West Indian Skincare Co. Ltd

❤ Facebook Pages to Watch

2013-10-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world of social media! Facebook has now launched yet another annoying privacy-intrusive function.

Facebook is apparently testing a new way for page owners to keep tabs on competing pages. We received an invite from facebook about a week ago on our West Indian Skincare facebook page to try the new “Pages to Watch” this is a new module which allows people to select five pages. Facebook will then bookmark these pages in this module, and give updates about like totals over the past week. When an admin selects pages, they can then see how many new fans those pages have added/subtracted over the past week. There are no deeper metrics available right now, beyond likes. It’s being touted as a way to “track the progress on any Pages you want to watch. You’ll see how many likes they get and receive tips on how to keep up.”

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So the first time we received our invite to try this new module we immediately turned it down as we found this to be very intrusive.

However, as days progressed we were notified by Facebook that other pages have added us as their 'Page To Watch' line up. The notification also invites us to add our 5 pages to start using 'Pages To watch' (because as I said above, we didn't add any pages to our 5 )

As a business who has already been viciously copied by wannabe competition this really pisses us off. Now they get to stalk us with convenient tools! Well done Facebook!!!

At the very least there should be a privacy option so we can decide what information other pages can get to monitor about us.

I understand this is a Win/Win for Facebook, after all Facebook's intent is to get you to add all your industry competitors so it can compare you side-by-side and coax you into buying advertisements when you fall behind. I also understand that Facebook isn't giving you anything you couldn't calculate by hand if you REALLY wanted to – This is just making it much easier. But it just seems like somewhat of a violation of trust to be arbitrarily releasing page insights to anyone who wants to see them, granted this is just a tiny piece of data but still it's the general principle.

One good thing that has come out of this new feature, we realized we have indeed made a mark in our industry. No matter how slow or fast we are proceeding we have made quite an impression as we have been amazed at the number of pages that has decided to 'Watch' our page. If we didn't no one would be 'watching' us.

Do you know who's watching you?

❤ Our Skin

2013-10-03T18:17:00.003-07:00

The skin is the largest organ of the body and as such requires nourishment and care as it's also the thinnest.
So many people have skin rashes, dryness, sores, blisters, corns, dandruff and such that more attention needs to be given to what holds you together. It is said that the health of your skin is a good indicator of how healthy the rest of your body is.

At West Indian Skincare™ we recognise that everyone’s skin is unique. Individual skin chemistry has an impact on the effect a product will produce.

Your skin is made up of two main layers, the epidermis (upper/outer layer) and the thicker dermis, which forms most of the structure, with fibres such as collagen and elastin.

The main cell in the dermis is called the fibroblast. The health of this cell directly impacts your ability to formulate new collagen.

The skin is a complex structure which is constantly changing at the upper levels. Did you know that the epidermal cells are continually being desquamated (shed), at an interval of approximately every 28 days?

Although the skin’s pH is typically slightly acidic, this will change depending on the constitution of your particular skin type.

Variations in your skin can be due to influences of your internal biological changes such as, the ageing process and hormone levels, as well as external factors like your environment, climate, seasonal changes and lifestyle factors such as stress and diet. All of these internal and external factors have the power to influence the natural balance of your skin.

How Can I Keep My Skin Healthy?

Thorough cleansing. You should perform this twice daily. At night, make sure you remove all your make-up and cleanse properly before going to bed.

Use a gentle soap

Balanced nutrition.

Moisturizing. This is recommended even for those who have oily skin. There are plenty of moisturizers on the market that are oil-free.

Sunscreen. This is probably the most important thing that you can do for your skin. You should put sunscreen on every day. This should be done even if you are not outside much. A sunscreen that says “broad spectrum” (or says it protects against “UVA and UVB”) with an SPF of 30 or higher is necessary. Limiting your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wearing protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat, are also recommended.

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❤ Unpredictable Beauty

2013-09-23T07:14:00.001-07:00

“Life is full of unpredictable beauty and strange surprises. Sometimes the beauty is too much for me to handle. Do you know that feeling? When something is just too beautiful? When someone says something or writes something or plays something that moves you to the point of tears, maybe even changes you?”

You’re blessed with another gift of today, another week, to open your eyes and realize how BEAUTIFUL life is. If you don’t like your situation then change your attitude and change the situation. There is no time to complain. Have you told your parents you love them today? Tomorrow is not promised go do something wild and courageous and bask yourself in this beautiful life!

❤ Being Real

2013-09-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

Namaste all,
Starting today with some wise words from #TheVelveteenRabbit story. It has a very beautiful conversation between two toys the rabbit and horse on “what is real”. It is simply so amazing and so true.

What is REAL?” asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day… “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When someone loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.
“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.

“Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand… once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”

“Once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand… once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”

If we read between lines, being real is all it takes. In life most of us try doing and saying things for the sole purpose of “looking good”. But isn't it simpler to be real? When you have to tell someone “this is not right” all it takes is genuinely saying it. If the saying is out of care and is “real” I am sure there will be no room for misunderstanding. With that said: Don’t compare your life to mine, you have no idea what my journey is about! Focus on where YOU’re going & stop concerning yourself with what you think of me or other people and their choices! Comparison is the thief of joy, enjoy your beautiful journey and appreciate how amazing it really is.

❤ 'You go girl!'

2013-09-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

Today, I came across some photos of when I had just started soap-making. Pictures of my first soap room, first office even photos of when a television station crew came by to do a story on us that aired during their prime time newscast. Which without a doubt, assisted in propelling the business forward. Looking through these photos I saw growth, and at that moment, it became apparently clear just how much we have grown. What started as one woman venture has resulted in tremendous growth and recognition for West Indian Skincare, The solopreneur in me always experiments with how to quickly brainstorm, prototype, and communicate innovations while my inspiration comes from being close to the action.

A combination of scientist, artist, writer and beauty and skincare expert, I thoroughly enjoy multitasking. Marketable ideas pop out of my mind. Focus and determination brings them from concept to product level in a short duration till today, we have a growing presence in our local market. I remember several well-intentioned mentors asking what my exit strategy was. Exit strategy? What exit strategy? I was only just getting started, and the thought of an exit was so far in the future that it didn’t seem relevant to consider. While basking in the glow of my new business venture, I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else but building my business.

When I originally started the business, the single biggest driver was the passion to create. It is this 'passion' I always speak of today. Benjamin Disraeli, a 19th century British Prime Minister, once said, "Man is only great when he acts from passion." this has always stuck with me over the years. As well as, words from an inventor who said that his way of coming up with ideas was simply to ask, “what things suck?” The answers equaled opportunity because people will pay good money for something that solves an annoying problem. For me, it was beauty. people wanted products that really do work and isn't ridiculously priced, poorly made, low quality…the list goes on.

If you have a passion for something – you’re committed. And if you’re committed, you want everything surrounding that passion to be amazing. The right materials, the right quality. I always get asked "What's your secret?" and I always respond the same way each time;“The secret is, there is no secret.” (Yep, just quoted Kung Fu Panda).

Photos of me when I just started business.

On one hand, I was thrilled to be running my own show, to be able to energetically put into action all the ideas I had. On the other hand, I was scared silly of taking on a challenge in an area where I had little experience. After all, in the world of business creation, I was an absolute beginner, but being a beginner made me quite happy because I was in charge of my own business destiny. Having my hobby as my job meant wanting to go to work every day, and never looking at the clock. And believe me, I’ve had jobs where I looked at the clock, counting the minutes until Friday. I’d much rather be all in on a lifelong love and interest.

In the end it's really less about me and more about the product. If the product is good, people will buy it.So many women are ready to let out their inner badass, their inner sexiness and we at West Indian Skincare want to help them do that…by giving them great products that not only work at maintaining the skin but products that work at skin issues.

And we couldn't offer our consumers this without our team of employees. After all, it's our employees that are our biggest stars — a diverse, unbelievably talented collection of creative thinkers, dreamers and doers who propel the business forward and make us one of the premier beauty and skincare companies in our niche. We look for the brightest in the business, and we boast a one-of-a-kind corporate culture that empowers our people to be who they are and do their best work.

Thank you all for being supportive and believing in a dream. Thank you to our supporters, thank you to our growing social media fans. I’m thrilled with how things are going and that I’m still able to (for the most part) have that desired ‘balance’ of time with kids and time being ‘productive’ and getting things done for my business.

Namste'

❤ Logo Overhaul

2013-09-08T23:46:00.000-07:00

The logo is a thing your company is recognized by and associated with, right? So why have we opted to make a switch, especially after spending so much time, energy and money to get our old identity created?

Well for starters, it was just too complicated to reproduce. Of course, just like so many, we absolutely loved our olden world almost grunge look our old logo had. We received many compliments from the public when we first launched in 2012. So given the importance of a logo and the expense of executing a change, one would have expected us to err on the side of “if it works, don’t fix it”. But our old logo just wasn't working out right for us.

We found our logo was technically problematic. It was also very complex, so it didn't scale well. Such technical considerations might seem pedestrian, but they were enough for us to decide to undertake yet another massive job at West Indian Skincare.

Logo Overhaul

Logo revitalization: We found as we grew and started to achieve a different market position, the aim of the company became clearer, and as we grew we opened ourselves to branch into new market segments giving us new direction's. However, the creative questions remained; which elements of the logo should be retained from the old identity, if the change in the logo should be an evolution, or if it should be a complete new visual concept. In the end, we decided to start over with a new concept and remove all distracting elements.

I have always loved branding, so when it came to branding my own business, I was excited and eager to get my hands dirty. I had a very specific idea in mind for my company and I knew that I wanted to position West Indian Skincare as being corporate looking, so I was willing to make the necessary investments. Our team quickly came together and almost from the word 'go' our board of directors and our management team started bumping heads as we soon found out, simplicity isn't always an easy thing to achieve. We knew we didn't want our logo to appear too boring or conservative, yet we knew some radical changes had to be put into effect.

It was finally decided to allow everyone's creative juices to flow! As our logo is where we have the strongest influence on our brand’s identity. So we asked everyone to be vocal, firm and clear about their ideas while keeping in mind West Indian Skincare brand’s core values, vision and goals. We wanted everyone to be hands-on and involved in how things are laid out on various applications.

Choosing colors was another major task for us. As we know, colors can play a very important role in logo design as they can illicit different feelings and emotions from us. We decided on black and gold, which is a conservative color palette that will work well for us over a long period of time.

Presenting our NEW logo;
The new logo and refreshed website will reflect ‘a global company that offers a cleaner, more contemporary and consistent experience. We give you our new logo;

This is a variant of our new logo, incorporating the letters 'WISC' a short way of saying West Indian Skincare Co.

Have questions for us pertaining to why/how we changed our logo? ask in the comment box below.

What kind of logo do you prefer? After reading about our experience, would you try changing your logo or is tried and true the way to go? Let us know what you think in the comments.

❤ Got Acne?

2013-07-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

It’s easy to feel like you don’t have control over your breakouts. But the fact is, you do in most cases, says Leigh Lopez, who specializes in converting challenged skin into glowing complexions.

Acne is an embarrassing and burdensome problem for about half of the women who book time at her offices “Many attribute their acne to oily skin, food allergies, or say it’s hereditary. But none of these are absolutes,” says Leigh. “Sometimes, all your body needs is the right nutritional balance and proper skin care.”

So what works? “Natural remedies can be just as effective as prescribed topical products. Possibly more powerful,”. She sees a lot of frustrated women and men fresh from the dermatologist with “dry, irritated, usually red, and sensitive skin.” In most cases, they just need to know more about how to use their prescriptions properly—and use way too much, she says. And they’re missing a few extra tips on what they can do in the day-to-day to try to reduce their acne.

To that end, Leigh offers some easy things you can start doing today that help heal acne. (Naturally, she’s a fan of getting monthly facials to help clear and calm your skin.) And good news: You should notice a difference in your skin in about four weeks, she says. Here’s how:

1. Scale back on your prescriptions for acne. If you’re using prescription topical products, try using them every other day to avoid excess drying. The alternate days, use a very gentle cleanser and a moisturizer for your skin type. This will help balance the skin.

2. Use an exfoliating mask. If you have moderate to severe acne, do not use a Clarisonic or any facial scrub. This can irritate inflamed acne and spread bacteria. Instead, use an exfoliating mask that doesn’t abrade the skin as it sloughs dead skin cells and helps purge pores.

3. Eat more carrots. Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production, too.

4. Limit your dairy intake. Too much dairy can cause oil glands to kick into high gear.

5. Don’t touch the face or pick. People know not to do this, but some may not even realize they’re doing it. If you sit in front of a computer most hours of your work days, try putting a post-it note on the side of your screen saying “Do not touch face!”

6. Add turmeric to your diet. It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties that may reduce redness and inflammation of acne. It’s a good reason to order Indian food the next time you go out, or try adding this spice to your eggs or stir-fry at home, she says.

7. Cut out sugar. Limit it to once a week. Fruit is okay, but try to stick to melons and berries. Sugar is a huge culprit because it spikes your insulin, which in turn revs your hormones and the adrenal glands. So keep the sugar to one day a week and don’t eat much of it.

8. Exercise! Sweat detoxifies the skin. Plus, studies find that those who work out at least 3 days a week are more likely to choose healthier foods, she says.

9. Clean up! Wipe your cell phone, glasses, sunglasses, keyboards, with a device-friendly anti-bacterial wipe, and launder your pillowcases weekly. It can’t hurt.

❤ My NoKa'Oi Idea.Com

2013-06-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

As our www.MyNokaoiIdea.Com website says 'You know better than anyone else what you want from NoKa'Oi." So why not tell us? What's your NoKa'Oi Idea? Revolutionary or simple – we want to hear it. We're here, and we're ready to make ideas happen.

We know our NoKa'Oi customers have grown accustomed to our one of a kind personalized service. But since we have entered into large strategic retail partnerships we see offering the personalized service our customers have grown to love and enjoy increasingly becoming difficult.

Thankfully, all is not lost. We have devised a way through information technology, data gathering, and analytics a way to deliver a superb customer care service. 'My NoKa'Oi Idea.com'. "MY" meaning yours...you the consumer. This website is all about you telling us what can make your shopping experience better. Or what you think can make our products better.

Got an idea for us? Simply visit our site MyNokaoi.Com and leave us your ideas that would make your shopping experience better.

❤Rock What You've Got

2013-06-14T12:07:00.001-07:00

Leigh Lopez

One night I found myself reading a post on facebook, the individual wrote 'beauty is on the inside' trying to insinuate that advertisement's show-casing beautiful faces was a waste of time. And that made me think, What is more valuable, the looks or the inside? Of course, it would also determine the context, I own a skincare company, so advertising my products would obviously need to be done show casing beautiful faces but let's attempt to answer after
weighing all possibilities. Let's start with what is beauty.

Beauty in its free from opinionated existence according to the Encarta Dictionary, it is the combination of qualities that make something pleasing and impressive to look at, listen to, touch, smell, or taste. (note the word combination) What if we look at it from solely a person’s appearance? Why, it is the physical attractiveness of course; especially with regard to the use of cosmetics and other methods and practices of enhancing it. Joseph Addison had once stated: “There is nothing that makes its way more directly to the soul than beauty.” It’s almost as if he wishes to say that beauty is synonymous to good…so shall we perceive ugliness another word for bad? Most certainly not! Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. It is molded into many different forms and is distinctive things to diverse people. Beauty may be judged in numerous ways but the fact that must be established is that it can be categorized into two common types: Inner beauty and Outer beauty.

“Boys think girls are like books, If the cover doesn't catch their eye they won't bother to read what's inside".”
― Marilyn Monroe

I have learned a lot about what makes women feel attractive as they age. And by that I don't mean which over-the-counter remedy works best or how to get just the right nip or tuck that leads to looking like a model on a magazine cover. What I mean is what really works from the inside out for real women who want to look great at any age.

Having worked inside the world of beauty for the past 15 years—I discovered trade secrets from women whose lives were all about looking the best they could. As a skin care expert I help women understand themselves so they could feel and look their best. I have interviewed hundreds of women—current and former models, psychologists, corporate execs, stay-at-home moms and women from all walks of life. Their responses revealed a number of surprising similarities.

The most frequent comment I heard from the women interviewed was that beauty is about confidence. I remember when I was younger, I assisted Lester Rausaue of The Cloth (sure I haven't spelt his surname correctly). I assisted him in teaching girls to walk the runway and surprisingly being a model wasn't about being the prettiest—everyone was pretty in that forum. It was about how you carried yourself and how self-assured you appeared on the runway. So it is for all women at any age. Holding your head up high, with poise and self-confidence, is probably the number one quality that women say leads to feeling and looking beautiful at any age.

When it comes to feeling beautiful, it's important to keep in mind 'You should focus on what you got'. Women who focus on features they like (rather than those they don't) and use them to serve their self-image are more likely to say they feel attractive. It is well known in the fashion industry that some models are branded for their great legs or long necks. They use these assets to feel beautiful. Sometimes only their hands or feet are considered marketable material. Take a look at yourself and choose one feature you like and embellish it. Delicate wrists? Wear an eye-catching watch. Thick hair? An elegant headband or jeweled clip can draw attention where you want it. Good posture? Standing tall can make everything else about you look and feel more attractive.

A woman's smile is reported as the single most important physical feature that leads to being viewed as attractive. Women say it conveys what they call their inner beauty.

It's important to remember that beauty is about looking the best you can for your age rather than competing with others. Successful models whose careers last the longest learn that lesson early on. From the day they start working, there is another younger model ready to take their place. So they cope best by looking forward, not sideways or backward. Theirs is an exaggerated and intensified version of what many women experience when they compare themselves to younger women. Women who say they feel attractive as they age are interested in looking and feeling healthy, robust and vital, not younger. They don't focus on having the smoothest skin, the thinnest waist, plumpest lips or the youngest body. They feel like winners, not because they come in first in a competition, but because they get out of a race they know they can't win and channel their energy into achieving their personal best.

Leigh Lopez, without a trace of makeup.

Perhaps the best tip I heard from the women who age gracefully is that they see themselves as role models for the next generation. They feel a responsibility to demonstrate that being attractive at midlife is not only a possibility, but that the meaning of beauty can be broadened and deepened with age. These are women who don't panic as their looks change, so their bodies and faces appear calm and relaxed.

Some people are gifted with the natural features of Outer Beauty while others find that it is necessary to create this outer appearance. For most people, Outer Beauty is easily created by means of a temporary camouflage of creams, scents, powders, styles, embellishments and various kinds of outer wrappings. There are also people who are described to be “average”, which is a medium term between beauty and ugliness. Although it is true that some people are generally considered beautiful or ugly by a majority of people, there is always a level of relativity depending on that person who considers the person either ugly or beautiful. Attractive people tend to have a higher level of relativity, because some people may find “less attractive” what others consider attractive. In the case of unattractive people, others can look at other aspects of an unattractive person that may “suppress” that physical appearance of the person. For example, that person may not be physically attractive, but may be a very courteous and nice

It is important to also understand that Inner Beauty or Outer Beauty, by itself, is only one minuscule aspect of our divine nature. If we rely upon our Inner Beauty or our Outer Beauty alone when we present ourselves to others, you would only be revealing a part of you.

So, does beauty reside on the inside, or is that something ugly people say? I have come to the conclusion that it's true that real beauty hides inside, but let's not deny that the outside is still pretty darn important!
Especially if running a beauty company!!!

Namaste.

❤Soap History

2013-06-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Sunlight was the world's first packaged, branded laundry soap, originally produced by the British company Lever Brothers in 1886. The soap formula was invented by chemist William Hough Watson, and used glycerine and vegetable oils such as palm oil rather than animal fats. It was designed for washing clothes and general household use, and unlike other soaps of the day was cut into bars and wrapped, which saved women the job of cutting it themselves.

Brothers William and James Lever invested in Watson's soap invention, although James Lever became ill and did not stay in the business long. They began advertising in the same way as Pears Soap did, with paintings by prominent artists of the day being used.

Sunlight Poster ad, 1887

Sunlight Soap ad, The family wash, c. 1900

Sunlight Soap ad, c. 1900

William Lever reportedly made this witty quote about advertising, "I know half my advertising isn't working, I just don't know which half."

Despite their mad idea of a a monopoly soap trust in 1906, which thankfully didn’t work, Lever Brothers were very successful (they also developed Lux soap, and the company is now Unilever). In 1888 the company began building a village to house their factory workers – named Port Sunlight after the success of the soap. The factory and village were built on 56 acres of land in Cheshire, south of the River Mersey and near the railway line and actual port. In this progressive "planned community" 800 houses were built to house a population of 3,500 workers and their families. Each block of houses was designed by a different architect, with the Garden village’ atmosphere was influenced by he Arts and Crafts Movement, and its leader, William Morris.

One block of houses at Port Sunlight

There were allotments for vegetable growing, an Art Gallery, cottage hospital, schools, a concert hall, swimming pool, church, and a hotel (that didn't serve alcohol). The aim of the village was "to socialise and Christianise business relations and get back to that close family brotherhood that existed in the good old days of hand labour." Without alcohol of course. Maybe slightly controlling and big brother- ish? The Village still exists, with many of the homes now privately owned.

Brochure about Port Sunlight

Sadly Lever’s good works for his employees in England did not match those for his employees in the Belgian Congo, where he sourced the palm oil used in his soaps. Lever helped set up a system of forced labour, a program that reduced the population of Congo by half and accounted for more deaths than the Nazi holocaust. The practise of forced labour continued until the Congo gained independence in 1960.

Sunlight’s formula eventually changed, and it now uses mainly coconut oil and tallow rather than palm oil, plus a few secret synthetic ingredients.

source

❤ Win 1 Year Soap Supply

2013-06-08T21:48:00.000-07:00

We sat at a team meeting recently and decided we were ready to host a facebook give-away, my suggestion to the team was we should give-away one year's supply of soap. We mulled about it for a while, had suggestions thrown out as to how we would put this year supply of soap promo into action and finally we made some pretty good head way.

Rather than simply leaving comments on our blog, (we realize the local Trinidadian crowd follow blogs by email and hardly ever comments) and this we know, as this blog which is being followed by 728 subscibers

via email and is mostly a local crowd hardly ever comments. So as I said before, we knew hosting a promo and asking readers to comment on the blog would have been a bad idea. so instead, we opted to use a third party, Rafflecopter. Which worked out fantastic! We will definitely be using them in the future.

So turned out we got 1585 entries in all, which we felt was a great success for us. Rafflecopter made the process easy and choosing a winner was even better.

Once again congratulations from the staff at West Indian Skincare Amy, we hope you enjoy your basket full of Nokaoi soaps. After all, they will be the very best soap you will ever use! There is no other soap experience that would be any better than our soap.

NoKa'Oi soap is chock full of hydrating qualities to help nourish your skin leaving it fresh and balanced.

All soaps were formulated by a certified cosmetic chemist, so we know what we're doing when we say we specialise in luxury handmade soap, all made from scratch using the traditional cold process method. If you've never tried handmade soap before, you're in for quite a treat. Our bars are formulated for a silky, creamy and bubbly lather and to cleanse gently without drying the skin. And with so many scents and designs to choose from, they make wonderful gifts too!

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❤ How Long Does Our Soap Last?

2013-06-03T14:03:00.002-07:00

One of the most common questions we get is “How long does our handmade soap last?” We’re going to answer that question as well as ingredients used and I'll even give a few tips on how to get the most out of your handmade soap with proper care. This post is quite long so grab a cup of your favourite tea and sip while reading.

In a world filled with chemical cleaners, one of the most appealing things about our soap is that they are made almost entirely from natural ingredients. If you’re not convinced, let's take a look at Dove Beauty Bar ingredients against ours. (Thanks to Alabu for the dove listing.)

Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar Ingredients:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate
- Summary: This Dove soap ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin (aside from cleaning it), and may dry it out.
Stearic Acid
- Summary: This Dove ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin, and may sensitize you to allergens.
Sodium Tallowate
- Summary: This inexpensive and readily available Dove soap ingredient cleanses and moisturizes your skin, but may worsen or cause acne.
Sodium Palmitate
- Summary: This Dove soap ingredient cleanses your skin, but may dry it out.
Lauric Acid
- Summary: This ingredient cleanses your skin. It may irritate very sensitive skin.
Sodium Isethionate
- Summary: This ingredient is mild on the skin and non-drying.
Water
- Summary: Water is used as a means of dissolving the oxidizer (the thing that combines with the oils to make soap).
Sodium Stearate
- Summary: This Dove soap ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Summary: This ingredient cleanses your skin. It may also be an allergen.
Sodium Cocoate
- Summary: This ingredient cleanses your skin.
Sodium Palm Kernelate
- Summary: This ingredient cleanses your skin.
Sodium Chloride
- Summary: This ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin.
Tetrasodium EDTA
- Summary: This ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin.
Tetrasodium Etidronate
- Summary: This ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin.
Maltol
- Summary: This ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin. It might be used as a fragrance, but maybe not considering Dove claims this bar to be unscented.
Titanium Dioxide

Summary: This ingredient does not appear to have any beneficial properties for your skin. It may cause skin irritation.

CI 77891 – Colourant – eye and skin irritant

So, we can see from this that from the 17 ingredients in Dove’s sensitive skin soap:

11 ingredients may cause irritation or dry skin
5 are not known to irritate skin, but not really beneficial either
A rather pathetic 2 ingredients are mild and gentle on your skin

Now, lets take a bar of our NoKa'Oi soap

We'll go with one of our hot seller's the Turmeric & Coconut Soap.

Ingredient listing of our Turmeric & Coconut Soap:

Ethically and Sustainably harvested Palm Oil (Elaeis Guineensis)

Sustainable Palm Oil: Firstly, we buy all of our palm oil from certified sustainable sources. Our Organic palm is from South America, grown in a mixed species environment with legume under story to provide nitrogen specific plants to host, and feed beneficial insects. Residue from the oil pressings is also returned to the groves to provide nutrients. The farm is in a region of the Amazon that was cleared by previous owners 30-40 years ago, and the reestablishment of a forest crop has brought back many species of birds and other plants and animals. While not as diverse as native Rain forest, it is a vast improvement over grasslands. All our conventional Palm suppliers are members of RSPOas well.We are conscious of where we purchase our oils, and will continue to seek conscientious growers, and producers.

How It's Made: Grows naturally
About This Ingredient:Palm oil contains the hard to find toctrienols, which are members of the vitamin E family. The common form of vitamin E, tocopherol, has long been used to treat many skin ailments and is found in many anti-aging products. Palm oil is full of antioxidants that keep skin looking younger by protecting the skin cells.

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Wild Harvested Turmeric Butter (Curcuma Longa)

Turmeric: We DO NOT use packs of turmeric found widely on super market shelf's, we use our own locally, estate grown turmeric because we care about what you use on your skin.
About this ingredient: Turmeric is a spice with some powerful medicinal qualities that deserves our attention. Turmeric, known officially as Curcuma longa and historically as Indian saffron, is a rhizome of the ginger family. Pretty much every curry you come across anywhere, for example, includes a generous portion of turmeric. Common yellow mustard also includes turmeric, mostly as a food colorant. Turmeric has long been used in India, where it is a venerable ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine, used to heal wounds and treat skin conditions such as psoriasis. Turmeric contains compounds that have powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
How It's Made: Grows naturally
Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Wild Harvested Hibiscus Butter.

About this ingredient: The hibiscus flowers have powerful, exciting benefits to the skin, including the ability to firm and lift, giving hibiscus the nickname, the “Botox plant.” They have an anti-inflammatory effect as well, which soothes inflamed skin and helps calm conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

With powerhouse ingredients like this one, why would you ever want to use harsh chemicals?

How It's Made: Grows naturally

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil We Use: Our Virgin Coconut Oil is achieved by using fresh coconut meat or what is called non-copra. Chemicals and high heating are not used in further refining, since the natural, pure coconut oil is very stable with a shelf life of several years no further heating is required. Our coconut oil is sent through the 'Quick drying' of fresh coconut meat which is then used to press out the oil. Using this method, the coconut meat is quick dried, and the oil is then pressed out via mechanical means. This is the most common type of "Virgin" or "Extra Virgin".

About this ingredient: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of our body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care. Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.

How It's Made: Grows naturally

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Turmeric

(see Turmeric Butter)

Neem Oil

About this ingredient: The Neem Tree is an evergreen tree that is part of the mahogany family and is a common feature of the drier regions of India, Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. Neem bark, leaves, fruit, seeds and oils all contain medicinal qualities. Many of these qualities play an important role in healthy skin care. Scientific studies have shown Neem to have properties that are:

Antiviral – inhibits the growth of viruses
Anti-fungal – inhibits the growth of fungi
Antibacterial – destroying the growth of bacteria
Analgesic – providing pain relief
Anti-inflammatory – reduce certain signs of inflammation, swelling or tenderness
Antimicrobial -destroying the growth of microorganisms

Neem Oil is used in skin care because it’s loaded with nutrients. Neem contains extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants that help to protect the skin from environmental damage. Neem also contains carotenoids (similar to carotene) which provide high antioxidant compounds that help defend the skin against age-promoting free radicals.

Neem Oil is especially high in important fatty acids and vitamin E and is easily absorbed into the skin without leaving skin greasy. Once absorbed, these powerful properties work to rejuvenate the skin’s cells and restore elasticity.

When used regularly, this blend of compounds, makes Neem perfect for smoothing wrinkles and fine lines while helping to prevent the signs of aging. The saturation of antioxidants and vitamin E will help restore a youthful glow to dry or damaged skin and balance skin tone.

How It's Made: Grows naturally

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties. The worst disadvantages of using neem oil is the very pungent smell it gives off.

Naturally Occurring Vegetable Glycerin

Glycerin: Originally glycerin came to us from the candle making industry. However, post 1889 a more viable way was established to remove glycerin from soap making, where it was a natural byproduct of the process. Until recently, soap making has continued to yield the most glycerin. In the last decade though glycerin has also been coming to us as a waste product of the biofuel making process. Besides natural occurring glycerin, synthetic glycerin is made and used in many of the products we use today. Of course, the glycerin we use in our soaps is the naturally occurring variety made during the Cold-Process soapmaking method.
About this ingredient: The primary use of glycerin for the skin is as a moisturizer for dry, rough or scaly skin. Various studies, such as one conducted in 2002 on patients with eczema in Sweden, have clearly demonstrated that glycerin has humectant properties, drawing water into the outer layer of the skin.
Skin Elasticity: Another benefit of glycerin is that it helps make skin more supple. A study in Denmark in 2003 showed that skin elasticity was improved even after only a 10-minute application of glycerin.

How It's Made: Naturally derived from our cold-process method of soap making.

Summary: The naturally derived glycerin appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Water

Used in soap as a solvent for dissolving the oxidizer.

Cocoa Butter

About this ingredient: The skin has three layers. Cocoa butter penetrates the top layer of the skin called the epidermis. The cocoa butter can also reach the dermis, the middle layer. Cocoa butter is made from the vegetable fat of the cocoa bean. It is very effective for lubricating dry skin. This natural moisturizer also softens the skin. Its incredibly high content of vitamin E is responsible for its beneficial properties." Vitamin E is proven to help with skin renewal and repair. Cocoa butter is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals or toxins that damage tissues at the cellular level. The antioxidant property also provides a natural preservative so cocoa butter lasts for a long time.

How It's Made: Grows naturally

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Coconut Milk

About this ingredient: The great thing about Coconut milk is that it’s extremely high in fat, which makes it the perfect cleanser to use on the skin. Most of the dirt on our skin consists of various oils and other fat-soluble materials. This is the reason that you can’t shower with water alone and expect to truly get clean; oils only really want to bind to other oils. Since Coconut milk is high in fat, it will easily pick up all these fat-soluble particles, leaving your skin clean and fresh, but not completely dried out afterwards.
There are also a number of other additional benefits Coconut milk and bring to your skin. Coconut is full of antioxidants, and is also thought to be possibly antibacterial in nature. Those with acne especially can benefit from these possible antibacterial properties. Those with dry skin greatly benefit from its moisturizing effects.

How It's Made: Grows naturally

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
About this ingredient: At room temperature, sodium hydroxide is a white crystalline odorless solid that absorbs moisture from the air. Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture our soaps. This ingredient when dissolved in water or neutralized with acid it liberates substantial heat.
How It's Made: It is a manufactured chemical.

Summary: When soaps are made properly, there is no lye or sodium hydroxide left in the finished bar of soap. The process of saponification changes the lye and oil into soap and glycerin, with a pH of approx 8.5 to 10 when fully cured. Our soap recipes are not taken from the internet but formulated by a Cosmetic Chemist. When we say 'we know what we're about' we do.

Castor Seed Oil

About this ingredient: When it comes to skin care, castor oil most likely doesn't come to mind. Castor oil has been found to have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help treat a variety of skin conditions and add moisture and elasticity to your skin.
Castor oil comes from the castor seed plant native to India, the southeastern Mediterranean Basin and Europe. It’s also widespread in many tropical regions. The castor oil plant has glossy leaves that can be between five and 18 inches long and bears fruit, containing large, oval, shiny bean-like seeds. The seeds contain between 40 to 60 percent oil. It’s this unique composition that gives castor oil its many beneficial properties.

How It's Made: Grows naturally

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Vitamin E

About this ingredient: Vitamin e oil for your skin helps maintain it no matter how much damage it has suffered. This oil gives your skin all of the moisture and antioxidants it needs for healing. It can remove brown spots those usually caused by either aging, radical damage, or bad liver function. It repairs the free radical damage and works towards preventing it as well. When you apply it to brown spots it can lighten the area and smooth out the roughness of the skin encouraging the cells to regenerate. Scar tissue can also be healed by vitamin e oil. The vitamin e oil goes beneath the skin to block the free radicals that stop the skin from healing allowing the scar tissue to heal and more often than not remove the scar completely if not make it look far less noticeable.

How It's Made: Vitamin E oil is made from alpha-tocopherol, which is blended with an oil carrier. It can also be made from distilled vegetable oils, such as canola or corn oil.

Summary: This ingredient .appears to have beneficial skin care properties.

Perfume Blend

Leigh Lopez, personally develops all of our scents using the highest quality ingredients including fragrances, essential and natural oils from all over the world to create NoKa'oi proprietary perfume blends. Leigh does not support the use of naturals that are threatened or where the harvesting of the plant endangers biodiversity or causes other environmental issues. We adhere to strict IFRA standards, a self-governing organization that sets safety standards for all natural and non-natural aroma compounds.

Nothing Else.

Says just what it states. Nothing is hidden in our ingredient listing.

Our soaps are, moisturizing, rich-lathering, sulfate-free and bio-degradable, They are handmade with a proprietary vegetable base formula that consist of local Trinidad Coco butter, herbs and our own signature perfume blends with essential and natural oils.

With powerhouse ingredients like these, why would you ever want to use harsh chemicals?

Soap Life Span:

There are two different life spans to consider. First, there is shelf life. This is the length of time you can expect your bar of soap to last if it is not used. The typical bar of handmade soap will have a shelf life of about 1 year if it is stored in a cool dry area. You can expect the scent to slowly fade over time. Any natural colorants (onion skins, cucumbers, alkanet powder, etc.) will fade as well. This is normal because homemade soap does not have the naturally occurring glycerin removed from it nor does it have the addition of any chemical preservatives. (Well at least ours doesn't)

If you find your scent fading, sometimes it can be brought out by rubbing the bar with a rough cloth, exposing a new surface; this will become less effective as the bar gets older.
Ingredients can affect shelf life as well. Some oils have shorter shelf lives than others. Hemp, sunflower, and peanut oils are a few that have a short life span. If we do use these oils we attempt to extend their shelf-life by adding a natural antioxidant.

Most people want to know how long a bar of homemade soap will last once they start using it. Our NoKa'oi cold process soap will last just as long as a commercial bar of soap. And I say 'ours' cause I have used handmade soaps made by others in recent times and the soaps were quite soft, therefore it lasted a very short time in the shower. Given the fact that homemade soap retains all of the naturally occurring moisturizing glycerin (commercial soaps have this glycerin removed as a by-product), it is much more solvent. To ensure that your homemade bar last as long as possible, never let it stand in water. Make certain your soap dish allows the water to drain completely away from the soap, allowing it to thoroughly dry out between uses.

As a rule of thumb, harder bars will last longer and of course, soft bars that are not perfectly formulated will last a very short time. Curing time also affects hardness, cure for the full 6 weeks or more and you'll have some pretty amazing hard yet moisturizing soap bars.

A tip passed on by one of our customers: Our soap is sold in large bath sized bars (4.5 oz), take a large kitchen knife and cut the bar in half. Alternate the halves, allowing a longer drying time between uses, making it last even longer. One of our customers has reported that she has had a bar last two months with daily use. However, we find that the average life-span is about 1 month. Larger households will need to replace it more frequently.

Handy Tip: Take a wash cloth, fold it in half and sew two sides together and 2/3rds of the remaining open side. Slip the small soap pieces that normally get thrown out into the cloth. Once a few have collected, use it in the shower.

Another Tip: Many of our customers use our soap with nylon bath sponges. This allows a little to go a long way, keeps the soap from becoming too wet, and is very satisfying as they get loads of lather.

So there, you've had it. Now rush on over to the nearest Pennywise and ask for NoKa'Oi ("nok caw oy") The Maui phrase translates to 'The Very Best" it's our bragging rights and it is true...we have the very best handmade soap that's available on the market today.

We blend the artisanal craft of perfumery with the art of soapmaking to produce exquisitely fragranced luxury beauty soaps. Moisturizing Trinidad Cocoa Butter and nourishing Coconut Oil leave your skin silky smooth and hydrated. Our soaps are super conditioning and supremely gentle. Handcrafted from scratch, with only the purest, sustainable ingredients to nourish and indulge your skin. NoKa'Oi is True soap. True soap won't dry out your. Pick up a bar today!

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❤ Daily OM -Listening with Your Heart

2013-06-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

When we begin to listen with our hearts rather than our heads, our whole world changes and becomes softer.

Most of us were born and raised in cultures that value the head over the heart and, as a result, we place our own hearts below our heads in a sort of inner hierarchy of which we may not be conscious. What this means is that we tend to listen and respond from the neck up, often leaving the rest of our bodies with little or no say in most matters. This is a physical habit, which sometimes feels as ingrained as the way we breathe or walk. However, with effort and awareness, we can shift the energy into our hearts, listening and responding from this much deeper, more resonant place.

The brain has a masterful way of imposing structure and order on the world, creating divisions and categories, devising plans and strategies. In many ways, we have our brains to thank for our survival on this planet. However, as is so clear at this time, we also need the wisdom of our hearts if we wish to continue surviving in a viable way. When we listen from our heart, the logical grid of the brain tends to soften and melt, which enables us to perceive the interconnectedness beneath the divisions and categories we use to organize the world. We begin to understand that just as the heart underlies the brain, this interconnectedness underlies everything.

Many agree that this is the most important work we can do at this time in history, and there are many practices at our disposal. For a simple start, try sitting with a friend and asking him to tell you about his life at this moment. For 10 minutes or more, try to listen without responding verbally, offering suggestions, or brainstorming solutions. Instead, breathe into your heart and your belly, listening and feeling instead of thinking. When you do this, you may find that it’s much more difficult to offer advice and much easier to identify with the feelings your friend is sharing. You may also find that your friend opens up more, goes deeper, and feels he has really been heard. If you also feel great warmth and compassion, almost as if you are seeing your friend for the first time, then you will know that you have begun to tap the power of listening with your heart.

❤ Win It! 1 year free soaps

2013-05-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

Rather than simply leaving comments, I'm trying out a new method for entering giveaways. Click below to complete one Rafflecopter form, for all of your multiple entries, and then you're done! If you're reading in an email, make sure that you click through to enter from the actual website.

We are giving away one years' supply of soap. Which works out to be 24 full 4.5 soap bars which will be 2 yummy bars per mth. The winner decides if he/she would like all 24 bars one time of 2 bars per month or maybe 6 mth worth of soap (which is 12 bars) first then the other 12 after. This is open only to local Trinidad and Tobago residents only.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to West Indian Skincare and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for this giveaway.

So what are you waiting on? Hop on over HERE to enter!

❤ Natural Mosquito Repellent

2013-05-27T10:58:00.001-07:00

Over the past few hours both Trinidad and Tobago have been experiencing periods of rain and showers, some of which have been moderate to heavy. According to ODPM ( Office Of Disaster Preparedness and Management) the rainfall activity is due to moisture trailing a Tropical Wave which passed over the southern Caribbean region on Saturday 25th May 2013.

And as such, flooding or just regular gathering of water are ideal breeding conditions for the mosquito. Mosquito eggs are laid in water, which is why the insects are often associated with standing water.
Then you find them everywhere! Mosquitoes are not only annoying, but their bites are harmful too. It is a known fact that mosquitoes bring some diseases that can cause real threat to us. They are the ones responsible for transmitting yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever, and encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) to name a few. Serious problems, right? But there are simple solutions you can do at home. To make it a bit easy, here is our natural mosquito repellent soap. Use it as you would a regular bathing soap.

It's made with a blend of natural oils that repels insects Naturally! A safe substitute for chemical laden bug repellents. Our special blend of oils includes lemon eucalyptus, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an alternative to DEET, Citronella, that has been long used as an insect repellent and other oils that we have blended in-house. Pick up your NoKa'Oi Bug Away Soap today at any Pennywise location nearest you. They are the very best soap!

❤ Men Care

2013-05-24T23:56:00.002-07:00

Skincare for men is the new big thing in the cosmetics industry. People have suddenly realised men have faces — with skin on them — just like women.

In reality, when you throw away all the marketing spin, skincare for men is not all that different to skincare for women. There are major differences in men and women’s skin, but they both require the same care — cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturising and wearing sunscreen. However, most guys are nowhere near as diligent in caring for their skin as women — anything to do with vanity levels, what do you think?

Here is our top 5 tips;
1) Use a moisturiser that is specially formulated for the face; ideally one that contains a sunscreen use a (the men who age fastest are those who don’t take the aging effects of the sun seriously).

2) Moisturise morning and night to help prevent cuts and irritation while shaving, and to basically make for a smoother shave. Look for moisturisers with natural hydrating ingredients like vitamin E, calendula and aloe vera.

3) It may seem like an unnecessary procedure, but guys need to exfoliate! If a guy is prone to ingrown hairs from shaving, exfoliation will help prevent the problem by getting rid of dead skin cells that can block pores and cause ingrown hairs. You only need to exfoliate once or twice a week and you’ll find it will make a big difference.

4) Throw out your harsh acne products. Most acne treatments are too harsh for the skin and can even exacerbate acne, because they dry the skin out, causing the skin to produce more oil, which leads to more acne. Instead try NoKa'Oi Charcoal Soap or Sulphur Soap to clear up spots and blemishes.

5) Don’t wash your face with 'fake soap'! When it comes to skincare for men, this is a very common mistake. Fake soap is made with synthetic petro-chemicals and very cheap oils. In other words, it does nothing but dry your skin.

❤ Local Craft Markets

2013-05-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

Quick poll: raise your hand if you’re doing (or have done) a craft show, farmers market, or other retail sale this year or even last year.

Since you can’t see me, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I did raise my hand. 2013 marks the first year I've started participating in craft markets and I think I've already had enough. Since this could be viewed as a pretty strange decision, I thought I’d share why I no longer have the passion for these local farmers/craft shows.

Reason #1: I am not a 'crafter' I run a 'business'. I have long ago turned my hobby into a business. I have passed the 'From Kitchen To Market Stage' and I honestly think our local markets don't allow you to be a business worst yet take you seriously as an up and coming, thriving business. West Indian Skincare employs six (6) persons Monday-Saturday of every week. We make soaps at least 3 times a week, when we are not making soaps, we're cutting soap, we're producing other products, we're testing, we're working on social media sites, we're having marketing and advertising meetings, meet ups with our collaborating researchers and so much more. Sounds like a small business right?

Many local markets don't understand the concept of proper product branding worst yet even try to understand your company own. Our brand is the primary source of our competitive advantage and valuable strategic asset. Part of our brand management includes managing the tangible and intangible characteristics. Which include tangibles like the product itself, price, packaging, etc. The intangibles include emotional connections with the product / service, the customers’ experience. And providing our brand promise at these markets demands not only organisational skills and coordination by us but by the market organizers also. The management phase is therefore a continuous one in which the brand is carefully managed at all possible points. And, I'm yet to see this happen.

Reason #2 I don't know about others, but I know about me. Yes, I am part of the 'MAKE IT' crowd, but I refuse to use the word “craft” as it has become completely synonymous with glitter covered, popsicle stick, shell craft, fabric dolls and the like.

Reason #3 I started my own business to have control of my life.
Markets mean every weekend I am loading the car and heading to a show. It didn't take me long to realize that wasn't really the life I wanted. As much as I love travelling and meeting new vendors I really wanted to be at home with my husband and our kids. I didn't like working my butt off all week, just to sit in a tent all weekend long. (Don’t get me wrong, if I'm not at a market I'm still working, especially on Saturday's. Now I just get to spend them all in the comfort of my office. I am really tired of sitting out in the sun, wind or rain waiting for the few customers willing to brave the elements.

Reason #4: Market Rules. Vendors need to be clear about the space they have paid for and respect the parameters of their rental space and in so doing, respect other vendors space. Organizers must be concerned with this and ensure to inform vendors they are not allowed to turn tables, block other vendors etc. Worst yet, having organizers themselves deciding to turn vendors tables showing utter disregard for other vendors all in the name of 'making money'. Another consideration is market organizers need to be aware and concerned with fire regulations, safety and traffic flow at their venue.

Reason #5: I feel as though local markets are just interested in filling their space. Show me a market that has initiated a proper advertising campaign, or even a development manual. A market shouldn't be just about the organizers collecting their space money activities should be well planned and advertised and aimed at drawing general public interest and stimulating involvement. Vendors expect the market’s managing organization to provide a buying crowd.

Not that there aren't fun parts to doing a show. (And some people thrive in the show environment.) But I knew it wasn't the life I wanted, so I started thinking about how to build the business differently.

A few reasons you may want to do a show:
Brand building. Doing craft shows was a great form of marketing. It allowed me to build a fan base – many of whom I was able to keep even after walking away from markets.

Market research. There’s nothing like seeing people interact with your products in real life to get a better idea of what is and isn't working. Craft shows allow you to see what types of people do and don’t buy your product. Helping you refine your target market. They let you see which products are your best sellers. And they let you see if people perceive your products in the same way you do. (Nothing like watching people be confused about how to work your product to help you refine your display and marketing copy. Or the product itself.)

Quick cash. And sometimes, you just can’t beat the feel of walking away from a show with a pocket full of cash. When money is tight, it can often really help to have a few shows lined up to help you bring in some quick cash.

Offload of excess inventory. Doing a show is a great way to help you offload some excess inventory.

So, I do commend those that religiously attend these markets as vendors all the best to ya!

❤ Real Soap vs Fake 'soap'

2013-05-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Soap can be categorised in two groups: real soap and fake soap. Real soap is made with natural ingredients and has its own, natural glycerin. Fake soap is defined as all those synthetic, so called "soaps" that are full of harsh detergents and petro chemicals. Which is soaps that fill the shelves of most shops today. This includes the clear (or opaque) "glycerin" soaps.By law, fake soaps can't use that term so they call it a "beauty bar" or a "moisturizing bar" or something else.

Check out the ingredients yourself and if you see oils such as soy, canola, animal fat or tallow you know they are made with cheap ingredients and synthetic petro-chemicals. Adding herbs and a natural sounding name won't make these soaps natural.

There are several different methods of soap making. We have chosen to use the oldest and most traditional

method referred to as “the cold process” method. which means very little external heat is used so the goodness of the natural ingredients are preserved as much as possible. Each bar begins with ethically and sustainably harvested Palm oil to which we add coconut oil for a stable fluffy lather, a variety of butters ( hibiscus butter, passion fruit flower butter, lemongrass butter. Yummy extracts like rosemary extract, calendula extract and oils like Neem oil, for its superior skin care properties amongst other oils and of course our local Trinidad Cocoa butter food of the gods. We let our soaps cure in a well ventilated space for at least 4-6 weeks before they are packaged and ready to use.

We begin by mixing water ( please note, we DO NOT USE BOTTLED WATER) with lye in a container, then we pour the oils and butters and the mixture is stirred until thoroughly blended together and saponification begins. The blended mixture is then placed in our molds and set aside in a well ventilated place for 2-4 days so that the process of saponification is completed. The soap is then unmolded and cut and finally set aside to cure for 4-6 weeks. All soap is tested before being packaged.

Our end product is a rich, moisturizing good-for-you handmade soap.

All our soaps are made with care and respect to the environment, people and animals, so why use anything but our REAL handmade soaps?

The idea behind NoKa'Oi soap is to bring the traditional method of soap making to modern life and needs while producing soaps that respect nature, people and animals. Our soaps are produced with the cold process method, which means that oil benefits are kept alive and they reach you as fresh as can be.

❤ Sulphur Beauty

2013-05-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

The History of Sulphur
The first use of sulphur not only as an acne treatment but also as a skin care solution actually involved natural sulphur hot springs. In particular, the Romans would soak in sulphur hot springs to cure skin disorders, including but not limited to acne. However, you can find references to sulphur being used as a skin or acne solution in most ancient records, from South America to Biblical references.

Why Use Sulphur Instead of Benzoyl Peroxide to Clear Acne?
The primary reason for the benefit of using a sulphur based acne product instead of a benzoyl peroxide based acne spot treatment is because, unlike benzoyl peroxide, sulphur won’t over-dry your skin. Ultimately, an acne spot treatment should dry your skin, but not over-dry it. If a treatment over-dries your skin, your skin will compensate by producing even more oil. Additionally, in concentrated amounts such as with a spot treatment, over-drying can actually create scars. Finally, as opposed to benzyol peroxide, sulphur has long term benefits for overall skin improvement as opposed to only short term skin drying effectiveness.

In short, sulfur not only treats spot acne both proactively and retroactively, but it also has long term skin benefits that can have your skin looking clear and perfect all of the time.

❤ Beauty TIP THURSDAY!

2013-05-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

It's beauty TIP THURSDAY! Welcome to our Beauty Tip of the week from our TOP beauty expert - Learn the tips & tricks of applying False Lashes, and make the most of the False Lash.

Wanna take your eye from fine to fab in seconds?? By adding volume and length your eyes will look amazing! Well it couldn’t be easier with…. False Lashes.

When choosing lashes make sure that you choose the ones that are going to complement your eyes and the look you’re going for. There are so many makes and styles to choose from.

You may be looking for a natural false lash, something that will enhance and open up your eyes. Choosing an individual lash can be perfect for this as you can place the lashes in the area that you want them, generally on the outer corner of the eye.

My personal favorite for a natural lash has to be Active Lashes. These are so easy to apply and are quite light on the eyes. Perfect for the 1920’s look as it just adds length to the corner of the eyes.

When it comes to party time and you want BIG, beautiful lashes then its time to experiment, but do remember that you have to wear these all day or night so choose wisely as some lashes can be very heavy to wear. Katy Perry has brought out a range of lashes, her pair called “Oh My”, are a layered effect and these really do add a lot of drama. Some of my favorites are:

Just lashes “ Sold Out Show” for a volumized look

Just lashes “ Natural Whisper” for a natural look

If you dare to be different you can always add some glitz to your lashes and eyes by adding some glitter liner along the lash line after you have applied your lashes or tip the tops of the lashes with the glitter. Getting yourself a good glue to use for all your applications is wise as some of the glues that come with lashes you would want to patch test it to make sure you are not going to be allergic first.

APPLICATION

Apply lashes when you have your makeup finished and mascara has been applied.
Check the length of the lashes along your natural lash line, you may need to trim them before applying them.
Apply glue to the lashes and allow to dry for about 20-30 secs before applying the lashes to your eyes.
When applying lashes try to get the lashes as close to your natural lashes as possible, try not have any gaps between your lashes and the false ones.
When the glue has set, look up a few time times to make sure that you have not stuck any of the bottom lashes and gently push up the false lash.
A little trick when the lashes are stuck is to gently stretch the corners of the eye out so to pull the skin slightly this will give a comfort feel to the lashes. After about 5-10 mins you will forget you are even wearing them.
Apply some gel/liquid liner along the lash line for definition, this also disguises the joining area, apply some mascara to bring all the lashes together and add some more impact.
Remove the lashes by holding down one corner and gently lifting the other corner and peel it along the lash line. Always keep a bit of pressure on the eye when removing not to lift the skin.

WARNING! Lashes are addictive….lol Have fun… ❤

❤ The chemistry of soap making

2013-05-20T12:00:00.001-07:00

According to mythology, soap traces its origins to Mount Sapo – a mountain in ancient Italy where animal sacrifices were supposedly held. The ashes from the sacrificial fires mixed with animal tallow, which found its way to the river below where Roman women would gather to wash their clothes. They found that their linens came out cleaner when the water mixed with the ash and animal grease. Water, ash, fat. The original formula for getting clean. Sapo, meaning “soap” in Latin. This story is perhaps pure fiction, but the science described remains fact for soap makers today.

The chemistry of soap making is simple: a caustic alkali serves as your base and some combination of fats and oils acts as the acid. From there, you can experiment with scent by adding essential oils, spices and herbs. Once you have a solid understanding of the technique, you can adjust and tinker to your liking. As your garden comes into bloom, add fresh herbs and flowers to the mix.

❤ Announcing New Retailers

2013-05-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

West Indian Skincare™, a leading natural beauty brand and one of the fastest growing natural personal care brands in its category, proudly announces its entrance into a strategic retail partnership with Pennywise Cosmetics Ltd., the largest beauty retailer that provides one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products in Trinidad and Tobago.

West Indian Skincare™ will introduce NoKa'Oi Caribbean Apothecary collection of exquisitely fragranced luxury beauty soaps made with moisturizing Trinidad Cocoa Butter beginning 17th May, 2013.

NoKa'Oi Caribbean Apothecary is a brand of West Indian Skincare Co. The Maui phrase translates to 'The Very Best" it's our bragging rights and it is true.... "We are ecstatic to be working with such a well-respected retail partner that provides a platform to reach a vast demographic of women and men, through this partnership, we hope to gain more visibility among our female target and convert these consumers into loyal fans of the brand."

Through its vast portfolio of personal care items, NoKa'Oi delivers easy-to-use, healthy, effective and safe beauty soaps to women and men of all skin types, providing wide-ranging benefits that nourish and protect from head-to-toe. We have found that most Caribbean women are looking for products, services, and information that cater to their unique racial, cultural, and ethnic needs. When it comes to skincare, women of African, Indian, Latin, Asian and Mixed heritage face unique challenges in keeping skin clear and even toned. In recognition of this Caribbean diversity and the unique skincare needs of women with rich skin tones, we are glad to announce our beauty soaps will now be available nationwide. NoKa'Oi has 7 reseller soaps that are fondly referred to as our 'Resellers 7' these soaps are eco-friendly, free of gluten, parabens, SLS and phthalates. They are 100% Vegan, Rich in natural extracts and glycerine and Biodegradable. "NoKa'Oi is known for offering an unrivaled assortment of hand blended skincare, which supports our ongoing commitment to provide our customers with superior solutions and innovative products that will enhance their beauty routines."

About West Indian Skincare

Based in Tacarigua, Trinidad W.I. The brand began as a soap manufacturing brand in 2007, and has since then become the leading hand blended toiletries, cosmetics and personal care brand. Our innovative collection of antioxidant-enhanced, mineral-rich skincare and body care products are infused with active ingredients that deliver wide-ranging benefits of minerals to revitalize, nourish and protect. In addition to its dedication to creating effective products, the brand is also committed to contributing to the wellbeing of our community – the SoapforLife and SoapforHearts initiative's is our step in that direction. For more information on West Indian Skincare, Noka'Oi Caribbean or any of our initiatives visit www.westindianskincare.com

We blend the artisanal craft of perfumery with the art of soapmaking to produce exquisitely fragranced luxury beauty soaps. Moisturizing Trinidad Cocoa Butter and nourishing Coconut Oil leave your skin silky smooth and hydrated. Our soaps are super conditioning and supremely gentle. Handcrafted from scratch, with only the purest, sustainable ingredients to nourish and indulge your skin. Pick up a NoKa'Oi bar today! Check our listing for authorized NoKa'Oi retailers near you.

❤ San Antonio Green Market

2013-01-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

San Antonio Green Market yet?

Have you visited the

The first time West Indian Skincare attended as a vendor was on Saturday December 22nd. The market starts at 6am, I got there around 8am with baby in arms and my always supportive husband at my side with a scheduled soap making demonstration pending.

The market, fondly called 'The G', aims to encourage relationships between producers, consumers, and communities while promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Allowing you to buy directly from the vendor who brings it straight from the field to you.

The G carries everything from fruits and vegetables to baked goods, meat, eggs, flowers, dairy products and locally made crafts and prepared foods as a complement to the agricultural products for sale. There's even an 'olden Cocoa House on site.

It's open every Saturday from 6am - 2pm. This Saturday, 19th Jan. I will be demonstrating the making of organic body cream. We'll discuss all necessary ingredients like emulsifiers, humectants, emollients, as well as standard equipment and supplies needed to get started. We'll even take time to discuss properties and shelf-life of vegetable oils and butters, and how and when to use antioxidants and preservatives.

Our own family of quality brands- NoKa'Oi Beauty soaps and Ramya's Sugar Scrub, Salt Scrub and Soy Candles will be on sale... So see you there this Saturday, and walk with your market baskets to purchase fresh, organic produce.

The Venue: The San Antonio Green Market, located on Saddle Road, near Cutucupano Road in Upper Santa Cruz. Open from 6am -2pm. (Photos copyright: San Antonio Green Market)

VENDORS FOR

SATURDAY 19th JANUARY, 2013.

PRODUCE FROM:
1.Anushka Pope: mangoes, citrus
2.Peter Alexander: vegetables
3.Roderick Yearwood: fruits and vegetables
4.Ian Logie: Organic bananas and horse plantain)
5.Deborah Eustache: free range chickens
6.Keith Mottley: fresh fish
7.Lisann & Pansy Constantine: Paramin seasonings
8.Allan Williams: Organic fruits
9.Pamphoor Farms (Anushka Pope): Chataigne!
10.SAGM: Organic produce from Longdenville Farms: tomatoes, carilee, sweet peppers, christophene,
sapodillas and pommecytheres from Grenada

CRAFT FROM:
1.Phillip Arthur (wooden crafts)
2.West Indian Skincare- Soaps, Scrubs and Lotions (this week's Feature Demonstration: Lotions for your healthy skin!)
3.Monica Rudder(Paintings&Designer Clothing)
4.Johan Mohammed(Jewelry)

MARKET EATS
1.Astrida Saunders: Creole chocolate, hot or cold
2.Deborah Purcell: coconut bake with buljol or choka
3.Christiann and Suzy: Aloo pie and pastries
4.Althea Guerra's carnival mood corn soup!

SOME OF THE SOAPS YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ON SATURDAY:

❤ Science to the Rescue!

2013-01-17T11:24:00.001-08:00

What happens when you're the mother of four boys, (Yes all boys, aged 11, 6, 21/2 and 3 mths) that host a sleepover with 3 friends each? Other than ending up with 12 kids (3mth baby didn't have friends over yet: :) in my home I also had the job of keeping them occupied. And anyone with kids know that's quite a challenge. One thing I did with them was make silly putty.

Silly Putty was first created during World War II by researchers who were trying to develop synthetic alternatives to rubber, an important commodity that was rationed during the war. While more than one researcher claims the initial discovery, Crayola lists James Wright, who worked for General Electric, as the inventor. What Wright (at GE) and another team (at Dow Corning) had separately discovered in their labs was that a combination of boric acid and silicone oil yielded a stretchy substance that bounced when dropped. Despite its unusual (and entertaining) properties, the putty wasn't a viable alternative to rubber. No good use for the putty was found, in fact, until a toy store owner saw it and realized its tactile potential—as a toy. The familiar egg-shaped container came later, along with more than a quarter million units sold in three days, and the rest, as they say, is history, although the putty's path from the lab into popular culture didn't happen overnight. Though Silly Putty didn't enjoy simple rocket-to-the-top success, it did shuttle to the moon with the crew of Apollo 8 in 1968. Today, the putty even has a spot at the Smithsonian Institute.

While Silly Putty, from the store, can be a fun and inexpensive diversion for the kids, putty is one of many DIY mediums you can mix at home for a quirky, crafty, scientific experience that's perfect for the family, or in this case, my group of 12 kids. Best of all it gave them something to play with afterwards, but that's another story :)

Substances like Silly Putty are part of a class of materials called polymers. Like other molecules, polymers are compounds, but they are large and may contain tens of thousands of atoms. Compare this, for example, to water, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen that contains three atoms. A good way to visual the difference between small molecules (like water) and polymers (also called macromolecules) is to think of the size difference between a crystal of salt (small) and a strand of spaghetti (larger and longer). Like the strand of spaghetti, polymers are long chains of molecules strung together. These strands can also be tangled up to create a giant mess of polymer chains. Are you still envisioning a bowl of spaghetti? :)

Part of what makes polymers interesting is that each polymer has unique properties and behaviours defined by its molecules. Some polymers are stretchy. Some are sticky. Some are hard. Many familiar and commonly used polymers are synthetic, but there are also naturally occurring polymers, including cellulose, starch, proteins, silk, and rubber. What you want your putty-mixers to understand is that Silly Putty has its characteristic stretch and bounce because of the molecules from which it is made.

Using a combination of Elmer's white school glue, borax (a cleaner made from sodium tetraborate), (most soapmakers know what this is) and water, you can create a substance similar to Silly Putty. The polymer in our 'DIY putty' is not the same as in a commercially sold egg-container of Silly Putty, but glue and borax react to form a similar polymer structure. One of the ingredients in Elmer's glue is polyvinyl acetate—a polymer. When you combine Elmer's glue with borax, a chemical reaction occurs, and borax molecules create links between molecules of polyvinyl acetate in the glue. As more and more cross-linked molecules form, the polymer begins to take on new properties—and new substance. Since you wouldn't pick up and play with a handful of glue, you know that something has happened in the mixing because your putty isn't sticky like glue.

I decided instead of giving them a formulation to follow, to allow them to figure out the optimal ratio of glue to borax themselves. Turned out to be a great science exploration for them. We mixed up separate batches with varying amounts of the two main ingredients, and I invited them to compare the differences in the resulting substances. They felt it, stretched it, and manipulated it with their hands to evaluate the consistency. Is it too sticky? Is it too hard to squish? Does it break too easily?) we continued along until the perfect consistency was achieved.

This method can be used to make other fun objects, as it can be shaped into almost any imaginable shape. I first showed my kids this after I realized I was buying an almost constant stream of bouncy balls. I got them together and had them make their own bouncy balls which eases mom and dad pockets.

THE RECIPE:

11/2 Tbsp Elmer’s white glue
food coloring
1/2 tsp. Borax powder
3 Tbsp. Cornstarch
4 Tbsp. Warm water
2 cups to mix in
stirring utensils like a spoon or clean popsicle stick

In one cup, mix together the warm water, cornstarch, and borax. The other cup will have your glue. Add your desired amount of color into the glue and mix it together well. (My kids tend to use about 6- 8 drops of food coloring) Give your borax cup another stir and then pour it into your colored glue cup. Now stir it together and it will start to clump. I found that the longer you stirred it, the bigger the ball gets. You do not need to stir all the liquid in to make your ball though. But you can if you wish. But you will have a goopy mess any which way. When you've decided you've stirred enough, remove the goop and dispose of the remaining liquid. Now things get messy! Your goop will be slimy, runny, messy and just nasty. So start squishing. The more you squish, the more solid it gets. When it gets firm start forming your object (if you're making a ball) if you're making DIY putty you can start using now. If you opted to make a ball teach in-home safety cause this ball really bounces! Hope you have fun!

❤ Let Us Upgrade You

2013-01-16T04:48:00.000-08:00

What makes a handmade soap better than a commercially produced store bought soap? First of all, did you know that most "soap" purchased in the store, is not really soap? Many of the commercial soaps available today are, actually, bars of detergent. These are made with synthetic ingredients, rather than natural ingredients. These synthetic ingredients coupled with a lack of rich moisturizing cleansers can account for skin irritation, dryness and even rashing. A true homemade soap retains all the natural glycerin which is produced when fats (natural oils) and sodium hydroxide (lye) are mixed together in precise ratios and temperatures. Glycerin is a natural moisturizer and cleanser that increases lather and produces a milder soap for the skin. In a lot of commercial soaps, the valuable glycerin is extracted and sold. It is replaced with cheaper synthetic alternatives which can be a lot harsher and irritating to the skin.So, wouldn't you say it's time to upgrade your soap?

So how do you upgrade? Considering soap's humble beginnings from the Roman bathhouses of 312 B.C. when they were made out of goat's tallow and causticized wood ashes with salt thrown in for hardening, we've come a long way. Now we have bars of soap that can massage, exfoliate, moisturize and clean your body while moisturizing your skin right in the tub. NoKa'Oi soaps, are packed with nourishing ingredients that soothe, moisturize and smooth while leaving your skin smelling great.