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.

So it’s no secret that we here at Supernatural Botanicals are tree-hugging, granola-eating, Earth-loving people, so an event like Earth Day 2011 is a celebration for us.  In our effort to be Green, we ask that you do one thing kind for the planet today.  You can approach this in a myriad of ways…try to walk instead of drive, recycle something, reuse something instead of chucking it into the garbage, avoid putting toxins down your drains,  reduce your consumption, plant a tree, start a garden.  Simply, live a cleaner, more eco-friendly  lifestyle.  Start today, and see if it “sticks” tomorrow.  Stand for something, have a cause.  Happy Earth Day!

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!

Get rid of the end-of-winter skin with a facial mask you can whip up in your own kitchen.  Honey is ultra-moisturizing to the skin, and gently exfoliates the skin to create a fresh glow. 

It’s simple to make.  Simply mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 2 tablespoons of milk and heat it in the microwave for 15 seconds to melt the honey. Apply on to face, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes, wash with warm water and apply a good moisturizer.  The honey will mosturize and soften the dry skin area.   Using it for an extensive time period can actually slightly whiten skin color.

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.

Phthalates are used to enhance fragrance or make it last longer. They are commonly found in perfumes, fragrance, hair products, deodorants, body lotions and nail polish. Unfortunately they are NOT required to be listed on labels as they are classified as proprietary. This is a cause for concern as consumers have no real way of knowing which products contain them. In order to be a savvy consumer avoid products that claim an ingredient as ‘fragrance’ or ‘perfume’. They are believed to cause cancer, disrupt DNA and have been linked to birth defects.  Always read your labels and use products that are phthalate-free.

Certain greens can help remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. English Ivy is an easy-to-grow toxin fighter.

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Just because you can’t pronounce an ingredient that is included in your lotions doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing.  Case in point …Butyrospermum Parkii.  Sounds scary, doesn’t it?  It’s the formal name for Shea Butter, an ingredient extremely beneficial for your skin.  How about Tocopherol?  Sound like a chemical?  It’s not, it’s Vitamin E.  Ascorbic Acid, that certainly can’t be good for your skin.  Wrong again.  Ascorbic Acid is Vitamin C. 

What:  Birkam yoga.

Technique:  Bikram yoga is often called “hot” yoga.  It’s performed in a heated room with temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.  The style emphases a series of 26 postures designed to stretch the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Benefits:  It is thought that a heated room enables one to stretch further and promote sweating, which removes toxins from the body.

Cautions:  Of note, Bikram yoga is very intense, and not intended for everyone.  Consult your OB if you are pregnant.

Watch this clip for a more thorough explanation of Bikram yoga.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEbIIO4KK54

I had a great time with the girls over at Cincy Chic.  They featured Supernatural Botanicals in their “Go Green” issue. 

Cincy Chic is the only online lifestyle publication for women in the Greater Cincinnati area.  Each week, this dynamic e-zine publishes a feature story, a fitness Q&A column, a movie column, a “Chic Spotlight” which highlights a newsworthy local woman and five editorial departments in the following topics: health, beauty, fashion, social and career.

This online-only publication was recently honored with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s “Best New Product or Service” 2007 Women’s Business Award. In addition, Cincy Chic’s editor and publisher, Amy Storer-Scalia earned a national Web-writing award from ASHPE in 2007 and a national feature writing award from ASBPE in 2006.

Many thanks to Amy Storer-Scalia and Linda Palacios of Cincy Chic and Neysa Ruhl from Neysa Ruhl Photography for making me feel right at home. 

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