Sweet Mamas Soaps & More is back for its second appearance at the NorthWest Crossing Farmers Market. The company was founded in 2013 by Kim Tatum. She named her company after her goats, from whose milk she creates her products. Each morning when she would go out to milk them, Kim would call out “Hi, my sweet mamas!” and the name was born.
Sweet Mama’s products stand out because it is made from fresh goat milk from the Tatum’s farm just east of Bend, but it also contains raw shea butter and clays. Raw shea butter is well known as an excellent moisturizer. They add clay to the soap for color, to boost cleansing properties, to add “slip” when used to shave with a razor to eliminate shaving rash (no shaving cream needed), and to add a creamy quality to the lather. The company currently offers two soaps with activated charcoal which makes a great face soap for people with acne-prone skin.
In addition to soap, Sweet Mama’s also makes a great lotion using their goat milk, aloe vera juice, and raw shea butter along with oils that soaks in and soothes dry, chapped skin. Last year, they added lotion bars for people wanting a more intensive lotion that takes a little longer to soak in. They call it a “heel saver” because it will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, cracked heels when applied at bedtime and allowed to soak in overnight.
But that’s not all! Sweet Mama’s push-up, twist tubes of Body Balm are made using herbal infused olive oil, raw shea butter, beeswax, and essential oils – a great concoction to apply on cracked skin, callouses, minor wounds, and rashes. Kim said, “My husband has used it for the past couple of years in place of a prescription steroid cream on his psoriasis.” Also in a tube is the company’s Arnica Balm, made from arnica infused olive oil along with most of the same herbs as the Body Balm and essential oils that are great to apply on sore muscles and joints. This product is great for sore muscles, plantar fasciitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Last, but not least, Sweet Mama’s makes sell lip balm in mango, mint, orange, and pomegranate; and 3 tinted colors: light pink, pink, and copper.
Kim said, “I research different ingredients (oils, butters, herbs, and essential oils), their reputed health benefits and their cost and formulate recipes based on what I learn. At the Farmers Market, I enjoy meeting people who come to our booth and discussing their skincare issues so I can learn how to better meet their needs. For example, one summer I had a couple people come by my booth who had peanut allergies in their family. We were concerned about the sweet almond oil in my soaps and lotion and whether it would cause an allergic reaction. In response I decided the sweet almond oil really wasn’t necessary in my soaps, but I do like it in the lotion as it is a light oil (compared to olive oil which is heavier). So, I have replaced olive oil for the sweet almond oil in my soaps, but not the lotion. It is this input from customers at festivals and markets that encourages me to continue learning and questioning why I use the ingredients I do. I am frequently reminded of a saying I heard as a child, ‘The more you know, the more you learn you don’t know.’”
Kim has a passion for researching and making skin products that use simple, natural ingredient that yield great benefits at a price that is affordable. She says, “While there is no way to make good, natural skincare for the same bargain prices large grocery and chain stores can sell chemically-filled skincare products, I do believe it is possible to make good natural skincare that is affordable for someone who chooses to use natural versus chemical skincare.”
Come down and visit us any Saturday through September 17 from 10am – 2pm.
