FAQs
| Question | Answer |
Do you have a store front? Can I buy in person? |
We do not currently have our own brick and mortar establishment (yet), but you can shop our products in person all year long at the Painted Tree Boutiques in San Antonio. We located in booth W7, right at the end of the Cedar Cove aisle. We're open 7 days a week from 10am - 8pm! The Painted Tree Boutiques 522 NW Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78216 We do ship across the world, and also hand deliver to several areas in Texas! Check our home page for more information and see if your area and order qualify! |
What are the payment options? |
We currently accept all major credit and debit cards. We also accept Diners Club, Shop Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, Meta Pay, and Google Pay as well. If you are having issues with payment processing, please let us know ASAP! We also offer invoicing options for unique situations. |
What is "cold process" soap? |
Cold process soap is made by combining oils and sodium hydroxide lye, which causes a chemical reaction called saponification. All of our bars are made cold processed. Cold process soap is believed to be the best kind of soap for your skin and the planet. No alternative seems to offer the level of control and benefits that cold process soap does. It has been a household staple for literally centuries. |
Do you test on animals? |
No, we never have and never would test our products on animals! We've always tested them on ourselves, friends, family, and other enthusiastic volunteers who were excited about trying out new and upcoming products. |
Will your products treat my condition? |
We like to educate and describe some of the known benefits and properties of our ingredients. I mean why wouldn't we? But no claims are made on product capabilities. Product capabilities have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore we cannot say these products are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, illness, or condition. We always encourage you to read more about the ingredients these products contain to make well informed decisions regarding your skincare. All ingredients are listed on their product page and product label for this purpose. |
What if I have allergies or sensitive skin? |
If you have any allergies, please read our ingredient list thoroughly. Some products DO feature ingredients such as milk, nut/seed, or essential oils. If you have any uncertainty, please feel free to contact us for clarification. If you experience any irritation, discontinue use right away and let us know! We do sell unscented or uncolored products that can be used by most people with sensitive skin. If you need help finding what's Bruja product is best for you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at any time. We also offer customization on most of our products. All you have to do is contact us with what you're looking for, and together we'll do our best to make you what you need. |
What's the best way for someone with sensitive skin to try your fragranced products? |
We use only the highest quality fragrances from reputable sources, but you'll have to be the judge on what is best for you. However - as we state clearly on this page: We are not physicians and do not claim that our products are made to diagnose any medical condition. As with any new product, from any supplier, please test a small area of the skin before full use. |
How long does a bar of your soap typically last? |
Most of our customers say a bar of our soap lasts them between 3-4 weeks. This is based on normal daily use. If you're lathering up six different times because you're enjoying the scent and experience, obviously a bar isn't going to last that long! As the saying goes - your mileage may vary. Our soap bars usually stay 'good' for years. In fact, the older a soap gets, the longer it will last when you finally combine it with water in your shower. However, time does affect the intensity of a soap's fragrance. For best fragrance, we recommend that you enjoy your soaps within six months of purchase. Remember that we don't use any preservatives in our soap bars, so protect them from humidity and extremes of heat and cold. We now offer several affordable bath & body tools that can help with this! |
What can I do to make my soap last longer? |
Let your soap dry out between uses, by putting your soap on some kind of a soap dish that allows air to circulate around the bar. A 'proper' soap dish will either raise the bar up for air to circulate from beneath, or contain air holes for drainage of water below the soap. If you store your soap in the little alcove built into most shower stalls and tub surrounds, the shower spray will continually soak your soap. You will literally see your soap's glycerin, and your money, go down the drain. You can also use a sisal bag or netted sponge to further extend the soap's lather. Our hand crafted soap bars will last longer if you take care of them! We now offer several affordable bath & body tools that can help with this! |
Why is lye used in handmade soap? |
Lye isn't nearly as scary as it sounds. Lye is a sodium derived from salt used as a binding agent in skincare products and food. Lye is used to make EVERY single handmade soap bar you buy and use. The good news? The lye has completely evaporated by the time soap has cured and is ready to be sold! While caustic in its active raw state, it's the only way to produce the chemical reaction that turns those moisturizing oils into soap. And if you ever hear or see someone say that they made soap without lye, you can confidently say you know they're lying. And just for good measure, the reason handmade soap businesses tell you that store bought soap is not good for you is because they are all actually considered detergent, not real soap. Recently we have been made aware of a certain soap company that is selling their soap within 24-72 hours after cutting. Please buy at your own risk. GOOD handmade cold process soap must cure for a minimum of 4-6 weeks to be used safely and effectively. The 4-6 weeks of curing allows for the lye and water to evaporate from the bar. Using a soap bar before it has fully cured may result in skin irritations and likely a bar of soap that won't last for very long at all. |
Why is handmade soap better than store bought? |
Store bought soaps contain detergents and are technically not classified as soap at all! True soap is simply an emulsification of oils and salt. Store bought soap tends to be extremely drying and irritating to the skin. Reason being, the glycerin naturally occurring in soap is a profitable by-product. Instead of keeping the natural moisturizing qualities in the soap, these companies choose to sell its glycerin and leave the bar of soap with very little moisturizing properties. We think it's best to leave soap in its naturally occurring, ultra moisturizing state. As nature intended. |
What is the difference between essential oil and fragrance oil? |
Essential oils are purely extracted from their source and have therapeutic effects. Fragrance oils are synthetically created for the purpose of scent, but are safe for use on skin. If you find your skin easily irritated by fragrance; essential oil might be a great alternative for you! But it may also irritate you as well. Some folks are just better off with unscented products. That's why we carry it all! Our products formulated with essential oils are suitable for most sensitive skin, though you should always consult with your doctor if you’re unsure! Our fragrance oils are always used by IFRA (International Fragrance Association) standards which are set by RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials). They dictate the appropriate usage rates, and we tend to stay below those rates to be on the safe side. |
What if my soap has imperfections? |
Handcrafted soap is processed and cut by hand; thus no two bars are exactly alike. Temperature can make color appear slightly different from batch to batch, while design may also vary. Small pockets of air may form from a thick batter being poured. It does not affect the quality of the soap in the least! You may also witness “soda ash” which is a harmless powder-like substance that forms on top, when new soap meets air or has a rapid drop in temperature within its first 24 hours of curing. This will completely disappear during the soap’s first use. |
How long can I keep a bath bomb before using? |
Keep and store your bath bombs in their original shrink wrap packaging, or an airtight container/Ziploc type bag, in a cool dark place. This helps to protect the bath bomb from moisture and keeps it from drying out or losing it's scent. We always recommend using our products sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the less fragrant and fizzy the product will be unless it is stored well. |
Can you cut bath bombs to use more than once? |
You can try this, but from our experience they may break and crumble. The pieces will then dissolve faster than a whole bath bomb. Our bath bombs are designed for single use. To get the full benefits we do recommend using the entire bomb in your bath. If you choose to take it out of the water half way through and keep it for later it might still fizz the next time you use it, but it won't be as effective. |
Are the ingredients safe to go down the drain? |
YES! All of our bath and body products are bio/eco-degradable and made with only top quality ingredients, bought only from reputable suppliers, that are good for you and our planet. Barring any allergies of course! |
Do bath bombs irritate your skin? |
Our bath bombs should not irritate your skin, but they should not be used with broken or irritated skin. It is important to note that reactions to fragrance oils and essential oils are possible, so please make sure you know what works best for your skin or consult your provider if you are unsure. If you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to contact us! |
Do your bath bombs stain the tub? |
We always recommend making sure that your bath tub is clean before using a bath bomb from any company. Baking soda itself does not leave a residue and is commonly used in cleaning. To make them more fun we've added colors, fragrances and organic plant oils that hydrate the skin wonderfully, but can also cause the colorants to cling to any soap or scum built up on the tub wall. Colors can build up overtime with each use, so it is best to rinse each time you use any bath bomb to make sure this never happens to you. To date we have NEVER had a customer complain that any of our bath bombs stained their tub. |
Final Disclaimers |
This notice is required by the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always consult your doctor if you are pregnant, lactating or have other health conditions before applying these products. Keep out of eyes & mucous membranes. All of our products should be used with the same care and caution as any other bath or household product that you use. Bruja Botanicals LLC assumes no liability for claims arising from the misuse of our products. |