Donna Maria's Handmade Beauty Connection
May 2, 2005
Happy Mother's Day!

1. HBN Update: Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members!!
2. Happy Birthday Members!
3. Announcing the Handmade Beauty Business Magazine!
4. Announcing HBN's Next Beauty Call!
5. Feature Article: Mother's Of Invention
6. Handmade Beauty Recipe Of The Week:  Tiny Hiny Cream
7. Beauty & The Business Trivia Question: win a copy of the Handmade Beauty Cookbook!
8. Handmade Beauty Product Review: Sugared Butter Whip by HBN Member Parisian's Pure Indulgence

Renewing Members!

Deal Farm Soap Company | Renee Deal | Massachusetts
* renewing member; specializing in goat milk soaps and natural skin care products for sensitive skin

Sugarbabe Natural Cosmetics | Maureen Barrett | Tennessee
* renewing member; all natural cosmetic products made using sugar

New Members

Almena's Legacy | Michael Monteiro | Pennsylvania

Sheer Miracle | Jane Pitte | Arizona
* handcrafted mineral makeup at discount prices, including foundations, blushes and eye shadow

HBN Members On The Move!!

Traci Vanover of The Creative Concept is excited to invite you all to the Soap and Candle Bee in Fort Wayne, Indiana on  June 11, 2005. The Theme is "Fresh Ideas -- Fresh Outlook" and I'll be the keynote speaker -- hope to see you there! (HBN members, put "HBN OFFER" in the shopping cart comments to get your FREE spa CD when you register!)

Learn more about our members and their exciting activities by visiting their Web sites through HBN's Online Member Directory, now with 4 ways to search: (1) by state/country; (2) by member business name; (3) by keyword search; or (4) using our new alphabetical listings.

Debbie Ludington, Sweet Grass Farm Soap Co., Spring Chicken Muscle Rub
Sinikka Foster, Blue Bell Naturals, Honey Mask and Honey Scrub
Rebekah Bailey, The Soap Dish, Alkanet Root Powder (supplier)
Robin Carty, Beloved Body Care, Guiding Light Stretch Mark Balm
Jacque Riella, Aunt Wally's, Love Your Baby Botanical Powder
Judy Marcellot, 7 Arrows Farm, Live "Garden Experience" at their Massachusetts Farm
Maxine Blanchette, Have It Yur-Way
Carol Ochs, Simply Soap, Simply Scent Solid Scent Perfume Balms
Stephani Halderman, Sunshine Garden Soapworks, Ginger Lime Soap (site temporarily closed for moving)
Robin Buhl, Rivertree Soaps, Floral Harmony Bath Tea
Lynn Turner, Pampering U, Color Energy Bath Products
Francesca Fodera, Heartlight Garden
Jenafer Simpson, Anchor Bay Bath Works
Pennie Mills, LadiesBlend.com, Freshly Roasted Chocolate Banana Coffee (now that was a surprise!)
Monica Abitol

At long last, it's almost here! Our print magazine is slated for publication this fall. The only publication of its kind, Handmade Beauty Business Magazine will feature our industry like it's never been featured before, and as members of HBN, your participation is both needed and desired to make it a success. To prepare for the launch of our Premier Issue, I have uploaded a TON of information designed to answer your questions about our exciting new publication. Our Media Kit, Editorial Guidelines, Story Idea Request Forms Advertising Forms and more are all available for your viewing pleasure at this link.

According to the Center For Women’s Business Research, as of 2004, there were an estimated 10.6 million privately held, majority women-owned businesses in the United States, making 1 in 11 women an entrepreneur. Many of them are forming innovative mother-daughter teams to serve up unique products and services while also strengthening family ties, and Parisian’s Pure Indulgence, an HBN member and manufacturer of natural skincare products, is at the forefront of the trend.

Just look at the lovely photo (at left) of Parisian's Pure Indulgence's (PPI's) owner Kelli and her two daughters. (I'm ready to get some of their skincare products just by looking at them!) Kelli started making products after as a professional manicurist, she noticed that her clients' hands and nails were suffering tremendously as a result of their use of chemical-laden commercial products. So she developed a line of her own and today, her daughters Brianna and Brittany serve as Vice President and CFO, respectively. And don't they look like they are having fun too?!! Check out my review of some great PPI products below.

While Kelli's daughters are old enough to make significant business contributions to the business, other HBN members have younger kids who are being trained in that direction from the time they come out of the womb. When HBN member Terina McKinney of Innerglo Home Spa Products joined HBN in February 2004, she was fairly recently married, her product line was in development and her new business was barely off the ground. Today, she is enjoying being able to stay at home with her nearly 1-year old daughter as she grows her line of spa products through home spa parties where hostesses earn generous commissions and free products. One of her hottest products is the Innerglo Massage Balm, pictured at right. Available in 4 blends (including "Pleasure," made with rose, sandalwood and ylang ylang essential oils), these molded combinations of jojoba oil, shea butter, wheatgerm oil and other natural oils and waxes are a simple way to massage your cares away.

HBN member and mom Andrea Kane of Marley's Own is another mother of invention with a great story. Andrea says she made her first face mask from egg whites and oats when she was about 12 years old. After a 4-year stint in the military, she heeded the advice of her mother to live for her dreams and avoid having to look back over a life regretting things that should have been done. In so doing, she resigned her position as an active duty Navy Sailor and started to make and sell natural bath and body products in the beautiful State of Hawaii. (Well, I'm told it's beautiful anyway -- still looking for my chance to go ...) Today, Andrea is expecting another baby and will be debuting her new Vegan pregnancy and baby care line at the New Baby Expo in Hawaii on May 21 and 22. If you're lucky enough to go, check her out and you can enjoy products like Mama's Blooming Belly Butter and Pregnant Chick's Leg and Foot Cream (pictured above and available for Mother's Day purchase!), plus you can learn about their Unconditional Happiness Policy.

Another HBN member and mom is Michelle Keiper (who started her business first as a flower designer) of Flower Peddler Natural Bath Products is also celebrating motherhood with her new Mama Mia! Gift set, pictured at right. Designed to give mom a little of the kind of drama she likes to have, the set includes an 8 ounce Petals lotion, 8 ounce Aloe Body Wash, both in your selection of fragrance, Paradise Body Polish, choice of handmade soap, bath oil beads, loofah on a stick, and a ceramic picture frame so mom can keep your photo nearby -- or maybe not if her bath is helping her escape from your drama!

While not all HBN members are moms, it sure is nice as we approach Mother's Day to celebrate the ones who are and to encourage mothers from all walks of life to take a little time this weekend for yourselves - and to let you know about some of the great member products that will help you do just that!

Tiny Hiny Cream will place a gentle barrier between baby's hiny and the moisture in a diaper to protect and soothe.

When you visit MakeYourCosmetics.com, it's easy to buy the ingredients you need by clicking on our Selected Supplier links:

Essential Wholesale: pure essential oils, over 200 cosmetic bases, hundreds of carrier/fixed oils such as meadowfoam, cranberry, jojoba and shea butter plus a new Short Run Private Labeling Program!

Bramble Berry, Inc.: over 105 different fragrance and essential oils (including their exclusive "Energy" and "Relaxing"), all soap tested, soap molds and unscented soap bases!

SunRose Aromatics: pure essential oils (many organic), carrier oils and other aromatherapy products, each carefully selected for quality. Check out their new Perfumer's Emporium.

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!

From Nature With Love: over 1,600 ingredients and supplies, including cosmetic ingredients, spa supplies, bath accessories and packaging supplies!

Last Week's Question: A non-profit organization seeks to prevent poisonings from household cleaners and other toxic substances, especially as it concerns accidental ingestion by toddlers and young children. The organization's members span the country and serve geographical regions by providing various prevention services including a toll free number that you can call anytime for telephone guidance in the event of poisoning emergencies. This number, (800) 222-1222, can be posted conspicuously in each room where there are poisonous substances, especially if there are any people in the house who are vulnerable to accidental poisoning for whatever reason. To win this week, state the name of the non-profit organization.

Last Week's Answer: American Association of Poison Control Centers -- visit their website for more helpful information to protect you and your family.

This Week's Question: A recently conducted study found that if stay-at-home moms were paid, they would earn a salary very significant annual salary! Sampling 5.4 million mothers and presuming a 100 hour work week and at least two school aged children, the study found what we already know -- mothers are awesome!! To win this week, state the annual salary that this study found stay-at-home moms would enjoy if they were paid. 

Be the first to name the sport and win a copy of the Handmade Beauty Cookbook!

Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry. Put "TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWER" in the subject line or your answer will not be considered.

While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner's name will be announced in the next newsletter!

Sugared Butter Whip
10 oz. | $24.99

It's no secret that I love just about anything I can put on my skin without making it fall off. Of course as a handmade beauty products junkie, it's important to me that the products I use most are at once fragrant and chock full of natural ingredients. This week, I had the pleasure of enjoying a great sugar scrub. When I first got it and read the label, I figured that it would be greasy since the shea butter seems to be a primary ingredient. O well, I figured, this old skin of mine can't help but benefit from shea butter -- so what if I have to let it sink in a bit before I put on my pajamas? I'm glad I didn't fret for long because as it turned out, "greasy" is the last word I would use the describe this product.

Instead, I dipped my fingers into a cloud with a big of exfoliating texture! Not only was there shea butter but also cranberry seed oil, olive butter and hemp seed oil. I used it once and went been back to the well a few more times before I ran out. No wonder it's PPI's #1 Seller!

And to help you celebrate the Special Mothers in your life, PPI is offering two Mother’s Day Gift Baskets. The Indulge Yourself From Head To Toe Basket contains Decadent Sugared Butter Whip, Pink Grapefruit Shea Souffle, Shea Brulee Cuticle Cream, Champagne Body Bubbles and Goat’s Milk Lotion. The Indulgent Facial Treatments Basket contains Crème Fraiche Facial Cleanser, Refreshing Tonique Toner, Parasol Daytime Moisturizer SPF30, Le Age Defiant Night Crème and Crème de la Crème Eye Treatment. Encased in pretty clear shrink-wrap and topped with PPI’s signature pink and black ribbons, each sturdy reusable basket contains the PPI story and a card with an endearing and inspirational quote about Mothers.

The wonderful Sugared Butter Whip and Mother’s Day Gift Baskets, plus over 25 natural bath, body and skincare products for men and women can be purchased at the PPI website.

Visit our suite of Web sites serving the handmade toiletries industry:

HandmadeBeauty.com: the leading industry trade organization
MangoButter.com: 450+ suppliers of raw materials and packaging, updated weekly!
MakeYourCosmetics.com: ingredient encyclopedia & original cosmetics recipes
DonnaMaria.com: sound advice for your small business, Create The Life You Love™