We all know that keeping a clean home is important for keeping dirt, germs, and grime at bay, but did you know that studies have shown links between clean spaces and lower stress levels? It sounds like the old saying “a clean home is a happy home” may be true after all! If you’re looking for some natural ways to freshen up your home to keep it feeling fresh and clean, we’ve got some tips for you!

Improve Indoor Air Quality

It’s hard to make a home smell fresh when dirty air is circulating around! That’s why our first tip is to make sure you’re breathing in clean air in your home. There are a few simple steps that you can take to improve the quality of the air in your home.

• Check and/or Replace Air Filter – This is your reminder to check your air filters and replace them if needed! It’s easy to forget this step and you might be surprised at just how dirty air filters can get over time! We recommend setting a reminder in your phone for your preferred frequency so that you get an alert when it’s time to change them. If you really want to step up the quality of the air circulating in your home and add a pop of freshness, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the air filter!

• Open Windows – What could be better than a totally free and super easy way to freshen your air!? All it takes is opening a few windows to let fresh air circulate inside your home! We love opening our windows and enjoying fresh breezes, but we don’t recommend doing this during pollen season!

• Add Houseplants – Get a natural air purification system by adding some houseplants to your home. Having a few plants inside can add charm to any space and simultaneously may help improve your air quality.

Try Room Sprays/Linen Sprays

There’s a lot you can do to freshen up your home with a few simple room/linen sprays! Choosing a natural room spray allows you to safely freshen up any room in your home. We love room sprays because they allow you to customize exactly what type of environment you want to create and you can switch it up any time! Want to create a clean and clarifying space? Try our Lemongrass Refreshing Spray! Want to create a calm and relaxing space? Lavender Refreshing Spray is the answer! 

Our versatile room sprays also make fantastic linen sprays! Try adding a few spritzes to your towels before putting them away. They’re perfect for freshening up sheets and blankets, as well as pillow cases! If you want to relax before bed, try spraying a bit of lavender on your pillow to help you unwind and drift off to sleep!

Get Creative With Essential Oils

The number of ways you can use essential oils to freshen your home is limitless! Here are a few of our favorite tricks for using essential oils to create a fresh home! All of these are super simple and don’t require much more than a cotton ball or clothes pin!

• Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto a cotton ball and place it at the bottom of the trash can in your bathrooms. This is a great option for freshening up a space and will leave everyone wondering how you did it!
• Add to the fresh bathroom vibe by placing a few drops of essential oil on the inside of the cardboard tube on toilet paper. 
• Create your own natural cleaner by mixing equal parts water and vinegar, and then adding a splash of your favorite essential oil.
• Add a few drops of essential oil to the inside cardboard of tissue boxes in your home. The cardboard will soak up the scent and you’ll get a nice bit of fragrance with every tissue pulled!
• Another clever trick is to place a few drops of essential oil on a wooden clothes pin and then clip it to the back of an air vent. No one will know it’s there, but as air blows through your vent you will get to enjoy the fresh aroma!
• Try adding a drop or two of essential oil to your dryer balls when washing sheets for an extra pop of freshness!
• Our last tip isn’t super clever, but it is effective! If you really want to punch up the freshness in your home, try diffusing essential oils in a traditional diffuser.

Use Fresh Soaps in Bathrooms & Kitchen

Don’t underestimate the power of fresh soap! It’s a small but powerful way to help add to the freshness of your home, whether it be in the kitchen or the bathroom. Your guests will love the nice treat of washing up with fresh, natural soap! These are super easy to change out between seasons as well!

Cook Up Some Stovetop Potpourri

If you’re in the mood for a little DIY freshness, consider cooking up some stovetop potpourri! This is another option that is super flexible and allows you to easily create scents for each season. There are all kinds of recipes for stovetop potpourri’s that utilize fresh, natural ingredients that you probably already have around the house! You can use fresh fruits like lemons or oranges, cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract, and more. All you have to do is put some water in a pot, add your ingredients, and bring to a boil. Let the water boil for a few minutes and then reduce it to a simmer that you can keep going for as long as you want to release the aromas. Make sure to watch your water levels and refill as needed. As an added tip, you can save your ingredients in the refrigerator to reuse the next day!  

When it comes to daily hygiene habits, many of us are completely on auto pilot. We have developed our routines over time and we go through the same motions every day without giving much conscious thought to what we are doing. We wake up in the morning and immediately jump into our routines. We hop out of bed and brush our teeth, shower, make coffee and get on about our day. Because we’re so used to doing the same thing every day, we can easily get in the habit of using the same products for our daily routines for years without even realizing it! That can be a great thing if we're already using high-quality products, but can be a bit concerning if we have blindly been using low-quality products that may do more harm than good!

This brings us to the question: When is the last time you gave much thought to the soap you’re using? Maybe you’re someone who has used the same soap for years, or maybe you’re someone who loves to peruse the aisles at the grocery store looking for fun new products to try. Either way, taking a moment to learn more about the wide world of soaps could prove to be extremely beneficial and a game changer for your skin!

Looking across the landscape of commercial soaps, there are a plethora of options lining grocery store shelves at any given moment. There are tons of brands with all sorts of pretty packaging and eye-catching names, but if you take a closer look you’ll realize that most of these “soaps” aren’t actually soap at all.

Commercial Soap vs. Natural Soap

As it turns out, many of the commercial soaps available today are actually detergents rather than soaps. These detergent-style “soap” products are mass produced and, as such, cost-effectiveness is the name of the game. The manufacturers do their best to drive down costs and make these "soaps" as inexpensive to produce as possible. In addition, many of the commercial soaps are stripped of their naturally occurring glycerin in the name of increased shelf stability. In place of the natural glycerin, they are stuffed with synthetic foaming agents meant to mimic the natural suds that would be produced by glycerin. Additionally, they are packed with artificially created perfumes and fragrances, as well as more synthetic chemicals and surfactants. While these man-made ingredients do work well at removing dirt, they come at a cost. Detergents are generally harsh and can strip the skin of its good natural oils leaving it dry and irritated. There are also questions surrounding the consequences of regulalry using these synthetic ingredients on the skin. We know that our skin is our largest organ and anything we put on it will get absorbed into the body. I don’t know about you, but we don’t love the idea of putting questionable ingredients on our skin.

In contrast to these detergents and artificial products, natural soap is made with high quality, natural ingredients that you can easily recognize. The ingredients come from sources derived from nature such as plant sources, minerals, and sometimes animal byproducts (honey or milk). The ingredients undergo a process called saponification which converts them into soap. These natural ingredients are not only safe and familiar, but they are also extremely effective. Natural soaps are able to clean your skin incredibly well without stripping it of it’s natural oils or causing irritation.

Why We LOVE Natural Soap

Here at Rinse, we are dedicated to making all natural soaps the old fashioned way, the same way grandma used to (with a few modern improvements like digital scales and refined ingredients!). There are so many incredible benefits of natural soap and we've listed a few of our favorites below!

High Quality Ingredients

Natural soaps are made from high quality ingredients that you can recognize and can feel good about. Ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, coconut oil, essential oils, and natural color blend together incredibly well to make amazing natural soaps that safely and effectively cleanse skin. These ingredients are naturally moisturizing and leave your skin feeling hydrated!

Free of Chemicals and Harmful Toxins

Just as important as what goes into natural soap is what is left OUT of it. One of the best things about natural soap is that it is free of harsh chemicals and harmful toxins. Natural soaps don’t contain any synthetic preservatives, detergents, or artificial perfumes. It’s important that you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin and natural soap allows you to do just that! You’ll never have to worry about any negative impacts on you or the environment from harmful toxins.

Gentle Yet Effective Cleansers

Cleaning your skin shouldn’t mean using harsh ingredients that cause irritation and strip it of its naturally occurring oils. Natural soaps have been found to be just as effective as commercial soaps when it comes to washing away dirt and germs. In fact, Janet Woodcock with the FDA has said “Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water… In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”

Incredibly Moisturizing

As we mentioned earlier, natural soaps contain many naturally moisturizing ingredients from various plant oils and butters. Some of our favorite ingredients are shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. These easily recognizable ingredients are unbelievably nourishing to the skin. They infuse the skin with moisture and help your skin retain its good natural oils which helps to further moisturize skin and keep it healthy and glowing!

Full of Glycerin Goodness

The best byproduct of making natural soap has got to be glycerin! It's the key ingredient that gives natural soap its sudsy, bubbly goodness! It helps to wash away dirt and grime without being overly harsh. It also is an amazing humectant that ensures your skin keeps its good oils. It’s non-greasy which means its great for all skin types, including oily skin!

Environmentally Friendly

While the commercial packaging in stores may be shiny and eye catching, it’s also incredibly wasteful. Natural soap allows you to get all the goodness of an effective cleanser without any of the waste that comes from commercially packaged soap products.

Incredible Scents

Instead of using synthetic perfumes and fragrances, natural soaps are made with natural essential oils that not only provide benefits to the skin but they also smell absolutely incredible!

Limitless Varieties

One of the best things about natural soaps is that there are nearly unlimited options! Some natural soaps serve specific purposes, and some are more general purpose. They can also come in different forms, such as soap sticks which allow you to take your favorite soaps with you anywhere!

Most Popular Natural Soaps

We are really big fans of natural soap and have a wide variety of soaps available to choose from! It's hard to say which one is the best natural soap because they all have unique properties, but some of our best sellers are:

Dead Sea Mud Soap

This is our best selling soap and it’s easy to see why! It contains actual Dead Sea mud imported from Israel. This magical mud is known for its many skin-loving properties. It is incredibly purifying and is great at opening pores and pulling out impurities. It works great as a facial soap as well as a body soap. Many people with skin troubles including eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne have found it to be helpful for dealing with these conditions.

Casteel Soap

This all natural soap is the perfect option for anyone who has extremely sensitive skin. Casteel soap is our most gentle soap as it is made of only one ingredient – saponified olive oil. It’s gentle enough for the most sensitive skin types and even is great for little ones. It’s also a fantastic choice for anyone who has a hard time with scented products. It’s loved by dermatologists and those with skin concerns across the spectrum from eczema to psoriasis!

This soap is the perfect luxurious exfoliator! It combines an invigorating blend of eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils and the soap is poured over a loofah for incredible exfoliating power. It’s excellent for the body and feet!

Tea Tree Soap Stick

As if natural soap wasn’t amazing enough, this soap levels up as it comes in the form of a soap stick! This soap is made with all natural tea tree oil and has an earthy, medicinal smell and is perfect for use as a facial or body soap. It’s great for those who deal with acne and blemish prone skin!

 Delightfully Decadent Natural Soaps

While specialty soaps are amazing for tackling tricky skin issues, we’ve also got tons of options that are just plain FUN! They’re a great way to treat yourself, and they make amazing gifts for those you love! We’ve got so many amazing scents that it’s hard to choose just a few to highlight, but we’ll do our best! Some of our favorite fun scents include:

Coco Kissed

This is one of our newest scents and we are OBSESSED! It has a warm beachy vibe with soft vanilla undertones. It's sweet scent is addicting and it's sure to be a new favorite!

Blue Citrus

Another new scent, this citrusy blend contains hints of orange, lemon, and grapefruit! The cheery scent is bright and fresh, and it may even remind you of your favorite volcano candle!

Lavender

When you need a little rest and relaxation, lavender soap is the way to go! Our soap is made with French Lavender Essential Oil and has lavender buds sprinkled on top for a little extra flair! Great for night time baths for you or your little ones!

Calla Lily

If you’re looking for an elegant, lightly floral scent then look no further than our Calla Lily Soap! It features the clean scents of the beautifully elegant Calla Lily. It’s pure luxury for the skin and the senses!

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!  

Here at Rinse, we are all about natural skin care. We believe that natural products are better for our skin, and we believe that they can be just as effective as conventional products. In many cases, we would argue they are actually more effective! In our never-ending search for natural skin care ingredients that are truly effective, there is one ingredient we have come to genuinely LOVE for its many skin-loving benefits. It’s a 100% natural ingredient that comes straight from the Earth. We love it so much that we put it into soaps, masks, and even a body polish… So, what is this remarkable ingredient we speak of? Dead Sea Mud, of course!

Despite its name, the Dead Sea is actually a lake located in the Middle East that borders Jordan on its east and Israel on its right. It has a rich and storied history dating back to ancient times. Many of us grew up learning of its low elevation (the lowest on Earth!) and its incredibly high salt content (saltier than the ocean!). We probably remember learning that those who take a swim in the Dead Sea actually float without even trying due to the high salinity. It always seemed like a magical place, but there is more magic to be found there in the mineral-rich mud! While not everyone has heard of the benefits of Dead Sea mud, you may be surprised to learn that the benefits are not a new discovery at all. In fact, it is said that this mud was a favorite beauty product of ancient leaders dating back to Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba! If it was good enough for them, it is good enough for us!

What Makes Dead Sea Mud So Good For Skin?

We all know that the Dead Sea has an excessively high salt (sodium) content, but there are far more minerals that are dissolved in the Dead Sea. Dead Sea mud is some of the most mineral-rich mud on Earth, containing a total of 21 minerals! The list of minerals includes sodium, magnesium, calcium, bromine, iodine, zinc, bitumen, sulfur, and potassium. Many of these minerals have known therapeutic, detoxifying, relieving, and healing properties. The high concentration of these minerals found in this mud makes Dead Sea mud a potent ingredient in a variety of natural skin care products. Curious what some of these minerals are known for?

• Sodium: This mineral is known to have moisturizing properties which means it can be super helpful when it comes to locking in hydration. It's also an excellent ingredient for cleansing and exfoliating.
• Magnesium: This mineral is known to work as a calming agent and to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with overall appearance of skin. Some have even reported it helping to reduce skin disorders such as acne and psoriasis!
• Calcium: This mineral is known to promote cell regeneration and skin growth. Also known for helping to retain moisture.
• Zinc: This mineral is known to help rejuvenate and heal skin. Many have reported that Zinc is helpful when it comes to acne, reducing signs of aging, and providing protection from the sun!
• Sulfur: Helpful for clearing pores and known for it’s healing and antibacterial properties

 Another amazing fact about Dead Sea Mud is that it is universally beneficial. Unlike many products and ingredients, Dead Sea mud can safely be used on a wide range of skin types. When used topically, it is fantastic for dry skin, normal skin, and even oily skin! This is great news because most everyone falls into one of those buckets! So, that’s a long way of saying that Dead Sea mud is great for everyone!

Benefits of Dead Sea Mud

With all those amazing minerals present in Dead Sea mud, you probably have a good idea of what the skin-care benefits are from using this mud, but we'll break it down for you a little more! If you're wondering "What's the bottom line? What can Dead Sea Mud do for me?," here are a few of our favorite benefits:

• Purifying – It might be hard to think of mud as a purifying cleanser, but consider this a truth stranger than fiction! Dead Sea Mud works to clean and purify the skin, ridding it of unwanted dirt and grime. It helps to draw out unwanted toxins and other build up to remove it from the skin. Aside from having cleaner skin, an added benefit of this is that it can help to make pores look smaller, resulting in more smooth and refined-looking skin!
• Exfoliating – Considering that Dead Sea mud is made up of salt and minerals, it has a fine texture that makes it an excellent natural exfoliator. It has a gentle pulling action that helps to exfoliate the skin while the minerals in the mud invigorate the skin. Exfoliating the skin is a great way to get rid of those unwanted dead skin cells to reveal softer, more radiant skin below!
• Hydrating – Dead Sea Mud is a great option for helping to restore skin’s moisture levels. The hydrating effects of this mud are excellent for those dealing with skin issues such as dryness, patchiness, and cracking. Get the hydration boost you have been looking for from a natural source!
• Clearing – Using Dead Sea mud is a great option for clarifying your skin. The mineral-rich content of the mud has been known to help clear complexion for healthier skin. Many have reported that using Dead Sea Mud on the skin has helped with clearing a wide variety of tricky skin conditions including acne, eczema, and more!
• Soothing – Who doesn't need a little skin soothing? People travel from near and far to enjoy the soothing relief of the Dead Sea. Many report that the mud provides a soothing effect on their skin, as well as on tired joints and muscles! 

The benefits of Dead Sea mud are nearly endless! The fact that people throughout the centuries have taken advantage of the magical mud speaks volumes about it's effectiveness. With so much goodness packed into a naturally occurring mud, it’s no wonder it has become such a popular skin care ingredient in many products today!

Many Ways To Take Advantage of Dead Sea Mud

Now that you know all the amazing benefits of Dead Sea mud, you may be wondering "How can I get my hands on this!?". No worries... We have you covered! Check out some of our favorite products featuring our favorite magical mud! There are many applications for how to use the mud... everything from soap (and soap sticks), to facial masks and salt scrubs! We import mud directly from the Dead Sea (in Israel) to put in our products. It is the same high quality stuff used in spa's! Let us bring the Dead Sea to you!

Dead Sea Mud Soap: This soap is an excellent way to get the benefits of Dead Sea mud in a soap form! The Dead Sea mud is blended with incredible spa-like scents of Bulgarian Lavender and Spearmint essential oils to create a luxurious soap experience! This versatile soap can be used as a facial soap or as an all over body soap. It’s excellent for removing makeup, and many have even reported benefits for various skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Many experience reduced redness and bright, fresh skin!

“What a great face soap! It's creamy and takes off all of my makeup including the mascara. I have combo oily skin and it leaves my face feeling clean and fresh without any drying. My complexion looks and feels better already after just a few uses. Smell is great and relaxing. This will be one of my new favorites from Rinse!” – Heather H.

“I have used just about every facial product made, including Proactiv, and this is THE best for oily skin. Feels tight without drying and clears up pimples in a day or two.” – Carla E.

Dead Sea Mud Soap Stick: All the benefits of Dead Sea Mud, but in a convenient twist-up tube! This is the perfect choice for anyone looking to enjoy the benefits of Dead Sea Mud Soap on-the-go! Throw it in your gym bag, travel bag, or even keep it in your home shower… no matter where you go, you can enjoy the amazing benefits of Dead Sea Mud soap!

“Love this soap. It leaves my skin so clean & it feels so smooth. It diminishes any redness & leaves my skin looking bright & clear.” – Danielle C.

“I’ve used a Dead Sea mud mask, but I liked the idea of a soap with it in. The first time I used the soap on my face, my pores appeared smaller. I’ve been using it once a day, and my skin looks and feels great.” – Karla G.

Dead Sea Mud Loofah Soap: Imagine Dead Sea Mud Soap, with loofah added in for extra exfoliation! This soap is quite literally our classic Dead Sea Mud Soap poured over a loofah for a well-rounded experience! The soap cleanses the skin while the loofah exfoliates. This is a great option for a hand and all over body soap, and even works great on the feet or as an exfoliating soap to use before shaving!

Dead Sea Mud Salt Polish: A salt scrub with the highest quality salt to be found! This body polish is made from salt (of course) blended with high-quality moisturizing oils and a refreshing Lavender and Spearmint essential oil blend. It is a rich body polish that leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized, but never greasy!

“This product is one of my favorites. It is a needed relief to my sometimes rough skin!” – Joel C.

“Love this product!” – Andrea C.

Dead Sea Mud Mask: One of our favorite ways to get the benefits of Dead Sea mud is using it as a mask! This mask is purifying, nourishing, clearing, and soothing!

Dead Sea Mud Facial Kit: The closest thing to going to the spa, without actually going to the spa! Our Dead Sea Mud Facial Kit includes our best-selling Dead Sea Mud Soap as well as our Dead Sea Mud Mask so you can treat your skin to a spa-like experience from the comfort of home!

Have you been considering making the switch to more natural skincare and beauty products? If you’re like a lot of us, you’ve become more aware and mindful of some of the harmful chemicals that are common in many of today’s conventional products and are looking for ways to transition to a more natural, clean lifestyle! If you want to make the leap but are uncertain of where to start, you are in the right place! While the natural living lifestyle can encompass so many aspects of life, we think starting small is best! Here are 5 simple steps you can take to start “going natural” today!!

1. Start Using a Natural Soap

A company that was built on making natural soap is recommending you switch to natural soap!? Who woulda thunk it!? Although this might seem like our most obvious tip, it is one of our most important ones and one that we are super passionate about! Here’s an interesting fact that you may not even be aware of: Most commercial soaps sold in stores aren’t actually even soap! Yep. Take a look next time you go to the store and see how many actually include the word “soap” on the package. You will probably be shocked at how few use that term! And you might be even more surprised at how many unfamiliar and hard to pronounce ingredients are included in these products. The reality is that many of the commercial soaps are more akin to detergents… They include chemical detergent cleaners and synthetic lathering agents that are harsh on the skin and can strip it of its natural oils.

Our skin is our largest organ and our first line of defense against germs! It’s critical that we take care of it properly and give it the nourishment it needs! This is why we recommend switching to a natural soap that includes good-for-you ingredients. One of the best things about truly natural, handmade soap is that it contains glycerin. It is a byproduct of the fats and oils that are blended together during the soap making process. Glycerin is a natural skin emollient and is an amazing humectant. Basically, it helps to attract moisture to your skin.  Many of the commercial grade soaps actually remove glycerin to make their bars lighter and less expensive to ship!

A good, natural, handmade soap will effectively cleanse the dirt and grime from your skin while leaving the naturally occurring good oils in your skin. It will leave you clean, moisturized and your skin more balanced!

One of our favorite soaps is our Dead Sea Mud Soap. It’s one of our best selling soaps for a reason! It contains mineral-rich mud straight from the Dead Sea and this ingredient makes the soap incredibly purifying and great for all types of skin – even those with tricky skin issues such as psoriasis and eczema! This soap also includes some of our favorite natural moisturizers such as Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and more! And bonus, it can be used as a facial soap or an all-over body soap making it super versatile.

2. Begin Using Sulfate-Free Shampoo

While we are not in the shampoo business, we are huge advocates of switching to a sulfate-free shampoo! Similar to how commercial soaps are really more accurately described as detergents, shampoos that contain sulfates are really detergents as well. These shampoos strip hair of its natural oils and leave it dry, brittle, and even can leave colored hair looking dull and lackluster! So what should you do to start restoring health and shine to your hair? Easy - simply switch to a sulfate-free shampoo! These shampoos are sold at most big box retail stores, grocery stores, and drug stores. All you need to do is look for “sulfate free” on the bottle and you’ll be good to go. If you REALLY want to step your hair game up, try skipping a day or two of washing your hair!

3. Switch to a Natural Deodorant

You knew this was coming didn’t you?! Natural deodorants are all the rage these days! People are beginning to learn more and more about the long term effects of the chemicals that are included in conventional deodorants which has led to a huge demand for natural deodorants.

So, what’s the deal with transitioning to natural deodorant? Well, first of all, it is truly a transition! Traditional deodorants are generally deodorants (they keep you from smelling bad) AND antiperspirants (they keep you from sweating so much!) While the idea of reducing the amount of sweat sounds appealing, there is a downside. Unfortunately, they accomplish this feat that by clogging pores which then causes our bodies to overcompensate and can actually result in even more sweat production! Beyond that, our bodies were literally designed to sweat. It’s an important way that we regulate temperature and expel toxins. As if all this wasn’t bad enough, many traditional deodorants contain lots of foreign chemicals that aren’t exactly healthy for our skin. A lot of traditional deodorants cause people to experience a plethora of skin issues including redness, bumps, and itchiness!

With all of these reasons to move away from regular deodorants, it sounds like a no brainer! There’s only one little problem… so many natural deodorants do nothing but disappoint! We've heard so many stories from people who have tried natural deodorants with the highest of hopes, only to come away disappointed and ready to go back to their old chemical-filled deodorants.

After getting a lot of requests for a Rinse deodorant, we finally took the plunge to try and see if we could come up with something that would be effective. To be honest, our expectations were low. We basically only gave it a try so that we could tell people that we had given it our best shot but it wasn’t possible to create an effective natural deodorant. Needless to say, no one was more shocked than we were when our efforts at creating a natural deodorant that actually works were successful!

We highly recommend giving our deOdor Stick a try if you’re looking to go natural! They are free of all metal, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates! These come in a variety of scents so there is something for everyone! Check out the reviews to see what our customers are saying about how well they work!

4. Discover the Natural Benefits of Oils

Ok, we KNOW the whole topic of oils can be overwhelming and we aren’t here to get you flustered! There’s plenty of time to dig into all the oils out there and discover their benefits, but if we could recommend just a few to start introducing into your hygiene and beauty line up they would be:

• Squalane Oil – Not to be too bold or overstate it too much, but Squalane Oil is seriously about to be your new best friend! This little miracle oil is taking the world by storm and being used in all sorts of products from hair care, cosmetics, to even sunscreens! We have a whole blog that explains the benefits of Squalane, so we won’t go into all the details here, but if you’re looking for a natural product to help moisturize your skin, combat fine lines and wrinkles, and provide amazing antioxidant properties then look no further! Our customers have referred to Squalane Oil as a “face lift in a bottle” and we couldn’t agree more!

• Argan Oil – This oil is derived from the Moroccan Argan Tree and we love it for the fact that it is light, quick absorbing, and packed with tons of fatty acids as well as Vitamin E! This oil is phenomenal for using on hair! It helps to ease frizz, treat split ends, and provide a natural shine and bounce to the hair!

• Peppermint Oil – We might be a little biased, but we think Peppermint Oil is a real MVP of essential oils! This powerful oil has been known to curb many common issues and can help soothe your head and activate your mind! Our customers love using Peppermint Oil as a natural remedy for headaches, to help them focus, to help with sinuses, and so much more!

5. Treat Your Feet to Natural Rejuvenation

Last but not least, we can’t neglect our feet! They do so much for us and carry us around everywhere we go… It’s only right that we show them some love! One of our favorite natural ways to pamper our tired tootsies is with our Peppofoot Stick. This fun foot balm is an incredible treat for tired, dry, cracked feet! It includes lots of fabulous natural moisturizers such as Shea Butter, Apricot Kernel Oil, and Avocado Oil! It also includes 100% natural Tea Tree Oil and Peppermint Oil to give this foot balm some tingling, antiseptic oomph! Best of all, this foot balm comes in the form of a twist-up tube meaning application is super simple! No mess!

If you’re serious about getting started on your natural journey, we have got a few products designed to make your transition easy peasy! We designed our “New Natural You Discovery Box” Collections to be curated boxes filled with natural products for every level of transition!