Dans ta bulle

Mommies and babies here we come

2012-01-11T12:15:00.003-05:00

The many changes I was announcing are slowly taking place. It is taking longer than expected but we are calculating every decision and trying to make it very wisely...I hope!
Here is an overview of some of those changes.
We are still a boutique that promote locally made and hand made products. Our selection now consists of mostly mommies and babies products instead of cosmetics and skincare.
We no longer carry hare care products, but aside from that, all our best sellers are still here. We have the whole Zorah biocosmetics line. We also have the Amarille soaps, body lotions and the famous whipped shea butter souflés. The trusty Soapworks soaps are here to stay also.
As for the new mommies and babies line, we really have some great finds. Some big names; Jack and Lily leather slippers for babies and toddlers. Ulubulu silicone monster bibs. Babymoov bath toys are also a great hit. My all time favorite swaddling blankets from Adan+Anais are also one of the great new additions to our collection.
Some not so big names; Bouton rond rond beautiful wooden pacifiersholders, hand painted was a great find. As well as Croissant de lune ouchless hair clips for little girls. Au fil de mes humeurs is another amazing hand made line of soft toys and blankets.We also carry a cute leg warmers line called Uzage jambière. And finally, my all time favorite baby carrier, Moa Pô is also among our shelves.
So in a nutshell, those are some the changes we have made in the last few months. There are a few additions I did not mention, I have to give you at least a few reasons to come in and find out for yourself!
If you know about a great line for mommies and babies let us know about it, we are still hunting for great new things to add to our shelves.

Chchchchaaanges...

2011-10-20T14:44:00.004-04:00

So the big changes anounced are taking place progressivly. We started by revamping the window displays, nothing like a good coat of paint a few yards of fabric and some ingenuity. Tania, my trusty collegue was able to give it a nice fresh look ready for the fall with pumpkins, skulls and everything.
Many new lines of products have entered the doors of 316 Mont Royal. We have stayed true to our roots though. Although we now carry mostly mommies and babies products we try to make the best choices out there. We support local artisans and creators as much as we can.
Most of it are items I fell in love with when I discovered these products as I was shopping for my baby.
We still have our cosmetics and body products section, all the popular items have stayed so do no panic, probably your favorite body butter or face cream is still on our shelves!
We are on the lookout for great new lines of products, or toys. If you know any, please, do not hesitate to mention them as we would like to add to our selection.

And now I'm back!

2011-09-15T14:37:00.004-04:00

Hello world!

Yes, my hibernation into motherhood is over, I no longer want to spend all my waking hours holding my bundle of joy and I am ready to get back into the hustle and bustle of running my shop! Baby boy keeps me busy, yes, but there is more to life than bottle and diapers!

I would like to announce that there will be some changes coming up at 316 Mont Royal E. We will be taking a new direction I should say. We had already started a little bit but now, I am ready to go all the way. We are already a cute cosmetics and body products store and most of you would come to get not only stuff for yourselves but mostly as gifts for loved ones. During my pregnancy, i had started to bring in some baby products, and most of you really liked the idea, and sales were great. Well I focused on that idea and took it a step further. We are going to be a mommies and babies gift store! A friend is having a baby? Someone at the office is pregnant? A baby shower for a cousin? No problem! You want to get something cute, original, preferably made in Canada or hand made, not too expensive?? Well this is going to be the place for you!

BUT do not worry, some of your favorite cosmetics brands will still be available.

So, what do you think? Give me you opinion.

Doux printemps...

2011-03-18T15:56:00.005-04:00

Le printemps pointe le bout de son nez : la température se réchauffe, le soleil sort, les oiseaux chantent...et notre peau change de besoins!

Si, comme nous l'avons vu précédemment, il vaut mieux utiliser un lait nettoyant doux et une crème plus riche lors de la saison froide, durant le printemps et l'été il vaut mieux changer de produits.

Tout d'abord, en ce qui est des nettoyants, je conseille aux clientes un nettoyant moussant quotidien, comme celui à la délicieuse odeur vivifiante de pamplemousse de Green Beaver ou celui au thé vert produit par Pure and Simple.

Puis, comme la peau a tendance à être plus luisante quand il fait plus chaud, je recommande donc une crème pour le visage légère, telle que la lotion hydratante au thé vert et à l'aloès de Green Beaver ou celle à base de baies d'açai d'Amarille, toutes deux disponibles en boutique, naturellement. Vous pouvez aussi venir en magasin vous renseigner sur les excellents sérums de Pure and Simple.

Enfin, il ne faut pas oublier un soin hebdomadaire adapté à notre type de peau.

Un masque hydratant anti-âge Kariderm est de mise pour les peaux en manque d'eau qui ont besoin d'un coup de main.

Un masque à base d'argile Eau de mer est tout indiqué pour les peaux à tendances grasses et acnéïque.

Profitez bien du printemps et chouchoutez votre peau !

Ariane.

12 substances toxiques à éviter dans vos cosmétiques

2010-11-29T11:40:00.005-05:00

Savez-vous quelles substances toxiques se trouvent dans vos petits pots favoris??

Le guide du consommateur responsable de David Suzuki nous propose une liste intéressante de substances à éviter lorsqu'on achète nos cosmétiques. À imprimer et garder dans son porte-feuille.

1. BHA et BHT: Suspectés d'interférer avec les fonctions hormonales et d'être cancérigène. Se retriyvent dans les hydratants et le maquillage.

2. Colorant du goudron de houille P-Phenylenediamine: Ingrédients suspect d'être cancérigène et contient des métaux lourds toxiques pour le cerveau. Se retrouvent souvent dans les teintures et les colorants.

3. Cyclomethicone: Suspectés d'interférer avec la fonction hormonale et le foie. Se retrouve dans les hydratants le maquillage et les produits capillaires.

4. DEA MEA TEA: Peuvent réagir avec d'autres substances et former des nitrosamines cancérigènes. Se retrouvent dans les crèmes hydratantes et les shampoings.

5. Dibutyl Phthalate: Suspectés d'agir sur la reproduction et d'interférer avec certains fonctions hormonales. Se retrouve dans les produits pour les ongles

6. Libérateur de formaldéhyde: DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, methenamine quaternium-15 largement employés dans les produits capillaires et hydratants. Le formaldéhyde est cancérigène.

7. Parabènes: Agent de conservation qui se retrouve dans 95% des cosmétiques conventionnelles suspectés d'interférer avec la fonction hormonale et associés avec le cancer du sein.

8. Parfum: Mélange de produits chimiques qui peuvent déclencher des allergies et de l'asthme, certains sont associés au cancer et à l'intoxication des neurones. Peuvent se retrouver dans toutes les produits de soins même ceux qui annoncent comme étant "non-parfumés"

9. PEG: Contient du 1, 4-dioxane qui est potentiellement cancérigène. Se retrouve dans les revitalisant et les produits hydratants ainsi que les déodorants.

10. Petrolatum: Produits petrochimique pouvant contenir des ingrédients cancérigènes. Se retrouve dans les beaume à lèvres, rouges à lèvres, produits capillaires et pleins de produits de soins corporels.

11. Sodium laureth sulfate et sodium lauryl sulfate: Agent moussant qui se retrouve dans les savons liquides, shampoings, bain moussants, nettoyants pour le visage. Contient des ingrédients potentiellement cancérigènes et dommageable pour le foie.

12. Triclosan: Suspecté d'interférer avec certains fonctions hormonales et d'aider aux bactéries à devenir pour résistants aux antibiotiques. Se retrouve dans les produits antibactériens tels que le savon, dentifrice, les désinfectants pour les mains.

Merci M. Suzuki pour m'avoir informé à propos de mes responsabilités écologiques à un jeune age et de continuer de le faire aujourd'hui!

Pour plus d'information visitez son site www.davidsuzuki.org/fr/produitsdebeaute

BBLala habiller son petit dernier dans le plus grand style

2010-11-23T14:26:00.004-05:00

Vous voulez vous démarquer en habillant votre petit de manière peu traditionnelle la gamme BBLala est pour vous! Une ligne de vêtements rigolo avec des messages ludiques imprimés sur des t-shirts de couleurs neutre comme le vert khaki, gris, noir et beige. Pas de rose bonbon ni bleu ciel! Les mamans fashion vont craquer pour les petits messages comme ''J'ai passé neuf mois en dedans" ou bien "Est ce que cette couche me fais un gros derrière" En tout cas mois, je suis en amour! C'est décidé, quand mon petit coco fera ses apparitions à la boutique il va certainement porter les t-shirts BBlala. tra la la tra lalala la la!!

Baby on the way...

2010-11-08T15:37:00.003-05:00

I suppose I should have mentioned this earlier but better late than never....Dans ta bulle is expecting! A new little "bulle" is going to join our team. OK enough euphemisms, I'm 35 weeks pregnant and I can't take it anymore. I suppose some of you have noticed that baby products have been slowly sneaking into our boutique steadily for a few months now. We keep discovering these cool baby brands, bringing them in and you keep buying them so we keep buying some more... There are a lot of great mommy and baby things still to discover and since it seems to interest our clients, we are going to keep on bringing in more maternity and baby gear, without neglecting our cosmetics section of course.

So baby is due for mid December, during the major holiday rush. We have hired a new employee to help us out. Patricia will be taking over starting end of November. You are all welcome to come and meet her, she is eager to learn more about our clients, we have already crammed her will all the information she needs to serve our clients the same way we do.

Baby will start his shifts at the store as soon as February when he'll be coming to work with mommy. We have a little play pen ready for him and a couple of different models of slings and carriers for mommy to take baby around the store. And ya! we'll be selling some slings too!

Le soin du visage version automne

2010-11-02T15:34:00.005-04:00

Bon, la température a changé, bientôt on va devoir changer l'heure aussi, c'est l'automne! Quelques petits changements s'impose dans notre routine soin du visage aussi. Voici quelques petits conseils afin de garder notre peau en santé.

Peut être qu'on utilisait un savon doux pour nettoyer le visage durant l'été mais quand vient l'automne et l'hiver mieux vaut opter pour un lait avec une texture légère que l'on peut rincer. Mon outil favori pour nettoyer le visage c'est l’éponge de mer. Elle exfolie en douceur et laisse la peau toute douce.

La lotion tonique est toujours intéressante, je préfère l'eau d'hamamélis l'été mais quand vient le froid je change pour de l'eau de rose qui calme les rougeurs et aide à refermer les pores après le nettoyage.

À chaque saison notre peau a des besoins qui changent. Quand on commence à allumer les chauffages et l'air est plus sec on opte pour une crème de nuit un peu plus riche que celle qu'on avait durant l'été.

Les matins, j'aime me rincer le visage avec l'eau de fleurs d'oranger et n'oubliez pas, l'écran soleil on ne le met pas de coté! c'est 365 jours qu'on le porte!

Mes aventures à faire dresser les cheveux sur la tête

2010-10-29T14:07:00.008-04:00

Bon ça fait quelques mois que je suis en train d'essayer quelque chose de nouveau avec mes cheveux et ça commence finalement à donner des résultats et j'ai envie de partager avec vous mon aventure...

Tout à commencé le jour que j'ai lu le livre de Sihoban et Alexandra; No More Dirty Looks: The Truth about your beauty products an ultimate guide to safe and clean cosmetics. Dans la section des soins pour cheveux une petite histoire m'a intriguée. Elles appellent ça la théorie de Pocahontas mais en fait c'est le no 'poo movement qui est bien plus répandu que l'on ne pense. En gros, ça consiste à ne plus laver les cheveux avec du shampoing. Je sais, vous allez dire que je suis folle de promouvoir une idée de ce genre puisque 30% des ventes de ma boutique proviennent des produits capillaires! Mais, puisque j'ai eu une si belle expérience et je sais bien que cette théorie ne s'applique pas à tous les types de cheveux, je vais quand même vous en parler.

On peut résumer le mouvement du no 'poo en quelques points; Tout d'abord les shampoings coûtent chers. Ensuite, ils sont trop désechants pour le cuir chevelu, de plus ça nous entraîne dans une cycle vicieux de lavage et réhydratation qui déséquilibre le pH naturel de cette zone sensible. Le but c'est d'arriver à ne plus avoir besoin de savonner les cheveux sans qu'ils soient gras simplement en rinçant avec de l'eau. Bien sûre c'est un processus qui peut prendre du temps, quelques semaines voir quelques mois même. Donc il faut s'armer de patience et aussi de bicarbonate de soude, puisque c'est l'alternative du shampoing que proposent les adeptes de ce mouvement.

Donc c'est en juillet que mon aventure à débuté. Je dois vous dire d'abord que j'ai des cheveux frisés, un cuir chevelu gras et les pointes fourchues et sèches, texture paille. Je lavais mes cheveux quatre fois par semaine et ils étaient beau seulement la première journée. J'ai commencé par les laver seulement deux fois par semaine une fois avec mon shampoing régulier et l'autre fois avec mon savon d'Alep. Cela a duré deux mois. En septembre j'ai commencé à les laver qu'une seule fois par semaine. Début octobre je me rendais jusqu'à 10-12 jours sans shampoing. Maintenant, je les rince chaque fois que je prends une douche mais plus de shampoing!!!

Ce que j'ai remarqué: D'abord, mes cheveux sont plus doux et malléables. Les pointes ne sont plus fourchu et sèche comme de la paille. Contrairement à ce que je pensais, ils ne sentent pas mauvais du tout. Enfin, ils sont plus en santé et j'ai retrouvé l'éclat que j'avais perdu depuis quelques années. Je me sens vraiment libéré d'un grand fardeau...trouver un bon shampoing, l'essayer, le détester, recommencer... Maintenant je n'ai pas à penser à mes cheveux, la simplicité volontaire quoi!

La semaine prochaine j'ai l'intention de commencer à utiliser la recette de bicarbonate et vinaigre, qui se trouve dans les liens que je vous mentionne au bas de la page. Je vous suggère d'aller visiter ces blogues vous y trouverez plus d'information technique.

Aventure à suivre...

http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html

http://nopoohair.blogspot.com/

http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=365

Les top 5 produits essentiels dans notre trousse de maquillage

2010-10-07T12:18:00.002-04:00

Changement de saison, un ménage s'impose. Aujourd'hui on veut remettre à neuf notre trousse maquillage. Mais lesquels jeter et lesquels garder? Voici une petite liste des produits essentiels.

1. Écran solaire: LE produit le plus important dans votre trousse, été comme hiver, il ne faut jamais s'en passer.

2. Crème contour des yeux: La peau qui se trouver autour des yeux est beaucoup plus mince que celle du visage donc tout signe de veillissement y apparaît plus rapidement alors il faut s'y prendre d'avance et avoir un bon traitement préventif.

3. Exfoliant: Élimine les peaux mortes, dégage les pores, redonne de l'éclat et opbtimise la pénétration des produits, c'est selon moi, l'étape la plus importante. On peut employer un exfoliant mécanique (granules) ou chimique (peeling) les deux ont leurs avantages et inconvénients. (sujet intéressant pour une autre discussion)

4. Hydratant corporel: Que vous optez pour une crème, une beurre ou une huile ça vous prends un produit pour appli éviter la peau de croco.

5. Baume à lèvre: produit culte par excellence, et non sans raison. La peau des lèvres est très fine et fragile donc vunérable à la sécheresse. Avec FPS ou non ça nous prend une baume!

Donc voici mon top 5. J'en ai d'autres mais je peux vivre sans les autres...en avez vous des favoris??

The Truth about the Cosmetics industry

2010-10-07T12:15:00.001-04:00

I posted this link not too long ago on our facebook page and got a lot of reactions, I wanted to share it with the maximum amount of people possible, so here it is again. Watch it, share it, be aware of whats in your little bottles!

http://storyofstuff.org/cosmetics/

Les noix de lavage: c'est quoi exactement? Comment l'utiliser?

2010-03-10T17:33:00.014-05:00

La noix de lavage, issue d'un arbre conifère (sapindus mukorossi), est employé comme détergent à lessive depuis la nuit des temps en Inde et au Népal. C'est un arbre qui pousse dans des régions tropicales et sub tropicales et grandit bien dans des terrains pauvres, au bord des routes et jusque dans les villes. L'arbre produit naturellement de la saponine, un sulfactant naturel et antibactérien. Les saponines présentes dans les coques des noix de lavage sont solubles dans l'eau tiède. Ce sont des détergents (tensioactifs) qui dégraissent, nettoient et assainissent éliminant ainsi les salissures. On a un linge propre et doux sans l'utilisation d'assouplisseur. Les saponines n'abîment pas le fibre naturel des tissus ainsi protégant les couleurs, c'est le produit idéal pour laver les tissus délicats, la laine et la soie.
De plus, les noix sont entièrement biodégradables et compostables. Elles sont naturelles, sans additifs sythétiques, n'ayant subi aucune transformation.
Mode d'emploi
Mettre 4-8 demi coquilles dans une pochette en coton ou une chaussette et le mettre avec le linge sale dans le tambour. Vous pouvez laisser les noix jusqu'à la fin du cycle puisqu'elles sont activées seulement à l'eau chaude, durant le cycle de rincage à l'eau froide, elles ne libéreront pas de saponine. Les mêmes noix peuvent être réutilisées jusqu'à 3 fois. Une coque usée est plus claire et a une couleur terne.
Pour le linge blanc, ajouter un peu de percarbonate de soude dans la brassée afin de bien blanchir le linge en douceur.

Pour le linge couleur très sale ou pour désodoriser on peut aussi ajouter un peu de bicarbonate de soude pour dégraisser et désodoriser.

Pour le lavage à l'eau froide, utiliser un quart de tasse de decoction de noix de lavage préparé préalablement.
Tremper 10 demi coquilles dans un litre d'eau bouillante que vous laisser macérer la nuit.
Si vous êtes curieux et vous voulez essayer, venez en boutique on a des petits formats d'essai pour 2-3 brassées.

My love for taking baths continues

2010-02-12T14:08:00.005-05:00

I have recently discovered something wonderful...I want to share with my readers this great little invention called bath truffles. Yes, yes, I know you are going to tell me I'm sort of late to be talking about this, its been done for many years now.
Everyone knows bath bombs, thanks to Lush, we have all gotten a big round colorful ball for the holidays. But aside from fizzing and making a big colorful ring in my tub, I don't quite see the use of those things and that is why I don't really carry any bath bombs at Dans ta bulle. Well apparently the new trend in baths these last few years is the bath truffle! It combines the fun aspect of the bath bombs along with cocoa butter, which acts like a bath oil and makes your skin ohh so soft. The next generation of bath gadgets I suppose. Well, all I can say is I love it! Dot and Lil makes some that we sell at the store with really fun scents like satsuma and honeysuckle and Amarille made some specially for the boutique, so we have a great collection of scents you can choose from. So come have a ball and go home and take a bath!

Workshop schedule

2010-01-20T21:40:00.002-05:00

Here is the schedule for our workshops for the coming weeks

Cream making Saturday January 23 9am - 12pm

Soap making 102 Saturday January 30th 9am-12pm

Soap making 101 Saturday Febuary 6th 9am - 12pm

Please call to reserve your spot, only 6 people per workshop. Cost is 60$. We provide everything you need, all you bring with you is a smile!

10 tips to a healthy complexion in winter

2010-01-10T10:37:00.005-05:00

Want to look less tiered naturally and for (almost) free?
Here are some of my tips to a healthy looking face during the dull winter months. Considering its right after the holidays and the state of your bank account (thank you consumerism!) I tried to stick to the free and almost free tips. Here goes...
1. Splash your face with cold water to constrict blood vessels, this tonify your face instantly.
2. Moisturize! Slather on a nice thick layer of cream to fill in those lines. Please skip the pharmacy stuff, a basic natural cream will do, nothing too pretentious, miracles don't come in a bottle remember that!
3. Here is a tip for when you have more time on your hands. Put some milk and ice cubes in a bowl, dip a washcloth in this mixture and place the cloth on your face for a few minutes. It should reduce blotchiness and give you a bright glowy complexion.
4. At the end of your shower give your face a nice long scrub. Either use an exfoliant or a washcloth, remember to rub gently but for at least one minute.
5. Store you eye cream in the fridge. When you apply it massage it well into the eye area to accelerate circulation. While we are talking about eye cream, when you go to choose one, read the ingredient label carefully, try to avoid petroleum based creams and look for some active ingredients.
6. Discover mineral makeup! This one is my favorite tip! Choose one with no fillers or starch. You don't even need that much, just a dab for the under eye circles and little spots where needed (pimples, brown spots, redness, etc.) Its a great product and when used sparingly seems invisible. Its one of those things where a little goes a long way and too much can take you back. (You can come at the boutique for a free trial!)
7. After brushing your teeth at night brush also your lips with your wet toothbrush; small circular motions. Then slather on some lip balm and bonne nuit!
8. Become friends with an eye lash curler. No need for pricey mascaras with scary vibrating wands, those could put an eye out! Best way to curl ones lashes is in 3 steps: Once at the very tip of the lash; then once again at the middle; and a last time at the roots or as close as you can get to the lash line.
9. Fix those eye brows. Well shaped eye brows can make anyone look better! But just like tip #6 a little bit goes a long way especially if you do it yourself. Just a bit in the center to eliminate any allusions to a unibrow and a little under the brow line.
10. Nothing says tiered like a frown so this last tip is not only free but fun and super easy...SMILE!!!! It takes less muscles to smile than to frown and it makes anyone look better.

So that is it! 10 tips to make you look and feel better and survive the winter. Let me know how it works out.

Its my first posting of the year, I would like to with you all a healthy and successful 2010.

Savon d'Alep: description, historique et divers usages

2009-12-28T19:54:00.006-05:00

Depuis les débuts de ce blogue, j’ai envie de vous parler d’un produit vedette de la boutique, le savon d’Alep. Je préfère écrire ce texte en français puisque ce savon légendaire impose une explication qui lui est digne et seule la langue française peut bien traduire son histoire, sa renomée et ses vertus. Allons y donc en français : langue lyrique pour faire l’éloge de ce savon mythique.

D’abord un peu d’histoire...Venu tout droit de la Mésopotamie, le savon d’Alep a été rapporté pour la première fois en Occident par les Croisés. Sa fabrication n’ayant pas changée depuis plus de 400 ans, le savon d’alep s’avère un produit plus qu’autenthique. Dans des chaudrons de cuivre, le savonnier élabore la pâte du savon grâce au mélange d’huiles d’olive et de laurier, réputées pour leurs vertus hydratantes et réparatrices depuis l’anquité romaine. La cuisson et l’élaboration de la recette en soit reste un mytère...un secret bien gardé et transmis de génération en génération.

La pâte est ensuite étalée, puis découpée en morceaux. Celle-ci sera exposé au soleil pendant huit mois sur les toîts pour permettre un bon séchage. Sa couleur passera du vert foncé au beige clair et va acquérir sa dureté légendaire. Au fur et à mesure que vous ulilisez votre pain de savon, ce dernier vous dévoilera ses vraies couleurs: sous la surface d’un beige claire se cache un vert foncé et un arôme distinctif.
Les vertus du savon d’Alep sont bien connu au Moyen Orient. Tout d’abord il faut mentionner que c’est un savon qui n’est pas parfumé. Bien sûre il y a des versions à l’eau de rose ou à l’eau d’oranger, mais le savon d’Alep authentique n’a pas d’odeur ajoutée : il sent légèrement l’huile mais ne laisse aucune trace de cet odeur sur la peau. Il est aussi important de noter que c’est un savon qui ne déseche pas la peau, au contraîre, on peut dire que c’est un savon hydratant. Vous vous demandez comment un savon peut être hydratant? Logiquement un savon c’est un dégraissant qui enlève le gras n’est ce pas? Mais le savon d’Alep c’est un savon surgras, c’est à dire que durant la fabrication on a utilisé plus de gras que le nécessaire pour le procédé de saponification. Donc on trouve encore dans le mélange des mollécules de gras non saponifiées même après le procédé de saponification complété quarante huit heures plus tard. Cela semble un peu technique mais il faut aussi ajouter que l’huile d’olive et l’huile de laurier surtout, sont des gras végétaux difficilement saponifables, il y aura toujours de l’huile qui ne deviendra pas savon. Ce sont là de très bonnes nouvelles pour votre peau, surtout l’hiver! La peau sèche est un problème très communs auprès de nos clients et souvent il suffit simplement changer de savon au lieu d’investir dans des crèmes ultra hydratantes (et ultra chers!) pour règler le problème.

Le savon d’Alep est aussi employé pour faire la lessive ou la vaisselle, il existe même des versions liquides.
Comme tout produit extraordinaire, le savon d’Alep est imité, il faut donc faire attention aux immitations, car ils peuvent avoirs des résultats décevants. Souvent ce que nous rencontrons sur le marché, ce sont des savons qui sont constitués principalement d’huile de palme et contiennent peu ou pas d’olive ou de laurier dans leurs recettes. Afin d’imiter la couleur, la plupart du temps ces imitations contiennent aussi des colorants artificiels.
Il faut rechercher certaines caractéristiques particulières au savon d’Alep afin d’être sûre que l’on à fait un bon achat. La couleur beige, brun sur le dessus et vert foncé dans le centre du savon est la caracteristique la plus importante. Vous verrez que la couleur n’est pas parfaitement uniforme, cela est bon signe. Ensuite son odeur particulière. La texture sur la surface est importante aussi, le savon d’Alep n’est pas lisse ni brillant comme un savon à l’huile de palme. Enfin, un vrai savon d’Alep a un sceau sur le dessus qui identifie le nom de la savonnerie ainsi que la quantité de laurier dans la recette avec des étoiles, plus il y a d’étoiles, plus le savon contient de l’huile de laurier. Donc si vous recherchez un savon pour le visage ou comme shampoing il faudrait un savon avec le maximum de laurier, c’est à dire 25%-35%. Si par contre vous recherchez un savon d’Alep pour faire la lessive moins de laurier c’est mieux. Pour un savon corporel un savon avec 10% 15% de laurier devrait suffir.

What is a loofa or luffah?

2009-12-06T21:17:00.004-05:00

We often get clients at the boutique who wonder what a luffa actually is, so to demystify this, here is all you need to know about this great plant.
The luffa is the seed pod of a plant when mature, the fruits become a tough mass of cellulose fiber that makes a great scrubbing sponge. Its not actually a sponge, which is an animal from the sea, its closely related to the pumpkin and the cucumber, they are from the same family, the curcubit family. You can use the luffa to scrub your whole body, it effectively removes dead skin and costs much less than fancy body scrubs. Although those are quite fun from time to time! They last about six months to a year in the shower and once you are done with it you can throw it into the compost bin.
But that's not all! The luffa can be also used to scrub pots and pans, clean the bath tub and the sink or even your car if you own one! In some Asian countries the young fruit and the flower are eaten, just like the okra or a squash.
So there you go! Now you know all you need to know about the luffa!

Christmas has arrived at the 316

2009-11-23T09:12:00.004-05:00

This holiday season why don't you give a green, locally made, natural item as gifts!

I wanted to let you all know that the holidays have arrived at the store. On Friday, most of the artisans and the suppliers brought in their creations for the season. We, of course got the cupcake soaps! They are in the window, you cannot miss them. Other great Christmas soaps have been created just for this occasion. Some amazing gift ideas also starting at 10$. You can get a great gift for an office buddy or a teacher! We have something special for everyone on your list. AND something else not too many places offer...Free gift wrapping!! YAY!

Water based nail polish versus regular polish

2009-10-27T11:34:00.005-04:00

I've been meaning to write about this topic for a while now and today is the big day, I will explain for once and for all the difference between regular nail polish and the natural water based polish. What inspired me today you ask? Actually on my way to the store, in the metro, I noticed a young girl biting her nails. This seems like a pretty lame inspiration but for me this was big! I had to almost hold myself back from talking her out of doing this very harmful act. The reason why I was so affected is because this girl was wearing a very stylish dark purple polish. I have nothing against purple polish or those who wear them but I am pretty sure this was not a natural polish, and the thought of this poor girl eating all those toxic ingredients (along with some of her own nails and skin) made me really mad. And so here we are, I am going to explain why regular polish should be avoided at all cost! Here goes!!

Regular polish contains formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalates and FD&C colors. You wonder what this four syllable words are? I do not want to get into very scientific explanations but to summarize, these are harmful chemicals that the human body cannot get rid of, so it is accumulated in our system. What this accumulation can do? Well, we do not quite know, some people speculate by saying it might cause cancer and other ailments. But what I say is, why take the risk if it can be avoided or replaced by something else.

These harsh solvent-based nail polishes are simple solutions of nitrocellulose resins in strong solvents. Nitrocellulose is used because it forms a very hard film as the solvents evaporate from the base. These same bad smelling solvents are used to remove the polish by dissolving the film.

On the other hand, water-based polish, uses an emulsion resin in the form of billions of very small particles suspended in water. So as the water evaporated, the particles touch each other and form a hard film which is no longer soluble in water. It may seem like these two systems are similar but actually they as different as night and day. One cures by reversible solvent evaporation and the other by creating a tightly knit film. One can be easely removed while the other not so easily.

In a nutshell, here it is, the difference between regular and water based nail polish.

Testing zone: Manicouagan clay

2009-10-19T08:43:00.010-04:00

Saturday I had a really long day and what I was looking forward to was the thought of a nice long bath waiting for me at home...
So when I got home you can imagine what was the first thing I did, set up my bath. Warm water, a few drops of rosehip oil with some orange blossom essential oil and a nice handful of mud! Actually, it was Manicouagan clay, this gray sandy mud that comes from the north of Quebec from the region of Manicouagan, where it gets his name.
It all started 215 million years ago when a big meteorite crashed in this region that created the unique set up for the development of this special clay. I will spare you the scientific details which can explain the many reasons why this clay is so great and go right back to my bath tub experience.
As I was saying...I placed a handful of this mud into the bath and went right in. Most of the mud got diluted into the bath but I kept a small walnut size dollop of mud to play with (I lost my rubber duck during my last vacation) and I spread the mud all over my face, chest, shoulders and my back.
First thing I noticed was that there are very small particles in this mud and as I rubbed it on my face I realized that this is like an exfoliation at the same time, those small particles were buffing away all the dead skin. After my bath, my skin was glowing. Not only did the clay cleanse and exfoliate but it felt as though my skin was rejuvenated, like a day at the beach or something.
I have to say that working in the cosmetic industry, I have tried a lot of products. Many have claims to do almost magical things, make you look younger and more beautiful. Well this product also has many claims, I cannot vouch for all of those claims but I gotta say that it definitely cleanses, exfoliates and revitalizes you skin all in one step. And you can see some results after just one use. That in itself, is already very impressive.
I give this product a 9 out of 10. The reason its not a full 10 on 10 is because you have to clean the bathtub after your mud bath, it leaves a gray dusty residue that has to be rinced away. But aside from the cleaning this is an excellent product. Try Argile Eau Mer's clay it's really great!

The sponges are here!!

2009-10-14T09:32:00.003-04:00

I know a lot of you have been patiently waiting for our sponge order to come in. I am very happy to announce that we got a nice big shippment of natural unbleached yellow sponges and silk sponges at the boutique. Come in and be one of the first people to select your favorite shapes.

October workshop schedule

2009-10-04T22:38:00.003-04:00

Here is the october schedule for our workshops:

Prenatal sophrology: Friday October 16, 2009 7pm-8pm
Soapmaking 101: Saturday October 17, 2009 9am-12pm
Cream making 101: Saturday October 26, 2009 9am-12pm
30 day detox cleansing: Thursday October 29 7pm

To find out more or reserve your place please call 514 842 3019

Back from Vacation

2009-08-04T12:47:00.003-04:00

Its always good to get away a little bit to recharge your batteries. Thats exactly what we did on the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod last week. Here is a picture of the view from my lounge chair...

Workshops for August

2009-07-16T12:12:00.004-04:00

Here is the schedule for the workshops happening in the month of August

What: How to make creams
When: August 8, 2009
Time: 9am - 12pm
Cost: 60$

What: How to make soaps
When: August 22, 2009
Time: 9am - 12pm
Cost: 60$

Call and register!

Bring your own jug: bulk cleaning products are here!

2009-07-12T13:58:00.004-04:00

You can now purchase in bulk cleaning products at Dans ta bulle!!
BioNature a Boucherville company makes our certified biodegradable (by Éco-Logo) cleaning products.
Bring your container of 1L or 4L or ANY size and fill her up! The more you buy the more you save! There are many kinds; bathroom, floor, window, all purpose, dishsoap, laundry...
Amarille is also making great shower gels and bubble baths in bulk specially for Dans ta bulle
Always looking to expand in ways we can serve you best!!!

Sidewalk sale 11-14 June What a great success!

2009-06-18T21:16:00.004-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came to visit our green tent at the sidewalk sale over the weekend. It was a great success. Cant wait to do it all over again in august!!!

Workshops

2009-06-17T20:59:00.003-04:00

Soapmaking workshops, cream making workshops!
Its all happening at Dans ta bulle.
Call to see if the available dates work with your schedule.

My harimaki obsession

2009-03-30T09:14:00.003-04:00

I just have to talk about my experience with my harimaki belly band. I started using this last week, just to test it out, to see how it is and have something to say when my clients ask me about it. Oh my! I think I have developed a dependence! For those who do not know what a harimaki is, its a belly band made of cotton that you wear around your waist to keep the core of your body nice and warm and toasty. Pregnant mommies can also wear this band to cover up their unbuttoned pants!
So, yesterday, I went to a baptism and I decided to wear a dress (bad choice, it was raining!) and so I had to remove my harimaki because it looked weird underneath the dress; by the time I got home I couldn't take it anymore, my body was cold! The humid weather didn't help of course but I have to say, the moment I put it back on, I felt such a comfort, I don't know how to describe it, except to compare it to some kind of addiction, but the good kind! I cannot live without it now. It feels so good to have the core of your body, where most your organs are located (kidneys, uterus, intestines), kept toasty and warm. And the coolest of all, is when I wear my low rising skinny jeans and bend down, by butt area is covered!

Maternity products have arrived

2009-03-24T09:06:00.001-04:00

We have been noticing lately that there are more and more expecting mommies coming to Dans ta bulle. So with this growing mommies and babies within our clientele, we have started to introduce some new lines to the boutique that can be more interesting for them.
Mayokori with her buckwheat pillows in those pretty cotton pillow cases;
Baby burrito with her amazing slings and blankets;
Harimaki Love with beautiful and useful maternity bands.
Come in and have a look at our new lines.

1-year anniversary

2008-06-05T13:49:00.000-04:00

Dans ta bulle celebrated on Monday one year of existance. I must say that it is quite a milestone. Thank you to all of loyal clients who have made this year possible!
We had a little wine and cheese cocktail with our suppliers and some friends from the media. It was a great success!
A big thank you also to the suppliers who donated all the goodies that were in the kits given out to the journalists.

In your Bubble

2008-04-18T19:26:00.000-04:00

Dans Ta Bulle, which literally means “In Your Bubble,” has been providing a niche market of Montrealers with exceptional beauty products since 2007. Specializing in all natural ingredients and production methods, this boutique is the make-up, hygienic product, cream and soap store with a conscience. In addition to having an all natural mandate, Dans Ta Bulle also makes an effort to showcase products made exclusively by Canadian artists and companies.

Fresh, Clean and Down-To-Earth.

An independent shop, Dans Ta Bulle makes a special effort to seek their products from local Montreal and regional Quebec suppliers. All products are hypoallergenic and are completely chem-free. With no synthetic products allowed in the store, you can be sure they are safe even for a baby’s skin! Offering replenishing mineral make-up, hair care products, lotions, body oils, scrubs, shower gel, bubble bath and deodorant, Dans Ta Bulle is a one-stop organics shop!

Just Be Yourself

Understanding that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colours, and that skin comes in all levels of sensitivity and resilience, Dans Ta Bulle prides itself on offering as many varieties of products for most varieties of natural skin types. On special occasion, such as Christmas, or for an anniversary, the shop offers custom-made baskets that the customer can fill with whatever items they wish. In addition to the baskets, there are gift certificates for any amount.

Everything you need to know about the skin

2008-04-18T15:58:00.003-04:00

The skin is the largest human organ and fulfils many important functions. It protects the body against mechanical, chemical and thermal influences and damage, and also against many germs. It acts as a temperature regulator. It is important for maintaining water metabolism. It is a sensory organ for love, tenderness, pain, pressure and temperature. The skin is also an organ for communication (blushing, paling, stroking hair, etc.) and it is aesthetically very important for the external appearance of a person. It is therefore worthwhile to have a dedicated interest in skin.

The skin is made up of three layers:

Epidermis: protects against external factors
Corium: assures skin-nourishment, immune defense, and sensory perception
Subcutis: contains the fat cells, which store fat and water and are responsible for the skin’s elasticity

How much care does skin need?

Everybody wants a beautiful, soft, and supple skin. Having a healthy, wrinkle-free skin is not only a question of age: harmful environmental factors, UV-rays, unhealthy eating habits, stress, and psychological problems can accelerate the aging of the skin. Both the amount and the kind of care the skin needs largely depend on the skin type. Generally, it can be said that more mature skin requires more attention. From the age of thirty onwards, the first signs of aging skin can be detected. The skin’s fat production decreases, which leads to a loss of moisture. In turn, the skin gets drier and small wrinkles develop. With increasing age, the quality and amount of collagen and elastic fibers decreases: The skin becomes thinner and less elastic, which further adds to the appearance of wrinkles. The biological aging process cannot be stopped, but the right care can slow it down. To achieve this effect the skin should be cared for regularly and with products that are suitable for the respective skin type and its individual requirements.

Four different skin types

Normal skin
has fine pores
is well supplied with blood
is supple
Dry skin
is taut
feels dry
is prone to flakes, irritation and allergic reactions
Oily skin
is shiny; especially the T-zone looks oily
has large pores
sometimes develops spots and blackheads
Combination skin
is dry in the cheek- and hairline-area
is oily in the T-zone area

Dans ta bulle Natural skincare boutique

2008-04-18T15:31:00.000-04:00

Dans ta bulle, natural skincare boutique where all natural and all Canadian products are proposed to the health conscious montrealers passing by. Dans ta bulle is a boutique situated in the Montreal Plateau area.
Its a cosy little boutique were you can find over 20 different labels most of which are small businesses. We want to promote the small hand made products from local artisans, that is the essence of Dans ta bulle.
We also offer some workshops for those who want to learn to make their own products in their kitchens.
Come in and have a look for yourself!