What's up?

I know it's been a while since I last posted. I have not been pushing the Osmosis since good ol'fashioned fear started creeping in a few months back. It's time for me to push fear aside and get informed. First step will be contacting the insurance man and seeing what he has to say. I'll let you know how it goes!

In the meantime, I've been playing with more bath and beauty recipes. I am still perfecting a couple different lotion recipes. I have one favorite which is thick and glycerin rich for hands. I'm still dreaming of a perfect light lotion for the rest of me.

Recently, the same lovely person who got me started down the lip balm road lent me her liquid soap making book. She has not attempted it yet, but makes wonderful cold process soap. In addition to this book, I have downloaded an e-book from Bramble Berry on liquid soaps and watched the video on Soap Queen TV. (you can too: here)

I've ordered the supplies and stopped at a local restaurant supply store to find a stainless steel pot. I will just need gloves, safety glasses, and a bigger scale before I can truly get started.

I am looking forward to giving this a try. It's something to keep my mind going in between small Osmosis orders. Yes, I am still taking orders for Osmosis lip balms and glosses. If you're running low, lost your last tube, or think it's time to replace a stinky tube... send me an email or stop by the Artfire shop and I'll make you a fresh order.

I would love to hear what you think about Osmosis! Please leave me some feedback so I know if anything needs to be changed and made better!

What One Can Discover in the Breakroom

I was in the break room this morning waiting for the clock to turn the magic 7:53 so I could swipe in. There was a mark. magalog on the table. For those of you who don't know mark., it is an AVON spin-off geared towards teens and college aged gals.

As I was paging through, I came across this product:

It comes in just 4 colors and I'd like you to look closely at the colors... Don't they look an awful lot like Osmosis Seasons?!

No, I'm not thinking they ripped me off!

What I'm thinking is what a great idea... Go ahead and try it! There is no reason why you can't use your Seasons as blush.

The other product I came across is this:

I've been meaning to try a lip tint and I may check into this one. The thing about a lip tint, is that it stains your skin and does pretty much nothing else. I think this would be great under any flavor of the clear glosses. The color would last a long time and you would still be able to use your favorite Osmosis lip gloss!

If you want to see more of mark. - go to www.meetmark.com

Discouraged

Though still enjoying the prospects of playing with more lotion recipes, I doubt if any will ever be released as an Osmosis product... I have also decided to not add Osmosis sales to anymore local shops...

Over the past couple months, I have been feeling more and more discouraged about the Osmosis business.

I have not had a lot of orders, which is understandable since a lot of people got a fresh tube for Christmas. This stuff is so good, you don't have to re-apply every five minutes - which also means you don't need to buy a new tube every week. I am okay with this and it's why I wanted to create the business, so I could share a great product with you.

My main form of discouragement seems to creep up in the form of worries.

• I will file my first Schedule C with the IRS this year. This gives me heartburn. I know there are lots of resources out there to help with taxes and, really, I should just call and make an appointment. There is a little bit of pride creeping in with the taxes... we've always done them ourselves. It bugs me that I can't figure this out myself. Well, I could figure it out by following the directions... but I won't be certain that I've done it the right way unless I ask for professional help.


• The prospect of adding lotion to my product line has caused me to do some additional reading. There are so many things in lotion making that complicates the whole process. There is a greater risk of liability because of the risk of nasties growing in the lotion. There is huge debates regarding the use of preservatives and the different types of preservatives. The last thing I want is for anyone to get sick from using any of my products.

I do want to clarify why I set out to create this business. I did not go into it thinking, "Oh, won't it be fun to make lip balm all day and sell it online and in local shops?!" I went into it thinking, "I want to make this recipe available to others because I believe in it." It became too expensive for me to just keep handing out lip balm to everyone and I realized that I needed to be compensated for my supplies and my time.

Now, with the discovery of my new favorite lotion recipes, I feel the same as before. I just want others to experience what a good lotion does for dry skin. However, I do hesitate greatly before proceeding to a new product.

At this point, I will continue to take orders for Osmosis Lip Products. I do know there are those of you who really love it! I am so glad that you do!

I will continue to read and do research about the prospects of expanding to lotion, but it will take time. If I do decide to start selling the lotions, I will have that information posted on this blog.

Lotion, oh Lotion

The solid lotion trial is still going, so I do not have any news to report on what people think of it. I do have my own opinion and I'm trying not to skew the results of the trial by sharing my opinion too soon. However, I do want to compare 3 different lotion recipes that I've been playing with this past month.

My first experiment was with the solid lotion (which we're doing the trial on right now). The reason I wanted to play with adding the solid lotion to the product line for Osmosis was because it was a natural evolution. Customers were already using their Osmosis lip balm as a cuticle cream and have joked about putting it all over their skin. Solid lotion is essentially lip balm for the rest of your skin. It is made with oils and waxes, just like lip balm. (Do not use it on your lips, though, because the fragrance is not approved for lips.) The results of the solid lotion trial will determine if it will become a regular product for Osmosis.

My second experiment came from a recipe I found at Soap Queen's blog here. It is a whipped shea butter recipe that looks an awful lot like frosting, yet definetely not for eating! I had the ingredients left over from the holiday rush of lip balm making, so I thought it was worth a shot. This recipe is super easy and you can generally get the ingredients at a natural food store or online. It is entirely made of fats... aka solid oils. By whipping them, you add air and make it easier to apply to your skin. It also keeps you from using more than is necessary.

My third experiment came from Wabi Sabi Baby's blog here. It is a simple 3 ingredient liquid lotion. You will need to find the emulsifying wax online. This recipe is so simple it's insane! No one should ever have to buy the commercially made, petroleum laden lotions ever again. There are lots of variations you can make to this recipe and I have found a concoction that I absolutely love!

What I have learned from these experiments:

• Oil-based lotions are meant to hold moisture in. Just like a waxy lip balm, it keeps the air from pulling moisture from your skin (by osmosis).


• Castor oil (a humectant which I use in my lip balms to help draw moisture to your lips) is too heavy to use on your skin.


• Because the first two lotions listed above are oil-based, it is best to use them after a long soak or shower. The solid lotion would be excellent to use after finishing the dishes!


• Drink your water! Give the lotion something to hold in!


• The second recipe is almost like magic, but I'd have to do another trial to confirm that. I've been using it after shaving and it seems to slow the re-growth. I have also used it on my arms and have seen a positive effect on my keratosis pilaris (aka chicken bumps). (I had read of a person using just extra virgin coconut oil on her keratosis pilaris and seeing it greatly improve... I imagine that ingredient is why this is working.)


• The 1st two oil-based recipes will be oily on your skin until is soaks in. It is best not to sit on the couch right after applying. Putting clothes on will be fine because you can wash your clothes.


• The 1st two recipes will eventually go rancid because they are oil-based. Vitamin E, an antioxidant, will slow that process.


• The 3rd recipe above has water in it. Water is what bacteria and mold need to grow and thrive. Without a preservative, this should be treated like food. Once it is open, it should be checked each time it is used for unwelcome growth.


• The 3rd recipe will need to used up, so make small batches.


• In my concoction for the 3rd, water-based recipe, I added glycerin. Glycerin is a water-friendly humectant. It does the same thing that the castor oil in my lip balm does. It draws moisture to your skin.


• The water based recipe is "oil in water", which means the water hits your skin first and then the oil sits on top to hold it in.


• I have mostly been using experiment #3 on my hands at bedtime. It makes my hands super soft.

I would, personally, like to add the liquid lotion to my line of products, even without a trial. I feel with the glycerin as a humectant, it fits very nicely into my main purpose for creating Osmosis. The only problem with the liquid lotion is the need for preservatives. There is a big movement in the cosmetics industry to keep parabens (a type of preservative) out of products. Apparently, there has been some studies that found parabens in breast cancer tumors. Parabens do have estrogen-like properties. There are other types of preservatives, but none that are natural. I have been trying to educate myself on the use of preservatives. As you can imagine, this is very time-consuming. It will come down to my personal views after educating myself on both sides of the issue. At that point, I will decide if I can offer the liquid lotion to customers.

In the meantime, you can read up on the use of preservatives, too! I've found some insight here and here and here.

I can't wait to hear from my solid lotion trial participants! I hope I'll have some results to share with you all, soon. In the meantime, keep drinking all that water and use your Osmosis lip products.

Osmosis Solid Lotion Trial

I had mentioned that I had been working on perfecting a recipe for a solid lotion. If successful, it may find a home in the product line at Osmosis.

I am ready to start a trial. If you are interested in helping me out by testing the solid lotion, please let me know by sending an e-mail to osmosis4lips@gmail.com

If you choose to participate, I will reply to your e-mail and include a an attachment. I will need you to complete the attached survey and sign the consent form/waiver.

It is important for you to understand that these products are in a trial stage. Although each separate ingredient should not cause a person harm, the combination of ingredients has not been tested by the FDA. By signing the consent/waiver, you remove all liability from Osmosis and its owner for any negative reactions caused directly or indirectly by the trial product.

Once I receive the completed survey and consent/waiver, you will be sent a trial size of the solid lotion recipe of my choice and asked to use it on your hands for 5-7 days while completing an additional survey. During this period you should not use any other lotion on your hands. If you have any adverse reaction to the product, you should discontinue use of the product immediately and report the reaction to Osmosis.

The initial trials by yours truly have not been conclusive so I can't wait to hear your input!

Can't wait to try it!

I was breezing through some of my favorite blogs this morning and came across a recipe I can't wait to try.

I've been toying with lotion recipes. So far I have only attempted solid lotions because it doesn't venture into the great unknown. It's pretty much like lip balm for your skin ;)

But I'm also waiting for an order to arrive with emulsifying wax so I can attempt a liquid lotion (read: water based). AKA: the great unknown.

In the meantime, I plan to try a recipe found at Soap Queen's blog.

This recipe will make the perfect in-between, waterless, fluffy soft lotion. I feel blessed she shared the recipe and it would be stingy of me to not share it with all of you.

If you try it, let me know what you think!

Mad Scientist

I was feeling a smidge crabby this morning when I woke up. (I know some of you who read this know I am not a morning person anyway.)

It's Saturday, you know, and I'm supposed to sleep in! The kids are big enough to get breakfast and to let the dog out, but somehow I am forced to get up to assist or remind them (read: scold) that the dog needs to go outside after being in the house locked up all night long and she needs to go BEFORE you bring out the laser pointer to get her all wound up and excited.

Well this morning I decided to channel my irritation into mad work in my laboratory. By the time I had the floor and counters cleaned, I was starting to feel better. Some tender care disinfecting the instruments and I could feel my mood softening. The bright winter sun warmed the room for me and filled the room with light reflecting off the snow. Sunlight makes me feel better than Prozac.

I started with a batch of Agave Sugar Balm, which I needed to make to fill an order. Then I turned the lab time into MY time. I worked on the perfect solid lotion recipe. It's amazing how much my scientific brain loves this stuff. You see you have to balance the oils, waxes, and butters to make the perfect consistency. Too much oil and it's a goopy mess. Too much wax and it's like a crayon. What you want to achieve is a solid that melts slowly when it comes in contact with your skin.

Once the consistency is figured out, then you can experiment with the different ingredients, swapping one oil for another or deciding which oil should get top billing. Or which wax or which butter. . . The possibilities are endless!

Keeping in mind my goal for Osmosis products to draw moisture to your skin, I'm trying to use ingredients like those in the lip balm. I want there to be some Castor Oil in the mix. The Castor Oil is a humectant and does the job of drawing water to your skin. The other oils and butters I considered needed to be emollient, but not greasy or glossy.

So I have 3 versions of my solid lotion recipe for me to try in the next weeks. I am hoping to find something as fabulous as Osmosis lip balm to use on my hands. This is the best time of year to do the testing. The air is cold and dry. My hands are constantly being washed to keep from the many germs looking for a place to call home. Combine it all together and my hands can get downright flaky or worse - my skin actually can hurt.

I'll let you know how it goes and if there is any potential for a new product from Osmosis in the future. If anyone wants to volunteer to test the solid lotions, let me know!

Be Patient!

I am waiting - on this cold, blustery, snowy Winter day - for the UPS man.

I know he's coming because the tracking email told me my package was out for delivery.

Why is it that it is so hard to wait, especially since I know it's on it's way?

If I could tell my dog, she'd be sitting by the door waiting, too.

He's a good UPS man. He ALWAYS remembers to bring her a treat. And believe me, she knows it! She hears him toot the horn as he backs into the driveway and she races me to the door.

The problem with today, is that it's cold, blustery, and snowy. Mix it all together and you get a winter weather advisory at minimum, a blizzard at worst. And I know the roads are bad because I was foolishly driving on them today (I had to head to Staples for more labels!)

In the box on it's way to me will be a variety of packaging for new products. You see, I have it in my head to try my hand at creating a solid lotion for Osmosis. I did experiment with one recipe while my sister was here for Christmas. She took that sample home with her. I'm not sold on that recipe and will be working to perfect a recipe that will keep my hands from drying out during the cold months here in Minnesota.

In the meantime, I sit and wait... wondering if my box will even make it to me today.

Did You Get Osmosis for Christmas?

Lip balm is a favorite stocking stuffer for Santa. Everyone needs it and it fits so nicely in the stockings.
I happen to know that Santa picked up some Osmosis from me just for this purpose and I'm wondering if anyone who found it in their stockings (or wrapped as a gift) have wandered here to my blog to find out more about Osmosis.

If you are here for the first time... Welcome!
I started to keep this blog back in May. It's a fun way for me to document the happenings of my little business. If you go back to those first posts from May, you find some background info on how I got started making lip balm and why I call my brand Osmosis.

What I love best about Osmosis is that it doesn't just sit on my lips and keep the dry air away like many commercial brands. Because Castor oil is the main ingredient, moisture is actually being drawn to my lips when I wear Osmosis. You see Castor oil is a humectant. A humectant is a substance that draws moisture from the air to it and holds it there.

Here is a list of my favorite ingredients and why I use them:

• Castor Oil : a humectant made from the oil of the Castor bean
• Jojoba Oil: a liquid wax from the jojoba seed, absorbed easily by the skin (pronounce ho-HO-ba)
• Cocoa Butter: a stable fat from the cacao bean (the same bean we get chocolate from)
• Shea Butter: an emollient oil from the Shea tree nut
• Honey: thought to be a humectant and used medicinally throughout the ages
• Vitamin E: an anti-oxidant that helps to extend the life of the product by keeping the oils and fats from oxidizing (going rancid)

Osmosis is free of preservatives and petroleum-based ingredients. I cannot call them vegan because the honey and beeswax are technically from an animal. I cannot tell you the percentage of the product that is organic, however some of my suppliers do send organic ingredients.

A note on shelf-life:

Osmosis is made in small batches by hand. I do not "stock" my lip balms because I want them to be made with the freshest ingredients. All of my balms and glosses are dated on the bottom of the tube. The date on the bottom of the tube refers to the date on which it was made.

The shelf-life of your Osmosis will depend on how it is used and stored. To extend the life of the product, store it in a cool, dark location. Some users have told me they even keep it in the fridge (especially the clear glosses).

If the consistency or smell of the product changes, please discard and purchase a new one. The main problem will be with the oils going rancid. Bacteria is not likely to grow because they need water to grow and Osmosis does not contain water. Despite the lack of water, it is not recommended that you share your Osmosis to avoid the spread of germs.

I have some tubes of Osmosis that are still good after a year, and others that changed after a few months. Play it safe and replace as soon as the consistency and smell changes.

I truly hope you enjoy using Osmosis. I'm open to all of your comments. Please leave them in the comments space on the side bar to the left.

If you are a fan of Osmosis, I encourage you to join the Osmosis fan community on Facebook. (Occasionally, I offer specials through the fan page.) There is a place to leave a review and give Osmosis a rating on the fan page. Just click on the tab called "Reviews".

To order more, you can send me an email or head to my Artfire studio by clicking on the link at the side bar.

Thanks for visiting and check back again to see what's happening at Osmosis!

Scoping out the Competition

Ran over to About Face for their Pink Monday sale today (15% off everything in the store... and I just ran out of Mineral Veil - what luck!) While I was over there, I stopped in a gift shop nearby.

Now this is an almost famous gift shop downtown. People love to to get things there for those who have it all. Fun, bright assortments of everything you didn't know you needed! A co-worker had told me that the store sold locally made lip balm. She thought maybe I could get my Osmosis in there, too. I had an idea of whose lip balm this would be, but I thought I'd check it out for myself. It is such a fun store... with little pictures of kids with food all over their faces and the words "Smile, your on camera" placed strategically all over the store. I found some bath products (made locally by the person I had imagined would sell lip balm there), but no lip balm.

I thought I'd make it out without buying something, but a little something caught my eye and will be sent to my mom for Christmas.

As I was checking out, low and behold... lip balm... locally made... (by that same person mentioned earlier)... $5.95 (per tube).

To buy it and try it is the question... but to spend that much when I love Osmosis so... Dilemma.