4 Ways To Make Your Down Time Count

For many of us, the only ME time we get on a daily basis is in the shower.  Okay, then - let's pledge to make that a sacred time.


How can we do this?  We all know how lovely scents enhance our mood.  So choose soaps and lotions that make you happy, and maybe even make you want to linger just a little longer in your sacred place!


It's also important to choose soaps and lotions with natural ingredients, to keep your skin healthy and moisturized.


I love great-smelling, great-feeling soaps and lotions.  I never receive enough of them as gifts, and because the really good ones are a little more expensive, I don't often treat myself.  Well, along with you, I'm pledging to change that right now.


I used to hang out at the soap shops in the U District and Pike Place Market when I was a college student.  It was a little indulgence I enjoyed very much.  I kept hoping such a shop would open in Edmonds, but it doesn't appear to be in Edmonds' future. 


So, I decided to take advantage of the numerous artisan soap and lotion makers right here at home, and create a Personal Spa section right in the gallery!  Check out the offerings from these four artisans, dedicated to making healthy, nourishing, delicious-smelling soaps and lotions for you!


1.  Beautiful Soap - made by Linda and Patrice.  These two made a batch of soap in their kitchen just for fun.  Their friends loved it so much, they moved it up a notch and started selling it in small amounts.  Friends of friends loved it too, and so it grew.  Their belief is, "We think that we create a beautiful product that everyone can enjoy. We truly love making our soap and conscientiously try to improve our soap with each new fragrance and color that we add to our shelves."

Offerings from Beautiful Soap

Beautiful soap is 100% glycerin, which attracts moisture from the air to your skin!  Plus, it's coconut base makes LOTS of bubbles.  Each curl is hand-carved, too.  Lots of care goes into each and every bar.  I have a cucumber-melon fragrance on the bathroom sink, and it is lasting much longer than I expected.  Plus, it makes the whole bathroom smell quite wonderful.


2.  Body Systems. This company invites you to "embrace natural skin care and transport yourself to a true tropical experience.  We source ingredients from all over the world to create the most beneficiel and natural products for our skin and the environment.  We never test on animals and use fair traded and organic ingredients whenever possible."

Group of Bath Gels from Body Systems

The soft, heavenly scents from Body Systems will transport you, and make your skin feel fantastic.  They are very pure, as well as concentrated.  In the Butter Lotion, notice that water isn't even one of the ingredients.  Check your lotions at home and it's first on the list!  That means these are very concentrated, and thus last a very long time.  It also means they are more expensive - but you're not just paying for scented water.


We currently have the Bath Gel, Butter Lotion, and a very fun Bath Confetti that makes for the most amazing bubble bath!


3. Pearl and Daisy. With a firm commitment to purity, Rebecca Taylor spends lots of time getting the right combination of ingredients together for the best possible product.  She says, "pure essential oils are blended to provide aromatherapy benefits and a glorious scent.  Minerals and organic botanicals are added to nourish the skin and provide natural color.  You won't find any synthetic fragrance, artificial color, phthalates, synthetic parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, or petrochemicals in any of our soaps or body care products.  Not even a little bit."

Offerings from Pearl & Daisy

We have the bar soap and bath salts available individually.  In the gift box, you'll also find their solid lotion, which is super intense and moisturizing for your hands.  I use it at night because it takes a while to soak in.  It's not greasy enough to make my sheets greasy, but by morning, my hands feel just great.  And that's pretty nice for someone nearing 50!


4. Good Earth Soap Company - by Tracy and Michael.  Tracy and Michael love nature and the goodness of the earth.  That's the inspiration behind their products, and here's their promise to you:  "Good Earth products are created with only the finest ingredients. Each batch is made with its own unique blend of aromatherapy grade essential oils and organic herbs. Handcrafted in small batches to refresh and invigorate your soul. The simplicity of the ingredients we use aids in their ability to heal and revitalize your skin. The reason our products are so good for you is because they are created from natural butters, oils and waxes. It is our hope you will find our products are of the highest quality, Made from the Goodness of the Earth."

Bar soaps by Good Earth

 We currently have the bar soaps, as well as the soy lotion and a fabulous lip balm!  A perfect gift is to get one of each for someone.


We have testers of the lotions, and you can smell the soaps for yourself.  Stop by to play and see which scent makes your heart soar.  That's the one for you!


And make this the gift you give all your best pals this year - because it's also the gift of Down Time for them!

Manya Vee

www.ManyaVeeSelects.com

Visit us today!

Manya Vee Selects

409 Main St

Edmonds, WA  98020

425-776-3778

Hours: Daily 11 - 6, Sunday & Tuesday noon - 4