Gold - What is the difference between 18kt, 14kt, 10kt and 24kt?

Silver

Gold

 
The American standard for identifying gold purity is karating.  A karat is a unit of measurement that applies to the purity of gold.  The Abbreviation for karat is kt. Karating is based on 24 units, or parts, which is why 24 karat gold would be considered pure gold.  Meaning that nothing has been mixed or alloyed with it so it is 100% gold.  Alloying is the mixing of one metal with a second metal to produce a third metal.  Since gold is very soft it is often alloyed to give it durability and strength.  Copper is the primary alloy and when added to gold it becomes much harder and more resistant to wear.So 18 Kt gold is 25% alloy and 75% gold, 14 kt is 42% alloy and 58% gold and 10kt is 58% alloy and 42% gold.   Some alloys, such as palladium, are added to gold to change it color to white. (Green and red colors are achieved by adding different combinations of various alloy metals). Over the years, different refiners of gold have used their own combinations of alloys, which have resulted in different colors of gold making one refiners yellow gold slightly different in color to another refiners yellow gold.  In 1989, the Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths of America began working on a gold color standard that helps to produce consistency in the colors used in the jewelry industry.  This was a very important step when it comes to jewelry repair. 
It is amazing to believe that a teaspoon of pure gold is worth more than an average person's wages for one week.  What are the prices for gold today you ask? 

Metal Prices today: $37.70   $1,533.00   $1,786.00

The value of gold or jewelry, as well as any other article, is what someone is willing to pay for it on any given day.  Gold is considered a liquid asset, which means there's always someone willing to pay you very close to the market value at any given time.  The price of gold varies daily due to changing financial conditions in the world.  You may find it interesting to following these prices if you have gold you want to sell or carry stock in gold.

Always remember you won't always getting the market value for gold and you should be careful when selling gold.  Do your homework.

Buying gold jewelry is a little different.  You can still find affordable prices for gold pieces but jewelry prices have gone up just like everything else on the market today because of the economy.  Again do your homework and look for deals or auctions.

Visit us anytime at www.morgans-jewelryboutique.com.  We love jewelry!!

Final Chapter - Ingredient Glossary

Shall we continue..........

Sandalwood Essential Oil:  From the ground roots and woods of a tropical Asian evergreen, this aromatherpeutic oil soothes skin, while elevating the spirit.

Sea Kelp Extract:  From Pacific marine plants, kelp is nutritive to the skin, adding vital minerals to restore vitality.

Shea Butter and Shea Oil:  from the sacred African Shea tree.  Shea is a wonder-working emollient proven to moisturize, rejuvenate, soothe and heal dry, chapped, irritated and inflamed skin.  Also great as a moisturizing hair conditioner and for a lubricious massage.

Sodium lactate:  Neutralized form of lactic acid from milk.  Natural alpha hydroxy acid works to gently exfoliate and enables skin to better absorb moisture.  Softens and moisturizes.

Sodium PCA:  Known as "Natural Moisturizing Factor" this amino acid (protein) derivative encourages lasting moisture retention.

Soy Protein & Wheat Protein:  Strengthens hair shaft;  Hydrates skin, hair and shaft.

Sugar Cane Extract:  A natural alpha hydroxy moisturizer.  Acts as a mild exfoliator, revealing fresh new skin.

Sunflower Oil (certified organic):  Its purest, most natural form, this high oleic oil is shelf stable and ideal for a body and massage oil.

Tea Tree Essential Oil:  From the Australian eucalyptus tree, this aromatic oil has long been used as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal treatment.

Vitamin A Palmitate:  An effective anti-oxidant vitamin to help fight environmental damage, improve skin health, texture and smoothness.

Vitamin C Palmitate: From ascorbic acid, vitamin C is an effective anti-oxidant.

Vitamin D:  Naturally occurs in human cells:  essential for healthy skin and hair.  Moisturizes.

Vitamin E acetate:  antioxidant vitamin works to improve skin health by fighting free radical damage.  Also acts as a natural preservative.

Vitamin E Linoleate:  A long lasting form of Vitamin E; can improve skin resiliency by locking in moisture for up to 16 hours.

Wheat Germ Oil:  A natural, vitamin rich emollient that rejuvenates mature and dry skin.

White Tea Extract:  An ultra-powerful anti-oxidant packed with anti-aging polyphenols.  Its boosts the immune function of skin cells, protects from the damaging effect of the sun and pollutants, and leaves skin free to renew, repair and replenish.

Witch Hazel:  Mild, natural astringent and freshener.

Yiang-Yiang Essential Oil:  Flowers native to the Philippines.  Regulates and balances sebum production.

Now this list is by far a complete list but these are some of the most popular ingredients found in natural and organic skin care products on the market today.  I hope this list will open your eyes to natural ingredients and how they are good for your skin.  Check out our line of natural and organic skin care products today at 20% off.  We think you will like the results and the prices.

Love Naturally.

Part 3 - Ingredient Glossary for Natural and Organic Products

Ok, lets talk about more ingredients.  I hope you are seeing some of the ingredients you may have been wondering about and a bunch more you did know about.  Nature truly is a wonderful thing.

Menthol:  Derived from peppermint; antiseptic, cooling, soothing, and refreshing.

Nettle extract:  From the nettle plant, this botanical is naturally cleansing and stimulating to the hair and scalp.

Neroli Essential Oil:  Extracted from the flavors of the bitter orange tree;  soothes, calms and rejuvenates; wonderful for all skin types.

Nonfat Milk:  Real milk soothes and moisturizes with nourishing proteins.

Oat Betaglucan Extract:  Derived from oats: this extract is an effective moisturizer for dry and mature skin.

Oat Floor:  Absorbs excess oil without stripping; gentle exfoliant; soothes inflammation.

Orange Blossom Essential Oil:  A refreshing, smooth blend of orange, mandarin, lemon, petitgrain, rosemary and neroli natural essential oils that creates a fresh picked fruity-floral aroma to uplift spirits and soothe skin.

Panthenol (Vit B-5):  Easily absorbed by hair shaft to condition, moisturize and add shine.  Also great for soothing skin inflammations and hydrating dry, irritated skin.

Papaya Extract & Papaya Leaf Powders:  An effective gentle exfoliant that gently dissolves dead skin cells to leave a fresh, renewed complexion.  Prepares skin to accept moisturization.

Pecan Oil:  Expeller pressed from Southwestern U.S. pecans; a great lightweight, yet emollient massage and body oil.

Peppermint Natural Essential Oil:  The pure natural aromatic oil cools and refreshes the skin, while boosting and stimulating the spirit.

Pomegranate Extract:  Paced with nature's most potent anti-oxidants, plus amazing calming and toning powers, these crimson seeds defend the skin against the ravages of our harsh environment.

Rose Essential Oil:  Extracted from the rose petals, a traditional, time-tested skin moisturizer, toner and soother.

Rose Geranium Essential Oil:  This highly effective essential oil is both calming and balancing to the skin, and has long been used to rejuvenate dry, depleted and mature skin.

Rosemary Essential Oil:  Aromatic, rejuvenating

Salicylic Acid:  Very effective over long-term use, this beta hydroxy acid works wonders to gently exfoliate and dissolve dead skin cells to reveal fresh, smooth and soft skin.

More in our next article.  See ya soon.  Visit us at www.morgans-boutique.com.

Private Label Skin Care - Start your own skin care line.

Private Label

Do you want to start your own private label skin care products?  Well, we can help.

What Is Private Label Exactly?

Private label simply means that you are purchasing personal care products in "bulk" to use in creating your own line of products to be sold under your own brand name. Morgan's Boutique private label puts you in control: you develop your products following your own retail vision; and you monitor your cost of goods — thereby not only helping you build your brand's image, but also allowing you to gain greater control over your profits!
Developing your retail identity with a unique line of products is easy, with many to choose from. All are produced under the strictest standards of quality and safety and with no animal testing.
As a private label customer, you will buy our products in various sizes. For example, lotions and bath gels are available by the gallon, perfume oils in half-pound bottles, creams and scrubs in two ounce jars, and bars of soaps by the dozen. You will then "pour" the bulk products into retail-size bottles and repackage the individualized units by simply labeling them. Most of our bath, body and hair care products arrive unscented which provides you the opportunity to offer your customers custom scenting!

Unique Merchandising for Your Signature Brand

Here are just a few, original merchandising ideas that have made our customers long term success stories.

• Open a bath and body care boutique featuring the concept of custom scenting and fragrance blending. You'll provide your customers with personalized service unavailable anywhere else.
• Introduce a simple fragrance blending bar or body care counter within your store or spa where you offer both pre-scented and customized products.
• Purchase our exceptional spa and massage formulations to use during treatments, and to develop your spa or salon's signature line of retail products.
• Develop a line of your own products to distribute to hotels, spas or gift stores, to sell on your website, or for your gift basket business.

Morgan's Boutique Offers You These Important Business Opportunities:

• Freedom to set your own prices and control your profits;
• All the tools you'll need to express your entrepreneurial spirit and creativity with eye-catching merchandising displays and popular gift sets;
• Ability to custom scent products, blend perfumes and refill bottles to create a fun and personal shopping experience in your store;
• Chance to be part of the expanding natural body care industry and promote a more healthful, environmentally conscious style of personal care.

We can provide you with packaging and help with labeling if needed or you can choose your own packaging.
Contact us today and we will send you information on the products available for private label and what you need to get started.

Part 2 - Ingredient Glossary for Natural and Organic Products

Today we will talk about more ingredients that are often found in natural and organic skin care products.  See Part 1 from last week. 

Camomile Essential Oil (German) & Extract: From camomile flowers and containing azulene (see Azulene), this is a natural skin healer, calmer, and anti-inflammatory agent.  Also used to brighten highlights in hair and soothe scalp.

Cocoa Butter:  A rich emollient from the bean of the cocoa plan.  Forms an effective moisture barrier to protect an soften dry, chapped and calloused skin.  Also traditionally used as a massage balm to guard against stretch marks

Coconut Oil:  From coconut kernels, this emollient protects skin from dryness; locks in moisture to keep skin hydrated.

Collagen:  A protein derived from plants or found in connective tissue.  Collagen is a highly effective skin moisturizer, working to hold water into the skin and therefore preventing dryness and increasing elasticity and suppleness.  Repairs damaged hair by building strength to hair shaft.

Colloidal Oatmeal:  A smooth, very fine oatmeal that is proven to soothe chapped, irritated and itchy skin.

Comfrey Extract:  From the roots of the comfrey plant and containing allantoin, the active ingredient that is naturally soothing, healing and anti-bacterial.

Cornflower extract:  This french meadow blossom is traditionally used to calm and beautify skin.

Cypress Essential Oil:  An excellent aromatherapeutic skin toner.

Dead Sea Salts:  These legendary mineral-rich salts from the Dead Sea work wonders to purify, tone and hydrate skin, calm inflammation and soothe tired muscles.

Elder Flower Extract:  A hardworking skin moisturizer from the elder tree.

Eucalyptus Oil:  Extracted from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree, this oil is cooling, uplifting, and antiseptic.

Evening Primrose Oil:  a fountain of youth moisturizer, containing gamma-linoleic acid, rejuvenates and renews skin.

Geranium Essential Oil:  Cleanses skin, tones, calms inflammations and offers a balancing aromatherapeutic effect.

Ginseng Extract:  From the ancient Asian root; a natural skin revitalizer and toner.

Glycerin:  Derived from vegetable fatty acids; an excellent humectant that attracts moisture into the skin to soften, condition, hydrate and moisturize.

Glycolic Acid:  A very effective alpha hydroxy moisturizer from sugar cane extract.  Acts to dissolve and gently exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving a renewed smoothness, glowing complexion and fresh tone.

Grapefruit Seed Extract:  A natural preservative that works most effectively in conjunction with other preservatives.

Green Tea Extract:  Green tea, containing poly phenols, highly effective anti-oxidants that naturally slow skin's aging process and fight harmful environmental effects on the skin; is also proven to reduce inflammation and soothe skin.

Honey:  From the nectar of flowers;  this vitamin-rich nourisher is an excellent humectant to hydrate skin.

Hybrid Safflower Oil:  From the seeds of the safflower plant, this high-oleic oil is emollient-rich, holds essential moisture into skin, and is exceptionally shelf stable.

Hydrolyzed Elastin:  Protein found in connective tissue (see Collegen).

Hydrolyzed Keratin:  This human hair protein found is substantive and strengthening to the hair shaft.

Jojoba Oil:  From the bean of a desert shrub, this oil closely resembles the skin's natural moisturizers, therby making it especially effective.  Excellent lubricant for the skin and hair.

Lavender Essential Oil:  Beautiful, aromatic and effective, this amazing botanical offers not only a lovely fresh, floral scent, but is also therapeutic as it both clams and uplifts the spirit, while soothing and balancing the skin.

Linden Blossom:  A traditional French elixir.  Gently tones and soothes.  Extracted from the leaves of the Linden tree.

Check out our next article for part 3 in this series.  More natural and organic ingredients to come.

May Discount

We will be offering a 20% discount to all our customers this month on our new line of natural and organic skin care products, Naturally Essential.

Natural and organic products have grown in popularity over the last few years.  To meet the health and body care needs of customers who are looking for these alternative products, we now offers you a perfect selection of natural and organic bath, body and fragrance items that embrace the spirit of a pampering Sonoma spa experience.

 

Our Organic selections are infused with the sun-kissed flowers, fruits, grains and rich oils of this fertile region. Their natural recipes capture time-tested beauty rituals. By using Certified Organic ingredients including aloe, sunflower oil, plus extracts distilled at a Sonoma family farm, we have created products that nourish the body, while offering a sustainable, safe-haven to the environment and those who tend the fields.

You can be sure that these formulas maintain our highest standards of safety and efficacy, include FDA approved ingredients, are not tested on animals and are biodegradable.

Lets Talk Ingredients

In the next few articles I will go over some of the ingredients and their positive attributes in natural and organic skin care products.

Almond Meal: Ground almonds provide an excellent natural exfoliant.

Almond Oil:  Expeller pressed from California almonds, this wonderful emollient softens and smoothes skin.

Aloe Vera Gel:  From the Southwest desert plant, this gel is revered for its skin healing, soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Angelica Extract: Calms and revitalizes dry, dull and mature skin.

Apricot Kernel Oil:  From crushed apricot seeds, this rich emollient helps skin retain moisture, while smoothing.

Arnica Extract:  Soothes and calms inflammation

Avacado Oil:  One of the richest natural oils; an excellent moisturizer.

Azulene:  Derived from camomile flowers: a wondrous skin smoother and detoxifer.

Balm Mint Extract:  From the leaves of the balm mint: works to soothe skin and scalp.

Bee Pollen:  Contains essential minerals to rejuvenate skin.

Beta Carotene:  Derived from living plants and vegetables, this anti-oxidant works to counteract harmful environmental effects on the skin.

Black Pepper Essential Oil:  Warms and soothes sore muscles.

Bulgarian Rose Otto Essential Oil and Organic Bulgarian Rosewater:  Extracted from rose petals, this beautifully fragrant, traditional, aroma-therapeutic ingredient calms, moisturizes and renews sensitive, dry and mature skin.

Calendula Extract:  From the calendula flower, long revered in Europe for its anti-inflammatory: soothing and healing ability.