Ingredients we use
Nature's Generosity strives to use only the best ingredients available. We choose to use colorants found in nature and subtle scents from quality essential oils, herbs, or fragrances when we do scent a soap. From the clays we use to our oils, each element of our recipe ties together to bring a truly beautiful product that your skin will thank you for.
We do not imply any medicinal or cosmetic claim. We hope that you will educate yourself on the benefits of our ingredients and learn to love them as we do.
Here are some of the ingredients we use in our products for your own edification.
OILS (benefits/properties)
Hempseed Oil: This oil is from the seeds found in the fruit of the Cannabis sativa plant. We use only unrefined cannabis sativa seed oil that has been processed using either cold-pressed or expeller-pressed, which means they are minimally processed using mechanical extraction (pressure) and low-temperature controlled conditions to extract the oil from the seed. There is no THC in this product.
Castor Oil: The oil is extracted from the plants fruit and gives soap a creamy and bubbly lather.
Shea Butter: Extracted from the Shea nut, the natural butter is filtered to remove any impurities, resulting in a creamy off-white color. Containing Vitamins A, E, F and antioxidants it provides silkiness to soap.
Cocoa Butter: Also known as Theobroma oil, cocoa butter is a pale-yellow vegetable fat that is derived from the cocoa bean. The beans go through a process of being fermented, roasted, and separated from their shells. The remaining product is pure cocoa butter. Chocolate liquor is then pressed to separate the butter from the cocoa solids. The butter has high antioxidant properties and adds firmness.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is derived from the wick, meat, and milk of the coconut fruit. The oil is rich in Vitamin E and gives soap a generous fluffy lather.
Olive Oil: Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained from olives, produced by pressing whole olives and extracting the oil. It is rich in Vitamin E and K.
CLAY (benefits/properties)
Clay is found all around the world from various sources such as rocks, soil, sediment, or volcanic ash. It is a naturally occurring substance that is rich in minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and silica. Broken down, sifted and sun/air dried each type of clay has its own unique color and properties. Here are some of the clays our soaps use:
Kaolin White and Kaolin Rose: Kaolin is named after the hill in China (Kao-ling) from which it was mined for centuries. In its natural state kaolin is a white, soft powder consisting principally of the mineral kaolinite and is found in nature usually containing varying amounts of other minerals such as quartz, feldspar, anatase, and oxides. Depending on minerals it can also have a pink or purple color (Kaolin Rose). It is very soft and rich in silica with a neutral ph balance.
Cambrian Blue: It is believed to be the oldest of the blue clays on the planet dating back to the Paleozoic period in what is today known as Russia. Harvested from sedimentary rocks, it retains it blueish color from the minerals and algae it contains.
Glacial Clay: This clay comes from the waters off the coast of Alaska and Canada in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. High in mineral content, it also provides a lovey color to our products.
Moroccan Red and Moroccan Rhassoul: This clay comes from deposits of the soil of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and is comprised of mineral oxides, silica, and dolomite. It obtained its red color from high contents of iron oxide, which is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of iron and oxygen. Rhassoul has lower contents of iron oxides and is a lighter shade of brown. It is very rich in minerals such as silica, iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium oxide, trace elements and pro-vitamins.
Brazilian Yellow and Purple: This clay often include feldspar, silicon, titanium and potassium which makes this a mild clay. Found widespread in Brazil, this is a form of Kaolin clay. The purple color of this clay is due to the high levels of magnesium.
French Green and Pink: French Green Clay is found naturally in the Montmorillonite region of France. The green clay color comes from a combination of iron oxides and decomposed plant matter, mostly kelp, seaweed, and other algae. Being naturally colored montmorillonite, these French clays are sun dried and then crushed to a fine powder. The pink clay is found in rock quarries in the southern part of France and is a combination of red and white clays.
Dead Sea: This comes from the sedimentary clay that is formed over centuries at the bottom of the Dead Sea and has essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, sodium, bromine, and calcium.
Bentonite: This clay consists of mostly montmorillonite from volcanic ash and is highly absorbent.
Blue and Green Indigo: They come from the leaves of the Indigofera tinctoria plant found in the tropics. The leaves go through a process of being dried to create a green color. The blue is created when the leaf powder goes through a process of being soaked and fermented.
Activated Charcoal: Activated charcoal is created from carbon-rich materials burned at high temperatures. In soap it provides an absorbent quality as well as a deep color.
HERBS/PLANTS (benefits/properties)
We source herbs that have beneficial properties to our products. For example, in our deodorant we use Eucalyptus for its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Calendula for hydration and anti-inflammatory properties, and Sage for its antibacterial and deodorizing properties.
Chamomile - Lavender - Rose: Herbal flowers we use are organic and edible in teas and produce both a lovely scent and colorant in our soaps.
Chlorella: This is a type of algae that grows in freshwater and provides a green color in our soaps. It is very nutrient-dense and provide a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Turmeric: Organic ground turmeric is used to produce color in our soap.
Oatmeal: We use finely chopped organic oatmeal that is sifted and added to most all of our bars of soap. This is also known as colloidal oatmeal.
Coffee Beans: Freshly brewed Arabica bean strong coffee is used as a full water replacement and fine grounds are also added.
Pumpkin: 100% pure pumpkin puree is an excellent source of vitamin A and gives our soap a vibrant yellow/orange color.
Sea Salt: Sea salt is salt that is produced by the evaporation of seawater.
Himalayan Pink Salt: Himalayan salt is rock salt mined from the Punjab region of Pakistan. The salt, which often has a pinkish tint due to trace minerals it contains.
Cocoa Powder: This is the powdered form of the dry solids of the cocoa bean with a small remaining amount of cocoa butter. The fine powder is used to generate a brown colorant in soaps as well as provide a subtle scent of chocolate to our soap.
Orange Powder: Dried orange peel ground into a fine powder. The fine powder is used to generate an orange colorant in soaps.
Annatto Seed Powder: Annatto is an orange-red condiment and food coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree, native to tropical regions from Mexico to Brazil. The fine powder is used to generate a yellow-orange colorant in soaps.
Madder Root Powder: Madder root is used to produce a coloring agent referred to in industry as rose madder. In soap it can produce colors from pink to red tones.
OTHER INGREDIENTS
Sodium Lactate: Sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid and is used to harden cold process soap and aid in the unmolding of the soap.
Sodium Hydroxide: At room temperature, sodium hydroxide (lye) is a white crystalline odorless solid that absorbs moisture from the air. When dissolved in water it generates substantial heat and a lye solution is created. This is an essential ingredient in the soap making process. This solution, when mixed with fats and oils, will cause a chemical reaction called saponification. The result of saponification is beautiful handmade soap. Lye does not remain in the finished bar soap product.
ESSENTIAL OILS & FRANGRANCE OILS
We use therapeutic grade essential oils for our soap scents. Our formulated blends are thoughtfully created to bring out the top, middle, and base creating a pleasing and enjoyable aroma for our soaps. On occasion we do use fragrance oils that are of high quality and have scents found in nature.