Supernatural Botanicals

A big thank you to EcoBold for not only supporting eco-minded people and businesses, but for also featuring Supernatural Botanicals today.  The following article is courtsey of EcoBold.  Visit their site to learn more about the great work they are doing…then let it inspire you!

The founder of Supernatural Botanicals, Robin Feltner has a chemistry background and she just knows what ingredients should or shouldn’t be inside skincare products. This line is completely paraben-free and phthalate-free. Learn more with the interview below:

Tell us a little bit about the background and story of Supernatural Botanicals.
Supernatural Botanicals is an eco-chic bath & body company specializing in skincare that follows Green practices and principals, and formulates its products with intent and purpose.

At the inception of Supernatural Botanicals, we knew we wanted to create a company that knows its demographic. Growing increasingly disappointed with mainstream bath & body stores catering to teenagers, Supernatural Botanicals wanted to target the grown sexy woman demographic. We also wanted to focus on being Green and creating products that not only feel and smell amazing, but products that are highly beneficial for the skin.

We created products formulated without Parabens or Phthalates. Green products come from natural and organic ingredients, and that’s exactly how we formulate our products…with intent and purpose, and as natural as we can. After literally hundreds and hundreds of prototypes, we formulated perfection, bringing to you natural products that smell as incredible as they perform.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? 
I’ve always had “entrepreneur” in my genetic makeup. I was selling homemade cards to neighborhood ladies at the age of 4. I wanted to grow up and have a double major as a fashion designer and interior designer. That dream never materialized. In hindsight, I wish I would have had a mentor to help me prepare, telling me which art and business classes I should have taken.

What’s wrong with standard skincare products and why do you think such ingredients are allowed? 
I believe lack of quality ingredients poses a huge threat. Not only has quality fallen by the wayside, but we also should be concerned with the toxins in the products we are using every day. Many common ingredients have been proven by scientists to be harmful, yet manufacturers continue to use them because they are inexpensive, thus allowing for more profit.

How did you choose your ingredients and what to put in each product? 
Extensive research! Having a chemistry/pharmacy background, I’m always extremely cognizant about using quality, natural ingredients.

What’s the biggest lesson you learned while starting Supernatural Botanicals? 
I’ve literally learned a wealth of knowledge in forming my company. I’ve learned that customers sincerely do appreciate companies that are going the extra effort to keep them healthy. I, too, have learned how many mainstream companies use cheap fillers in order to make profits. 

If you could choose just one of your products, which one would it be? 
Extremely hard to narrow that down as I love all of the products. I do favor our Beach Body Spray. Not only does it smell absolutely amazing and I get numerous compliments on it every time I wear it, but it’s a multitasker. It works great in your hair, giving your hair extra volume and beautiful scent. I even use it as a linen spray on my bed sheets. It’s also our best seller.

Describe a typical day in your life.
I’m an early riser. I tend to get a tremendous amount accomplished in the early hours. I work on the business end of the business from 5-8…networking, emails, following up on orders, PR, social media, etc. From 8-6 I’m in our workshop, formulating skincare products and filling orders. The day flies by, and I’m always hungry for more hours at the end of the day. In the past, it would be very common to find me in my workshop until as late as 11 p.m. I’ve luckily learned time management, and the importance of accomplishing that task.

What’s one thing we could do to have an awesome skin, naturally? 
Check your labels. Use products that do not contain parabens. Don’t be fooled by companies that splash the name of an all natural ingredient, only to flip the label over and realize that they natural product they are promoting only has trace elements within it, and is filled with other harmful fillers. 

If there is one thing/thought/idea that you could pass on to the next generation, what would it be? 
One huge concern I have for our next generation is the condition of our planet. Global warming and eco concerns will certainly be a problem in which they inherit. My hope is that we can educate the masses enough to get everyone on board with being green and eco-responsible. 

What’s your # 1 green tip? 
Recycling is an easy way to start being green. Every human being on the planet creates waste. There’s absolutely no reason we shouldn’t be more responsible for the garbage we create. This is also something that even children can learn and be a part of. If we start them early, it will become second-nature to them.

In clinical studies, celery always tops the list as being the “dirtiest” veggie.  Because celery stalks are extremely porous, they retain pesticides they are sprayed with…and if you aren’t eating organic celery, that’s about 13 pesticides your stalks are being sprayed with.  When purchasing celery, go with organic.  You’ll reduce your family’s chances of ingesting dangerous pesticides.  Have celery in the fridge that’s not organic?  It’s okay, it’s still edible, but be sure to wash it several times.  Using a good veggie wash or a homemade blend of one part vinegar and three parts water will do the trick.

The cardinal sin of skincare is sleeping with your makeup on.  No matter how tired you are, wash your face before bed.   Your skin collects pore-clogging oil during the day.  According to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, there’s also a link between air pollution and skin bumps…especially if you live in high pollution areas, like Los Angeles, Chicago and Cincinnati.

Get yourself into a good skincare routine.  It really only takes two minutes before bed to cleanse, tone and moisturize.  Don’t have a skincare regime yet?  Try Supernatural Botanicals Skincare System.

If you have lots of wood surfaces in your home, you know that the costs of furniture polish has skyrocketed.  And when prices start to soar sky high, so does our creativity.  How can we do it cheaper, better, and to boot….all naturally?  While there are numerous “green” recipes for homemade furniture polish, they all have the two basic ingredients…oil and lemon.  And as luck would have it, it’s all you need.

To make homemade furniture polish, simply whisk together olive oil with an equal amount of lemon juice (you can also use vinegar, but lemons smell so much nicer).  Simply leave it in the bowl you mixed it in and dip a rag in, or put the liquid mixture in a spray bottle.   The bowl method is easier and less wasteful, as you can mix only the amount you’ll need for the days’ chores.

Use a dry rag, dip the rag into the oil mixture, and buff down all your wood surfaces.  It brings the wood back to life in an instant, and makes it appear brand new.  All natural, less expensive, and oh-so-crafty!    We love this!

You might be surprised to learn that adding a little salt to your bath water can actually help improve your circulation.  Bath salts also reduce tenderness.  They are recommended for people with back pain, arthritis, muscle tension or spasms, and minor work and sports injuries.  They’re great for easing stiff, sore, muscles and aching feet and legs. Perfect for post-workout relief for sore muscles.Bath salts open the pores to purify the skin, cleansing away dirt, sweat, and toxins. They aid in the healing of dry skin, making skin softer and more supple. Salts can help improve common irritations such as insect bites, minor rashes, and calluses on feet, as well as more serious skin conditions like athlete’s foot, eczema, and psoriasis. High quality salts may also help improve the appearance of scars.  Salts made with essential oils offer the added benefit of aromatherapy. Pleasant, soothing scents have been shown to induce calmness and promote relaxation. Scented bath salts combine these attributes with other healing properties. The ability to relax and unwind at the end of the day is also the best way to insure sound, restful sleep at night, and bath salts can help.

Check out the Bath Salts at Supernatural Botanicals for blissful bathing.

“I never microwave anything in a plastic container.  Pthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which can lech into food when plastics are heated, mimics hormones and may increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast and ovarian.  Use a microwave safe ceramic or glass bowel instead.   …Jeffrey Morrison, M.D, founder of The Morrison Center on how he protects himself from cancer risks.

Girlfriend, you better watch your back…as in, literally, watch your back.  One of the fastest ways to age your skin is by going to the tanning bed.  Tanning beds have been shown to rapidly age the skin…that’s proven science.  It also triples your potential risk for melanoma (that’s a deadly skin cancer, boys and girls.)

Spray tans are an excellent alternative.   Sure, they are pricier than tanning beds, but then again, they are cheaper than hospital bills.  Stay out of those beds, girls.

Because your entire body makes contact with your yoga mat, it’s something you’ll want to keep very, very clean.  And because your yoga mat makes contact with the floor, especially the gym floor (eck!), you’ll want to be extra vigilant in keeping your yoga mat clean. 

You can avoid germs and dirt by folding your yoga mat in half before you roll it up after a workout.  That way, you’ll avoid getting “yuck” on the side you pose on.  Remember, your face comes in contact with the mat in Chaturanga pose and in pigeon pose….think about that the next time you lay your mat down on the floor.   A simple Clorox wipe to the entire mat will also keep your yoga mat clean and germ-free.   Let the mat dry completely before rolling it up after cleaning.

Maybe.  That’s why the FDA is considering banning Triclosan, a bacteria-killing chemical used in hand sanitizers and liquid soaps.  Some experts think that it alters hormones and helps to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Further studies are needed to determine if the additive is dangerous.  The reality is, we really don’t know yet.  The jury is still out on this one.  It’s best just to go old school and use regular soap and water to clean your hands until we know more.

Daryl Hanna: www.DHLoveLife.com

Alicia Silverstone: www.TheKindLife.com

Adrian Grenier: www.Shft.com

Gwyneth Paltrow: www.Goop.com

Leonardo DiCaprio: http://www.leonardodicaprio.org/