New African Soaps!

Fresh into the store: VIVO Natural Products bar soap! This ultra-natural company was founded in 2007 "with the mission of creating fine bar soaps using high-quality, natural ingredients". VIVO's soaps feature 100% pure African shea butter, olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil and other natural ingredients to scent the soaps.

VIVO is a US company dedicated to not only providing natural products to consumers, but also giving back to the areas it sources ingredients from. For instance, the shea butter used in these soaps is sourced from a cooperative of female farmers in Togo, West Africa. Some of the profits from these soaps go directly to that developing area!

There are five decadent smelling soaps to choose from: Lemongrass & Verbena, English Lavender, Green Tea with Mint, Brazilian Acai with Pomegranate and Rose Water & Jasmine!

Come into the store to check out this amazing soap and to learn how shea butter can help your skin! Want to learn more about VIVO? Visit them online at vivonaturalproducts.com!

New from Derma-E!

Derma-E has introduced a new line, and we are already hooked on it! Tropical Solutions boasts an impressive 7 products (we carry all of them, don't worry!), featuring tamanu, pomegranate, green tea, papaya and acai! If those hydrating, antioxidant ingredients weren't enough, all of the products smell absolutely amazing and are sure to put you in a feel-good mood.

In addition to pomegranate and green tea (both are rich in antioxidants that help reduce the signs of aging), Vitamins A, C, and E are all prominent ingredients. The Anti-Aging Eye Creme and the Anti-Aging Day Creme are both already receiving rave reviews! And, while it is being touted as an "Anti-Aging" line, I think it's great for all ages. The ingredients aren't too heavy for younger skin and who wouldn't want to try the facial scrub (it's pineapple-papaya scented!!!) or cleansing gel?

The product in this line that I am the most excited about (I gave a little scream in delight when I saw it, and scared a fellow co-worker) is the Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15!!! This is a great moisturizer for those of you who, like me, cannot get enough of the sunshine during the summer. It still features all of those great anti-oxidant, renewing ingredients, but is light enough to wear under makeup and then you don't have to slather sunscreen all over your face.

And, like the rest of their products, Tropical Solutions is paraben, phthalate, sodium lauryl sulfate, petrolatum, mineral oil and artificial colour-free. It is pH balanced, 100% vegetarian, cruelty-free and eco-friendly!

Come in and check it out!

Health & Beauty: Tamanu Oil!

Tamanu oil is the up-and-coming health & beauty craze that was recently featured on Dr. Oz as an acne and pimple "healer". While that is what it's best known for, tamanu oil's properties and benefits span well beyond that single use! We're falling in love with it and I'm sure you'll see why!

WHAT IS IT? Tamanu is a tree that is indigenous to Tahiti, Madagascar, and a few other tropical islands. The tree blooms twice per year, and the white flowers later yield clusters of yellow-skinned fruit. To derive the oil, the fruit is opened and hulled, and then dried for two months in the sun. It is then cold pressed and a sticky, dark oil is produced. It takes approximately 100 kilos of fruit to yield 5 kilos of oil! Tamanu oil is typically found blended with olive oil. Our Tamanu Oil is USDA certified organic, and is a 50/50 blend of tamanu oil and cold pressed olive oil.

THE BENEFITS Tamanu oil has skin healing, antineuralgic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic and antioxidant properties! Combined with the olive oil, your skin is going to be bright, clear, and moisturized! In case helping you have gorgeous skin wasn't enough of a reason for you to check out this wonder oil, it also works wonders on burns, rashes, insect bites, and cuts. In addition, tamanu oil is reputed to be great for people suffering from psoriasis or eczema. Another suggested use is to massage the oil into sore muscles or areas affected by arthritis.
***If you have a nut allergy, do NOT use tamanu oil***

Come in to the store's beauty department and check it out!