Gong xi fa cai!
January 23, 2012
Gong xi fa cai! Happy Chinese New Year! Much prosperity, joy, and good health to all. It’s the start of the year of the water dragon so should be an interesting year! Take care!
Eco Living: New Year Eco Resolutions
January 18, 2012
Happy New Year! I posted my newest eco living article on anb (all natural beauty) website a while back. Since I didn’t post about it before and since it is almost Chinese New Years, I decided to post about it now. It is on eco resolutions for the new year. In the article I have listed a few easy eco living tips on how to live a more green lifestyle! I hope you enjoy the article! 
Updates, refunds, and newest eco living article.
December 21, 2011
I hope everyone is doing well. Happy Yule (Winter Solstice)! I also wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Holiday, a Happy New Year, and a wonderful Chinese New Year too!
I just thought I would post a few updates.
Just wanted to mention that Earth Alkemie is still closed (and I am not accepting any orders right now). I am currently on hiatus due to health reasons, and do not know at this time when I will be reopening (please read my blog post about my hiatus). Thank you to everyone for all their wonderful posts, emails, pms, etc. I am still not feeling well (usually my bad flare ups last a few days, and then I am able to function for a few days even though I don’t feel good, but most days for the past 2 1/2 weeks I’ve been feeling really bad). Since ‘closing’, I slowly finished orders, and I am now working on giving out any refunds I owe (for excess shipping fees, sales, etc). I apologize for the long wait for refunds (I had hoped to be done with everything by now but have been moving at a snail’s pace with things). I am looking forward to finishing everything and finally having some time to focus on my health issues.
I forgot to post that earlier this month my newest eco living article went up. It is called ‘Green And Budget Friendly Hand Made Gifts‘ and is an article on inexpensive, eco-friendly gifts that you can make yourself! They are super easy to make, elegant, and are easy on the wallet too! I have linked many of my old personal blog links to basic skin care recipes. I hope you enjoy it!
Last day before hiatus, status of shipping
December 7, 2011
Hi everyone
Today (wednesday December 7, 2011) is the last day my store will be open, since I am going on hiatus (so it is the last day I will be accepting orders, no exceptions. I will accept orders until 11:59 pm EST tonight). I just wanted to say it has been a pleasure being in business for almost two years and I hope that I will be able to open again soon; hopefully sometime next year. I am not sure when exactly that will be or what form/structure Earth Alkemie will be in (it will really depend on how I am feeling, and my health) but I will keep everyone updated. But I will reopen in some fashion.
I will still be active online during my hiatus on my personal face book, other non-Earth Alkemie related forums, email, and I hope to start my personal long neglected eco blog again. I plan to continue to write my eco living articles on anb (all natural beauty) mall. I will also update this blog, Earth Alkemie’s forum and also Earth Alkemie’s facebook from time to time (either eco living updates, an occasion environmental or natural skin care post, or just to let people know how I am).
I am going through so many emotions right now. I am sad I am going on hiatus (Earth Alkemie is something I am really proud of, despite the difficulties in running it because of my health). But I know I needed to and that it is the right decision for me. I feel hopeful (even though my symptoms have been flaring up recently). I also feel a bit of wonder since I’m not sure exactly where my path is taking me now.
I have been in a lot of physical pain the last couple days (which really sucks since I spent my birthday not feeling physically good, though I had a pretty good day otherwise). I have been moving slowly, so packing and shipping has slowed down considerably. There are also issues again with printing shipping labels (I had issues a few weeks ago too. This time both USPS and paypal have been on the fritz. I saw that other vendors on the biggest crafting forum, the dish, have had issues too, so I guess it’s not just my accounts). So hopefully a lot of packages will go out tomorrow (if worse comes to worse, I will just print out customers addresses, and then go to the post office and get postage at the counter. Don’t really want to since they charge more for delivery confirmation fees at the counter, but I will pay the extra costs myself if I have to. Hopefully their websites will work later today). So orders are going out, just very slowly. I hope to finish shipping all orders within the next few days. Any refunds I owe (excess shipping or for people who did not use the coupon codes etc) will be done soon too (it may take me a while, since I am trying to focus on getting the orders done and shipped first).
Thank you to all my customers who have supported Earth Alkemie and who love my products so much. Thank you also for being so understanding and patient with me during the times I have been slow. I hope that I’ll see you all again when I am healthier and open my doors again next year. Take care, and Happy Holidays and New Years to all. Cheers!
Update on a couple products, Warrior and Nirvana.
December 4, 2011
Hi everyone
I have run out of the grande (2.0 oz full) size of Warrior liquid aromatherapy cleanser, but there are still a few sample size (7.5 g) left. So I took the button off the website for the grande size. The sample size can still be ordered. I won’t be able to make another batch because I am out of some of the herbal extracts and there is no time to order more before I go on my hiatus (they would not arrive in time before I closed).
I have also ran out of the Nirvana facial creme (there was one left, but it was sold before I posted this blog entry). I have taken both buttons down. I am sadly out of the very nice ethically wild harvested unrefined Apricot Kernel Oil I used in this (the company that sold it no longer sells it, and the couple other companies I have sampled other apricot oils are very nice oils but they do not smell the same). I hope I can find one that smells nearly the same in the future, since I used this oil in other products too (it is used in Pangaea and Serenity Elixirs but I still have some of each in stock, so don’t think I will need to make more of them before I close).
These products will be available when I reopen, sometime next year (I do not know how long my hiatus will be).
If you have already ordered either Nirvana creme or the grande size of Warrior cleanser before I posted this, and I haven’t shipped your order out yet, then no worries. You will still receive them. (you are getting the last ones!)
I am so sorry that I won’t be able to make more before I close. 
I think I have enough of most of the other products or ingredients in stock (I have to make a couple things since I ran out but most things are already made up).
December Sale, Hiatus, Thank you, and anb mall holiday sampler coupon
December 2, 2011
Hi everyone
Originally I was going to do another mini sale for a few items (that were not already put onsale in the two previous mini sales). But since I am now going on hiatus, I have decided to put the whole store onsale for 15% off.
To receive 15% off your order please use coupon code:
strength9
This sale starts now and will end on December 7th, 2011, 11:59 pm EST.
The sale is 15% off of products, not including shipping and taxes.
There are also two new masks and scrubs (that I was going to release last month, but their release got delayed). So I am proud to introduce my two newest masks: Fairy tale mask and scrub, and Sundae mask and scrub. They are wonderful, nutrient rich creations, and (of course) 100% natural. Sundae is the chocolate banana berry based mask/scrub, and Fairy Tale is my newest pumpkin based mask/scrub, that I previous mentioned on the blog and/or forum. Like all my other masks and scrubs they are powdered/dry and preservative free. I hope you enjoy them!
I am going on hiatus because of my ongoing health issues. I hope to reopen soon, but at this time do not know when that will be. December 7, 2011 is the last day Earth Alkemie will be open, and the last day orders can be placed. I will be taking the cart down after the sale ends. For more on my hiatus please read my previous post.
I just wanted to say thank you to all my customers (many who are friends). Thank you for always being understanding and for all of your touching posts and emails. I will still be available on email, forums (a few others I frequent), and facebook (mostly my personal page). I will also update from time to time on Earth Alkemie’s facebook, forum, and blog. Right now I plan to continue writing my monthly eco living articles on anb mall during my business hiatus. The next one should be released soon.
I just realized last night that the coupon I had included in the anb mall holiday sampler has an end date of January 31, 2012. Since I am now going on hiatus (and will not be accepting any new orders after the night of Dec. 7th), when I reopen I will still honor that coupon for two months. I do not know at this time when I reopen (so can not give a new end date for the coupon) but people who bought the anb mall sampler will be able to use the coupon after I open my store again, for eight weeks. So you can use it now (during the current sale) or you may use it later, when I reopen. So hang onto the coupon, if you don’t use it now!
I wish you all a Happy Holiday, filled with much hope, strength, blessings, and joy.
Hiatus starting in December. Info on current sale and December’s specials/sales, and shipping status of orders
November 29, 2011
Hi everyone,
I am taking a hiatus for an undetermined amount of time. Earth Alkemie will be closed starting the night of December 7, 2011 (11:59 pm EST). At this time, I am not sure when Earth Alkemie will reopen. I am very sorry for the short notice of this announcement: so much has happened this year to my family, especially the last few months, that I just feel extremely drained and worn right now. I wasn’t sure whether to just close for a couple weeks in December (for a short break, like I did last year), or whether I should take a hiatus for a longer amount of time. After much thought, I realized that it is best for me to go on hiatus.
These last several months my health issues have gotten progressively worse, and I continued to push myself working even though I did not feel well. I have had health issues for many years and I kept putting myself on the back burner, and put the business and other things before my health. I realized that I am never going to get better if I continue to push myself in this way, and that I really need to take the time to focus on my health and heal.
At this time I am unsure how long I will be closed but I will update from time to time on the blog, the forum, and facebook.
Thank you so much to all my customers and friends who have been so supportive and understanding. I appreciate it, and I hope to reopen my store soon.
So a few things to wrap up before I go on hiatus: my current sale will end Nov 30, 2011, 11:59 pm EST (see my blog entry for info on many of the products on sale). Then I will have a short sale with the two new masks/scrubs in December, since I promised that I would, and they are already made up. Here is the blog entry for the december sale. Then after that Earth Alkemie will close the night of December 7th. All orders made for the first two sales will ship by the end of this week. And I will finish shipping all orders from the december sales within a couple days of closing, and will work on giving any refunds I owe for shipping or discounts while I am closed.
I wish everyone the best for their families during the holidays and new years. I will still be around on my (personal) facebook and will occasionally post on forums during my hiatus. Take care.
Sincerely,
Li
Edited: to cross off the sales since they are over, and Earth Alkemie is now closed until next year.
Soothe and Heaven Herbal Cleansers, Eden and Swan Elixirs, and Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme.
November 29, 2011
For my small business Saturday and cyber monday sale, I put some of my personal and customer favorites on sale. The sale has been extended until wednesday Nov. 30, 2011, 11:59 pm EST! There will also be a third sale in December (along with new products then too). Then I will be going on hiatus, see my other blog entry on that. This post will remain on the blog after the sale is done, for reference purposes.
Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme smells absolutely delicious! I LOVE the scent of chocolate (currently only two products, Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme and Chocolate Dreams are chocolate based scents, but there will be a third product, a chocolate banana berry based mask/scrub released in a couple days! ). Most chocolate fragranced products on the market are synthetic, since chocolate or cocoa essential oil does not exist. However, there is a cocoa absolute (which I adore and love crafting with!). Most companies do not use cocoa absolute because of its expense, and the difficulties of working with it (it is, in theory, not oil soluble–it is water/alcohol soluble–but you can get it to work in some oil/butter based solutions, based on your formulation and how much you use, and also special directions in using products). But I think that cocoa absolute is worth every dollar and the work!
How would I describe cocoa absolute? Basically it is dreamy, rich, dark, intense chocolate–the pure scent. It is like liquid chocolate. I use an organic cocoa absolute that was made from organic beans (grown without synthetics pesticides, in a sustainable manner, but not current certified since they were grown by small farmers).
When I formulated Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme I wanted to create a rich chocolate scent, reminiscent of the best chocolate truffles. I can’t eat most chocolates anymore (unless they are grain sweetened chocolate, that do not contain white sugar, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc. So basically just grain sweetened chocolate chips and NO yummy truffles unless I make them myself). So I wanted to create the best, most authentic, chocolate indulgence for the skin.
To make sinful chocolate truffles, chocolate has to be paired with vanilla so I have added rich vanilla oleoresin (which is also difficult to work with since it is in theory alcohol soluble). I used to love eating gourmet truffles, so dark cocoa absolute and dreamy vanilla are blended with floral lavender, sweet floral citrusy organic petitgrain bigarade (the finest and highest quality petitgrain), and spicy organic cardamon. Decadent, indulgent, and 100% natural; no synthetic fragrances!
Best of all, is what Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme can do for your skin. For the base of the buttercreme I have used certified organic east nilotica shea butter. East shea butter is different from west shea butter; it is a sub species of the shea nut tree, that is grown in Uganda. It is rarer and harder to obtain (hence more expensive). Nilotica shea butter is smoother than west/regular shea butter and it is easier to spread. It also has a much milder scent than many unrefined west shea butters. Shea butter is one of my favorite ingredients in skin care; it is one of the ingredients I used over a decade ago to clear my blemished skin, and I still use it today to keep my skin clear. Shea butter is one of my first choices for the under eye area; it is often recommended to help improve the appearance of fine lines, and to help seal in hydration. Apply a small amount to damp skin (the combination of water plus the butter will moisturize the skin).
Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme is under the body care section of the website, however many people (including me) love using the buttercremes on their face and around their eye area too.
Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme is on sale for 20% off. Sale ends on November 30, 2011, 11:59 pm EST.
The Herbal Cleansers are my personal favorite cleansers for the face, and many of my customers have mentioned to me that they have replaced their current cleansers with my herbal cleansers.
The Herbal Cleansers are different than many other cleansers out there. They are soap free, detergent free, plant based, and 100% natural. They come in a dry/powdered form, so they have a long shelf life and are preservative free. They need to be mixed up (mixed with distilled or spring water) before each use. Because they are made with only plant and natural ingredients, and they do not contain any fillers, they are VERY nutrient and antioxidant rich. Every single ingredient is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, or phytochemicals. They are super gentle and non-drying, so are a boon for all skin types: dry, dehydrated, oily, combination, normal, and sensitive. They are particular good for blemished skin, as many of the ingredients have been used by herbalists, natural skin care crafters, and traditional/native peoples for generations.
Soothe Herbal Cleanser is made with bananas and also certified organic oatmeal, coconut, and soapnuts. Super gentle!
Soothe Herbal Cleanser is formulated with many super gentle ingredients for sensitive skin. It is made with calming certified organic oatmeal, gentle eco-friendly saponin rich soap nuts, and emollient, nutrient rich bananas. It is scented with gentle floral lavender and soothing owyhee essential oils. It contains many ingredients great for blemished skin, such as lavender, Garbanzo, aloe, and buckwheat. I named it Soothe because many ingredients are known for their soothing properties.
Heaven Herbal Cleanser: made with vanilla and certified organic coconut! Smells absolutely heavenly!
Heaven Herbal Cleanser smells like heaven: coconuts and vanilla. Most of the time coconut scents are synthetic since coconut essential oil does not exist. But the coconut fragrance of Heaven is 100% natural–from different coconut plant ingredients. So it is a light natural coconut scent paired with real vanilla. A few customers have stated that it smells like cake or cookies to them. This gentle cleanser contains a touch of kaolin clay to help remove impurities from the skin, but unlike many clay based cleansers it is non-drying because it contains lots of emollient ingredients like coconut milk! Many ingredients are great for blemished skin, including certified organic coconut, organic brown rice, and certified organic barley. Heaven is rich in many vitamins, antioxidants, and protein.
Soothe Herbal Cleanser and Heaven Herbal Cleanser is currently 20% off until Wednesday night!
Earth Alkemie's Eden Elixir is made with certified organic camellia oil, kukui oil, blueberry oil, and organic Turkish rose essential oil
Eden Luna Elixir is an elixir that I created for my own skin a couple years ago . My skin is balanced but can get dehydrated from time to time (and for many years, when it got dehydrated, it got oily, and then I would get blemishes). So I created Eden to prevent my skin from getting dehydrated, oily, and blemished, and I also use it to keep my skin clear. This complex, elegant formula contains many of my personal favorite ingredients including kukui oil, certified organic camellia oil, blueberry seed oil, and rose essential oil. It also contains many great anti-aging ingredients too, that helps with the appearance of fine lines, such as organic rose essential oil, myrrh, camellia oil, and pomegranate oil (I don’t have any fine lines–I am almost 34–so I can’t say from personal experience that it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, but it is one of the products I use to keep my skin looking youthful). Many ingredients are also great for blemished skin like elder, shea, and burdock. I named it Eden because it is like my own private Eden. It is my best selling elixir.
Eden Luna Elixir is 20% off until Wednesday night.
Earth Alkemie's Swan Elixir is made with cold pressed pumpkin seed oil, neroli essential oil, and certified organic Borage oil
Swan Luna Elixir is the elixir that I created for Hamsa, a customer who won a contest last year. I took a very long time to create this elixir and it has gone through many incarnations and a name change too. Her skin was very dehydrated, blemished, had clogged pores, rosacea/thread veins, was extremely sensitive and reactive, mature, and had fine lines. Swan contains many ingredients that Hamsa told me that her skin loved like neroli essential oil, and sea buckthorn and pumpkin oils. It also contains a lot of ingredients I thought her skin would love that would be helpful for her conditions, like passionfruit oil, and cedarwood. Hamsa tell me that after using Swan her skin is super soft, clear, and feels hydrated. She says it is soothing to her conditions, that it does not irritate her sensitive skin, and that it has improved the appearance of her fine lines and has helped all of her other issues.
I named it Swan because to me swans represent transformation and change, green and lush places, and beauty inside and out. Swans are also a symbol used in alchemy (alkemie). I changed its name because I felt its original name didn’t represent its final incarnation. I sent Hamsa a list of names (including Swan) to choose from, and she choose Swan (which was my first choice too!). She told me after she choose it, that her name means Swan too, so it was the perfect name!
Swan Luna Elixir is 20% off until the night of the 30th. Swan is my newest elixir, and the one I created for Hamsa.
I have everyone has enjoyed the first two sales. Stay tuned for the last and final sale, and the release of two new products, before my hiatus. Thanks!
Sale extended until Wednesday night!
November 28, 2011
Hi everyone
I think my website/server was down for a few hours on sunday morning.
So I am extending the current small business satuday/cyber monday sale until Wednesday night, Nov 30, 2011, 11:59 pm EST.
I will post about some of the products from the sale tonight.
Cheers!
Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday Sale!
November 26, 2011
Earth Alkemie's Soothe Herbal Cleanser is made with bananas, certified organic oatmeal, certified organic coconut, and certified organic soap nuts!
Earth Alkemie is a small online business so I am pleased to announce my small business saturday and cyber monday sale.
I have put several of my personal favorites and customer favorites on sale, and also have a few specials (a free product with purchase of certain products) in the DIY (do it yourself) and raw ingredient section that I hope you will love!
This special begins now (Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011) and ends Monday Nov. 28, 2011, 11:59 pm EST.
Edit: the sale now ends “Wednesday night, Nov 30, 2011, 11:59 pm EST”
I will be posting about each of these products this weekend here on the blog, but for now here is a list of all the sale items and specials.
Soothe Herbal Cleanser is on sale for 20% off.
Heaven Herbal Cleanser is also 20% off. The Herbal Cleansers are staples for my skin during the fall and winter months.
Eden Luna Elixir is 20% off. Eden is my most popular elixir and my personal favorite (this is the one I designed for my own skin).
Swan Luna Elixir is 20% off. Swan is my newest elixir, and the one I created for Hamsa.
Chocolate Truffle Buttercreme is also on sale for 20% off. Rich, and dreamy, and one of my favorite scent combos.
I also have several specials in the DIY/raw ingredient section.
When you purchase THREE 1 oz size of carrier oils, then you will receive ONE FREE 1 oz size of organic almond oil. There is a limit of only one free almond oil (thanks for understanding!). It does not matter which three 1 oz carrier oils you buy. For example: you can purchase one 1 oz of blueberry oil, one 1 oz of pumpkin oil, and one 1 oz of rosehip oil. And then you will get ONE 1 oz size of almond oil for FREE. OR if you wish, you can buy THREE 1 oz sizes of pumpkin oil (or whichever of the other carrier oils). And you will still receive ONE 1 oz size of almond oil for FREE. The almond oil is cold pressed and organic (grown without synthetic pesticides, and grown sustainably, but not currently certified).
I also have a special with the herbs or coconut milk. When you purchase any THREE of our 1 oz size of herbs or 4 oz size of coconut milk powder, then you will get ONE FREE 1 oz size of certified organic peppermint leaves. There is a limit of one free bag of peppermint leaves (thank you for understanding!). It does not matter which of our three herbs or coconut milk you buy. For example, you can buy one 1 oz size of chamomile flowers, one 1 oz size of calendula flowers, and one 4 oz bag of coconut milk powder. And you will receive ONE FREE 1 oz bag of peppermint leaves. OR you can buy THREE 1 oz bags of hibiscus. And you’ll get the peppermint leaves. OR buy THREE of the 4 oz size of coconut milk powder. You will still receive the FREE peppermint. So there are a lot of combos you can buy (as long as you buy THREE herbs OR coconut milk powder) and you will get a 1 oz size of peppermint. The peppermint is certified organic.
My last special is for rose hydrosol. When you buy the 4.5 oz size of organic rose hydrosol, you will get ONE FREE 1 oz size of vegetable glycerine. There is a limit of one free bottle of glycerine. See my recipe for my cranberry toner made with rose hydrosol and glycerine!
I hope you enjoy the sale and specials. There will be one more sale in December (I will release my new masks during that sale, hint, hint). Happy holidays, and don’t forget to support small businesses!
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