photo: Maria Brzostowska

Here at Vintage Body Spa we are keenly aware of the ingredients we use in the personal care products that go on our skin (the body’s largest organ) every day. We love to educate our readers and customers about the natural ingredients we use so that they too can be comfortable with and proud of the fact that Vintage Body Spa products truly are gentle and safe.

Today’s ingredient highlight is honey. Not only is this a yummy food (mmm…I’m craving vanilla ice cream with warm honey drizzled on top right now!) it has amazingly beneficial properties when used in skin care. Honey, as you know, is created by honey bees using nectar from flowers. Honey has antioxidant (protects from the sun’s damaging UV rays and helps fight the signs of aging) and anti-microbial (destroys or inhibits the growth of disease causing bacterium) properties. My favorite property of honey is that it is a humectant – it absorbs and retains moisture, so it draws moisture from the air and helps to lock it into your skin, keeping skin hydrated and supple.

If you’d like to try some of our products that contain honey, I recommend our Cleopatra’s Luxurious Milk Bath (in Oats & Honey) or the Daily Moisturizing Lotion. We’ve also got bars of goat’s milk, oatmeal and honey soap that are curing right now that are absolutely divine! Look for them on the site soon.

This month’s special is an unprecedented 40% off our incredible Butter Beans! These mini-bath fizzies are unique in that unlike traditional bath bombs, they contain a high amount of cocoa butter to transform your bath into a luxurious spa. You’ll emerge from a relaxing soak with soft, supple skin.

Our Butter Beans are small (approximately 30 to a jar) so you can use as few or as many as you’d like in your bath (my 3 year old loves to hold one in each hand and watch them fizz. I tend to use 4 in my baths, but you can use as few or as many as you’d like!) If you used 3 per bath, one jar would provide 10 spa treatments at an amazingly low price of $1.20 each! Now tell me – when was the last time you could have ANY relaxing, pampering spa treatment for only $1.20?!?!?

Cocoa butter has long been used to moisturize skin and prevent dryness. It can be especially soothing on sunburned skin. Simply dissolve the Butter Beans in lukewarm water and soak for 15 minutes. Pat skin dry after the bath and if needed, apply lotion (I recommend our Daily Moisturizing Lotion). This should help lock in moisture and keep skin from flaking and peeling.

Be sure to stock up on all our available Butter Beans scents with this month’s special – we won’t be running this kind of promotion again! Discount also applies to our Fair Trade Butter Beans using Fair Trade cocoa butter – the light chocolate scent of these Butter Beans is simply heavenly!

Spearmint is another essential oil we tend to use quite a bit here at Vintage Body Spa. Sweeter smelling and less overwhelming than peppermint oil, it’s a good choice when you want mint without the menthol tones. Spearmint oil also blends well with many other essential oils, as evidenced by our products containing a variety of blends (listed below).

Image via Wikipedia

Latin Name: Mentha Spicata

Description: Spearmint is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region that grows approximately three feet high. The leaves are bright green, are sharply serrated and have pink or light purple colored flowers. The oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the herb.

Countries of origin: Although native to the Mediterranean region, it is now common throughout Europe, western Asia and the Middle East. The oil is produced in Europe (Hungary, Spain, and Russia), China and America (Midwest).

Scent: Spearmint has a fresh, minty, aroma.

Properties: Refreshing and comforting, Spearmint oil has been used to promote relaxation and relieve mental fatigue. The oil is also slightly antiseptic. Spearmint oil has also been used for respiratory issues as well as for the digestive system.

Precautions: Spearmint oil is non-toxic, non-sensitizing and non-irritating.

Vintage Body Spa products containing Spearmint Oil: Salt Soak in Eucalyptus Spearmint, Daily Moisturizing Lotion in Eucalyptus Spearmint or Mojito (Spearmint & Lime essential oil blend), Butter Bar in Double Mint and Mojito Soap.

What is your favorite use for spearmint oil? What other essential oils do you like to blend with spearmint oil?

For the first time, we’re offering non-Vintage Body Spa products in the shop. I was introduced to Sassimi spa wraps and knew right away that they’d be a perfect complement to our products. The wraps are great to lounge around in, for after bath or after a swim. Easy to step in and out of – I can put it on after the shower, get ready for the day and step out of it without messing up my hair or makeup.

I have the Sicily wrap, which is a bamboo/cotton terry blend. Not only is bamboo eco-friendly, but it has natural antimicrobial properties. I wear this as often as I can; it is amazingly soft and comfortable and is holding up extremely well after multiple washings.

The quality is incredible and they’re made in the U.S.A. What more could you ask for?!?!?!? Sassimi spa wraps make great gifts for yourself or others. With the variety of styles, colors and sizes available, you’re sure to find one for everyone on your list.

Already have a Sassimi wrap? Leave your comments here so our readers can learn even more about these luxurious wraps!

I’ve been working on this offering for a while now and I’m excited to announce that it’s finally ready to go! Customers now have the opportunity to treat both body and mind in customized sets. I’ve partnered with the amazing hypnotherapist and wellness coach, Lisa Smith of Life by Design LLC to create special product sets that can only be found here!

There are currently two sets available: First up is the Relax and Destress set. For those whom are stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, this set will help soothe both body and mind. Products include a Bath Pocket, a Bath Pocket Refill set, an Eye Pillow, Massage/Bath Oil, and WHEREVER Body Cream, all scented with pure essential oils chosen specifically to address stress and overwhelm. What makes this set truly unique is the option for customers to purchase a mind conditioning CD from Lisa Smith. In her words, “Listening to this process will guide you to a mental vacation where you can let go of cares and concerns, and return feeling refreshed, energized and with a new perspective on what is truly important.”

Next up is the Sweet Dreams Set. If you’re having difficulties falling and/or staying asleep or not getting enough restful sleep, then we recommend you try this set and pair with Lisa’s mental conditioning CD. Use the Vintage Body Spa products and then listen to the state of the art recording to help reprogram/reset your mind to quickly and easily enter into a deep and rejuvenating sleep state and rest peacefully through the night, allowing you to wake up refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the day! This set includes Cleopatra’s Luxurious Milk Bath, Daily Moisturizing Lotion, Eye Pillow and Massage/Bath Oil.

With each set, you can opt to purchase just the products, download the mental conditioning recording to an mp3 player or receive the recording on CD – whichever option works best for you.

*Remember that neither the products nor the mental conditioning recordings are substitutes for medical or psychiatric care and that these products have not been reviewed nor endorsed by the FDA.

I am often asked which Vintage Body Spa products are vegan, so I thought it’d be good to keep a running list here, and update it as new vegan products are added to the line. For those that don’t know, vegan products are made without any animal byproducts (beeswax, honey, milk, etc).

For our vegan customers, rest assured that all vegan products are made on separate equipment, so they do not come into contact with animal byproducts during the course of manufacturing.

Current vegan products include:
* African Black Soap
* Body Polish
* Butter Beans
* Handmade Soap
* Massage Oil
* Rhassoul Clay
* Salt Soak
* Shea Butter Lotion
*Vegan Butter Bar
* Whipped Sugar Scrub

Upcoming vegan products include more handmade soap, vegan lip balm, facial care line and mom/baby product line. Be sure to register for our newsletter here to be the first to know when new products are released! If you’d like another vegan product that you don’t see here, please leave a comment below or contact us and we’ll consider your request.

One of the latest Vintage Body Spa releases is our Salt Soak. I’m sure you’ve heard of bath salts before, but do you know why they’re so good for you, and a great spa product to pamper yourself with?

Dead Sea Salts have been used for thousands of years for their therapeutic effects. But why is salt from the Dead Sea so special? The Dead Sea contains ten times the salt content of other sea water. Further, it is a more complex mineral composition. Most salt in normal ocean water is over 90% sodium chloride, compared to about 15% in Dead Sea Salt. The remainder is made up of a rich blend of minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and bromide. These minerals have been shown to increase circulation, prevent fluid retention, and relax muscles.

We’ve added additional ingredients to provide further benefits as well. Epsom salts are high in magnesium and sulfate, and are considered to be a natural stress reliever, as they draw toxins from the body, reduce swelling and relax muscles. Baking soda softens, soothes and gently exfoliates skin. Finally, grapeseed oil is a fantastic lightweight, non-greasy oil that will leave your skin smooth and moisturized.

Simply pour 1/4 cup into warm, running bath water and soak in the tub for 20 minutes. You’ll emerge refreshed with silky smooth skin as well. Our salt soaks also make a perfect first step to a pedicure.

Currently available in 12 oz containers, we’ll soon be releasing 1 pound refills packaged in biodegradeable bags – just another way we’re being gentle on the earth. The first scent to be released was Citrus Blast, perfect for summertime fun or year round for a energizing, revitalizing pick-me-up. It’s an invigorating blend of Litsea Cubeba (May Chang), Lemon, Lime, Tangerine, Grapefruit and Peppermint esential oils. This blend wakes me up in the morning and kick-starts my day.

Stay tuned, for we’ll be launching even more essential oil blends in the coming weeks for you to enjoy. Which scents would you most like to see in our salt soaks?