Health Benefits of Salt & Mud | The Healthy Beauty Project -by Todra Payne

Just a month ago, while working on an article about sea-based beauty products, one of our writers stumbled upon Ojavan, a new, wonderfully healthy skin care line based on salts and mud from the The Great Salt Lake. We were intrigued. We sought out Larry Hansen, the brand’s founder, to ask him some questions about his inspiration for Ojavan.

HBP: How long has your company been in existence?

[Larry Hansen] Our company is 13 months old, May 2010. The concept was born in December of 2009. We did a ”fast tract” approach because the research showed a need that exists for our products.

HBP: Do you have a background in the beauty/personal care industry?

[Larry Hansen] I do not. My experience is in Marketing and Advertising. That stated, It made it much easier to launch the product in short amount of time. I could see that being a part of this industry, was going to be fun and good.

HBP: How did you come up with the idea to start a beauty line from mud and salt?

[Larry Hansen] It all started with an article I read in CNN Money Magazine. The article was called “Money from Mud”. It talked about a company from Israel that was producing mud masks and salt products for skin care. My first thought was, I wonder if anyone is doing that from America’s Dead Sea, The Great Salt Lake. With research I could see the potential and found out how Mother Nature had already put into place all of the natural ingredients to help the skin. All I need to do was assemble the products, and market them. because they are so good they sell themselves once they have been tried.

HBP: What minerals are present in your products and what are their benefits?

[Larry Hansen] There are over 70 trace minerals and elements found in our Mineral Mud and Aromatherapy Bath Salts. It’s interesting to me that the human body has all of these minerals in the same varying degrees as the Great Salt Lakes natural waters. The main difference is that the Great Salt Lake is much more concentrated. We need these minerals to maintain proper skin health. I will supply a sheet that lists the minerals and gives you more information. Ojaván Npató Mineral Mud -2

HBP: Your site says after using your mud mask for an extended time, no moisturizer will be needed for the skin. What’s happening from the mud to make this a reality?

[Larry Hansen] What the site says is that you will use less moisturizer. Because the mud cleans the pours completely of toxins and the oils that can clog them, the skin has the ability to attract more moisture from the air. This allows you to use less moisturizer because the skin collects it the correct way, naturally.

HBP: I read on your site that you add Crystals and essential oils to your salts for more than scent, but for a metaphysical experience and to make the EOs work better. Would you elaborate on that?

[Larry Hansen]  Wow, This is really the fun part of Ojavan. Each Crystal in our beautiful earth has a specific frequency that it vibrates at. Through studies, scientists have found that the different frequencies have effects on the human bodies. What we have done at Ojavan is simple. The EO and the Crystal have been matched to accentuate the Holistic and Metaphysical properties of both to help you have the type of experience that you are looking for..I.E. Relaxation, Creativity, Stress Release,etc. I will enclose additional information on each product and what the two items do for each other.

HBP: Your ingredients list for your salts & muds are incredibly simple – just the basics. How are they kept from mold and bacteria without outside preservatives? Is it because there isn’t any added water?

[Larry Hansen] Because our ingredients are all natural and have existed in the world for millions of years, there is no need for a man made preservative. The only thing that can change the consistency to our mud is air. It simply will evaporate the water, and the mud becomes hard, if you re-hydrate the mud with our mineral water it is perfect to continue to use. The Aroma Therapy Bath Salts have no water and would last forever, however because they are scented with pure essential oils which can spoil over time and with heat they should be used within a year from opening. My real question would be, Why in the world would a women buy a great product and not use it? That’s how products go bad, because they get put on a shelf and never get used. The sizes we have are perfect to be used within one to two months, while having amazing results for your skin.

HBP: What is the shelf life of your products?

[Larry Hansen] The shelf life for our products is one year when stored properly, cool, dry and out of the sun.

HBP: Your products are hand harvested, correct? How does that make a difference? Does that slow down the manufacturing process?

[Larry Hansen] That is correct, The big difference is this, No large machines tearing the earth up. We are careful how and where the mud is harvested. The protective top layer of Salt is removed and then we are able to remove the mud for use. So far it has not slowed the process. Because we don’t plan on being a “Wal-Mart” type product we don’t feel that the hand harvesting will be a problem.. I guess if we need more hands we will get them.
HBP: Do you see your brand in stores in the future? If so, will that affect how you harvest and your preservative system?

[Larry Hansen] We have Ojavan Products in a number of small retail outlets now. I’m sure that will grow, however, We will only grow at a natural rate and make sure none of our product quality suffers. We do have a lot of mud. The Great Salt lake is the 37th largest lake on the planet. it is the largest salt water lake in the Western hemisphere.

HBP: Your line doesn’t have 15 or 20 products like a lot of lines. In fact, I think I counted just 7 (correct me, if I’m wrong here). Do you plan on adding more?

[Larry Hansen] We never say never. At this time we feel we have an outstanding line of great natural healthy skin care products, and to be an Ojavan Product there has to be certain requirements. 1, will it really help the skin, 2, Is it all natural and Organic. 3, Is there truly a need for it. Then the answer is YES we will have more products.

HBP: How can readers buy your products?

[Larry Hansen] They are available through our website at www.ojavanproducts.com. Spas, Salons, retail, and home distributors.

HBP: Thank you so much for your time! I appreciate it. I can’t wait to try the products.

[Larry Hansen] Thank you, I hope to be able to meet you one day. It would be my honor. I look forward to hearing what you think after you have tried them as well.

We received products to try after interviewing Larry Hansen. The Facial Cleanser & Makeup Remover and their Mineral Mud Face & Body Mask were our favorites. This is not a paid endorsement.