Natural Handmade Shea Butter Soap - Unscented Banana Oatmeal Now Available for Sale!

My new handmade Banana Oatmeal Shea Butter Soap is now available for sale from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen! I just tried it out in the shower myself the day before yesterday and I am super pleased with the results!

My Unscented Banana Oatmeal Shea Butter Soap made with real oats and fresh banana. This handmade cold process soap boasts a luxuriously creamy, thick lather that's perfect for washing your face and body. It also works beautifully as a shaving soap as the rich lather builds with little effort to create a protective cushion of lather on your skin. This soap is a twist off of my classic Unscented Oatmeal Soap and is the first soap I've made using fresh fruit. It has no added fragrance, but does a pleasant natural smell to it.

Made from a combination of olive and rice bran oils, shea butter, palm and coconut oils, this bar will become a staple in your home. It's suitable for all skin types, but those with combination skin may find it especially helpful as a facial soap. The oatmeal provides gentle exfoliation to renew skin and slough off dead skin cells while the emollient properties of the soapmaking oils used will help to prevent skin from becoming dry and itchy - a problem often cause by traditional, commercial soaps. You can shop for this handmade soap bar now in the All Natural Soap section of my shop.

Also, don't forget, you can receive Free Shipping on ANY domestic US order through Monday, February 28th at 11:59pm ET. Just use coupon code LOVEHANDMADE at checkout. This is an extremely limited time offer and won't be offered without a minimum order again. You can also enter my contest to win $50 in handmade products through the end of the month as well. Simply click here to be directed to my "I Love Handmade Contest."

Additionally, if you'd like to receive notice of future contests, sales offers, and new products, simply sign up for my email newsletter on the right hand side of this page.

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Another new handmade shea butter soap for spring!

My new honeysuckle and morning glory scented soap. Smells heavenly. Still trying to figure out a name for it. I thought about something cool like “Bird Crap on Buttered Toast” but I’ll probably opt for something cheesy like “Sunshine Fields.” Look for it soon in my handmade soap shop.

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Step into spring with feminine, flirty fashion!

Step into spring with these beautiful fashion forward finds in pale pinks and taupe. These understated hues are perfect for mixing and matching while making you feel feminine, romantic, and sexy!

1. Bow-lero Jacket, $79.99
2. Never Enough Necklace, $23.99
3. All that Glitters is Gold Wedge, $129.99
4. Bunches of Love Dress, $49.99
5. Petal Faster Top, $59.99
6. Taupe-lessly Devoted Dress, $54.99
7. Crinkle in Time Scarf in Flan, $15.99
8. Rose Tea-Strap Heel, $127.99
9. Peach and Every Flower Necklace, $19.99

All fashions featured are available from ModCloth.

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Fresh Beauty Products to Take on a Test Drive!

Looking beautiful and feeling fabulous seems to go easier if we women have a few beauty aids to help with the process of maximizing our gorgeousness! So here are some fresh and fun new beauty products from handmade companies that are tried and true and may become your next favorites!

1. Natural Beauty Must-Have Collection - Pure Organic Mineral Eye Colors, $24.95 from Orglamix - These easy to blend colors come in six perfectly coordinated natural shades in colors flattering to every woman! Love them or your money back!

2.Superfruit Nutritive Cleansing Scrub - All Natural and Organic Facial Cleanser, $17 from Naturallogic - A gentle, exfoliating scrub that nourishes and revitalizes skin with fruit enzymes, anti-oxidants, phyto-nutrients, proanthocyanadins, and vitamins & mineral.

3. Flawless Finish Clarifying Mineral Liquid Foundation - All Natural/Non-Comedogenic, $14 from Erzulle Cosmetics - This makeup offers a light feel and matte finish while evening out your complexion. It's moisturizing without being greasy and is great for mature skin!

4. Natural Nail Polish, $5.99 from Mudd Minerals - A clear nail polish free of toulene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate. Mix with Mudd Mineral eyeshadows for color!

5. Skin Care Treatment - Gentle, Sensitive, and Vegan with Natural Ingredients, $40 from DeeVoo - A three step system with a creamy cleanser, milky toner, and radiant facial moisturizer. 

6. Two Creamy Lip Color Luscious Berry Mineral Lip Colors in a Pot, $10 from key botanicals - Rich lip color that wears comfortably and gives lips a soft, creamy shine. Contains emollient shea butter and plant-derived skin conditioners with a slight hint of raspberry.

7. Organic Healing Weeds Balm, $6.50 from Phoenix Botanicals - Made from a green blend of healing, wild northwestern "weeds," this balm eases skin irritation, dryness, injury and pain and is suitable for Grover's disease.

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8. Tangerine Lavender Perfume Oil, $8.50 from The Starshine Company - This unique scent combines Citrusy Orange and Tangerine with Wild Amethyst Lavender and Bois De Rose held beautifully together with a rich Oak Moss Musk base.

9. Lavender and Sage Natural Deodorant, $7.50 from Rainwater Botanicals - A natural deodorant free of irritants and chemicals, yet highly effective. Smells great and fights odor and wetness without a sticky feeling.

10. Gardenia Whipped Body Butter - For Skin and Hair, $7.00 from Angie's Suds 'N' Such - Treat your dry winter skin with this amazing body butter and whip it into shape for spring. Extra moisturizing and works great on both your body and dry, frizzy hair!

Be sure to comment with your beauty and skin care favorites!

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Handmade Exfoliating Foot Soaps Make Sandal Season Show Off Season!

The weather outside is ultra fabulous today! It’s finally in the 70’s, sunny and beautiful! A sure sign that spring is on the way. Which means it is time to get those feet in shape for sandal season!

This handmade, cold process Peppermint Exfolimint Foot Soap from Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen is a special soap created just for feet! The refreshingly, peppermint scented bar contains finely ground pumice to scrub rough soles to a happier state. Forget about that boring pumice stone, this soap is the perfect replacement, exfoliating tough skin as it cleans. You’ll love the difference the fresh peppermint scent and the addition of shea butter make in these unique bars. Each bar weighs at least 4oz. 100% natural. Vegan. Buy it now online. 

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I Love Handmade Contest

Don't you just love handmade products? I know I do. Everything from clothing to pottery to jewelry to makeup! Not everyone realizes just how great handmade can be though. So to help spread around the fabulousness of handmade goods, I'm having a contest!

The winner of this fun contest will receive the following prizes: 1 Poison Skully Mug and 2 Skully Shot Glasses from JMNPottery, 1 Cassette Tape Pouch from Monster Fashion, and 1 Bar of Shea Butter Soap from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen in your scent of choice. All of these products have been lovingly handmade and have a combined retail value of $50!

As part of this contest I'm also offering free shipping for a very limited time at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen. Just enter coupon code LOVEHANDMADE for free shipping on all orders within the USA. This offer expires on February, 28 2011 at 11:59pm EST.

If you'd like to enter to this contest, you'll just need to visit Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen and choose the soap from from Rebecca's shop that you'd like to receive if you win. Then leave a comment on this blog post with the homemade soap you've chosen. This contest will end on February, 28 2011 at 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per person per entry method. Open within the United States of America to those ages 18+. The winner will be chosen at random from among all eligible entries using random.org. Your information will not be shared or sold. One person will win the prize pictured above. This prize is valued at $50.

The first method of entry is required to enter this contest. If you'd like additional entries into this contest, you may complete each of the following tasks for one additional entry each.

1. Fan Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen on Facebook. Leave a comment with your Facebook name stating that you've become a fan.

2. Follow Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen on Twitter. Leave a comment with your twitter username.

3. Follow Soap Deli New Blog. Leave a comment stating that you're a follower.

4. Tweet this contest on Twitter. Include @soapdeli in your tweet so I know you've done so. Leave a comment stated that you've tweeted this contest.

5. Blog about this contest. Leave a comment with the link back to the blog post.

6. Add any product from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen to your wishlist on Kaboodle. Leave a comment with the link to your public wishlist.

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My Beauty Favorites

I love to try new beauty products. If it's new and fabulous then I have to try it for myself to see! Here are a few products that make the grade and have found a home in my everyday beauty regiment.

1. mark. Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation, $12 from mark. - My friend Melanie started selling mark. cosmetics last year so I've been trying out products here and there in order to support her. The line is really great, but my favorite product is the Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation. It can be worn alone or over your favorite foundation. The coverage and finish is the best I've ever used!

2. CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Mascara Black Sapphire, $6 - I have gone through a ton of mascaras in my lifetime searching the perfect one. While there are a handful of truly great ones out there, this is my current favorite! It's waterproof and beautifully lengthens my short lashes without flaking or clumping. Choose your shade based on your eye color.

3. Organix Hydrating Shampoo, Teatree Mint, $4 - This lush and fabulous shampoo is completely free of sulfates which keeps my scalp from drying while the tea tree keeps it from flaking without having to turn to harsh dandruff shampoos. Available in a variety of types for all hair types in shampoos and conditioner. Try the Coconut conditioner for a deep condition for super dry hair.

4. Rose Sugar Mineral Lip Tint, $7 from French Girl - Goes on smoothly without a greasy feel and feels fabulous! Very moisturizing with a lovely tint for perfectly pretty lips. Several shades to choose from, and it's both organic and vegan.

5. ALMAY intense i-color™ powder shadow - Choose a trio based on your eye color. Shades last and last without wearing off halfway through the day. I love the staying power of this shadow!

6. Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Makeup, $9 - Provides coverage without being too heavy and lasts all day.

Not Pictured:
7. Waterproof Mascara Remover, $12 from Green Beauty Cosmetics - All natural formula easily removes even the most stubborn eye makeup with ease. Leaves lashes feeling soft and glorious.

8. mark. Face Xpert Flawless Touch Makeup, $10 from mark. - A lightweight foundation that beautifully evens out skin tone. They offer the perfect shade for my fair skin.

9. Soul Kiss®, $3.69 from Biggs and Featherbelle - The best lip balm for moisturizing chapped lips! For minty moisture, try Eskimo Kiss®.

10. Unscented Shea and Cocoa Butter and Goat Milk Cold Process Soap with colloidal oatmeal, $5 from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen - The perfect soap for dry, sensitive skin. Makes a great facial soap by cleaning gently without sulfates or fragrance.

What are some of your favorite beauty brands and products? Feel free to share them in the comments!

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Name It and Win It Handmade Soap Contest

I have created a new rose and violet scented soap for spring - which will soon be introduced to my shop. The only trouble is, I've had a time deciding on the just the right name for it. That's where you come in! After soliciting advice from some wonderful, creative minds on facebook and forums, I've decided to have a contest choosing the best name from among all of their suggestions! Following is a little about this soap to aid you in your decision.

The bottom half of this handmade shea butter soap is a purple violet hue with yellow squares, while the top half is a deep blue that is filled with calendula petals. It is scented a soothing medley of wild rose and sweet violet blossoms with touches of coconut, orange, and musk. This floral scented soap is formulated with olive oil, rice bran oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, palm oil, and palm kernel oil.

I was considering going with a local name to give tribute to the city I live in, Roanoke, VA, but am not positive yet. I was considering a name that incorporated Mountain View after the local rose gardens at Mountain View, so several of those names reflect either the place or the area.

Here are the names you're voting on:
1. Blue Ridge Rose (L.E.Hensley)
2. Blue Mountain Rose (C.Barbour)
3. Violets are Blue (E.Lea)
4. Mountain View Rose (Jewels2aT)
5. Mountain Rose (SJApaperbeads)
6. Wild Mountain Rose (TinselWhiskers)
7. Mountain Air Rose (CoquetteBath)
8. Mountain View Rose Garden (soapdeli)
9. Violet Rose Ridge (SJApaperbeads)
10. Blue Rose Violet (RoyalMetals)
11. Violet Rose Garden (PrettyGonzo)
12. Mountain Garden Soap (PrettyGonzo)
13. Mountain Blooms Soap (PrettyGonzo)
14. High Mountain Posy (PrettyGonzo)
15.Virginia Nosegay (PrettyGonzo)

If you'd like to enter to this contest to win a bar of this soap, you'll just need to leave a comment  on this post with your favorite name for my new soap. This contest will end on February 20, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per person per entry method. Open within the United States of America to those ages 18+. One winner will be chosen at random from among all eligible entries using random.org. from among all eligible entries. A second winner will be  the person who came up with the winning name which will be decided by the name with the most number of votes. Your information will not be shared or sold. One person will win the six bars of soap of his or her choice as indicated in the entry.

The first method of entry is required to enter this contest. If you'd like additional entries into this contest, you may complete each of the following tasks for one additional entry each.

1. Fan Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen on Facebook. Leave a comment with your Facebook name stating that you've become a fan.

2. Follow Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen on Twitter. Leave a comment with your twitter username.

3. Follow Soap Deli New Blog. Leave a comment stating that you're a follower.

4. Tweet this contest on Twitter. Include @soapdeli in your tweet so I know you've done so. Leave a comment stated that you've tweeted this contest.

5. Blog about this contest. Leave a comment with the link back to the blog post.

6. Add any product from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen to your wishlist on Kaboodle. Leave a comment with the link to your public wishlist.

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Rose and Violet Scented Handmade Shea Butter Soap - A New Scent for Spring!

I just unmolded my new rose and violet scented handmade shea butter soap today. I taught my friend, Leah, how to make soap with this batch. The homemade soap is my newest fragrance for spring, though the name is yet to be determined. The bottom half is a purple violet hue with yellow squares, while the top half is a deep blue that is filled with calendula petals.

This soap is as of yet, unnamed. I was considering going with a local name to give tribute to the city I live in, Roanoke, VA, but am not positive yet. I was considering the name Mountain View after the local rose gardens at Mountain View, but I'm not sure that's a good fit. If anyone has any name suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Anyhow, as of right now this soap is still curing. It should be up for sale on my website in the next 3-4 weeks. In the meantime, be sure to keep checking back at my blog. I plan to include this soap in a blue themed giveaway very soon. You'll be able to win this lovely new cold process soap along with some handmade pottery and a zipper coin pouch!

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Grass Monkey rocks!

I love Grass Monkey. It's such a great local band! Wednesday night, Grass Monkey helped Spencer McKenna - or Ol' Spatch as he goes by when he's flying solo - host open mic night at The Village Grill by playing a short set. The music was fun and fabulous and the guest artists were all amazing! Be sure to stop by The Village Grill every Wednesday from 9pm until midnight to hear Ol' Spatch blast some tunes and hear other talented Roanoke artists. If you can play or sing, you can even join in! I was really impressed by the talent!

Additionally, Grass Monkey announced the impending arrival of their first album! It's due to be released on April 20, 2011 - or 4/20 for no particular reason - and you're sure to want to grab a copy for yourself. This debut is sure to be amazing and will feature all original Grass Monkey songs. 

Also, should you have missed Grass Monkey's brief performance on Wednesday, you can catch them playing again next Friday, February 11th, at Dogtown Roadhouse in Floyd at 9pm. Come for some spectacular pizza and even better tunes! And don't forget to carpool. That way your friends can share in the fun! There is a small cover of $4 at the door.

In other news, my son has been learning to play the guitar. I believe he's had all of three lessons so far, but his talent is obvious. In fact he learned a new song tonight that he'll be practicing and playing soon at an open mic night with his instructor Cory Campbell. He's even working on his own song right now titled, Dark City Blues.

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