Manufacturers are increasingly boosting their promotion of their products inclusion of the ‘good stuff’ they include in their products with an attempt to give the public warm and fuzzy feelings…distracting the, from the ‘bad stuff’ that they’ve failed or declined to eliminate from the same product.  Above all else, my number one mission in life is to promote and encourage healthy skin and hair care practices.  Ok ok, maybe ‘in life’ is a little strong, but it sincerely is a passion to educate and enlighten the public on this subject, creating more of an awareness of the importance of carefully selecting their personal care products.

The “care” in personal care should mean that products contain ingredients that provide your body sustenance, nourishment, and are overall advantageous to one’s physical and mental health and wellness.  These product should also not contain ingredients are not linked to illness, are not harsh or abrasive, are not pore clogging, are useful without being mere fillers, and are overall skin and hair loving elements.  Products that meet these criteria are not impossible, they can and do exist.

In 2010 it will be my focus to continue this mission by educating you on the good, as well as the not so good ingredients to be on the lookout for when shopping for your personal care products.  In order to pamper yourself effectively, it’s important to know what’s in the products you choose to pamper yourself with.  After all, truly pampering yourself is a not only a physical act, but is a mentally comforting experience. Knowing that the products you’re treating yourself to are good for your overall well being is the ultimate contribution to a fulfilling spahhhhh experience.

Wishes of much love and many blessings in 2010 and beyond!

I know many of you reading this are wives and mothers who put their all into their families.  For many of us, it becomes more difficult to spend time on ourselves as our families increase in size.  Even those women without little ones become busier as they get older, leaving less time for themselves.  During busy times like the holiday seasons, it becomes extra important to reserve time for yourself.

Doing things for yourself, no matter how small they are, can positively affect your mood and outlook on life.  You feel refreshed. You feel loved. You ARE both refreshed and loved by spending your precious energy on you.

This includes doing everyday things that we often forget, such as taking vitamins and eating right, to things that are considered primping and make us feel pretty. You may, after something like a manicure or mini-facial, feel prettier or more attractive.  This, of course, makes you feel better about yourself, which shows from the inside, even if the signs of your recent facial are not visible to others.

Whether you’ve been neglecting yourself due to lack of time, lack of money or lack of energy, it is extremely important to take little moments to yourself to read, take a soak in the bath or to do your nails.  Whatever makes you happy.

If time and/or money are the issue, a home pedicure can be as gratifying as one at the salon. You can be in the comfort of your own home, taking your time.  Even doing something as small as lighting incense and simply breathing for a few moments can help you re-center yourself.

There are some really great bath and beauty recipes, both in this blog and other places online, that use ingredients you can find in your kitchen to produce spa quality results.  Tyrika’s sugar scrub is to-die-for and there are some really great ideas for aromatherapy (another inexpensive mood-lifter) as well.

Anything you can do for yourself (by yourself, moms!) has the potential to heal and decompress some of your stress.  The holidays can be notoriously stressful, for many different reasons.  No matter what those reasons may be, it is especially important to take care of yourself while trying to make everyone else smile during the season of giving.  As my brother in law says…”If Mom’s not happy, nobody’s happy!”

I am revving up my skin care routine…What are the things that you will take the time to do for yourself this season?

It’s that time of year when many people begin to agonize over the gift-giving portion of the holiday season.  As aromatherapy enthusiasts, it is only right that we would want to share the joy of the season by sharing the joy of aromatherapy.

There is an aromatherapy gift for everyone on your list.  They can come in the form of bath and body products, beautiful jewelry, and home diffusers, just to name a few of the wonderful products out there.

Any mom, sister, or auntie would be ecstatic to get a gift set from mainelement:  love.  You can choose a le’amour bath or pampering pedi gift set, tsa safe travel set, or a mini favor bags filled with fully customizable products.  Not only can you choose the fragrance of your gift from an extensive list of possibilities including Lavender Vanilla, Wild Jasmine, Serenity and Autumn Harvest, but you can also request a totally personal scent, made just for you.

You can customize the labels of mainelement:  love products as well, from the background to the text, including the color, border and what it says.  The result is an absolutely deliciously scented gift in a package made just for your loved one.  Who wouldn’t love that?!?

Another aromatherapy gift to be cherished is aromatherapy jewelry.  Aromatherapy jewelry is an ancient concept that has been “resurrected” by Earth Solutions, and has become very popular recently.

Whether your special lady prefers a necklace, bracelet or earrings, there is an option for her.  You could even get her a matching set.  The pendants on this jewelry are designed to hold essential oils and release the fragrance to the wearer all day.  There are classic designs like hearts and flowers, or maybe she would like a fairy or ohm design.  Depending on the design you choose, you can have pewter or sterling silver jewelry.

Essential oil diffusers for the home come in even more shapes and sizes and are the perfect gift for the families on your list.  Birch Hill Happenings has options to fit every décor, including tea light diffusers made of metal, soapstone or ceramic.  Tea light diffusers can either be used to heat essential oils, or with scented wax tarts.  They also have passive diffusers and a wide range of other aromatherapy gifts.

No matter who is on your gift-giving list, chances are they could benefit from some aromatherapy in their lives whether they need help relaxing or energizing, sleeping or focusing.  There are so many aromatherapy gift options; you would be hard pressed NOT to find something suitable for each person.

Hello, Love: The Element readers!  My name is Jamie, and I’m the newest addition to Team Love I’ll be sending bits of beauty and love from my desk to your blog on a regular basis now.

I’m extremely thrilled about being here too!  Aromatherapy has been an interest of mine since I started making candles with my sister a few years ago.  The human sense of smell is the sense with the most potential to be mood altering, it is my belief we should take advantage of that!

I am also COMPLETELY sold on and excited about everything else Love: The Element is all about.   I’ve had some rough and tumble times, but because of them I learned that the single most important thing any woman can do is love herself.  The old saying about needing to love yourself in order to truly love others is, in fact, true.  I know better than anyone that it can be far from easy sometimes, and it is not necessarily something that we are taught or encouraged to do, either.

So that is why we are here, to teach each other to love ourselves, and give each other the encouragement to do it!  Now, I’m not as egotistical to believe I have a bearing on your self worth;)  But, I do believe that the little bit of time you take for yourself (whether it’s to light a candle and have a soak, do your hair, or simply read something that makes you smile), can REALLY make a difference in how you feel.  I am the mother of a toddler, so I truly understand how scarce time can be, and often need a good shove in the direction of taking it myself.

And THAT, dear readers, is why I’m so excited to be on board such a delightful blog, because I’m right at home here!!!

I hope you are having a wonderful day!  I will talk to you soon,

Jamie