Those of you who live really close might be able to get 4 bars for $5.95 but anyone very far away was usually having to pay a lot more.  So now we can offer 4 bars of soap shipping to anywhere in the US for just $5.95!

As long as you don’t go over a total of 4 items in your shopping cart then you can select between the following items and ship anywhere in the US for $5.95 Priority Mail:

• Soap Bars
• Shampoo Bars (does not include the round shaving bar)
• Lip Balms in a tube

We are glad to be able to offer this to you and hope that you see a difference in your small order shipping costs.  Of course for larger orders over $75 shipping is still FREE on all products.  Please set up an an account online with us to see that as an option in your shopping cart!

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Jeb Hensarling & Me

Yesterday I met my Congressman Jeb Hensarling at a meet & greet that was hosted by Rick Carmona at his restaurant in Terrell, Texas.

I appreciated the opportunity to be able to discuss my views with Mr. Hensarling as regards HR 5786 , known as the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010.

Congressman Hensarling is a strong supporter of small business and the right of Americans to be able to pursue the American dream through entrepreneurship.  I explained briefly some of the pertinent points of the bill that would likely cause us to go out of business and he was extremely supportive.  He indicated that he understood my concerns and that at the very least the bill should be amended to exclude small business from it, which he stated was a very common step to take in Washington.  Mr. Hensarling, unfortunately, is not on either of the committees to which the bill has been referred.  He did however, let me know that he would do what he could to help.

This meeting definitely meant something to me.  I was reassured that even as just one individual I am still able to express my views directly to the person who is representing my district at the federal level in Congress.  I appreciated his time in meeting with the small group of local people who had gathered (maybe 18?) and in answering our questions and felt like that at least in here in District 5 of Texas the original system of “representation of the people” is alive and well.

In a nutshell several key points why I think business as usual would be impossible if the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 passes as written:

• The level of paperwork demanded by the bill will be simply overwhelming – ALL products must be registered as well as any changes that are made to them, along with suppliers used, hires and fires and gross revenues.  I already have all I can do to stay up with my general bookkeeping, employee taxes, sales taxes and income tax filing.
• The labeling requirements would be completely unmanageable.  If instead of simply Cocoa Butter you are required to list the following:  (Tri and Diglycerides of Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Lead, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Isoleic Acid, Beta Carotene, p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, Vanillic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Syringic Acid, Phenylehtylamine, Theophylline, Aliphatic Esters, Aromatic Carbonyls, Caffeine, Theobromine, Diketopiperazines and Alkylpryazines) — a. who would read and understand it and b. how would you even fit it onto say a lip balm tube?
• Many of the natural ingredients that I use would likely be prohibited or severely restricted.  Their definition of an ingredient that is safe without limits is that it must be so “regardless of the type and form of cosmetic the ingredient is used in; or the concentration of the ingredient that is used in the cosmetic.”  Very few if any ingredients will meet this definition, especially when you take it down to trace elements.  I use essential oils in almost all of my products – but they are not designed to be used at 100% concentration levels.  Based on their definition then essential oils would not be on the “safe” list.

When speaking with Mr. Hensarling, I said that I felt as though my industry was under attack since there has been three separate regulatory bills introduced within as many years.  His response was both reassuring on one hand and a concern on the other.  He agreed with me that my business and my industry is under attack.  So the good news is that I am not paranoid.  The concern came when he stated that many in Washington today “are afraid of business”.  I found that extremely disturbing! If our lawmakers are afraid of business then they are going to do everything in their power to control and restrict it with the end result being a crippling effect on all businesses and particularly small business.

Don’t those in government realize that for the country to survive we must produce products and services?  If businesses aren’t allowed to thrive and to produce goods and services and profits then wages aren’t being paid and there will be no one to pay taxes.  If taxes aren’t being paid then, unless somehow those in Washington have discovered a secret treasure trove, there will be no money to fund any of the governmental activities ranging from social programs to military forces.  For our country to remain vibrant and alive, our economy must remain viable which means the great majority of our citizens must be productive and contributing to our GNP.  Translation:  the opportunity for business and the ability to conduct business must be allowed and even encouraged.

Thanks again, Mr. Hensarling and good luck in Washington!

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Basil Plant in my little herb garden.

For today’s Tranquil Tuesday moment I thought I would share one of my favorite make at home foods – pesto!

Three reasons to make pesto at home:

1. Relatively expensive to buy in restaurants or a store.
2. Tastes better made at home.
3. Easy and inexpensive to make.

I grow basil for one primary reason – to make pesto.  (Wish I could come up with a pesto soap that I liked.)  This past winter I had a great flat leaf parsley crop and I used it for pesto as well.  I used to think you could only make pesto with basil and pine nuts.  Not so.  I love it with walnuts and flat leaf parsley as well.  Listed below is my favorite pesto recipe from 365 Ways to Cook Pasta by Marie Simmons.  Enjoy it over your favorite pasta, add a glass of wine and voilà, you’re living the good life!

Walnut Pesto Sauce

Thai Bail in my garden. Have not used this yet for pesto.

• 1/2 cup broken walnuts
• 1 large garlic clove, chopped
• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup packed Italian flat-leaf parsley
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Finely chop the walnuts and the garlic in a food processor; add half the basil and salt; coarsely chop.  Add the remaining basil and the parsley.  With the food processor running, add the oil in a slow steady stream through the feed tube until mixture is thoroughly blended.  Transfer to a bowl; fold in the cheese.
2. Remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking liquid before draining the pasta.  Toss hot pasta with the sauce and the reserved cooking liquid.  Serve at once with additional cheese, if desired.

Note:  Pesto freezes very well if the cheese is left out and added to the sauce once it is thawed and ready to use.

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My cat Fireball as he lounges in an open umbrella that was set out to dry on the back porch.

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Maybe it’s because it would most likely put small cosmetics companies like myself out of business.   Or perhaps it’s because instead of allowing more natural ingredients into cosmetics, it would instead restrict or eliminate them.  Or could it be that it would require privately held companies to not only disclose their gross income but also all of their vendors and suppliers.  Maybe, it has to do with the requirement of companies that have over 1 Mil in revenues being required to pay an open-ended amount of fees to subsidize all this extra work that will be created for the FDA.  Even though Susan’s Soaps & More won’t have to directly pay the fees as we are waaay under that 1 Mil benchmark many of our suppliers will, resulting in increased materials costs and the need for higher prices.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 is a poorly written and confusing piece of legislation that is overreaching and yet does not accomplish the objectives as stated by it’s supporters.  Speaking of it’s supporters – I have to wonder at their motivation.  Are they simply trying to protect all consumers or are they motivated by darker  needs for control and power?  If protecting consumers is the goal, while trying to allow for small business (as they stated) then why are they promoting their cause with a video that is more about scare tactics than fact? (I mean come on, who wants to allow babies to be hurt?  No one!)   Why not, instead, a well thought out campaign to restrict specific ingredients that have been proven to be harmful if topically applied at specified concentrations?  But no, the supporters of this bill remind me more of the frenzy generated during the Salem witch hunts or the McCarthy era.

Both of these periods were characterized by a few individuals who destroyed many with accusations that were leveled without adequate evidence.  Unfortunately, I see similarities between those episodes in our history and the SCA 2010.  Nobody wanted witches putting curses on them, just as nobody wanted spies giving away secrets to the communists, just as nobody wants unsafe cosmetics.  The cause itself is unassailable – it’s the methods used that are unacceptable.  It’s also of note that history seems to indicate that the individuals fostering the panic enjoyed and encouraged the power and control that such a position brought them.  I am concerned that the same situation exists now with those behind the non-science based accusations being hurled at the cosmetic industry today.

I don’t want a simple blog post to become a entire dissertation and so I will get into more specific details in future posts.  In closing I simply would like reiterate a few simple truths and then list some links where you can read more for yourself.  I urge you to inform yourself about this pending piece of legislation and if you find yourself opposed please weigh in and make yourself heard.  It is after all the American Way!

Other truths about the American Way:

• Our justice system is founded on the concept of innocent until proven guilty.  The witch hunts, McCarthyism and SCA2010 take the opposite approach.  We have always thoroughly researched and tested our products.  Now we could have to pay for independent testing to prove product safety to the government, effectively putting us out of business.  (Read here the story of legislation passed and its catastrophic effect on the handmade toy industry.)
• Our founding fathers believed so strongly in the concept of personal freedoms that they insisted on adding an additional 10 amendments to the constitution, otherwise known as the Bill of Rights.  Forcing private companies to divulge private business information simply to have that information made public goes completely against that founding principle.
• The USA has been built on a foundation of entrepreneurship beginning with original pilgrims, moving on to the pioneer farmers and continuing through today with companies like Apple and Burt’s Bees that began in someone’s garage or cabin.  SCA 2010 is a death knoll for entrepreneurs in the cosmetics industry and even worse perhaps a harbinger of more government control across all industries.

Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 Read it for yourself (pdf format)

Indie Beauty Blog on Oppose SCA2010 Indie Beauty official position and updates on SCA 2010

Sign the Petition to Oppose SCA2010 At the time of this post there were 2,523 signatures!

Vote Opposed in the Open Congress poll View bill sponsors, posted comments and log your vote.

Critique of the “Story of Cosmetics” video See the facts behind the fiction.