just wondering...

You know, I think my scent preferences for bath products have changed drastically these last few months. I've been shying away from the fragrance oil soaps and always grabbing the minty or unscented (but smelling mildly of honey) soaps. But especially the minty. There's just something about a soap made with peppermint essential oil. It comes alive in the shower and just plain out makes me feel good. It's energizing and relaxing at the same time. And now I never want to use anything else.

I tried using something else the other day just because I have so much other soaps that I need to use. It was not satisfying. I felt like I smelled like an air freshener the rest of the night. I'm even reluctant to use sugar scrubs because all of the ones I have at the moment smell like desserts and are too sweet for the mood I've been in lately. And you know, once you start using sugar scrubs you can't go long without 'em!

And I'm *trying* not to buy too much new stuff because I already have a lot to use up! And, I really can't justify buying more when I can use the money for something more useful since it's not something I really NEED.

So I've been thinking... I might host a blog sale. I've never done one of these and I've never purchased anything from anyone's. But if people are interested, it just might be worth doing. I know I don't have too many readers, but if any of you are interested at all, please let me know! It would include soap bars, cream soaps, sugar scrubs, and possibly lotions and perfumes.

Alternatively, if anyone is interested in setting up an exchange, I would be willing to do that to! I just thought I'd throw this all out there in case there was any interest. Because I truly have a lot that I may never use and it would be nice if they could find some good homes! And just to note - the products don't smell bad! My tastes have simply changed and although I still like the scents, I don't love them as much as I used to.

If you're interested, comment here or you can email me at:

alyr3 {at} hotmail {dot} com.

Hope to hear from you!

<3 Alyssa

P.S. I have a few reviews lined up for when I finish the ginormous paper that's been ruining my life lately!

Nature's Edge Bathworks Soap {review}

You know, I ordered so many fall-inspired soaps this last fall that I'm still working my way through them. It's all good though - fall soaps are some of the best! I love the warm and comforting scents, which are still welcome in this cold winter we're in the midst of. But anyway, I tried a new soap tonight from my fall shopping spree. And it was kind of magical.

{the soap}

The soap I am going to tell you about is called "Haunted House" by Nature's Edge Bathworks. Here's the intriguing description given for this soap:

Creaking doors, cobwebs and old, burnt fireplaces. The scent of fallen apples in a grey garden waft through a broken window. Long hallways and damp, musty rooms around every turn. The unknown lurking in every shadowy nook. An unforgiving wind howls through the air in the dark, dark night....

When I read that, I just had to have it. It sounded so mysterious and wonderful. And, I think it has turned out to be one of the best fall scents I've ever had the pleasure to sniff. But that may just be my post-fall senses talking. It is indeed a warm and comforting scent, as a fall soap should be. But it is not so intense on the spicy-cinnamony warmth. The soap is mildly sweet, almost fruity, with a hint of cinnamon in the background. What I'm really digging about it is the mildness of it. It makes you think about what you're really smelling - it really is rather mysterious. 

The soap formula is quite fantastic as well. It has a nice creamy, almost foamy lather. And it is quite moisturizing. In fact, I was quite surprised by how soft my skin felt afterwards. It feels as if the soap left behind a bit of residue, for my skin feels slightly powdery. However, it's not an unpleasant feeling. Rather, it makes my skin feel all the more moisturized and silky soft.

Surprising and mysterious. That's what this soap is. And I greatly enjoyed it.

(ingredients}

Palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, palm kernel oil, castor oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil, apricot oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut milk, clay, essential oils, and fragrance.

{conclusion}

The soap from Nature's Edge Bathworks was a true pleasure. I am definitely going to buy another bar or two. Probably tonight! In fact, I strongly urge you to do so also while you still have the chance! The shop will close soon and the soaps are priced to sell! Also, there's an additional coupon code for 15% off (NEF15). AND, the Haunted House soap is on clearance, being a Halloween/fall scent and all. If you're interested in trying out a great bar of soap for less than $3, go check out Nature's Edge Bathworks. I think I'm gonna try their peppermint soap next! :)

In the shower...

In attempt to do some posts that are not just reviews, I thought I'd introduce this new feature to the blog. I'm gonna tell you about what I lathered up with today! 

Shampoo: Nature's Gate Shampoo in Tea Tree

Conditioner: Pink Bow Bath Boutique Lovely Leave-In Conditioner in Vanilla Bean Noel

Face Soap: Rocky Top Soap Shop Pumpkin Soap

Body Soap: Bubs & Scrubs Creamy Peppermint Soap

Body Scrub: Mad City Soap Whipped Sugar Body Scrub in Italian Cream Cake

Did all this result in a satisfying shower? For the most part, it did. I felt clean and moisturized afterwards, and my hair wasn't a rough and tangled mess (as it has been of late). BUT, I was feeling especially icky today (due to an encounter with some insects) and I wished I could feel ultra-clean instead of just plain ol' clean. I think that when I need that level of clean feeling, I don't find foodie scents to be very helpful. I need a good minty scrub for those extra dirty days! Any suggestions? :)

UPDATE: New Blog Title!

I've been a bit neglectful of my blogging duties as of late. I apologize. Life has been hectic and school keeps me busy.

But to start off the new year, I thought I'd make a big change I've been wanting to do for awhile now. I have changed the name of this blog from "etsy balmer" to "soapy days". I feel it's more fitting for what I want to blog about. I will still review lip balms and other non-soap bath products. I just feel it's a bit more logical to blog about bath & body products under a title pertaining to soap than it is to lip balm. Basically, it's not as weird!

For this change, I have also changed the blog address to soapydays.blogspot.com. I hope this isn't TOO inconvenient for people. Also, I hope you all agree that this blog was in need of a title change and that the new one is more fitting!

Look forward to more soapy (and non-soapy) reviews soon! And hey, happy beginnings in this new year! :)

<3 Alyssa

Product Body Soaps {review}

I'm sure you have all heard of The Soap Bar... right?  One could say that a great part of my soap addiction came from reading this blog! Joanna Schmidt, the one who writes the blog, also has her own bath and body line, Product Body. And for as long as I've been reading her blog, I can't believe it took me so long to Joanna's soaps. And I surely regret it, because these soaps are fantastic!

{the soap: thai sticky rice}

I was surprised but this soap actually does smell a bit like rice. I don't know what Thai sticky rice actually smells like, and shame on me, for I love Thai food! I guess I get too distracted by all of the curry and peanut sauce scents to take the time to smell the rice! But, I've eaten plain ol' regular rice almost everyday for my whole life and I can definitely detect a "rice-ish" smell in this soap, which I find oddly appealing. The other scents in the soap I can't quite name, but they are softly sticky sweet with a hint of something floral. The scent is… almost indescribable… but it's mildly sweet, but perfectly scented, with a bit of dreaminess.

In the shower, the soap holds its dreamy scent which is so calming and soothing. The bar feels wonderful with its smooth, bubbly lather. I could stand in the shower and lather up forever with the Thai Sticky Rice bar. Overall, it creates quite the experience. With its creamy lather and gentle scent it felt like such a relaxing and luxurious treat. When I finally decide to get out of the shower, the soap rinses off splendidly and I feel clean and soft and super relaxed.

Ingredients for the Thai Sticky Rice are olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, organic palm oil, shea butter, palm kernel oil, castor oil, and fragrance.

If you are interested in trying this bar (and I highly recommend it!), you should jump on it! This soap is being discontinued, so get it while you can!

{the soap: fat boy}

When I saw all of the ingredients listed for this soap, I just HAD to try it. So, let's start off with the that…

Ingredients for the Fat Boy are olive oil, coconut oil, water, palm oil, sodium hydroxide, fresh buttermilk, palm kernel oil, canola oil, cocoa butter, rice bran oil, fresh goat milk, shea butter, avocado oil, coconut milk, aloe butter, castor oil, mango butter, yogurt, and activated bamboo charcoal.

Now isn't that an astounding list of ingredients? I mean, how does she get 'em all in there?!  All of the ingredients made it sound like a super moisturizing bar, and boy is it! I've been looking for a really good wintertime soap for my hands for years and this is it! In the winter my hands tend to get super dry, especially my fingertips. And nothing really helps, not even lotion! Until I found the Fat Boy that is!

The lather of the Fat Boy is sooooo super creamy, it's quite shocking! When I'm lathering up, I can feel the moisture sinking into my hands. I simply love washing my hands with this bar. I just can't get over how GOOD it feels on my dry and irritated wintertime skin. The lather is quite unbelievable and just plain fun. The soap is unscented but there's a faint sweetness to it that is quite pleasant. Overall, this is one of the BEST soaps I've ever tried.  It works like nothing else will and I'm starting to believe there's a bit of magic in there!

{conclusion}

I will definitely be purchasing from Product Body again… and again! The soaps are superb and I have found a soap that I cannot live without! The customer service is great and I truly enjoy purchasing from someone who has added so much to the online soaping world. I love it when I can feel more connected to the shop owner - it just makes the soap more special. If you are looking for a special treat, head on over to Product Body. And while you're at it, check out Joanna's Product BodyBlog and tell her what soaps you like (and let her know who sent you)! She is currently having a giveaway and you just might win some of her lovely products!

Aunt Nancy's Soap {review}

 

I stumbled upon Aunt Nancy's Soap in a search for a campfire scented soap. I know, random right? I ALWAYS get these ideas in my head that I will completely love certain scents before even getting a whiff! So while I was obsessively searching for campfire scented things, I settled on purchasing the Campfire soap (and another) from Aunt Nancy's Soap.  And from this, I have found one of my favorite soaps ever!

{the soap}

And no, despite my ramblings about campfire, it was not the one. I actually haven't given that one a shot yet, since I got so hung up on the other bar I purchased. Which was…. *drumroll please*…  the scrumptious Creamy Peppermint with Chocolate Swirl!

The soap is absolutely DIVINE! It is so minty fresh and has lead to now love all things minty.  In the shower, the scent is quite refreshing and it tingles my senses. I love to stand there and just inhale the minty-ness of it all! In fact, to make it even more refreshing, I turn the water to cold(er) and enjoy the icy peppermint aroma.

Not only does this soap smell fantastic, it also feels fantastic! There's a good amount of creamy lather and the bar glides so smoothly across the skin. But it's not too slippery that I can't keep a hold of it in the shower. It rinses off well with no slick residue left on the skin. In fact, it's quite softening and the peppermint scent lingers lightly for a bit.

And just to let you know how much I truly love this soap, let me explain a little something to you. When I get a new soap, I cut it into smaller pieces, say about 4-6 pieces per bar. I do this in part to make the bar last longer. But also, I have so many different soaps (as you can see here), I like to switch it up a lot and smaller pieces are perfect for that. From many bars, I've only tried one piece (and some I haven't even tried yet!). However, with the Creamy Peppermint soap, I am down to my very last chunk of soap. I can't remember the last time I completely finished a bar of soap! I always have to have it in my shower, and 75% of the time, it will be the soap I pick to lather up with.

Now that right there is some soapy love!

{ingredients}

Olive oil, goat milk, distilled water, sodium hydroxide, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, cocoa oil, peppermint essential oil, and cocoa powder. 

{conclusion}

Would I purchase again? Most definitely! I am going to NEED to soon once I run out! Although, I may be able to hold off a bit considering I have placed another order with Aunt Nancy's Soap and should try out the new soaps I got - Eucalyptus Mint and Tahitian Vanilla (both smell delightful). I sense some great soap adventures in the near future!  I urge you to go check out Aunt Nancy's Soap and start your own soapy adventures!

Ophelia's Apothecary Lip Balm {review}

The products at Ophelia's Apothecary are just hard to resist. You've heard of this shop, right? And if you haven't, go check out their shop and you'll see what I mean!  The photographs totally sell the product and I love it when a shop takes the time to make their stuff look so good! I mean, as online shoppers, we need that right?!

{the balm}

The formula for this balm is a bit on the heavy side. It's also a hard balm, but it goes on smooth with little tug. The texture is very creamy and I really enjoy that part.  However,  it's a bit thick and leaves behind a thick layer of balm. I'm not sure that I'm a big fan of how heavy this balm is. I do usually enjoy thick balms, but I feel that this one may offer a bit too much "protection" for my liking. I would prefer if the balm sunk in a bit more and be a bit more breathable instead of just sitting on my lips. It might make a good outdoor balm for blustery windy days though.

{flavor + ingredients}

I currently have one flavor (I did have more, but I gave them away). The flavor I have is Peach Belini,  which has a soft and sweet scent of peaches. It is a very light scent, which I appreciate - peach scents can sometimes be overwhelming.

Ingredients include shea butter, candelilla wax, olive oil, and flavor oils.

{conclusion}

Would I purchase these balms again? Yes, for gifts. I have given a few of these away already and everyone seems to like them. They may not be totally for me, but they will make great stocking stuffers! And hey, they may be for you too, so go check out Ophelia's Apothecary!