Life in the Shop

If you've poked around these parts before you probably noticed all sorts of different things like we're passionate about our products, we love the stores that carry us, you never know where you're going to find us peddling our products, we (or at least Heather) loves chickens...

If you grew up with Sesame Street

One of these things is not like the others, 

One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

As much as we're sure you guys love to know everything about Rinse we just didn't think that all of that info should live all in the same place.

Here you will still find everything about Rinse, our products, the shows we do & the stores that carry us.  Now you'll find all of the other fun stuff like what inspires us, what we love & maybe even what we ate at our other blog:  Life in the Shop.

Where in the World

I know, I know.   That's probably what you've been thinking.  Well, we've been here there & everywhere.  And as it seems that trend is going to continue.  But the good news is that I'm bringing in reinforcements, doing a bit of reorganization & generally sprucing things up a bit around here.

Never fear, we'll keep all the things you love most about this place like product & ingredient info but I think you'll like what's to come so stay tuned!

product highlight – Tea Tree Bliss

aka Tea Tree Roll-On

The background…
To tell you the truth, the Tea Tree Bliss  was a personal blend (I was being selfish for a moment) that saved me from itching more often than not.  It all started many years ago when I some how came in contact with a batch of Poison Ivy.  Now the most interesting part of this is that I was nowhere near a plant but rather in the middle of a parking lot during a farmers’ market.  I figure I rubbed up against someone or something that had previously been a little too close to the infamous “leaf of three.”  Well, my arm itched & swelled then it blistered.  After a couple of days of tolerating all of the above while trying to do everything to keep my hands off of it I had a light bulb moment.  I went into the workshop & mixed a little bit of this with a few drops of that & WALA, I was cured.  No really, it only took 1 application & about 15 minutes for the irritation to go away & only overnight until my skin was pretty much back to normal.  For the next couple of years I kept this potion for personal use.  I wasn’t hoarding, I just didn’t know there was that much of a need for it.  Finally I realized that there was, so we bottled it & now are letting lots of others enjoy the “magic” of my potion.

Why we love it…

1. Of course, because it helps to relieve & even clear up minor skin irritations like poison ivy (my itchy arm loves it a lot)
2. Bug Bites!!!  I must be really sweet because the just eat me up.  I no longer worry about it because my Tea Tree Roll-On will do the trick for the itch.
3. Blemishes beware!  Have one or feel one coming?  Just a dab will do you & it.
4. It’s 100% natural, Vegan Friendly & Gluten Free
5. It is a blend of 2 of our favorite things:  Squalane Oil (see previous blog post here) & Tea Tree Essential Oil (which is know for it’s antiseptic & healing properties)

Don't just take our word for it...

• "I love it, I use it for zits, bug bites, burns, itchy spots. I swear by it."  Cynthia S.
• "I just started using it last month. I use it on my toes to keep them hydrated after the pool, on bug bites, blemishes and itchy/bumpy skin. LOVE the product. I even took it on vacation!"  Sally W.
• "love it!!!!! used it religiously on a nice large sidewalk scrap on my face after an unfortunate trip at my daughter's preschool. the scrap healed beautifully and the oil kept it from scabbing, cracking and bleeding. i don't even have the slightest scar. it was my gift to my friends this past year for christmas and they all love it too. i also use it on my daughter where ever her skin needs some love. thank you!!!!!"  Kerry H.
• " LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! so convenient - I carry it with me always!"  Liza B.

product highlight – Peppofoot Stick

It may have a strange name, but boy is it good stuff.

The background…
Feet.  We’ve all got ‘em.  Some are pretty, some are ugly & well, some are really stinky.  There is nothing better for the toes than a little bit of pampering.  I couldn’t always

make it for a pedi so I had to figure out something.  Enter trying all sorts of products.  I kinda felt like Goldilocks (to tell you the truth I feel like her most of the time when we’re talking about products) this product was to greasy feeling, that product sunk in too fast & the other one did absolutely nothing.  I had to come up with something.  My criteria were simple.  It had to be easy to use & it had to work.  So after a few, lets say tries, the Peppofoot Stick was born.  A great & rich blend of Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil along with Peppermint Essential Oil (for that minty freshness) & Tea Tree Essential Oil (for the antiseptic properties.)   Throw in a dash of Menthol (for the perfect toe tingling’ness) & I found perfection.

Why we love it so much…

1. It works!!!  Yes, even after just 1 use you can tell a difference.
2. It’s easy to use.  Either at night while you’re lounging around or in the morning (just make sure you’re not going to fall out of your shoes) just a quick swipe of the stick & you’re toes are golden.
3. You don’t have to touch your feet or the product.  Personal pet peeve was putting on a thick cream to my feet, then I had it all over my hands, but how do you get it off since it’s all over your feet.
4. Cotton socks are optional.  I like them to keep my feet warm & so I don’t get carpet fuzz on them when I walk around.  But I can’t sleep in socks, so off they go when I crawl into bed.
5. It’s 100% natural & Gluten Free
6. It’s TSA friendly
7. It’s a perfect gift… just about everyone has feet (especially for those folks who are on them all the time.)

Don’t just take our word for it…

• “Peppofoot Stick rocks! I am on my feet all day long, and this blend really does soothe my tired feet. It's also in stick form, which means I can easily carry it with me on airplanes. Love and highly recommend this product!”  Cindy H.
• “I bought one for my mom for Christmas and by the time we were done opening presents everyone in my family had used it, and loved it! Perfect for tired, worn feet. Best of all, that night we could all still feel the healing effects of the product.”  Allison B.
• “This is my absolute favorite product for my feet! I use it every night, and my feet have never been so soft. It feels great, and definitely works. After a long day of walking in flip flops or heels, it instantly soothes and softens my feet. I am definitely hooked, and never want to go without it!” Renee N.
• “I like this product because I can give my feet the extra moisture they need without getting my hands greasy. It glides onto my feet and soaks in almost instantly so I don't even have to put socks on like you do with other goopy foot creams. The peppermint gives just the right amount of tingle, too.”  Sally W.

product highlight – Nectar Soap

The background…

Honey is so great for the skin, and the smell… well to us it can be intoxicating.  We worked & worked with our fragrance folks to come up with the perfect scent (yes, unfortunately I’m not able to whip up the unbelievable Nectar scent naturally, but when you’ve gotta have it, you’ve gotta have it.)  Then I worked & worked with my beekeeper to get the perfect look to the bar (which I was told I wouldn’t be able to put honeycomb in the soap… well I showed him!)  After months of figuring out just how to get the honeycomb to sit perfectly on top (to some this may sound like an easy achievement but between the fragility of the honeycomb & the heat in the soapmaking process, it’s easier said than done.)  May I present to you the Nectar Soap.

Our usual suspects in the soap ingredient category all make their appearances including Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil… but what’s a bit more special in the one (and what makes this soap a tad more moisturizing than the others) is that we drizzle honey from our local beekeeper into the bar & gently lay his honeycomb on top.  We are so proud that this soap looks exactly how it smells… like honey’y goodness.  We especially love the texture (if that even makes sense.)

 

Why we love it…

1. You mean besides the texture…
2. The honey in the bar helps to moisturize even the driest skin
3. We incorporate honeycomb into each bar as decoration or a little added exfoliation
4. The scent is sweet & clean & well honey

Don’t just take our word on it…

• “[The Nectar Soap] was love at first sniff! I LOVE the smell of honey, and this soap was pure ambrosia. To make matters even better (because I would have loved it for the smell alone) the soap is very moisturizing, which has been a savior to my winter-chapped skin. Even though I wanted to keep both bars I bought for myself, I decided to share the other with my boyfriend's mom so someone else could experience the pure shower bliss. She said she's also loving the soap.”  Ebonique W.
• "I bought your Dead Sea Mud Soap, Nectar and Ginger Soap in March at Epcot. I am very sad I didn't buy more but I will be placing an order soon. Thanks for the great products!!!!!"  Holland C.
• “This is a wonderful smelling, long lasting soap. I will definitely buy another when this one is finished. The smell lingers and makes my bathroom smell great. It smells heavenly!”  Marla A.

product highlight – Body Bliss

The background…
Let’s face it, sometimes you just need a little.  That’s how I always felt about lotions.  My skin is usually pretty well moisturized in the summer time, but after being in the pool or shaving my legs for the umptenth time I can get just a touch dry.  What’s a girl to do?  Well I did what any product loving/making girl would do.  I mixed a little bit of this with a little bit of that & discovered a fantastic product that is more than just a moisturizing oil it is Body Bliss.  I love a two-fer but a four-fer… come on, it doesn’t get much better than that!

Body Bliss Oil is a blend of Apricot Kernel Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Squalane Oil (which if you don’t know why we love Squalane oil click here) & Vitamin E.  We chose these ingredients not just because we really love them (which we do) but because all of the oils in the Body Bliss are light on the skin & soak in super fast, but their presence can be felt on the skin for a good long time.  They moisturize, nourish & even help to heal & they will never leave you oil or greasy… just soft, lightly scented & moisturized.


So why do we love it…

1. Like I said before, it’s a four-fer, so first… it’s a great light all over moisturizer
2. It’s an amazing massage oil (it sinks in so you don’t feel greasy after a relaxing rub-down
3. It’s a great bath oil
4. Mix-it with our Sugar & Honey & you’ve got yourself a custom blended sugar scrub  

And then for the rest of the reasons...

1. You can put the Body Bliss into a spray bottle and squirt it on for a light application
2. Keep it in the shower & apply it when you turn the water off, a great way to moisturize & dry off your skin
3. The scents stay with you in a yummy & not over-powering sort of way like Ginger Lemongrass, Almond & Honey or Tea Tree Mint 
4. They are 99-100% natural (99% for those that have synthetic fragrance in, just cuz we can’t live without a scent or two)
5. You can mix the Body Bliss with our Body Spread to create the level of moisturizer that you need (I tend to need a touch more than Body Bliss in the fall, but straight Body Spread is sometimes too much, so whip a little bit of both in my hand and I’ve got the perfect combo)
6. You can layer the Body Bliss under the Body Spread for a great moisturizing and treating 1-2 punch

Don’t just take our word for it…

• “This product gives just the right amount of moisture and soaks into the skin right away. I use it on my elbows, knees and feet at night and during the day I rub just a little on my arms for the wonderful fragrance!”  Sally W.
• “I'm already addicted to Pure Bliss for my face, and I think now I'm hooked on Body Bliss too. Use it right out of the shower and just a little will cover lots of skin. Bliss makes my dry skin stop itching and FEEL healthier immediately. And the delicious Nectar scent has me constantly sniffing my own arms. I probably look a bit silly, but I smell and feel great.”  Rebecca A.
• “…your Tea Tree Mint Body Bliss oil [I] love it. It is great for a relaxing massage and as you recommended, I mixed some of the oil and a little water in a spray bottle and have been misting after I shower and it feels great! The mint has a nice fresh smell and keeps my skin well hydrated here in The Windy City.”  Robert S.

iSpy Rinse: Brooklyn Renegade

The collection of the Renegade Craft shows are some of my favorites both to peddle some soap & to spend some $$$.  The collection of artists is always impressive & we are so happy to say that Rinse is once again one of them.

We’ll be making the trek to Brooklyn (via a week long family roadtrip/vaca) for the 7th annual Brooklyn Renegade Craft Show.


 When:  June 11 & 12, 2011
Where:  McCarron Park, Brooklyn, NY
Times:  11:00 – 7:00