I’m slowly trying to wean myself off of harmful, synthetic perfumes but the process has been a little bumpy. For instance last week, in need of a little Monday morning pickup, I decided to de-stress with lavender-chamomile essential oil lotion. I blended a spoonful into my arms and hands and headed out the door.

It was only as I boarded the bus to campus that I realized I may have overdone it. My attempt at aromatherapy didn’t soothe the passenger on my left; actually it seemed to revolt her. As she held her nose and gave me angry glares, I realized that lavender may not have the same soothing effect on others as it does on me. At that moment any earlier relaxation I felt evaporated just like the fumes of lavender radiating from my skin.

Photo by Jaako/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaako/ 

So what to do? If I had thought ahead or known earlier, I might have diluted my lotion with a carrier oil, like jojoba, applied some rubbing alcohol or packed unscented lotion to mitigate the essential oil’s heavy perfume. I also would have waited for the scent to sink in at least 10 minutes before leaving my house. As it was, I sat out the interminable bus ride, ran into the bathroom before class and ferociously scrubbed my forearms so that I wouldn’t have to worry about disturbing my classmates as well.

Photo by The Owlchemist/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenaliu/ 

Shifting our communities to more sustainable, thoughtful living is all about experimentation. We’re trying to find out what works, what doesn’t work and what we can compromise on in order to ensure a healthy future. Until I can afford the pretty, light smelling crème perfumes and eau de colognes that are being created by natural perfumers and aromatherapists, I guess I’ll just have to rely on my own methods and hope that others will be more tolerant.

If you’re having troubles, like me, switching from eau de parfum to au natural, check out some of these resources. 

• Learn which 20 synthetic perfume ingredients to avoid.

• Find out how to use essential oils and how to make your own herbal fragrances: 
How to Create Floral Waters and Colognes by Janice Cox
Fragrances of Life by Theresa Loe
Herbal Body Fragrances by Theresa Loe
Restorative Perfume by Edwin T. Morris 

• Check out these natural, beauty brands. (A lot of companies offer trial sizes so you can test out a scent before investing your hard-earned money):
Aubrey Organics
Aveda
Ayala Moriel Parfums
CB I Hate Perfume
Rochelle Boleyn 

Have you had any embarrassing or disastrous moments in your transition to herbal living? Leave me a comment and share your story with others!

Although we all love the summertime feeling of freedom and warmth, we don’t always love what it does to our hair and skin. During the summer, we have to take extra care of ourselves to look our best. The chlorine and sun dry out our skin and our hair and sometimes it seems that we sweat all day long. A few of these recipes may prevent the summer from limiting our natural beauty.

If you’re having trouble staying clean because of your many hours spent having outdoor adventures, try the Rose Hip Mask:

This facial treatment of pureed rose hips and plain yogurt will leave your skin soft and smooth. Dried rose hips are available in many grocery and health-food stores. Simply soak them in some warm water for 15 to 20 minutes to rehydrate them and then follow the recipe as written.

• 10 fresh rose hips from unsprayed shrubs
• Water
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

1. Remove the stalk and blossom ends of the rose hips. Rinse the hips, place them in a small saucepan, and cover them with water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, then pour the rose hips into a blender or food processor and puree. Let it cool, then mix with the yogurt.

2. Spread the mask on your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat your skin dry. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for as long as 2 weeks.

Photo by Carmen Sotuela/ Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmensotuela/

When the weather gets hot and humid, stay cool by smoothing on some Cooling Peppermint Body Powder:

The fresh, clean scent of peppermint is an instant energizer. Mixing the essential oil into cornstarch makes a refreshing body powder.

• ½ teaspoon peppermint oil
• 1 cup cornstarch

1. Place the peppermint oil and cornstarch in a plastic zip-close bag or a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake the container well to combine the ingredients. Store the scented powder in a clean container with a lid. A large saltshaker makes a good dispenser.

2. Shake the powder on clean, dry skin or apply it with a powder puff.

Humidity can really get your hair on the fritz; keep it in place with Summer Braid Gel:

The small, shiny brown seeds are the source of linseed oil. When soaked in water, they form a gel that gives hair extra body and lift.

• 3 tablespoons flaxseed
• 1 cup water

1. Mix the flaxseed and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Off heat, let the mixture stand for 15 minutes. Strain out the seeds and allow the jellylike liquid to cool completely. Pour the gel into a clean container and cap it. The mixture will continue to thicken if left uncovered.

2. Apply a small amount to wet or dry hair as you would any other styling gel.

How do you keep yourself clean and gorgeous during the summer heat? Leave me comments and let me know!

When the weather gets warm, my socks and shoes come off. I like my feet to feel free and therefore spend most of my time barefoot during the summer months. But the constant wear from my lack of shoes leaves my tootsies dry and callused.

If you go barefoot like me and your feet need some TLC, or if you just want your feet to look great in some strappy sandals, try this five-step natural pedicure.

Step One: Soak and Relax

Light some candles and unwind by soaking your feet in a bath of warm water for 10 minutes. Add 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of borax to soften calluses to remove rough skin more easily. For a fresh scent, also add a few drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or peppermint.

Step Two: Deep Cleanse

After soaking, soap up your feet and thoroughly scrub them with a natural bristle foot brush. To make a revitalizing foot soap, combine 4 ounces of unscented liquid body soap with 10 drops each of rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil in a plastic bottle.

Photo By Diva Bex/Courtesy Flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/bexshots/

Step Three: Smooth Your Feet

Finish the foot bath with an exfoliating scrub. Try this Peppermint Foot Scrub.

• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon almond oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

1. Combine the ingredients and add enough warm water to make a thick paste. Massage your feet with the scrub, paying special attention to rough, callused areas.

2. Rinse well with warm, soapy water.

Step Four: Moisturize for Soft Feet

Pat your feet dry and slather them with a rich moisturizing cream. Massage a small amount of the cream into cuticles and nails or use this cuticle and nail butter. Gently push back cuticles with the blunt end of an orangewood stick; don’t cut cuticles, they help protect the nails and keep bacteria out.

Step Five: Trim, Shape and Buff

Trim toenails straight across. Prevent ingrown toenails by not cutting nails too short and rounding the corners of the nails. File toenails with an emery board in one direction, following the natural shape of your toenails. Finish by buffing nails with a nail buffer. 

This easy (and inexpensive!) do-it-yourself pedicure will leave feet soft and refreshed.

Do you have any tips for keeping feet from getting dry and callused during the summer? What are your natural foot care remedies? Tell me about them in the comment section.

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

It's officially summertime. The fish are jumping, the catnip is high, the birds and the bees are busy gathering, the plants are busy growing and some herbalists are busy brewing up herbal recipes for skincare lotions and creams. But what about taking care of your skin from the inside?

In The Practicing Herbalist, master herbalist Margi Flint does an outstanding job of explaining Chinese Facial Analysis, illustrating how the laugh lines around your mouth and the lines across your forehead are reflections of a backed-up colon. Other lines are also connected to toxic body sites.

Here are a couple of my favorite herbs that work from the inside to help your skin shine on the outside. 

• Burdock (Arctium lappa). My favorite blood cleanser, with an affinity for the epidermis. So good, it helps with psoriasis and poison ivy. 

• Red clover (Trifolium pratense). An antibacterial agent. It’s been effective with many skin disorders including athlete’s foot.  It also helps with cough, colds and burns. 

• Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). A safe and effective laxative; also useful for clearing impurities out of the blood.

• Boldo (Peumus boldus). A gentle remedy for the liver, gallbladder and digestion.  
          
Helping to clean the digestive system and liver will assist clearing the body of toxins so that epidermis eruptions, pimples, and rashes don’t have a chance collecting and dispersing on the skin.    

Constantly in search of the best natural face wash, I’ve recently stumbled upon a company with endless natural beauty treatment choices: derma e. The company combines vitamins, antioxidants and botanicals to create eco-friendly beauty treatments, such as its new formula Very Clear Cleansing Scrub ($13.95).

This exfoliant is a new product to join the Very Clear Skin collection, which includes the Very Clear Problem Skin Cleanser, Cleansing Scrub, Problem Skin Moisturizer and Spot Blemish Treatment. The formula combines tea tree, willow bark, rosewood, lavender, aloe and chamomile to treat blemish-prone skin.

The exfoliant, designed to remove dead skin cells in order to stimulate new cell growth for clearer skin, is gentle, relaxing and seems to work very well with my skin. My acne has stayed under control as of late and I truly believe it has something to do with this 4-ounce tube. Its major ingredient, tea tree oil, is amazing because it’s natural and powerful as a disinfectant; it most commonly treats a wide variety of skin ailments such as acne, rashes or sun burns.

(News & Tips: Swine Flu Prevention and Hand Washing Tips)

However, it is an herb that you either hate or love, in my opinion, because the smell of tea tree oil is very strong—and the derma e formula is no exception. I’m not a fan of the tea tree oil smell and have found other formulas that my olfactory system enjoy a lot more. If you absolutely can not stand its scent, you may not enjoy its powerful aroma lingering on your face.

(Ode to Tea Tree Oil)

Still, even if you’re not a fan of its smell you may want to learn to just deal with it because recent studies have shown tea tree oil to be a very powerful, natural antibacterial agent. A study in 2000 showed that tea tree oil is 5 percent more effective than commercial medication when treating scabies mite in an in vitro situation. More recently, a new study may soon prove that a tea tree oil wash can prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. According to Reuters Health, the study is expected to be complete in 2010 and looks promising for tea tree oil based on previous studies.

So what do you herbies think? The price is reasonable and the results are positive. Will you be trying the Very Clear Cleansing Scrub anytime soon?

Even though I’m buried with work today, I have now circled over to the Marketing Department three times, ostensibly to visit my friend Taylor. My meandering is really a visitation to see and smell Taylor’s hand balm. I drift over and cadge a little, rub it on my hands, come back to my office and just sit and smell them while I’m doing my other work. I can’t get enough of it!

The source of this fabulousness is Gardener’s All Natural Hand Balm with Shea Butter by SunFeather Natural Soap Company ($9), a delectable combination of olive oil and shea butter scented with lavender, lemon and ginger essential oils. It feels great on my sunburned hands (another story, precisely how my hands got sunburned), but most of all it smells like the essence of clean. The company says say it is made with lavender, lemon and ginger, but I know there has to be a secret ingredient in there somewhere. It smells like it is infused with pure summer in it!

www.sunfeather.com 

It isn’t a particularly girly scent; in fact, the aroma resembles that of some soap from Herban Cowboy that I discovered a few years back. But with the wonderful olive oil/shea butter combination, it makes for a product I know I will use again and again (as soon as I get my own. Relax, Taylor, your balm is safe from me). I will have the softest hands in the building.

If it were cologne, I’d wear it everywhere.

After a long winter season, I’m ready to get rid of my thick body lotion for something lighter and more fragrant. While walking down the body care isle at my local natural foods store, I saw Pangea Organics hand and body lotions. After trying a tiny drop of the lotions I was sold.

With the simple desire of making things better, Pangea Organics produces organic beauty products. The Boulder, Colorado-based company says it selects only the highest quality ingredients for their product without compromising the planet. None of its products contain artificial colors or fragrances, parabens, GMOs, petrochemicals or other harmful components.

My favorite lotion is Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom. The fragrant lavender soothes and alleviates tension while the cardamom acts as an antiseptic and cleanser. Some lotions leave an oily residue or don’t moisturize enough, but the Pyreneese Lavender with Cardamom moisturizes without that oily feeling. The hand and body lotion is perfect for spring and summer or moist climates as it is light lotion.

Have you tried the Pangea Organics line? Which one is your favorite? Let’s chat about it, drop me a comment or email me at snelson@ogdenpubs.com.

With my wedding coming up in less than three months, I’ve got to keep my skin moisturized, healthy and glowing. For that, I need to find the right herbs for the job.

Aloe seems to be the go-to medicinal herb for most skincare solutions. But there are many other herbs that heal skin, such as:

• Chamomile: This is used in most facial-care products and is useful in calming an irritated complexion and treating acne.
• Comfrey: This healing herb contains allantoin, a protein that speeds up cell renewal.
• Rose: This works as a gentle cleanser that has refining and softening powers.
• Witch hazel: This skin astringent contains alcohol but heals and soothes skin.

John Masters Organics has recently re-launched its line of organic skincare products. Their beauty line offers natural healing products such as the Green Tea & Rose Hydrating Face Serum, the Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask and the Rose Foaming Face Wash. But their skincare collection also offers something I have personally been on the lookout for awhile: a toning mist.

The Rose & Aloe Hydrating Toning Mist ($20) is a beauty product certified by the National Organic Program. I’ve kept this product on a shelf near my keys so that as I leave for work, I quickly mist my face with one to two sprays. I instantly feel awake, toned and ready to start the day.

The ingredients work together to create a natural toning mist combination: the essential oil of rose soothes skin by increasing blood circulation; oat kernel improves defense against pollution; white tea protects against oil-causing bacteria; aloe vera promotes healing; and aspen bark protects against harmful bacteria. 

The glass bottle is a little too heavy to tote around in my purse for a daily refresher, but so far my “front-door-solution” has worked out great.

I’ll be on the lookout for more herbal skincare treatments to keep skin fresh and healthy. But what about you? Have you ever used this beauty product? If not, what have you used and why do you or don’t you like it? And what are your favorite herbs for skincare? Drop me a comment!

Sarah Powell, an herbalist, medical anthropologist and proprietor of the Natural Bath & Body Business, Lilith’s Apothecary, lives with her husband and 2 year old daughter in Philadelphia. http://lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com/

I’ve spent the last ten years educating myself about natural skincare ingredients, the detrimental chemicals found in many commercial brand-name products, and the safest herbal alternatives for a lifestyle much more ‘green’ and sustainable.  And yet there is one bastion that remained just out of reach: my hair. My hair is typical of many Americans who shower a lot, shampoo a lot, and don’t really know what to do about the oily scalp, dry hair problems that plague so many of us. Finding the perfect conditioner and the right shampoo to address various scalp issues is not an easy task! Finally, in my efforts to achieve balance for my hair and scalp, I realized that I needed to turn to the natural world around me.  It is time to call in the herbal allies!

Many of us have already turned to natural facial and body care products, opting for largely chemical-free alternatives that avoid the most toxic and irritating ingredients, including sulfates, parabens and even propylene glycol. We choose truly nourishing facial creams, cold processed vegetable oil soaps and talc-free body powders, and yet natural hair care remains somewhat mysterious and out of reach. We’ve become so used to the sudsy, high lather feel of detergent-based shampoos that even companies determined to bring safer, natural alternatives to the fore shy away from truly natural hair care lines. Fortunately, many companies are producing shampoos without sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and other irritating chemicals, but in their efforts to mimic the feel of commercial shampoos, they aren’t able to get too far away from the original product. The truth is that for some reason we still associate ‘suds’ with clean, even if those bubbles are just coming from foaming agents like SLS.

Shampoos are still largely detergent based, which tends to strip the hair of its natural oils, drying it out at the ends and often disrupting oil production at the roots. The result is either an oily scalp or the development of dandruff and other dry scalp conditions. At the other end of the root, our hair follicles are stripped of their nutrients and dried out, often requiring the use of a cream conditioner to replenish the hair with vegetable-derived oils. To make matters worse, we also tend to wash our hair far too often, never allowing the hair to recover from all of these assaults with detergent. We often think that we are aiding our damaged tresses with protein-fortified shampoos, but those proteins merely coat the hair shaft, making it appear healthier, and yet these same proteins coat the scalp, choking the follicles and leaving the scalp scaly and flakey.

For those who are interested in natural hair care and realize that their hair is out of balance, there is a simple solution that we can combine with other hair care routines and without giving up those sudsy shampoos just yet. For centuries, herbs have been used to promote luster, add shine, and even affect the color of our hair. Herbs like nettle, rosemary, and witch hazel are used therapeutically to treat dandruff, oily scalp, and even hair loss. For this reason, simple herbal rinses can be prepared at home in order to minimize the damage done by frequent shampooing and also to restore a balance at the root of it all: our scalp. For truly natural hair care, herbal shampoos can over time restore balance to the hair and scalp, but herbal rinses are a great place to start.

A rinse with either a water or vinegar herbal infusion can do a world of good for our curly locks or golden manes. There are many herbs to choose from, of course, and the first step is figuring out what you need to address. Does your scalp need a therapeutic cleanse that will rid it of build up and brighten those dulled tresses? Do you have issues with scaly dandruff caused by excess oil production or dry flakes from your stressed out scalp? Perhaps your hair is just really oily and demands frequent washings just to keep up with the oil production. The key is to choose a selection of herbs that will help and follow the directions below for either a simple water-based infusion rinse or a cider vinegar rinse. The water infusion will last three days in the fridge, while the vinegar rinse offers some advantages. For one thing, vinegar alone is a powerful astringent that will help control oil and dandruff issues. It also can rid the scalp and hair of stubborn build-up from hair products. Finally, you only need to add 1 tbsp of the vinegar solution to warm water per rinse and as vinegar acts as a natural preservative, the vinegar rinse will keep for months, if not several years, and can be stored right in your bathroom.

Herbal Allies for Hair Care
 
As Jeanne Rose tells us in The Herbal Body Book: The Herbal Way to Natural Beauty & Health for Men & Women, “A good head of shiny, glossy hair can be achieved simply by treating your hair as kindly as you treat the skin of your face" (Frog Books, 2000). By nourishing your hair with nutrient-rich herbal infusions and vinegar rinses, you can return your hair to glorious luster and shine, relieving it of itchiness, dryness, or excess oil production, as well as stimulating growth and gloss. Yarrow, horsetail and comfrey can relieve irritation; anti-inflammatory chamomile, and soothing mullein and violet aid allergic reactions; and nettle, arnica, and rosemary stimulate growth and gloss. Try a combination of some of the following herbs, as appropriate to your scalp or hair needs, and the follow the directions below to either make a water infusion rinse or a cider vinegar rinse.
 
Dry hair or scalp: acacia, chamomile, clover, comfrey root, elder, oat straw.

Oily hair and/or scalp: bergamot, cassia/cinnamon chip, lemongrass, lemon peel, nettle, peppermint, rosebuds, white willow bark, witch hazel bark.

Dandruff: aloe, bergamot, birch bark, burdock, cassia/cinnamon chip, cloves, juniper leaves, lemongrass, nettle leaf and root, orange peel, peppermint, rosemary, willow.
 
Water Infusion:

Add 2 -3 tbsp of your chosen herbal mix to a quart size mason jar. Add boiling water and allow to the herbs to steep for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours for a very strong infusion. If your mixture contains roots or bark, you may want to make a decoction, which will properly extract the necessary components from these tougher materials. In this case, add 2-3 tbsp to a non-metal pot. Pour a quart of water over the herbs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes while tightly covered. Remove from heat and allow the herbs to steep an additional 15 minutes. Strain and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. When using a water infusion, use 1 cup of the infused rinse on wet, cleaned hair.

Vinegar Extract:

Add 2-3 tbsp of your chosen herbal mix to a quart size mason jar. Warm some organic apple cider vinegar and pour over the herbs, filling the jar to the top. Allow this infusion to steep for 2-4 weeks to make a strong herbal extract. Strain and store in a dark glass bottle. Add 1 tbsp of the vinegar rinse to a cup of warm water for each hair application.
 
Directions for Use:  

Whether using the water infusion (1 cup) or the vinegar extract (1 tbsp. combined with 1 cup warm water), pour the rinse over hair that has already been cleaned and rinsed with water. If you can, catch the rinse in a bowl as you pour it through your hair and repeat as many times as you can, being sure to rub it into your scalp. You may rinse with water if you choose, though it’s best to just leave the herbal rinse on your hair and scalp.

Using herbal rinses is a great first step towards truly natural hair care. The next step is employing the use of truly natural herbal shampoos, conditioning creams or treatment oils, and the continual use of these wonderful therapeutic herbal rinses to achieve the luster, shine, and balance we all seek to attain. 

Enjoy!

How many of you fellow herbies like to wash your hair daily? I have many friends who tell me they can’t go a day without lathering, rinsing and repeating for a variety of reasons, including “If I don’t my hair feels greasy.” In fact, they gasp and judge me when I tell them that I don’t. I am an outcast.

I don’t wash my hair daily for two main reasons:
1.) My hair is so thick it is much more of a hassle to manage–it takes a lot longer to wash, dry and style than the average person’s hair.
2.) When I wash my hair daily, my hair loses its shine and it starts to feel very dry.

According to a story on NPR by Allison Aubrey, I’ve been doing it right! Washing your hair daily is way too often–it strips the natural oils from your scalp. You only need to wash 2 to 3 times a week. "If you wash your hair every day, you're removing the sebum," Michelle Hanjani, dermatologist at Columbia University, says in When it Comes to Shampoo, Less is More. "Then the oil glands compensate by producing more oil.” So the more natural oils we strip from our hair, the more demand we create for oils and thus our body will make more.

Try to wean yourself away from this common practice with these tips:
• Sprinkle a quarter-size amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. This removes residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is more manageable. (Arm & Hammer)
• Clean your hair with a small combination of baking soda and apple cider vinegar. (Nature Moms)
• Use a small amount of conditioner in between shampoo days.
• Brush a combination of witch hazel and lavender essential oils through your hair for a quick refreshment. (K.C. Compton)
• Instead of using bottled shampoo daily, you could alternate with shampoo bars. Try Rawganique's Organic Hemp Bar or Lush's Vegan Godiva Bar. (Ideal Bite)
• Rinse with 3 drops essential oil, 1 pint herbal tea and 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice; leave in for several minutes and rinse. (Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art)

If you insist on shampooing daily, try these recently reviewed shampoos:
• John Masters Organics
• Verikira Naturals
• Jurlique
• Organix
• The Healing Seed 

How often do you wash your hair? Are you addicted to shampoo? Leave me a comment!

Not too long ago I discovered The Healing Seed, a new company that offers virgin organic hempseed oil body care products.

It’s bad reputation aside, hemp is actually a nutritional powerhouse. It is jam packed with Omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty oils, is high in fiber, is a good source of protein, contains all essential amino acids, and is rich in vitamins and minerals. Hempseed oil is one of the healthiest oils—healthier than flaxseed oil—because it contains a better balance of linoleic and linolenic fatty acids, according to our August 2009 story Make Way for Hemp Products. Linoleic and linolenic fatty acids are very low hazards according to the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Database.

www.thehealingseed.com

The company promises that these unique and eco-friendly ingredients will create manageable hair and a healthy shine. Their color-safe shampoo and conditioner products stand out with infusions of sweet orange essential oils. Echinacea, licorice root, ylang ylang, jasmine blossom and ginseng extract also give hair a natural boost.

Personally, I’m not a fan of having my hair smell like fruit. But if this idea sounds appetizing to you, then you must give The Healing Seed’s hair collection a try—their products are free of parabens, artificial fragrances and artificial colors. Lather up in the shower with a dime to nickel size dollop of shampoo and conditioner for a healthy wash.

 Other spanking new products from The Healing Seed include a spring lavender hand cream, a fresh jasmine body wash and an English daisy face cleanser.

What do you think of using hemp seed oil in your daily beauty routine? Do you use it and have you noticed any change in your health? What about The Healing Seed? Are you a fan? Drop me a comment and discuss this product!

Q: What are the recipes for “Soothing Glosses and Lip Balms?”
via e-mail, from Kathy

A: Great question. As winter is the driest season, your lips are not alone in the quest for nourishment.

Here are a couple of my favorite recipes taken from Janice Cox’s January 2009 article, Body and Soul: Soothing Glosses and Balms.

From Body and Soul: Soothing Glosses and Balms.

Aloe Vera Lip Gloss
Makes ½ ounce 

This light lip gloss will protect, shine and moisturize your lips. Aloe vera gel’s high moisture content is very soothing. If you have an aloe plant, simply split one of the leaves lengthwise and squeeze out some of the clear gel.    

• 1 teaspoon fresh aloe vera gel

• ½ teaspoon coconut oil
• ⅛ teaspoon vitamin E oil

1. Mix together aloe and oils; stir well.

2. Pour into a small, clean container.

Red Cover Lip Gel
Makes 1.2 ounce

Here’s an old folk remedy for dry, chapped lips. You can find red clover blossoms at your natural food store, or possibly in your own garden. Its flowers yield a sweet, honey-like substance that has anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties.

• ½ tablespoon dried red clover flowers OR 1 tablespoon fresh flowers

• ¼ cup water

• ¼ teaspoon clover honey
• ⅛ teaspoon vitamin E oil

• ⅛ teaspoon cornstarch

1. In a small pan, bring clover, water and honey to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.

2. Remove from heat, then strain liquid. Return liquid to pan and stir in oil and cornstarch, mixing well.

3. Heat mixture until it forms a clear gel (about 1 to 2 minutes).

4. Cool gel completely, stirring occasionally. Spoon into a clean container.

Click here for more lip gloss blends from Body & Soul: Soothing Lip Glosses & Balms.

www.organixhair.com

I was intrigued with Organix’s Revitalizing Pomegranate Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner from the moment I opened the shampoo bottle to catch a whiff – these products smell amazing. They emit a very powerful, fruity and delicious fragrance and, at the super reasonable price of only $6.99 for each 13-ounce bottle, I found myself wanting to know more about Organix.

Despite its four beauty awards from WWD Beauty Biz, Self Magazine, All You Magazine and Lifetime, I haven’t noticed any phenomenal change in my hair after testing it for over a month. I have, however, enjoyed its enticing smell. The formula is a blend of antioxidant-rich pomegranate and green tea extracts and is targeted towards dry and brittle hair. The use of tea in a hair care treatment is something I’ve read before (Body & Soul: Wake Up Skin and Hair with Refreshing Tea), so I was excited to see this herbal option on the market.

What’s green about this product? Aside from its name, Organix products contain organic active ingredients; sulfate-free formulas; its bottles are manufactured from recycled post-consumer resin; and its compostable labels are printed with eco-friendly inks. However, its use of methylochloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone concerned me. According to the Environmental Working Group, methylochloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone are preservatives that pose as moderate hazards and are linked as immune skin toxicants.

For its reasonable price, however, I would like to look into their other tantalizing scents: Coconut Milk, Mandarin Olive Oil, Tea Tree Mint, Shea Butter, Vanilla Silk, White Tea Grapeseed, Mocha Espresso, Cucumber Yogurt, Lavender Soymilk, Grapefruit Mango Butter and Passionfruit Guava. 

What about you, fellow herbies? What do you think about Organix products? Green enough? Herbal enough? How do you like these hair care reviews? I have one more left and then I’m moving on to bigger and better things.

www.jurlique.com

When I stepped out of the shower after using Jurlique’s hair care products I felt like I had stepped out of a high-end hair salon. My hair felt light, oil-free and amazing. After every use I couldn’t stop reaching for the ends of my hair and pulling it across my cheek for one more sniff.

The scent I love most of all is the peppermint and tea tree aroma from Jurlique’s Arnica Mint Shampoo ($22). Jurlique’s Lavender Conditioner ($22), which is designed to relax your mind and soothe your hair and scalp, paled in comparison to the company’s Arnica Mint Shampoo. Jurlique also offers Chamomile and Sandalwood shampoo and conditioner products. After using a quarter-size dollop of the shampoo to lather my hair I was in fragrance heaven. Also, the bottles are decorated with chic illustrations of the herb ingredients added to each product, which make them cute products to keep on display in your bathroom for guests to see and grow envious of.

The company uses sustainable ingredients and holds itself in high standards when growing, developing and sourcing Jurlique ingredients in its own farms and, when impossible, carefully sourcing from biodynamic or organic farms.

Its one downfall is that Jurlique’s Arnica Mint Shampoo is produced with sodium lauroyl sarcosinate—a cleanser that removes surface oil, dirt and bacteria without stripping or drying sensitive skin, but still may not be the safest ingredient choice, according to the Environmental Working Group. This cleanser enhances the penetration of irritation to the skin but is safer when used in rinse-off products, according to CosmeticsInfo.org.

So what do you think? Have you fallen in love with Jurlique’s body care products as much as me? If not, what hair fragrance is your favorite?

www.verikira.com

Verikira Naturals is a Vegan Cosmetics Organization certified-company that pledges never to use synthetic fragrances, animal byproducts and unnecessary chemicals. What more could you ask for in a beauty brand? Oh yea – it donates 10 percent of its Pink Grapefruit Collection proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation all year long.

Pink grapefruit is a scent that you either love or hate. If you’re a fan, then you will love the faint citrus scent from this collection.

The pink grapefruit shampoo is sulfate and paraben free and is also made with pro-vitamin B5, which improves the moisture-retention capacity and stimulates skin regeneration. It took over a quarter-size dollop of shampoo to get my hair to feel lathered enough, but it was well worth it.

The pink grapefruit conditioner is 88 percent organic and made with these ingredients: Brassica Campestris, Aleurites Fordi Oil, Green Tea, Roobios, MSM, Vitamin B and Activated Charcoal. This conditioner lowers the pH balance of hair, increasing the elasticity of the hair.

This collection is available in two sizes—11.16 fluid ounces and 2-ounce travel size. The larger shampoo is $28 and the larger conditioner is $32. The travel sizes are $10 each. The travel pack trio, which includes the travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and lotion, is $32.

These products are a little pricey and I’m still not sure whether I would spring the green for these eco-friendly products. What about you? Have you tried Verikira Naturals? What did you love about their products? What hair care product out there are you willing to spend the big bucks on?

It might just be that my hair was recently cut, but my hair feels a lot healthier than it did a month ago. When I curl my hair the ends curl completely under. It’s great to not have split ends!

Most of all I’ve been enjoying the different scents during my hair care excursions. This week my hair smells like a mixture of rosemary, lavender and peppermint.

John Masters Organics creates aromatherapy beauty treatments that use certified organic essential oils whenever possible and avoid artificial colors, fragrances and fillers.

I used John Masters Organics’ lavender rosemary shampoo for normal hair. Because my hair is so thick I had to use a little more than a nickel size of the shampoo in order to get my hair nice and lathered, but I didn’t mind—this shampoo is so fragrant! Lavender normalizes scalp conditions and slows hair loss while rosemary stimulates hair growth and adds volume and shine. Next, I used the same amount ofJohn Masters Organics' rosemary & peppermint detangler. The added peppermint reduces scalp irritation and treats oily scalps.

For $16 each, I say these products are worth the extra buck. Other herbal products are available: evening primrose for dry hair, zinc & sage shampoo and conditioner, honey and hibiscus hair reconstructing shampoo, and an herbal cider hair rinse. Let me know which of these products you’ve tried or would like to try. What’s your favorite herb to use on your hair and why? What is it about a warm shower during the winter that makes you feel at ease?

Last Friday I was a bridesmaid for one of my best friends. So Friday morning found me doing inventory before leaving for the festivities:

Dress? Check                      

Shoes? Check                           

Wrap? Check

Minimal, yet comprehensive makeup supply? Check

Am I wearing a button-down shirt that won't ruin hair and makeup at the last minute when I change? Check

I was ready to leave for the reception site (where we would all primp together in the hours precluding the ceremony), wearing proper down-time pre-wedding yoga pants and flats, tossing a flat-iron in my tote with some mints. And then my phone rang. It was another bridesmaid, and she needed a favor.  

"Listen, you know that stuff you had at the bachelorette weekend?"

www.BodySenseShop.com

Ah-ha. A month previously, at the bachelorette weekend festivites, I packed a bottle of Brittanie's Thyme Organic Acne Treatment. Unsuprisingly, with a bevy of ladies who stretched their schedules to travel for the party (a combo of stress + airports + rich food + cocktails), we had some uninvited guests - pimples, that is. My bottle of Brittanie's Thyme was in high demand.

"Could you bring that organic stuff with you?" she continued.

The thing is, Brittanie's Thyme (a mixture of witch hazel and lavender and tea tree essential oils) is dependable. It dries trouble spots right out, and works quickly. And unlike pimple creams (which leave a white film), it can be used right before applying makeup so that it can continue to work. The scent is quite strong if you are unused to essential oils (like some of my friends), but by the end of the wedding experience several of my fellow bridesmaids were devotees.

Recently, I did something I've never done before. I used an entire tube of lip balm. I'd been absent mindedly reaching for it at my desk for months. Then one day, I went to roll up some fresh lip balm and ...screeech! Dry ground. Beached whale.

So what was the lip balm I loved so much I actually achieved the holy grail in lip balm usage - an empty tube? John Masters Organics Lip Calm, $6. It is a delightfully light, yet moisturing, mixture of olive oil, beeswax, avocado oil and shea butter. Plus, it smells great, with it's ylang ylang, vanilla and subtle citrus essential oils (tangerine and lime).

Bravo, John Masters Organics! Hats off to you.