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Handmade Beauty Connection
July 2, 2001

A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630
July 2, 2001
Vol. 2, Issue 26
Happy Independence Day To Our US Subscribers!
Happy Canada Day To Our Canadian Subscribers!

This Week's Sponsor: ---> Donna Maria & HBN Proudly Present Sunday Brunch With Jeanne Rose!!

Meet and interact with author, master aromatherapist and herbalist Jeanne Rose and your fellow aromatherapy, herbal and cosmetics professionals at DC’s premier brunch location!!

* bring your own books for personal autograph by Jeanne
* purchase selected autographed books by Jeanne
* develop new business relationships | strengthen existing ones

Date: Sunday, August 26, 2001
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Where: Bambulé Restaurant, Chevy Chase Pavillion, Washington, DC
Includes: choice of dozens of brunch menu items including cereals, breads, assorted egg dishes, fruit salad, veggies, waffles and pancakes, fish, lamb, pasta, salmon, tiramisu, choice of non-alcoholic beverage and more!
Price: $35 if register by August 10 | HBN Members Enjoy 10% discount!!

For Directions, Information & To Register, Contact:
Donna Maria at HBN at (301) 464-4515 (phone) | (301) 464-2719 (fax)
Email: donnamaria@handmadebeauty.com

1. HBN Update: Welcome New HBN Member & HBN Members On The Move!!
2. Introducing www.MakeYourCosmetics.com!!
3. HBN Member Success Spotlight: BioChemical International and Sunshine Gardens Soapworks
4. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win a gallon of organic Bulgarian rosa damascena hydrosol, courtesy of Sensory Essence!!
5. Create The Life you Love Business Tip: Freedom Ain't Free
6. Handmade Beauty Product Recipe: Jojoba Dry Skin Dip
7. All Points Bulletin For HBC Readers In England!!

1. HBN Update: Welcome New HBN Member & HBN Members On The Move!!

~ Welcome New HBN Member!!

Moon & Stars Enchanted Soap | Alison Edie | Georgia
*handmade soaps reminiscent of the history and charm of Savannah

Chesapeake Scents | Fabienne J. Nichols | Delaware
* handmixed bath salts and products to make your bathing bathing experience more enjoyable

~ HBN member Kathy Tarbox of The Saponifier Trade Magazine recently started a Yahoo Groups email discussion group especially for soapmakers. The group, Soapmakers Business Network, is designed to join soapmakers together to facilitate networking and business interaction!!

Learn more about HBN members by visiting their Web sites through HBN's Online Member Directory.

2. Introducing www.MakeYourCosmetics.com!!

MakeYourCosmetics offers practical how-to advice for making your own cosmetics. You'll find my own original recipes, and those of others, broken into categories such as Handmade Soap, Body Balms, Facial and Lip Care, etc. Three special sections cover Products for Men, Especially for Teens, and Baby and Mommy To Be.

It's easy to add your own recipe to our database using our unique, interactive "Submit A Recipe" feature at this link.

New recipes added this week:

1. Cucumber Sensitive Skin Mask - submitted by Donna Maria
2. Patchouli & Flower Bath - submitted by HBN member Kim Baron of ThymeWise SpiritWorks.
3. Raspberry Rose Face & Body Toner - submitted by Donna Maria
4. Spicy Carnation Handmade Soap - hot process recipe submitted by HBN member TJ Currey of Caerlon Gardens Luxury Soap
5. Winding Down Herbal Bath - submitted by HBN member Kim Baron of ThymeWise SpiritWorks

3. HBN Member Success Spotlight: BioChemica International and Sunshine Gardens Soapworks

This week's Success Spotlight shines on HBN members BioChemica and Sunshine Garden Soapworks. BioChemica is a Florida supplier of exotic butters and other raw materials. Sunshine Garden is a Wisconsin company that manufactures and sells handmade soaps and other beauty treats.

To read details about BioChemica and Sunshine Garden Soapworks, and all of the other HBN members profiled in HBN's Success spotlights, click here.

Member Success Spotlights are one of the many benefits of HBN membership. To learn more about Success Spotlights and how you can start putting HBN to work for your business today, click here.

4. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: Last week's winner was Peggy Deutsch of Waterloo, Iowa. Peggy won a generous sample of sona champa attar, courtesy of HBN member White Lotus Aromatics!!

Last Week's Question: While several essential oils are used extensively in the soap industry, I am especially popular and have been for decades. I am a hybrid of two different types of lavender, and I successfully combine the characteristics of both types of plant. I am often used to adulterate true lavender oil, and true lavender oil is one of the oils from which my hybrid version resulted. To win this week, be the first to state two things: (1) the name of the other oil of which I am a hybrid result, and (2) my name.

Last Week's Answer: (1) spike lavender; (2) lavandin

This Week's Question: Who was the doctor who discovered treatments for 32 diseases, including heart arrhythmia, gallstones and circulation disorders, using rose essential oil alone?

Be the first to correctly answer this week's question and win a gallon of organic Bulgarian rosa damascena hydrosol, courtesy of Sensory Essence. Jan Salko of Sensory Essence provided this week's Handmade Beauty Trivia Question!!

Before submitting your entry, please read contest rules. While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner will be notified by email and their name posted at HBN's home page.

5. Create The Life You Love Business Tip

Freedom Ain't Free
by Donna Maria

Time and again, budding business owners describe to me their heartfelt desire to chuck the trappings of the 9 to 5 job for the "freedom" of owing their own business. That sounds good, and who can argue with the idea of escaping the drudgery of "working for the man," coming home dead tired at 8:00pm, fixing dinner and finally settling in at midnight?

But conversations with two small business owners last week reminded me that freedom from a "regular" job is far from free. Both of these persons are professional service providers, one a graphics artist and the other an event planner. The graphics artist lamented that he spends inordinate amounts of time justifying his charges to other small business owners. It seems that many of them (who wouldn't dream of giving their products or services away) want him to do just that! The event planner mentioned to me that she was thinking of getting a Web site because there was "no overhead," so she'd be free of landlords and the expenses of monthly rent, electricity, signage, etc. Yeah ... but ... if you want a quality Web site, you have to pay a Web site designer (or do it yourself (which is also not "free")), and you have to invest some time and money getting people to actually visit your Web site instead of the bazillion other ones out there vying for their attention. Does a Web site really sound "free" of overhead?

As I work with other small businesses, especially those begun as the result of a hobby, I have observed the mentality that the "freedom" of business ownership should somehow be free from any sort of additional responsibilities. No overhead, paying less for services just because of the small business is small, etc. In reality, the pleasure of business ownership - being your own boss - is great, but it ain't free. Here's why.

1. Government Rules & Regulations. At a "9 to 5," who cares about taxes and unemployment compensation? You only pay the tax you owe and your employer goes through the trouble of giving most of it to the governmental authorities for you. If something happens to you physically or if you are laid off, you may be entitled to unemployment compensation, but before either of those things occurs, you don't really have to worry about it because your employer already has. Does your employer have certain government regulations you have to help it abide by? No problem, they've summarized all of them in a manual or on a company Intranet site so you can learn as you go. Start your own business and see that you have to do all of this research, compilation and compliance on your own, frequently with the assistance of an expert in the appropriate field (also not free).

2. That Bi-Weekly Paycheck Suddenly Ain't So Bad After All. At the "real job," you get paid the same amount each week, pretty much no matter what. If you have a slow week, complete with time to spend filing your nails, working on your dream business, chatting with friends, or whatever, that's OK because you'll still be paid the same amount as when you worked like a dog the week before. Have bills? No problem, you know exactly how much money you'll make next month so you can budget how you'll pay them off. Kiss this predictability good-bye when you get your "freedom," and be prepared for feast or famine. No two weeks are ever the same.

3. Professional Services Must Be Paid For. At the "job," if you need some help from co-workers with special areas of expertise, set up lunch and they may assist you for free. Try getting that from a fellow business owner who also has to pay their own bills. Not free anymore! Need a new Web site? Try convincing a professional designer to give you a free shopping cart or free hosting services (without nasty pop-up ads). Good luck! Need to learn the latest Microsoft program? Excellent! At your job, just sign up for free training. Start your own business and you'll have to read the 500-page manual or pay through the nose for personal instruction.

4. Assorted Sundries Must Now Be Bought & Paid For. Need a green or pink pen to sign your personal correspondence or new tri-fold brochure? No problem, just tool on over to the office supply room and grab one there. Ran out of paper at your home computer? Don't worry, just swipe a few pieces of paper from your office printer ... you'll give it back after you get your own ream of paper, right? I'm not suggesting that stealing from your employer, even if it is just a piece of paper or a pen, is OK. Of course, it's not. But you get my drift. Start your own business and suddenly, nothing's free anymore.

To be sure, I know from personal experience that there is no shortage of reasons to trade in the drudgery of your "9 to 5" for the joy and independence of entrepreneurship. Before doing so, however, consider that the "freedom of business ownership ain't free," and be prepared to run the business like a business, and not like a hobby with a tax id number.

6. Handmade Beauty Product Recipe: Jojoba Dry Skin Dip

This is one of the two original recipes created in yesterday's "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions" workshop at the Smile Herb Shop. It was a big hit because of its dense richness, making it suitable for very dry skin and those with a personal preference for a heavy and rich moisturizing product.

Ingredients

60 grams jojoba oil
10 grams beeswax
30 grams distilled water
1/4 teaspoon borax
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 drops rose essential oil (I used rosa damascena)
1 drop ylang ylang essential oil
1 drop lemon essential oil

Blending Procedure

Step 1. Combine oil and wax together in a Pyrex (or other heat proof) measuring cup. Place cup in a hot water bath and allow the wax to melt almost completely. Remove from heat source and stir to melt all of the wax down. Set aside.

Step 2. Place the distilled water in a separate Pyrex (or other heat proof) measuring cup, and microwave for no more than one minute to heat considerably. Remove from microwave. Add borax and xanthan gum to water and using a hand help mixer to dissolve the borax and fully disperse the xanthan gum in the water. The combination will form a loose gel-like mixture.

Step 3. By now, the wax melted into the jojoba oil should not have started to solidify, but if it has, warm it in the hot water bath until it melts and stir again to mix.

Step 4. Using the hand held mixer, begin mixing together the oil/wax mixture. Pour the water mixture into the water oil/wax mixture and mix the two together until Jojoba Dry Skin Dip forms. This should begin to happen almost immediately. Mix until the cream stiffens a bit, about 2 minutes.

Step 5. Add your essential oils and stir with a small wooden spoon or pop sickle stick to mix well. Pour Jojoba Dry Skin Dip into jars or cream pump dispenser (recommended) and allow to cool before capping. (Remember you can also add a preservative, but how and when to add it, and how much to use will depend on the preservative you choose. Without a preservative, use within a few weeks and store in the refrigerator between uses.

7. All Points Bulletin For HBC Readers In England!!

If you are an HBC subscriber in England and would like to connect with your fellow HBC readers there, send your name, mailing address, email address and telephone number (must include all 4 contacts to be included!) to donnamaria@handmadebeauty.com by July 6, 2001. I will compile a list of the readers and their email addresses who respond and circulate it to each of you!!

Please put "England HBC Reader" in the subject line of your correspondence.

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Donna Maria, Editor-In-Chief, DonnaMaria@HandmadeBeauty.com
Jenn Givler, Associate Editor, Jenn@HandmadeBeauty.com
The Handmade Beauty Connection
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