A Publication of The Indie Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 6, Issue 20
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1. IBN Member Update: Welcome New & Renewing IBN Members!
2. The Indie Beauty Network Membership Sale!
3. IBN's Beauty Call With Ron Jonas A Great Success!
4. Handmade Beauty Recipe: Tone Up Tea
5. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win a 30 minute handmade beauty success consultation!
6. Featured Article: Beauty & The Bride: Pampering Yourself For The Big Day!

7. Coming Next Week: My Handmade Beauty Virtual Home Party! - For Newsletter Subscribers Only!! Don't Miss It!!

IBN Members On The Move!!

IBN member Anne-Marie Faiola-McCauley of Bramble Berry is excited to be featured in a recent issue of the Bellingham (Washington), Herald! Not only that, her Floral Soapmaking Kits made a popular run on the Home Shopping Network! You can check out the newspaper article here, and see her kits "live and for sale" at HSN here! Congratulations A-M!!

Traci Vanover of The Creative Concept is excited to invite you all to the Soap and Candle Bee in Fort Wayne, Indiana on  June 11, 2005. The Theme is "Fresh Ideas -- Fresh Outlook" and I'll be the keynote speaker -- hope to see you there! (IBN members, put "IBN OFFER" in the shopping cart comments to get your FREE spa CD when you register!)

Learn more about our members and their exciting activities by visiting their Web sites through IBN's Online Member Directory, now with 4 ways to search: (1) by state/country; (2) by member business name; (3) by keyword search; or (4) using our new alphabetical listings.

In excited celebration and nail biting anticipation of the soon to be published Handmade Beauty Business Magazine, I am delighted to announce an IBN Membership Quick Sale! Offered only a few times yearly, our Quick Sales celebrate an exciting event in IBN's growing evolution. If you have been putting off joining IBN, there's no time like the present!

Today and tomorrow only, until midnight EST May 17, get a full 20% off IBN's membership dues! Join IBN today and take 20% off your member dues! Discount taken during member application processing. New Full members - regular price $100, just $80 today and tomorrow only! New Supplier members - regular price $125, just $100 today and tomorrow only. New and existing members, don't forget to check out IBN's Refer 3 & Yours Is Free Program!!

Click here to view IBN's unsurpassed member benefits!

Click here to start putting IBN to work for you today!

"I received valuable information about equipment that I did not know about." Ann Walls, Afrocentric Imports, California

Tone Up Tea is great pick-me-up for any skin type. With green tea, aloe, cider vinegar and chamomile, this facial toner is sure to be an easy to create hit at your house!

Last Week's Question: In the professional spa arena, an ancient technique calls for a trained practitioner to use cotton held between her teeth and hands to catch unwanted facial hairs and pull them from the skin at the root. The practice is called khite in Arabic. To win this week, state the name of the technique in English and Egyptian.

Be the first to answer this week's question and wina 30 minute handmade beauty success consultation!

Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry. Put "TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWER" in the subject line or your answer will not be considered.

While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner's name will be announced in the next newsletter!

Well, it's that time of year again. May marks the countdown to so many weddings planned for June. I was at a local shopping mall last weekend, and a popular formalwear store had to put up signs to direct men on ordering tuxedos using the first letter of their last name! Surely one of the joys of womanhood is taking the time to pamper ourselves so we can face each new day looking and feeling our best. Of course, the desire to look and feel our most beautiful, inside and out, is at may be at its peak on our wedding day.

I once had the pleasure of preparing a Bridal Facial Party for a bride-to-be and her wedding party. There were five women in all, and--rather than spend the money at a salon--the bride asked me to make aromatherapy beauty products so she and her bridesmaids could enjoy an afternoon of pampering using fresh, natural ingredients. While we had a great time, it's important to remember that we need not save the joys of pampering for special occasions such as weddings. On the contrary, periodic pampering sessions ensure that we are always prepared to face new challenges with confidence and flair. As women, we can create our own special occasions simply by setting aside time to pamper, renew and recharge ourselves on a regular basis.

Overview of Skin & Function

Our skin is our largest organ, performing several functions, including protecting us from invasion by foreign substances and serving as the transfer point for the release of toxins from our bodies. Our skin is also porous, which means it absorbs many of the substances with which it comes into contact. It is thus especially important to use only natural, gentle ingredients on our skin whenever possible.

The skin provides an honest mirror of our inner health and well being. Consider that when we eat a great deal of fatty foods or foods to which we are allergic, our skin is often the first indicator that we have mistreated ourselves. On the other hand, when have been eating healthily and enjoying plenty of fresh water and exercise, our skin exhibits a healthy glow that is indicative of the attention we are paying to ourselves.

Application to the skin of fresh, natural products such as essential oils, plant waters (also called "hydrosols") and cold pressed unscented oils helps maintain a youthful, glowing complexion. Essential oils and hydrosols are the fragrant liquids that are distilled from different plant parts, such as flower petals, herb leaves and tree barks, and are fundamental components of any solid, natural skin care regime. Cold pressed unscented oils are extracted from various fruits, nuts and seeds, and include olive oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil and jojoba oil. Used in tandem, essential oils, hydrosols and cold pressed unscented oils work together to soothe and nourish the skin, encouraging a healthful, radiant complexion.

Skin Types

There are five basic skin types, and you will want to consider yours when making your own aromatherapy beauty products.

Oily Skin
Oily skin is caused by over-active glands, which produce a substance called sebum, a naturally healthy skin lubricant. When the skin produces too much sebum, it becomes thick and heavy in texture. Oily skin is characterized by shininess, pimples and blemishes. Frequent steam cleaning and exfoliation can help reduce these symptoms.

Dry Skin
Dry skin usually results when skin fails to produce enough sebum to maintain a naturally lubricated surface. This lack of oil in the skin is often hereditary, but can also be caused by over-exposure to the sun and other environmental elements. As we age, our skin becomes more dry as decreased metabolism reduces the rapidity with which dead skin cells are replaced. Dry skin often appears coarse, tight, dull and flaky, with visible lines and wrinkles. Massage with essential and cold pressed oils can stimulate metabolism and alleviate dry skin conditions.

Normal Skin
Normal skin produces a healthy amount of sebum, and tends to be neither dry nor oily in feel.

Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin reacts unfavorably to a variety of chemicals and environmental factors. Having had ample opportunity to compare brand new baby skin with skin that is just a few years old, it seems to me that all skin is delicate and sensitive when it is new. Increased exposure to nature's elements such as the sun, wind and cold, as well as to harsh cosmetic ingredients, tend to toughen skin over time.

Combination Skin
Many people have different skin types on different parts of the face. For example, it is not uncommon for a person to have oily skin around the nose, forehead and chin, while the rest of the face is more on the dry side. If you have more than one skin type on your face, it is wise to use products containing different ingredients to treat the areas differently.

The Benefits Of Using Fresh Products & Essential Oils On The Skin

Several years ago, I was shocked to learn of the ingredients that were in most of the skin care products I had been using on my skin for years. They were full of preservatives, thickeners, harsh gelling agents, dyes and a number of other chemical ingredients. These ingredients were designed to increase the aesthetic appeal and shelf life of products, but contributed nothing at all to the health of my skin.

I now make my own body lotion, facial creams, exfoliants and masks using fresh ingredients, and when I have the time, I enjoy teaching others how to make natural beauty products that are far superior to those available at even the most exclusive salons and department stores. I omit as many of the synthetic, chemical, man-made ingredients as possible, and ensure that my skin care products contain an abundance of fresh, healthful, beneficial ingredients.

Your Step By Step At-Home Facial

A basic facial must include at least 3 elements: (1) cleansing; (2) toning; and (3) moisturizing. Additional steps might include steaming, exfoliating and masking. Each of these steps is outlined below, along with suggested recipes for you to try. This is the perfect type of facial to suggest to any customers or friends who are looking for natural, easy to prepare and use treatments for their wedding day or any day!

Step 1. Before cleansing your skin with a gentle cleanser, it is wise to give yourself a light steam treatment to open your pores and prepare your face for cleaning. To do this, simply soak a soft towel in a bowl of comfortably warm herbal tea (chamomile is one of my favorites). Wring out the towel and place it over your face and neck area and relax until it cools slightly. You may repeat this process, as it is quite soothing.

Step 2. Cleanse your face with a gentle handmade cleanser such as Rose Cream Cleanser. Use upward, circular movements of the fingertips to gently stimulate the skin and help lift surface debris and excess oil. Rinse with warm water and gently pat excess moisture from face with a soft towel. If you wear heavy make-up, you might wish to repeat the cleansing process.

Step 3. After cleansing, it is important to tone the skin using ingredients that help balance the pH of the skin, which is typically disturbed during the cleansing process. The recipe for Tone Up Tea is excellent for most skin types, and contains aloe to soothe and green tea as an effective anti-oxidant. Apply the toner with a soft cotton pad, but do not rub the skin. Rather, saturate the pad and pat the toner over the face and neck area. Do not pat skin dry. If you sense the aroma of the cider vinegar, don't worry. It disappears quickly. Apple cider vinegar is the best natural ingredient to ensure optimal pH balance for the skin. Avoid eye area when using this toner. You skin is now ready for moisturizing.

Step 4. Moisturize your skin using Aromatic Facial Oil, which contains a host of soothing ingredients to add moisture and nutrients to your skin. To seal in the moisture, be sure to apply the oil while skin remains damp from applying the toner. Gently apply the oil to your face and neck using patting motions. For oily areas of skin, one application of oil should suffice. Apply twice to dry areas of skin, waiting about 2-3 minutes between applications, and being sure to moisten the skin slightly with water or toner before the second application.

For the recipes mentioned here, and others that are perfect for wedding days and any occasion, check out MakeYourCosmetics.com.

Have A Great Week!!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Handmade Beauty Connection
The Indie Beauty Network | www.handmadebeauty.com

Copyright (c) 2000 - 2005 by The Indie Beauty Network (IBN) and Donna Maria. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized distribution or reproduction is prohibited. IBN does not necessarily endorse any product, event or ideology featured in The Handmade Beauty Connection (HBC) or on IBN's website. All information is provided on an "as is" basis and no express or implied warranties are given. Any use of the information contained in the HBC or on IBN's Web site, including Recipes, is solely at your own risk. IBN and Donna Maria disclaim any liability in connection with the use of all recipes, products reviewed and other information. Except for sponsorships, HBC refuses compensation from companies to feature or mention their names or products. Opinions expressed in any Product Review are personally those of the reviewer and do not represent the views of IBN, Donna Maria (unless she is the reviewer) or any other person or company.