Indie Beauty - Eye Candy "Scandle Body Candle"

Learn more about how The Scandle Body Candle came about and more about it's founder Christine White-Stanton in this month's Indie Beauty Network Newsletter!
Click here to view the article.
Have a happy and relaxing Labor Day holiday!

Why Switch to Natural Beauty?

The human skin wraps and protects our bodies. It constitutes a living, dynamic tissue system. It has the remarkable ability to absorb applied products, partially or completely, into the bloodstream. In fact, up to 60% of the products we use on our skin are absorbed and deposited into the circulatory system (Fairley, 2001). For instance, the average woman absorbs 30 pounds of the ingredients contained in moisturizers over sixty years (Dr.Hauschka).

You'll be happy to know that our Scandle Essentials contain no syntheic ingredients that can be harmfully absorbed into the body. Scandles are made from soy butter, shea butter, jojoba, vitamin E, & essential oils.

Natural Beauty Made in The USA

According to consumer polls, most Americans don't know or care where products are made, and if asked will say only that they would buy American-made products if the cost were the same or nearly the same as the imported versions.

With our single-minded pursuit of low prices, we have attained unprecedented levels of material possessions, but what have we given up? The answers are all around us if we would but look. The more I read and listen, the more reasons I find to pay attention to where things are made.
At Scandle LLC, we are making big strides to ensure that every component of our Massage Candles (even the packaging) is made right here in the good ole' US of A! Although doing so may cost us more to produce the product, for us, it's a commitment to make the planet a little "greener." How is this helping our planet?

Buying products from U.S. companies, and moreso US companies that use US components, often means reduced transportation impacts (from shipping of inputs and finished products), and cleaner, more energy-efficient production relative to imported products from less developed nations. In addition buying US supports our economy.

So the next time your shopping around for your beauty buys, take a good look at the label and packaging and ask yourself, "Is this, I mean ALL of this made in the USA?"

Green Spas

When I'm vacationing, or can find some time for a little R&R, I love to visit spas that put natural beauty into practice. If you know of a spa that is truely commited to environmental sustainability weather it be through business practices, products used, or facility design; please share the info here on Scandle's blog. Happy Spa-ing!!

Put it in Writing

In business, it's always a good idea to get it in writing. Whether it's a contract, the correct recipe for a new product or the directions to a new restaurant in town, you are better off always if you get it in writing.

Fighting the draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is no different. Now is the time to take action and make an impact on this pending legislation, and it has to be done in writing.

Kayla from Essential Wholesale recently posted a wonderful "How To" on writing to your local and state governments about the pending legislation. Click here to find out how you can join Scandle LLC and thousands of others (yes, we are thousands strong) take action

Essential vs. Fragrance Oil

At Scandle LLC, we believe in truthfully labeling our products and, as such, have made a clear distinction between our body massage candles that are fragranced with essential oils (Scandle Essentials) and candles that are fragranced with fragrance oils (Scandle Originals). As consumers, you should know that not all massage candle companies will do so and prey on the fact that most consumers don't know what a true essential oil smells like. So, here is some facts to be aware of:

• 
  Essential oils are different from fragrance oils. The quality of the essential oil is what makes the difference between being therapeutic and just smelling nice.
  
• Essential oils are extracted from the seeds, roots, bark and berry of plants and are carefully refined to preserve the very thing that makes them "essential".


• The effect of the oil also depends on the species of plant used and how it was processed. Different varieties of the same oil can have different qualities and be used for different things. One essentially needs to be a chemist to really understand them all!


• Essential oils are usually more expensive. It takes about 30 petals of a rose to make a single drop of rose oil.


• Most candles are often scented with fragrance oils. There really isn't any cranberry essential oil.


• Fragrance Oils have usually been mixed with other synthetic oils or substances.


• Fragrance oils are usually cheaper.

Caring for Your Feet Naturally

Our feet are the most strained and worked out part, and also most abandoned human part also. Lack of good care for feet result in many ailments like corns and bunions, cracks, infections and ingrown nails. These are some natural tips for these common problems:

• Massaging the feet each night with oil is relaxing and keeps them soft and supple. Warm oil, like Scandle Body Candle Oil, can be used . The natural oils in The Scandle really gives immediate remedy for the routine pain on your feet.


• Avoid wearing tight shoes or ones that don't fit right. If the shoes are to tight, pinch or do not fit properly - corns appear due to the pressure put on the bony areas of the foot and also interfere with the circulation of blood ultimately leading to corns. The quick remedy tip for this is to apply papaya juice or milky juice from green figs on the affected area.


• Limit walking barefoot on rough surfaces or excessive exposure of bare feet. The sun, wind & water causes cracks on the heels and soles, which cause dryness and roughness of the feet. The best natural treatment for this is… take about three spoons of honey and mix one teaspoonful sesame oil in it. Warm it a little and apply on the affected areas.


• Herbal Foot Mask wash & massage your cracked feet with Peppermint essential oil, found in The Scandle Uplifting Blend, which is best for it's cooling and tingling effect.
  Use warm water and soak your feet for 10 - 15 minutes to soften the skin and allow the herbs and oils to penetrate and wash with a good natural soap to wash your feet.
  

Show Your Support!

In today's cosmetics industry, there is no more pressing issue than the FDA Globalization Act of 2008. It's the wrong policy, the wrong law and the wrong time.

On Tuesday, the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, of which the Environmental Working Group is a part, issued a petiton supporting the FDA Globalization Act and asking for even stronger legislation. But the law will do nothing but put small businesses out of business.
Make no mistake about it, if passed, this will put the majority of small cosmetics business, out of business with the stroke of a pen. Any company unable to move their products over to private label with us or able to shoulder the costs of the new red tape will be shut down by this legislation if it becomes law.

Many companies, Scandle LLC included, initially signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, which was created by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics because we believed that the main purpose of the Compact was to educate consumers. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be what they have in mind.

As a result, Scandle LLC issued the following letter of demand to the Compact for Safe Cosemtics:
***
Subject: Please Remove Us from Your Compact

We recently learned that you issued a petiton supporting the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 asking for even stronger legislation. As a small and growing company, we strongly believe that this legislation will do nothing but put small businesses out of business.

Scandle LLC Supports Safe Cosmetics. It is our life's work. We support educating consumers and spas about cosmetics ingredients, and while doing that may be part of the goal of the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, it appears that is not all you intend to do. Otherwise, you would not support a law that will do more to hurt consumers than it will to help them.

I appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
***
Of course, we support safe cosmetics, research, environmental issues and breast cancer organizations such as those that fund the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. But it appears we were mislead, like so many others, by the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics into believing that they had consumers' best interests at heart.

We are not afraid of the regulations this legislation could bring to our business because we feel we can survive them. But we are in the ring fighting for you, our customers.

Won't You Join Us!!?

Join us by signing the Petition in opposition of this law. You can see a video presentation, the Petition opposing the law here. Once you read the Petition, scroll to the bottom of the page and leave your comment with your name, city, state and zip code. (Don't forget that part!)