This past year we were reminded of the importance of washing our hands. But staying clean—and healthy—needn’t be treated as a hassle. This year we’re trying to lean into the ceremonial aspect of beauty. Our first stop: upgrading our soap bars. Jared Simons’ hand-crafted cold process soap is just the treat we’ve been looking for. […]
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]]>This past year we were reminded of the importance of washing our hands. But staying clean—and healthy—needn’t be treated as a hassle. This year we’re trying to lean into the ceremonial aspect of beauty. Our first stop: upgrading our soap bars.
Jared Simons’ hand-crafted cold process soap is just the treat we’ve been looking for. Made in small batches using the finest ingredients, it’s the perfect blend of practicality and aesthetics.
According to Simons, his small soap company, Whitechapel Soap Co, was actually born out of another love of his—cooking. Having cooked professionally for some 20 years, he was in search of an additional creative outlet. One afternoon, he noticed heaps of used cooking oil behind a friend’s restaurant, which brought to mind the movie Fight Club and more specifically: the scenes where they make soap. “I had plenty of fat,” writes Simons on his website. “So combining my cooking experience and taste of lavish skin products I made my first bar of soap.”
These days his basic ingredients include water, olive oil, coconut oil, sustainable palm kernel oil, sodium hydroxide, shea butter, and pure essential oil.
According to Simons, he tries to put a small story into each bar of soap he makes. “I think things are really inspired by a vintage California lifestyle,” relayed the Los Angeles-based soap maker in an interview with Matter of Hand. “Being in California we’re close to the beach, close to the mountains, close to the desert. So all of those places provide a scene and scent.”
Another source of inspiration he naturally draws from is the kitchen. “I think pulling from that and then taking everything that I’ve used in cooking, in the culinary world. For example citrus is really important in cooking, it’s a great acid and it works its way into a lot of soap,” says Simons.
Simons stresses that details such as packaging are equally important to him. “I try to make each bar different,” he notes. “They’re all hand finished and that brush gives them that texture that you don’t see on every bar of soap that’s out there. So just making people think about the product itself.”
Purchase a bar of soap here, and follow Whitechapel Soap on social media for more:
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The past few years have seen a growing interest in “clean beauty”—products that are non-toxic, free from undesirable ingredients listed by the Environmental Working Group. Makeup brands were quick to jump on board with Sephora even launching a line of clean products (Clean at Sephora) back in 2018. But you don’t have to wear makeup to […]
The post Take Good Care of Your Scalp with Clean Hair Care Brand, Ceremonia appeared first on toppoptoday.com.
]]>The past few years have seen a growing interest in “clean beauty”—products that are non-toxic, free from undesirable ingredients listed by the Environmental Working Group. Makeup brands were quick to jump on board with Sephora even launching a line of clean products (Clean at Sephora) back in 2018.
But you don’t have to wear makeup to enjoy the benefits of using natural products. Introducing Ceremonia—an indie beauty brand that sports a minimalist collection of hair products made using ingredients sourced from Latin America. “We believe the harmony of nature is the most powerful ceremonia of all and pride ourselves in intentionally curating natural ingredients from the hearts of Latin America,” reads the brand’s website. “Our products are filled with nutrient-rich cocktails of raw ingredients straight from nature, offering you the very best of clean hair care.”
Founded by Babba Rivera, the brand leans on Rivera’s heritage, having grown up as a Latin American immigrant in Sweden. According to Rivera, hair and beauty had always been a central part of her culture, her father being a hairdresser. But it was only after moving to the U.S. that she reconnected with her Latinx heritage.
“By creating a brand that caters to all hair types while celebrating Latinx culture in everything we do, I envision Ceremonia leading the way towards a more inclusive future that goes beyond just checking a box,” explained the brand owner in an interview with Medium. Rivera stresses that while Ceremonia isn’t a brand exclusively for Latinx consumers, it finds its inspiration and purpose in the Latinx culture.
Inspired by the rituals Rivera grew up with, alongside a new generation leading the way towards a more sustainable future, Ceremonia provides a new-age perspective to hair care for all. “I hope there comes a time when minority founders can build big brands inspired by their culture without the assumption that their products are only for the ethnicity they represent,” she concludes.
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CoolSculpting is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure used to remove excess fat. It’s shown to be effective and its popularity keeps growing, especially in the U.S. So, what is CoolSculpting exactly and how does it work? The technical name for this procedure is cryolipolysis and it basically means fat freezing. The treatments freeze and kill […]
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]]>CoolSculpting is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure used to remove excess fat. It’s shown to be effective and its popularity keeps growing, especially in the U.S. So, what is CoolSculpting exactly and how does it work?
The technical name for this procedure is cryolipolysis and it basically means fat freezing. The treatments freeze and kill fat cells, they are not invasive, and have significant benefits over surgical procedures done with the same purpose.
According to a 2009 study, this treatment can reduce the fat layer by up to 25% and the results are still there after six months. The body gets rid of the frozen fat cells through the liver and that process takes several weeks, so the full effect can be seen after around three months.
A possible side effect, although rare, is that CoolSculpting can increase the fat cell volume in some patients (less than 1% cases). The treatment is also not meant to treat obesity. It can only remove small amounts of fat that are left after the patient has explored all the other options, such as diet and exercise.
The results should last indefinitely, which means the killed fat cells aren’t coming back. However, if you gain weight after the treatment, you can get it back in the areas that have been treated.
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During the pandemic, booking a salon or beauty treatment hasn’t been possible as these businesses have been closed. But, even as they start to reopen, there’s been a move in DIY beauty treatments that can be done at home. Brands have been shifting their focus because people aren’t allowed to try out testers in stores […]
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]]>During the pandemic, booking a salon or beauty treatment hasn’t been possible as these businesses have been closed. But, even as they start to reopen, there’s been a move in DIY beauty treatments that can be done at home. Brands have been shifting their focus because people aren’t allowed to try out testers in stores or feel or smell the products before buying them.
People also have more time on their hands while staying at home, which means they can spend more time on their self-care routine. At-home beauty treatments used to be a way to save money on expensive salon visits, but now people are finding new ways to get tan, dye and cut their hair, and to get a manicure and pedicure.
To deal with this, some brands are sending out free samples to influencers and improving their online presence. To help customers get an in-store experience, beauty brands have been using Instagram Live videos with tutorials for do-it-yourself treatments and online masterclasses to show off the products.
Brands like Estee Lauder’s Bobbi Brown and Lancome’s L’Oreal has had virtual “try ons” for products that we expect other brands to step onboard to this.
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