What a lovely surprise yesterday to hear from the folks at www.TheLuxurySpot.com – a fun and very cool blog that is all about fashion and beauty. They checked out some Garden Girl products recently and apparently are now “ga ga” for Garden Girl

Their review was on Hugs vanilla body butter and Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub. I’m so happy they liked the products – the word is definitely starting to spread! And they are spot on – both Hugs and Pucker Up work wonders on flaky, dry winter skin.

Check out the review when you get a minute: http://www.theluxuryspot.com/2009/02/24/gaga-for-garden-girl/

Winter is a tough time for skin. Well actually, any type of weather can be harsh on skin, but winter has some “special” issues. That is why during this time of year it is especially important to exfoliate. It rids your skin of dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and reveals a fresh face that is brighter, incredibly smooth and younger looking.

So this week’s One Day Sale is all about a fresher, younger face. We are offering a whopping $10.00 off our face exfoliators.

Choose from:

Break Free – this is dermatologist-grade product, and it is our most powerful exfoliant. As opposed to a physical “scrub” type of exfoliation, Break Free relies on 3 incredibly effective fruit acids – lactic, pyruvic and gylcolc – to lift and remove the dead skin cells. While it is especially good for acne/problem skin, it is excellent for any skin type except sensitive.

Starting Over – this is our original exfoliator and still an incredibly popular product. Using natural microcrystals – the very same ones used by the expensive microderm procedures at dermatologists – this creamy scrub removes dead skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles and leaves skin moisturized.

Either Break Free or Starting Over will leave your skin looking incredibly smooth and feeling unbelievably soft. If you have never tried them, this is a great time to try them. If you have tried them, it’s a great time to stock up!

And as always, both products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

To take advantage, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com/facecare

and order at least one of these two products to receive the discount. You will save $10 for each of Break Free and Starting Over that you order.

Then when checking out, use coupon code:

Feb23

Happy shopping, have a great week! Now – back to the Oscar’s for me!

This week’s sale makes it easy for you to shop AND save money – order your products online, and don’t pay an extra penny for shipping! Guilt free shopping

Simply go to http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/ and place an order of at least $35. Then use coupon code Feb17. It’s that easy to get FREE SHIPPING!

But hurry – the standard shipping cost will be back on Tuesday morning. So what are you waiting for? Get a head start while you’re thinking of it!

Shop any of our products – and feel great knowing that they are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates:

Face Care
Body Lotions
Shower Gels
Body Butters
Bath Salts
Sugar Scrub
Hands and Feet
Garden Baby

Have fun and enjoy your week!

I just read an interesting article in Brandweek online. A recent study was done by A.T. Kearny that showed that companies committed to sustainability have fared better in the markets in 16 of 18 industries.

Quoted from the Brandweek article:
“The report compared the performances of 99 companies with strong commitments to sustainability (culled from the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Goldman Sachs SUSTAIN focus list) against industry averages from May to November 2008. These green-leaning companies outperformed industry averages by 15% over the six months in 16 of the 18 industries. In terms of market cap, the sustainable-leaning companies averaged $650 million in protected market capitalization.”

Interesting! Maybe there’s a ray of hope that this world is coming to terms with the fact that our earth has some serious limitations. And if companies and individuals do not start changing their ways, there will be nothing left for our future generations. Imagine the alternative? We could end up like that totally depressing but not totally improbable existence in “Wall e”.

So “yay” for the markets responding positively to sustainability – let’s hope it is the beginning of a new and everlasting trend!

Woops! I wrote that Pucker Up will be in the March issue – it’s actually in the APRIL issue! So keep an eye out!

Just checked out a great article on the body + soul website – Crazy Beauty Tricks That Really Work - they have some fun and easy recommendations and they are spot on for the benefits of the ingredients (it’s surprising how many magazines get that stuff wrong!).

I had been perusing the website to see if Garden Girl’s Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub was on there yet (which it’s not yet). But for those of you who hadn’t seen a past posting – Pucker Up is going to be featured in the March issue of body+soul magazine! I’m SO excited! I have been assured it didn’t make the cutting room floor so fingers crossed GG will get some nice national exposure. If you are not familiar with body+soul, it’s a great Martha Stewart Living-owned magazine full of tips and tricks focusing on healthy living (but not one of those overly organic, crunchy mags).

Speaking of magazines, I recently subscribed to Prevention magazine, thinking it would be also all about health. Well the first issue I got was jam packed with recommendations for skin care products that are far from healthy – instead they are products packed with petroleum, sulfates, and parabens. What’s up with that? You’d think they’d be a little more aware, wouldn’t you?

So anyway keep your eye out for the March issue of body+soul! Meantime-check out the website. Those Crazy Tricks are pretty cool

My 8 year old son just drew the winner for the Smooches/Hugs giveaway! The winner he drew was:

jaas7220 at yahoo dot com

Yea!!!! Congratulations! I will be emailing her to see what her preference is.

Didn’t win? No worries! Check out this week’s SPECIAL OFFER (and extended version of our weekly One Day Sale) below. You can still get FREE Smooches and Hugs.

Keep an eye out for another giveaway soon. And if you aren’t already on our mailing list, be sure to go to our homepage (www.gardengirlskincare.com) and sign up. You get a $5 coupon AND we send weekly emails to alert you to our One Day Sales that we post here.

Have a great week and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Well I dunno about you but these days I feel like I gain girth just breathing. I have been trying to be good about exercising but to be honest I’m not very dedicated. So I thought a great way to get a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day – without worrying about extra calories – would be to have an irrisitable offer on Hugs and Smooches body butters. This way – whether you crave chocolate but don’t want to extra fat and calories, or if you are simply looking for an incredibly soothing, hydrating and rich body butter that smells delish – you win!

We did a little giveaway (the winner will be announced in my next post!) that was quite popular. So if you find that you weren’t the winner – then you can STILL win!

And don’t forget – these make great gifts not just for yourself, but also for daughters, mothers, nieces, teachers etc. And I will admit that in our testosterone-dominant house they are both a big hit and are the preferred choice for moisturizer.

Ok – enough babbling, here’s the deal:

Buy ONE Hugs vanilla or Smooches chocolate/mandarin body butter and get ONE FREEEEE! Woohoo! This is valid on either 4 oz. OR 8 oz. Whatever size you buy, will be the size you get for free. Best of all – you can mix and match: buy a Smooches and get a Hugs, or buy a Hugs and get a Hugs etc. Your choice! I will warn you, however, that we are running dangerously low on the 8 oz. Hugs so those will be first come, first served.

Usually, I have no restrictions on the offers I do, but this time it is limited to 2 free products. So choose wisely and ENJOY!

Here’s all you need to do:
1) Go to www.gardengirlskincare.com – place your order and include either 1 or 2 Smooches or Hugs in the order. (again, you can order more but the limit is 2 free).
2) When you are checking out, be sure to put in the comments section what you want for your freebies!

Easy peasy! The best part? You have until Tuesday at midnight to place this order! All orders by Monday are guaranteed for pre-Valentine’s Day delivery. Orders received by Tuesday night will be shipped on Wednesday and I’m 95% sure they’ll arrive on time.

In December I did a drawing for a free product and it was so much fun that I thought I’d do it again. This time, with a Valentine’s Day theme!

All you have to do to enter is post a comment below, give your email address and the reason why you’d like to be the winner. Also – let me know if you’ prefer Hugs vanilla or Smooches chocolate/mandarin 4 oz body butter. Either one is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for you or a loved one! They are super rich and deeply hydrating. Oh – and very yummy smelling!

You have from now until Friday night at midnight to enter. I will draw the winner and announce it on the blog on Saturday. Don’t forget to give your email address so I can contact you!

Not sure what Hugs and Smooches are? Click here to find out more!

Don’t know much about Garden Girl? Well for starters: Garden Girl’s unique products have been carefully formulated, using the highest quality natural ingredients, to be highly effective while also eco-friendly. Garden Girl promotes a healthy lifestyle, and each of our unique products reflects this vision effectively.

Garden Girl’s mission is to provide superior quality natural skin care products free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petroleum and unnecessary chemicals. Through our products, website, blog and emails we strive to offer helpful information that encourages consumers to use natural skin care products to enhance their beauty and promote a healthy lifestyle. Garden Girl maintains a commitment to provide earth-friendly products that are never tested on animals and that utilize minimal, earth-friendly packaging. Our aim is to demonstrate socially responsible and ethical business practices while providing effective products with a little spunk and personality.

But you can also check out our FAQ’s to find out more: www.gardengirlskincare.com/faqs

Have fun and I can’t wait to see who wins!

This week’s one day sale is a doozy! I love it when I give away free products – it’s fun! And this week I’m giving away one of our products that has developed quite a cult-ish following of dedicated customers. So check it out – and remember, the offer expires at midnight on Monday.

This week, when you buy any 2 face products (see list below) – you will get a FREE Even Ste(pH)en toner! People always ask – “do I really need a toner?” – and my answer is always the same. Do you need it? No. Just like you don’t need to wash your face and you don’t need to put on moisturizer. But the simple fact is that toner, just like face wash and moisturizer, helps your skin stay in tip-top shape, look its best and keep its youthful glow. Even Ste(pH)en is one of the most effective toners you will find – with the highest quality ingredients. It’s packed with herbal extracts and witch hazel that help to balance your skin’s pH and clear your pores of any last residue from your cleanser. Plus, Even Ste(pH)en doesn’t dry out your skin, and leaves it fresh and maximized to allow your moisturizer to work at it’s peak level. Bonus? Our toner is also loaded with DMAE – a natural skin-firming ingredient. And of course, as with all Garden Girl products, it’s free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

Even Ste(pH)en has gained such a strong following because many people have found it to be a key player in keeping their skin clear and free of break-outs. We have a number of people who have stopped using “botanically based” acne programs that have harsh ingredients and instead opted for You’re Fresh, Even Ste(pHen), Break Free and Nature Nurture or No Worries. And they say their skin has never been better!

Here’s a recent review of Garden Girl products on the Bionic Beauty blog: http://bionic-beauty.com/garden-girl-skincare-reviewed/ – check out what she had to say about the toner!

So whether you are already a loyal fan or you have never tried it – this is a great deal. A FREE Even Ste(pH)en toner when you buy any TWO of the following (yes – you can buy 2 of the same thing):

You’re Fresh
At Long Last
Oasis for Faces
Like Magic
Eye Can’t Believe It
Break Free
Starting Over
No Worries
Nature Nurture
Bright Idea

To take advantage – simply go to http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/, add 2 or more of the products listed above, and then when you check out write FREE TONER PLEASE in the comments section.

And if you are already a big fan – if you can take a minute to post a response here and let us know why you like it, it would be fantastic! And if I get 5 or more responses, I will choose one at random to receive another free bottle!

Have a great week! I was going to say Go Cardinals! but now I just realized that if the Steelers get this touchdown I win the office pool so GO STEELERS!