Holiday Boutique and Sale!

Gift of the Magi

Scented with Frankincense and Myrrh

*****Let it Snow!*****

We are thankful at Siena Soap Company for all of our loyal customers. It has been our great joy to provide you with carefully developed and tested 100% natural skin care. In this great season of giving we would like to offer two ways to save when purchasing Siena Soap products for both yourself and those on your gift list.

TWIN CITIES CUSTOMERS

1. Annual Holiday Boutique

Dec. 4 and 5th, 2010

12 noon - 5PM

296 153rd Lane NW

Andover, MN 55304

2. No Coast Craft-o-Rama

Dec. 3, 3 - 8 PM

Dec. 4, 9 - 5 PM

Midwest Global Market

2929 Chicago Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55407

Local Customers mention this add when attending either sale to receive 20% off your entire order!

ONLINE CUSTOMERS

Place Your order at the Siena Webstore at:

www.sienasoap.com

by December 20, 2010

to receive 20% off your entire order

Use code: winter20

Free Shipping on orders over $75

Merry Christmas from all of at

Siena Soap Company!

"Experience the Difference"

The Safe Cosmetic Act - Is it Okay to Oppose It?

HR 5786 – The Safe Cosmetic Act – Is it Okay to Oppose It?

On July 20, 2010, HR 5786 was introduced to Congress, “To amend title VI of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ensure the safe use of cosmetics, and for other purposes. 

I would be the first in line to support well written legislation that would guarantee safety in skin care products. In fact, the chief motivating factor for me to began handcrafting personal care products for my own family was really the issue of the “junk” contained in so many of the commercially produced products.  My kid’s skin did not always react so favorably to big name products.  That began my quest for healthier and safer alternatives. Siena Soap Company was born seeking this one honorable quest… pure, natural, healthy skin care.

Of course it is a continuing travesty that known toxins and carcinogens are allowed in everyday products used by babies, children, and even adults.  I have been on my soapbox for some time telling of the drying, harsh effects of the commercially manufactured detergents with known toxins marketed as everyday soap, and of the unsafe chemicals in common skin care products.  Something has to be done.  The authors of this bill see the problem.  I appreciate the intent of this bill.  Undoubtedly, reforming our current cosmetic industry is a necessary and noble endeavor.  This bill – HR 5786, though, is not the answer. Here’s why!

1)   HR 5786 is being categorized as a “pink slip” for the hundreds of thousands of home-based or small independent soap making and cosmetic companies in our country.  Unfortunately, if passed, this bill will make no distinction between the small all natural skin care businesses that are already manufacturing safe, natural product and the large synthetic beauty manufacturers. The bill will require extreme documentation of sales, vendor purchases, changes in product formulation, and company activities.  The freedom to better a recipe, experiment with new products, change up a product line or suppliers will result in a paper chase of getting Big Brother’s okay.  How will these home based businesses handle the additional time spent laboring over all this documentation?  How will the government police all these new requirements?  Obviously, it will create more red tape, more bureaucracy, and more taxpayer money spent for additional cosmetic “police.”  Lumping all natural small businesses with large corporate manufacturers in cosmetic policing makes no sense. Small businesses are suffering enough in this failing economy.  This will be the final assault for many.

2)   It is important to remember that most of these small all-natural soap making and cosmetic companies are woman owned.  Many of these small businesses are able to provide jobs for a modest amount of workers.  We are the backbone of the American economy and the American entrepreneurial spirit of this great country.  We are not asking for bailouts.  We just want to continue to provide for the needs of our customers with products that are safe, inexpensive, and useful. 

3)   Ingredient lists will be mandated where each company will be required to disclose each and every detectable trace chemical in each product marketed.  Foods in this country do not require knowing which molecule exist in the parts per million range!

4)   This ingredients listing requirement will require expensive testing of each product marketed to secure every detectable molecule in it.  Small business cannot afford this.  And who will pay for this?  The consumer, of course!

5)   HR 5786 also includes a Savings Clause that will allow states or cities to enact legislation that is more specific or severe that this proposed federal law.  I am presently able to do business in any of the 50 states.  If new and different laws are enacted in states and municipalities it will make it a nightmare to do business outside my own state for fear of violating another state’s cosmetic laws.

6)    “The Story of Cosmetics” a cartoon video released on YouTube and sponsored by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, says it represents the cosmetic industry. I started to follow the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics several months ago and the work of their sister, EWG (Environmental Working Group).  Their idea of a safe US cosmetic industry caught my eye.  I really believed that they would represent our best interests.  Now I believe they do not understand the small all natural business industry at all nor do they represent our wishes or us.  Their video using skulls and bones and various scare tactics scare the consumer into thinking even our natural products may not be safe. Also their studies do not tell the whole truth as outlined by R. Tisserand in Tunnel Vision.

I know it is hard to oppose a bill called The Safe Cosmetic Act – it just sounds bad.  But research the facts.  Educate yourself.  Then contact your congressmen.  

I know that I have been long winded.  Thank you for wading through all of this.  I believe it really is okay to oppose the Safe Cosmetics Act.  It surely doesn’t mean we are against safe cosmetics. What we are opposing is a poorly written desperately overreaching piece of legislation.   If passed, HR5786 will surely kill entrepreneurial small cottage industry in this country while continuing to make government bigger and more powerful. 

Mary  -  Artisan Soapmaker

mary@sienasoap.com

www.sienasoap.com

What makes Siena Soaps Different?

The Beauty and Variety of Siena Soaps!

Siena Soap Company manufactures beautiful soap and skin care products made from the finest of ingredients to cleanse, nourish, and refresh your skin. But what makes Siena Soap unique? Essential Oils! They weave the backbone of each of our over 25 unique varieties of soap, salves, balms, and lotion bars.

Essential Oils are natural compounds derived from a small variety of plant life. These precious oils are extracted from either the plant's flower, leaf, stem, or roots. Essential Oils have the ability and power to heal and affect the body in a exceptionally holistic manner - including our body, mind, and spirit.

What makes essential oils so exceptional, miraculous, and mysterious all at the same time are the myriad of therapeutic properties that they possess. Essential Oils can be antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and even antiviral supporting a healthy lifestyle for their users. They also have the power to refresh, energize, invigorate, and even inspire, helping to support our minds, moods, and emotions.

REMEMBER - When real essential oils and absolutes are used AROMATHERAPY IS REAL!

Siena Soap's goal is to make beautiful aromatic soap to ease your intake of chemicals, and to gently cleanse, moisturize, and refresh your body and mind.

Go ahead and get your cup of tea or coffee and read about our unique and enticing soaps scented with essential oil blends.

www.sienasoap.com

Siena Soap Company, LLC

Lotion Bar Sale!!!

Alligator Skin Be Gone!

Siena Soap Company Lotion Bar Sale

is Here!

For those of you who need Skin therapy during these windy, cold winter months we have a wonderful product for you.  Our LOTION BARS are the answer for those of you who suffer with dry, chapped winter skin.  These bars are loaded with skin loving butters and oils (cocoa and shea butter, sweet almond and jojba oils) and melt on contact with your skin.  They are solid lotion in a bar form.  No water is ever added to any of our LOTION BARS.  We currently carry four different types of bars scented with essential oils.  They include:

Almond Honey

Citrus

Cocoa Vanilla

Lavender

Our LOTION BARS are shaped in the form of a heart and will make a great gift for Valentine's Day.  They weigh approximatley 2 ounces and are long lasting. Our LOTION BARS are packaged in a silver tin that makes a great container for keeping on your nightstand or to carry in your purse.  

Special Price  - 4.95

Good until February 14th!

Find these and other great skin loving products at our webstore:

www.sienasoap.com

Mother's Day is Almost Here!

I know many of you want to gift your mothers with that extra special gift for their special day, but never seem to find that one unique gift.

We would like to make your gift selection for all your wonderful mothers or mother-in-laws extra easy this year.  

Siena Soap Company offers two different boxed sets of our luxurious and creamy soap specially priced for you during the month of May.

1. 2 Bar Set Gift Boxed in a craft box wrapped with raffia ribbon (Your choice of soap) Specially priced at: $9.95
2. 4 Bar Set Gift Boxed in a white box wrapped with raffia ribbon (Your Choice of soap) Specially priced at: $18.95

Your Mother will thank you for such a thoughtful gift! 

Prices good through May 31st,  2008 

Local customers please e-mail your order if you'd like to save on postage to: mary@sienasoap.com

To order Siena Soap go to www.sienasoap.com

Happy Mother's Day Mom!