It’s the most wonderful (and hectic) time of the year! With so many holiday events packed into such a short time frame, it can leave you feeling more than a little frazzled! What you need is a survival plan! Look no further, because we’ve got the plan you need to stay sane and make the most of your holiday season!

• Soap Tapas – If you’re expecting overnight guests, you certainly want to create a welcoming guest bathroom! One super simple and inexpensive way to show your guests some love is to stock the guest bathroom with a variety of high-quality, natural soaps! Each bag of Soap Tapas comes with slivers of a variety of different Rinse soaps, weighing in at a total of 2 full soap bars! It’s a great way to add a little fun and variety to your guest bathroom!
• Peppofoot – Your feet go through a lot during the holiday season! They keep you on the move through all the hustle and bustle, so it’s important to show them a little extra love to keep them merry and bright! Easily glide a little Peppofoot Moisturizing Stick onto your tired, dry feet and enjoy the amazing transformation as your feet become moisturized, soft, and soothed!
• Tinted Lip Balm – When it comes to holiday traditions, there’s one that’s like no other… mistletoe! Love it or hate it, you don’t want to be caught unprepared when it shows up! One of our top tips for kissable lips is using a little tinted lip balm! It will add beautiful, yet subtle color and keep your lips soft and moisturized (and totally kissable!)
• Tub Truffles – After a long day of entertaining, there’s just nothing quite like sinking into a warm, relaxing bath! One of the best ways to treat yourself and take your bath to the next level is with a Tub Truffle! Drop one of these into your next bath, close your eyes, and feel your stress melt away as the fragrance and moisturizers are released!
• Handy-Tizer – Don't let icky winter germs ruin your holidays! Take measures to be proactive and do your part to keep germs at bay with Handy-Tizer! Unlike many hand sanitizers that smell like bottom shelf tequila, our Handy-Tizers come in 4 refreshing scents that will leave you germ and stink-free!
• Body Spread Lotion Tubes – The cold, dry winter air is harsh on skin. In order to survive without being extremely uncomfortable, you need a long-lasting lotion that works!
• Pop Fidgety – We all know one of the absolute keys to survival during the holidays is keeping your little ones busy and content! That’s where pop fidgety’s are the MVP! Keep your kids occupied and help them lower stress and anxiety levels with these oddly satisfying toys!

It’s October which means it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and, here at Rinse, this is the time of year when we like to think pink for a wide variety of reasons! As you probably already know, breast cancer is an extremely common form of cancer. In the U.S., 1 in 8 women (13%) will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives, and there are currently 3.8 million women in the U.S. with a history of breast cancer. That’s a lot of women! Dealing with this disease not only effects the women who have it, but also their network of friends, family, and loved ones who are by their side through diagnosis, treatment, and ideally recovery! It’s very likely that you are or know someone who has been affected by this horrible disease. While the statistics on breast cancer can be overwhelming, the statistics on how strong and resilient women are can be encouraging and a cause for great optimism in this battle!

That’s why we love that the color used to symbolize breast cancer awareness is PINK! It’s commonly seen in the form of pink ribbons - either actual ribbons or images of pink ribbons added to all kinds of products from coffee cups to socks! Did you know that this pink ribbon phenomenon is actually relatively new though? And that the first ribbons used to bring awareness to breast cancer weren’t actually pink?

A Little History of the Pink Ribbon

As it turns out, the first use of ribbons for breast cancer occurred in 1991 when a woman named Charlotte Haley began making peach-colored ribbons in her home and attaching them to postcards that brought awareness to others about how only 5% of the $1.8 billion dollar annual budget for the National Cancer Institute actually went to breast cancer. She asked people to wear the ribbons and to take action by contacting their legislators to try and get more of the budget allocated to breast cancer. She distributed her ribbons through a totally grassroots effort, handing them out at local stores and even sending them to prominent women such as former First Ladies. Her movement gained traction, which then gained the attention of two large companies, Self Magazine & Estee Lauder. These companies reached out to Charlotte to see about working together to brand the ribbon, but she was uninterested in working with such large corporations. At that point, these companies recognized that they could change the color of the ribbon and move forward with branding without Mrs. Haley’s permission and that is where the pink ribbon was born.

Pink ribbons were also embraced by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (now known as Komen for the Cure) who has actually used the color pink in its logo since it was created back in 1982. In fact, the original logo featured an abstract female runner outlined with a pink ribbon. The ribbon was used in a big way in 1991 when pink ribbons were distributed to the participants of the Komen New York City Race for the Cure®. Since the 90’s, the pink ribbon and the color pink have only grown in popularity when it comes to symbolizing breast cancer awareness. We are huge fans of this fun, girly color and we are huge advocates of breast cancer awareness which is why we are focusing on all things pink this month!

Think Pink

Our line of “Pink” products were created with the idea of making products that are fun, girly, and smell like the color pink (if colors had smells!). We’ve got an awesome line up of Pink products that we know you’re going to love! Check them out and snag some for yourself, or consider sending a Pink product (or bundle!) to a survivor! What better way to brighten their day and let them know you are thinking of them than with some fun Pink Rinse products!?

• Pink Stick – If you’ve ever tried one of our Skin Stick’s, then you already know what the hype is all about! Our Pink Stick is a solid lotion formula and melts right into your skin, just where you need it. Nourish your knees, feet, hands, elbows... anywhere you feel dry or are constantly applying lotion.

• Pink Body Spread – When you're in the mood to treat your skin to something that's thick, creamy, amazingly luxurious, and smells like a dream then Pink Body Spread is for you! This ultra-moisturizing body spread will keep your skin feeling baby-soft while leaving you smelling amazing with light, warm, vanilla tones! 

• Pink Bath Bomb – Say hello to fizzy & fun luxury with our Pink Bath Bomb! Drop one in your bath to watch it fizzle away, quickly dissolving and releasing the delicious, warm, vanilla fragrance as well as moisturizing shea butter that will leave your skin soft and hydrated!

• Pink Tub Truffle – It's called a truffle and it's pink, so it has to be amazing, right!? This fun little tub truffle is an absolute treat! Drop one in your next bath and watch it melt away along with your cares while you enjoy the moisturizing Cocoa Butter that is released into your bath! 

• Pink Body Bliss Oil - There's nothing quite like a spritz of our Pink Body Bliss Oil to leave your skin feeling moisturized and refreshed! This oil features the same warm, buttery, vanilla scent as all our other Pink products!

Our fun lineup of Pink products make perfect gifts for yourself or for loved ones! Stay tuned next week to learn more about Pink products and how a portion of proceeds are poured back into our local community through a non profit that is near and dear to our hearts! 

We’ve made it to September which means it’s time to celebrate the return of Fall! It was a long, hot Summer and (as much as we love those laid-back Summer days) we are BEYOND ready for the cool, crisp Fall days! It really is such an iconic time of year. The leaves begin to turn brilliant shades of red and orange, the weather cools and cozy clothes come back into our wardrobes, weekends are filled with football and great food, pumpkin patches and corn mazes become the go-to family activity, and the anticipation of upcoming holidays starts to build. It’s a truly magical time of year and we are giddy just thinking about it!

For as magical as Fall is, there is one iconic aspect that we haven’t mentioned yet. Can you guess what it is? Yep. PUMPKIN SPICE - The quintessential flavor of Fall! There’s just nothing better than the dreamy combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves. It’s amazing how Pumpkin Spice has seen a meteoric rise in popularity over the years, and now it reigns supreme as the king of Fall! Everyone knows about the classic PSL, and Pumpkin Spice candles have long been a Fall favorite, but did you know you can now get Pumpkin Spice Oreos!? Yep. The obsession has crept into every corner of our lives. You can get t-shirts that state “My Blood Type is Pumpkin Spice,” coffee mugs that read “Pumpkin Spice Everything”, or pillows that say “Pumpkin Spice Keeps Me Nice”. We’ve seen similar Pumpkin Spice loving statements on blankets, bracelets, keychains… pretty much any product you can think of! People don’t just like Pumpkin Spice, they are obsessed with it!

We kinda are too, which is why we wanted to share a few of our own Pumpkin Spice products with you, as well as one of our favorite Pumpkin Spice recipes! Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies sound good to anyone else!?

If you’re looking to get your Pumpkin Spice fix, we have got plenty of options for you, starting with our adorable Pumpkin Spice Fry Box! This super cute bundle contains one bar of Pumpkin Spice Soap, one Pumpkin Spice Skin Stick lotion, and one Pumpkin Spice Pucker Stick lip balm. Each of the products in this bundle is made from high-quality, naturally derived ingredients. We know you will “Fall in love” with everything included!

• Pumpkin Spice Soap (4.5 oz bar) - This warm and spicy soap will have you smelling like you bathed in a pumpkin pie! It smells ah-mazing and cleans even better! We know that what we put ON our skin is just as important as what we put IN our bodies which is why we make our soaps from naturally derived ingredients! Our soaps are handmade the old-fashioned way and include incredible moisturizers like Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter, as well as glycerin for some amazing suds! This soap is topped with a sprinkling of Powdered Pumpkin (and its exfoliating enzymes) for an extra touch of Fall!

• Pumpkin Spice Skin Stick (0.5 oz) - Those dropping temperatures that we love do have one small downside... dry skin! Luckily, there is no need to suffer! Our Pumpkin Spice Skin Stick is a perfectly portable lotion that you can throw in your purse or pocket and have any time! Think of it a bit like a lip balm for your body. The solid lotion is packed into a twist-up tube so you can access it any time you need, without waste and without making a mess! So easy to throw in your purse, gym bag, or keep in your car!

• Pumpkin Spice Pucker Stick (0.15 oz) - Treat your lips to the most nourishing lip balm EVER! Our Pumpkin Spice Pucker Stick lip balm contains some incredible natural moisturizers as well as our game changing ingredient, Squalane Oil! This quickly absorbed oil is known for being extremely healing which makes it perfect for dry, chapped lips! The only thing that could make Pucker Sticks more awesome is getting them in the Pumpkin Spice flavor!

If you've already got the Pumpkin Spice Fry Box but you still are in need of a Pumpkin Spice fix, don't fret! We have a variety of additional products that can satisfy your Pumpkin Spice cravings!

• Pumpkin Spice Body Spread (4 oz) – This thick, creamy, luxurious Pumpkin Spice Body Spread is made from a super moisturizing blend of ingredients including Shea Butter & Olive Oil! This is a must have for the cool, dry months!

• Pumpkin Spice Body Buff (4 oz) – This Pumpkin Spice Body Buff is our version of a sugar scrub and it. is. AMAZING!! We made this Body Buff with a blend of sugar and hydrating oils so that it will not only leave your skin exfoliated and fresh, but it will also leave it soft and moisturized! (without any greasy or oily feeling, of course!)

• Pumpkin Spice Body Bliss Oil (4 oz) - Fall luxury in a bottle! Our Pumpkin Spice Body Bliss Oil is essential if you’re looking to keep your skin feeling soft and smelling great! This oil is perfect for using as an all-over moisturizing oil, bath oil, or even a massage oil! It is made from a blend of light oils that soak right in and won’t leave you feeling greasy!

We hope our lineup of Pumpkin Spice products gets you through this magical time of year! If you’re still looking for more of a fix, try out this recipe for Mini Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies! They are the perfect unique, seasonal treat that will be a hit at your next gathering!

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) softened butter
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 2 large eggs (room temperature, lightly beaten)
• 1 cup pure pumpkin
• 1 ¼ vanilla extract (divided)
• 4 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
• 6 tablespoons softened butter
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

How to Make:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare 4 baking sheets by using parchment paper or lightly greasing.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in a medium bowl.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat in ½ cup softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs in (one at a time), being sure to beat well after each addition.
4. Add 1 cup pumpkin and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
5. Stir in flour mixture slowly until well combined.
6. Use a cookie scoop to drop batter onto prepared baking sheets.
7. Place in oven and bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until springy to the touch.
8. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then remove to wire cooling racks to continue cooling.
9. In a small mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, 6 tablespoons of softened butter, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract on medium speed until fluffy.
10. Slowly add in powdered sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy.
11. Once the baked portion is completely cool, spread a heaping tablespoon of the filling onto the flat side of the cookie. Then top with the flat side of another cookie to create a sandwich.
12. ENJOY!

Store your extra Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies in a covered container in the refrigerator!

Here at Rinse, we are obviously big fans of natural products, especially Essential Oils. It would be impossible to pick a favorite, but one that definitely ranks towards the top of our list is Tea Tree Oil! Sometimes it feels like Tea Tree Oil doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves. It may not be as flashy and well known as Peppermint Oil or Lavender Oil, but it sure has some knock-out benefits that we’re certain you will love!

Tea Tree Oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia (yeah, we can’t pronounce it either!), commonly known as the Tea Tree! This unique tree is native to Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. The oil is obtained through a process of steam distilling the leaves to extract the oil. Tea Tree Oil has been used for centuries. The Aboriginal people of Australia discovered the benefits of the oil first. They would crush the leaves to extract the oil which they would use to treat a wide variety of ailments including cuts, burns, and skin infections. They would even bathe in lagoons that were under Tea Trees. The leaves would fall into the waters which would essentially create natural antiseptic baths. The benefits of the Tea Tree quickly became known throughout Australia and physicians began using the oil to sterilize wounds after surgery. Tea Tree Oil was even issued to Australian soldiers during WWII for the treatment of wounds, infections, and more. It wasn’t until more recent history that the “secret” of Tea Tree Oil made it’s way around the world. It has since been widely studied and has become extremely popular among those looking for natural remedies to common ailments and those looking for natural additions to their beauty routines!

So what makes Tea Tree Oil so unique? This powerful, purifying oil has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. In fact, it is the only oil that actually has an effect on bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. It’s basically an oil straight out of mother natures medicine closet! It has become a popular ingredient in many beauty and skincare products. It can be found in skin creams, massage oils, hair products, and more. Because this oil is so potent, it is not recommended to apply it topically to skin without a carrier oil. Also, it should be noted that despite it’s name including the word “tea,” this oil should never be swallowed!

The uses for Tea Tree Oil are nearly endless. We’ve listed out some of the most common uses below!

Popular Uses:

• Acne & Pimples – No one appreciates those pesky pimples that can pop up at the most inconvenient times. For those who deal with frequent breakouts, Tea Tree Oil may be a natural solution! Several studies from the past couple of decades indicate that Tea Tree Oil is useful in fighting mild to moderate acne and helping to clear up pimples. Because this oil has naturally anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it is able to help lower bacteria levels on the skin, thus helping to reduce outbreaks. For those concerned that using Tea Tree Oil might clog pores, no need to worry! This oil is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog up your skin! Give our Tea Tree Mint Soap a shot if you're looking for a gentle, yet powerful Tea Tree Oil cleanser! 

• Dry Skin & Eczema – Tea Tree Oil is an excellent natura solution for treating dry skin and even can be effective at treating eczema. If you have ever dealt with eczema, you know how frustrating this chronic condition can be. The many antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties of Tea Tree Oil make it an effective treatment. In fact, a study conducted in 2011 found that topically applied Tea Tree Oil was even more effective at treating eczema than zinc oxide and clobetasone buyrate creams. As always, it is important to use a carrier oil when treating dry skin with Tea Tree Oil. Check out our ready-to-use Tea Tree Mint Body Spread for a quick solution for treating dry skin!

• Oily Skin – If you are someone who battles oily skin, Tea Tree Oil may just be your new best friend! It’s antiseptic properties have been shown to be effective at combating oily skin. Adding just a few drops to your daily moisturizer can help to break up and remove unwanted surface oils from your skin.

• Inflammation – Tea Tree Oil is fantastic for helping to sooth inflamed and irritated skin. It has even been shown to help reduce histamine-induced skin inflammation. Give our Tea Tree Body Bliss Oil a shot for helping to soothe irritated skin.

• Cuts/Wounds/Infections – As we mentioned before, this powerful oil was given to Australian soldiers back during WWII so that they could help to treat cuts & wounds. That’s a pretty ringing endorsement speaking to the effectiveness of Tea Tree Oil! It’s antibacterial properties make it a fantastic natural option for helping to heal wounds.

• Hair & Scalp Health – Tea Tree is excellent for helping with a dry scalp or dry hair. Improper cleaning of hair follicles on the scalp can lead to clogged pores which can lead to dandruff or even hair loss. Tea Tree Oil can help to cleanse the scalp, helping to reduce dandruff. It also can make hair follicles more receptive to nutrition which can help to generally support healthy hair. Adding a few drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil to your shampoo can be a real game changer!

• Psoriasis – Many people who suffer from this autoimmune skin condition have reported that they find relief from using Tea Tree Oil. Many find that it is soothing when applied to the bothersome, scaly patches caused by psoriasis.

• Athletes Foot – If you’ve ever dealt with Athlete’s Foot, you know that this common foot infection can wreak some serious havoc on your feet leaving them feeling scaly, itching, or even painful. Tea Tree Oil can be used as an effective home remedy. Using it with a carrier such as coconut oil may help to treat both the cause (fungus) and the symptoms of this condition. Check out our Tea Tree Mint Loofah Soap which can help to cleanse rough foot skin, as well as our Tea Tree Soaking Salts to give your feet a refreshing, cleansing soak! 

• Burns – While no one ever plans to get burned, it’s unfortunately a reality of life that it happens from time to time! When you are dealing with a burn to your skin, Tea Tree Oil can be an effective home remedy to help provide some much needed relief. It’s antiseptic and antimicrobial properties can help to keep the burned skin clean, while also helping to accelerate the healing which may in turn help reduce the appearance of scars.

• Bug Bites – Yet another unavoidable reality of life, especially during the Summer! If you are sugary sweet and tend to get eaten up by biting bugs, this oil is for you! It can be very helpful for alleviating bug bite pain and reducing inflammation caused by it. Check out our Tea Tree Oil Roll-On for a pre-made, ready-to-apply, convenient option for spot treating those pesky bug bites! 

• Aromatherapy – Tea Tree Oil can be added to a diffuser for a purifying, calming environment. This is great for times when you want to let your brain and body get a little rest and relaxation!

• Expectorant – Australian Aboriginal people have long used a method of crushing Tea Tree leaves and inhaling the oil to help alleviate coughs and colds. It is a little easier to access these days, but the effectiveness of Tea Tree Oils as an expectorant has not changed! Diffusing the oil in combination with using it in a massage oil can help to act as an expectorant, providing relief from coughs, colds, and congestion.

• Cleaning – As many of us are looking to move from traditional (potentially toxic) cleaning products to more natural and safe solutions, we should definitely consider using Tea Tree Oil in our natural cleaning product lineup! Making a home made cleaner is super simple and can be done by adding about 10 drops of the oil to 2 cups of hot water and ½ cup of vinegar! This DIY all purpose cleaner solution can safely and naturally help to disinfect surfaces in your home. Just be sure to steer clear of using it on any granite surfaces!

While our list of uses for Tea Tree Oil could go on for what feels like forever, we think you kind of get the point… this stuff is awesome! Hopefully this list has helped to educate you on how powerful and versatile this oil really is. If you’re ready to give it a try, we’ve got quite a few products that might be just what you’re looking for!