fresh from your kitchen: soothing oat milk soak

This is a fabulously easy DIY spa recipe to start getting in shape to show some skin... sundresses & swimsuits are right around the corner!

 

soothing oat milk soak

1/4 C dry oatmeal
4T dry milk powder
2T coarse grain sea salt or epsom salt
4-6 fresh lavender sprigs- prep by removing buds from stem
pinch of mustard powder (optional: helps heal sore muscles)
15-20 drops of the essential oil(s) of your choice...
we recommend a 1 part lavender : 1 part neroli combo for this one!

 

directions

~combine the oats & lavender buds pulse and grind to a medium-coarse grain powder in coffee grinder or food processor
~add remainder of ingredients and mix well
~add to running bath water. hop in, relax and enjoy! Follow with an indulgent full body scrub and moisturizer for silky smooth skin.

 

what it does

milk contains a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid from lactic acid that exfoliates and renews the cellular surface of the skin, smoothing and softening.

oatmeal is a natural, soothing exfolliant known for it's calming and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has astringent qualities but is gentle enough for sensitive skin. It helps to draw oil and impurities out of the skin.

mustard seed gently stimulates while soothing achy muscles. Constricts and opens pores; tones skin.

 
lavender Lavender has so many amazing properties. It's calming, antiseptic, antibacterial and has been know to help treat acne, scarring, winkles, burns, sunburns, eczema and psoriasis.

Epsom salt detoxifies and helps rid the skin of impurities

20-30 undisturbed minutes soaking priceless! start to finish, this will take you only 25-35 minutes, is cheap and indulgent... so get going :)

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Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home monthly with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes & mini spa treatments you can create at home with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the formulator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions!

custom green wedding & party favors

Did you know The Grapeseed Co. can create custom soy candles, lip balms, lotions & more for your wedding, party or special event?

                            locally handmade in Santa Barbara, California
               elegant green favors for your event
 customize... 
select from over 80 essential oils & phthalate free fragrance oils or our signature scents available at our Santa Barbara store & virtual scent bar
personalize...
we can work with your colors to customize labels, hang tags or place cards

contact us today to discuss your project and learn more here

join us Saturday for Scrub-apalooza at The Grapeseed Co.

Eco~ Beauty Classes at The Grapeseed Co. 
are a great way to customize your own product &
learn tricks and recipes to blend your creations at home! 

In this class you'll create 2 custom large scrubs and learn about the benefits of certain clays, herbs, essential oils, flowers and more! You'll make 2 different jars of scrub (10oz each) to take home plus simple DIY recipes for even more scrubs!

Register online for a spot:
date: Saturday March 3, 2012
time: 4:00-5:30PM class with refreshments, chatting & fun! 

location: The Grapeseed Company 201 W Carrillo St. in downtown Santa Barbara

~You may also call our store at (805)456-3655 to register. 

~Only registration reserves your spot and there are just a few left!

my urban garden

As those who've read this blog for a while know, I'm pretty passionate about living green and being creative. Three years ago we bought a cosmetic "fixer-upper" in downtown Santa Barbara and have been working to harmonize green and city living in our own DIY, creative style (on a major budget!).... It's all about maximizing your space and making every inch usable space. I'm excited we've found a nice balance of growing food, trees and flowers in our tiny backyard that both feeds our family and please the senses. Living green doesn't take acres of land,  just mindful and creative uses of the space you have. Here's a few of our current favorites...

top left: greens, greens and more greens, please! Spinach, chard, various lettuces and micro greens make up this 10x5 foot raised bed garden and provide salads nightly in our home.
top right: climbing pink jasmine is scattered next to pink mini daisies. Jasmine is a beautiful, fragrant bloom that will continue to grow and weave through the lattice to provide privacy from our neighbors!
bottom right: Our "dwarf citrus grove"! A sweet Meyer lemon tree is thriving in an old syrah barrel. Behind it is a dwarf orange that consistently provides fruit.
bottom left: I grow lavender anywhere we have an open pocket, or empty wine barrel. We use it in our wine bar organic soaps. Our tiny yard can't provide enough for all of The Grapeseed Co.'s needs, but it's fun to grow some of our own lavender.
Have you created an urban garden? I'd love to see it and hear about your creative uses of space!

Fresh From Your Kitchen: Chocolate Valentine Scrub

Our delish Chocolate Valentine Scrub combines the natural antioxidant rich powers of cocoa and gentle exfoliating qualities of brown sugar and yogurt to create a home spa-treatment ideal for achieving smooth, silky skin. As always, the ingredients are easy to find organic staples in your local grocery or health food store. Enjoy!

ingredients
1C organic brown sugar
1/4c sunflower oil
1/4c plain or vanilla organic yogurt
1 T organic cocoa powder
15 drops vanilla essential oil (EO) 

directions
~mix brown sugar and cocoa powder in a small bowl with a spatula
~add yogurt, oil and EO, blend until smooth
~massage your warm, damp skin from the feet up with gentle, upward circular motions
~rinse
~apply a natural moisturizer, body butter or body oil. You can even custom make a chocolate lotion or oil to match your scrub here.
~any remainder can be saved in an air tight container in the fridge for up to a week

benefits
brown sugar is softer and fluffier in texture than traditional white sugar, making it an ideal choice for exfoliating sensitive skin. It's also a great source of vitamin B due to the molasses content of the sugar.
chocolate is rich in potent antioxidants that help fight free radicals. It also helps promote healthy cell turnover, which is a great combo with the gentle exfoliating properties of this scrub.
sunflower oil like grapeseed oil, sunflower oil is rich in polyphenols. It's a terrific choice for sensitive skin and even gentle enough for use on babies. It's rich in omegas, oleic and linoleic acid in addition to beta carotene which provides renewing nutrients to the skin.
yogurt contains a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid from lactic acid that exfoliates and renews the surface of your skin.
vanilla EO is known for it's soothing, relaxing qualities; some even say it's an aphrodisiac! Check out The Grapeseed Co. vanilla EO and entire steam distilled EO collection.

upcoming Eco~Beauty Classes

Eco~Beauty Classes at The Grapeseed Company Store 

in Santa Barbara

D'Vine Valentine: Saturday February 11th 4-5:30pm
create your own scented soy & grapeseed candle and massage oil ~ sign up here*

Scrub-a-palooza: Saturday March 3rd 4-5:30pm
select your special concoction of herbs, clays, essential oils & antioxidants to create 2 different scrubs ~ sign up here*

*spaces are limited, only your purchase reserves a spot in the class. You may also visit us or call (805)456-3655 during store hours Mon-Sat 10:30-5:30 to purchase your spot.

can't make the class dates? contact us to book a private party with your friends

subscribe to our google calendar or newsletter to see when new classes are added 

top 10 grapeseed gift picks under $40

{the gift of grapeseed} pampering eco-friendly products in thoughtfully pleasant packaging

While most have just begun thinking about holiday gift giving, ideas have been floating around The Grapeseed Co. since last year! We wanted to offer an even wider selection of quality, green, consumable gifts at a great price point. Here are my top 10 picks under $40 from some of our new releases this year, and what I'll be gifting this jolly season.... cheers!

grapeseed room & body mist {$9-16}

1. New grapeseed room & body mists, made with over 90% organic ingredients and available in all of our classic scents. Spritz on your linens, use as a light body fragrance or scent your room.

dirty dog organics gift tote {$24.95}

2. A fun combo including the new itch & ouch balm, shampoo and fur freshener in a super cute tote you can use for treats and treasures!

the sole surfer pedicure kit {$35}

3. Our top selling surf sea salt foot scrub (8oz) surf lotion and the amazing 4-in-1 pedi tool will scrub and buff your feet into shape, leaving them smooth, soft and sweet smelling!

grapeseed skincare essentials travel set {$36.95}

4. Generous travel sizes of your favorite vinotherapy skin care products, packaged in a beautiful cosmetics pouch made from natural, sustainable sinamay & hemp fibers.

vineyard rose custom vinotherapy mask gift box {$23}

5. Vineyard Rose is used at some of the most exclusive spas in wine country! You can get the same product to create an amazing facial at home with this affordable custom mask gift box kit.

grapeseed gal gift box {$32}

6. A gorgeous gift box upgrade to the 3 original products that started it all! Now available in all of your favorite signature scents including: pink grapefruit ginger, vanilla almond cinnamon & sunshine day

create your own reed diffuser {$32}

7. Visit our virtual scent bar™ to create your own concoction from over 75 different essential oils and fragrances! You even get to name your own product... you can make lotion, perfume, body wash and many other custom gifts with the click of a mouse!

red & white wine bar organic soap gift set {$20}

8. A great idea for a hostess gift, your wine loving friends or just about anyone... we all need soap!

four favorites gift basket {$38}

9. This beautiful woven bark basket is filled with your choice of scent in lotion, scrub, soy candle and lip balm, all for under $40!

wood lid soy & grapeseed butter candle {$24}

10. Our new elegant wood lid candles are hand poured in a thick glass base container and come wrapped in a sheer fabric gift bag. A gorgeous and useful gift to grab for anyone on your list.

Holiday Decor Grapeseed Style: DIY Grapevine Jingle Wreath

The store does not have the floor space for a proper tree this year, but we had a fun time coming up with other ways to decorate this holiday season! We created two beautiful wreaths for The Grapeseed Co. boutique today. First, I'll share directions for our Grapevine Jingle Wreath, created with upcycled grapevines, festive bells and a splash of creativity!

Grapevine Jingle Wreath

 You'll need:

bells (we used 2 different sizes)

a wire wreath frame

dried grapevines

decorative berries or beads

clear fishing line

scissors

DIY INSTRUCTIONS
~Wrap the grapevines around the wreath frame, weaving in and out for your desired shape and size. I worked on bending ours until it framed the Grapeseed Co. logo on our door perfectly. You can also buy a pre-made wreath created from dried grapevines at a craft store like Michael's.
~String the fishing line through each bell and attach in randomly spaced spots around the wreath.
~wrap the berries around the vines, filling in spots that look bare after adding the bells.
~Hang and enjoy! We love this on our entry door because it jingles every time a customer comes in!

Next week I'll share instructions for wreath #2.... 

 Lucinda turned a traditional green wreath into a 2-sided window display that looks beautiful outside the window and inside the shop!

fresh from your kitchen: milky oat bath

This month's Fresh From Your Kitchen feature is an all-over skin smoothing (and soothing) soak! Super easy and quick to make, you just need to make sure you can set aside time to soak and relax in the tub. Enjoy!

MILKY OAT BATH

1/4 cup oats 

(mill the oats in a blender or coffee grinder)

2T organic powdered milk

3T epsom salt

20-30 drops of essential oil(s) of your choice, my pick lately has been a lavender, rose, neroli combo!

Directions

1. mix all ingredients together except the EOs. 

2. add to bathwater as it's running, then add EOs to running bathwater.

3. soak, relax, breathe deep, be present, enjoy.

What it Does
milk contains a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid from lactic acid that exfoliates and renews the cellular surface of the skin, smoothing and softening.

oatmeal is a natural, soothing exfoliant known for it's calming and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has astringent qualities but is gentle enough for sensitive skin. It helps to draw oil and impurities out of the skin.

epsom salt detoxifies and rids the skin of impurities

20-30 undisturbed minutes soaking priceless

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Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes & treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the formulator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions.

Looking back on how The Grapeseed Co. began...

It's hard to believe that 11 years ago I moved onto a 30 foot sailboat and left for a 2 year adventure sailing the Atlantic & Caribbean. Also, when I started making and studying natural skin care! Time flies....
I've been reflecting quite a bit on where that voyage has led us, and found the perfect post to revisit. Here's how The Grapeseed Co. turned from a dream during star lit night passages at sea to reality.

LIVING GREEN part 2 in ENTREPRENEURSHIP + LIVING GREEN + CREATIVITY = THE GRAPESEED COMPANY

product testing inside the boat

Long before GREEN was hip, cool and happenin' it was a part of my life. One that I actually resisted at times as a child. My mother and her earth-loving friends had a food co-op that operated out of our barn. They would place orders directly with farms and vendors, and a delivery truck would pull around our gravel driveway and unload the goods in our barn. Co-op members would drop by to pick-up their orders. I wondered why we couldn't just get stuff from the grocery store like normal people? and yuck, why did I have to eat whole wheat cake with cream cheese frosting for my birthday? Today, I greatly appreciate growing up with a healthy diet and learning the importance of green choices.

LIVING GREEN
I deepened my understanding of our impact on the earth during the two year voyage with Peter in our small sailboat on the open ocean. I became acutely aware of how much water I was consuming, how much trash I was creating, the energy that was needed to run our systems, and what a luxury fresh food from the garden was! For food, we stocked the boat with dry goods, fished with spears and traditional lines, dove for conch and lobster, and grew sprouts on the deck. Boat systems run off of batteries, and the batteries are usually charged by running your engine. Given that we did not have a "real" engine, and just a 15 hp outboard on our tiny ship, this clearly was not going to work for us. Sailors are much like entrepreneurs, savvy, creative and welcoming to other like-minded birds. Through the Internet, books and chats at the dock and boatie bars, we found solutions. Solutions that were very green, and DIY. We fixed our electricity and fresh water deficits by installing solar panels, solar spare water tanks that ran off a gravity system and water catchment systems. We conserved, energy, water, and resources every moment of every day on that sailboat.
Harmony Under Sail
I've mentioned how small our boat was, and will never forget the look on my mom's face when she first saw the good ship Harmony and envisioned her daughter out on the open ocean! Well, due to the Harmony's limited size, she could only hold about 50 gallons of water. We sometimes had to make that stretch past a week! To put things in perspective, the average American family uses around 70 gallons of water a day. Not only were we strictly conserving our fresh water supply, but on extremely remote islands, we ran into some eye opening situations. We actually would spend the entire day lowering buckets into the town well and filling our tanks with jugs and funnels the old fashioned way! It was amazing to see and experience first hand how people lived like this. Yes, I'd say we became hyper aware of our use of resources and impact on the earth.

I caught myself thinking twice about choices I was making, things I was buying, gifts I was giving and what I was consuming and putting on my body. I had done some research and knew there were going to be times we'd have to bathe in the ocean due to our 50 gallon limitations. It's called a salt water wash, fresh water rinse and is practiced by many who live the cruising lifestyle. Sailors have a great affinity for liquid lemon joy- and seem to think it's the cure-all from washing your hair to swabbing the deck and of course, dishes. Something in my gut told me it was not cool to be using this bright yellow stuff on my bod in the ocean. Thus began my fascination, research and formulation of natural skin and personal care products and ultimately, The Grapeseed Company.

This is part 2 in a 3 part series. Check out Part 1: A Lifelong Entrepreneur and Part 3: Creativity if you liked our sailing story.

scentual sandalwood giveaway | create your scent

1 year ago, we opened The Grapeseed Company flagship store in downtown Santa Barbara! I started The Grapeseed Co. 7 years ago to create premium natural skin care based on grapeseeds, an ecologically sound, antioxidant rich byproduct of our local region. Since launching the company I always dreamed of opening a store and setting up a Self Scent Bar™where customers could create their own signature blends. Shortly after opening the store, we launched the Virtual Scent Bar™at TheGrapeseedCompany.com Both Scent Bars have been a hit, online and in the store. So, what better way to mark a year than a  
Create Your Own Signature Scent Giveaway?!

you can enter for the chance to win a

Create Your Own Scentual Sandalwood Line 

~at our Self Scent Bar or Virtual Scent Bar~

You'll get a 15 minute consultation with Kristin about your favorite scents, essential oils, fragrance oils and suggested blends. From there, you will get a chance to blend your own signature sandalwood based scent into an entire body product line, and name it!

You'll receive:

8oz grapeseed hand & body wash

4oz bath & massage oil

4oz vinotherapy body lotion

4oz grapeseed room & body mist

perfume in a cobalt glass rollerball bottle

all wrapped up in our elegant fine vine gift box

(valued at over $120)

To enter, do any (or all) of the following:

1. join in on the fun on our facebook page by liking us

2. follow us on twitter

3. tell your friends about The Grapeseed Company by mentioning us on facebook

4. subscribe to The Grapeseed Co. Monthly News  
(15% off code, DIY spa recipes, promos & more!)

Tip: each thing counts as 1 entry, so do all 4 and you'll enter 4 times! Winner will be drawn at random in September.

Then, leave a comment below letting us know what you did. Easy-peasy.

The winner will get the chance to claim their prize at the store, 

by phone or virtual scent bar online, so this is open to everyone. 

Cheers, and thanks for making this one great year!
We would not be here without all of you :)
thanks,

fresh from your kitchen: solar infused rose water toner

Last month we shared a fun summertime DIY skin care recipe to get your bod in shape for the beach. This month we have a great, simple refreshing skin treat to beat the dog days of heat that often come with August. Check out the cooling tip at the end; it's heaven on a hot day!

  

Solar Infused Rose Water Toner

You've heard of making sun tea, right? This is a fun spin on that concept.

ingredients
8oz distilled water
2oz rose petals
(you can use fresh or dried)

other tools you will need handy:
glass canning jar
tea strainer
funnel
spray bottle

directions
Combine the 2 ingredients in the glass jar. Make in the morning and place the jar in direct sun for 6-8 hours. Transfer contents of jar to spray bottle with the use of a funnel and small tea strainer, catching all the rose petal particles as you pour to the bottle. Add spray top, and chill in the fridge.

what it does for your skin...
Rose is a natural emollient and fabulous for toning and balancing the complexion. Spritz on your skin throughout the day to tone, cool, condition and refresh. You may even substitute this for a light moisturizer if it's especially hot and sticky out!

Learn more about the history and benefits of roses in skin care here.
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Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes and treatments you can create at home with a trip to the grocer or health food store! Direct from the formulator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions. 

fresh from your kitchen: summertime tea skin buff

An excellent emollient and exfoliant to buff your skin into shape for summer! Summertime tea skin buff combines the natural powers of green tea with a slice of lemon and gentle scrubbing powers of brown sugar and yogurt to create a home spa-treatment ideal for shorts and swimsuit season. As always, the ingredients are easy to find organic staples in your local grocer or health food shop.

ingredients:
1C brown sugar
1/4c sunflower oil
1/4c plain yogurt
1 bag green tea
15-20 drops citrus essential oil (EO) of your choice

directions:
~rip open tea bag and mix with brown sugar in a small bowl with a spatula
~add yogurt, oil and EO, blend until smooth
~massage your body from the feet up with gentle, upward circular motions
~rinse
~apply a light, quick absorbing and hydrating moisturizer like our lavender infused grapeseed oil
~any remainder can be saved in the fridge for up to a week

what it does:
brown sugar is softer and fluffier in texture than traditional white sugar, making it an ideal choice for exfoliating sensitive skin. It's also a great source of vitamin B due to the molasses content of the sugar.
sunflower oil like grapeseed oil, sunflower oil is rich in polyphenols. It's a terrific choice for sensitive skin and gentle enough for use on babies. It's rich in omegas, oleic and linoleic acid in addition to beta carotene which provides renewing nutrients to the skin
green tea is an antioxidant powerhouse found in many anti-aging skin care products
yogurt contains a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid from lactic acid that exfoliates and renews the cellular surface of the skin
citrus EOs many citrus essential oils like tangerine, sweet orange, lemon, pink grapefruit, red mandarin and others we carry are known for their uplifting effects in addition to smelling juicy, ripe and fresh. Check out The Grapeseed Co. entire steam distilled EO collection.
learn some cool facts we bet you don't know about lemons... they're good for more than just a slice in your ice tea!

Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes & treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the creator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions.  

free 100% recycled & 100% adorable Mother's Day gift wrap!

Mother's Day is right around the corner.....May 8th. Starting today, we're offering this adorable, 100% recycled (from the bag to the tissue!) eco gift wrap FREE with your $20+ purchase. Your grapeseed goodies will arrive via 2-3 day priority mail, ready to gift!

Grab the free gift wrap 

code: lovemom

shop here

 

*valid in store and online through May 7, 2011 or until we run out!

*Place online orders by May 3rd for Mother's Day delivery

Grapeseed Co. boutique in Santa Barbara Magazine

Thanks to Santa Barbara Magazine for featuring our boutique and scent bar! Come on in and blend up a special concoction for your mom this Mother's Day, or visit our virtual scent bar online and create a custom gift!

fresh from your kitchen: smoothie facial

Some of the same standby ingredients you may use to whip up a delicious smoothie drink are incorporated into this facial smoothie recipe. You'll need a blender to mix this the same way you would a smoothie drink.

Ingredients

3/4 C plain yogurt

1 T honey

2 strawberries

1 orange

Directions

Add the yogurt and honey to your mixer. Using a micro blade, zest the rind of the orange and add half to the blender. You can squeeze the orange for juice or eat it while your making your facial smoothie :) cut the strawberries in half, toss them in, cap the blender and mix at a high setting until the smoothie has a creamy, smooth consistency.

Apply to your face in gentle, upward circular motions. Relax for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Follow with Lavender Rose Toner and Chamomile Grapefruit Moisturizer or Rose & Grape Serum. If your skin is dry, sun damaged or mature, try layering the serum under the moisturizer for maximum benefits. Share with a friend or save for up to a week in the fridge and double-down on this yummy, nourishing facial treatment!

What the Ingredients Do
yogurt: is nourishing, calming and hydrating to the skin. It contains a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid from lactic acid that exfoliates and replenishes the cellular surface of the skin.

strawberries: are chock full of vitamin C and contain little round seeds that gently exfoliate the skin, naturally. They are rich in polyphenols, alpha-hydroxy which help protect, tone and soothe the skin.

honey: this sweet treat helps attract dirt, oil and clean skin with breakouts. Bees release a glucose enzyme when creating honey that is a natural antiseptic and has antibacterial properties. When applied topically, it draws body fluids and nutrients to the area assisting in cell growth and scar prevention. Learn more here. 

orange: contains citric acid which exfoliates and tones the skin, helping to give a glowing look to your complexion.

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Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes & treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the formulator of The Grapeseed Co.'s stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions!    

eco-beauty class is back in session this April!

I'm thrilled to announce that we're bringing back our sold-out Scentual Blending class, where you and a friend can Create Your Own Perfume and Massage Oil, then nosh on yummy treats for just $35 a person! We had a waiting list for this class when we ran it in October, so reserve your spot here.

Space is limited and only registration grabs you a seat in this interactive, hands on class taught by The Grapeseed Co. founder & formulator, Kristin Fraser Cotte
Register online or call the store (805)456-3655 for a spot! 

date: Saturday April 16th, 2011
time: 4-5:30PM 
location: The Grapeseed Co. store
201 W Carrillo St. in downtown Santa Barbara, CA

Scentual Blending: Create your own signature scent with natural essential oils or phthalate free fragrances. You'll learn about blending scents and take home a roll-on perfume in a beautiful cobalt glass container and a massage oil, complete with your own creative name on the label!  Bring a friend and enjoy yummy refreshments after we create our signature scents.

new releases: virtual scent bar products!

the creations are endless...blend yours in store or online!

Our self scent bar at the Santa Barbara store is a popular place to hang out. Where else can you create and name your own custom gift starting at just $12 bucks? It's also been a fabulous place to test out products and see what we'll add to our online offerings. We have 4 new product releases you can customize with your favorite Grapeseed Co. Signature Scent or create your own concoction! Blend with over 50 different steam distilled essential oil or phthalate free fragrance oil choices!

create your own perfume | $28

create your own reed diffuser kits | $32

create your own whipped body butter | $16

create your own room & body mist $12-$18 

fresh from your kitchen: luscious lavender almond honey facial

luscious lavender almond honey facial
This is a wonderfully nourishing, gentle exfoliant & mask... you can whip up, apply & complete the entire DIY spa treatment in just 20 minutes!

Ingredients
1 1/2T almond meal
1tsp lavender buds
1tsp honey (I tried a local avocado blossom honey)
1 1/2-2 tsp grapeseed oil (I used our new lavender infused grapeseed oil)
5-10 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions
Mill lavender buds in a coffee grinder or herb mill and add almond flour, mix. Add honey, oil and essential oil and mix thoroughly. Add a bit more grapeseed oil to thin the mask if needed. Drape a wash cloth soaked in hot water on your face for 1 minute. Remove and apply mixture evenly, like a mask. Relax for 10-15 minutes. Gently massage into your skin in upward, circular motions for 1-2 minutes over your entire face. Rinse thoroughly. Follow with a anti-aging moisturizing treatment like  rose & grape serum.
 
What the Ingredients Do
honey: this sweet treat helps attract dirt, oil and clean skin with breakouts. Bees release a glucose enzyme when creating honey that is a natural antiseptic and has antibacterial properties. When applied topically, it draws body fluids and nutrients to the area assisting in cell growth and scar prevention. Learn more here.
lavender: Lavender has so many amazing properties. It's calming, antiseptic, antibacterial and has been know to help treat acne, scarring, winkles, burns, sunburns, eczema and psoriasis.
grapeseed oil: our ecologically sound grapeseed oil is expeller pressed to retain the purest quality and highest amounts of  antioxidants, vitamins and resveratrol. Learn more here.
almonds: sweet almonds are rich in vitamins A, B & E and often used in skin care for sensitive skin for its strong emollient and gentle softening properties. Almond meal is like a flour made from the nuts; it's easy to find at Trader Joe's or your local health food store.
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Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY skin care recipes & treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the formulator of The Grapeseed Co.'s stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions!  

eco-friendly refill love program for Santa Barbara!

Introducing our new locals only: refill love program! Purchase a beautiful cobalt glass bottle (with the topper of your choice: pump, flip cap or spray) and we'll fill any of our products in it for 15% off the retail price, every time you refill it! This is a pretty kickin' deal, because you can pick up the 4oz bottle for just $2.50 and the 8oz for $3.50, and you can use them at the scent bar!

We love our Santa Barbara community. We love how eco-conscious, thoughtful and caring you are too! Since we've opened the store, many loyal customers have questioned why we don't package more products in glass, like we do with some of the products in our facial line. We use PET recyclable plastic for our bath & body packaging for many reasons, but here's the main one: large glass bottles  are heavy, and prone to breaking in shipment...($$$) Since we grew to where we are today as a wholesale and online retail business, this does not work for the majority of our customers.

We also don't recommend refilling your plastic bottles for contamination reasons. Glass bottles are perfect to refill because you can easily sanitize them before bringing them in. Run them through your dishwasher or sanitize in a pot of boiling water.

We love ya SB! Oh, and we have a whole table of 15% off Valentine's gift sets at the store too this weekend...