Author: Li

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 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 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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

Here are the rest of the descriptions for my current sale items (the items are only onsale until the end of today, black friday! A new sale will be put on the website sometime on Saturday). I will keep this post up after the sale ends, for information purposes. 🙂

Paradise eau de parfum. This perfume took me a while to craft: most perfumes take months to develop (because of the way perfumes are made). But this one took me a little while longer than usual to create. I remember when I was crafting it, it was very hard to balance the proportions of the top, middle, and bottom notes. And then once I got them right, I loved it however I could not put my finger on it but I thought that there was just something still missing. Out of a whim I added my perfume blend to the organic vanilla bean infused oil I had been infusing for a few weeks. I let it age for a bit and it was absolutely perfect!

I make my perfumes at the eau de parfum concentration (so the essential oil concentration is MUCH greater than the concentration for skin care). All natural aromatherapy based perfumes are different than commercial perfumes; commercial perfumes are made with mostly synthetic ingredients and either no to only a VERY small amount of natural ingredients (less than 5% of the total fragrance blend; which does not include the base. So the amounts of real, more expensive naturals is very low in commercial perfumes). In Paradise and all of my perfumes I have used only natural ingredients. They are more delicate than commercial perfumes, and the different notes are generally more volatile than synthetics.

Paradise is both light but heady. Sweet and innocent but sultry. It has strong sparkly citrus and a bit of spice, fresh green notes, and deep earthy notes. Sinful vanilla is its base. I named it Paradise because its heart note, ylang ylang, is a tropical flower (I love ylang ylang, it is heady, sultry and sweet at the same time). Also when I smell this perfume, it whisks me away to a tropical paradise!

Paradise perfume is 20% off, until the end of today.

Morning mask and scrub is a lovely mild scrub that doubles as a mask. It is a nutrient rich plant based scrub, and like all Earth Alkemie products, it is 100% natural! It is made with vitamin rich certified organic adzuki (a traditional Japanese favorite for clear, soft, blemish free skin), skin soothing and softening certified organic oatmeal, and certified organic sugar (a natural source of glycolic acid). These ingredients gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it super soft and vibrant. One reason I don’t like some types of manual exfoliants or lab derived glycolic acid is because they are often too harsh for many people’s skin (some manual exfoliants are too scratchy and may damage the skin with their sharp edges, and lab derived acids are very concentrated. Personally most lab derived acids are too irritating to use on my own skin since they are very strong). But the exfoliants in Morning mask and scrub are super mild, suitable for even the most sensitive skin (the manual exfoliants are not scratchy at all, and some of the most gentle natural exfoliants available. And the amounts of glycolic acid found naturally in the sugar, is super mild). This mask also contains many antioxidant and nutrient rich ingredients, great for use on blemished skin, such as certified organic carrot and barley, and dates! Morning is scented with bright sweet orange, rich patchouli, smooth vanilla, and floral lavender.

I love this scrub, it makes my skin so soft and whenever I use it my skin just glows. I named it Morning because it contains many yummy nutrient rich ingredients that people eat for breakfast like oatmeal, barley, oranges, and maple syrup. 20% off of Morning mask and scrub until tonight, 11:59 pm EST).

Tropical Dreams is one of my best selling products. It is also one of my most simplest formulations: it is nothing but dreamy, creamy, certified organic cold pressed virgin unrefined coconut oil, and a blend of delicious smelling essential oils. Since the coconut oil is cold pressed virgin unrefined (none of that solvent extracted, highly refined stuff here!) it smells of rich coconuts. Tropical Dreams is made with exotic ylang ylang, fresh bergamot, and deep vertivert. But the best part is what it can do for your skin and hair! One reason I love this product is that it has multiple uses! Use it as a spot treatment for blemishes, apply it to damp skin to moisturize the body, or use it on the hair as a deep hair treatment! A few people love using it on their facial skin too (apply only a tiny amount to damp skin). This is my mom’s favorite product!

Tropical Dreams is also 20% off, until tonight

Here is the link to my blog entry on the other current sale items.

And here is the link to the blog entry about the details of the current sale.

I thought I would post some information about some of the current sale items. Tonight I will discuss the vegan makeup brushes, and also Serenity Terra Elixir and, last but not least, Midnight Luna Elixir. I will post about the other items tomorrow. Though the sale is only for a couple more days (ends the night of black friday!), I hope this post will still be of use after the sale is long over. 🙂

The vegan makeup brushes I carry are my favorite makeup brushes EVER. I first tried these brushes five or six years ago, when I first began using mineral makeup. I fell in love with these brushes: they are so soft (much softer than brushes made with animal hair), they pick up minerals well (mineral makeup adheres better to synthetic brushes than animal hair), and not only are they VEGAN and cruelty free (they are made with synthetic super soft, luxurious taklon bristles) but the wood handles are made of sustainable woods (birch for the individual brushes, and bamboo for the brush kit). Though I have tried many other brushes since, these brushes still remain my favorites because of their super high quality and durability. So when I started my company, I knew these were the brushes I wanted to offer to my customers! I carry only a small selection of brushes but I offer all the essentials! 🙂

The Eyeshadow Shading Brush is the brush I use the most–its rounded, flattened bristles are perfect for applying, shading, and blending colors together. It is super soft but firm enough for applying most eye looks. If you can only get one brush for the eyes, get this one!

I like using the Angled Eyeshadow Brush to blend and also create sultry, smokey looks. The head of this brush is more dense and thicker than the Eyeshadow Shading Brush, and the bristles are also cut at an angle. This brush is great for softening harsh lines.

The Angled Eye Liner Brush is one amazing brush! The super fine, angled brush head is perfect for creating sharp, crisp, well defined lines. A must have for intense looks!

I absolutely adore the Fiber Optic Whisper Blush Brush; it is a VERY special brush. To my dismay, most fiber optic brush bristles on the market are made with animal hair with synthetic tips. I remember a few years ago, I bought one from a mineral makeup company who claimed that theirs was completely synthetic. As I was washing it (before use) I discovered it was the usual animal/synthetic mix. 🙁 Needless to say (being vegetarian) I was really upset! (A few weeks later they fixed their mistake on their site and then stated that it was mixed animal hair and synthetic). So when I found out that my favorite brush company had made an all synthetic, vegan fiber optic brush, I HAD to try it. It is extremely soft and just applies a super sheer sweep of color across the face. Whether you want a soft natural day look or a dewy, glowy, ethereal look, or an intense look (apply a few thin layers for a more dramatic look) this brush is for you. I am usually not a blush girl, but because of this brush I wear blush more often! Though this is labeled as a brush for blush but I actually love using it to apply foundation too! (I don’t wear foundation much either but when I do, I want a light layer, and this brush is perfect for that).

The Bamboo Seven Piece Makeup Brush Kit is absolutely amazing. I take it with me when I am traveling since it has everything I need. The brushes look smaller than the full size brushes, but the brush heads are quite dense and many of them are the same denseness and thickness of regular sized brushes, or if they are a little smaller, they get the job done just as well, if not better, than full size brushes. For many of the brushes (most of the eye and lip ones), the main differences is the length of the brush handle. I have pictures on this page that compares the full size brushes to the ones in the kit. As you can tell the brush heads are still pretty dense and substantial for the eye and lip makeup brushes. The powder, blush, and flat top brushes from the kit looks the same size or a touch smaller than the full sized Whisper blush brush, but they are still pretty full. Though the brush heads of the powder and flat top are smaller than full size face brushes, they are dense, and they are some of my favorite brushes to apply foundation and blush when I wear them (the smaller head size makes it easier to apply foundation in the contours of my face, such as the corners of my nose, or under my eyes, for example). I love this kit so much, I often use it at home too as my regular brushes!

The bag is vegan too, and the size is perfect to put in a purse, traveling bag or suitcase; great for vacations, family trips, errands, or to bring with you when you go to work!

Here is a review that Sharon of all natural beauty websites wrote on one of the makeup brushes.

All of my vegan brushes are currently 20-30% off (until friday night)!

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During the winter time skin gets so dry and dehydrated. Last year I created Midnight Luna Elixir for the cooler months or for people who have dehydrated and dry skin year round. Midnight contains some of my favorite nutrient rich ingredients for the skin including cold pressed, unrefined pumpkin seed oil, amazing cranberry seed oil (which contains one of the highest concentrations of vitamin E. For pumpkin and cranberry click on the links to read their profiles), rare Abyssinian and rare baobab oils (which are both very light, antioxidant rich oils). It contains so many great carrier oils and herbs for super dry and dehydrated conditions like watermelon seed oil (which has been one of my stables for years!), elderberry (one of my favorite herbs for skin care and medicinal purposes), honeybush (which is not only a great tea but super hydrating in skin care), and kiwi seed oil (a boon for super parched conditions!). Many of the ingredients are also highly recommended for blemished skin and skin clarity including elderberry, neroli, petitgrain, cedar, ylang ylang, rose, and honeybush.

And the scent is heavenly–I made a simple neroli (orange blossom) based perfume for dry and dehydrated skin: sultry ylang ylang, floral neroli, deep cedar, fresh petitgrain, spicy cardamon.

I named this elixir Midnight because it contains pumpkin oil. I released this the same time I introduced Cinderella mask, which is made with pumpkin. To me pumpkins symbolize transformation, and this elixir definitely transforms the skin! I would say this is the sister elixir to Swan Luna Elixir since they share some of the same ingredients (most of the ingredients in the two elixirs are different but a few of them are the same, like pumpkin, cranberry, and neroli). So if your skin loves Swan or any of the ingredients I have used in this amazing elixir, I recommend giving Midnight a try!

Midnight Luna Elixir is also 20% off! Sale ends soon (night of black friday).

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Serenity Terra Elixir doesn’t get plugged very much but it is one of my staples for the winter time. I crafted this one for the moms (pregnant and breastfeeding women who wanted to avoid certain ingredients and scents) and for people who are sensitive to fragrances (even natural ones), or who sometimes want to use a scent free product (every once in a while I will not use ANY essential oils, since I rotate ingredients, and I will use Serenity to give my skin a break from essential oils, and to also give it a super boost of antioxidants at the same time).

It has some of the best ingredients for skin care. First it contains kukui nut. This is one of the top three carrier oils I recommend the most, for any skin type. It is super light (the lightest one out there), but is still emollient (softens the skin). The Hawaiians traditionally used this oil for their sun parched skin to keep it soft and supple. Plus it is great for blemished skin.

I also added antioxidant rich certified organic camellia oil (from the green tea plant). This is also one of my top three recommended carrier oils. Camellia oil was traditionally used in Japan to keep their complexion flawlessly clear.

I formulated this with some emollient, nutrient rich oils such as sesame seed, hemp (extremely vitamin rich and one of my first choices for both oily and dry skin), almond (a favorite of herbalists but one of the most underrated ingredients in the skin care industry since it is considered a ‘basic’ oil. Though it is basic it is amazing for the skin), and other wonderful oils.

And to top it off I added certified organic pomegranate oil (one of the best natural sources for antioxidants in skin care for my opinion, and a must have for ‘anti-aging’ and parched skin). I also included oat co2, which is super soothing.

In other words, this is a wonderful oil when your skin needs a little more emollience and a bit of oomph. My sister likes to use Serenity in the winter time too.

Serenity Terra Elixir is 20% off too! Sale ends 11:59 pm EST on friday November 25, 2011. For more details of the sale please ready my blog post, here.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving holiday! May you all be safe and with loved ones this holiday season.

As promised, here is the first of my holiday sales! This year I am doing a few sales for the holiday season instead of one big, all over store sale this year.

The current sale and special starts now and lasts through friday November 25, 2011, 11:59 pm EST.

A new sale will be put on the site for small business saturday to cyber monday. I will also have at least one other sale after that in December. Be on the look out for two new mask/scrubs, coming soon! 🙂

Each sale will have different items onsale (so the items onsale now will not be put onsale during the other sales). Great time to stock up (before I recalculate prices due to the rising cost of ingredients after the holidays).

Please note that all orders placed this week will start shipping next week.

Earth Alkemie is closed for Thanksgiving: the 24th and the 25th (since I will be spending time with my family, and the post office is closed on thursday). But the cart will be open, and the sales/special below will end at 11:59 pm EST on friday the 25th. A new, different sale will be put up sometime on the 26th (saturday).

Earth Alkemie is always closed during the weekends so most likely orders placed now will start shipping on monday. Thank you for understanding!

Current sale, 20-30% off selected items:

20% off of Morning mask and scrub!

Midnight Luna Elixir is also 20% off!

All of my vegan, sustainable makeup brushes are 20-30% off!

One of my most popular products, Tropical Dreams, is also 20% off!

Serenity Terra Elixir is 20% off too!

Paradise perfume is 20% off!

Sale prices are already marked on the website.

AND to top it all off, every order will receive a free special goodie, as follows.

Orders $5 to $30 (not including shipping and taxes) will receive a free xiao 1.5 oz of Karite African black soap.

Orders that are $31 and over (not including shipping and taxes) will receive their choice of a xiao (small, 2 oz) size of Uganda Buttercreme OR xiao (1.7 oz) of Vanilla Lavande Buttercreme. Please either email Li with your choice or post a comment during checkout, after you place an order. If a product is not specified, then I will choose one at random for you. 🙂

Li@earthalkemie.com

Edited to add links to my newest blog entries on the sale items. Here is an entry on Midnight and Serenity elixirs, and the vegan brushes. I will add an entry to this blog on the other items sometime tomorrow, hopefully.

I hope everyone has a safe and joyous holiday!

Earth Alkemie will be closed on thanksgiving (the 24th), so I can spend time with my family.

I also will not be shipping out orders on the 25th but there will be specials/sales on black friday (the 25th) through cyber monday (the 28th). Also keep an eye out on this blog over the next couple days (hint, hint).

Have a happy holiday!

My newest eco living article was posted on the all natural beauty (anb) mall while I was out of town, but I didn’t get a chance to post about it until now.

This month’s article is on how to green your holiday. I share many tips on how to make your holidays a little more eco-friendly. It can be something as simple as using reusable bags when shopping, or something that may be a little different for many people, like eating more or mostly organic, locally grown or vegetarian dishes (which are healthy, delicious, full of antioxidants, and also eco-friendlier ways to eat).

I hope everyone enjoys November’s article, and finds some eco-friendly inspiration in it! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

I have been the Eco Living writer for the anb (all natural beauty) mall since fall 2008. Earth Alkemie became one of the vendors featured on anb mall in 2010, and is an anb partner on all three of the anb websites. Basically if a company is featured on anb mall they are at least a natural based company (so mostly natural but may contain some safe synthetics or synthetic lab derived actives) so anb mall features natural based, non-toxic products. But the vendors featured on the all natural beauty website and the anb (all natural beauty) portal carry only 100% all natural products: the companies on all natural beauty website and anb portal are some of the purest and most natural products that you will find. I am proud that Earth Alkemie is associated with all three anb sites; when I say Earth Alkemie’s skin and hair care are natural, I mean natural! 🙂

I have been contributing recipes and articles to the all natural beauty website and anb portal for many years, since 2005. The owner of the anb websites, Sharon, is also my friend–I met her a few years ago during a Jeanne Rose course that she hosted at her beautiful house. Not only is Sharon gorgeous but she is very knowledgeable and passionate about her work.

So whenever Sharon has an anb holiday sampler, I am happy to contribute products. This year’s anb 2011 holiday sampler is fabulous! Nine companies, including Earth Alkemie, have contributed an assortment of yummy sounding goodies for your skin! This year’s Earth Alkemie’s contribution is a petite (sample, 0.4 oz) size of Cinderella mask, as well as a great coupon!

Cinderella mask is one of my personal favorites and is one of my most popular products. It is a clay based mask with pumpkin so it mildly exfoliates, softens the skin, and removes impurities. It is wonderful for blemished skin and many of the ingredients help improve skin clarity.

I really love the scent, it’s fresh but spicey and musky: absolutely delicious! Sparkly clementine and cheery orange are blended with soothing, calming vanilla. Spicy gingergrass and fragrant cardamon add a touch of savory sweetness. Rich, woody vertivert rounds out the scent.

I haven’t tried the other products or companies in the sampler but they look fantastic (there is mineral makeup, serums, another mask, lip balm, etc. So many products!). Best of all is that it is an amazing deal, it is offered at a much reduced rate for $34.99 (for twenty products). So check it out!

Sharon has posted a wonderful video going over the anb holiday sampler, including a nice little blurb on Earth Alkemie’s Cinderella mask. Thank you Sharon for your kind words on my mask!

Cinderella mask is also available for sale in the petite size and grande (full, 2.4 oz size) on my website in the mask and scrub section.

Earth Alkemie is back open. I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers from my customers. Thank you.

I spent the day working on orders, but I didn’t get to ship them out since paypal’s shipping label service was acting up. Just googled, it looks like other business owners and hobbyists (on etsy) are having this issue too. If paypal’s shipping doesn’t come back on line by tomorrow I will either use usps’s website (I prefer to use paypal, since had some issues with usps’s website) or pay for postage directly at the post office (and I’ll just pay the delivery confirmation charge myself. Paypal doesn’t charge for dc or they charge 19 cents depending on which shipping method).