Supernatural Botanicals

So I was hanging out with Tim Gunn the other night…yes, that Tim Gunn, and yes, I was really hanging out with him!  Tim Gunn was in Cincinnati to kick off the SmartTalk Connected Conversation Series at the Aronoff.  Tim packed the house with the VIP reception party prior to the event.  Gracious as ever, he really took the time to meet people, ask them questions, sign portfolios, and even encourage some design students that were hanging on his every word (understandably).  I envision those young fashion design students to be dedicating their early influencers to Mr. Gunn.  Tim was everything a star should be…kind, gracious to his fans, and engaging.

Tim’s speech was equally engaging, as he shared his experiences at Parsons, Fashion Runway, Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style, and Hollywood.  Tim’s style is to “make it work” for your particular body style.  He isn’t trying to push a near-skeletal frame to women, insisting that it’s the only way fashion will work on a woman’s body.  Instead, he personalizes style more to the individual.  And he delivers it all with his unmistakable “Tim Gunn” charm.   He has a confidence that just oozes from him.  Classy, yet not stuffy.  Kind to the core.  Kudos to SmartTalk on thinking out of the box with January’s speaker (first male celebrity ever!)  Join us in February as SmartTalk welcomes Arianna Huffington to the Aronoff in Cincinnati.  Click here for tickets and information.

Looking for the perfect gift for the fashionista in your life?  SmartTalk will bring the sensational Tim Gunn to Cincinnati on January 14th, and there’s no time like the present to get tickets…and save.  Shop SmartTalk’s Holiday sale for 20% off tickets – starting Tuesday November 18^th.    Simply use “SANTA” to get the discount.  Shop now and save big!

Our mini oil collection has been such a hit, and they are one of our best sellers!  The oils make your skin smell and feel amazing.  Haven’t seen our collection yet?  Jump over to Supernatural Botanicals  to see the entire bath & body collection.

Having no choice but to pay attention to it, as it’s displayed in every grocery store in America, a bottle of Skinnygirl Margarita made it’s way into my refrigerator.  Skinnygirl is a brand created by reality turned mainstream personality, Bethenny Frankel.  I immediately loved Bethenny for her entrepreneur-meets-lunatic personality …let’s just say I’m familiar with that territory.  There’s a laser-focused drive amongst some in the world that just sets them apart, and that’s exactly how Bethenny just landed a reported $120 million for her Skinnygirl Margarita brand.

You know a product has a successful PR and marketing strategy when you purchase their product, even though you don’t necessarily like it.  That’s what I did.  I was pretty sure I didn’t like Tequila, yet I purchased a bottle of  Skinnygirl anyway.  Not only do I adore Bethenny, but I also think her Skinnygirl line in genius.  The logo is spot-on.

So I have an entire bottle of Skinnygirl in my fridge.  The bottle is so cute, I don’t mind it having center stage in my fridge.  But here’s how it’s keeping me skinny…if I dare open the fridge for a snack or something with too many calories, like Parmesan cheese,  I see the Skinnygirl staring me down.  Then I think of Bethenny looking skinny-fabulous (I’m guessing 118 pounds on a 5’6″-ish frame??).  Then I think of Bethenny sealing a deal for $120 million.

Thanks to Ms. Frankel, I now have some more will power, skinnier thighs, and a goal to conquer the world!

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.

Our Farmers Market Collection of soaps are always in demand in the summertime.  Raspberry-Lemonade has a sweet and tart combination that just screams summer.  Our Sun-Ripened Strawberry soap smells exactly like a fresh, sweet, just-picked strawberry from the vine.   Savannah peach has a true juicy-peach scent and is wildly popular.  Your mind instantly goes to Savannah.   Yuzu is our citrus soap, bursting with grapefruit and orange scents.  Perfect for summer.  Crisp and sweet.  Our big 6 ounce bars feel great in the hand, and are beautiful for gift giving.  Made with all natural ingredients, our soaps are perfect for the face and body.  After you’ve washed your face with an amazingly scented soap, you’ll never go back to ordinary cleansers.  They wake you up, and the scent stays with you.  Fantastic!  Visit our entire Farmers Market Collection.  Sensational!

Supernatural Botanicals gets a new logo.  Huge thank you to our friends over at The Next Wave for helping to bring our idea to life!

The Discovery channel’s breakout rockstars from their hit reality show, Deadliest Catch, was in Cincinnati last night to share some of their adventures on the Bering sea…and these boys definitely do not disappoint.  The show’s format consisted of all three captains, Sig Hansen, Andy Hillstrand, and Johnathan Hillstrand, and a moderator on stage, asking the captains questions on various topics, from what it’s like to be on the ocean, to rouge waves, to their whirlwind successes.

Over whiskey and cigarettes, the captains showed us home footage of their adventures, told us of their personal experiences, had various feedback sessions with audience members, and spoke on family ties in the business.  Andy sang not one, but two, of his original songs.  We saw Sid’s cameo appearance in the movie, Cars 2, where he does the voice of a boat…which, incidentally, looks just like him, too.  Johnathan had a mohawk, which he did for a little boy who has cancer, and it actually looked fantastic, and told us how he kissed Sarah Palin “in the way every woman should be kissed”.

The VIP line after the show was incredible.   In hundreds of shows I’ve seen at the Aronoff, I’ve never seen a VIP line that long.  Longer than celebrities.  Longer than food chefs.  Longer than Broadway musicals.  Backstage, the captains were completely unaffected by any amount of stardom they are receiving.  They joked all night long, had the best stories, and, I think, were happy to finally see women!

Visit their website to find where they’ll be touring next.  It’s a must see.

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One of Cincinnati’s favorite resources for fresh fruits and veggies, unique meats and cheeses, and amazing breads and pastries is Findlay Market.  Located in downtown Cincinnati, Findlay Market remains the hottest spot for the coolest people.  Check out my visit from earlier today.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spqkev3U5iY

Smart Talk Connected Conversations will host Della Reese in Cincinnati May 17, 2011.  Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Della Reese is a world famous singer, actress and television star.  As well as a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Association and an Ordained Minister!  Ms. Reese was born Deloreese Patricia and began singing at six years old!  By the age of thirteen she was hired by the late Mahalia Jackson to tour and perform with her.  A generous amount of television exposure followed Ms. Reese’s first recording successes. She was also the first female to host The Tonight Show. She was soon asked to host her own talk show, Della, (making her the first Black woman to host her own show). Her most recent television credit,Touched By An Angel she was able to combine her talent for acting and singing, as she sang the theme song. Della will inspire you with her ability to be more than an entertainer, more than an actress and more than a minister- she is living proof that you can dream larger dreams and watch them come true!

And we have free tickets to see Della Reese on May 17th.  Leave a comment below and let us know you want to go.