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Donna Maria's Handmade Beauty Connection
October 21, 2002

A Publication of The Handmade Toiletries Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Vol. 3, Issue 41
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1. HBN Update: Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members & HBN Member News!
2. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win 16 ounces of avocado oil!!
3. New At MakeYourCosmetics.com: Mother's Rose Belly Salve
4. Handmade Beauty Product Review by Donna Maria

~ Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members!

The Botanists Apothecary | Kitren Glozer, MA, PhD | California
* renewing member; several lines of handcrafted products: all-natural, botanically-derived; artificially fragranced and/or colored; therapeutic; private consultations available

M&G Personal Care | Glynis Elsen | Washington
* handmade toiletries

Youthful Essence Skin and Scalp Solutions, Inc.  | Elsie Taylor | Florida
* pure products for skin and scalp

Claire's Pure & Natural Products | Irene James| Oregon
* using pure and organic ingredients to bring you fine moisturizers, cleansers, perfumes, nail strengtheners and more

Herbal Solutions  | Jane C. Ryan | Massachusetts
* aromatherapy bath and body products: glycerin soap, bath salt, bubble bath, body spray, lotion, dusting powder ...

Olive My Skin | Laura Ohngemach | Connecticut
* using pure olive oil to make olive-based products for bath and body

~ HBN Member News!

HBN Member's Coffee Soap Featured In Local Newspaper

Karilee Valeriano of HBN member KARE Handcrafted Soaps is pleased to announce that the Livingston Enterprise featured her business in their October 15, 2002, issue! Mention is made of how a chance encounter at a farmer's market launched her enterprise, as well as how she ended up with her coffee soap in The Body Time, a California retail chain formerly known as The Body Shop. Congrats Karilee and keep up the good work. Now, I'm off to have a cuppa!

HBN Member Announces Arrival Of Organic Oils

HBN member Assured Organics offers organic oils to match the growing demand ... virgin coconut, evening primrose and macadamia. Non-organic evening primrose is also available. Check 'em out!!

After Joining HBN, More Members Find Profitable Networking Opportunities

HBN Member "At It Again" With High End Aromatics!

HBN member Anastasia Crabtree of Anastasia's Ideas has struck again with her uncontrollable habit of pouring large quantities of oils that most of us use by the teensy drop into vats of handmade soap and body butter! This time, she tells me it's a blend of goodies like rose, neroli and vanilla with a little vetiver "just to hold things together". Her Gnarly B*____ (I can't say that word in my newsletter!) Body Butter caught my eye, and there's a complementary soap with virgin coconut oil too. My nose is twitching ... so it my pocket book ...

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

Last Week's Question: US Food & Drug Administration regulations recommend that all antiperspirants, a type of cosmetic-drug, contain a particular caution with respect to their use. To win this week, state the precise working of the recommended caution and the specific section of the regulations where the caution can be found.

Last Week's Answer: Do not apply to broken skin. If a rash develops, discontinue use. 21 C.F.R. section 369.20.

This Week's Question: "The garden is prepared and ready to yield her secrets. Rose Blossoms swirled in pink neroli cream. Olive oil kissed with golden calendula. Jasmine and ylang ylang infused into savory lotions laced with frankincense tears. Creams dripping with the fragrant aromas of aloe and myrrh. Balms to heal and protect. Sweetened with honey and flower petals. Lovingly displayed in cobalt blue, emerald green. Accept the aromatic invitation. Taste and smell the goodness of creation!"

The first person to respond with the name of the author of the above quote, the name of the book in which the quote appears, as well as the page number, will win 16 ounces of avocado oil, 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.

Mother's Rose Belly Salve is the perfect gift for a mom to be. I made some recently for a friend who is enjoying communicating with her baby by gently massaging her tummy each night as she prepares for sleep. What better way to start introducing a new life into the world than the gentle strokes of loving parents and the fabulous aroma of roses?

The Scent Shack: fragrance oils and soap supplies. Fragrance oils are pre-tested in cold process, melt & pour soap, and candles, and test results are listed at the Web site. Scents tested by soapers for soapers

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!

Neem Nail Oil by sunny brae body works
1 ounce dropper bottle | $9.99

I have had nice nails pretty much all my adult life. They were pretty pitiful when I was a teenager because I was such a tomboy. But once I decided that I wanted more graceful hands, keeping my nails nice was never a problem. Even when I let them languish on their own without a manicure for months at a time, my nails always looked nice .. that is, until now.

Perhaps there's something about nearing 40, or maybe my hands are just spending much more time in water than they used to. Whatever the case, my nails seem suddenly to want to be brittle and split, and they don't seem to like to grow anymore. It's a pretty dreadful sight at times ... and I simply refuse to have acrylic applied to them because I think that would just make them worse! Besides, that stuff stinks!! But help is on the way!

For the past week, I have been enjoying regular applications of sunny brae body works' Neem Nail Oil with lavender and tea tree essential oils. The combination of these ingredients has begun to strengthen my nails slowly but surely. For the first time in weeks, I am not having to cut off hang nails or pull off split nails. Instead, I have applied Neem Nail Oil in small quantities to each nail at least twice a day for a week, especially before going to bed. I also apply it (if it's handy) about 10 minutes before putting my hands into water if I am not going to be wearing gloves. I'm so happy to report that it seems to be working! My cuticles are softer and more pliable and my nail bed is radiant and shiny. And the best part is that my nails finally seem to be growing healthfully for the first time in months.

In addition to neem oil, Neem Nail Oil also contains Vitamin E, peanut oil (I don't have an allergy) and jojoba oils. The lavender and tea tree essential oils add some scent but I can still smell the neem just a little. It smells very earthy and I feel comfortable and natural using this product.

No matter where I go for a manicure, I am used to seeing a product (which shall remain nameless) on every manicurist's table. For my next manicure, I'm going to take some Neem Nail Oil with me and insist that it be used instead. In my opinion, it should replace every other moisturizing nail oil in use today! You can buy Neem Nail Oil  and other juicy stuff at HBN member sunny brae body works.