Discount Solution - All Natural Hair Cleansers

Many times over the past few months, I have come across discussion forums, blogs, and comments that have puzzled me some. There seems to be a growing concern with some people that shampoo is somehow bad, dangerous or undesirable – for hair, general health, and/or the environment. I've had numerous questions about shampoo and hair care ingredients such as surfactants and silicones. I have also seen more than one worrying account of what people are experimenting with in their search for a shampoo-free way to care for their hair.

Pocket-sized Spray Samples

I've been looking for these forever. Yay! I finally found a supplier of a 5ml (0,17 oz) sample size spritzer that doesn't need a minimum order of 10.000 units. Here are the little cuties – ever so dainty and still with enough content to get a good impression of the product. For comparison purposes I've put them next to a 30ml bottle (the blue herbal skin mist) and a 50ml bottle (the blue rose skin mist). Expect a few samples of mists in your coming orders ladies!

Natural Surfactants - About Saponins

No sooner than the series about shampoo ingredients is winding down (still have a final installment to do), I find myself face to face with a brand-spanking new and exciting lathery ingredient that is literally plucked from a tree! It would appear I am meant to be surrounded by surfactants just a little bit longer. Therefore, I hope you will journey with me into this next (somewhat shorter) mini-series that examines a couple of all natural, plant-based cleansers. Our story begins in India....

Body Fresh Deodorant - Now with 25% More!

Almost sounds like a real commercial doesn't it? I've found a new roll-on bottle that holds 75ml instead of my present 60ml bottles. I like the short-and-sturdy look of these containers, and if they test well, I will be offering deodorant in the new bottles with 25% more at the same price. Ok, I know we're not talking about bargain prices (remember, I do hand-craft every product to order), but it's still extra product at no extra cost (and yes, I promise to continue to include the same amount of samples and extras in orders as I normally do).

Pomegranate - The Natural Antioxidant

Pomegranate (INCI: Punica Granatum) is a relative newbie on the skin care scene. It has also relatively recently earned itself a place among the so-called superfruits. Pomegranate is heralded because of its high content of polyphenols – most particularly ellagic acid (which is a natural phenol antioxidant). Because of this built-in content of free radical scavengers and natural antioxidant property, pomegranate is regenerative, even helping to stimulate collagen production. Overall, it is a firming and nourishing ingredient for the skin. To top off this list of goodies, it also has one of my favorites qualities – suitable for all skin types.

Rose - The Queen of Skin Care - Part 2

In the first half of this 2-part article, I discussed the species of rose used for skin care, touched briefly on the history and looked at how the essential oils and hydrosols are produced. This time, I'll examine why rose is has earned itself such a regal title.

The Oil – Pure Magic For The Skin
Rose is great for all skin types but particularly suited to dry, sensitive

Shampoo - Plain & Simple and Good To Go

No nonsense labels for a
straightforward shampoo

It's official. This super mild shampoo series is good to go! I've named it Plain & Simple because it really is a bare-bones shampoo with the gentlest surfactants in a base of organic hydrosols. (I debated whether or not to call it "gently gently", but most people get annoyed with double names, so it lost out to Plain & Simple). The Plain & Simple Shampoos will officially make their appearance on the LisaLise website this week. The series includes an unscented version (Herbal) along with a Lavender and Rosemary version – all with the same gentle mix of surfactants. There is no guar in this series, so if you're looking for a super gentle shampoo with clarifying action, there's 3 to choose from. PS: Even though most of the parabens have been cleared for use in cosmetics, you will find that the Plain & Simple series is paraben free. Available in 50ml or 100ml.

Discount Solution - Lavender Foot Scrub and Spa Treatment

Last week I wrote about keeping your feet looking great for life with a 5 minute daily routine. Here's a foot treatment that is perfect for those days when you have time for 'a little extra'. One of the best ways to keep hardened skin from building up on the feet is to stimulate circulation in them. Here is an ideal way to stimulate, polish, remove dead skin, and pamper your feet silly.

Winners of the Feed My Lips Mint Moisture Stick

The chosen receptacle
for the drawing

I promised to announce the 2 winning names for the Minty Feed My Lips Moisture Stick today. The comments were not so numerous, so everyone who posted had a good chance of winning. To choose the winners, I went totally old fashioned and did a 'pick the names out of a hat' thing. Everyones comments were printed out, folded and placed in a fitting receptacle – my favorite Spring-like straw hat (with a sunscreening brim as wide as a small umbrella). I then asked my (completely unbiased and neutral) husband to pick 2 names.

Apricot Kernel Oil - The Stable Staple

Apricot is a member of the plum family. Its INCI name (Prunus Armeniaca) actually means 'Plum of Armenia', where apricots have been cultivated since ancient times. (Isn't it great when an INCI name has an understandable logic to it?). The oil of this delicious fruit is procured from its kernels, and has been used throughout history for a variety of purposes – among these, as 'relief for tumors, swellings and ulcers' in 17th century England.

Feed My Lips - Now With Mint Giveaway

Admittedly, this wasn't my brainchild. Let's give credit where credit is due. I'd like to begin by thanking Rikke (a super-talented whiz at crochet and dual-language blogger) for inspiring me. Rikke mentioned in a comment on this blog some time ago that she loved the taste of spearmint in lip products. I was pretty busy with other things at the time, but made a note to develop a version of Feed My Lips Moisture Stick with a spearmint taste. Rikke was absolutely right – spearmint is a really yummy idea. Therefore, without further ado: I'm proud to introduce the 'brand-new-tried-and-true' Feed My Lips Moisture Stick with Spearmint. It will be showing up on my homepage soon, but first...

Discount Solution - Fabulous Feet Forever

A good friend asked me about foot care recently and I was prompted to share my favorite method for keeping feet looking fabulous. If you are struggling with 'cheese rind heels', here's a few tips to keep your feet looking and feeling great – all the time! Depending on how bad your feet are to begin with, this beauty treatment can cost you as little as the price of a brush to as much as the price of a foot-treatment plus one brush.

Coconut Foaming Wash - Very Special Order

There is a big fan of coconut in my family who once mentioned to me that a coconut-scented shampoo and body wash for super-sensitive skin would be a real hit with him. As I've been working with several shampoo and body wash products lately, I did a coconut-scented all-over wash and presented it to him as a gift recently.

Rose – The Queen of Skin Care - Part 1

Nothing compares

I've been skirting around the edges of writing about Rose for a while now. There's so very much to tell that it would be completely unfair to you (and roses) if the information were too condensed. I have therefore decided to split the article up into 2 parts and hope you will agree when you have finished reading that there are some ingredients that just deserve a bit more attention than others.

My Itchy Eyebrow Buddy

A while back, I wrote about why I started making my own make-up. It began years ago after struggling with itchy eyebrows due to the make-up products I was using. I was convinced I was the only person in the world to have this silly problem – until I got an email from a woman who had been searching far and wide for a make-up product that didn't make her eyebrows itch. She had come across my itchy eyebrows article.

The Sage Saga - This Hot Mama is Finally Chilling Out

Oh, man, this one is a 'six'!

At the beginning of the year, I decided to get serious about testing whether or not sage could tame hot flashes. Why? To see if there is a safe, effective, plant-based alternative to taking hormones (and because I've been sweating non-stop for 7 straight years). I have therefore been monitoring my hot flashes day and night for 3 months now. For the first 2 months, I noted both the intensity and duration of every hot flash. After seeing that intensity followed duration hand in hand unwaveringly, I stopped noting duration (why you will only see one column of numbers in the notebook on the right). As for the results so far, they've surprised even me.

Meet The Mask - Envigorating Green Clay

Green Clay is good for normal to dry skin and this mask is a wonderful pick-me-up that refreshes and rejuvinates. Using green tea as the liquid and adding almond oil brings the added benefits of toning and moisturizing. This is enough for one application.

What's So Great About Clay?

I've worked with clay for years and must admit I've never actually studied in detail how it worked, but just enjoyed that fact that it did – magically. One could be tempted to ask what's not great about clay? Clay cleanses, nourishes and even helps heal your skin. I've used it in masks, cleansers, creams – even make-up. It's a wonderfully tangible ingredient to work with and never disappoints.

Panthenol - Tried & True and Good For You

I have had a request to write a bit about panthenol – an ingredient that has been around for so long that it is no longer considered sexy or even media worthy. Panthenol (INCI: Panthenol) has undeservedly become a wallflower in the world of skin care ingredients. That's really unfair, because panthenol is wonderful substance with loads to offer.

How Chamomile Saved The Day

I woke up with a puffy, irritated eye last Sunday morning. (Isn't it just typically on a weekend that things like that happen?!) It wasn't an emergency, but my eye was irritated enough to where I was having a hard time not rubbing it, and it seemed to be getting worse by the minute.

Hydrate, But Don't Overdo It - No Fooling!

Over the past few years, the companion water bottle has become an integral part of modern society. It's on par with the cell phone as a necessary must-have-at-hand item. And, after years of dedicated worldwide campaigning, it has finally become common knowledge that we need to stay hydrated to ensure good health. Beauty experts concur: properly hydrated skin is visibly healthy, clear, and more youthful-looking. That's a good thing, right? Of course it is, but...