Baby Botanical has Arrived

I am pleased to announce the arrival of my new line, Baby Botanicals.  I created this line because I feel there is nothing more important than what you use on your baby.   I use only natural and the finest certified organic and fair trade ingredients; I never use any sulfates, parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrance or artificial colors and they are never tested on animals .  There are no lotions or creams in the Baby Botanicals line because those products contain water and require preservatives.  Only a few the products contain essential oils and when I do, I only use lavender, chamomile, red mandarin and tea tree, very well diluted because research shows these are the only essential oils safe for babies under one year old. Gentle, soothing and calming, without compromise to the environment, we are sure that you will and your baby will love these products lovingly made with botanical goodness.

Soothing Bath Tea Wash (for all ages).

Infants generally do not need to be washed with soap so this gentle herbal natural cleansing blend was  created for your newborn.  It is perfect for calming and comforting the crankiest babies before bed or naptime.  In addition it is the perfect soak for children and adults to soothe itchy, irritated dry skin.  

Baby Wash and Shampoo  (Ages 6 months and up)

This 100% natural bath wash and shampoo is made from certified organic coconut, olive and jojoba oils and is the perfect alternative to the detergent chemical formulas in common use today.  Lightly scented with organic essential oils of chamomile, lavender and red mandarin that calm and soothe. 

Baby Powder (all ages, safe for newborns)

Our herbal baby powder is talc and cornstarch free. Studies have shown that talc can cause certain cancers and yeast feeds on cornstarch which can contribute to diaper rash and inflammation.  You can use our non-toxic baby powder with peace of mind and let the gentle aroma of chamomile and lavender calm your baby while herbs of marshmallow root and myrrh protect your baby from diaper rash. Use at diaper changes or anytime.

Diaper Balm

This cloth diaper safe diaper balm safely combats existing diaper rash and helps prevent future rashes.  Made with a blend of antifungal and antibacterial herbs, shea butter and mango butter and just a touch of organic tea tree oil, this balm will not only soothe and heal diaper rash but is great for all insect bites, scrapes, cradle cap or as an all over moisturizer.  

Massage and Baby Oil (safe for newborns)

Massage is a pleasurable way to develop trust and intimacy with your baby and strengthen the bond between the two of you.  A combination of organic jojoba, apricot kernel oil and organic sunflower infused with organic herbs of chamomile, lavender and calendula is the perfect multi purpose oil to help calm a cranky baby, after bathing  moisturizing for sensitive and dry skin and for cradle cap.

Baby Body Butter (newborns and all ages)

This ultra rich butter was created to moisturizer the driest skin and for conditions such as eczema.  Unlike lotions and creams it contains no water or emulsifiers therefore needing no preservatives.  Contains only the natural and organic butters, virgin coconut oil and sunflower oil infused with soothing herbs and a small amount of chamomile, lavender and red mandarin organic essential oils to help soothe and calm the crankiest babies and children.  

Suppliers

As a small business owner and crafter of my own skin and body care line I often have people starting out in the business asking me where to get supplies.  Many of you are using essential oils more and more and as I have posted previously it is so important to make sure you are getting the highest quality essential oils with the correct information on how to use these oils.  So here is a review of some of my favorite suppliers:

Appalachian Valley Natural Products for essential oil.  I have been using this source for years.  They have a large assortment of oils at a very affordable price.  The quality is excellent with good customer service.  www.av-at.com

Nature's Gift for essential oils and other supplies.  I found Nature's Gift when AVNP was out of some oils I needed right away.  They have a wider variety of oils especially absolutes for making perfumes.  They are a little more expensive but the quality is excellent and a broader selection.  Marge Clark the owner is a wealth of knowledge on essential oils and there use and her website reflects this.  She is also very willing to share her knowledge and replies to all inquiries in a timely manner.  www.naturesgift.com

It is very very important to label all your supplies and products even if they are for home use.  There is nothing worse then forgetting what you put in a particular jar or bottle.  Even more important is knowing when you made that product.  Of course if you are going to sell your products you must have all the appropriate information on the label that the FDA requires.  If you are making your own labels there is no better place to purchase your labels than from OnlineLabels.com.  I have been purchasing my labels from them for quite a few years now.  You will not get better customer service anywhere.  There assortment is vast whether you need labels for an inkjet or laser printer, waterproof or plain labels, they even have colored labels and different shape labels.  If you are unsure they are happy to send you samples.  www.onlinelabels.com

And last but not least you need a supplier for your jars and bottles.  For those of you who do not want to buy in bulk but need wholesale pricing  I highly recommend Sunburst Bottles.  www.sunburstbottle.com.

I hope these suggestions help.  Happy crafting.

A Few Thoughts on Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

The use of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy has become very popular in last number of years. I am pleased to see more and more people aware that plants have an amazing capacity to heal us both physically and emotionally.  But as in many things that become popular there is a certain amount of misinformation and well as companies jumping on the bandwagon making false claims.  These are companies using fragrance oils, which have absolutely no therapeutic value and yet label their products under  aromatherapy.  There are several ways oils are extracted from plants:  steam distilled, cold pressed, solvent extracted or c02 extracted.  There are some plants and flowers that cannot be extracted and, therefore, there are no oils produced.  For example if you see Gardenia or Lilly of the Valley you should note they are synthetic as there is no essential oil made from these plants.  The same is true for most fruit with the exception of citrus.

Speaking of therapeutic oils, in my searching for resources to purchase my essential oils or just wanting to learn more I keep coming across terms such as "therapeutic grade essential oils".  For the record there is no such thing.  It was mostly a ploy used by MLM companies.   That is not to say that essential oils are not therapeutic because they are.  Whether they are diluted to be used in skin care, massage, in a bath or to inhale in a diffuse these powerful botanical extracts are powerful healing tools.  At this time, however, there are no classifications such as medicinal or therapeutic.   You should always be careful where you purchase your oils and only buy organic or wildcrafted oils.  Some companies adulterate their oils with fragrance oils or add a cheaper essential oil to the most costly oil.  If you are in doubt request a GC analysis. 

The last thought I would like to share with you today on this subject is the use of essential oils and overuse of some.  First of all essential oils should very rarely be used "neat" or undiluted on the skin.  I know many people are using Tea Tree oil directly on the skin for a variety of  issues. First you need to test for skin irritation by applying a drop on a cotton swab and only dabbing the area in question.  Keep in mind that even if you show no sensitivity or reaction you can develop a sensitivity to the oil over time.  Most of the sites on the web recommending using full strength are not experts in the use of essential oils.   Most experts will recommend never using oils full strength unless under the advisement of an expert.  Some experts claim that it is more effective in a 2% dilution than using neat. Another problem with Tea Tree is that it has become the "catch all" cure and go to oil.  Many companies put it in all their products.  It is a powerful anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial oil and is perfect for certain condition but I have seen it in skin care products for combination and dry skin and that is not a good choice.

More thoughts on Summer

I'm not really a summer person, at least not where I live.  As I mentioned in an earlier post it is very hot and humid here.  I used to love summers when I lived in upstate New York.  I had an amazing organic vegetable garden and a beautiful flower garden. Not in this city; I feel I am always fighting a losing battle between the heat, drought and bugs.  But one of the things I do love about summer is the fruits and vegetables.  Peaches, plums, berries, melons and of course tomatoes.  So instead of trying to win a losing battle, several years ago I embraced the local Farmer's Market.  I head over early Sat. mornings before going to work.   I particularly love this market.  It is held in a parking lot that they close off for a few hours but they have planted beautiful flowers all around.  There are musicians serenading us along with delicious smells of people cooking Thai food, Indian, Ethiopian and good ole Biscuits with different toppings.  I have my favorite stands of organic veggies and fruits and a local bakery where I treat myself to a scone to take to work with me.  Peaches are plentiful right now and today I purchased some and I am about to bake my husband's favorite peach dessert.  A crust that is more shortbread like than pie or cake, topped with peaches and baked to a bubbling sweetness.  I also purchased some heirloom tomatoes and I'm thinking of using that same crust but making it savory with some rosemary and topping with the tomatoes and some caramelized onions and a little cheese.

What are your favorite summer fruits and vegetables? 

Summertime and the livin is easy

We always have hot and humid summers where I live but this summer, like most of the country, we seem to be hitting all kinds of records.  I've been very busy with facials and making new products.  So busy that I was behind in making some essential oil blends for a Wellness Studio that requested some.  When I contacted the owner to say I hadn't forgotten and I would get them to her soon, her response was priceless.  "I did not feel forgotten.  It's summer!  One should never rush in the summer! "  Perfect advice.  So now I'm slowing down a bit.  Sipping some lemonade, listening to my husband play his guitar with my cat on my lap.  

I just received the most awesome review from Eye on Green Magazine.  Check it out.http://terryseyeongreenmag.blogspot.com/2012/07/eye-on-green-magazine-rising-up-green_17.html?spref=bl

Greenwashing

Here we are approaching August and I am in need of a pedicure.  I wanted to find a Green Spa for my little tootsies.  A few spas have opened in and around town stating they were green.  I was so excited.  That is until I went to their websites.  Low and behold they use paraffin.  Yes, paraffin.  Now if you are familiar with what it means to be green, you know that green and paraffin wax do not belong together.  It is petroleum based.  Either these business are just jumping on the green bandwagon or they do not understand that being green is a lifetime commitment.  It doesn't just mean you recycle, or you buy some eco-friendly fixtures. 

So what do I consider a green product or a green business?  In a green the ingredients should be as natural as possible. But more importantly they should not contain any ingredients that are harmful to us or to the planet. Secondly, the packaging should be recyclable using glass or safe plastic.  If it is in a box the box should be made from recycled paper.  A spa or any business shouldn’t go green just because it’s popular. They have to believe in what they are doing, and if they don't know they should educate themselves or hire an environmental consultant.

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 All products used should be either green as just described; the furnishings should be from eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, cork, salvaged or from some sustainable source.  All stationery and paper goods should be from recycled paper and using soy ink.  Light should be compact fluorescent. It can be taken even further by choosing a wind powered electric company, filtered water and air.  I think you get my drift.  

So until I find a truly green spa these feet will have to wait.