Hello, Everyone-

Soap was the very first product that skinnyskinny ever made.  My mom had been searching for a lavender/eucalyptus soap that she could no longer find.  I casually told her that I’d make some for her even though I had never made soap before.  That was maybe 7 years ago and I fell in-love with the soap making process so much that I completely changed careers and my life trajectory. I also made my mom really happy with a soap that she loved. Lavender and Eucalyptus will always remind me of her.

As skinnyskinny has grown, we have added many new products while still adhering to our focus on organic ingredients and ecofriendly packaging.  Throughout this time, soap has been a constant companion of sorts and it is with some sadness that we have decided to phase out bar soaps from our product line.  When our current stock is gone, they will not be replenished. We have made this decision for a variety of reasons, such as:  the cost of our ingredients were skyrocketing, a shift in focus in our product line, and well, we needed to spread our wings a little.

So, please don’t be sad.  Be happy for us and all the new things we’ll be making for you.

And most of all, Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday was officially the first day of summer! You know what that means…it’s time to peel off those winter layers and let your skin get some sun. What better way to prep for all those picnics and beach dates than by using an organic body scrub! Our Organic Body Scrubs gently exfoliate, leaving your skin soft and supple. Made with turbinado sugar, sea salt, and incredibly-scented essential oils, these scrubs leave your skin so hydrated that there’s no need to follow up with a moisturizer. Hello time saver! These babies are available in 3 luscious scents. Choose Organic Clementine and Clove for a heavenly mix of sweet and spicy. Sugar and spice really do make everything nice.

Need a little more zen? Choose Organic Lavender and Eucalyptus, one of our favorite scent combinations. Calming and uplifting, this all-around therapeutic scrub helps to bring out your skin’s inner glow.

Like more of a morning pick-me-up? Check out our Organic Black Coffee Scrub. The fine granules of fair trade coffee grounds are the perfect exfoliant. Not only will the caffeine firm and tighten your skin, the delicious scent of coffee will help to awaken and energize without any mid-day crashes.

Don’t let your feet feel left out! Get those tootsies summer ready by using our Organic Rosemary and Mint Foot Scrub. This scrub is thicker than our other scrubs (contains pumice, lemon peel powder, and cornmeal) so it’s easier to massage onto your feet without being too grainy or rough. Rosemary is an excellent skin toner and mint has a cooling effect which makes your load feel a little bit lighter. Think of this scrub as a love letter to your tired, over-worked feet.

Enjoy your summer!

(posted by Stephanie)

This week’s Store of the Week comes to you from the windy city. Check out the eco-fabulous website, Pure Habitat!

skinnyskinny: Tell us a little bit about your location.

Pure Habitat: We are based in Chicago, but being online I guess you can say we are everywhere. Pure Habitat started out of my small studio apartment in the Wicker Park area. It is one of my favorite places in the world (and I have been around the world multiple times). It is filled with outdoor cafes, amazing boutiques, and just one of the greatest vibes you will find anywhere. It is very eclectic. I still work from home whenever I can, because it is so nice to be in this area.

skinnyskinny: What makes Pure Habitat unique?

Pure Habitat: Pure Habitat is unique in that it has everything you need to live consciously. From organic personal care products and bedding to fair trade jewelry and handbags, you can really find everything you need.

skinnyskinny: Tell us about your customers.

Pure Habitat: Our customers are just amazing. We just started a couple months ago, and we have had some of the best customers that I have ever had working retail. They have been really excited about the site, and have suggested some great lines that we have brought on. They are making this a lot of fun.

skinnyskinny: What is your favorite skinnyskinny product?

Pure Habitat: I love the organic lime and mint soap.  It makes me smile every time I use it.

Posted by: Stephanie

To be honest, I’m kind of obsessed with the Organic Grapefruit and Cardamom dry shampoo. I’m one of those people who loves the way my hair looks the day after washing, and on the following day I’m so disappointed that I have to re-wash my hair and suffer a day of frizz. Not anymore! I had a little contest with myself when testing out the skinnyskinny dry shampoo. So far, I’ve gone FOUR days without needing to wash my hair. Four! I’ve even received compliments from strangers on how great my hair looks, where I of course animatedly describe the benefits of this dry shampoo. And the scent, oh my goodness. I have tried other dry shampoos before, but I can honestly say I have never smelled one as amazing as the Grapefruit and Cardamom. It’s the perfect mixture of citrus and spice. Not only does my hair look amazing, it smells amazing too! I could go on and on, but the best way to come to a conclusion about this fabulous product is to try it yourself!

(Posted by Stephanie)

For this installment of Store of the Week, we check out one of our fabulous eco-friendly neighbors: Green In BKLYN.

Green in BKLYN is located at 432 Myrtle Avenue (btw. Clinton & Washington) in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

www.greeninbklyn.com

skinnyskinny: Hooray for Brooklyn! Tell us a little bit about your neighborhood.

Green in BKLYN: This Brooklyn neighborhood (Clinton Hill) is a wonderful, eclectic mix of old & new.  It’s a neighborhood full of diversity & creativity.  With many of the Pratt University students staying on after graduation, there’s a strong artistic community.  And with many folks having grown up in the neighborhood, there’s a strong sense of community – people looking out for one another, saying hello, knowing each other – which extends to those who move into the area. Customers often talk about the strong sense of community.  And many say it’s like a little country in the big city – small town meets urban landscape – all the benefits of the both with few disadvantages of either. The streets are wide enough to walk, or talk.  People move slower.  There are more trees.  And parks.  And, in some ways, it feels like there’s more time here.  It’s a very special place to live & to work.

skinnyskinny: What makes Green in BKLYN unique?

Green in BKLYN: Green in BKLYN is an eco-friendly home goods & gift shop – a one-stop shop for a greener home & life – offering eco-friendly solutions for everyday living. In addition to a full line of the types of products typically associated with green living – cleaning supplies, recycled paper products & CFL light bulbs – Green in BKLYN also carries a wide array of kitchen supplies, kids’ toys & clothes, all-natural skin & hair care, home accents & even pet supplies & stationery.

The shop aims to be a hub of information & service for the neighborhood, accepting No. 5 plastic (which the city does not currently recycle) & sending it to a company that turns it in to toothbrushes, razors & plastic cups also found in the store.  On the website, there’s a full list of resources on where to recycle almost anything else you need to dispose of.

A strong part of the community, Green in BKLYN also hosts a number of events throughout the year including electronic waste drives, art shows, books signings, local honey extraction & more.  For September’s schedule, CLICK HERE.

skinnyskinny: Tell us about your customers.

Green in BKLYN: Green in BKLYN is growing rapidly (having recently opened on Earth Day 2009 – April 22, 2009), with many customers already loyal return customers from the community.  But as the neighborhood grows & folks hear about it, more people are now coming to Green in BKLYN from other boroughs, towns & even countries. Many are already knowledgeable about living an eco-friendly lifestyle with suggestions for new products & information about new technologies.  As a matter of fact, Green in BKLYN’s inventory has grown considerably since opening last year with many new products suggested by customers (including SodaStream Seltzer Makers, Charlie’s Soap & Dapple Baby products). In addition, many folks coming in are just beginning to learn about green products & practices.  They come with questions & often leave with eco-friendly solutions (like skinnyskinny beauty products, cards, pet treats & other Brooklyn-based products).

skinnyskinny: What is your favorite skinnyskinny product?

Green in BKLYN: skinnyskinny’s soaps are a big favorite at Green in BKLYN.  The scents are so fresh, clean & yummy.  And the ingredients are nothing but healthy & effective.  And, of course, they’re beautiful to look at.

Check out this week’s fabulous store, Spirit Beauty Lounge!

www.spiritbeautylounge.com

skinnyskinny:  Tell us what you love about your neighborhood. What makes it special?

Spirit Beauty Lounge: We are in Park Slope Brooklyn, just blocks from Prospect Park, where we love to go for the Greenmarket Farmer’s Market every Saturday.

skinnyskinny: What makes your store itself unique?

Spirit Beauty Lounge: We wanted to create an online boutique where everything was beautiful both inside and out.  We are obsessed with beautifully formulated, sustainable, organic ingredients and with beautifully designed, sustainable packaging.  We specifically set out to “convert’ people to using natural and organic beauty products, without having to sacrifice luxury.  skinnyskinny was the first product line we picked up!!  The second I saw it I was in love.

skinnyskinny: Tell us about your customers.

Spirit Beauty Lounge: We get “fan mail” from all over the world, especially from women who don’t have anywhere in their town that sells anything safe and natural, that is in any way even remotely glamorous.  Our customers range in age from maybe 14-70.  Some are looking for products that are safe, ethical and effective while others are beauty product junkies (like myself) who just love our selection of fun, adorable products.

skinnyskinny: What is your favorite skinnyskinny product?

Spirit Beauty Lounge: I take Eucalyptus baths every morning or evening in the winter with the salts.  There’s no better way to “thaw” from the cold!  The Rosemary Mint is my current favorite soap and I always have a Lavender Black pepper in the guest room because they always love it.  I’m also addicted to the clover honey citrus lip balm this summer.