The Natural Beauty Workshop

Angelica Root

Photo by Axel Kristinsson

Angelica Archangelica is sometimes referred to as "the ginseng of the north".  The plant grows wild in many northern countries including Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, but is mainly cultivated in France. The oil extracted from its roots can provide a warming, stimulating sensation when used in massage and skin care products.  It is also said to help ward off infectious diseases.  In perfumery, Angelica Root is treasured for its unique aroma, which is both sweet and spicy.  

Angelica Root is available in many forms for use in skin care, aromatherapy, and herbalism.  The most commonly used would be Angelica Root Essential Oil.  This steam distilled Oil is quite potent, and can be used in massage oils, creams, salves, and perfumes.  Angelica Root CO2 Extract is a bit more potent, as it is a Select CO2, and have been standardized to include only the most potent portions of the plants extract.  Angelica Root CO2 can be used similarly to Essential Oil.  Angelica Root Hydrosol is yet another way to include the unique benefits of Angelica into your formulations.  Being far milder than Essential Oil or CO2 Extract, Angelica Root Hydrosol can be used more freely than its corresponding ingredients.  The Hydrosol can be used directly on the skin, or in a formulation such as a body splash, cream, or herbal steam.  This special Hydrosol is said to help relieve tension and anxiety as well as promote spiritual and mental wellness.

Thank You!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, The Natural Beauty Workshop would like to thank each and every one of our blog readers for making this website great. Since the blog's launch, we've posted over 300 articles, more than 50 of which contained recipes!   Over they years we have received tens of thousands of views, hundreds of comments, and boatloads of email.  The response that our readers have given us has made the experience incredibly rewarding.   We've been viewed by readers in countries worldwide, and are proud to have been able to contribute to the online natural and handmade skin care community in the United States and abroad!

Thanks so much, readers!   We look forward to providing you with plenty more recipes, articles, and feedback as time goes on.  Speaking of feedback, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?  Share your Thanksgiving stories in the comments below.

From Nature With Love Affiliate Program

The natural and handmade skin care industry is blessed with a lively, ever-growing online community.  Blogs, shops, forums, and informational sites abound on the web, creating a vast network of knowledge, and support across the internet.  This community can be an invaluable resource intellectually, but thanks to the Affiliate Program at From Nature With Love, members of this online community can generate extra revenue as well. 

The Affiliate Program at From Nature With Love provides relevant websites with special, tracking links to FromNatureWithLove.com.  These links are used to direct traffic from your blog or website to From Nature With Love.  They can be included as banner ads, in articles, or even in recipes, when listing ingredients.  When a visitor from your website makes a purchase at From Nature With Love, you can earn up to 8% commission on the sale.  So, while you are directing your readers to a supplier you know and trust, you are earning extra revenue from your website.  Occasionally, we even create special kits or ingredient samplers to help cross-promote our affiliates.  This is a great option for websites or blogs that showcase their own recipes.

Click here to learn more about the Affiliate Program at From Nature With Love, and to apply for the program.

Lemon Tea Tree & Honey Foot Mask

A moisturizing foot mask can be the perfect ending to a pedicure, or after a simple salt water foot soak.  Honey and Tea Tree are naturally disinfectant, and can help to eliminate smelly, foot loving bacteria while Yellow Kaolin helps to draw out dirt and purify the skin.  Pequi Oil and Shea Butter are intensively moisturizing, which is great for tired, dry tootsies.  The particular Shea used in this recipe is Organic Nilotica Shea Butter, which has an extremely soft texture, perfect for this formulation.  You may use another type of Shea Butter, but you'll need to melt it before adding it to the recipe.  This recipe is topped off with a dash of cooling and refreshing Peppermint Oil.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon Pequi Oil
1 teaspoon Honey
2 tablespoons Yellow Kaolin
1 teaspoon Organic Nilotica Shea Butter
1 Tablespoon Hot Water
1 drop Lemon Tea Tree Essential Oil
1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil

Directions
Combine all dry ingredients in a small mixing bowl along with 1 tablespoon of boiled or very hot water.  Next, add the Shea Butter, warming it gently only if necessary.  Next, add the Honey and Essential Oils and mix well.

Usage & Packaging
This mask should be used immediately as it is not designed with storage in mind.  If you have too much for one application, share with a friend, or discard the extra.  This intensive mask should be applied to clean feet, and then covered with a linen cloth, plastic wrap, or clean socks.  The mask should be left on the feet for 15 - 30 minutes.  Any residue should be washed from the skin after the mask is finished. If you like, you can follow this treatment with a body butter or lotion.

*Photo by Zsuzsanna Kilian

Ingredient Storage & Handling Tips

One of the most common topics that we receive questions about is ingredient storage.  Proper storage and handling can help ensure that your ingredients live up to their expected shelf life, which can in hand, affect the quality of your formulations.  Many ingredients require some special precautions in order to avoid spoilage or contamination.  The following list of articles were recently added to our Informational Library in order to help educate our customers and readers on proper handling and storage methods.  Check out the following links to learn about the many types of ingredients used in natural and handmade skin care:

• Clays & Muds
• Color Additives
• Cosmetic Waxes
• Essential Oils, Absolutes, & CO2 Extracts
• Floral Waters
• Fragrance Oils & Flavor Oils
• Hydrosols
• Melt & Pour Soap Bases
• Milk Powders
• Salts
• Vegetable Butters
• Vegetable Oils

Baobab Oil

Derived from the seeds of the African Baobab tree, this exotic oil provides intensive moisturizing for the skin, hair, and nails.  Baobab Oil is rich in Essential Fatty Acids, and vitamins A, D, E, and F.  Though it has a dense texture, it does not clog pores, and actually encourages the regeneration of skin cells, making it an excellent addition to anti-aging ad healing formulations. Baobab Oil is also said to be beneficial to skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.  Try using Baobab Oil alone, or in formulations such as creams, lotions, salves, or hot oil treatments. 

*Photo by Bruce Gatland