Home / Past Newsletters / December 2011
December 2011
Hello! Summer's here! Summer's here! (Most of the time. And about time too.)
Of course December means that Christmas is fast approaching, which somehow often catches us by surprise and sees us scrambling to get gifts together at the last minute, buying overpriced nick-nacks that you know are going to end up on a dusty shelf somewhere until they're re-gifted (hopefully not back to you) next year.
Well, what about this year going back to a time before bath salts and candles in novelty mugs tied up with cellophane and ribbon? When people used to put thought and care into MAKING gifts for their friends and family? Why not mix up a big pot of chocolate body butter or make rose-shaped melt and pour soaps, scented and coloured any way you like? It's so much easier than you may realise and imagine how impressed everyone will be that you've taken the time to create something beautiful, personal AND all natural for them. (And for a fraction of the price that you'd pay in stores.) Or buy them a specialty kit so they can make it themselves, 'teach a man to fish' and all that.
Have a squizz and see if anything tickles your fancy.
From the team at Go Native, have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas and get outside and soak up some of that glorious sun. x
In this newsletter:
Recent arrivals:
We have some beautiful new carrier oils which are New Zealand made: walnut oil and hazelnut oil.
Hazelnut oil, like macadamia oil, offers some protection from the effects of UV, so is useful in summer skin oil blends.
Being a soft, smooth oil, it is good in baby products when blended with less astringent oils.
But this astringency makes hazelnut oil good in acne treatment blends (eg 20% hazelnut oil, along with evening primrose oil, safflower oil, and rosehip oil).
Walnut oil is easily absorbed by the skin, leaving it soft and supple. It is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, and the other fatty acids are nicely balanced. Walnut oil helps the skin regenerate, so it is a valuable component of blends for mature skin.
Also think of walnut oil when circulation could be better – use on discoloured skin on legs and feet, and for brittle nails.
Micas are proving popular with soapmakers. Every time we take the lid off a mica we are blown away by the sheer gorgeousness of it – the rich colour of green or purple, the sheen of silver and gold satin, and the exotic luxury of gold and silver sparkle. We have quite a few glittery places around the factory where bits have escaped!
Specials:
Our tamanu oil is an amazing price - we source it directly from Madagascar and pass the savings on to you.
We still have some refined rosehip oil which is excellent value. Rosehip oil is great for summer skin, alone or in blends.
Ideas for Christmas presents:
Our new melt and pour soap kits will put a smile on your face. They are ideal for a fun gift, or get one for yourself, so you can make soaps for those people who have everything – your creation will give them a treat every shower time.
It’s surprisingly exciting – in a few minutes you can transform a lump of clear soap into several bars of your choice.
And if things go wrong, just melt and pour – all over again!
Lip balms are another great idea for gifts – so good you can eat them! Go to the Recipes tab on our website for details on making your own.
Two ideas for easy travelling:
Mango butter moisturiser bar
Keep your skin smooth and satisfied with a mango butter bar – the warmth of your skin is enough to create a fine film of moisturiser. The recipe is so easy:
Solid shampoo and conditioner bar kit – no messy bottles when you travel!
We love packing our shampoo and conditioner bars – no leakage worries - these bars can even go in your handbag.
We have made up a kit so you can make your own to take on holiday. A silicon mould, and two packs of ingredients, one for shampoo and one for conditioner. For each one, just heat the waxes and oils, then add the water-based ingredients. Stir and pour into the moulds – two bars of shampoo, two of conditioner.
Thank you for your custom in 2011. Next year our service will be even better. Our newsletter might even have some photos!
We all hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and we wish you all the best for 2012.
Elinor, Jacqui and Chelsea
Of course December means that Christmas is fast approaching, which somehow often catches us by surprise and sees us scrambling to get gifts together at the last minute, buying overpriced nick-nacks that you know are going to end up on a dusty shelf somewhere until they're re-gifted (hopefully not back to you) next year.
Well, what about this year going back to a time before bath salts and candles in novelty mugs tied up with cellophane and ribbon? When people used to put thought and care into MAKING gifts for their friends and family? Why not mix up a big pot of chocolate body butter or make rose-shaped melt and pour soaps, scented and coloured any way you like? It's so much easier than you may realise and imagine how impressed everyone will be that you've taken the time to create something beautiful, personal AND all natural for them. (And for a fraction of the price that you'd pay in stores.) Or buy them a specialty kit so they can make it themselves, 'teach a man to fish' and all that.
Have a squizz and see if anything tickles your fancy.
From the team at Go Native, have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas and get outside and soak up some of that glorious sun. x
In this newsletter:
- recent arrivals
- specials
- ideas for Christmas presents
- some recipes to make your holiday even more relaxing
Recent arrivals:
We have some beautiful new carrier oils which are New Zealand made: walnut oil and hazelnut oil.
Hazelnut oil, like macadamia oil, offers some protection from the effects of UV, so is useful in summer skin oil blends.
Being a soft, smooth oil, it is good in baby products when blended with less astringent oils.
But this astringency makes hazelnut oil good in acne treatment blends (eg 20% hazelnut oil, along with evening primrose oil, safflower oil, and rosehip oil).
Walnut oil is easily absorbed by the skin, leaving it soft and supple. It is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, and the other fatty acids are nicely balanced. Walnut oil helps the skin regenerate, so it is a valuable component of blends for mature skin.
Also think of walnut oil when circulation could be better – use on discoloured skin on legs and feet, and for brittle nails.
Micas are proving popular with soapmakers. Every time we take the lid off a mica we are blown away by the sheer gorgeousness of it – the rich colour of green or purple, the sheen of silver and gold satin, and the exotic luxury of gold and silver sparkle. We have quite a few glittery places around the factory where bits have escaped!
Specials:
Our tamanu oil is an amazing price - we source it directly from Madagascar and pass the savings on to you.
We still have some refined rosehip oil which is excellent value. Rosehip oil is great for summer skin, alone or in blends.
Ideas for Christmas presents:
Our new melt and pour soap kits will put a smile on your face. They are ideal for a fun gift, or get one for yourself, so you can make soaps for those people who have everything – your creation will give them a treat every shower time.
It’s surprisingly exciting – in a few minutes you can transform a lump of clear soap into several bars of your choice.
And if things go wrong, just melt and pour – all over again!
- Help the kids make Christmas tree or holly soaps for gifts – just melt gently, then add green mica and essential oils.
- The Heart of Roses mould makes a soap so beautiful that it’s hard to get it wet.
- The other kits come in various shapes in lavender, lemon and rose. We love the lemon, with the fresh zing of litsea cubeba essential oil.
Lip balms are another great idea for gifts – so good you can eat them! Go to the Recipes tab on our website for details on making your own.
Two ideas for easy travelling:
Mango butter moisturiser bar
Keep your skin smooth and satisfied with a mango butter bar – the warmth of your skin is enough to create a fine film of moisturiser. The recipe is so easy:
28g beeswax
30g mango butter
42g safflower oil
Melt gently, then if desired, add a few drops of vitamin E and about ¼ teaspoon of your choice of essential oil.
Pour into a mould (or two smaller moulds) before it sets. (It can be warmed up again if necessary!)
30g mango butter
42g safflower oil
Melt gently, then if desired, add a few drops of vitamin E and about ¼ teaspoon of your choice of essential oil.
Pour into a mould (or two smaller moulds) before it sets. (It can be warmed up again if necessary!)
Solid shampoo and conditioner bar kit – no messy bottles when you travel!
We love packing our shampoo and conditioner bars – no leakage worries - these bars can even go in your handbag.
We have made up a kit so you can make your own to take on holiday. A silicon mould, and two packs of ingredients, one for shampoo and one for conditioner. For each one, just heat the waxes and oils, then add the water-based ingredients. Stir and pour into the moulds – two bars of shampoo, two of conditioner.
Thank you for your custom in 2011. Next year our service will be even better. Our newsletter might even have some photos!
We all hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and we wish you all the best for 2012.
Elinor, Jacqui and Chelsea