just for mom...

a hand-picked trio to nourish, smooth, and uplift.

Because role reversal is a good thing!

our mother's day gift set $35.00 a $ 45.50 value orange cocoa lip bliss (erin's mom's favorite!) shea rosehip body butter (a bit of luxury for the oft self-denied) jasmine seaherb facial tonic (perfect for moms on the go) with cheerful gift wrap included, there should be plenty left over for a daffodil or two.... available for shipping now through Friday 5.7.10. shop now

it's the bee's knees...TODAY ONLY 30% off

You shop, and we'll mind our bees' wax, honey:

Because nearly half of our botanical skin care collection contains the fruits of a bee's labor,10 % of Earth Day sales will be donated to the Pollinator Partnership, whose mission is to protect pollinators (like bees!), critical to food and ecosystems.
For more info, visit Pollinator Partnership.

Your order will be shipped carbon neutral, thanks to UPS.
Learn more at www.carbonneutral.ups.com.

Now is the time to save 30%*.
Please use coupon code BUZZ30. Now make like a bee, and spread the buzzzzzz.

*the fine print: all full size daily ritual gift sets and daily ritual mini kits are excluded.

it's the little things...

In a daily ritual you can truly embrace, it's the little things that matter.

our daily ritual mini-kits for face & body
make the perfect companions
for your journeys near and far.

for face: $34
our fantastic five-some
customized by skin type
clarify
rejuvenate

for body: $26
a luxurious trio for
smoothing and moisturizing
sweet hibiscus
limon vert

now through April 7, we'll include a complimentary
orange cocoa lip bliss with your purchase of
any daily ritual mini kit.

so, where to next?

coming soon...

The rituals of artisanal skin care and tea are coming together in

a collaboration of energy and spirit.

We are joining Tay Home in Andes NY in a boutique experience that

promises to inspire the spirit and captivate the senses.

meet Master Tea Blender & Tay Tea founder, Nini Ordoubadi

www.taytea.com

shop artisanal skin care
www.livingtreebotanicals.com

Stay tuned for more...

pure therapy to the rescue

While traveling recently, I found myself very jet lagged and desperate for a bit of daily ritual in an otherwise harried day. The skin of my face was encrusted with that weird sensation of being both jet-dry and ick-oily all at the same time. My essential cleansing lotion was buried too deep within my luggage to retrieve it, and my resolve was wearing thin. Dismayed by the hotel issued bar of peachy grey soap stamped with a pineapple, and knowing full well that this traditional symbol of hospitality does not imply ingredients related to actual pineapple (ironic because those natural enzymes are exactly what my skin needed!), I grasped for something to lift the moment out of the ordinary. My travel-size bottles of LTB's apricot pure therapy and rosehip seed pure therapy were within reach, as they are tiny enough to carry on without worry of creating a scene at flight security screening.

Armed with these two vials of precious and powerful serums, and remembering that japanese beauty rituals often include a oil-based pre-cleanser, I felt emboldened and all that much closer to some restful shut-eye. I used the rosehip seed pure therapy as a first step (no rinsing), melting away the top layer of ick-oily and whatever was left of my mascara. (Yes, I wear some makeup when traveling because a bottle-of-water-and-warm-wrap-super-model, I am not). As it turned out, the poseur pineapple soap had met it's match! My skin was prepared for the second step - an onslaught of drying lather that might have otherwise hurt. Once clean, my skin happily soaked in the last step: a few "grounding" drops of apricot pure therapy. My daily ritual satisfied with an element of surprise, I slept.

the tree grows

These days we hear a lot about “careful growth” when it comes to business and brands. So far at Living Tree Botanicals, we haven’t really had to be that vigilant about growing carefully – it simply comes with the territory when a business involves women who are striving to achieve balance with respect to career, family and…. What is the other one? Oh yeah - self!

That said – we do have much to be excited about and we’re grateful to have several creative and business nuts (just a bad winter pun – no direct reference to entities mentioned below!) stored up for Spring 2010. Here’s a teaser:

Expanding our retail locations:

Living Tree Botanicals is heading north by north west, as well as east to Vermont and Massachusettes by way of Small Potatoes Sales & Marketing. Martin Butts is the founder of this dynamic new company working with New York producers of very fine goods for eating, sudsing, and now, with LTB – preening (the good, healthy kind). You can watch our retail location list grow by staying tuned to our website, and also check out the Small Potatoes blog at: smallpotatoessales.blogspot.com

A new product catalogue for 2010

You’ll notice small but important changes to our catalogue. The 2010 issue will feature LivingTree Botanicals’ full-line of products (including 2 new products and our daily ritual mini-kits for face and body). And, to better help clients both new and old find what works to love their skin, love their self, love their world: a new system of symbols for various skin-types.To request a new LTB catalogue hot off the press, please e-mail: info@livingtreebotanicals.com

LTB goes sleek and shiny:

Yes – Living Tree Botanicals is artisanal skin care for a modern world. Not that we feel the need to prove it, but it helps that Laura Kirar and Richard Frazier of Tru Design in Manhattan, New York feel the same way. Tru Design hand-picked LTB as the exclusive skin care line to “accessorize” the model unit of the uber sleek and modern 166 Perry St. condos. So, if you’re in the market for a New York city condo – hurry! There are only four units left. If you’re looking for an incredibly talented designer, here’s Laura Kirar: http://www.trudesign.com/

And if a NYC condo isn’t within reach, at least skin care perfect for life in a modern world is: www.livingtreebotanicals.com

Tea for ?

We can’t say too much about this nut quite yet (we’re big on the under-promise/over-deliver thing) – but let’s just say that the leaves of Living Tree Botanicals will soon be blended with tea in truly exciting ways. This new venture involves retailing LTB in a beautifully designed space we can call our own, a new product launch, and well, gorgeous artisanal tea. Not to mention a big soiree to kick off summer 2010.

Our collaborator in this? Here’s a clue: She’s the best tea designer we know, with unparalleled taste, panache, and vision. First person to fill in the blanks for this tea proprietess’ company gets a free LTB sample of the new product when it’s ready: ___ (3 letters) Tea. E-mail info@livingtreebotanicals.com with your best guess.

tips from the tundra

well, technically, upstate New York is not a tundra. but it does bear quite a resemblance this time of year. regardless of definitions, here we are again in the cold quiet of winter. as the natural world around us sleeps, we instinctively turn inward, to reassess the details of our lives. we can enjoy the invigoration of cold air in your lungs, the graphic beauty of snow covered branches, the sweet warmth of hot cocoa to to take away the chill. winter is moment of stillness, comfort and rest.

there is however another side to this season. winter can be extremely taxing on the health of your skin, your energy and immune system. having lived in the harsh elements of northern new england and upstate new york for all my life, i've got a few tricks up my sleeve for surviving and thriving during the darkest and coldest months. here is the top 10, in no particular order. i'd love to hear tips from you.

1. hydrate

it may be cliche to say, but really, its true! drink lots and lots and lots of water. start your day with a full glass. squeeze a little lemon or lime in it. it tastes great, and helps to stimulate elimination and balance alkalinity/acidity in the body. drink less coffee, as it dehydrates the body (which is why it sends you running to the restroom) and contributes to acidity. and as they say, the human body is 98% water. a staggering thought, really.

a hot cup of herbal tea can work double duty to hydrate, warm and nourish the body, mind & spirit. find some of my favorite artisanal teas, made by my friend Nini, at www.taytea.com.

2. humidify

cold temperatures and indoor heating systems seriously sap moisture from the air, which in turn dries the outer layers of the skin. the ideal humidity for healthy skin is 50-60%. i like to run a humidifier in my bedroom at night, which also helps greatly to ease symptoms of allergies, dry sinuses, colds and coughs. proper humidity also helps the body to feel more comfortable in cooler temperatures.

you can also very simply put out a bowl of water, which will evaporate over time. try a lovely ceramic bowl (placed on or near a radiator if possible), and add a few drops of essential oil (i like cedar, pine or bergamot). you could even put a fresh flower or two in there if you are feeling really fancy.

3. exfoliate

dry, flaky skin is the number one complaint about winter skin, and the close second is acne. and for the lucky among us (myself included here), you can have both simultaneously. how cruel nature can be! and how cranky it can make us.

exfoliation is essential to healthy skin. out with the old, in with the new. while it is important not to damage the skin with overzealous scrubbing, gentle exfoliation does wonders for improving clarity, color and smoothness of the skin. this is not only because it removes stubborn old dead cells, but also because it stimulates blood flow, thus increasing cellular renewal, detoxification and leaves skin with a lovely healthy glow.

for your face, try our unique and versatile bamboo rose washing grains. mix with lip bliss or calendula sunshine salve for a perfect lip treatment.

while the experience and results of our sweet hibiscus or limon vert body scrub can't be beat (really, really divine i must say), you can make a pretty great scrub at home.

DIY COFFEE & LEMON BODY SCRUB

besides its energizing scent, coffee contains high levels of caffeine and anti-oxidants, known to firm and tone the skin. vitamin c rich fresh lemon evens skin tone and detoxifies. salt exfoliates while olive oil nourishes and softens. all quantities are estimates--adjust as you go to make the consistency work for you.

1/4 cup fine sea salt

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup finely ground coffee

juice and zest of 1/2 lemon (use more if desired)

1/2 cup high quality olive oil

optional: 5-10 drops of essential oil (i like bergamot, lavender, cedar or cypress)

combine in a bowl, adjust consistency of needed. vigorously massage into the body while skin is damp in the shower, beginning at the feet. spend extra time on trouble spots, and avoid cuts or scrapes that may be irritated by the salt (although the salt will aid healing). rinse and pat dry.

4. moisturize

to ensure that you are feeding the skin and not simply coating it, you have to do it right. after bathing or cleansing, apply a high quality moisturizer, like bois de rose face cream, to face and body. massage your chosen cream, butter, lotion or oil into the skin in an upward motion. in order to quench your skin's thirst, it is important to create a moisture lock by applying your moisturizer to damp skin (i love to spritz with jasmine seaherb facial tonic first).

5. excercise

no need to run a marathon to see results. just get out there and get the blood moving. a brisk walk, shoveling snow or sledding all count. besides the usual benefits we all know we get from regular excercise, getting the heart pumping gives you a rosy glow, moves toxins out to reduce blemishing and cellulite, improves your mood and gives you a great excuse to enjoy a cup of sweet hot cocoa.

6. sweat it out

working up a sweat regularly is one of the very best ways to keep the skin clear. of course exercise does double duty here, but taking a sauna or long hot bath will not only sweat out toxins, but boost the immune system.

7. sunlight

oh, vitamin d, how my cells miss you right now. make a point to enjoy the winter sun if and when it comes out this time of year. while vitamin d supplements are very important if you live where the sun don't shine, making it naturally can't be beat. not to mention what the sun can do for regulating your body clock and lifting your spirits.

if the sun makes very rare appearances in your neck of the woods, as it does here in Oneonta, think about supplementing with artificial light in the form of full spectrum light bulbs. these lights are not to be confused with carcinogenic tanning bulbs. i recently started using a Happy Light, and while i'm pretty sure it is not the key to happiness, it does make me feel better.

8. indulge a little

it need not be excessive, and it need not be expensive, but it does need to make you feel good. it could be as luxurious as a day at the spa or as simple as a pat of butter in your deprivation-based new years resolution diet. but enjoying life and treating yourself well is something none of us should live without.

9. skin food

it is true...you are what you eat. keep your diet simple, wholesome and delicious. diets that strictly limit calories are not only hard to stick to once you start, but can be so limiting they deprive you of essential nutrients. if you make a point to eat healthy whole foods, full of flavor and nutrients, in moderation and limit processed and artificial foods you'll find yourself not only feeling better, but sticking to it. indulging in small quantities, when you have to (and sometimes you do HAVE to) will help you enjoy food and feel good about it.

don't forget that healthy fats are extremely important to soft, supple skin. olive, flax, coconut and evening primrose oils are top on my list. but i also believe in butter, in small amounts of course.

my favorite healthy skin foods include fresh fruit or vegetable juice, whole grains, spirulina, organic eggs and lots of dark leafy greens.

10. sweet dreams

don't forget your beauty sleep. really, sleep, good food and lots of water are the cornerstones to a healthy body, a happy spirit and gorgeous skin.

i think i'm feeling sleepy...zzzzz...