Mother's Day Gift Guide

Finding the perfect gift for the mom(s) in your life doesn't have to be work! We've put together a few of our favorite products that are sure to put a smile on her face and some pep in her hard-working step. 

Illustrations by Jessica Casler © 2015

Pukka Womankind Tea
This beautiful blend of herbs is perfect for bringing balance and bliss into your morning routine. Made with fragrant vanilla, hibiscus and rose, tangy sweet cranberry, earthy beetroot and licorice, and soothing chamomile and shatavari, this tea makes a wonderful gift for that strong, beautiful mama in your life. 

Niche Boston succulent
Springtime calls for P L A N T S! We've been getting regular deliveries of these beautiful succulents, cacti, ferns and terrariums from our favorite urban garden shop across the river, Niche Boston. Complete with beautiful ceramic and metal pots, they make an excellent gift for the green thumb woman in your life. 

100% Pure Mascara
This incredible mascara from 100% pure comes in colors like blackberry and dark chocolate - and they smell amazing, seriously! This company uses the cleanest

Urban moonshine joy tonic
Mothers of all kinds are the hardest workers! It can be a challenge to take time for herself when caring for so many others. This wonderful formula from the expert herbalists at Urban Moonshine in Burlington VT "promotes a positive mental attitude and promote a relaxed feeling when overworked or overwhelmed." A great gift for that powerful woman in your life. 

Weleda Evening Primrose Body Oil
This luxurious organic oil makes a fantastic massage oil, belly balm, or overall body moisturizer. Evening primrose, olive, wheat germ, sea buckthorn and jojoba seed oils deliver essential fatty acids and omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 to help restore and moisturize skin. Its rich, velvety texture offers a nourishing treatment that leaves skin healthy, firm and renewed. Perfect gift to help that special mama relax and rejuvenate!

Schmilk Chocolate
Let's just get one thing straight. Chocolate = Love. Show your favorite mamas that you love them with the gift of something sweet! This vegan milk chocolate from Schmilk leaves absolutely nothing wanting - rich, creamy, lightly sweet and completely delicious. 

Thesis Rose Candle
We can't get enough of this lightly scented, completely beautiful candle from local body care company Thesis. Made with soy wax and essential oils and housed in amber glass, the candle will burn for many hours, giving off a soft glow and filling the room with the delicious scent of rose petals.

Visiting Gaia Herbs' Turmeric Farm in Costa Rica

Our General Manager recently went to Costa Rica to visit the organic turmeric farm of Gaia Herbs, one of our largest herbal medicine suppliers. She writes about the experience below:

When I think of Costa Rica, I usually think of rainforests and three-toed sloths lazing about the verdant splendor.  I’m adding turmeric to that lush list, having made my first trip to Costa Rica last month to visit one of our favorite herbal companies’ organic turmeric farms.

The company I visited is Gaia Herbs, and we have been carrying their products since they first started doing business in the late 1980s.  Their name is synonymous with high quality, and for good reason. Gaia tests all raw source materials and each batch of product for purity, integrity, and potency. They are so transparent in their manufacturing processes that they actually make their test results available to the public via their “Meet Your Herbs” page on their website. That’s right:  you can find out which tests were performed on any of their products to guarantee it is what it says it is, and has the potency it claims on the package.

Visiting Gaia's turmeric farm and getting our hands on the freshest product!

Visiting Gaia’s organic turmeric farm on the Nicoya Peninsula was nothing less than spectacular. Gaia founder, Ric Scalzo, guided our group of retailers on the farm while explaining every aspect of growing and harvesting organic turmeric. Scalzo waxed poetic about the plant “microbiome,” or the importance of growing plants that had a symbiotic effect with the turmeric and the soil microorganisms.  A burgeoning worm compost pile further ensured Gaia provides its organic turmeric with the richest soil possible.

One of my favorite parts of the farm tour was after we finished watching turmeric being harvested, and we went to where it was being sorted, washed, and dried.  Gaia’s local farm operations manager, Luis Iglesias, explained how he had sought to employ local women in an otherwise economically depressed area.  News spread by word-of-mouth, and the number of Gaia’s female farm employees grew exponentially. 

I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity to visit Gaia’s organic turmeric farm in Costa Rica.  It has further solidified my already quite positive opinion of Gaia Herbs and what they do, not just for raising the bar for herbal medicine manufacturing practices but also for demanding companies improve the lives of people who work for them and the world at large!

The Minimalist Makeover: Simple, healthy and all YOU, with five beautiful products

This guest post was written by Kristin Jorgenson, one of our favorite customers and sales brokers, who works with Dr. Hauschka skin care. Kristin has gorgeous skin and wears flawless, minimal make up, always looking completely radiant when she pops in the store.

The Minimalist Makeover is for anyone who wants to achieve a healthy, natural look using just a few skin-loving, non-toxic cosmetics. The look is also known as “YOU, on the best day of your life.”  

You: hydrated, healthy, rested, and happy, on a gorgeous, breezy summer day, sparkling, in love.

Before applying any make-up, one must care for their skin with a gentle cleanser, toner and the appropriate day cream for their skin’s current condition. I love Dr. Hauschka’s Quince Day Cream for its clean finish and protective antioxidant ingredients.

Here are the top 5 products I use when performing a Minimalist Makeover, all by Dr. Hauschka Skin Care:

| ONE |

Dr. Hauschka Foundation: This is a brand new formula that I’m wild about. It goes on smoothly and evenly on a well-moisturized face. The foundation contains oils of coconut, apricot and macadamia, which sounds like dessert but lends to hydration and smooth, protected skin. The coverage is light to medium, never heavy, allowing the skin’s natural radiance to come through - but effectively concealing any blemishes or colorations that are inconsistent. I’ve found this new foundation to work as well as a concealer when sponged under the eyes - which was a nice surprise, and keeps us on our theme of minimalism.

|TWO|

Translucent Bronzing Tint: This product is well loved by make up artists everywhere for its perfected formula and unbelievable versatility. The liquid mineral tint contains olive oil and beeswax for a hydrating, blendable application, anthyllis (a healing botanical extract present in many Dr. Hauschka products) and witch hazel for a toning effect. The bronzing tint can be mixed with day cream, sunscreen, or foundation to deepen the shade. It can also be applied strategically with fingers, a makeup sponge or a makeup brush to contour areas of the face, which would naturally be touched by the sun. 

|THREE| 

Rouge: I love rouge. The right rouge brings the face back to life almost instantly. Dr. Hauschka has really accomplished minimalism by providing the only 3 rouge shades one could need- a bright coral, a rosy pink and a soft nude. These mineral rouge powders contain silk powder, lending a slight luminescence in the light, as well as witch hazel and sage to soothe and refresh. Dr. Hauschka’s International Make-up artist Karim Sattar taught us to ad a touch of rouge to the eyelids to give a youthful look. I’m hooked on that technique.

|FOUR|

Mascara: Natural mascara is sometimes the product that brings people to natural cosmetics due to eye sensitivity. Many people, however, transition to natural mascara more slowly because they believe that eyelashes aren’t as affected by chemicals as the skin is. I’d like to challenge this! Dr. Hauschka’s Mascara contains delicious smelling Rose Petal Wax, soothing eyebright and black tea and neem leaf extract the strengthen lashes. For more oomph, the volume mascara is a firmer formula with a great volumizing brush. Ingredients such as candellila wax, beeswax, neem leaf extract and cane sugar result in plump, long and healthy lashes for beautiful, expressive eyes. 

|FIVE|

Novum Lipstick: This is my favorite decision to make when finishing a makeover. By this point, the person is relaxed and their skin is looking fresh and dewy. Using hair, eye, skin tone and colors/type of clothing I choose either a pop of color or a shade very close to their natural lip color. Dr. Hauschka’s Lipstick Novum is the most hydrating lip color I have ever used thanks to Vitamin E rich Moroccan Oil, Jojoba Oil and protective Rose Wax. Lipstick Novums come in 4 amazing shades, Sand Dune (a copper nude with hints of lavender), Miraculous Rose (a tawny pink), Laid Back Apricot (a warm peach) and Exhilarating Berry (a gorgeous shade somewhere between raspberry and wine that looks different on every person I’ve ever used it on).  

Enjoy!

Maribeth's Peaceful Heart Tea

:: to uplift mood & spirit ::

Maribeth, our herbalist-in-training on staff made up this delicious tea blend to lift the heart and bring light to the spirit during these cold, dark days of our New England winter.

A good mood can often support our immunity, bringing us up out of the dark and helping us to find peace in hibernating. This tea has helped to lighten the weight of this deep winter and remind me of the beauty of slowing down to rest. Also great on the go to calm the anxieties and stressors of traveling through a snow-blanketed city as we soldier the last weeks of winter. 

Holy Basil to relax mind and body and bring positivity and warmth. 
Hawthorn Leaf & Flower to bring peace to the heart and calm to the nerves
Rose Petals to remind us to love our experiences, each other, and ourselves
Calendula Flowers to remind us of the warm sun, illuminate the darkness, and aid a sluggish system
Rosemary to rejuvenate, clear, and uplift our spirit

I enjoy this tea all day long as winter continues to visit us here in the North East. The ritual of making tea itself has a calming, soothing effect and allows me to slow down as winter intends. This blend of herbs not only works on the emotional body, but supports digestion, our lymphatic system, and strengthens our blood during these more sluggish months. 

Grab a pre-made package of Peaceful Heart Tea at Cambridge Naturals - or make your own! Feel free to add any other of your favorite uplifting herbs to this recipe: 

1/4 cup Hawthorn Leaf & Flower

1/4 cup Holy Basil

3 Tbsp. Rose Petals,

2 Tbsp. Calendula Flowers

1 Tbsp. Rosemary

Use 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. of this blend to your mug of hot water. Steep 10 - 15 minutes, covered. Strain, breathe deep, sip, and relax. Add raw, local honey if desired for an added immune and spirit boost. 

Cheers to happiness and good health!

Calling all curly girls!!

Sarah, our Body Care Department Lead, has an amazing head of curly red hair! She often gets complimented on her lovely locks, and asked for the details of her hair care regimen. She put together this entertaining and comprehensive guide for all the curly girls out there - tried and true ways to maintain that gorgeous mane!

Sarah's curls on display during the first winter snow!

If you are a fellow curly haired comrade, you can appreciate the woes of curly hair... both loving your curls and learning how to maintain and style them. It took me nearly 20 years to fully embrace my curls and almost 10 more to learn how to perfect the styling and maintenance of them. With the help of an amazing book, called Curly Girl: The Handbook, MopTop Haircare products, and a microfiber towel, I don't think my curls have ever looked so good, in my humble opinion. So if you want to learn to love your curls and establish a successful styling routine, here's what you oughta do...

Read the book Curly Girl: The Handbook to refresh your attitude and hair-outlook. This book is great for that, as well as helping you to understand how curly hair works and the type of curls you have. It's also crucial in learning which hair care products to avoid, and most importantly how to care for and style your curly hair. And after you do this... 

MopTop Haircare is "curly girl" friendly, meaning it does not contain sulfates, silicone, and parabens that are harsh and strip your hair of beneficial oils. Curly hair is more delicate and drier than other hair types, so you must treat it tenderly! At the beginning of my new routine, I used the MopTop Haircare Clarifying Rescue Treatment. This is just a once in a while reset/detox for your hair, especially if you were using mainstream hair care products previously. It makes your hair feel fresh and rejuvenated without feeling dry or too squeaky clean. 

Then, you shampoo! I use the MopTop Haircare Gentle Shampoo. Since using this shampoo, I've found that I don't need to wash as frequently, as I think it balances my scalp oil production. It's not drying or harsh on my curls either. And it smells very nice! If you're switching from mainstream shampoo, it will feel a little different because it doesn't lather a ton or leave your hair feeling squeaky clean, but that's how it's supposed to be!

Next, I condition with the MopTop Haircare Light Conditioner. It's important to be extra gentle when shampooing and conditioning. The Curly Girl Handbook illustrates how to properly shampoo and condition, but you basically want to comb it through with your fingers, scrunch, and then rinse as you scrunch. The Light Conditioner makes your hair so soft but not heavy and you really can run your fingers through your hair! 

I apply the Medium Hold Gel by MopTop while my hair is still damp, smoothing over my hair and scrunching upward. No toweling yet! As per the Curly Girl method, this helps to define your curls and lock in the moisture. I like the MopTop gel because it provides definition and hold to my curls but doesn't make them crunchy or dry. 

Finally, the 3rd key player: the Microfiber Towel by Earth Therapeutics. This towel has been miraculous. Cup your hair with the towel, scrunch, and squeeze. The towel soaks so much water and exponentially speeds drying and decreases frizz!

Occasionally in the winter, I will use a hair dryer with diffuser attachment if I don't have time to wait for my hair to dry. The diffuser attachment is important, as it diffuses the harsh heat and helps to maintain hair definition. 

And waa-laa!! A head of hair that's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! 

The CN Staff Playlist: Neptune Edition

Our staff are stuck at home today once again as the store is closed due to Winter Storm Neptune. Cabin fever is starting to set in and we're seeking ways to stay connected. So we created a Cambridge Naturals Staff Playlist: Neptune Edition, for our listening pleasure and yours! This is an accumulation of some of our favorite songs to lift our spirits out of the wintertime doldrums. We hope you enjoy!

♫ Listen here.