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?

Take a peek inside our office and watch our efforts in decorating. This year's theme?—Feliz Navidad!

We hope you all have as much fun this holiday season as we did decorating our office!

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?

Our colds have died down to a dull roar over here, but we're still struggling with some nagging symptoms. We've been relying on Burt's Bees Lavender Complexion Mist to perk us up in the morning, drinking lots of water, eating healing soups ... and I have another secret weapon.

When dealing with a scratchy throat, I like to use Ice Taps from Solstice Medicine, a little packet of coffee mint flavored pellets that you toss down your throat and allow to dissolve. The active ingredient is menthol, and Ice Taps also contain Echinacea purpurea to help you kick your cold.

Set sail with your favorite couple once again.

Okay...I know this has nothing to do with herbs, but I feel the need to share some exciting news! Revolutionary Road has been nominated in these categories for the 66th annual Golden Globes Awards: Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama and Best Director.

I am very antsy to see Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite on screen. I was a huge fan of the motion picture blockbuster Titanic (I was in the sixth grade when it was released, so don't judge me for being a little bit obsessed with it). Now, to learn that the movie is getting credited with Golden Globe nominations for all four major categories is incredible. I can not wait to see this film! Until then, I'll be listening to My Heart Will Go On and dreaming that I'm flying with Jack on the R.S.S. Titanic until this movie hits screens soon. Congratulations Revolutionary Road!

I don't know about you guys, but this time of year can be rough. As in your skin. It's cold outside, you are busy getting everything ready for the upcoming holidays, and maybe you haven't gotten in the habit of applying your favorite moisturizer post-shower. Before I know it, I'm snagging elbows and hangnails as I yank on my sweater in the morning.

Aquavena Citrus Blossom soap can snap you right out of that rut. For a morning shower, citrus soap is a true luxury (Aquavena's version has essential oils of blood orange and Italian bergamot). The scent snaps my eyes right open, and the luxurious feel of this moisturizing soap (it is made of palm kernal oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, coca butter, shea butter and flax seed oil) reminds me to pay extra attention to my skin. For my dry skin that means applying unscented moisturizer before I've toweled off, toner for my face and cuticle oil for my ever-thirsty fingers.

This Monday at Herb Companion HQ, we all showed up with sniffles. I can feel it coming on ... my nose is twitchy, my shoulders are achy, and my throat is scratchy. But right now it's still a baby cold. Here's hoping echinacea can come to my rescue! I'm hitting the Ulitmate Strength Echinacea from Jash Botanicals our Editor in Chief left on my desk a few months ago when I was wheezing --- I'm using it early and often this time around. This particular mixture is Echinacea angustifolia root in grain alcohol. I just put a couple of dropper-fulls in my water and try to drink a glass of water every hour or two. I'm almost out of this stuff. I think next time I'll try their Ultra Immune, which has both Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia.

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.

Most days I just don't have time to make breakfast. It's the most important meal, though, so usually it's a Larabar and juice for me. I like Larabars because the ingredient list is short and they are delicious. My favorite bar, the Apple Pie, is just dates, walnuts, unsweetened apples, almonds, raisins, and cinnamon. That's it! They also have Cinnamon Roll, Lemon Bar and Banana Bread bars.

www.CherryPharm.com

So what to sip with this delicacy? I recently stumbled upon a delicious cherry juice called Cherry Pharm. The cherry juice is not from concentrate (although apple juice from concentrate is added). It contains the juice of 50 tart cherries, and accounts for 2 servings of fruit. Plus, the tangy zing wakes me up on the way to work.

Problem solved. A satisfying and yummy breakfast that will keep you going all morning.

Tip 8

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! I had both Thanksgiving lunch and Thanksgiving dinner with my family, so there was a lot of delicious food to enjoy.

Now that Thanksgiving is over and the Macy Day Parade blimps have deflated, I’ve realized Christmas is less than a month away. Are you ready? Because I’m not! Here are my eight ways to create an herb-inspired Christmas.

8. Get in the kitchen and start baking delicious treats for your friends and family. It’s easier than finding everyone you know and love individual gifts. I’m most excited to try creating these Christmas Cookie Trees. Bake one of the six cookie recipes as the perfect centerpiece for any Christmas party.

7. I have been in love with paper ever since I was little and put in charge of wrapping Christmas gifts. Since then I’ve gotten tired of the same wrapping plus store-bought bow combination and have tried more creative decoration methods. As you start getting gifts, try getting creative with some of these fun wrappings.

Tip 2

6. Create something handmade for all of your family, friends and coworkers. It’s a gift that is both from the heart and easy on your wallet. I recommend making soap for everyone you love. Try these nine different soap recipes, and if they don’t suit you, play around with the herbs you have around the house to create your own scent. 

5. Tweak that Christmas menu with these eight delicious Italian-inspired recipes. I highly recommend Nina Mirabile’s Mint & Applecello Cake.

4. Decorate a gingerbread house using herbs from your indoor garden.

3. Make a donation to your favorite charity. The Herb Companion recommends these six charities that support the prosperity of herbs.

Tip 1

2. Reduce your carbon footprint with carbon neutral shopping at www.EarthMoment.com. This website allows you to buy products online from almost 1,000 retailers like Target and Wal-mart (click here for the complete list) while staying friendly to the environment.

1. A fairy cottage, luxurious jewelry and a decorative vase are only some of the products The Herb Companion picked for its 2008 holiday gift guide. Click here to learn more about our favorite gifts of the season! 

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.