Success!

On more than one front.

First, about this past weekend and the Carlstadt Fresh Air Market... I had a blast!  Eric came in the morning and helped to set up, then stayed 'til one or so.  He ended up buying coffee from a local roaster, pickles from a local pickler, and rolls & pie from a local baker, then heading home to make our dinner.

Meanwhile, our friends Tori & EJ stopped by to visit and ended up helping for a bit too.

That's Tori in the photos.

The fun thing about this market was that there was no one runaway hit item.  People bought shampoo, makeup brush cleaner, facial scrub, mud mask, shaving soap, all different other soaps, candles, and lip balms.  It was pretty cool to see so much interest in so many different products.

And the washcloths got a lot of attention, partly because while I was sitting, I started a second trinity washcloth, which I've since completed.  One woman actually commented that they're great for babies because they're so soft.  I hadn't thought of that, but she's right!

And my other success... I won the Highlights contest at the Handmade Artists Forum, and got to choose a print from Nancy's WildWireArt!  I chose "Flow," and it came today!

It looks even better in person, and Eric loves it.  Now we just have to get it matted & framed.

So how was your weekend?

We'll be vending this weekend!

Reef Botanicals (and some washcloths & photos from Fabric of my Mind) will be at the Carlstadt Fresh Air Market on June 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Come visit!

In the park on Broad & 3rd Streets in Carlstadt, NJ.

My Name is Mud

Or... at least my face is.  Don't believe me?  Look!

The things I do for you guys.

I kept joking with Eric that we were going to be making mudpies, but this is oh so much more than that.  Our first mud mask!  Yes, really.  And this is some high-end stuff, which is making its way into our luxury line.

The primary ingredient in this mask is Dead Sea mud.  Then, we added Rhassoul clay, Bentonite clay, and sea kelp to make our own custom blend for the biggest benefit.

What's the hype about mud?  Why Dead Sea mud?  Never having used a mud mask before, I had the same questions!  So I did a little research, and here's what I found out about Dead Sea mud...

Believe it or not, it's believed that Dead Sea mud is one of the healthiest things you can use on your skin.  Seriously.  And it's pretty much for the same reasons so many people travel to the Dead Sea itself to reap its benefits.  What are those benefits?  Improved blood circulation and natural skin generation, cleansing and removal of dirt particles, impurities, and toxins, skin relief for disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, and even wrinkles, moisturizing, and the removal of dead skin cells.  And as it dries, it pulls out any toxins that may be present in your skin cells from your everyday diet, while firming and tightening this all-important organ.  Yes, that's right, if you remember from your first anatomy class, skin is the body's largest organ!

This mud has such a high concentration of all natural salts and minerals that your skin needs, like potassium, magnesium, sodium, bromine, and calcium, that it's unlike mud from any other place in the world.

And with a mud mask like this, you don't have to travel to Jordan or Israel to get these benefits!

If the mud is so great on its own, why did we add the clays?  The better question is how could we not?  We wanted an all-in-one product that provided the absolute most value it could.  So... about those clays...

Rhassoul clay has been used for over 1400 years as a natural beauty treatment for skin and hair. It has a unique ability to absorb tremendous amounts of water, which makes it ideal for cleansing and detoxifying the skin. It also has a higher percentage of trace minerals than other clays, without any petrochemical derivatives, synthetic preservatives, surfactants, or artificial colors, all of which are common in commercial soaps and cleansers. It has been found to leave the skin with less dryness, less flakiness, improved skin clarity, elasticity, and firmness, and improved skin texture.

And Bentonite clay has long been known for its therapeutic abilities.  Due to its high absorbency and its ability to pull oils and toxins from the skin, it is one of the best clays for making poultices and an excellent ingredient for skin care and spa treatments.

And then there's that sea kelp again, which we also use in our Mock Turtle shampoo and Deadwood Spa Bar.  What's up with the sea kelp?  Sea Kelp is being used increasingly for cosmetic purposes, due to its high vitamin and mineral content, as well as its essential fatty acids and chlorophyll for detoxification purposes.  It has a natural elasticity that makes it an ideal ingredient in cutting-edge anti-wrinkle beauty regimens.  It can revitalize both skin and hair.

So you see, we didn't cut any corners with this stuff.

At all!  And it's easy to use.  You take just a little on your fingers and coat your entire face lightly, being careful to avoid your eyes.  It starts off feeling cool, of course, while it's wet.  As it dries, it feels warm and tingly, and you can feel it tightening on your face as it works.  By the time the photo was taken, it had been drying a while, and it wasn't actually easy to smile!  Once it's dry, after about 10 or 15 minutes, you rinse it off, and it comes off clean, leaving your skin pretty darned smooth and soft.  At least, that was my experience.

And Eric's.  He wouldn't let me snap a photo of his muddy face, but he loves mud masks and you can bet your socks he tried it too.

(And no, I have no idea where I came up with "bet your socks," but I kinda like it!)

We've dolled up our Dead Sea Mud Mask in these beautiful little jars, and they're all ready for you now!  So... have at 'em!

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