<![CDATA[J Squared Organics - Jen's Soapbox]]>Tue, 22 May 2012 01:56:20 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[2012]]>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:05:08 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2012/02/2012.htmlI know it has been forever since my last post. We have been very busy with markets, then holidays, etc...Good news at J Squared is that we were voted in the top 10 best local products in Columbus. I am very excited that we are getting noticed and I can not wait to see what 2012 has for us!
We are still selling our products in Objects for the Home in Grandview and Substance in Short North. Pearl Street Market begins this May and we are looking to sell at other markets around town. I will do better keeping you up to date ]]><![CDATA[Labels]]>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:28:34 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2011/02/labels.htmlI asked a friend of mine, Kelly McGuire to design my logo and labels for my products. She has done a wonderful job. I just received my labels in the mail, and they look amazing! Kelly has done an incredible job and I thank her as often as possible. Here are some pictures.
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]]><![CDATA[Pet Products]]>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:45:39 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2011/01/pet-products.htmlJust finished everything for our new Pet Shampoo. Heywood's Dog Sudz is ready for sale and has just been added to our products page. With the help of Kelly, the best graphic arts person I know, and Ohio Label we now have one AWESOME looking product. Please check it out! $2.00 from each bottle sold goes towards local animal welfare organizations, like the Citizens for Humane Action. Check them out.]]><![CDATA[Pearl Street Farmers Market 13th of August 2010]]>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:40:30 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2010/08/pearl-street-farmers-market-13th-of-august-2010.htmlSo this past Friday (the 13th no less) was a great day. I sold all but four bars of soap. Everyone was so gracious and had nothing but praise for my products. I love that people are enjoying my products and I can not wait to get back out there and sell some more :)
I am very appreciative of everyone who is supporting my dreams. Thamk you!]]><![CDATA[Pearl Stree Farmers Market, week of 07, July]]>Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:41:54 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2010/06/pearl-stree-farmers-market-week-of-07-july.htmlSo this has been my best week. The word is getting out about J Squared Organics and I am beginning to get several repeat customers...it is the biggest compliment I could receive! Some pictures of the market have been posted to the Pearl Street website. Please check the picture at the bottom :)
I also had the opportunity to make a gift basket for the Human Rights Campaign fund raiser dinner this past Saturday. The dinner was amazing and I met several inspirational people there...Governor Ted Strickland and his 2010 running mate Yvette McGee Brown, Fiona Dawson, and Kelly McGillis (who gave an amazing speech). I had a blast and I can not wait for next years gala.
]]><![CDATA[Pearl Street Famers Market]]>Thu, 20 May 2010 14:14:18 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2010/05/pearl-street-famers-market.htmlWell Tuesday was my first day at the Farmers Market. It poured all day so it was very slow. I only sold one bar of soap; however, I am being positive. Tomorrow is day two so I am aiming for the stars :)
I just got my new soap mold in the mail today and I made about 18 pounds of soap. I am excited to see the results.
Check back soon for a little more :)
]]><![CDATA[Beginnings]]>Tue, 11 May 2010 11:37:35 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2010/05/beginnings.htmlSo I went to Ireland for my 40th birthday. Thanks MOM :) When I returned home I found out that I had been accepted to the Pearl Street Farmers Market here in Columbus, Ohio. I am very excited. I was also informed that I have been accepted in the Leaping Bunny Program. What is the Leaping Bunny Program you ask...well it is... The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program administers a cruelty-free standard and the internationally recognized Leaping Bunny Logo for companies producing cosmetic, personal care, and household products.
I am very excited to begin my new journey. I hope to see some of y'all at the market.

Jennifer
]]><![CDATA[SOAP]]>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:46:42 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2010/03/soap.htmlFDA: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Soap
February 1979; Updated February 3, 1995

Ordinary soap is solely made up of fats and an alkali. In the past, people made their own soap from animal fats and wood ashes.

Today there are very few true soaps in the traditional sense on the market. You might recognize these soaps as products marketed with characteristics such as "pure." "True" soaps are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission1, not FDA, and do not require ingredient labeling.

Most body cleansers on the market today are actually synthetic detergent products and come under the jurisdiction of FDA. These detergent cleansers are popular because they make suds easily in water and don't form gummy deposits. Some of these detergent products are actually marketed as "soap" but are not true soap in the common and legal definition of the word.

If a cosmetic claim is made on the label of a "true" soap or cleanser, such as moisturizing or deodorizing, the product must meet all FDA requirements for a cosmetic, and the label must list all ingredients. If a drug claim is made on a cleanser or soap, such as antibacterial, antiperspirant, or anti acne, the product is a drug, and the label must list all active ingredients, as is required for all drug products.

 

The 1979 FDA Consumer article reprinted below provides additional information on soap products. You also may wish to refer to a related Fact Sheet: Is it a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or is it Soap?)2.

 

U. S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer
February 1979
ALL THAT LATHERS IS NOT SOAP by Harold Hopkins You've been near it all your life, bassinet to bath to boudoir. It was used behind your ears before perfume was used there. It has removed dirt and grime from your face, fingers, and knees. If you've said naughty words your mother may have threatened to wash out your mouth with it. It has cleansed you, made you smell good, added a glow to your complexion, and helped make you feel fresher. But what do you really know about soap?

Well, in the first place the product you regard as soap may not be soap at all, but a synthetic detergent "beauty" or "bath" bar. These and similar names have been used by copywriters to spare the consumer the awful knowledge that she is not bathing herself with real soap, but with a synthetic detergent which, ironically, is for some purposes superior to soap. Some "soap" bars may consist of soap and synthetic detergent.

Soap, as long as we can remember, has enjoyed an enviable respect in polite society and this could be at least a part of the reason why Congress placed soap above the law in enacting the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. This law exempted soap from regulation as a cosmetic.

So long as no cosmetic representations are made for soap, other than that it cleanses, and no claims are made that it will affect the structure or functions of the body or treat a disease, it is beyond FDA regulation. When such claims are made the soap must meet all FDA requirements for a cosmetic or a drug or both, whichever is appropriate. If it's represented as a drug the label must list all active ingredients; if represented as both a cosmetic and drug or as only a cosmetic the label must list all ingredients.

For instance, if a soap is labeled as a deodorant soap, FDA considers this to be a cosmetic claim and the label must, as with other cosmetics, carry a list of ingredients. If the soap makes a medical claim, such as that it will cure dandruff, it is considered a drug and must carry required drug labeling and also meet FDA safety and effectiveness requirements.

Fortunately, plain soap of the noncosmetic, nondrug variety has earned a good reputation. Apart from the familiar sting from getting soap into your eyes or the peril of slipping on a bar in the bathtub or shower, common bath and hand soap is relatively safe. In fact we often use it to remove other substances from our hands and skin that we think are a lot less safe.

For purposes of excluding ordinary soap from regulation as a cosmetic, FDA defines it as a product in which most of the nonvolatile matter consists of an alkali salt of fatty acids and whose detergent properties are due to these alkali-fatty acid compounds. Our ancestors often made their own soap for laundering, cleaning, and bathing from animal fats and wood ashes. Today's soap may contain perfumes, colors, and oils, but if it is represented only as soap it's out of FDA's regulatory bailiwick.

Ordinary soap is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under authority of the Hazardous Substances Act. CPSC's jurisdiction covers most noncosmetic, nondrug substances used in the home.

If the bar you use for bathing does not claim to be a soap, it's probably a synthetic detergent product. FDA defines a cosmetic as an article intended to be used on the body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance; thus, a nonsoap product intended for any of these purposes is automatically classified as a cosmetic.

Soaps and synthetic detergent cleansing agents function in water in somewhat the same way; that is, they break down the resistance barrier between the water and the dirt, grime, oil, or other material, allowing it to be wetted and washed away. Soap works well in soft water, but in hard water, which contains a relatively high amount of calcium in solution, the calcium and soap react to form a gummy material called soap scum, which includes dirt and other matter. This gummy stuff is what forms the familiar ring in the bathtub.

The increasing number of synthetic detergent bars on the market is due largely to their more efficient functioning in water, regardless of hardness, and because they don't form gummy deposits as does soap. There are many types of synthetic detergents, ranging from strong to mild; usually the milder types are used for personal cleansing. Some of the harsher detergents are capable of causing eye irritation or injury and manufacturers normally avoid using these in personal bathing bars. There are consumers who may experience irritation or allergic skin reactions from some synthetic detergents. Some consumers also may be allergic to fragrances, colors, or other substances added to either soaps or synthetic detergent bars.

FDA's file of about 70 reports of adverse reactions during the years 1975 through 1977 from use of bar soaps and synthetic detergent bars that qualify as cosmetics includes consumer complaints about skin rash, redness, inflammation, irritation, itching, and burning among the most common problems. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's file of complaints and injury investigations shows similar effects on the skin and eye irritations. Consumer complaints about adverse reactions to synthetic detergent bars and those soaps classified as cosmetics may be made to any FDA district office or to the Director, Division of Cosmetics Technology, Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204. *

Complaints of adverse reactions from ordinary personal cleansing soap not classified as a cosmetic or drug should be sent to the Consumer Complaints Section, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207. Complaints may also be made and information obtained on any current recalls, warnings, or bans concerning soap by dialing the toll-free CPSC Hotline for Consumers: 1-800-638-2772.

U. S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA CONSUMER, February 1979]]><![CDATA[Products]]>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:35:19 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2010/03/products.htmlPicture
Thought I would elaborate on some of the products I am carrying. The first is the Kukui oil. I have some customers, who have little ones with skin conditions. After some research I found that Kukui Oil, which comes from the Hawaiian Kukui nut, has several advantages for those with skin conditions.
Here is what I found:
  Kukui Nut Oil

 An IntroductionKukui Nut Oil has been used for many years in Hawaii , and has only recently become known to the rest of the world. It is prized for its rejuvenating and soothing effects upon the skin, without leaving a greasy or oily film. Pressed from the seeds of the Aleurites moluccana tree, Kukui Nut Oil is invaluable for many different skin conditions, providing moisture and nourishment to dry, mature, and damaged skin.

The History The Kukui Nut tree was first brought to Hawaii by early Polynesian settlers. It quickly adapted, and is now Hawaii 's official state tree. Kukui means ‘enlightenment' in Hawaiian. Traditionally, babies in Hawaii were anointed with Kukui Nut Oil to protect their skin from the sun, salt, and other elements. In addition, it was used on skin irritations, wounds, and burns. Kukui Nut Oil was also used to massage members of royalty, who were sometimes massaged for seven or more hours with this oil!

Cosmetic Use Kukui Nut Oil is a fabulous moisturizer, and quickly penetrates the skin leaving a silky-smooth non-greasy feeling. It is often used for dry or damaged skin, immediately relieving symptoms because of its quick absorption into the skin. It can leave even the roughest and driest skin feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated. Kukui Nut Oil contains Vitamins A, C, and E, providing anti-oxidants that help to protect the skin. This unique oil is able to penetrate into the deepest skin layers, while creating a protective shield that locks in moisture. Kukui Nut Oil is great for those with sensitive skin, and is is beneficial for the following conditions:

  • Burns – including: sunburn, windburn, radiation burns, and heat induced burns.
  • Eczema
  • Chapped skin
  • Psoriasis
  • Mature and prematurely aged skin
  • Dry skin conditions
  • Acne
  • Scars
  • Lesions
  • Dry hair and scalp

]]><![CDATA[Post Title.]]>Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:58:47 -0500http://www.j2organics.com/2/post/2010/03/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit.htmlSorry I have not been posting. My friends talked me into the NCAA bracket playoffs. I know nothing about basketball; however, I am leading the group :) Everyone blew a gasket when I told them I made my picks based on mascots and team colors...
I will be back after I kick some butt. Until then...
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