Summer Hygiene!

Kids and Personal Hygiene

Summer is here! Summer means more play, more sweat and more dirt! I know my daughter has been out riding her bike, going to the park and just wanting to be outside (which is a great thing!).  

With the weather turning warm and sticky, people tend to wash or bathe more to keep up with their personal cleanliness.  Do you keep your children clean from all the sweat and dirt? Or do you let them go for another day or so?  Everyone is different in their routine.  When do you find your child starts caring about their personal hygiene? Is it a phase? is there a particular age?

My daughter is 8 1/2 yrs old and is just starting to have showers on her own.  She still prefers baths, but this is a big step for her.  I tell her to wash really good and make sure to get in her ears, her back, etc… and she just says “I KNOW”, “I KNOW”!!  Yeah, she knows! I try not to fret about it as it is a good start for her.  She loves using the shower wash from The Rad Kat.  I usually ask her what she wants and the same answer is: Chocolate!  While we don’t have Chocolate body wash, we do have Chocolate hand wash.  Usually for the kids we recommend something without peppermint or ‘stingy’ essential oils, as their bodies can still be very sensitive.  We have quite a few that would be great for kids; lavender, Languish (Orange/Bergamot), Karma (Patchouli/Frankincense), Coconut and a new one coming out Metro (Lavender, Patchouli, Orange, Ylang Ylang) which has been a favourite in the Jumbo sized body wash.  Body washes are usually easier for young ones to use, as they can squeeze some into their wash cloth and go from there.

For the tween and teens, the summer brings oily skin, which leads to acne.  We have this great Organic bar soap that helps with this cause.  It is our Eucalyptus/Tea Tree soap with fine loofah.  Our new recipe is going to include Willow Bark. Willow Bark helps as an anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce breakouts.  Inflammation can be the source of a lot of skin problems including acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, etc..  It is also a natural source of salicylic acid and is much more gentle than over the counter medicines. It helps to naturally exfoliate the skin and clear pores to reduce breakouts.

Here are some Tips for you and your children to keep refreshed this Summer

• Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially if you're going to be outside.  Give your child a water bottle to carry with them so that they are hydrated while playing. The water  flushes out the toxins from the body and also provides fluidity for the flow of blood.
• Make sure to clean your face regularly. Sweat and oil can accumulate and clog your pores, making your face feel dirty and heavy.
• Style your hair so that it's off your neck and away from your face.
• Keep kids out of mid-day sun: Try to keep your kids out of direct sunlight.  The peak hours are usually from 12-3 so instead, engage them in indoor activities during that time. 
• Shower every day. Use exfoliating shower gel to clean off the grime.
• Fresh juices and lemon water: Drink fresh juices, as they replenish the fluids that are lost in sweat.
• Light colour clothing: Make your child (or yourself) wear light colour clothing as light colours absorb heat better during bright summer days and allows sweat to evaporate.
• Sunscreen cover: Always apply a good sunscreen, with a high SPF factor. You can also make them wear hats and shades to protect from direct sunlight.
• No junk food: Try to avoid eating a lot of spicy junk food like pizza, pasta and burgers.  Instead go for fresh fruits like watermelons and kiwi, as they have antioxidant properties and water content which helps in preventing dehydration.

Try one of the refreshing Organic Bar Soaps or Body Washes that The Rad Kat offers! Some of our favourite bar soaps are: Lemongrass/Lime Sea Salt Scrub, Orange Ginger, Lemongrass/Eucalyptus with Pink Himalayan Salt, Lavender Clay. 

Some of our favourite refreshing body washes are: Forbidden Fruit (Grapefruit), Raw Twist (Lemongrass/Lime), Sassafraz (Peppermint/Green Tea).

The Rad Kat is Cruelty Free! What is that??

Did you know that The Rad Kat Organic & Natural Soaps is Certified Leaping Bunny AND PETA "Beauty without Bunnies" Approved? 

WHY?
When starting my company, I HAD to bring my passion for animals into the business model.  I do not agree with any kind of animal testing or any kind of animal cruelty.  With my beliefs, I wanted to show my commitment by applying for and being accepted into Leaping Bunny and PETA.  I do not use any kind of animal products (goats milk, honey, etc), so my products are also Vegan.  If you follow my Facebook page and Twitter, you will notice that I also include facts here and there on animals along with my soaps just to switch it up a bit! If you have any funny images or facts that you would like to share with The Rad Kat, let us know!

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WHAT IS LEAPING BUNNY?
The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program administers a cruelty-free standard and the internationally recognized Leaping Bunny Logo for companies producing cosmetic, personal care, and household products. The Leaping Bunny Program provides the best assurance that no new animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or suppliers. 

By 1996, ‘cruelty-free’ shopping had become popular, but it was also confusing, sometimes misleading, and ultimately frustrating. Companies had begun designing their own bunny logos, abiding by their own definition of ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘animal friendly’ without the participation of animal protection groups. 

In response, nine national animal protection groups banded together to form the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). The CCIC promotes a single comprehensive standard and an internationally recognized Leaping Bunny Logo. We are working with companies to help make shopping for animal-friendly products easier and more trustworthy.

Societies under the CCIC:

• American Anti-Vivisection Society
• Animal Alliance of Canada
• Beauty Without Cruelty, USA: (212) 989-8073
• Doris Day Animal League
• The Humane Society of Canada
• The Humane Society of the United States
  
• MSPCA Center for Laboratory Animal Welfare
  
• National Anti-Vivisection Society
  
• New England Anti-Vivisection Society
  
• European Coalition to End Animal Experiments 
  

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WHAT IS PETA: BEAUTY WITHOUT BUNNIES?
PETA’s grassroots work has convinced millions of consumers to purchase cruelty-free products and persuaded numerous companies to change decades-old anti-animal policies. Their undercover investigations have dried up funding for animal abuse, led to groundbreaking cruelty charges, and brought ghastly experiments to a screeching halt. In a word,  PETA’s work gets results.
PETA pioneered the movement to halt cosmetics and product testing on animals.

Caring consumers used to have to go to specialty stores to get cruelty-free cosmetics and household products, but thanks to PETA’s relentless campaigns, the phrases “not tested on animals” and “cruelty-free” are advertised on the packaging of hundreds of brands in stores all over the world.

When PETA turned its attention to the food and beverage industry in 2006, one by one, major corporations agreed to stop conducting and funding animal tests. Through vigorous negotiations, PETA convinced Welch’s, Ocean Spray, POM Wonderful, PepsiCo, and multibillion-dollar beverage-industry giant Coca-Cola to end animal tests.

Living Cruelty-Free

To help consumers identify companies, charities, and schools that are cruelty-free, PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program clarifies non-animal testing terminology and procedures, compiles information on the testing policies of companies and organizations, and publishes a list of those that have signed our statement of assurance confirming that they do not conduct or commission animal tests.

Consumers can help this project succeed by supporting cosmetics, personal-care, and household product companies, companion animal food companies, and charities that comply with PETA’s cruelty-free standards.  

And when you’re out shopping, look for PETA’s cruelty-free bunny logo—products proudly displaying this logo are cruelty-free, meaning that they were produced without testing on animals.

Alternatives to Animal Testing

Fortunately, scientists have developed sophisticated product tests that are faster, cheaper, and far more accurate than blinding and poisoning tests, which were developed in the 1920s. This leaves no reason for animal testing.

You will notice that we have licensed and are part of the Leaping Bunny and PETA programs. We are proud to be cruelty free!

A Little Info on our Lemongrass Sea Salt Scrub Soap!

Spring is finally upon us.  With the warmer weather, there is the need to stay refreshed!  

I wanted to talk about my favourite Handmade Soap and the benefits of it's ingredients: LEMONGRASS SEA SALT SCRUB.  As the name suggests, it includes the refreshing Lemongrass essential oil.  It also contains essential oils of Lime, Litsea, and Calendula.  Sea Salt is added for an exfoliating benefit.  I will just discuss the 3 main ingredients (Lemongrass, Lime and Sea Salt).

LEMONGRASS: Some of the properties are used to help as an antidepressant, antiseptic, bacterial, deodorant, and more.  Lemongrass oil is also typically used to treat acne, anxiety, excessive sweating, headaches and more.  Emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, Lemongrass is said to be the oil of energetic cleansing.  How is Lemongrass oil made? It is extracted through a process where real dried Lemongrass is put through a process of steam distillation.

LIME: Lime Essential oil is very invigorating and stimulating.  The citrus aroma may help with mental clarity and encourage creativity. Some of the properties are used to help as an antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, disinfectant and restorative.  When applied to the skin, lime oil helps provide healthy skin. Lime essential oil is made from fresh lime peels that are extracted by cold compression or dried peels that have been steam distilled.

SEA SALT:  Why do we love Sea Salt? It contains so many healing properties that we just had to add it to this uplifting soap. Sea Salt contains minerals (such as magnesium, zinc, potassium, etc..).  These minerals help to relax the muscles in your skin.  Sea Salt also draws toxins out of the body which naturally makes you feel refreshed. The grainy feeling of the salt helps increases blood circulation and allows the skin to soak in the other healthy ingredients you are adding.

No wonder I love this soap; it contains various therapeutic properties that make us feel refreshed, happy, and clean. :) Tell us what you think of our Lemongrass Sea Salt Scrub! Or what is your favourite soap?

Follow the Goosebumps!

When I was asked to create a soap related to Laurie Goodman's (photographer and author of Life Messages & Little Ones on Life) belief and conception of "Follow the Goosebumps", I found this to be a challenge.  Had I not felt "goosebumps" when something was said or done? I had to think about it.  I had to ask Laurie various questions;  "What scents do you like? What do you want it to look like?".  I put a lot of thought into it and decided that perhaps I should use Black Charcoal to represent the "life messages" aspect of things.  For those of you who don't know Laurie's work, there were various women going through various stages in life who wrote down a message on a black piece of paper and then was photographed. These messages consisted of heartfelt, sad, happy, unique, funny messages that really makes you think about other people.  The launch of the Little Ones on Life is where the Goosebumps soap comes into play.

So, here I was thinking that if I had mostly black charcoal in the soap, it would represent the blank life messages paper which anyone could write their story. It has a hint of burnt orange in it to add fire to it...a meaning.  It is a nice soap, but it just wasn't the "Goosebumps" soap.  I had made these other soaps for sale and brought them to a show I did recently.  Laurie was a participant and also decided to do a little shopping.  While looking through my soaps, she noticed this black charcoal with a mountain of white clay and pink himalayan salt on top of each soap.  Right away Laurie picked it up as she inhaled the Star Anise and her her face automatically lit up. I KNEW right away it was the Goosebumps soap. The reaction, the facial expression, the verbal acknowledgment of love for the soap.  Luckily for her, it is brand new, so now it has become the official Goosebumps soap!  Now I know what Goosebumps looks like on another person - and it gave me Goosebumps just to be a part of this adventure!  Oh, by the way, we are still keeping the "Life Messages" soap.  It has more of a soft citrus smell to it but anyone can pick it up and imagine what they want to convey from their heart.

CHARITY

$3.00 of each soap will go towards the production of the Little Ones on Life book production. Another $3.00 of each soap will also go to Girls Inc. of Halton.

SOAP

Follow the Goosebumps Organic Black Charcoal (Star Anise - black liquorice) with clay and Pink Himalayan Salt soap will debut a the Little Ones on Life at Laurie Goodman's photography loft at 87 Main St. North, Campbellville, ON May 2nd, 3rd, 2015 10am - 2pm each day.  Soap will sell for $8.99.

Change is Good!

Welcome to The Rad Kat Blogger!
It was a big decision for me to close down my online store as I am very passionate about my products.  I was creating and making new organic bar soaps that were luxurious and heavenly to smell.  I just couldn't STOP all together, so will be doing things a little differently.

I will be accepting custom orders (minimum order amount of $50). Payments will be e-transfer and if required, credit card.  When placing an order, follow the instructions on the main page: 1) look at the product gallery on the web or click on the price list, 2) Fill out the order form and scan/email back to info@theradkat.ca. Please make sure to fill out all fields. We will let you know if the items are in stock or not and when they will be back in stock.  We will try to keep these numbers within the product gallery images for each product.
I will be offering gift boxes and baskets (teachers gifts, holiday gifts, house warming gifts, birthday gifts, just about anything gifts).
And I will be starting to blog about new soaps, recipes and what we stand for; No Animal Cruelty.

You may see us around the local area though, so keep your eyes open.
Join me in my journey and learn all about what is put into the soaps and how beauty doesn't need to be tested on animals!