Have you heard the latest dish? Your local health & wellness retreat has made the move from seaweed wraps to the information superhighway. And you’re the one who is set to clean up.

anise&currant, the newly-launched go-to site for all things bath, body and abode, is subsequently poised to be THE authority on sweet-scented elixirs, suds and balms. Resident scent sleuth at anise&currant, Kristen Magee is on her way to compiling an impressive list of companies specializing in spa products.

While dressing table standbys, such as candles and soap, are well represented, Kristen adds an extra level of cachet to the directory by seeking out products that, until recently, were more scarcely represented by smaller designers, including cosmetics & perfume.

The true beauty of any directory website is that of discovery. Browsing through the indexed listings, I am pleasantly surprised by the list of indie staples, as well as a number of shops I had not heard of before. From Kristen’s own Beccalights, to my new discovery of the cheekily-named Villainess, anise&currant’s showing of products promising to soothe, detoxify & de-stress is proof that the bath, body, candle and cosmetic markets are on the rise when it comes to home-based ventures.

Beccalights’ impressive range of candles, scent melts and room sprays is only outrivaled by the incredible scents! I personally own her Tannenbaum, Carmelized Chestnuts and Pumpkin Cheesecake candle tins, the latter of which I have to admit to continually opening and reopening, just to breathe in the realistically divine scent. These candles are richly infused with aromatic blends without being overpowering. With the addition of more new scents every season, Beccalights truly lives up to its tagline promise to “scent your world”.

Browsing around the website of my new discovery Villainess, I am struck by not only the endless list of scents in her Smooch! And Sudz lines, but also by Brooke’s combination of sassy wit, practical employ of traditional soapmaking, and the tongue-in-cheek naming of her fragrant “skin-friendly” goodies. With sinful treats such as the appropriately-named Decadence Smooch!, I would gladly adopt the Villainess lifestyle if that means being able to spoil myself daily with the milky concoction that promises to exfoliate as well as moisturize in one fell swoop.

The days of being wrapped up in bandages mummy-style are over (unless, of course, you are busy preparing for your best friend’s Halloween party). Today’s spas are au courant, and instead of stealing away to some secluded hideaway, now you can find the latest pampering products with the click of a computer mouse.

It is easy to become overwhelmed when faced with the sheer magnitude of fragrances, flavors, and colors, not to mention the clays, minerals, and herbs formulated into bath & body products. But anise&currant’s department-store directory layout is intuitive to shoppers both informed and those who are not so.

With a sudsy sampling of the best in bath & body, as well as an expanding collection of candle makers, cosmetic chemists and perfumeries all in one easy-to-navigate directory, you won’t have to run yourself ragged in order to hit them all.

Then again…you just may want to. It will give you the perfect excuse to spoil yourself with a little extra face time at aniseandcurrant.com

Site: www.aniseandcurrant.com

By: Mary Rajotte of www.outstandingink.com

Does your idea of Girl Power consist of balancing a non-fat latte in one hand while getting a French manicure done on the other? I hate to break it to you. Your executive decision to indulge in a little “you” time at the local day spa may be well and good for your complexion. But it doesn’t quite cut it in terms of the golden rule now, does it?

The good news is, we’ve found a way for you to have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. By shopping for a cause, and purchasing one of the many breast cancer awareness-themed items from natural bath & body company Flower Peddler, you can satisfy your desire to spoil yourself, and give a little back while doing so.

How so, you ask? Your purchase of any of Flower Peddler’s awareness products doesn’t just help to raise funds for research programs. It shows your support for mothers, daughters, and sisters the world over who are facing every woman’s worst fear (and no, we’re not talking about missing the latest BOGO event at Payless).

Flower Peddler, a natural bath & body company based in Mechanicsville, Virginia, recently launched their assortment of soap, lotion & other pampering products that will do good things for both you and women worldwide battling breast cancer.

Inspired by her own mother’s battle with the disease, owner and soap connoisseur Michele Keiper has concocted a bounty of beauty products that look great, smell fantastic and celebrate the best parts of being girly, all the while bringing awareness to the devastating disease.

We love Flower Peddler’s Send Breast Cancer Packing gift set. From foot lotions and fizzing bath bonbons, to the special Breast Cancer Awareness scented candle & Commemorative Ribbon Soap, you won’t feel at all guilty when you indulge in this gift set that comes packaged in an adorable pink suitcase.

For gals looking to spread some of their donation dollars to other breast cancer campaigns, both the awareness candle and pink ribbon soap can also be purchased separately on the Flower Peddler website.

We’re all for showing a little Girl Power. Now you can show off your own and spread a little love & moral support to those ladies out there who, if your roles were reversed, would undoubtedly do the same for you.

Site: www.flower-peddler.com

By: Mary Rajotte of www.outstandingink.com

I need a bath.

Not just to get clean, mind you. I need to relax. i also require some me time, soft and yummy smelling skin, with an obvious lack of aching muscles. Enter LUSHBOX products. The promise of the On The Rocks Soaking Salts had me at the words “pure stress release contained in a cute bottle”! Say no more! Check out the scents offered: citrus basil, honey almond, sangria or cocktail dress…the list contains something for everyone whether you are a sugary sweet kind of gal, or a musk lover. I love that the products are all free of animal products and are cruelty free so I can truly relax whilst I bathe.

After my spa-experience I like to keep my skin soft. Here we have the Vegan Whipped Body Frosting in flavors, I mean scents, that as I read down the list I could almost feel the cavities forming on my teeth. Yes, they are that sweet! And right up my alley with seasonal versions such as candy corn, pumpkin muffin, vanilla spice chai and gingerbread. Moisture with fat-free side effects. Mmmmmmm!

The cosmetics line is in the works for LUSHBOX but do check out the GET NAKEY! Mineral Powder Foundation. By now, everyone has heard of the benefits of mineral foundations and the true miracle in a powder they can be for those of us cursed with sensitive skin, blemishes, skin too oily/too dry or a conscious about animal testing of our beauty products. With plenty of skin tone swatches to choose your perfect shade plus sampler kits to find your true match, the quest for your new foundation stops here and today. Hurray! Now it’s off to run that bath water….

Site: www.lushbox.com

By Jen Fosnight of www.neverfeltbetterbyjen.com

Sun and fun are here again! Biotropicalbody.com has the perfect body products to get you beach ready.

Tropical Sunscreen with SPF 30 is full of skin nourishing antioxidants. Protect yourself from damaging rays with this lightly coconut-scented sunscreen.

Salt Scrub Exfoliating Body Polish comes in four delicious scents. Choose from Juicy Jasmine, Pomegranate, Lavanilla, or Margarita. This salt scrub not only exfoliates it also tones your skin and will leave you feeling smooth and rejuvenated.

Visit www.biotropicabody.com for these and other great skin care products!

Ever had to jot an important note down on the back of a receipt because you didn’t have anything else to write on? Mermedia’s new notebooks and notepads are the perfect solution! Our new line of stationery features original graphic illustrations and watercolor drawings by artist, Kate Lehman. Our notepads and notebooks have been called "hip, unique, and stylish" but they’re also super functional and they make ideal gifts!

Our notebooks are the perfect size to stash in a bag or keep in your top drawer (3.75" x 5.5"). They were designed for a neat fit anywhere, for note taking on the fly! Our notepads are ideal for desk-top list making (4" x 8.5"). Keep one next to your phone and your computer. All of our products are filled with 50 lined pages for you to fill with notes, numbers, lists, reminders and brilliant ideas.

Our three notepad styles are:

Things I Would Do If I Weren’t So Busy Being Fabulous (current best selling item!)
I Should Be Buying Food But I Really Need That New Gloss
Things I Saved For A Rainy Day

Our three notebook styles are:

So Busy!
Must Shop
Shopping Lists

We are selling our products online at www.mermediadesign.com/stationery.htm, priced perfectly at $6.95 each!

SITES OF THE WEEK

Vernacular Skin Works gentle facial care products are handcrafted with care and each contain 8 or fewer ingredients. Vernacular Skin Works products are formulated to make your skin feel at home in itself and their Helthy-Face Mist does just that! Healthy-Face Mist delivers a light layer of non-oil-based moisturizers, antioxidants, and soothing agents to the skin. This spray is refreshing yet versatile and soothes and hydrates your face without heaviness. This product works perfectly alone as a moisturizer, as a mild aftershave, for flights and travel, or as a refreshing and calming pick-up. At Vernacular Skin Works you’ll find that less will surprise you! 

Whammy! Industries began in 2003 as a tiny zine distro started by Stephanie Scarborough. It has since blossomed into a shop that carries tons of zines of the cooking and craft sort, custom and pre-designed buttons, paper goods, and gobs of handmade goodness, by Stephanie and other talented artists and zinesters. Our favorite product is the Sewing Machine Button Set! It is Whammy! Industries best-selling design and makes a perfect Christmas gift for any crafter. Plus, they’re a steal at just $3.00 a set.