Body Salad

Dry Skin Menu: Apple Sugar

2005-10-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

The other night at work I was having a dry skin emergency. It's that time of year again when the skin on my face tends to flake, and having no moisturizer on hand I decided to try out a quick remedy I read in my Beauty: the New Basics book. The ingredients:

1 red apple (bought in the employee cafeteria for about 45 cents)
2 packs of sugar (free)

Luckily, I have paring knife in my lunch container. I used it to cut the apple in half and then into smaller slices, which I then used to rub the juicy apple flesh over the parts of my face that were flaking (forhead, nose, chin). After I was satisfied with the texture of my skin, I used the sugar mixed with some water as a quick exfoliant.
I can't say that it worked very well the first time, but after I did another application, my skin was plenty smoother. At least I didn't look like I was peeling, and that's the important thing.

As an added bonus, the skin felt soft, and not taut, as it usually does after I wash and moisturize. I also got to eat the rest of the apple for a yummy little snack.

My first body salad, or, in the immortal words of some kid on Brats (I have a 4 y.o. niece), my first "food court facial."

-Voila!

Aroma Rx vs. The Healing Sun

2005-10-14T04:10:00.000-07:00

Food for thought on Aromatherapy:
"Do you buy shower and bath products based on how well they clean or how good they smell?"

So far I've ordered oils from 3 different companies. The first one was Home Spa Organics. They have a nice website, with a decent selection of organically produced EO's, some carrier oils, diffusers, organic bath products, and synergistic blends. From them I ordered 5ml of their "Lavender" (lavendula) Augustifolia at $8.75 and a very tiny 1.5 ml of sandalwood at $16.95. The oils arrived speedily, I got what I ordered, the amber bottle is finely labelled, and I got to try out my first essential oil, Lavender.

Lavender is apparently considered the most useful, most versatile, and probably the most popular essential oil. It's uses are many, including skin care, headaches, insomnia, and of course, scent. More on the scent of Lavender below.

First of all, I had trouble dispensing the oil. Then I figured out that you could squeeze the bottle a little and a drop would come out. I thought the bottle would be glass, but I guess it's not, unless it's squeezable glass. Hehe.
Anyway... My second thought is, to be honest, I was repelled by the smell.
I've read in many books that it's best not to evaluate an essential oil that's undiluted. Point taken. But lavender is one of the few oils that can be applied to the skin undiluted, also known as neat.
In my books the smell of Lavender is described as "floral" and "herbaceous". Others describe it as "fresh" or "clean" or "sweet". All these terms, I believe, are totally subjective, meaning one floral scent is not the same as another, but rather used to describe the category that the scent falls into.
I think "herbaceous" is more like it. I'm totally not reminded of flowers when I smell lavender. More like plants and tea. If I've smelled it before, I don't recall. The smell reminds me of old age. And I also realize that people who describe the smell of lavender as "clean and fresh" probably associate the smell with something that's been cleaned or freshened with lavender, something I've never smelled. Fresh and clean to me is like line dried linen or a really good bar of soap.
But I have to admit, the more I used it, the more I became attatched to it. My favorite use for my lavender EO is to put a drop on the flannelette cover of my microwavable heating pad before I apply it to the tense muscles in my back. Not only does the heat disperse the aroma it goes directly onto my skin and relaxes the muscle. After I added the lavender I could actually feel the muscle moving around, kind of like it was settling. Or it just could be my imagination, hehe. I think Lavender would smell great blended with orange or some other citrus scent.

I haven't tried using the Sandalwood yet. Not only is it rare, precious, and extremely expensive, I ordered their smallest bottle available and I haven't had the occasion to break it out yet. Soon I will though. Sandalwood is my favorite scent in all the world.

The next company I ordered from was Aroma Rx. I chose it because it's kind of an old business, the owner is a pharmacist, and appeared secure. Along with a large selection of oils, they offer carriers, synergies, diffusers, jewerly and hydrosols, just to name a few. Some of the cons of the site included the fact that it didn't include any sort of shipping costs and didn't have very many pictures of the products they were selling.

Since I already had a couple of oils that I wanted, I decided to go with their free samples and a bottle of a synergistic blend called the Disinfectant Room Blend, for diffusion. I also ordered the Aroma Wheel for informational purposes.

Well I love the blend. I used it constantly for the first couple days after I got it. The smells were multilayered and refreshing. Sometimes I smelled the piney juniper, or the sharp eucalyptus. It even smelled citrusy, so I'm assuming that it's the lemongrass though I could be wrong. But after like the 3rd day or something I accidentally left the candle burning in my diffuser and the water boiled down and burned the oil. Now it smells just awful. I will not be making that mistake again. Before that disaster though, my sister happened to comment on the nice smell. Which brings me to my philosophy of EOs: even if they don't help clear up acne, relieve anxiety, or ease muscle tension, at least they smell great!!
The aroma wheel was kind of worthless. I wouldn't recommend it. It just sits on my shelf now. For the price I paid for it, I was hoping for something more useful.
The samples were very tiny, and I don't think I could actually use them for any sort of therapeutic purpose other than to smell. They came in these little glass vials and although they smell wonderful, there's not enough in them, I don't think, to blend into anything useful. I guess the samples were merely to take a sniff than to actually use them for something.

The 3rd and last company I've ordered from is The Healing Sun. The site is rather bright and attractive with plenty of pictures in their online catalogue, and they looked secure. They offer spa products, oils, extracts, herbs, vitamins, wraps, teas, carriers, and candles among others. The major con of the site is their extremely limited selection of essentials, so I most likely won't be ordering my EOs from them. The major attraction to me for this site was their reasonably priced soapstone diffuser. I ordered 15ml or half an ounce of Ylang-Ylang #1 for $19, a bottle of their luxury massage oil to use when I do my trigger point therapy for $14, and the $12 Soapstone diffuser.

Well, you get what you pay for. The products arrived slowly in the mail, and when I eagerly broke open the package to see what I got, the first thing I noticed was the utterly repulsive color of the diffuser. It's kind of hard to describe it, but all I know is that it totally rubs me the wrong way. It's a good thing I don't have to look at it to use it.
The ylang-ylang smells just as I expected it to. Ylang-ylang is not my favorite scent and I have NO idea how to pronounce it, but I love to blend it with sandalwood and patchouli to wear as perfume. I intend to blend it with my massage oil and use it for my salt glows.
The oil is fairly decent. It doesn't absorb too quickly so it works well with the massage tool I use for trigger point therapy. The tool just glides over the skin and can actually penetrate the muscle without catching. However, I need to use the oil sparingly, since when I ordered it, I didn't realize just how small 4 fl. oz really is. From now on, I'll be making my own blends.

Well, that's all for now. I've also ordered a different diffuser and a sampler from a company called Nature's Gift, but I have yet to recieve the order. Sometime in the future I plan on ordering from a company called New Directions. They are the most reasonably priced supplier of EOs that I've found so far, and they offer clays, salts, carriers, and supplies to make cosmetics and soaps. They look fairly interesting, so I look forward to judging their oils. I am so tempted to go hog wild and order all the oils that I want from either of these two companies, but I feel the need to practice restraint and good judgement and, above all, patience when it comes to finding the right supplier.

Nothing But the Essentials (or How I Buy Oils)

2005-10-14T01:12:00.000-07:00

I've been spending the past couple of weeks just browsing around trying to find a good supplier of essential oils. Oils are incredibly expensive (I've found this to be true especially if the plants are grown organically and/or processed by the supplier rather than internationally sourced). That being the case, I'm pretty strict when it comes to choosing a supplier.
For choosing a website to shop from, here are my standards.

a) The supplier knows their stuff. Probably the most important thing I'm looking for. I must confess I'm impressed with a supplier who can tell me what the botanical name of the plant is, what country their product was grown in, method of distillation, aromatic and medicinal uses for the oil, special cautions. Not that I claim to understand all about them, as I am just beginning my journey of discovery, but it's comforting to see this information included.
b) Security. When I find a site I might be interested in ordering from, I check all over for their security measures. If I don't find any, I pass.
c) Cost. Ok, ok. It's not that I'm terribly concerned that certain jasmine and rose absolutes are insanely expensive, and that Sandalwood, being an endangered species, costs over 100 dollars for a 1/2 oz size. That's to be expected. But when comparing costs between essential oils, I look for how they compare to one another and also to the same products on other websites as a subtle clue to the quality of the oils. This doesn't mean markup, but whether or not the oil is "pure" rather than an adulterated "fragrance" or "perfume" oil, whether they're bought in bulk and sitting around for ages, that sort of thing.
d) Length of business. How old is the company I'm ordering from? That's an important question to me. Don't ask me why. I guess I'd just prefer to order from a company that's been around, say, since the late 90s than someone who's just starting out. And I don't mean just online either. I found one supplier who had so many orders online they had to shut down their local shop and concentrate solely on their e-business.
e) Policy. This includes shipping, return, security, and privacy. I especially like a site that includes shipping rates along with their price list. That way I don't have to get to the end before I find out how much I'm going to be charged!
f) Ease of navigation. Although down on my list, of course it's frustrating trying to shop a website that isn't attractive and well-put together.
g) Customer feedback. I especially enjoy websites with this feature, even if the feedback is biased, at least the company cares what their customers think.
h) Samples. Though I don't usually take advantage of "free" samples offered by a company, seeing as I don't care to add to their burden of requests, it's nice to know that a company does, indeed, offer them if I so chose to avail myself.
i) Selection. You'd think this would be higher on my list rather than on the bottom. But then again, I realize that some oils are very rare and hard to find, and that after searching around, I seriously doubt I'll find a supplier that carries every single one of them. Also, I seriously like a site that sells accessories, synergies, blending supplies, diffusers, etc., but these things are not incredibly necessary. My hope is that someday I can find a site that offers it all.
That would be sweet.

Here are my standards for ordering from them again:

a) Quality of oils. Obviously. I haven't recieved much to compare qualities yet, but I'm working on it.
b) Packaging and labelling. Are they stored in blue or amber bottles? Are they glass or plastic? Do they have dropper tops or tubes? Are there cautions included on the labels? Clear bottles allow light into the containers which will destroy theraputic effects of the oils, or so I read. Plastic bottles will eventually dissolve and taint the oils, as with rubber tops. And finally, if there are cautions on the labels, then the supplier actually looks like they care about oils and their uses.
c) Speed of shipping. I love getting my packages sooner rather than waiting for what seems like ages.
d) Service. If I should ever have a problem with my order or any questions I'd like to ask, I'd order from a supplier who was friendly and helpful and who has an email address I could write to, a number I could call, that sort of thing.
e) Reliability. Meaning, I like to get what I ordered.
f) Cost. The last on my list. I realize that if I find an essential oil that is worth buying over again, as compared to a competitor's quality and value, I won't mind the cost.

Raves and Reviews: Sephora

2005-09-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Though I'm still smarting over my $100 sampler from Caswell-Massey, I must say I'm pleased with my Sephora experience. I didn't choose this particular store because of it's slick marketing and glossy advertising (although when it does come to it, I recognized the name from my occasional purchase of Self magazine), nor because of the fact that it's a giant retail chain with over 250 store locations in the United States and Europe (mainly in France), but simply because I shopped around online for the best deal on manicure products and this was it.

My criteria for choosing a store is:
a) product selection
b) certain brand names I want to try and
c) free shipping. This was important. I've learned from buying my music online that even though I can get a good deal on low priced products, I can get murdered on shipping costs.

Though there's a minimum of 75 dollars in order to qualify for free shipping, I had no problem filling up my basket with their quality selection of manicure essentials and a few luxury items.

The Stripper by The Lippman Collection, $16
The Stripper is an acetone-based nail polish remover with aloe vera extract and lavender essential oil. It comes in a 4 fl oz. bottle with one of those tops that you press with a cotton ball to dispense the lacquer remover.
Obviously one of those afforemention luxury items. Actually, one of the items I used to fill up the 75 dollar minimum. Not only is it insanely expensive for a nail polish remover of this size, but it was the only one that Sephora had to offer (not counting the ModelCo Liquid Buds remover). Apparently, though, The Stripper won some kind of Allure award for being "Best of Beauty". Fortunately I have strong nails. Usually I buy non-acetone based removers. But Aloe is healing and non-drying, and lavender has a reputation for being good for the skin among other things. It certainly smells nice when you use it, and the scent lingers on the fingertips. Afterwards, my nails actually felt stronger.

Shea Butter Nail and Cuticle Cream by L'Occitane, $16
Am I noticing a pattern here? Yet another luxury item, this was the only cuticle and cream offered. I've since looked into buying other cuticle creams, perhaps non-French and certainly a lot less expensive. At .5 oz, it's very small. One thing I have to say about it though. It smells great!

Lavender Harvest Hand Cream by L'Occitane, $8
I'm not really into hand creams that you have to buy since there are a lot of all natural recipies for the hands that I have yet to try. But since I was ordering my basic manicure products, I decided to give this one a whirl. It's an ok-smelling cream (the smell reminded me of plants and tea) that's nongreasy and felt like silk after I put it on. The only other thing of note is that I was suprised at the size when I first looked at it. I thought it would be a lot bigger, but at 1 oz, I guess I need to lower my expectations.

Moisturizing Gloves Sephora Professional, $8
To go with the hand cream. They're too stretchy to be all cotton, though. If I feel like I need to buy some, I'll probably have to shell out the cash. So, nah.

Nail Polish Corrector Pen by Sephora, $6
Most articles on your home manicure recommend covering an orangewood stick with cotton and dipping it into your remover. I suppose it would be a lot cheaper than this polish corrector pen. The instructions on the pen says to "clean the tip" afterwards. I couldn't figure out how to do that without wasting product. I suppose a monkey could figure it out. But it's probably obvious so far that monkies are a tad smarter than I am.

Sephora Pumice Stone, $5
Just your basic pumice stone. Yay. Since last week though, I've found a volcanic rock by Moom which is supposed to be better than your basic pumice stone. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Sephora Emery Board, $5
I got my Sephora products in a draw-string satchel type thing. I can't figure out what the material is, and the color is awful. But all of my stuff was inside, excluding the emery board. I only mention this because after pulling all the stuff out and going over the inventory, I couldn't find it! Well it turns out that it was seperately wrapped in a bulge of tissue paper that was stuffed inside the other 2 pounds of tissue paper the shipment came in that I was just about to toss. Let that be a lesson to me.
Aside from that, I got the black model. It has 3 different grains on 2 sides, which I like. Apparently, it's "the only emery board I'll ever need."

Sephora Signature Clear Makeup Bag, $4
The only bit of fluff I threw in there to fill up my order. The bag is rather slim, though, and doesn't even hold all the prodcuts that I ordered, even though most of them are relatively small. It has the Sephora logo on it. Whee.

Sephora Toenail Clippers, $3.50
Self explanatory.

Birchwood Sticks set of 12, $2
Why birchwood and not the traditional orangewood is a mystery to me. Either way, a birchwood or 4 has been sacrificed for my home manicure. o_o

White Toe Seperators, $2
Again, self explanatory. I tried them on, and though they were just a tad uncomfy, for that price, at least my toes are seperated.

Grand Total: $75.50
I just squeaked by the free shipping minimum with the two bits that were included on the toenail clippers.

The main thing that prompted me to choose from Sephora's products was the availability of the Birchwood sticks along with most of the other products I wanted for my home manicure. Of course I found sticks elsewhere, but not coupled with such a wide selection. The only thing on my list that I couldn't find from Sephora was a pumice stick alternative to orangewood, and a natural bristles nail brush. That's what prompted me to buy one from Caswell-Massey, along with the nail file that I had frogotten to include with my order. My Sephora products arrived within a week. Everything was there, wrapped in wads of tissue paper rather than packing peanuts which I do appreciate.

Later on I'm going to distill my spa home manicure and pedicure techniques that includes these products along with others that I've ordered from companies other than Sephora. I'm still looking for a cute little ceramic or nail dish with the finger holders like the one my manicurist uses to soak my fingertips in. While not essential, I want my manicures to be a seperate relaxing experience, complete with a self hand massage. Ahhhh, luxury.

My $100 Caswell-Massey Sampler Purchase

2005-09-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

A hundred bucks for a sampler!? I've got to be insane. But no. Last week I ordered a c-note's worth of stuff from Caswell-Massey, including a natural bristles nail brush, "the only nail file I'll ever need", a spa and bath pillow, their honeysuckle signature scent, and a couple of samplers, including sandalwood and almond. At the same time I ordered from this reputedly old and well respected (not to mention very pricey) company I placed an order with Sephora for some manicure and pedicure tools. The following week (and in fact this Monday) I got the Sephora shipment but alas, no Caswell-Massey yet.

Today I got a box from them. Eager and excited I opened it up, dumped out the packing peanuts, and out fell the almond sampler and a catalogue... and that's it! Nothing else. Thinking I was missing something I turned the box over, shook it some more, rifled through the peanuts, and eventually opened the catalogue. Along with a couple of fliers, there was a tiny note that said "Thank you for your order. Here is your free gift" or something along those lines. Hm well I don't remember a free gift being advertised with my order, because if there was, I wouldn't have ordered the almond sampler, seeing as it was to be "free". Maybe I missed something.

Aside from all that, the almond products smell wonderful. I've always liked the smell of cherry almond. In the sampler is included a guest sized bar of cold cream soap, some almond and aloe foaming bath gel and hand and body emulsion, both 1.5 oz, .4 oz of almond and aloe body balm, a tiny packet of "botanical" shampoo, and some lip balm with vitamin e. I'd have put some on by now to see what's so great about it but I can't seem to remove the evil shrink wrap on it which must have been applied in the vacuum of space and I'm chipping my polish. It all comes in an actually nice quality bag with a sticker on it announcing that my "free" gift is a special value of 12.50 with a 19.50 regular retail price (although the tag on the bag says that the actual value of the product is 19.50, but the suggested retail is 12.50 - huh?). Ok there are three different levels of pricing here, designed no doubt to confuse the shopper and trick them into thinking they're getting a good deal on what amounts to be about 5 and a half oz of product in some pretty packaging and manufacturing brand name. But why should I complain? It was "free" with my order which is yet to arrive.

Maybe by the time it does arrive, I'll have two almond samplers to delight in. I doubt it though, because along with the 3 pounds of packing peanuts, I found a little package of almond and aloe liquid soap which wasn't included in the carrying case, and a tiny package of Casswell-Massey Greenbriar cologne. I'll just have to assume for now that, in all actuality, those were my free gifts. In which case, though, where's the rest of my stuff?? o_o

Spa Mini-Vacation Update

2005-09-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

Estimated luxury date: Tuesday, October the 11th

Originally I intended my spa date for next week. But after ordering some more "essesntial" bath products and a few "luxury" items, not only is my spa budget nearly depleted, I have to sit around and wait for them to arrive.