A Colorful Bath

The power of color can be wonderful–colors can evoke emotional, behavioral and physical responses. Take a “color bath.” This relaxing method allows you to bathe your body in the energy wavelength of a chosen color and create a therapeutic bath according to Blissful Bathtime: Therapies for Rejuvenating Mind and Body (Storey Publishing, 2002) by Margo Valentine Lazzara. When you work with color, your body becomes sensitive to it and grows more open to meditation and healing.

Lazzara recommends using natural, vegetable-based food coloring in your bathwater. (You can purchase these at Health Food Stores.) Several drops added to the bath won’t affect your skin and will tint the water a gentle hue. You can use colored salt or baking soda to make an easily dispersed color bath salt. Perhaps you'd enjoy a color bath combined with some favourite water proof stones and perhaps some herbs or scented oils.

Each color has its own particular attribute. Add Rose and aqua colored baths if you want to relieve tension. Purple and dark blue should only be used for a short time --ten to twenty minutes at most, as they can be depressing if overused. Orange is very invigorating and deep clear greens are very restful. You can add flower petals to the bath. Be careful that the bath water is not too hot as this can destroy the properties of the flowers like roses. A handful of fresh flowers provides you with a color energy bath. Let the blossoms float around on the surface of the water so they can visually stimulate you.
The author also notes that candles are many people’s favorite bath accessory. They are soothing and beautiful, and the flickering candlelight can bring a sense of peace and serenity to the room. Choose candles in colors that promote the mood you desire.
This makes me want to go out to my garden, gather lots of blossoms and jump into the tub for a relaxing soak! Have any of you tried a "color bath"? What color or colors did you use?

Scrubs--Who Doesn't Love 'Em

Normal skin cells shed every 28 days through the natural process of exfoliation. Use gentle scrubs when you have rough spots or dry, flaky patches. Chunky salt scrubs buff away dirt and dead skin cells. Sugar scrubs provide a gentle scrubbing action.
If you have sensitive skin, use a washcloth or just your hands. If your skin gets callused or tough consider using a stronger skin slougher.

Gentle: Shower puffs, made of vinyl or plastic aerate a body wash to produce lots of foam fast. They give the body a light rubdown. To preserve yours, rinse it and wring it out after each use and hang it in a dry place. Discard it after six weeks of use.

Medium: Natural sponges are marine invertibrates; they tend to be less abrasive than polyester sponges.

Rough: Loofahs are best for sloughing off callused or dry, flaky areas. Natural loofahs are made of the fibers of the washrag gourd; synthetic ones can be plastic or vinyl. To sanitize, run loofahs through the dishwasher.

Tip: To prevent bacterial growth, zap your body sponge in the microwave for two minutes each week. Discard it after six weeks.

I've been playing around with some fabulous butters to create scrubs. Coffee butter (smells like a fresh cup),lime butter (good enough to eat!) and lavender butter (more of a subtle lavender smell). I'll keep you posted when they are perfected and for sale.

Why Should You Use Our Handmade Products?

Our handmade products are created with care and only the finest ingredients. We don't do animal testing (just family and friends). Our products are made fresh. We are always adding new products to our line. I've spotlighted just a few of the wonderful ingredients that we use:

Shea Butter: This is for use on all skin types to moisturize severely dry skin. It has a high content of vitamins A,E&F that helps heal and soothe irritated, itchy and broken skin. Shea butter is doctor recommended for eczema, dermatitis, rashes and psoriases. The amount of time required for optimum results varies with each condition.

Mango Butter: This is a soft solid with a very slight sweet scent and an excellent emollient. It has a protective effect against UV radiation (as does shea butter). Mango Butter has been shown to improve dry skin, rashes and peeling after tanning.

Goat Milk: Goat Milk is an extraordinarily gently and tender even to the driest of skin. It is renowned for its richness in proteins, vitamins and minerals. It contains caprylic acid which is said to help prevent bacterial invasions of the skin. The alph-hydroxy acids found in milk have rejuvenation and softening properties. Goat Milk contains over 50 nutrients including vitamins A,C,B1,B6,B12 and E.

Dead Sea Mud: Our Dead Sea Mineral Mud is as authentic as you can get, extracted from shores of the Dead Sea and imported directly from Jordan. Dead Sea Mud is World renowned as a source of non-soluble clays, carbonates, sulfides, and organic compounds. It is also extremely rich in magnesium, potassium and calcium. Spas have been using it for years to combat bruising, joint inflammation, sore muscles and to extract toxins and poisons.

Sweet Almond Oil: This oil is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. It is very nourishing for dry or inflamed skin conditions. it is an excellent emollient known for its penetrating, moisturizing and restructuring properties.

Kaolin Clay: Clays have been used for centuries as a natural agent to help beautify the skin. It has the ability to absorb excess oils, dirt and harmful toxins.

Essential Oils: These contain the true essence of the plant they were derived from. Essential Oils have powerful anit-bacterial and antiviral qualities that do not leave behind dangerous toxins like some pharmaceutical drugs. The oils have beneficial effects upon many conditions including colds, flu and stress. The oils should never be taken internally or be applied undiluted to the skin.

Nail Manicure Kit

Manicure Kit, Nail Manicure Kits, Beauty
By: Luizaclose

Well manicured nails can make be the difference between a great first impression and a poor one. The way you keep your nails says a lot about you as a person, so keeping them is tip top condition is a must. If you want to make sure your nails always look nice, put together a little manicure kit that you can take anywhere. Here are some nail essentials that you should be sure to include.
1. Glass Nail File: For perfectly filed nails, it’s best to invest in a glass nail file. Although they tend to be a little more expensive than your average emery board, they are better for your nails. Glass nail files leave your nails smoother and less jagged than other types, are easy to sterilize, and are much better for acrylic nails.
2. Base Coat: While it may not seem very important to put that thin layer of clear polish on your nails before your vibrant colored polish, it actually essential to healthy and great looking nails. A good base coat can help protect your nails from staining, especially when using dark colored polish. It’s also a great way to ensure healthy nails that won’t split, peel, break, or become brittle. When purchasing a basecoat, look for one that contains aloe vera, or vitamin E to help fortify your nails. Nails that are healthy will look great and the base coat will help nail polish go on smoother and stay on longer.
3. Top Coat: A top coat for your nails will help keep nail polish looking great by preventing chipping and helping polish last longer. A top coat can help keep polish on during work, washing dishes, or other activities that can be destructive to a manicure.
4. Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover: Non-acetone nail polish remover is important for a couple reasons. While a normal polish remover would suffice for simply taking some unsightly polish of your tips, it’s not recommended when removing nail polish from acrylic nails. Non-acetone polish remover is also a great way to help ensure your nail polish adheres to your nails properly. Remove any unwanted oils from your nails by taking a cotton ball dipped in non-acetone remover and wiping it across your nails. This primes the nails for painting. To make sure you’re always prepared, it’s good to have this multi-use remover on hand.
5. Nail Clippers/Tweezers: A good pair of nail clippers is an essential tool for your nail health and over all comfort. A pair of nail clippers that isn’t really up to par can lead to jagged edges and painful hangnails. Likewise, tweezers are also essential for keeping clean and healthy fingers nails and toenails.
6. Cotton Pads: Cotton pads are a great thing to keep in your nail kit. These cotton pieces can be used to remove nail polish, prime nails for applying polish, or help keep toes separated during a pedicure. They are inexpensive and are more practical than paper towels or tissues when removing polish.