Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Try Organic Soap

Organic soap is made out of 100% natural ingredients that don’t cause harm to your skin. This has become the preferred soap for more and more people because over the years, ingredients in most commercial soap found on supermarket shelves have been revealed to have bad side effects.

Regular mass-produced soap often have harmful ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate, which is a heavy-duty industrial cleaner used for floors.

They also include alcohol products which dry the skin, and fragrances that cause allergies and other skin reactions.

On the other hand, organic soap is safe and pure, made completely from plant, fruit, and vegetable extracts. These ingredients have been harvested on a purely organic method, which means that farmers did not make use of any chemicals or artificial pesticides and other means to speed up their growth and production.

These pesticides, in the long run, harm the soil and the plants, instead of helping to make them fertile for future growth. They also end up in our water systems and pollute the air.

Additionally, it also means that the production of organic soap did not harm farmers, plants, or fight natural growth processes in order to harvest. Organic soap is produced completely environmentally friendly.

Top 5 reasons why organic soap is something you must try

1. It is not tested on animals. By living healthy and switching to organically produced soap, you are also helping to save an animal’s life.

2. Ingredients used are all-natural and safe, and are also great for sensitive skin. Commercially produced soaps are loaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives and additives that lead to breakouts, acne, allergies, and other skin conditions.

3. You will be able to easily feel the difference once you start using organic soap. You will never want to go back to using commercially produced soap again, because your skin will instantly feel healthy, smooth, and moisturized.

4. You will greatly reduce the toxins you are putting into your body when you are using organic soap. The chemicals found in regular soap have serious side effects, such as cancer, brain damage, and damage to the nervous system. They may not be felt right away, but over a longer period of time these can build up inside your system and cause serious disease later on in life.

5. Organic soap is pumped with natural moisturizers that leave your skin feeling light, refreshed, and moisturized, even on humid days.

Organic soap is safe and friendly for everyone, so it’s something you should consider when doing the groceries for your family next time.

However, you shouldn’t pick just about any soap products in the aisles. It’s important to review labels carefully, because many brands can label themselves as organic when in fact they mix the ingredients with other chemical products.

Some of the common ingredients in organic soap are the following:

* Colorants from nature

* Sustainably sourced Palm Oil

* Coconut Oil

* Plant matter

* Peppermint

* Sea salt

* Olive oil

* Essential oils

Source: Alternative Medicine Zone

Why would I need a shave brush?

Hey Hey!

Michelle emailed us this morning. Here's what she had to say about The Razor's Edge shaving soap:

"My man bought the razor's edge.  It smells great and we love the message of your company.

He scooped some out into his palm, added water and tried to mix it with his fingers.  It didn't change consistency much. Suggestions for what he should do differently to make this lather?

(if you must use a brush, we think that should say so on the package. we don't have a brush!)
thx!"

Issue:  In returning to the 'good ol days' of chemical free shaving we are two or three generations past the use of shave brushes.  The way I was taught to get a proper shave has passed just as the "greatest generation' in large part has departed.  So we need to retrain ourselves how to get a truly great shave.

Resolution:  We emailed Michelle and are sending a brush her way and including her suggestion in our next label printing. But fair warning here. Shave brushes are ideal for getting the best out of natural shave soaps; whatever the brand.  Shave brushes whip up tons of suds and don't require the use of toxic foaming agents that change the sex of fish and effect testosterone levels.  Most commercial shave creams contain nasty toxins like Triclosan, Triethalolamine, Phthalates and Sodium lauryl sulfates.  Our shaving soap uses certified organic ingredients and will not put toxins on your face or into the bio-sphere.  Likewise, our shave brushes are nylon, vegan and non-toxic.  For more great info on out pledge to great shaving read our blog on why synthetic nylon shave brushes produce a better shave than brushes made from animal hair like boar, horse, or badger at EthicallyEngineered.com.

Have a great week.

Cheers,

Jack and Joe
Ethically Engineered
The power of the Sun compels us.
Phone: 63-NEW-ETHIC or 636-393-8442

Each day the power of the mind amazes me with new and wonderful records broken. A Swiss led team of engineers and researchers has managed to complete a 26 hour flight in a Solar Powered plane called the Solar Impulse. Huge solar panels stored the power during the day and the plane amazingly flew overnight. The news of the Solar Impulse's accomplishment is remarkable and they were able to reach a hight of 28,000 feet. Plans are in the works to circle the globe with a new plane and work will begin on that project soon.

The panels Joe and I use to power our facility pull in 15% of a charge even at night. Simply amazing. However, we hope these efficiencies will be seen as the vault bar to raise higher and higher each week, month, and year as we embrace renewable energy. It is simply amazing to be living in during what the scientific community agrees is a tipping point. Each day I am looking for signs that the compassionate evolution is indeed occurring and today's landing has filled me with renewed optimism that a 'Manhattan Project' of green technology can push us forward in the struggle to maintain and improve our precious bio-sphere.

Oils from Bergamot, Grapefruit and Petitgrain are essential, uplift ones spirits, decrease anxiety and depression. Also antiseptic, antispasmodic and deodorizing agent.

This weekend's Green Music Festival was a great time.  Listeneing to the Wailers and The Aggrolites was amazing and we made so many new friends.  Thanks to everyone who came out and thanks as well to all the support of our carbon neutral process.

It's back to work today and I'm making small batches of our zen-ful Bergamot and Grapefruit high lather body bars and massage oil today.  Ohmmmm.  They say if you truly love your work you never work a day in your life.  So true.

Bergamot’s distinctive citrus smell helps lift a blue mood, builds confidence and self-esteem.  Coming from the Citrus bergamia tree its oil is mechanically cold-pressed from the fruit’s rind. I've obtained the finest quality oil however which is hand-pressed.  

Grapefruit oil is believed to reduce cellulite and fluid retention, as well as reducing muscle aches and pains when massaged into the affected area.  The oil is obtained from the fresh peel of the fruit, by means of a process known as cold expression; which involves rupturing the fresh peel and pressing out the essence or zest.

In Chicago, vegan and don't have a lot of money to waste?

Check out the Chicago Vegan Co-op buying club to get discounts and wholesale pricing.  Buy in bulk or get your friends together and chip in on some Daiya Cheese for pizza night or pick up those great vegan hikers for the upcoming trek.  Saving money is fun and an ethical plant based diet should be rewarded.  Tell all your friends.

http://chicagoveganco-op.wikispaces.com/

Ethically Engineered Tour Date Announced

Don't miss Green Music Fest on Chicago Avenue between Ashland and Noble, Saturday and Sunday, June 26th & 27th from 12-10pm. The innovative green technology-themed event reflects our eco-conscious city by fusing environmentally-friendly bands with green vendors, local retailers, arts & crafts, and educational kid’s activities. greenmusicfestchicago.com

We had a great time, last year, turning new friends onto the No-Bottle Shampoo and Conditioning Bars while listing great bands like Art Brut.

This year's event features great live music on the main stage with the legendary reggae band The Wailers plus The Aggrolites headlining Saturday 6/26, and indie-rock legends Cloud Cult and David Bazan headlining 6/27.

Chicago City Aldermen to look at Elephant abuse

Originally posted: April 8, 2008
Posted and reporting by Jack Nugent at 9:20pm

For almost four hours today, a City Council committee heard testimony and debated an ordinance regarding the use of bull-hooks and long term chaining of circus elephants within the city limits of Chicago.

The ordinance would ban the use of a broad range of devices, such as bull hooks, ax handles, and electric shock, within city limits. The ordinance is currently backed by 25,000 signatures from Chicago City residents and introduced by Alderman Mary Anne Smith.

Smith defined the ordinance as "A legislative tool that will not prohibit (circus) business but will set the highest standards and best practices for a city that signs off on permits. The ordinance’s intent is to modernize the industry and allow for process improvement rather than rely on 100 year old tools that are outdated. It’s a matter of pain and suffering as well as ethics."

Proponents argued that children learn to act violently when they witness cruelty against animals. Animal Welfare advocates suggested alternative animal control measures such as Protected Contact guidelines which are currently in use at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and The Lincoln Park Zoo.

Aldermen heard testimony from retired police officer Blaine Doyle who had the unfortunate task of bringing down a raging elephant in 1992. The elephant was shot 47 times by Doyle and required 2 armor piercing rounds before it was killed. Doyle told the Aldermen that "Bull-hooks and chains are a facade of control".

Testimony was heard from former animal handlers, animal welfare workers, residents and Circus Industry spokesmen. Industry Spokesmen Tom Albert and Sarah Lashford presented the Industry argument stating that if this ordinance is passed Ringling Brothers and Feld Entertainment will not perform in Chicago.

Alderman Toni Preckwinkle questioned the Industry representatives asking if Ringling Brothers had ever performed without animals previously. Lashford responded that "Large cats, lions and tigers, were sometimes not used in shows". Ald. Preckwinkle and Smith rebuffed the Circus Industry’s statement to not do shows in Chicago stating that "economic threats are common threats heard in these chambers" and a common tactic used by Industries hoping to defeat progressive legislation.

In the end today’s meeting resulted in a call for reconvening this ordinance meeting with a discussion set for the third week of May. Ald. Smith strongly reprimanded the Circus Industry stating that new arguments were needed if they hoped to stop this legislation’s approval. Smith stated "The Industry must work with PETA on this issue. We can do better and this (bull-hook and chaining practice) is going to change. Zoos are changing and I see no reason, after today, why the circus industry can’t progress also."

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