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Chelmsford Herbal Soap Company
Rebecca Lucich
By Melissa Miller
Rebecca Lucich, owner of
Chelmsford Herbal Soap Company, began
making soap with her grandmother. By the time she was seven
she had created her own beeswax cream, and as a teenager she
sold her handmade products to her mother’s beauty salon
customers.
In 1990 she started experimenting with shea butter
products and made soap, body creams and lotions in the
evenings and weekends during off-time from her day job. Her
products were soon in great demand so she left her job in 1996
and went into business for herself.
Her labor produced Chelmsford’s magnificent, all-natural Shea Butter Body
Cream ($7.95 for 4oz). This is, without a doubt, one of
the most moisturizing body treatments available and has
banished my perpetually dry skin and eczema.
It contains 30% shea butter, sunflower and soy oils, and vitamins A and E. It
can be custom-scented in many fragrances, with Chelmford’s
grapefruit scent being my favorite. This scent is so beautiful
and intoxicating that every time I apply it someone asks me
what fragrance I’m wearing.
Yes, it’s that good. The mix is
blended with five different grapefruit essential oils imported
from around the world. Shea Butter Body Lotion ($9.95
for 8oz) is a lighter version of the cream. I love this one
in Linden, a clean and fresh aroma with a hint of honey.
Another bestseller is the Sea Salt Body Scrub ($18 for
24oz), a wonderfully refreshing, aromatic mix of
moisturizing oils and sea salt. This reminds me of Origins Sea
Salt Scrub but is much less scratchy and less expensive.
Sugar Scrub ($18 for 24oz), another staple in my shower,
contains ten fragrant essential oils and is a gentle, soothing exfoliator. I’d never been a fan of floral scented products
until I encountered Essential Comfort Cream ($9.95 for
8 oz.), a silky blend of coconut and sunflower oils with
essential oils of Egyptian geranium, lavender and rose
geranium.
I’ve been layering this with floral perfumes and
it’s a perfect match every time. Lucich named it Essential
Comfort Cream because the word “comfort” came to people’s
minds when they encountered the exotic and soothing aroma.
Also popular is Chelmsford’s luxurious and silky Body Oil
($8 for 4 oz.), a blend of vitamin E, soy and fractionated
coconut oils, which may be custom scented and layered with the Shea Butter Lotion or Cream. Try this one in Rosemary-Mint and
your skin will sing.
A Chelmsford specialty is their scented, natural Herbal
Soaps ($2 for 2oz. bar, $3.95 for 4oz. bar) made with
olive, coconut, palm and castor oils. I’ve always used shower
gels until I tried these creamy moisturizing bar soaps and now
I’m hooked. Popular soaps are Lemon Mist, Bay Rum, Shea
Butter, Mint Refresher and Patchouli Passion.
The company makes soaps for specific skin care needs, such as
eczema, psoriasis and sensitive skin. Chelmsford was recently
commissioned by a large pharmaceutical company to create an
all-natural prescription soap. Rebecca feels that it is a
positive step for pharmaceutical companies and doctors to look
to natural products for treating skin problems.
Chelmsford also offers Wonder Balm (a natural healing
salve), Bath Tub Teas, Shea Butter Lip Balm in
Vanilla or Chamomile, Glycerin Soap
in a variety of scents, baby products,
facial skin care products and gift baskets.
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