Wondering about an ingredient in your Schmoo Product. Lets take a look at some of the common and not so common ingredients we use here at the Schmoo.
Castor Oil
Its official name is Ricinus Communis. It is a thick glossy oil made from pressed Castor oil beans. At the schmoo We use it in our cold processed soaps to make the lather rich, thick & bubbly. You will also find this oil in our organic lip balm range. Not only is it soft and gentle on your lips but it adds a little sheen.
Jojoba Oil
Officially known as Simmondsia chinensis this small shrub is native to the desert areas of south west america. It is found in our lip balms as it is brimming with vitamin E and is an excellent moisturiser. It contains compounds very similar to our own skins sebum.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil appears on our labels as Sodium Cocoate. It is derived from the pressing of the white coconut flesh that we eat. it is a solid oil in the united kingdom for the most part, however if you live somewhere with an average temp of 24°C this solid oil will become liquid. Coconut oil liquifies on skin contact making it slide accross skin without ‘drag’ and has been refined to remove the coconut fragrance. We use coconut oil in our sea salt soaps as it contributes to a light bubbly lather.
Olive Oil
Olive oil Can be found on our product labels as Sodium Olivate. It is a liquid oil varying from golden yellow to light green. Made from pressing olives, it adds a rich lather to soap and helps to create a long lasting soap bar which is nourishing, gentle and suitable for all skin types.
Glycerin
Glycerin is formed in cold process soap making during the saponification stage. Saponification is an exothermic chemical reaction [gives off heat] that occurs when the fats or oils we use in out soap making come into contact with lye. It is this process that creates soap, all the lye is used up by the fats and oils and does not appear in the finished soap. A wonderfully skin nourishing by product of this reaction is glycerin. Some soaps have added glycerin, for its enhanced skin moisturising properties.
Sea Salt
Sea Salt, found on our soap labels as sodium chloride is a great addition to a soap bar. This is why at the schmoo we created a whole range of sea salt soap bars. these bars of salty goodness contain heaps of natural minerals including magnesium, potassium and calcium. It is also hydrophilic, meaning it attracts moisture from the air, so along with the naturally occuring glycerin in our sea salt soap bars your skin will feel amazing. It is both cleansing, gentle and great for removing dead skin cells. The lather created in the sea salt soap bars is rich and frothy and performs best when worked onto a loofah or popped into one of our Ramie bags [ natural nettle fiber].
Clays
At the schmoo we use kaolin clay in our sea salt soaps. Clays add ‘slip’ to the product, helping the soap to glide over the skin, whilst also anchoring the scent molecules in the essential oils to the soap itself. We use red, green and pink clays in our soaps. Klays are fantastic at absorbing excess oils from the skin and you will probably have used them in face masks. Clays are minerals and contain aluminium silicate, mica, quartz sand, calcium and magnesium. Mined in France, England, Saxony (Germany), Bohemia (Czech Republic), and in the United States.
Apricot Kernel Oil
This amazing oil can be found on our schmoo ingredient labels as Prunus armeniaca. It is made from the pressing of the apricot kernels. At the schmoo we use this oil in both our sugar and salt body scrubs, our whipped soaps and it is also in all our bath bombs. We love apricot kernel oil because it is rich in Vitamin A and is easily absorbed by the skin. It is high in oleic acid which is great for helping the skin to lock in water.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Coca B is an ingredient found in our whipped soap, sugar and salt scrubs. It is also found in our bath butter melts. Coca B is an organic compound derived from coconut oil . It is a natural skin cleanser and helps to create a frothy foam.
Sodium cocoyl isethionate
This product can be found in our whipped soaps, sugar and salt scrubs. Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) is a solid, gentle anionic surfactant made from coconut oil. It is this anionic element that makes the SCI an effective ingredient for washing. It has an acidic PH which helps to make it skin friendly in our products.
disodium cocoyl sulphosuccinate
This ingredient can be found in our Whipped soap, salt and sugar scrubs. unsuprisingly enough, it is yet another cleanser derived from the amazingly versatile coconut. It too helps to create a rich bubbly foam.
phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is an organic compound. It is a colorless oily liquid with a faint rose scent that helps to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast and fungi in formulations.
Cream of Tartar
Cream of Tartar is found on our labels as potassium bitartrate. It’s a key ingredient along with sodium bicarbonate in bathbombs and bubble bars to give frothy style bubbles. As a side note, cream of tartar is a by product of wine making.
buttermilk
Buttermilk is fantastically moisturising and really soothing to the skin. We use buttermilk in our spa foot bombs. These are similar to bathbombs but we use buttermilk to create a gentle foot soak with mild bubbles. Buttermilk is high in fat and lactic acid, and both help soften and hydrate skin.
Polysorbate 80
Polysorbate 80 is used to disperse oils into otherwise watery concoctions. At the schmoo we use polysorbate 80 In bathbombs, to ensure the oil in the product disperses into the bath rather than pooling on the top of the bath water, presenting a slipping hazard.
biodegradeable glitter
At the schmoo we use biodegradeable glitters. These glitters meet the requirements of both FDA and EU cosmetic regulations. Made from sustainably sourced, GMO free raw materials. The glitter is Made from biodegradable film certified to compost. The glitters are Not tested on animals and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Eco Sparks mica
eco spark mica is a Synthetic fluorphlogopite. it is a synthetic mimic of a natural mineral. It is earth friendly and biodegradable. It comes in a variety of colours and adds a splash of shine to our products.
alcohol denatured
Alcohol denat is an alcohol that contains additives to make it unpalatable. It is used to help products spread easily and absorb quickly. it acts as a preservative. At the schmoo we use alcohol denat in our cooling foor spray.