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Why should I buy your product? I get my soap at (insert large chain store here). Who the heck are YOU??
Hi! We're The Clean Bee Soap Co., and we think you should buy our product because we are nice and stuff.
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Well, we are nice, but really we think you should buy our products because we strive to provide gentle, scenterrific soaps ALONG WITH unscented alternatives for those with incredibly sensitive skin.
Here's the skinny: we understand that companies often make outrageous claims as to their products' excellence. Sometimes their claims are true. Sometimes they don't deliver. We get very "grrrrr" about that kind of thing. So one of our goals here at The Clean Bee is to educate our customers about what they're really using on their skin. We define every single ingredient in layman's terms (and have a giggle at the ridiculously-long-winded technical names for some of them).
We also like to have fun. Lots and lots of fun. So we provide novelty soaps with wacky themes and super nummy scents to brighten your day (and make you clean, natch).
Our Queen Bee likes to try stuff out before committing to a purchase; in keeping with that philosophy, we provide free samples of our products. Our quality speaks for itself, so get a sample on us. Discover the awesome nature of hand-crafted soap. And if you hate it, you didn't pay anything to find out, right? (Of course if that's the case, we'd appreciate you letting us know why.) But we're 99.7256% sure you won't hate it. Because it's really pretty awesome.
Finally, we want to provide an alternative to the mass-produced bars typically found at chain stores. We have nothing against chain stores ... in fact, most of our Queen Bee's paycheck goes to Target ... but we haven't found much in the soap aisle that interests us.
For one thing, many of the "soap" bars sold commerically are actually "detergents" as defined by the FDA (really. We have the proof here). In fact, the soap you're using quite possibly does not even say "soap" on the package. Instead, you might be using a "beauty bar" or a "moisturizing bar" or even an "age-defying bar."
Should you panic? Heck no, buddy. You've been using detergents and other not-quite-soap substances all your life, most likely. But knowing that alternatives exist, you might want to take a look at these comparisons.
Please note: We offer these comparisons for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY; we do not make what we consider a "beauty bar" or a "moisturizing bar," so the following table is a general comparison of our ingredients vs. brand-name ingredients. And while we're making notes of things, please remember that we make no medical claims for our products. They will not heal your chicken pox, walk your dog, get you a date on Friday (necessarily), or do your homework. But they WILL get you clean. Gently. And hey, the scented ones smell really, really good.)
A brand-name unscented oatmeal "moisturizing bar" contains:
Avena sativa (oat) kernel flour; water; cetearyl alcohol; stearic acid; sodium cocoyl isethionate; disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate; glycerin; hydrogenated vegetable oil; titanium dioxide; citric acid; sodium trideceth sulfate; hydrogenated castor oil.
vs.
The Clean Bee Soap Co. "Bees' Delight - Pure" unscented soap contains:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerin; Goats' Milk; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Soy Bean Protein; EDTA; Raw Honey; Oats.
A brand-name "beauty bar" contains:
Sodium lauroyl isethionate; stearic acid; sodium tallowate or sodium palmitate, lauric acid, sodium isethionate, water, sodium stearate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoate or sodium palm kernelate, fragrance, sodium chloride, tetrasodium EDTA, tetrasodium etidronate, titanium dioxide.
vs.
The Clean Bee Soap Co. "Neato Keen Vanilla Bean" soap contains:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerin; Goats' Milk; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Fragrance; Soy Bean Protein; EDTA; Vanilla Beans.
A brand-name "moisturizing bar" contains:
Sodium cocoyl isethionate, paraffin, sodium cocoglyceryl ether sulfonate, glycerin, water, talc, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, sodium isethionate, magnesium cocoate, sodium stearate, coconut acid, sodium chloride, sodium cocoate, fragrance, magnesium laurate, titanium dioxide, lauric acid, sodium laurate, tetrasodium EDTA, etidronic acid, PEG-90M.
vs.
The Clean Bee Soap Co. "Squeaky Clean" unscented soap contains:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerin; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan oleate; Soy Bean Protein; Aloe Juice (Certified Organic Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Leaves, Citric Acid (Oxidation Inhibitor), Potassium Sorbate (Mold Inhibitor)).
No, really, what the heck IS this stuff??
Good question. We are incredibly picky about our ingredients, since our goal is to offer skin-friendly soaps that smell good. Our supplier uses the following ingredients in the base we buy (in addition to self-explanatory ingredients like quality oils). A typical label of Clean Bee soap will include...
Sorbitol
Sorbitol is a sugar alchohol that is often used in modern cosmetics as a humectant (moisturizer) and thickener (from Wikipedia). Our supplier says that the sorbitol in our soap base is derived from berries.
Glycerine
Glycerine is another kind of sugar alcohol used because of its moisturizing properties. Also called glycerol, it "is used in medical and pharmaceutical and personal care preparations, mainly as a means of improving smoothness, providing lubrication and as a humectant. It is found in cough syrups, elixirs and expectorants, toothpaste, mouthwashes, skin care products, shaving cream, hair care products, and soaps." (from Wikipedia) The glycerine in our base is derived from vegetables and is of kosher origin, according to our supplier.
Sodium Hydroxide
More commonly known as lye or caustic soda, this is the chemical compound that makes soap possible. When combined with oils and heated, the mixture undergoes the process of saponification by which soap is made. See above for a helpful link on the very cool process.
Sorbitan Oleate
Sorbitan Oleate is used as an emulsifier (it's used to stabilize the mixture of oils, which tend not to like one another). Frequently used in foods to help unstable products mix, it is made from dehydrated sorbitol (see above).
Soy Bean Protein
Dude, you put tofu in your soap? Not quite. Soy protein is used as an emulsifier and also to improve texture (our supplier refers to it as a "conditioner"). It's completely natural and skin-friendly. So while our soap is not good in stir-fry, your epidermis will find it quite tasty.
Titanium Dioxide
Yeah, you probably know what this is, but here's the definition anyway: according to our beloved Wiki, "titanium dioxide ... is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium" (gee, thanks), which is used both as a pigment and as a thickener in cosmetic and skin care applications.
Wow, the labels on some of your liquid soaps are REALLY different than your soap bars. I can't pronounce half of these words! Are you selling me some kind of toxic waste? What gives??
No, it's not toxic waste. What you're looking at are mostly emulsifiers and foaming agents. They're not strictly necessary, but we really like this formula ... so you get all these ginormous words. Ready for a chemistry lesson? Thanks are in order to the Alternative Medicine Network's fabulous dictionary of skincare ingredients, found here.
PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate
...is "an ethoxylated sorbitol monoester of lauric acid with an average of 80 moles of ethylene oxide" (defined here). In plain English, it's a mild surfactant (a wetting agent).
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
...is "a surfactant derived from coconut oil" (defined here). In this formula, it is used as a conditioner.
Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
...is "a sodium salt of sulfated ethoxylated tridecyl alcohol. An excellent wetting agent for shampoo preparations, as well as baby shampoos" (defined here).
PEG 150 Distearate
...is a "form stabilizer; hair and skin conditioner" (defined here) that the Alternative Medicine Network marks as potentially irritating. Personally we haven't had trouble with it, but if you have sensitive skin you might want to choose another product.
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
...is "an amphoacetate used in moisturizers and skin care products" (defined here). Um, thanks Wiki, but what the heck is an amphoacetate?? (No worries; in English, this is another surfactant (wetting agent).
Sodium Laureth - 13 Carboxylate
...is "an anionic surfactant increasing the cleansing power of some shampoos" (defined here) that the Alternative Medicine Network marks as potentially irritating. Again, we haven't had trouble with it, but if you have sensitive skin you might want to choose another product.
Citric Acid
...you probably know what this is, but just for fun... it's "an organic acid" that is "naturally occurring in citrus fruits and used to adjust the pH of products" (defined here).
Tetrasodium EDTA
...is a "water softner" comprised of a "bonding agent that links with minerals to prevent them from causing microbial growth" (defined here). Because we don't like microbes. We beat them up for their lunch money.
Quantenium 15
...is "a preservative [that is ]active against a wide spectrum of microbial organisms. A quaternary ammonium salt" (defined here). Quaternary, mind you! (OK, admittedly we like the word because it reminds us of Space Ghost)
And a final note on the subject...
Our "Bees' Delight - Pure" liquid soap has a gentler formula than our other liquid soaps (though we've never had trouble with the liquid soaps, people with extremely sensitive skin should steer clear of foaming agents and fragrances). That is precisely why we offer these alternatives. We don't want you to itch. Because ... aw, shucks ... we really like you.
Are your products natural? Are they organic? Are they handmade? Are they...?
Whoa, pal! We understand your question(s), because actually deciphering a cosmetic label can be super tricky. Here's a quick tutorial.
"Natural." First of all, the claim "natural" is NOT regulated by the FDA, so it can be used liberally. We've used "natural" soap that was "naturally hideous."
And anyway, true soaps are unregulated by the FDA, but are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission ... which does not enforce rules for "natural" either.
So the answer is NO, our products are not NATURAL in the sense that they come only from the earth/animals/etc. Well, actually, they don't come from animals anyway. We find that rude and gross (rendering tallow? Um, no thank you). We do use synthetic ingredients in some of our products, but we tell you exactly what we use and why we use it. Each ingredient is defined here.
So are your products organic? Again, the term has come under close scrutiny, and rightfully so. NO, our products are not ORGANIC, although some of the ingredients are organic. We do not make any "natural" or "organic" claims.
Well fine, but are your products hand-made? YES! Our products are produced and packaged individually in a Minneapolis kitchen. It's a slow process but it allows for vigorous quality control.
Do you use "bee products" in your soaps? Only raw honey; while we agree that royal jelly is cool and there are many benefits to other bee-produced products, we find that the heat used in our process can easily destroy some of the beneficial qualities.
What does "saponified" mean?
Saponification is the process by which sodium hydroxide (more commonly known as lye) and oils become soap. If an oil is listed as "saponified" on our ingredient label, that simply means it has undergone the chemical reaction of saponification. This reaction neutralizes the lye and makes the soap gentle enough for your skin.
All of our soap is bought pre-saponified ... when it arrives at The Clean Bee, it is already gentle enough to use right out of the box. The lye has been neutralized and what remains is simple, gentle soap. To learn more about the process, you can read this incredibly helpful and interesting information from Wikipedia.
What's the difference between an essential oil and a fragrance?
The very basic difference is that essential oils are "natural" and fragrance oils contain some synthetic components. OH NO, did we say the "s" word?
Synthetics get a bad rap in some soaping circles, and there's certainly nothing wrong with wanting to use essential oils for a more "natural" product. We love natural products and buy other vendors' handmade soaps at every craft show we attend.
That being said, we do not use essential oils in our products here at The Clean Bee Soap Co. We chose not to use them because we wanted our soaps to smell a particular way, and weren't able to find any essential oils that fit the bill. Additionally, many of the beneficial properties of essential oils can be destroyed by the heat involved in making our products. Finally, essential oils can be expensive to use, driving up the end cost to the customer.
So yes, we use "synthetic" fragrances in our scented products. But the fragrances we use are cosmetic grade (as opposed to industrial grade, such as the fragrances that appear in candles, air fresheners, etc.) We strive to use pthalate free fragrance oils. And anyway, they're not in all of our products for the precise reason that ANY form of scent oil--essential or otherwise--can irritate very sensitive skin. People with sensitive skin should look for fragrance-free products that do not contain additional foaming ingredients (such as sodium laureth sulfate, or SLS). Both aloe and oatmeal are thought to have emollient properties and may help relieve itchy skin.
What ingredients do you use in your soap cakes?
Soap Cake Ingredients
Bask:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Fragrance; Soy Bean Protein; Colorant (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides).
Bees' Delight:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Goats' Milk; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Raw Honey; Oats; Fragrance; Soy Bean Protein; Titanium Dioxide.
Bees' Delight, Pure:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Goats' Milk; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Raw Honey; Oats; Soy Bean Protein; Titanium Dioxide.
Honeypear:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Fragrance; Soy Bean Protein; Raw Honey; Colorant (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides).
Man Soap:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Goats' Milk; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Fragrance; Soy Bean Protein; Titanium Dioxide.
Neato-Keen Vanilla Bean:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Goats' Milk; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Fragrance; Vanilla Beans; Soy Bean Protein; Titanium Dioxide.
Squeaky Clean:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan oleate; Soy Bean Protein; Aloe Juice (Certified Organic Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Leaves, Citric Acid (Oxidation Inhibitor), Potassium Sorbate (Mold Inhibitor)).
Squeeze:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Fragrance; Soy Bean Protein; Colorant (Mica, FD&C Red 40 Lake, FD&C Yellow #5, Hydrogenated Polysobutene, Palmitic Acid, Aluminum Lake).
Velveteen:
Saponified Oils: Coconut, Palm, Castor, Safflower; Glycerine; Purified Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Sorbitol; Sorbitan Oleate; Fragrance; Soy Bean Protein; Colorant (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Carmine, Iron Oxides).
What ingredients do you use in your liquid soap?
Liquid Soap Ingredients
Bask Liquid Soap:
Deionized Water; PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate; Cocamidopropyl Betaine; Sodium Trideceth Sulfate; PEG 150 Distearate; Sodium Lauroamphoacetate; Sodium Laureth - 13 Carboxylate; Glycerine; Citric Acid; Fragrance; Tetrasodium EDTA; Quantenium 15; Colorant (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides).
Bees' Delight Liquid Soap:
Deionized Water; PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate; Cocamidopropyl Betaine; Sodium Trideceth Sulfate; PEG 150 Distearate; Sodium Lauroamphoacetate; Sodium Laureth - 13 Carboxylate; Glycerine; Powdered Goat's Milk; Raw Honey; Oats; Citric Acid; Fragrance; Tetrasodium EDTA; Quantenium 15.
Bees' Delight, Pure Liquid Soap:
Deionized Water, Heliantus Annus (Sunflower Oil), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Potassium Hydroxide, Goat Milk, Citric Acid, Oatmeal, Raw Honey, Germaben II (preservative containing propylene glycol, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, and propylparaben).
Honeypear Liquid Soap:
Deionized Water; PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate; Cocamidopropyl Betaine; Sodium Trideceth Sulfate; PEG 150 Distearate; Sodium Lauroamphoacetate; Sodium Laureth - 13 Carboxylate; Glycerine; Citric Acid; Fragrance; Tetrasodium EDTA; Quantenium 15; Colorant (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides).
Man Soap Liquid Clean:
Deionized Water; PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate; Cocamidopropyl Betaine; Sodium Trideceth Sulfate; PEG 150 Distearate; Sodium Lauroamphoacetate; Sodium Laureth - 13 Carboxylate; Glycerine; Citric Acid; Fragrance; Tetrasodium EDTA; Quantenium 15; Colorant (Ultramarine Blue, Vegetable Glycerine).
Squeeze Liquid Soap:
Deionized Water; PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate; Cocamidopropyl Betaine; Sodium Trideceth Sulfate; PEG 150 Distearate; Sodium Lauroamphoacetate; Sodium Laureth - 13 Carboxylate; Glycerine; Citric Acid; Fragrance; Tetrasodium EDTA; Quantenium 15; Colorant (Mica, FD&C Red 40 Lake, FD&C Yellow #5, Hydrogenated Polysobutene, Palmitic Acid, Aluminum Lake).
Velveteen Liquid Soap:
Deionized Water; PEG 80 Sorbitan Laurate; Cocamidopropyl Betaine; Sodium Trideceth Sulfate; PEG 150 Distearate; Sodium Lauroamphoacetate; Sodium Laureth - 13 Carboxylate; Glycerine; Citric Acid; Fragrance; Tetrasodium EDTA; Quantenium 15; Colorant (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Carmine, Iron Oxides).
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