 Oxides and Ultramarines

Micas are commonly used in soaps and beauty products. These exist in raw form as well but again contain harmful metals. They are produced in a lab as well in order for them to be skin safe.  Most of these contain FD&C dyes and these are not considered natural but there are exceptions out there that only contain tin oxide and titanium dioxide and these are considered natural along with labeling of just mica.

 Mica Colourants

The last group of colourants are those that many classify as natural. Natural is a very difficult term because it can mean so many things. The FDA looks at colourants as those that need certification and those that don’t.  These colourants are usually Clays, Seaweed Extract, Indigo, Charcoal, Annatto, Paprika, Alkanet Root, Rattanjot and the list goes on.  These are usually labelled like they sound except for Kaolin which is a clay and a few others.

 Natural Colourants

The only place we use these colourants is in our soaps and nail polish. Half of our soaps fall into the last group of colourants that are considered natural and half  fall into the mica oxides and ultramarines category. Why you ask? We love the natural colourants but they tend to be more muted and can fade over time. We love colour so half of our soaps are made with more vibrant stable colours that don’t fade.  Keep in mind colourants usually make up about 1% of a soap recipe and sometimes less,  and soap is a wash off product.

There isn’t a right or wrong here but you have to decide which type of colour you prefer or if it even matters at all.

Are colourants important to you? Let us know.

See all your bloom worthy news here.

About Michelle
Michelle is one of the blooms and founder of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is in charge of production, designing all of our labels in house, photography, customer service, alchemist behind all of our scent blends, designer, creator and pretty much whatever else needs to be done.