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Donna Maria's Handmade Beauty Connection
July 22, 2002
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This Week's Sponsor:
---> Shea, Cocoa & Mango Butter <---

We have the Best Butters at the Best Prices!!

Refined Shea Butter - $9.00/LB
Prime Pressed Cocoa Butter - $8.00/LB
Mango Butter - $12.00/LB

For your soapmaking needs, sodium hydroxide at $4.00/LB and potassium hydroxide at $4.50/LB!!

Elysian Dream | Email: kawal@elysiandream.com

1. HBN Update: Welcome New HBN Members!!
2. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win 16 ounces of neroli hydrosol (orange flower distillate)!!
3. Create The Life You Love™: Make Yourself Memorable, Part VII: Be Positive
4. New At MakeYourCosmetics.com: Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub
5. Handmade Beauty Product Review: A Few Goodies From Celestial Body Aromatherapy

~ Welcome New HBN Members!

Country Scentiments | Debbie Buckwalt | Canada
* all kinds of packaging supplies and a line of skincare that includes wholesale with no minimum order

Symmetry For The Body | Jodi Anderson | Illinois
* wholesale manufacturer of individually hand blended, cruelty free, 100% pure aromatherapy products

Southern Charms | Amanda Dalton | South Carolina
* handmade honey soap

Learn more about our members and their exciting activities by visiting their Web sites through HBN's Online Member Directory!!

This Week's Question: I am a chronic, aggressive disease of the skin which can cause unsightly swelling and discoloration to spread across the face, especially cheeks, nose and chin. Though I have no specific cause, some say stress exacerbates my condition, and so does alcohol. I tend to strike people (largely women) between the ages of 30 and 60 and I have been known to lessen in severity with certain dietary changes. What am I?

Be the first to answer this week's question and win 16 ounces of neroli hydrosol (orange flower distillate), courtesy of HBN member Essential Wholesale.

Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry.

While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner will be notified by email and their name posted at HBN's home page.

For the past few weeks, I've been sharing a series of articles on things you can do in business to make yourself memorable and therefore, generate confidence and repeat business. The first 7 installments were:

1. Be An Expert here.
2. Be Consistent here.
3. Be Internet Savvy here.
4. Be Extraordinary here.
5. Be A Leader here.
6. Be Calm Under Pressure here.
7. Be Honest here.

This week's article focuses on the benefits of displaying a positive attitude. It's no secret that people who maintain a positive outlook on life and its circumstances enjoy being alive more than those who harbor negativity. As I survey my business life, I am struck by favorable memories of people who make it a point to portray a generous attitude and who ooze contagious positive energy. Not only do I want to know them personally, but I also want to do business with them if given a chance. Of course I remember the negative folks as well, but the memory is usually one which I would prefer not to think about. So so I want to give my business to them? Nope! Part of being memorable is thus being memorable in a positive way which generates new business and causes a positive "buzz" to flow from your business dealings.

1. A Positive Attitude Maximizes Growth Opportunities. I believe there is  direct correlation between your attitude as a person and the success of your small business. While a  negative person with a negative attitude will attract negativity, a positive person with a positive attitude will attract positive options for growth. This is because positive people translate their attitudes into success. Rather than dwell on obstacles, they focus on how to overcome them. They seek to go over them, around them, under them or even through them if that's what it takes to get the job done ... all the while not doubting for a moment that they will accomplish their task. This positive attitude helps propel them to new heights, while pessimists - who may be just as hard working - are left to wonder why the sheer force of their work ethic does not lead to the same results. I believe that there is a direct correlation between positive energy and success. One promotes the other. So, check your attitude regularly (my husband would say, "check yourself before you wreck yourself!") and you'll soon b e turning your sour grapes into sweet success just by adjusting the way you look at them!

Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub is easy to make and fun to use. It's a simple combination of ingredients that clean and moisturize, and the aroma from the pink grapefruit essential oil is a definite smile-bringer!

When you visit MakeYourCosmetics.com, it's easy to buy the ingredients you need to make your goodies by clicking on our Partner links:

Essential Wholesale: natural unscented cosmetic bases, pure essential oils, absolutes, carrier oils such as avocado, virgin coconut, sweet almond, jojoba, shea butter and specialty packaging supplies!

Bramble Berry, Inc.: over 80 different, fully tested fragrance oils (including the exclusive "Relaxing" and "Energy" blends), over 250 soap molds, essential oils and unscented bases.

Lynden House International, Canadian supplier of soap and candlemaking supplies such as fixed oils, perfumes, essential oils, molds, powdered milks, colors, pre-made bases, candle wax, wicks, embeds and more!

This blend of sea salts, baking soda, cornstarch, essential oils and flower essences is designed to act as a facial splash. The instructions directed me to place a tablespoon into a face bowl of warm water and splash it on my face repeating 20 times ... so that's what I did. (Well, I repeated 5 or 6 times so I didn't soak everyone and everything else in the bathroom!) The lavender essential oil I detected was calming and soothing and I have enjoyed using this before bed. See below for a fun way I found to use Celestial Splash with another Celestial Body product.

Honey Wash Cleansing Syrup
8 oz. | $16.00

This is a fun product made with honey, glycerin, a Castile-like soap base and essential oils. The consistency is like runny honey and it pours easily from the bottle, which is shaped like the one real maple syrup comes in. The lather is very light, making it perfect for me to use on my skin. I like the fact that is mixes smoothly with many different facial scrubs I use, all made with other natural ingredients like almonds, oats and fruit juices. I put a little of an exfoliating materials in my palm and pour Honey Wash Cleansing Syrup over that, rub it all together and massage into my face. I also enjoyed pouring it over the Celestial Splash and blending them together for a nice facial cleanser. The combination is at once nourishing and refreshing and the honey-like consistency is smoothing and gentle. Celestial Body obtains the honey from their hives they maintain on their Starr Pines Farm in Missouri. This is a perfect cleanser for all skin types, but especially dry because it so often does not tolerate a lot of heavy lather agents. The scent is subtle and enjoyable ... a soft blend of grapefruit and lavender.

You can purchase these and other unique products, some sold under the "Face Food" brand, from Celestial Body Aromatherapy.