What is soap? TOP Soap is created by a chemical reaction, referred to as saponification that is created when fats and oils are combined with an alkali. When soaps are allowed to “cure” properly, the “alkali” used in the process is no longer present in the soaps. In order to create the saponification, you must have the alkali for the chemical reaction to take place. There is no such thing as a bar of soap that was made without the use of lye, but the amount of alkali in a bar of soap determines different levels of pH, making some gentler or harsher to your skin. Some specialty soaps are “superfatted” to add moisturizing and healing properties for a more healthful soap. Different oils and fats are used to create different qualities such as hardness of bar, etc. Both animal (lard and tallow) and plant (olive, coconut and palm) oils can be used to produce soaps. Claire Soaps™ does not use any animal fats. We used only cold-pressed vegetable, fruit and nuts oils—and most of our handcrafted soaps are “superfatted” with oils of kukui nut, jojoba, camellia, hemp seed and others. What is the difference between pure essential oils, fragrance oils and perfumes? TOP Pure essential oils are painstakingly distilled, steamed, or extracted from dried or live botanicals. Pure essential oils have a multitude of health and medicinal benefits, and they have been used for centuries in different cultures. Because of the process to extract the precious essence, they can be very expensive and sometimes rare. On the other hand, synthetic fragrance oils and perfumes (although designer perfumes may contain essential oils) are both chemically produced and contain alcohol, which is inexpensive and easily obtainable. While they can make soaps smell nice, they have no health benefits whatsoever, and can cause allergic reactions, dryness, flakiness and irritated skin. Common fragrances used in the skin care industry and often marketed as “organic and natural” include the following: apple, kiwi, strawberry, cranberry (not to be confused with cranberry seed oil which, although highly beneficial to the skin, is not an essential oil), chocolate and brown sugar. In reality, these fragrances are synthetically produced replicas and rarely, if at all, are extracted from real plants and fruits. How do different soaps get their coloring? TOP Most commercial soaps are colored with FDA approved artificial dyes and colorants. Laboratory tests on animals have shown that these dyes and colorants might contain carcinogens, and that they can actually be the cause of irritated skin. Claire Soaps™ does not condone the practice of using animals for testing. All our soaps derive their color from natural ingredients—which are used primarily for their skin soothing and healing benefits. How is Claire Soaps™ different from other soaps? TOP Simply stated, our premium handcrafted soaps are made from pure botanically derived oils and other sustainable plant materials, such as herbs and natural clays, and the finest pure essential oils used for their skin—soothing and healing benefits. We do not use animal by—products in our soaps, except for the skin nourishing benefits of organic goat’s milk, organic honey and beeswax—all of which are obtained only in the most humane ways. Most mass-produced soaps are comprised of harsh chemical preservatives, petroleum derivatives, animal fats known as tallow or tallowate, synthetic fragrances and artificial colorants. We urge you to compare the different ingredients yourself. How is liquid soap different from bar soap? TOP Liquid soap has many of the same ingredients as bar soap. The fundamental ingredient in liquid soap is potassium hydroxide, but most also contain harsh detergents, sulfates, chemicals, fragrances and dyes. Claire Soaps™ Organic Liquid Soaps is comprised of organic oils and natural glycerin. What is glycerin soap? TOP The widely used term “glycerin” has created a great deal of confusion for consumers. Translucent “glycerin” soaps, for example, are made with a high content of propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a petrochemical, and it has nothing to do with the healthy glycerin created in handcrafted soap. Manufacturers labels can add to this confusion by stating that their product is made from vegetable glycerin. While it is true that vegetable glycerin is naturally produced in soap, it is often extracted from the finished product. In turn, it this commonly sold to cosmetic companies for the further production of more expensive products. Propylene glycol is what makes the soap “see through.” These so-called “glycerin” soaps are typically seen as brightly colored—the bright colors often coming from the addition of artificial colorants such as FD&C or D&C dyes. Is soap safe to use on problem skin such as psoriasis, eczema, rosacea or acne? TOP Often these conditions improve—and can even clear up entirely—when the use of products containing harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances and harmful dyes is discontinued. Many of our customers have told us about their skin improvements after switching to our soaps and bath and body products, but we recommend trying Claire Soaps™ for yourself! Is my payment online secure? TOP Yes, your orders and personal information are encrypted using Secure Socket Layering (SSL), assuring you that your privacy is protected and guarded. This technology ensures that unauthorized parties cannot access your information. Your personal and financial information is encoded from the moment you enter it, and is transmitted over secure and protected servers, so you can feel safe shopping at Claire Soaps™. What are my ordering options? TOP Ordering online is the easiest way to place your order. First, you can be assured that your online order is secure and protected using our encrypted (SSL) ordering procedure. Second, if you would rather not order online, you can place your order over the phone by calling: 1 866.9.CLAIRE. We also provide a printable order form, which you may complete and mail with your payment. Click here for the printable order form. If paying by personal check please allow ten to fourteen days for your order to process. When can I expect my order? TOP Orders will be shipped within 2 business days from placing your order, although we make every effort to ship orders the same day or the next business day; exceptions include out-of-stock items or during the holiday season in November and December. You will always be immediately informed of any delays, and given the option of substituting your selection(s), or backorder for unavailable items. What should I do if my shipment is damaged or incorrect? TOP We urge you to always inspect your package/order as soon as possible. Although we take great care in the packaging and inspection of your order, we are human and thus there may be an infrequent error in the overall process of selecting, packing and sending your order. If for some reason your items are damaged, missing or incorrect, please let us know as soon as possible. All damaged items must be returned to us for prompt credit or replacement. Please contact us when a shipment has been received damaged or incorrectly. What is your shipping policy? TOP At this time, we routinely ship to any location in the continental United States via UPS ground service. If you wish to ship to a post office box, outside the United States, or for expedited service, please contact us to make arrangements. What is your privacy policy? TOP Claire Soaps™ and its proprietor is the sole owner of the information received from this site. It is our pledge not to sell, share, or rent any and all information received on this site. Periodically, we reserve the right to offer newsletters and promotional emails as an ongoing service to our customers. If you have decided that you no longer want to receive any of our newsletters or promotional emails please contact us. What if I want to return products? TOP It is our policy at Claire Soaps™ to ensure the utmost satisfaction for our customers. Therefore, if for any reason you are not satisfied with your order, you may return it for a full refund within fourteen (14) days. The items returned must be: (a) in a saleable condition;* (b) in the original packaging; and (c) unopened and unused. All packing slips must accompany the returns and be sent to: Claire Soaps™, 29 W. Spring Street, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729. *Saleable condition will be deemed and approved by a representative of Claire Soaps™.We cannot accept returns or offer refunds on any and all sale items, or any SPECIAL AND CUSTOMIZED ORDERS. If you have any additional questions, and we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. |
