Wednesday, 29 August 2007

Longcroft Soap Company Sponsors The World Land Trust

The Longcroft Soap Company is delighted to announce our sponsorship of the World Land Trust, an international organisation dedicated to the conservation and preservation of rainforest habitats and other biologically important lands. With the aid of patron Sir David Attenborough, they have saved over 35,000 acres of rainforest and other threatened habitats.

We are donating 100% of the profits from every bar of our In the Rainforest with Lula soap to the REGUA project, which is working to save one of the largest remaining areas of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. Our goal is to help save five acres of rainforest habitat a year.

Elizabeth
Founder, Longcroft Soap Company

posted by Longcroft Soap Company at 14:09

Monday, 27 August 2007

Fresh Kiwi Mask & Scrub

I’m pleased to announce the launch of the Longcroft Soap Company’s newest product – the Fresh Kiwi Mask & Scrub. This versatile product contains freeze-dried kiwi and is full of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. I’ve also added creamy coconut milk and soothing kaolin for the ultimate facial pampering treat.

The beauty of this product is that you make it fresh with your choice of liquid, so not only is it at the height of freshness when you’re ready for it, it’s also based on what your skin needs. Try water for normal skin, milk for upset skin, or even cream for mature or dry skin. You can massage it into your skin as a scrub, apply it as a mask, or both!

My Fresh Kiwi Face Mask & Scrub is vegan friendly and contains no preservatives. It’s a 100% natural gift for your skin.

Elizabeth
New Product Development

posted by Longcroft Soap Company at 07:52

Saturday, 25 August 2007

What's So Great About Nettle?

At first glance, nettle doesn’t appear an obvious choice as an ingredient for skincare products. If you’ve ever come in contact with nettles in your garden, you know they can pack quite a sting. The Romans took advantage of this and used fresh nettles as a skin-warming stimulant, hence the Latin word for nettle, ‘uro’, which literally means ‘I burn’. Ouch!

But dried and infused nettle has quite the opposite effect on the skin. It contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium, all essential minerals for skin. Nettle also contains formic acid, a natural antibacterial agent.

Nettle is an astringent, similar to witch hazel because it contains high levels of gallic acid, which is anti-viral and anti-fungal. Gallic acid also acts as an antioxidant and helps to protect our cells against free radical damage. Like green tea, another powerful antioxidant, nettle is full of flavonoids, sterols, tannins and vitamins.

In skincare products, nettle clarifies and soothes dry, sensitive skin. It can be used to treat itchy skin conditions like eczema. And it makes a wonderful addition to lip care products, especially those for dry, chapped lips.

Elizabeth
Alchemist in Training

posted by Longcroft Soap Company at 11:32

Tuesday, 21 August 2007

What Price Soap?

My handmade soap feels, smells and looks luxurious for a reason - because I spend a lot of time and money making it that way.
I only use the very best ingredients, like avocado oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and avocado butter. I make sure these ingredients are ethically sourced, so that you can be sure your soap isn't costing the earth. That's why I won't use cheap filler oils like palm. Unsustainable oils like palm may cut the cost - but at a terrible price for the environment.
Likewise, I don't try to cut costs by loading my soap with chemical foaming agents. Instead, I use pure coconut oil, which produces a rich, natural lather. My bars may cost a little more than the mass-produced bargain bar you might pick up at the supermarket, but there's a good reason for that. Take a look at that supermarket bar, next time you get a chance. Look at the label for tell-tale ingredients like SLS and SLSa. That isn't soap - it's a detergent bar, loaded with chemicals and synthetic ingredients.
My soap isn't churned out en masse in some far-off factory. In those factories, the soap is often processed after production to remove the natural glycerine - a valuable commodity which can be sold to other industries. It makes more money for the factory - but it means a lower-quality product for you. I don't remove the glycerine from my soap. I leave it right where it is, to give you the best value and the best bar - a bar that's mild, gentle and a pleasure to use.
My soap isn't shipped out in bulk to line supermarket shelves. It's a unique, lovingly-crafted product made for people who care about what they buy.
Every single bar is hand made, by me. That way, I can vouch for every single thing that goes into it. Doing things this way takes time and costs money, but the quality speaks for itself. I wouldn't consider for an instant cutting corners, because my standards are high - and I know yours are, too.

Elizabeth
Public Relations

posted by Longcroft Soap Company at 14:10

Monday, 20 August 2007

Babassu Utility Soap

My neighbour at work owns a small car repair shop. He popped over the other day to ask if I could make anything that would remove the grease and grime from his hands. ‘Leave it with me!’ I said.

So today I’ve made a batch of babassu and cornmeal soap. Babassu oil is a solid, white oil from Brazil. Mild and emollient, and similar to coconut oil, it produces a very hard bar of soap. Blended with cornmeal – a gentle abrasive – it makes a mild grease-busting soap that will lather in the hardest water. Babassu and cornmeal soap will also clean hands who’ve spent a day in the garden or an evening in the kitchen. It’s the perfect utility soap!

I’ve scented this batch with a touch of lime basil & mandarin fragrance. It’s very green and uplifting, and not at all girly. Somehow I thought the guys next door might appreciate that.

I’ll be giving them a dozen or so bars, but I should have a few left over. If you’re interested, please let me know.

Elizabeth
Research & Development

posted by Longcroft Soap Company at 15:08

Friday, 17 August 2007

Longcroft 2.0

Welcome to our brand new web shop! We've added a few new products and given the site a complete overhaul which we hope will make your shopping experience more enjoyable.

We'd like to thank Stephanie at Toribella Design for all of her hard work and endless patience.

Elizabeth
Design & Marketing

posted by Longcroft Soap Company at 18:35

---