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!  

Natural skincare is a way of life for so many of us. We love to treat our face and skin to the amazing benefits of natural products, but at times it can be easy to forget that our feet deserve the same attention as our face. After all, they carry us around everywhere we go, every single day! It’s a tough job, and we think our feet deserve to be rewarded for all that they do!

 That’s why we have rounded up our favorite products to help you treat your feet! While heading out for a luxurious pedicure may be the ultimate way to treat your feet, we’ve got some amazing products that will help you to keep those toes in tip top shape between pedicures!

1. Peppofoot Stick

Is there really any other place to start than with Peppofoot? It’s a cult favorite and best seller for a reason! If you have ever suffered from rough, dry, cracked feet then you already know the discomfort (and embarrassment) that can cause. No one wants feet that feel like sandpaper! It’s uncomfortable, it’s not cute, but it is a common problem! We’ve been there and, just like many of you, we tried every product on the market in an attempt to find relief! So many foot lotions, creams, and balms make big promises, but fail to deliver. This is exactly why we created Peppofoot!

We can confidently say it is the BEST foot moisturizer around and it always delivers! Seriously, check out the reviews to see for yourself!

So what exactly is it? Peppofoot is a moisturizing foot balm made with high quality, all natural ingredients that work to penetrate the layers of skin and deeply moisturize the feet. The carefully chosen ingredients work together to help relieve the discomfort and embarrassment of dry, cracked feet. Peppofoot is packed with some incredibly moisturizing ingredients including Shea Butter, Apricot Kernel Oil, and Avocado Oil. It also contains natural Tea Tree Oil & Peppermint Oil as well as a small dash of Menthol. These ingredients combine to make it smell amazing and to give a soothing, cooling sensation that feels oh-so-good!

Best of all, it’s a foot balm stick. That means the application is quick, easy, and mess-free! Simply turn the twist up tube, glide along the feet, and then you are done! No more greasy hands!

2. Euca-Mint Loofah Soap

We’re going to go ahead and state the obvious here, but there’s no way to get healthy, pampered feet without making sure your feet are thoroughly cleansed! We all know we need clean feet, but finding the best products for the job can be a bit of a challenge!

Because the skin on our feet can be extremely rough, it’s a good idea to wash them with something that provides a little exfoliating power to help slough off thick, rough skin. As the name suggests, our Euca-Mint Loofah soap contains an entire loofah that allows you to take washing your feet to the next level. The loofah works to exfoliate the feet, while the Euca-Mint soap gently yet effectively cleanses the skin. Made with a blend of Eucalyptus and Peppermint Essential oils, it has an invigorating scent that will have you actually looking forward to washing your feet every day!

3. Peppofoot Polish

Once you’ve got those clean feet, it’s time to let them sparkle and shine with the help of Peppofoot Polish! This luxurious exfoliating foot scrub contains extremely fine granules of powdered pumice that gently work to exfoliate the skin on your feet. Unlike other foot scrubs that can be harsh and leave your skin scratched up, Peppofoot Polish offers a gentle and relaxing exfoliating experience that will leave you with soft, smooth skin (no scratches involved!).

In addition to exfoliating the feet, Peppofoot Polish simultaneously works to moisturize at the same time thanks to the addition of Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, and Apricot Kernel Oil. These natural ingredients work to help the feet lock in moisture as they are being exfoliated.

As with all Rinse products, you already know it smells amazing thanks to the addition of 100% natural Peppermint oil! It’s the perfect scrub to use between pedicures to help keep your feet soft and fresh!

4. Peppofoot Refreshing Spray

Pure luxury in a bottle! Peppofoot Refreshing Spray is our perfectly portable pick-me-up for your feet! Sometimes you just need a little something extra to soothe the feet and this cooling foot spray is just the ticket! This refreshing spray is made from a blend of 100% natural Tea Tree and Peppermint Essential Oils along with moisturizing oils such as Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, and Organic Jojoba Oil. It provides a refreshing and cooling sensation without leaving the feet feeling sticky or tacky. As a bonus, it works phenomenally as a linen spray, room spray, yoga mat spray, car spray, and more!

5. Pedi-To-Go

Everything you need in one kit to give yourself the luxury experience of a pedicure right at home! If you’re ready to go all-in on treating your feet, this is the kit for you! It comes complete with a Mini Peppofoot Stick, Peppofoot Refreshing Spray, and Peppofoot Polish so that you have everything you need to pamper your feet. It’s a fantastic starter kit to purchase for yourself if you’re ready to treat your feet! It also makes for an amazing, unique, and thoughtful gift for friends, family, teachers, nurses, or anyone who spends time on their feet!

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!

Do you like to DIY? We love a good DIY project but usually it isn't the most relaxing of things. But you're in luck because our Powdered Facial Masks are both of those- DIY and relaxing!! Like we said in our 4 Simple Tips for Naturally Glowing Skin Blog, using a natural face mask is an excellent way to treat your skin and see some incredible benefits as a result! But we all have different skin types, which means we have different concerns and needs when it comes to a face mask. Luckily, our DIY masks give you the ability to customize them specifically for your skin type! But do you have dry skin in the winter, oily skin in the summer, & combo skin in between? I'm sure you don't want to buy masks for all of those different times. That's where our customizable Powdered Facial Masks come in handy. You can customize them not only to your skin type, but you can customize them for any season, any area, or any preference! Like the image below (our little cheat sheet for you), you can put one mixture on your oily areas, one on your dry areas, and the other everywhere else!

So now you know why they're amazing? But now here's how to use them:

Mix a little less than a capful of mask with water or your choice of liquid until it makes a paste. In a circular motion apply to the face avoiding the eyes. Allow to sit on the skin for up to 10 minutes (or longer if you have the time). Rinse away & apply moisturizer. Repeat each week or as needed.

Like our picture above shows, here's what we suggest you mix into your mask but it's always up to you!
Dry Skin: anything rich and creamy, such as cream, honey or extra virgin olive oil.

Normal/Combination Skin: water or milk.

Oily Skin: tomato juice, witch hazel or any slightly acidic fruit. 

Some other tips and tricks that we love about our masks?

Tip 1: if you take the mask (any mask but we love Cafe Mocha for this trick), and mix only a tad bit of water in it, it's an amazing exfoliator that isn't too rough!

Tip 2: Caffeine is said to help reduce cellulite and our Cafe Mocha Mask has caffeine in it. So take a handful with you in the shower and rub that Cafe Mocha Mask all over those areas with a bit of cellulite! Warning, this is messy! We're not saying it'll make your cellulite disappear but it's worth a shot ;)

Tip 3: Use the Yogurt Facial Mask after using a different Mask for a luxurious facial. 

Tip 4: Follow your powdered mask with Squalane Oil to moisturize and keep that glow!

do you have any Facial Mask Tips & Tricks! Let us know by emailing info@rinsesoap.com so we can share your tips with everyone!

It’s no secret that we all want to find ways to keep our hair strong, healthy, and looking great. This can be even more true if you are someone who deals with frustrating hair issues. Whether you have dry, brittle hair that constantly breaks or oily hair that has you looking a little greasier than you’d prefer, it can be a challenge to know what’s causing the problems and what to do about it. The vast array of products on the market and the overwhelming amount of advice from hair care companies can leave you feeling confused and paralyzed when it comes to knowing what to do to give your hair the boost it needs!

We’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be complicated! In fact, just following a few simple steps can lead to a big payoff when it comes to restoring your hair. Even better, there’s a lot you can do to improve your hair naturally. So, let’s dive in with some of our top tips for naturally healthy hair!

1. Use a Sulfate-Free Shampoo

It’s an unfortunate fact that many of the shampoos on the market today contain sulfates. There’s a lot of talk about sulfates, but the bottom line is that they are excellent cleaning agents that help shampoo to trap dirt and oil residues and wash them away. Sounds great so far, right? The issue is that they work a little too well! Sulfates don’t just wash away the dirt and bad oils, but they also can strip hair of GOOD, naturally occurring oils. When your hair is stripped of it’s good oils, it can leave it dried out and brittle. This can also wreak havoc on color treated hair as well, leaving it faded and dull. Additionally, because sulfates can lift the hair cuticle, they can leave hair (especially curly hair) looking frizzy and wild. Yikes!

Don’t let your shampoo be a contributing factor to your bad hair days! It’s super simple to switch to a sulfate-free shampoo! Sulfate free shampoos are extremely easy to find these days. No need to visit a fancy salon to get your hands on some! Just head down to your local grocery store or big box store and you should find plenty of options! These shampoo’s will be clearly marked as “sulfate free” on the bottle making them easy to identify. Switching to a sulfate free shampoo will allow your hair to keep it’s good essential oils, it’s natural shine, and to grow strong and healthy!

2. Wash Less Often

Another easy thing you can do to help restore your hair is to wash it less frequently. Yep, this is one of those rare cases in life where you can accomplish more by doing less! So why exactly are we suggesting you wash your hair less frequently? Well, similar to the negative effects from shampoos with sulfates, washing your hair daily can also cause your hair to be stripped of it’s natural oils, leaving it dry, brittle, and prone to split ends! It might sound funny, but washing your hair every day actually trains your body to produce extra oils to try and make up for the ones that you are washing away. This can lead to excess oil which can encourage more hair washing and get you into a vicious cycle of feeling like you need to wash your hair every day! Skipping a day or two of washing your hair can help to “re-train” your it to level out oil production levels. We recommend starting with just challenging yourself to skip one day of hair washing! Once you get past that hurdle and grow more comfortable with the concept (and start seeing the benefits), we think you’ll grow pretty fond of skipping more than just one day!

3. Level Up with Tea Tree Oil & Argan Oil

Now that you’ve gotten some sulfate-free shampoo, why not level up by adding some tea tree oil to it? Not only does this magical oil provide a wide variety of benefits for the skin, but it also can help to transform your hair and scalp. Adding a little tea tree oil to your shampoo can help provide relief for those dealing with dry hair, dry scalps, and dandruff. It has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that allow it to help soothe the scalp, relieving dry and itchy skin and helping to prevent flaking. It helps to improve the overall health of the scalp which may in turn help with healthy hair growth!

Another incredible oil to try is Argan oil! This often overlooked oil is an incredible addition to your natural hair care routine. It’s light, easily absorbed, and nearly scentless making it excellent for a variety of uses. It contains fatty acids as well as vitamin E and is a fantastic option for helping to ease hair frizz, treat pesky split ends, and add shine & bounce! It’s so versatile that it can be used on either wet or dry hair, as well as styled hair. You can easily incorporate it into your routine by adding a little to your shampoo and conditioner, applying it as a hair mask or leave in conditioner, or using it as a regular hair oil.  

4. Try an ACV Wash

If you’re feeling a little adventurous, this is a great option to try! As you begin to stretch out the length of time between hair washes, you may find that you want a quick rinse in between. We recommend trying an apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse! This is simply a rinse made up of 2 easy ingredients: apple cider vinegar and water! If you’re new to the ACV rinse, we recommend starting conservative! Go for a 25% ACV and 75% water mixture. Blend it up and simply put it on as a rinse instead of using shampoo and conditioner. It will rinse your hair beautifully and leave your hair nice and shiny! It’s a win-win! You can use an ACV rinse all over, or section off the top portion of your hair and just rinse that!

5. No Poo, No Problem!

Our last recommendation is certainly the most extreme option and is for those who are wanting to be completely D-O-N-E with shampoo. If that’s you, we recommend trying a little concoction that we like to call “No Poo” 😉. This is not for the faint of heart, but is great for those looking to “shock” your hair into the natural life! It can be especially great for those with oily hair! Since this method involves completely ditching shampoo, you’ll need to create a little “no poo” concoction to use on those days when you otherwise would have washed with shampoo.

Here’s the “No Poo How-To”:

There are many different variations on the "no poo" method, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you! The bottom line is that you’ll only need 3 ingredients: baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and water. 

We recommend mixing about a tablespoon of baking soda into about a cup of water. You can add ACV to your mixture or use it separately afterwards as a rinse. We recommend putting your "no poo" in an old dish bottle for easy dispensing!

We’ll go ahead and warn you now… this transition is going to be pretty oily and you’re probably going to be wearing a lot of bandanas, hats, and scarves to hide your grease, but once you get through it, you’ll thank yourself!! We do recommend starting conservative with any rinse that involves baking soda as everybody is different and baking soda can alter the PH balance of your skin… so, start small and grow from there!

When is the last time you took a look at the ingredients list for the skincare products you use on a daily basis? That moisturizer you slather on every morning? The soap you use? Your favorite face mask? You might be surprised to find that many of the most commonly available products that are absolute staples of store shelves include long lists of chemical ingredients with questionable reputations! When you consider that the skin is the largest organ of the human body, and that anything we put on our skin gets absorbed, it can make you take pause and think twice about what you choose to put on your skin.   

Many of the chemically-laden products have harmful side effects – both immediate and potential long-term side effects. They have been known to irritate skin, cause dryness, redness, and generally be overly harsh on the skin. In addition, the questions surrounding the internal effects of absorbing chemically toxic products can send a shiver down your spine! It’s no wonder than many people are seeking out clean, natural, and safe alternatives.

We all know the beauty industry is complicated enough as it is, and the idea of transitioning to a natural skincare routine can be overwhelming, but it’s a lot easier than you might think! We recommend starting small to build new habits and then expanding from there. And the best place we can think of to start your transition is by swapping out your facial care products! The skin on your face is some of the most delicate skin of your entire body, and it deserves extra special care!

We’ve rounded up some of our top tips for going natural with your facial skin care. You’re way too pretty to take chances with your skin! Keep on reading for some of our favorite tips and products that can help you successfully transition to a more natural and safe skin care routine.

TIP #1: Slather on the Natural Sunscreen

If we could give you just ONE tip to protect your pretty face it would be WEAR SPF EVERY DAY. NO. MATTER. WHAT. We are super passionate about this because it’s such a simple thing that can make a massive difference in protecting your skin! We all know SPF protects skin from harmful UV rays, it lowers your skin cancer risk, and it helps to prevent premature aging! It’s seriously the MVP of the morning routine! We are huge fans of natural sunscreens that don’t contain a bunch of harsh chemicals. Check out our Organic SPF 30 Sunscreen for an excellent safe and effective option!

TIP #2: Say Goodbye to Dirt & Grime with Natural Cleansers

Okay, now that we’ve covered that important point, let’s move to one of the most basic but important products we need for our facial skin: cleansers! As you already know, the skin on the face is typically more sensitive than skin elsewhere on the body which means it’s important that we use a cleanser that is both gentle and effective. We never recommend using your shampoo, body wash, or a commercial grade soap on your face! We hate to break it to you, but most of the commercial “soaps” in the soap aisle aren’t actually soap at all. Most of them are labeled as “beauty bars” or “detergents”. These products are known for stripping the skin not only of dirt, but also of the natural and beneficial oils that we actually need!

Instead of reaching for the commercial stuff, look for products that are more natural. One of the key features of a good natural soap is one that contains “glycerin” which is a humectant that attracts moisture from the air to your skin. A well formulated natural bar of soap is going to cleanse the top layer of dirt, and simultaneously leave your skins naturally occurring oils.

Two of our favorite facial soaps are Dead Sea Mud Soap and Casteel Soap. Both are natural, glycerin-containing soaps that are excellent for using on your delicate facial skin!

Our Dead Sea Mud Soap is made from 100% naturally derived ingredients including mud straight out of the Dead Sea in Israel! This soap is a game changer for anyone with tricky skin issues. The minerals from the Dead Sea mud are incredibly purifying and help to give the skin a deep cleaning without being harsh. This soap is our best-selling soap and is known to be a great option for anyone with eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea. Check out our Dead Sea Mud blog for all the details about the incredible benefits of Dead Sea mud!

Another fantastic facial soap is Casteel Soap. This is one of the most gentle cleansers you could use. In fact, it’s made simply of saponified olive oil. It’s perfect for the most sensitive of skin types. It cleans well, but won’t cause any irritation!

TIP #3: Mask Up to Reveal Your Best Skin Ever!

Now that we’ve covered how to naturally clean your skin, let’s talk about how to naturally treat your skin to a little TLC! One of the best ways to do that is to mask up! No, not that kind of mask 😉

Using a natural face mask is an excellent way to treat your skin and see some incredible benefits as a result! We all have different skin types which means we have different concerns and needs when it comes to a face mask. Luckily, Rinse has something for everyone! Our DIY masks give you the ability to customize them specifically for your skin type! Dry skin? Mix them with something rich and creamy like honey or olive oil. Normal or combination skin? Mix with water or milk. Oily skin? Try mixing with tomato juice, witch hazel, or any slightly acidic fruit.

Check out our facial mask lineup to find something perfect for your skin!

• Oatbrasion Mask: This DIY mask is made with powdered pumice, colloidal oatmeal, and powdered honey. Each carefully chosen ingredient plays a critical role in this mask! The powdered pumice makes for a super fine physical exfoliant, while the colloidal oatmeal works for sooth the skin and reduce redness. The powdered honey provides the skin with natural hydration so that you are left with some of the softest, freshest skin you’ve ever experienced!

• Café Mocha Mask: This DIY mask is like an espresso for your face! It’s made with antioxidant and slightly caffeinated ingredients such as cocoa powder and coffee which both work to exfoliate your skin and wake it up! It also features powdered honey for some added hydrating effects.

• Charclay Mask: Enjoy the benefits of the perfect blend of Activated Charcoal and Bentonite Clay that work together beautifully to freshen and soften your skin, all while purifying it leaving it squeaky clean and refreshed!

• Yogurt Mask: This unique mask features enzymes that help to clear away impurities all while leaving you with skin that is soft and nourished! It’s made with powdered yogurt to moisturize the skin, as well as kaolin clay to smooth the skin. In addition it features powdered honey which gives it an extra moisturizing boost as well as antimicrobial properties!

• Dead Sea Mud: We’ve already mentioned the phenomenal benefits of Dead Sea mud in soap form, but it’s also amazing as a face mask! It’s purifying, nourishing, cleansing, and soothing! Perfect for all skin types, it’s a dream come true!

TIP # 4: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Our last tip is to find a natural moisturizer for your face! There are an endless number of moisturizers on the market and trying to find the “right one” for you can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. While the beauty industry does it’s best to over complicate it, we actually think moisturizing your skin can and should be quite simple. Using a high quality natural soap that won’t strip the skin in combination with using a facial mask that helps to hydrate the skin can go a long way towards keeping your face moisturized.

When it comes to using a daily moisturizer, we’re huge fans of Squalane Oil. It’s a light, scentless, and quickly absorbing non-comedogenic oil that is loved for it’s ability to promote cell elasticity, cell regeneration, and even help to fight fine lines and wrinkles! It helps to keep skin clear and healthy thanks to it’s antioxidant properties, and it’s gentle and safe for all skin types! Squalane is quickly gaining in popularity thanks to it’s many benefits! Check out our blog on Squalane Oil to learn even more!

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!

If you read Part 1 of our “Pink” blog, then you know that we have a soft spot in our hearts for women affected by breast cancer and we LOVE that the month of October is dedicated to them! That said, our love for women doesn’t stop there. We are a company made up of many women from all walks of life and we know first-hand just how much women are capable of! They truly are the backbone of our society in so many ways. They’re strong, caring, compassionate, smart, beautiful, creative, funny, hard-working, and all-around amazing! A truly unstoppable force that we would be lost without!

We know their value which is why we are so passionate about doing our part to help women in our local community live free, healthy, happy lives where they can live out their full potential. This is why we donate a portion of all proceeds from our “Pink” line of products to a local nonprofit called “Project ReNeWal”.

Project ReNeWal is a Domestic Violence Intervention program that serves Walton County (which we call home), as well as the surrounding counties of Rockdale and Newton. It was established in 1995 and offers a wide range of services including a 24/7 crisis line where women can speak confidentially to highly trained, professional, compassionate staff. Project ReNeWal also provides help to women in immediate danger by assessing them for entry into a safe house and then provides them with personal care items as well as other items to meet their basic needs. Women who enter the safe house are then able to complete a program focused on helping them set both short and long term goals, as well as a plan of action. While they are completing the program, Project ReNeWal provides childcare, parenting classes, counseling sessions, transportation, and nutritious meals.

The ultimate goal of Project ReNeWal is to help victims of domestic violence become healthy and live independent, non-violent lives. That is a goal that we absolutely love and is why we donate to this amazing non-profit. We love our local community and we love seeing our local women empowered to become their best selves!

If you feel as passionate as we do and like the idea of shopping for a cause, check our our lineup of Pink products! A portion of sales is poured back into our community through this amazing nonprofit. It’s truly a win-win situation! You get some amazing, delicious smelling products and local victims of domestic violence get another shot at life!

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!