Naked HOPS & HONEY – Unscented, All Natural, Handmade Skin Care

 

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When I say ‘unscented’, I merely mean no essential oils, it definitely has a scent. It is the naked scent of sweet pacific northwest raw honey and the somehow-tamed-down-to-delicate botanical hint from our homegrown Mt Hood and Cascade hops.

Why a facial soap made with hops and honey? 

Hops are for way more than just beer. They are great for your skin! Not only are hops known to be anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic, studies have also shown that hops can help with the effects of aging by increasing the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, and improving overall skin structure.

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Honey has a fair bit to bring to the party as well. Loaded with antioxidants, enzymes, and nutrients that nourish, cleanse and hydrate your skin, honey deserves a soap of her own but doesn’t mind sharing the stage with hops on this one. Known for its ability to clean pores, gently exfoliate, and treat acne, honey is definitely not included just for scent.

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This all natural, handmade soap starts with a heap of pungent golden hops steeped in fresh, filtered Pacific Northwest rainwater to make a strong infusion full of all that hoppy goodness. The hops are strained from the rainwater leaving behind a pungent ocherous tea. This is not a tea you would want to drink. Using old-fashioned saponification, the strong hop brew is combined with a selection of nutritive, healing oils chosen for the skin benefiting properties such as avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and shea butter. Just before the soap goes in the mold, finely ground hop flowers are incorporated along with pure raw Pacific Northwest honey from the local Honey Bear Farm in Olympia. The bar is topped with a sprinkling of dry hop flowers for a nice accent.

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made with organically grown Mt Hood and Cascade hops grown right here in our PNW edible and medicinal gardens

The result is a beautiful honey colored skin bar, smooth and silky, lathering nicely, and not at all scratchy on the skin but does a nice job of naturally exfoliating. The sweet aroma of raw honey and just a hint of the mellowed hops make it easy on the senses, delicate and not at all overpowering. Good for all skin types. Designed as a facial bar that can be used all over, and why not?

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Soap Details – ‘Naked’ HOPS & HONEY 

Made from Scratch with these INGREDIENTS: Strongly brewed hop infusion {fresh, filtered PNW rainwater, Mt. Hood and Cascade *hops grown right here on the farm}, *olive oil, avocado oil, *coconut oil, sodium hydroxide {lye}, sustainable palm kernel oil, grapeseed oil, shea butter, castor oil, pure raw honey {Honey Bear Farm, Olympia, WA}, sodium lactate, more homegrown *hops. *certified organic or organically grown

  • For NORMAL {to OILY} skin types
  • Essential oils: none this time, scented only with the goodness of natural ingredients
  • Weight: approximately 4.75 ounces, hand cut
  • Dimensions: 3.5″ x 2.5″ x 1″

To get your hands on some, or to see the other things we make here on the farm, go here.

Natural Soap Care

This is an all natural product with no synthetics or artificial preservatives. It is made fresh, allowed to cure, and then shipped ready-to-use. And that is what it is meant for… use it! Your handmade soap will last longest if you allow it to dry between uses. If needed, store unwrapped in a cool, dry place. Allowing the soap to breathe allows the bar to further harden and helps it to last longer.

Natural Skin Care

It is always good to listen to your skin. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. If using a particular soap every day begins to make your skin feel dry {especially soaps designed to pull dirt and toxins from your skin} then skip a day or two and use something different in between. This is how I find my best results, my skin knows what it needs {which is why I got into the whole natural-soap-making-thing in the first place} and so does yours. Give it what it needs and it will be happy.

This information is for research and educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.

REFERENCES:
Jones, Cindy. “Hops: More Than Just Beer.” Personal Care: Information Based on Scientific Facts. N.p., 6 July 2012. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.
Direct Inhibition of Elastase and Matrixmetalloproteinases and Stimulation of Biosynthesis of Fibrillar Collagens, Elastin, and Fibrillins by Xanthohumol.National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2019. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.
Loux, Renee. “11 Ways to Use Honey to Get More Gorgeous Skin, Hair, and Nails.Women’s Health. Women’s Health Magazine, 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.

 

3 thoughts on “Naked HOPS & HONEY – Unscented, All Natural, Handmade Skin Care

  1. Pingback: CEDAR & HERB SHAMPOO Bar | PNW from Scratch

  2. lauracukere says:

    I’ve known about the medicinal use of hops for a while now but have never considered its use in a soap but it really is a great idea, a bit too far away to purchase but I must look if any Kiwi’s have had similar thoughts. Had a look through your other soaps they sound and look fantastic, I love natural soap and tend to use an olive oil based one for body and hair – works great for thinning hair, thickening it nicely. Nice site I will be back.
    https://beermylife.wordpress.com/

    • Tania says:

      Thanks Laura! I like the sound of olive oil working for thickening hair! I could use a little of that. It will definitely be in the shampoo bar I’m working on. PS – a salute to the southern hemisphere! We lived in Vanuatu and near Melbourne for a couple years… Love that southern Cross in the sky!

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