Blue Jewel Handcrafted - Botanical Soap and Skincare

When I first began making skincare, I was determined to avoid preservatives altogether. I didn’t truly understand their role in water-based products and assumed they were all harmful. My background in the beauty industry had taught me to be cautious; over the years I’d learned about the risks of certain ingredients like phthalates, parabens, and formaldehyde, which have been linked to potential cancer risks and endocrine disruption. But as I honed my craft and realized that not everything could be made without water, my perspective changed. I discovered that a high-quality, naturally derived, broad-spectrum preservative is not the enemy. It’s the key to creating safe, effective water-based skincare products that stay fresh and protects the people who use them. Why Preservatives Are a Must in Skincare – and Why That’s a Good Thing In the world of natural and handmade skincare, preservatives often get a bad reputation. They’re sometimes painted as unnecessary, “chemical,” or even harmfu...

Ever wonder what goes into creating a bar of handmade soap? At Blue Jewel Handcrafted, every bar is made with intention, care, and skin-loving ingredients.  Unlike mass-produced soap, my small-batch process ensures quality, creativity, and a touch of artistry in each bar.  Let's take a look behind the scenes so you can see exactly how my soaps come to life. Finished Chamomile Soap with an infusion of chamomile tea   1. Choosing the Ingredients It all starts with high quality, natural ingredients.  I carefully select plant-based oils like olive oil, coconut oil, and mango butter - each chosen for their unique benefits to the skin and for how they perform in the final product.  I also include avocado oil, castor oil, and a touch of sunflower oil to each batch, ensuring a long-lasting, hard bar of soap.  These oils form the base of my soaps (the majority of my batches start with this base) to make them moisturizing, creamy, and gentle.   How do I kno...

Herbs have been a part of my life since I was an infant in my mother's arms. As an adult, I have never been without an herb garden, carrying uprooted herbs to new homes to re-establish them in my new yard. Herbs carry with them the wisdom of the earth, quietly offering remedies, flavor and insight drawn from the deep intelligence of our planet. Growing your own herbs is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to start gardening. Whether you have a backyard plot, a sunny balcony, or just a windowsill, fresh herbs are low-maintenance, space-saving, and full of flavor. Plus, nothing beats the taste and aroma of freshly snipped herbs in your cooking, and they can be used beyond the kitchen, as time honored remedies for an upset stomach or even to calm your nerves. Keep reading to find out about my favorite herbs to grow, and I'll give you a bonus natural cough remedy that beats the nasty red stuff in the cold and flu aisle.      I grow most of my herbs in the ground and...

As a young mother, I kept a small vegetable garden and stocked a few simple herbs in the medicine cabinet - peppermint for an upset stomach, chamomile tea to ease pink eye. But that was just the beginning . It wasn’t until I officially launched my soap business a few years ago that I truly began to explore the incredible potential of plants. That journey opened my eyes to their remarkable healing properties, and I came to see them not just as useful, but as almost magical allies in our everyday lives. In a world saturated with lab-made skincare formulas and complicated ingredient lists, many, like me,  are turning back to what nature has always offered - herbs. For centuries, cultures around the globe have harnessed the healing power of plants to care for the skin. Now, with a growing interest in clean beauty and holistic wellness, herbs and wild plants (some known as weeds) are having a major moment in skincare. But what makes herbs so special for our skin? Let’s explore how some...

One of my favorite things about soapmaking is working with natural ingredients that don’t just clean — they nourish . Every bar I make is infused with a little bit of love and a whole lot of nature. Over time, I’ve come to rely on a few tried-and-true ingredients that bring amazing benefits to the skin while adding character and charm to each batch. Whether you're a fellow maker or just a curious soap lover, here are some of my favorite natural ingredients that go from my kitchen shelf straight to the curing rack:   1. Olive Oil:  The Skin Savior Highly moisturizing and gentle on the skin — olive oil is a staple in my pantry and in soapmaking. It is cold pressed from the olive seed and packed with oleic acid and antioxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory properties.  Olive oil produces a mild, non-irritating soap ideal for people with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. I use it in every soap recipe I make and love it for the luxurious feel it gives every ...