It's the Simple Things
The Offical Blog of Herbesque
 We are so happy to let you in on the news that our Facial Serum is back! (and hopefully here to stay!) So here is the long story made short. Our bottle supplier discontinued the bottles that we were using (and loved!). So, we started a mission to find our new bottles! We tested many, many of them, all coming back with some sort of issue or another. Until these. These (finally!) passed the test! And we might just say that we are in love all over again! So, I hope you love them, too!
0 Comments
 We have been given the opportunity (through The Artisan Group) to contribute to a beautiful gift basket stocked full of handmade beauties for several celebrity moms in honor of Mother's Day! While we can't quite release who the moms are just yet, trust me when I say several A-list celebs are on this list! To check out the full Mother's Day Gift Guide, check that out here. You will see all of the handcrafted items, from jewelry to children's items, to pampering products for mom, and more, all being gifted in these gift baskets, worth over $1700! We are so excited and honored to be a part of this, and we want to share the experience with you! With that being said, here is more about what we are contributing! To check out the full listing (or to purchase it for yourself!), check it out here. I wanted to offer these sets to you as well! I created this beautiful set exclusively for the celeb moms! So these are limited edition and there are only a limited amount available! A little bit about the products: ~Bliss Wax Melt- made with pure soy wax and oils of orange, lavender, and lemongrass, this blend is refreshing yet grounding, making it perfect for anytime of the day. Fill your home with these luscious scents. On top of each melt is organic herbs of lavender and orange peel and frankincense resin tears! (Retail $7.95) ~Flower Child Bath Salt Soak- made with dead sea salts (which soothe the skin), magnesium sulfate (which absorbs in, helping ease sore muscles etc), oils of lavender and ylang ylang (giving it the perfect floral blend for anytime of the day), and finishing off with organic botanicals of lavender, calendula, and rose. This is a lovely blend for any bathing experience! (Retail $8.95) ~Goddess Oil Pulse Point Perfume- this just might be my fave ever! We have infused organic coconut oil with oils of jasmine and rose. Added rose quartz crystals, and finished it off with real 24k gold! It glides onto the skin perfectly, giving you a beautiful scent on the nape of your neck, collar bone, inner wrists, or anywhere you decide to apply. (Retail $24.95) ~This gift set comes in a natural muslin drawstring bag, making it ready for gifting! I can include a little note card, blank to write anything on. Just request it in the note to seller at checkout. They are complimentary. Each of these items are absolutely gorgeous and like nothing we have created before. We are so in love, and hope you are, too! If you want to have the same set that these celebs are receiving, now is your chance! I appreciate your excitement with me! It is truly an amazing experience and opportunity. I cannot wait to share the name list with you all! Be on the lookout in the next couple weeks, as we wait for the moms to receive their gifts. I will be releasing some fun games etc in our VIP group here, so join now so you don't miss out! Until next time, Nicole {this photo taken courtesy of Jamie Kempen Photography}   What we eat has just as much of an impact on our skin as our skin care products we put on top of our skin. Crazy, huh? This is why overall health is so, so important. I wanted to share some fun recipes with you all, that can also help with your skin health! I hope you enjoy them! |
| Sharing is caring! Feel free to share our blog with your friends and pin it to your favorite board! We even give you a Pinterest friendly graphic to use! Thank you! |  |
We often talk about what we should be putting on our skin, what we should be doing or could be doing more of. But what about what we should stay away from? Not only ingredients (which we will touch base on in a later blog post), but what we do, our lifestyles and surroundings, and how it affects our skin.
Healthy skin doesn’t only mean good skin care products. Yes, I said it. I obviously am very passionate about amazing skin care products, but I am also passionate about all over health and wellness. This is called holistic health and living.
When looking at something, whether it be your health, skin, mood, etc, you must look at the whole thing, the big picture. And sometimes this also requires breaking it down into smaller things. All of the small things creates the one bigger thing. Make sense? I hope so.
Some things to think about when we look at our skin health.
Our diet. The things we put inside of our bodies is just as important as what goes on the outside. Dairy and wheat consumption can play a big part in the health of our skin. Even if we don’t have specific allergies to these things, consider cutting back to see improvement in your skin health (and I’m guessing your gut will thank you as well!)
The air we breath. Right away you might think big city or polluted air. Standing outside of a chemical plant or a factory that produces alot of emissions, not a good idea. But I am talking about the air even in your home. Diffusing essential oils can help the air quality in your home by cleansing it and keeping it fresh. Open the windows when you can to air it out. And also, something I forget often, over or under heating your home can affect your skin! Crazy, I know. If you keep your home quite warm in the winter, for example, or run space heaters or something, can really dry out your skin, without you even noticing. Just something to think about.
Water. Keeping our bodies, and therefore skin, hydrated can make all of the difference. Our skin needs moisture to remain supple and retain as much elasticity as we can. Good skin care products make a huge difference in this, but also water consumption. How much water have you drank today? Probably not enough. Not only will it help your body overall (keeping you hydrated, flushing your body, keeping you fuller, etc), but it will help your skin as well. Avoid dehydration.
Movement. Exercise creates movement in and of our bodies, which increases blood flow. This can help with the flow of nutrients to our skin cells. Any form of increased heart rate, can benefit the skin just as it helps the body.
The sun. We all have heard the stories that make us want to avoid the sun altogether if we want youthful, radiant, cancer-free skin. The problem is, our body needs the sun. We need those vitamins the sun provides. But be smart about it. Block the harmful UV rays (hats, quality sunscreen products, reduced time outside at a time,etc). UV rays can penetrate deep into the dermis (the innermost layer of our skin), causing wrinkles, sagging, and so much more.
Makeup. Wearing makeup all day, everyday isn’t always good. Try to take a day here and there to remain makeup-free. Let your skin and pores feel the air! Let them breath!
There are many more factors, other than skin care products, that can affect our skin. These are just a few. I hope this helps, and maybe you learned a thing or two. Maybe I just reminded you of some things to make changes to. Just remember to do what you can to take care of your skin. You will not regret it, I promise!
Until next time,
Nicole
|  |
This is our first Product Feature Blog Post! Let us know what you think of these and if you want us to continue with them!
If you haven’t heard of these magical balls (yes, I said it), then you are certainly missing out! Not only are they multi-purpose, reusable, and natural, you can add scent to them if you want. Seriously. They are so good. (and there may be a little treat at the end, so it’s definitely worth the read!)
Our dryer balls are made of pure wool roving. We triple felt them, making them a solid ball of wool. This makes them last a long time. So many people ask me how long they last. I cannot even tell you from my own experience. I still use some of the first balls I made when I was experimenting with them before I released them (which has been quite a few years now). Commercial makers of them say they last 1000 loads. That is definitely true for our dryer balls and more, making them a highly reusable item to have in your home. They help reduce waste and decrease your impact on the planet.
If you still use dryer sheets, get up right now, go in your laundry room, and throw those in the garbage. Seriously. Not only are they filled with chemicals that are toxic to you and your family in many ways, they are also unnecessary when you have dryer balls. You actually don’t need your fabric softener either. Just sayin’. Dryer balls can really replace both of those widely-used chemical-laden products from your laundry routine.
So, how do they work you ask? The balls tumble throughout your dryer, creating more air circulation, which dries your clothes more evenly, which means quicker. Because they are pure wool, they act as a mild softener and can help with static cling and wrinkles. If/when you add essential oils, because they brush against your clothing, they add a mild scent, which is natural and plant based.
So, let’s recap what benefits our Dryer Balls have. They:
-are highly reusable (cost less then $0.01 per load)
-reduce dry time
-reduce static and wrinkles
-naturally softens clothing
-hypoallergenic
-add a natural scent to your clothes by adding essential oils to the balls
And they are affordable!
Some Dryer Ball FAQ’s:
-How many balls do I need per load? The set of 3 works best for any standard sized load. If you run alot of larger loads, I suggest using 2 sets. You can’t really use too many balls at a time.
-How much essential oil should I use? It’s really up to you, but I suggest trying an oil like lavender, orange, or lemongrass to start. Put 2-3 drops per ball, every other load. Then go from there. If you want more, try more or add some every load. It is up to you. I suggest using lighter colored oils, especially with lighter colored clothing, but I have never had a problem with any oils on any clothing. But I suggest to just be aware of that.
-What are they made of? We only use 100% wool roving. We don’t add any synthetic fibers as fillers. Just the good stuff. And as far as scent, our Dryer Balls always come unscented.
-Why wool and not a tennis ball or a plastic ball? Even though wool is an animal product, we love it because then the wool is being put to good use (as the sheep need to get sheared) and it has a positive impact on our earth and lives in other ways. As we are all trying to reduce our use of plastics, while still reusable, we like to eliminate the need for plastics if possible. A tennis ball would work, but I am unsure of what they are generally made of and they as they tumble, they can be quite loud in the dryer. Our customers who have tried the tennis balls have said they much prefer our Dryer Balls over them. So, there’s that as well.
-Do they snag? I have never had an issue with this. And I don’t always zip all the zippers, snap the snaps, etc. They are pretty solid and smooth, so I can’t see this being an issue.
-My clothes become static-y when i use them. Why? Your dryer settings are most likely too hot. Try to turn the temp down and see if that helps. I have heard people using a ball of aluminum foil a few times to help, but have never tried this.
-What if I don’t want any scent? Then simply don’t add any oils. That is perfectly fine. The balls also come unscented, so you can leave them that way if you prefer.
-Where do i store them? I tend to keep mine right in the dryer. Some do escape to the laundry basket and get cycled through however. You are welcome to store them however you’d like! They come in a lovely kraft bag with a tie tin top, so you can easily store them in there or in a basket, totally depends on your space and style.
With this blog also comes a release of a new product, our Dryer Ball Oil! While you can use any pure essential oil, we wanted to create a blend that is perfect for any laundry routine! Read more in the listing, linked below! {note: this is the only place to get it right now, and you're the first to hear about it!}
I hope you enjoyed this product spotlight blog post. Let us know if you would like to see more of them! And I hope you learned a bit about our Dryer Balls! They are such an amazing product so I hope you try them out for yourself!
We appreciate you reading our blog and following us! To say thank you, shop our Dryer Balls and newly released Dryer Ball Oil from the link below to save! Shop here before March 8th to save!
https://www.herbesque.com/store/p248/dryerball-blogdeal.html
Until next time,
Nicole
If you haven’t heard of these magical balls (yes, I said it), then you are certainly missing out! Not only are they multi-purpose, reusable, and natural, you can add scent to them if you want. Seriously. They are so good. (and there may be a little treat at the end, so it’s definitely worth the read!)
Our dryer balls are made of pure wool roving. We triple felt them, making them a solid ball of wool. This makes them last a long time. So many people ask me how long they last. I cannot even tell you from my own experience. I still use some of the first balls I made when I was experimenting with them before I released them (which has been quite a few years now). Commercial makers of them say they last 1000 loads. That is definitely true for our dryer balls and more, making them a highly reusable item to have in your home. They help reduce waste and decrease your impact on the planet.
If you still use dryer sheets, get up right now, go in your laundry room, and throw those in the garbage. Seriously. Not only are they filled with chemicals that are toxic to you and your family in many ways, they are also unnecessary when you have dryer balls. You actually don’t need your fabric softener either. Just sayin’. Dryer balls can really replace both of those widely-used chemical-laden products from your laundry routine.
So, how do they work you ask? The balls tumble throughout your dryer, creating more air circulation, which dries your clothes more evenly, which means quicker. Because they are pure wool, they act as a mild softener and can help with static cling and wrinkles. If/when you add essential oils, because they brush against your clothing, they add a mild scent, which is natural and plant based.
So, let’s recap what benefits our Dryer Balls have. They:
-are highly reusable (cost less then $0.01 per load)
-reduce dry time
-reduce static and wrinkles
-naturally softens clothing
-hypoallergenic
-add a natural scent to your clothes by adding essential oils to the balls
And they are affordable!
Some Dryer Ball FAQ’s:
-How many balls do I need per load? The set of 3 works best for any standard sized load. If you run alot of larger loads, I suggest using 2 sets. You can’t really use too many balls at a time.
-How much essential oil should I use? It’s really up to you, but I suggest trying an oil like lavender, orange, or lemongrass to start. Put 2-3 drops per ball, every other load. Then go from there. If you want more, try more or add some every load. It is up to you. I suggest using lighter colored oils, especially with lighter colored clothing, but I have never had a problem with any oils on any clothing. But I suggest to just be aware of that.
-What are they made of? We only use 100% wool roving. We don’t add any synthetic fibers as fillers. Just the good stuff. And as far as scent, our Dryer Balls always come unscented.
-Why wool and not a tennis ball or a plastic ball? Even though wool is an animal product, we love it because then the wool is being put to good use (as the sheep need to get sheared) and it has a positive impact on our earth and lives in other ways. As we are all trying to reduce our use of plastics, while still reusable, we like to eliminate the need for plastics if possible. A tennis ball would work, but I am unsure of what they are generally made of and they as they tumble, they can be quite loud in the dryer. Our customers who have tried the tennis balls have said they much prefer our Dryer Balls over them. So, there’s that as well.
-Do they snag? I have never had an issue with this. And I don’t always zip all the zippers, snap the snaps, etc. They are pretty solid and smooth, so I can’t see this being an issue.
-My clothes become static-y when i use them. Why? Your dryer settings are most likely too hot. Try to turn the temp down and see if that helps. I have heard people using a ball of aluminum foil a few times to help, but have never tried this.
-What if I don’t want any scent? Then simply don’t add any oils. That is perfectly fine. The balls also come unscented, so you can leave them that way if you prefer.
-Where do i store them? I tend to keep mine right in the dryer. Some do escape to the laundry basket and get cycled through however. You are welcome to store them however you’d like! They come in a lovely kraft bag with a tie tin top, so you can easily store them in there or in a basket, totally depends on your space and style.
With this blog also comes a release of a new product, our Dryer Ball Oil! While you can use any pure essential oil, we wanted to create a blend that is perfect for any laundry routine! Read more in the listing, linked below! {note: this is the only place to get it right now, and you're the first to hear about it!}
I hope you enjoyed this product spotlight blog post. Let us know if you would like to see more of them! And I hope you learned a bit about our Dryer Balls! They are such an amazing product so I hope you try them out for yourself!
We appreciate you reading our blog and following us! To say thank you, shop our Dryer Balls and newly released Dryer Ball Oil from the link below to save! Shop here before March 8th to save!
https://www.herbesque.com/store/p248/dryerball-blogdeal.html
Until next time,
Nicole
Guest writer on the blog today!
Alex from Massage Oasis talking massage
techniques and self care!
We are honored to have Alex, a Licensed Massage Therapist and owner of Massage Oasis on the blog today, chatting about self care and giving us some great techniques for massage, whether you have a partner or not! Massage is such an amazing and truly beneficial way to practice self care.
Here is what Alex has to say!
What is self-care? Self-care is anything that we do to take care of ourselves in order to preserve or improve our own health and mental well-being. While the details of what this looks like are different to everyone, one thing that stays consistent is that is important for all of us. Self-care plays a large role in reducing overall stress and increasing happiness. Too often we think about everyone else in our lives and forget about ourselves, but the key thing to remember is that self-care is not selfish. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
One way you can show your body some love is through massage techniques that can be performed either on yourself or a partner. I personally enjoy using Herbesque’s Massage oils. They are high quality and handcrafted with no artificial fragrances. My favorite is the lavender which helps to relax and calm the mind.
#1 Massaging the feet is a great way to not only relax but also reward your body. Each foot has nineteen muscles and up to 200,000 nerve endings. Those muscles and receptors are in charge of making continuous adjustments so that the body can stay balanced. Keeping the feet in good condition is one great way to help keep your entire body feeling good.
Using your thumb, try starting at the base of the big toe and running your thumb down the arch towards the heel. Repeat this motion separating the sole of the foot into three segments. An alternative way of doing this would be to use a tennis ball while seated or standing apply tolerable pressure and slowly rolling the foot forward and backwards over the ball. With this motion we are targeting the plantar fascia. By repeating this exercise daily not only can it improve how the feet feel, but also help to release tension through the calves and hamstrings.
#2 Taking care of our hands is not something we often consider however, we SHOULD! There are 34 muscles that contribute to the movement of our fingers and thumb. Who would have thought! So try this.
Use your thumbs, to trace heart onto the palm of your partners hand. Repeat this motion 3-5 times. From there use your thumb and index finger and wrap them around the base of one of your partners fingers using a moderate amount of pressure, and pull away from the body. Repeat this until you have done each finger. You can easily do these two techniques on yourself, repeat all of the steps just using one hand.
Receiving professional massage on a regular basis can be beneficial for most people. Through various massage techniques, therapists are able to customize a session specifically to the needs of each client. Your therapist will be able to help you decide how often you should come in for a professional massage session based on your body’s specific needs. Talking to your therapist about what your main areas of concern are and how you are feeling both before and after your massage will help determine what would work best for you. Benefits of regular massage include reduced stress, improved range of motion, better sleep, increased circulation and many more.
If you have any questions for Alex or want to book an appointment (she's amazing!) visit her website or check her out on Facebook!
Thank you SO much for these amazing tips! I hope you all enjoyed this! Let us know if you want to see more blogs like this. Email us here with your thoughts and ideas!
If you want to check out our line of natural Massage Oils, those are available here. Just in time for Valentine's Day. ;)
Also, be on the lookout on our Facebook page as we will be giving away a massage treatment by Alex and some Herbesque goodies as well. Worth over $100!
Until next time!
Nicole
Here is what Alex has to say!
What is self-care? Self-care is anything that we do to take care of ourselves in order to preserve or improve our own health and mental well-being. While the details of what this looks like are different to everyone, one thing that stays consistent is that is important for all of us. Self-care plays a large role in reducing overall stress and increasing happiness. Too often we think about everyone else in our lives and forget about ourselves, but the key thing to remember is that self-care is not selfish. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
One way you can show your body some love is through massage techniques that can be performed either on yourself or a partner. I personally enjoy using Herbesque’s Massage oils. They are high quality and handcrafted with no artificial fragrances. My favorite is the lavender which helps to relax and calm the mind.
#1 Massaging the feet is a great way to not only relax but also reward your body. Each foot has nineteen muscles and up to 200,000 nerve endings. Those muscles and receptors are in charge of making continuous adjustments so that the body can stay balanced. Keeping the feet in good condition is one great way to help keep your entire body feeling good.
Using your thumb, try starting at the base of the big toe and running your thumb down the arch towards the heel. Repeat this motion separating the sole of the foot into three segments. An alternative way of doing this would be to use a tennis ball while seated or standing apply tolerable pressure and slowly rolling the foot forward and backwards over the ball. With this motion we are targeting the plantar fascia. By repeating this exercise daily not only can it improve how the feet feel, but also help to release tension through the calves and hamstrings.
#2 Taking care of our hands is not something we often consider however, we SHOULD! There are 34 muscles that contribute to the movement of our fingers and thumb. Who would have thought! So try this.
Use your thumbs, to trace heart onto the palm of your partners hand. Repeat this motion 3-5 times. From there use your thumb and index finger and wrap them around the base of one of your partners fingers using a moderate amount of pressure, and pull away from the body. Repeat this until you have done each finger. You can easily do these two techniques on yourself, repeat all of the steps just using one hand.
Receiving professional massage on a regular basis can be beneficial for most people. Through various massage techniques, therapists are able to customize a session specifically to the needs of each client. Your therapist will be able to help you decide how often you should come in for a professional massage session based on your body’s specific needs. Talking to your therapist about what your main areas of concern are and how you are feeling both before and after your massage will help determine what would work best for you. Benefits of regular massage include reduced stress, improved range of motion, better sleep, increased circulation and many more.
If you have any questions for Alex or want to book an appointment (she's amazing!) visit her website or check her out on Facebook!
Thank you SO much for these amazing tips! I hope you all enjoyed this! Let us know if you want to see more blogs like this. Email us here with your thoughts and ideas!
If you want to check out our line of natural Massage Oils, those are available here. Just in time for Valentine's Day. ;)
Also, be on the lookout on our Facebook page as we will be giving away a massage treatment by Alex and some Herbesque goodies as well. Worth over $100!
Until next time!
Nicole
I had all the plans. All. Of. The. Plans. And now the last day of the first month of the year is here, and I have feelings of failure. Who's with me? Did you fall short of some of your goals and plans to start the year off? I was going to post 2 blog posts this month. TWO. We aren't talking about a hundred blogs and I only posted two. I only wanted to post two total! And couldn't manage to pull it off. How many times did I plan to write and publish and prioritized something else instead? How many times did I have a moment to work on it and just didn't? Probably too many to count. Who's with me?
Well, I don't know if you know this or not, but you can't rewrite the past. Newsflash, people! You can't go back and change things, no matter how hard you try. So what is the point in dwelling and making yourself feel all of the negative things? Nadda. There is no point. So how can I move forward? I hope this is resonating with atleast one of you.
I have all of February's blogs done and ready to post. But January, it just didn't happen. And that is ok. There are other things I had full plans of doing and just didn't. Yoga everyday? Didn't happen. Journal each morning with coffee? Didn't happen. Feel peachy every moment of everyday? Goodness, not even close to happening. But this is life, and this doesn't make me a failure. There, I said it.
Every day I wake up with intentions. Do I have a set game plan in place? Some days. Some days I do. Some days I have no idea what is even going on until I'm in my office, one cup of coffee down, and I have my focus game on. And that is ok, too. Sometimes we have to look at the big picture. I bust my arce every day, doing the thing I love. And sometimes, that is all I can do. So, those two January blog posts fell to the wayside, along with other things here and there. But that's ok. I will do better next month. Take what happened, analyze it and recreate the game plan. And I intend on doing the same thing next month, and the month after that, and the month after that. Because, in this life, I plan to keep on making goals and keep on working towards them. Even after I fail.
Until next time,
Nicole
We are so excited to announce that our monthly subscriptions are now LIVE! There are 2 options to choose from, both have free shipping, and both get freebies and extras! These make wonderful gifts for your besties or a great gift for yourself to enhance your self care routine! You deserve it!
Masque of the Month Subscription- Get a new, exclusive Facial Masque every month, as well as minis/samples of products!
Deluxe Box- Get the exclusive Masque every month, as well as other Herbesque products! This could be products from our current product lines, exclusive products, or newly formulated products that haven't been released to the public yet! Items will vary, and we ask you some questions in your form so we can send products you can use and love!
We have so many amazing masques in store for you!
If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out via the contact form on our website!
To sign up now (you must before the 14th so you can receive next month's subscription!) here!
Until next time!
Nicole
December is here. And for me, this brings all the feels. Good and not so good, to be honest. I am big on setting goals and working hard towards them. While December is filled with happiness and holiday cheer, more family time, warm drinks and sweaters, cute boots, and this chick's birthday (woohoo!), it is also the last month of the year!
I am not huge on new years resolutions, I believe in goals more. Resolutions are so small-minded to me and rarely do people (including myself!) actually follow through on them. I like to look at the big picture, short and long term, and set actual goals. With that, I set many, many goals for 2018, as I always do. Many, many of them were met, surpassed, or met and then reset. But some weren't. And that is just how it goes. I still have 30 days to accomplish so much, but I also want to thoroughly enjoy all the things i mentioned above. So, while i work my arce off, I will also be taking it easy on myself, knowing I did everything I could do make 2018 an amazing year!
Whoever read all this, I appreciate it, and hope it resonates with you in some way. Even if you think I'm nuts, lol. So, tell me, what are your thoughts on the arrival of the last month of the year, and what does that mean to you?
Until next time,
Nicole
Are you a DIY lover? Then you will love what we have going on!
We are hosting a Candle Class in Appleton on November 7th from 6-8pm.
Sign up here! Limited space available.
Can't make this one? Keep an eye on our website (better, yet, sign up for our emails!) to see when the next classes will be!
Our brand new DIY Kits are now available! Want FREE shipping? Order before November 5th!
We have a DIY Nail Polish Kit here and a DIY Emulsified Body Scrub Kit here!
We also have party kits here.
I hope you love DIY as much as we do! It is so much fun to learn a new experience and craft, and we took the guess work out and made it so easy for you!
Enjoy!
Until next time,
Nicole
Meet the Maker
Hi! I'm Nicole, owner and creator here at Herbesque. I was born a creator and grew up in an entrepreneurial household, so I guess you could say it came naturally. I'm very passionate with what I do. I hope to shine my light on that here in this blog, and also share valuable and helpful information with you all. Thank you for being here!
Archives
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
May 2018
April 2018
January 2018
RSS Feed