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Handmade Toiletries Weekly Newsletter
July 30, 2000

A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
July 30, 2000
Issue 28

This Week's Sponsor: "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions"

Real comments from real people ...

"THE guide to true, healing skincare ..."
"... absolutely scrumptious recipes."
"... stands up from the rest."
"The recipes are to die for."
" ... a must have for toiletry makers."

Order your autographed copy today at www.donnamaria.com ---> Coming Soon ~ The CO2 Crew & Donna Maria's Aromatic Alchemy Blends Used In The Book!!

1. HBN UPDATE ~ WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!

~ Earth Essences, LLC ~
Marlene Aulten
Killingworth, Connecticut, www.scentlady.com

~ Bay Horse Soapery ~
Anne Winkworth
Ontario, Canada, winkwrth@norlink.net

~ Prairieland Soaps ~
Debi Doherty
Taylorville, Illinois, www.prairielandsoaps.com

~ Elan Vita, Inc. ~
Melanie Smith
Denver, Colorado, sam@ecentral.com

~ Diane Seago Atkins Aromatherapy ~
Diane Olsen
Tucson, Arizona, www.dianelotions.com

~ Jean Jewell ~
Hobbyist Affiliate Member, Zephyr Hills, Florida

-->HBN Members, don't miss our Beauty Call with special guest Sandy Maine on August 10!! Also, HBN will be representing you at EX*TRACTS in New York in September!!

2. HANDMADE BEAUTY TRIVIA QUESTION ~ Last week's winner was Cecilia Taft of Houston, Texas. Cecilia won an autographed copy of "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions"!

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: A berry that is native to China yields a pulp that is rich in vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene. Said to actually slow the skin's aging process, the pulp from this berry is a bright orange-ish color and is extracted from the berry by use of carbon dioxide.

LAST WEEK'S ANSWER: Common Name: Sea Buckthorn Berry
Botanical Name: Hippophae rhamnoides

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: It is said that during the plague of the 18th century, four grave robbers were arrested in Marseilles, France. They were believed to have been protected from the plague by an aromatic concoction of their own invention. After their arrest, their lives were spared in return for divulging the recipe for their miraculous potion which was believed to repel insects, the main carriers of the plague.

Be the first to provide the name given to the concoction and win a $10 gift certificate to shop at the HBN member business of your choice!

Read contest rules at www.handmadebeauty.com/htns_Newsletter.htm

3. HANDMADE BEAUTY PRODUCT REVIEW by Nicole

Nicole is HBN's newest handmade beauty product review panelist. Nicole is a 30-year old mother with combination skin. The older she gets the more she realizes that things don't always work like they used to, and her skin is one of them. (Welcome to the club, Nicole!) You can read more about Nicole at www.handmadebeauty.com/product_review_panelists.htm. Take it away Nicole!!

~ Wisdom Handmade Soap by Moon and Stars Enchanted Soap
Generous over 5 ounce bar ~ $5.50

Just the color of this bar is appealing! The blue, almost purple swirls mixed with white is gorgeous! The scent is light musk and very soothing to the senses. The ingredients alone have individual medicinal values, but combined, they make this bar a "fountain of youth". Sage, Palmarosa and Rosa Rubignosa all support cell regeneration, dry skin and wrinkles. The German Chamomile (which gives the bar its blue/purple coloring) serves as an anti-inflammatory, and lastly, the Ylang Ylang essential oil relaxes and soothes me (a prescription free anti-depressant if you will). The jojoba oil, and shea and mango butters help keep my skin looking and feeling soft. The lather is fragrant and frothy. After I got out of the shower and dried off, I was surprised that I did not need a moisturizer and my skin was soft and lightly scented. Moon and Stars Enchanted Soaps are available at www.enchantedsoap.com.

4. DONNA MARIA'S UPCOMING AROMATHERAPY WORKSHOPS

At Smile Herb Shop in College Park, Maryland. Call (301) 474-8791 to register.

~ Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions
August 5, 2000 ~ 10:00am to noon, includes book signing

~ Creating Your Personal Aromatherapy Facial
August 19, 2000 ~ 10:00am to noon, includes book signing

5. SKINFORMATION ~ Helping You Care For Your Skin

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an all-purpose natural beauty workhorse with several uses and is an ingredient in one of the this week's Aromatic Beauty Food Recipes. ACV is great at balancing the pH of your skin naturally, while also soothing and softening. I use it on my nose to help minimize blackheads ... just saturate a cotton pad and wipe gently. ACV can also be used as a great hair rinse to combat the effects of chemicals used in lots of commercial shampoos ... just add a few teaspoons to your favorite conditioner. It also helps aid against dandruff.

6. AROMATIC BEAUTY FOOD RECIPES ~ Happy Face Cleanser & Every Skintea

As promised, two original recipes today!!

I made Happy Face Cleanser last week when my skin felt especially oily and clogged. I wasn't experiencing any breakouts (thank God!), but my face felt hot and muggy. Since this was an unplanned cosmeti-cook event, I had to use what was in my fridge, and much to my delight, there was lots of stuff for oily skin! Lemons, plain yogurt and a few other goodies. Just what I needed!

HAPPY FACE CLEANSER
Ingredients
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 teaspoon heavy cream (I love this stuff on my face!)
1 teaspoon Every Skintea (recipe below)
2 tablespoons Every Skintea herbs (in their dry form)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 drop tea tree essential oil
1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar to balance the skin's pH (see above)

Blending Procedure
Easy ... dump everything in a little bowl and stir! To use, just scoop the product and massage gently over face and neck using gentle motions. It's very cooling and you can make a lot and pour it all over yourself if you feel overheated. This recipe makes enough for face, neck and shoulders, but I wished I'd made more for my entire bod!! Next time ...

EVERY SKINTEA ~ make this tea ahead of time and store in the fridge ... you'll always have a healing herbal blend to use in your handmade beauty treats. It's really pretty too, stored in a glass apothecary jar on my kitchen counter.

Ingredients
equal parts rose petals, lavender buds, comfrey leaf, marsh mallow and calendula

Blending Procedure
To make a strong infusion that can be used for lots of products, boil 12 ounces (by weight) of distilled water. Remove from heat after it reaches the boiling point. Place 1/2 ounce (by weight) of the dry herbs in the water. Cover to allow to steep for a few hours. Strain out the herbs and store the liquid in the fridge and use as needed to make goodies like Happy Face Cleanser.
As with the Happy Face Cleanser, you can use the dried herbs in products to add texture and light exfoliation.

*Submit your recipe to recipes@handmadebeauty.com.
If we use it in an upcoming issue, we'll credit you!!

Thank you for reading HBN's Newsletter.
Have A Great Week!!
Donna Maria
Founder & President, The Handmade Beauty Network
"Securing The Future Of The Handmade Toiletries Industry"
http://www.handmadebeauty.com