Sunkissed DIY :: Energizing Salt Scrub

I've been working on some new products for my skin care line this past week - herbal salt scrubs! I'll have them available in my shop within the next week hopefully! 

 There's endless options for scrubs :: salt, sugar, brown sugar, honey, herbs, clay, essential oils, fruit, veggies....& many more. The kind I'm focusing on are for your body and use sea salt or himalayan pink salt & organic oils as a base.

So since I'm on this salt scrub kick, I wanted to share a simple and delightful recipe with you. This particular one is great for morning time in the shower to get you energized and ready for the day! It's really not necessary to use soap or body wash every time you shower, as it can dry out your skin. Just using this scrub (or another similar scrub) cleanses and exfoliates in a natural and gentle way.

HERE'S THE RECIPE ::

This will make about 2 applications for your whole body, so you can double or triple it if you want to make a larger batch.

INGREDIENTS

+ 3 tbsp mediterranean sea salt (fine ground) 

+ 1 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil (this helps soften & nourish your skin, while the salt is removing dead skin)

+ 1/4 lemon, squeezed

DIRECTIONS

+ In a small bowl, mix up the salt & oil first, then squeeze in the lemon juice and stir again. If you find that it's still too dry, add more lemon juice or oil. 

+ Keep in mind, you don't want the scrub to be too moist, because then the oil & salt will separate AND you'll get your shower floor really slippery.

+ Once you have that nice consistency, you can transfer your mixture into a small glass jar, or if you're going to use it right away - just take the bowl to the shower!

// TO USE /

+ Scoop scrub onto damp hands to moisten mixture a little more.

+ Gently massage into damp skin. Don't rub too hard or you'll damage your skin's protective layer (and your skin will get really red). 

+ Spend extra time on your elbows, feet and knees. Don't forget about your hands! This works great on callouses and dry fingers and hands.

+ You should start to see water beading up on your skin - that's the olive oil working!

+ It's not necessary to moisturize after using this - so this scrub accomplishes a few steps of your morning (or evening) ritual!

There you have it. I hope you enjoy this scrub and try experimenting with your own combinations! Using only all natural & sunkissed ingredients on your skin feels so wonderful and your body will thank you for it, now...and in the long run.

Until next time. xoxo

Sunkissed Dream :: the STOCKMARKET :: Craft Fair Tips

Last Saturday I sold for the first time at a maker's market//artisan fair. It was so much fun! So much work...but so much fun. Once I had everything there and set up - ready to go, it was really just about talking to people about my products and enjoying the atmosphere. It's so nice to share my creations in real life and have some face to face contact with potential customers...instead of just through my online shop.
I got to walk around a bit (since I had my little sister there helping me) and met a lot of lovely people and other vendors. My husband showed up later after he got off work, which was wonderful! He's so supportive and encouraging. 

So, I just wanted to share a few photos of my booth set up, along with a few things I learned from being a first-time vendor. I definitely learned a lot as I went throughout the day and feel like I will be way more prepared next time around. 

+ People love to sample and love things that they can take with them (i.e.: flyers/stickers/business cards/etc). Making those things easily accessible & easily seen for your customers or potential customers is important. 

+ If you do have samples or candles, have them already open for the customer to smell or try. It's more inviting and people will feel more comfortable sampling it, if it's already open for them.

+ Having a little flyer or postcard with extra information about your products & mission is great. It lets people know more about your story and gives them something to take home that will remind them about your products and your business. I just basically took some paragraphs from my About Page & Home Page of my website and put it onto a half page flyer with some nice photos and my contact info. People seemed to really like it!

+ Make sure you have a sign with your business name & what you're selling. I used an old window frame from an antique store and made a kind of simple but pretty sign that is consistent with my website and packaging. It just lets visitors know right away who you are and what they can find at your booth. Plus, if you put a logo on it, that will really help people to remember you!

+ Most people, I found, liked to just look around at my products on their own, and I just told them to let me know if they had questions. I did always make sure to say a sincere & friendly "hello" or "how are you" so I didn't seem rude. If customers feel like you're trying really hard to sell them something, they might not feel comfortable looking around that long. You can feel out a person, if they seem chatty, then talk them up! If not, just let them come to you.

+ Even if someone who seemed interested doesn't buy anything that day, they can find you online or see you at the next fair! I got a few online sales from people I met that day.

+ Make sure your prices are evident. Either price each item or make a sign with a list of prices nearby the items. People don't like asking "how much is this?" You can also lose sales that way.

+ Keep your products high. I noticed that the few products I had down on lower shelves or tables (lower than my main table height) didn't get that much attention or sales. Visitors go for what they can easily see. 

+ Keep your products organized or categorized, similar to your website or online shop. This may not work for all types of vendors, but since I had my beauty products and candles, I just separated everything into how I have it in my Etsy shop. I made signs for "Cleanse," "Moisturize," "Heal", "Soy Candles", etc. It gives customers somewhere to start and may help them find what they are looking for much easier. 

+ Be nice and friendly with your fellow vendors. Go visit their booths and ask about their products & creations. Introduce yourself, swap business cards, and maybe even trade products (I got a few products that way)! I learned a lot from talking to other vendors and found out about other market opportunities and just had some great conversations in general. Making connections is the best (and most fun) part of the whole thing, so don't stay cooped up in your booth the whole time!

+ HAVE FUN. Don't fret about sales, they will come to you. And even if you don't sell that much, you'll learn something and be even more prepared for the next time. 

The STOCKMARKET was a wonderful event! It is the second one they've had and it's only getting bigger. If you're in or around Central California on September 12 (the next event), it is definitely worth checking out - as a visitor or a vendor! They had about 60 vendors, great food trucks, mimosas, beer, live music, places to sit and hang out and indoor and outdoor areas.

My little sis and I all ready for the day. PS: that's a Mara Hoffman dress I'm wearing! Got it on Rent the Runway. If you haven't checked that website out, do it!!

Until next time. xoxo

Sunkissed Baby + Mama :: Natural Skin Care for This Sacred Time in Your Life

Being pregnant is A LOT of work, I've never done it, so I don't "really know" what it's like. But, creating a life, harbouring a child inside of you and growing to however big you grow does not look easy (or enjoyable sometimes). But the reward is totally worth, I've heard!
So, to honor and treat mama's & new baby's well - I created a line of products for this precious and hard working time in their lives. 

:: Here's the line up ::

 + MOMMY BALMY // ORGANIC BELLY + BODY BALM

This is a deeply emollient and softening balm. I've infused organic calendula flowers & burdock root in high quality oil for weeks before adding it to this luscious and sweet earth smelling creation. Rich, luxurious oils of avocado, jojoba, coconut & unrefined shea butter combined with powerful skin-healing properties of calendula & burdock root will nourish your baby-harbouring body. 
+ aids in keeping your skin supple & elastic
+ helps to avoid stretch marks and scarring
+ omission of essential oils (or other fragrance) raises the safety factor for use during pregnancy

get it here >>

+ BABY BOOTY DUST // ALL NATURAL BABY POWDER

My calming, lavender smelling, talc-free baby powder is full of wonderful herbs & soothing ingredients. I finely grind the high quality herbs, so they feel soft and smooth against your little one's skin. This all natural baby powder 
+ is full of antimicrobial, antiseptic & soothing ingredients
+ will help prevent diaper rash by absorbing moisture
+ will aid in healing diaper rash and minor infections
+ does not contain chemicals or other ingredients that are harmful if used or inhaled
 After a few sprinkles of this booty dust, they'll be back to all smiles and ready to take on their day (or nap). 
++ You can also use this as a bath soak for baby - or a foot soak for athlete's foot or other skin irritations like eczema.

get it here >>

+ BABY LAV // ORGANIC LAVENDER BABY CREAM WITH CALENDULA 

Ok....I'm obsessed with this lotion! I use it all the time on myself, and am working on a "Lady Lav" version (for us ladies). With the calming smell of lavender and the sweet, soothing smell and properties of calendula - your little one will love how this feels on their brand new skin! I've infused organic calendula flowers in high grade organic olive oil for weeks before adding it to this sweet concoction. 
+ Aids in healing skin irritations & rashes
+ Helps soothe and calm skin and senses
+ Leaves a fresh, clean & intoxicating smell
+ All natural & organic ingredients are completely safe for your precious mini-you
You'll be tempted to slather this all over yourself...go for it, I know I do!

get it here >>

I'm excited to give this as gifts to a few expecting gals I know! My little sis, who's pregnant, has been enjoying the belly balm and said she loves using it right out of the shower, before bed time and it smells like earth. I can't wait to use all of this when my husband and I decide to create a new human together! I hope any mama who tries this can feel the love that I put into it. 

Click here to visit the baby + mama section of my shop to get a few more details and purchase some for yourself or a friend, sister, aunt, cousin - someone special!

Until next time. xoxo

Sunkissed Dream :: Retailin'

Last Friday was an awesome day for me! I got the opportunity to stock a local store with my products. Rustic Roots in my hometown of Turlock. I had the freedom to create the display myself (lots of Pinterest searches for inspiration). It was so exciting (and nerve racking) to try and display my products in a lovely fashion, to be pleasing to others. And even if people don't buy anything, hopefully they can at least enjoy how it looks. It was a lot of work making that much of my product all at once, but totally worth it! I was so giddy when I stepped back and looked at these shelves and thought - I created all that. (Is that kind of what it feels like when you have a child?...) kidding....kind of.

I used a few plants, dried herbs in mini apothecary jars of different sizes and styles (I hope customers open & smell them), and framed a few product photography shots. I want people to feel like they're in my little sunkissed world when they step into this area.

I took at least one of each product out of its box to display and turned some of the boxes around, so customers can see the fun & beneficial information that's on the back. 

I included a large hobnail jar full of high quality facial cottons for the taking (oh my gosh, these things really are so soft & amazing on your skin- find them here).

I also put out sample jars of a few of my lotions & balms for people to try. I mean, it's a lot easier to purchase something when you've tried it and know you like it, right? 

I decided to divide my products up into different sections for different skin types. So all products for acne-prone or problematic skin were together, all the baby+mama goodies got displayed together, anti-aging products..etc, etc. I feel like that will make it easier for people to find what they're looking for, for their specific skin type. 

I put my best sellers or top products on the top shelf, since that is what people will see first. 

And I tried to make sure that there was a lot of height and dimension in the display. Some products up on the box, some just on the shelf, to keep customer's eyes scanning and looking for what they want to find!

I'm pretty sure the best thing I had going for me was this gorgeous white mantel that Jenny has in her store. Hopefully nobody buys it anytime soon, or I'm going to be up a creek. 

I feel like the best way to display your products is with simplicity and to just let the products, in their own beauty, do the talking. The plants and herbs I used complimented my products because those are the kind of ingredients I use. Also, you want it to be easy for the customer to grab a product to look at it or buy it! If they can't pick it up, or it seems too complicated - you might lose a sale!
I'm definitely not an expert in this field yet, but had a blast creating my first display and it was great practice for my artisan faire in 2 weeks, the STOCKMARKET!

If you're in or around Turlock, I'd love for you to stop by Rustic Roots and take a gander at my all natural + organic skin care line and my hand poured soy candles.

If you're not around, head over to my Etsy shop or website. 

Until next time. xoxo