If you own an iron, you may know of ‘linen water’.  It’s that little spritz of freshness that make clothes smell fresh or the bed linens welcoming. The subtleness of the scent is inviting, relaxing and if you choose the right linen water, nourishing on the skin. But there is linen water and there is linen water.  It would be presumptuous to think they are all equal and comparable, especially to the original lavender linen water that originated in 17th century southern France, made with pure lavender oil harvested from their extensive purple fields. Imagine the scent. It is not uncommon for…

A FUNGUS? Nobody wants it. If you have ever had a skin fungus, whether it be on the nail, between the toes, or in a fold, it is not a pretty sight, nor is it fun to experience. Scaly, red, itchy, flaky, bumpy, unsightly, all of which can drive us crazy. Some common names for this tinea include nail fungus, jock itch, ringworm, athlete’s foot. Prevention is the key by practicing good hygiene, living in a clean environment and maintaining a healthy diet.  Makes sense, but it is not always easy to be so perfect. To combat this unpleasant intruder, there are Over the Counter (OTC) medications as…

The genome of a koala instructs it to eat eucalyptus. It tells the koala that these leaves, while toxic to most mammals, are not toxic to itself and yet will supply its nutritional needs, including its water supply. Koalas accomplish a leaf chew marathon for several hours a day before being sated.  Not only does the koala have the extra genes to access the eucalyptus’s nutrition, it can also detoxify the toxic foliage. This leaves the cuddlers without excess energy and they like to snuggle in sleep up to 22 hours a day.  Koalas have a microbe that enables them to digest and benefit. They only…

“Nothing seems to work. I have been to three dermatologists, tried various creams and salves. Sometimes my acne clears up, but it always comes back. Once my face reacted so badly I missed two days of school! My dermatologist is recommending Pro-Active but I have heard it can be dangerous. I am so discouraged.” Such was the despair of a young lady who entered our booth at one of the pre-Covid shows. A very typical dilemma one faces with acne or related skin conditions. Our Skin Management Program offers a chance to feed your skin good natural nutrients without the chemicals found in most…

Wanting toxin free skin care is not a fad. While it may be the buzz, it’s not flying away anytime soon. We deserve to have clean products.  But what does ‘clean’ mean? Toxin free?  All natural? No nasties? Free-from? ‘Chemical’-free? ‘All good. No bad?’ It may depend whom you ask Some do not think there is a problem.. Some experts defend the mainstream industry saying that all ingredients are tested and approved safe. We hear and read various versions from CEO’s, media reps, skin specialists. “SLS, which might or might not be an irritant, is in everything from creams to lotions, toothpaste,…

If the fashion promotes black teeth, ask the geishas. If pearly whites are the rage, and this is the case today, we just need to ask our dentist. Going back in history, black teeth have been fashionable. Called ohaguro, it was a custom popular in Asia, Japan, Vietnam. To blacken the teeth: “Mix a little acetate from iron fillings, soak in tea or apple tannin and vinegar, or sake.  Teeth blackening has had both a fashionable and a meaningful purpose.  It can look attractive against pale white skin (again, ask the geishas). Black jewels have always been considered beautiful. Black teeth, like…

Recently, upon reopening, a mom and daughter duo came into the shop.The young teen was combating acne and they were looking for more natural skin care.  “My daughter’s acne is really acting up. She is using a clay soap that I bought at a health food store. NO washes or gels because they seem to make it worse. Her shampoo is natural too, yet her acne is in a flare up. On her back too…maybe it is the winter weather? Do you have any suggestions?” I smiled at the young teen through my mask and said, “Yes, winter weather can aggravate many dry, itchy skin conditions. So can stress, Covid, school…

Toting a beer into the shower may not be on everyone’s agenda, but perhaps it should be.  Not to drink necessarily, but to cleanse and nourish the skin.  We love our Guinness soap, called Irish Stout Oatmeal Soap. Not only is it great as a body and face soap, but it also serves well as a shampoo for the hair.  Beer and especially Guinness, contains natural anti-oxidants*, making the hair softer and more voluminous.  When we make our beer soap, it is necessary to allow the beer to become flat before mixing.  Same idea, if you wish to rinse your hair with the pure Guinness, it should sit for an…