"VODKA*STAR" made with real vodka, by Curat!

VODKA*STAR is the new men's line by Curat. Made with VODKA, it's a very unique experience. Huge sized bar, that gives a great stable lather, it is also fragranced.

'PEARWOOD' is a  customized sent made on site, very cooling and features the scents of crisp pear, cedar wood, vertiver, bergamot and oak moss.

Melissa Gladney for Curat!

Our newest model, Melissa G. is showcasing "LAVENDER OVAZ". We will feature Melissa in upcoming campaigns for Curat "ORIGINAL 27" and "STILETTO".

Photog: Matt Bowen

Handmade Soap Is Great For Everyday Use!!!!

By Essential Depot

Handmade soap everyday for everything: Would you believe if someone told you that people used hand crafted soap as a barter to buy things at stores during the great depression? Would you believe that this type of soap was so valued among the ancients that soapmaking was an important traditional work assigned to women? Would you believe if we tell you that daily use of hand crafted soap means your skin is healthy, glowing and simply remarkable? Yes, all these are true.

1.General skincare: Using hand crafted soap is like pampering your skin daily. Skin is one of the most ignored of the body parts. We expose it all day to heat, light and dust and yet, never take adequate care to maintain it. The least that our skin gets is a daily bath or shower. That too happens in a sloppy and hurried way. Hand crafted soap makes your skin fresh and young. Regular use of hand crafted soap cures psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions like dry skin, itchy skin, bug bites, athlete’s foot etc.
2. Acne cure: Apart from other skincare treatments, hand crafted soap is a great acne cure. Many dermatologists and doctors recommend it for acne reduction. The soap is said to cleanse the pores and keep the skin moisturized for the whole day. For acne, wash your face for about three times a day (or as recommended by your doctor), you will see improvement in months. But ensure that you use hand crafted soap without chemicals, preservatives or additives. Unscented, mild soap is better.
3. Sunburns: Hand crafted soaps can relieve you of sunburns in minutes. Place generous amounts of lather on your sunburn and leave it overnight. The sunburn may disappear if you keep doing this everyday. Experts opine that hand crafted soap absorbs heat better than commercial soaps.

4. Bug bite relief: Hand crafted soap offers relief from mosquito, chigger and other bug bites immediately. Like in the case of sunburns, you can use your  soap as an insect repellent.

5. Poison Ivy and Poison Oak cure: There is nothing which offers instant cure to poison ivy and poison oak like hand crafted soap. Apply the soap immediately on the suspected area of contact and rinse thoroughly. Keep applying as many times or at least 5 times a day in that area. After rinsing place soap lather on the rash and leave it till the next wash. Your poison ivy or oak syndrome will disappear soon. You can use hand crafted soap to even wash your infected clothes/other fabrics.

6. Insect repellent: Keep mosquitoes at bay by placing some hand crafted soap lather on bare skin. A bar of soap placed under the sink helps keep ants away.

Do You Need "LYE" To Have Soap? YES!

"Properly made handmade soap has no lye left in it but cannot be made without it. Our ancestors made up a weak lye solution from wood ash to produce their handmade soap." - a soapcrafter


This statement is true. Many people think that lye is a horrible "chemical" that is best to avoid in soap. But let me ask you this....does your soap lather? If yes, then it is made with lye. It is impossible for it not to be.


There are no lye soaps on the market, but they are made with harsh detergents.
But natural soap (void of these manufactured detergents) is great to use everyday and can be very moisturizing.


The most common practice of soap-making is 'cold process'. With this method, the lye(sodium hydroxide) and fats are mixed then set in molds to cure. The curing process can take up to 3 weeks. After this time the soap is safe to use. This is great to make lots of batches in a small amount of time. Also many crafters use this method to take advantage of the artistic capabilities it offers. The visual effects that are possible are endless. You can swirl, use a vast array of colors and the soaps can be molded in many shapes that are not possible with 'hot-processed' soaps. But the crafter must be attentive to the curing process. The lye and fats come together(saponify) to create soap, so this process must finish before exposing to skin.


I have used the 'cold-process' method many times. And it produces a great bar of soap. I prefer the 'hot-process' because after my soap has cooked, I know it is ready for use by the next day. The saponification has finished and it is safe to use.

Another soaping method is "melt & pour". This is commercial soap offered in large blocks that can be melted down to add herbs, scents and colors. Many hobbyists use this method to produce personalized soaps. But they are not handmade.

The next time you purchase your soaps, ask which process your crafter uses. If they are proud their products they will be more than happy to tell you. If not, you may want to think about what you are purchasing.

Shoe Fetish & Fashion @ Indy Fringe

Curat will be out to celebrate our new line, "STILETTO"! You can receive 20% off all Curat soaps Thursday at Indy Fringe. Make sure you are receiving the promo code by joining the Official Curat Newletter & E-mail list! Send your email address to misty@curatclean.com to get your promo code!

Shoe Fetish & Fashion @ Indy Fringe Downtown is sponsored by JC Cognac!!! Indulge yourself within the shopping networking mixer, where you can take pleasure in a complimentary experience of JC Cognac, wiggle your toes, and enjoy the showcase of fashionable finds locate...d in the heart of Indy. Oh! Have you heard…”Sweet Revenge” is sponsoring a fetish gift basket for the savviest shoe slayer! So, if you come looking shabby, you better make sure your looking Shabby-Chic!!!! 6pm-7pm JC Cognac Hour of Networking with DJ Gabby Love 7pm-8pm Debut of Signature Shoes & Nikki Blaine Couture Handbags along with showcasing other merchandise from the vendors 8pm-9pm Shop and network until you drop…But, save some of your energy for the No Coast Art Series Show and Tru on Saturday, May 29, 2010!!!

******ONLINE SOLD-OUT LIST UPDATE******

CHERRY BOMB AVAIL 5/16, LEMON ZEST AVAIL 5/22, ORANGE PEEL AVAIL 5/22
SPICE No.1 AVAIL 5/22. SPICE No.2 AVAIL 5/22, SANDALWOOD & BLACK PEPPER
AVAIL 5/22