Setting aside time to look after ourselves is hugely important. We all have our own methods of self-care, from mindfulness and exercise to cooking and trashy TV, and pampering your body and hair can also be a great way to relax and reflect. This list includes organic, local and handmade products to help you have a chilled-out night at home. Find all these and more at the BUST Holiday Craftacular in Brooklyn on December 9-10.
1. Veil of Love Face Serum by HeartGrownWild, $22.00
Wash off your makeup with the mindfully made products of HeartGrownWild. The founders of this organic-based skin and hair care products company, Tom and Santalena Groves, started with a love for nature. Santalena found her passion for bringing nature into beauty by finding alternatives to pharamaceutical pills which led her to completing a Herbal Apprenticeship. Tom, like Santalena, loves plants and has devoted his life to the study of plants and how they affect every aspect of life. Not to mention their adorable pup who has her own passion for nature and the outdoors. The products you will find here will help your skin and health without hurting the planet, a win-win.
2. Refresh – Hydrating Exfoliant Mask by Gramercy Skincare, $32.00
This gluten-free and vegan mask is perfect for an at home spa treatment. Founder Jen, of Gramercy Skincare, began her journey of beauty products with soap. She focused on her company Little Owl Soap until her customers began asking her for skin products, so she dove into the work of skin therapy. Jen uses her knowledge from being a skin therapist to make the best products possible for every skin type with fruits and vegetables to exfoliate and soothe your skin. So turn on some calm music, apply the Hydrating Exfoliant Mask, lie down with some cucumber slices on your eyes and unwind.
3. Sugar Plum Nail Polish by KSquaredNails, $5.00
These nail polishes are hand crafted in Brooklyn, N.Y.C. Every bottle of nail polish is specially mixed for that individual order, making every color unique. KSquaredNails makes quality nail polish, blended to perfection, stating that “quality polish shouldn’t be a luxury, but a standard”. The polishes come in an array of colors from neutrals to neons. While waiting for your face mask to dry, sit down with your favorite Netflix show and upgrade your nails.
4. SandalWood + Patchouli Soy Candle No. 4 by ONLYPOSH, $55.00
ONLYPOSH is dedicated to luxury, and their candles prove this. Everything in their shop from candles to jewelry is handmade, with the purpose of making clients feel special and luxurious. The candles are hand poured with a range of scents from floral to spiced to make you feel as at peace and fancy as possible. You’ll have plenty of time to relax while these candles burn for 100 hours, perfect for a night in.
5. Lavender Field Bath Bomb by melati bath& body, $4.50
At the end of a long day, what’s better than a relaxing bath? A bath with malati bath and body‘s bath bombs, that’s what. When founder Leah Adhihusada learned the truth about generic beauty products including disturbing ingredients such as animal fat, Leah decided to make her own N.Y.C. based beauty company. In 2016, she opened a shop in Brooklyn’s DUMBO where you can now go to see her entire line on shelves. Malati’s products are all handmade, vegan and with no syntactic fragrances. Because of the real lavender, your bath will calm and relax you into a perfect night’s sleep.
6. Aphrodisa Bath Truffle by Wild Gypsy Soap Company, $8.00
Love traveling? Missing your home away from home? Good news, Wild Gypsy Soap Company captures that wanderlust feeling through scent. Marie is not only a soap maker but also a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, massage therapist and clinical esthetician with a love for travel and different cultures. Her products capture all the best parts of her studies and hobbies to make perfectly relaxing products to enjoy your night in with. All products are handcrafted and natural, while making you feel special (including scented crystals topping your bath truffle).
7. Moisturizing Aloe Ver Gel with Moroccan Rosewater & Vetiver by Genna Organics, $32.00
Looking to ease your headache, relax yourself for meditation, or fix your problematic skin? Genna Organic uses different mixtures of essential oils as treatments instead of over-the-counter drugs. The creator of all the products, Amal, studies plants in Morocco and uses their essential oils to not only be used as a boost for the human defense system but also as a harmonizing message that humans recieve from plants to do things such as calm and relax. As their name says, they are organic and committed to getting ingredients from the source in Morocco. With this three-in-one product you’ll be treating your entire body.
8. Hair Butter by Bree & Milly, $15.00
If you’re always treating your body to the glorious wonders of body butter, your hair is going to start to feel left out. Realizing this, Sandra, the founder of Bree & Milly, decided to create coconut oil based products to naturally soften and mosturize both body and hair without being heavy and greasy. After living in the Caribbean and Canada, Sandra now has her shop in Brooklyn. In the past, she had a hard time finding products that naturally hydrated her skin, leading to the creation of her own truly natural products. Because of the oils used in the hair butter, a little goes a long way and can be used as both a heat protector and conditioner.
9. Beeswax Lip Balm by AVM Casa, $4.00
A good lip balm is a must-have for every pocket, purse and backpack. AVM Casa uses beeswax and coconut oil to make a smooth and mositurizing lip balm. Andrea, originally from Brazil but currently based in Bronxville, NY, makes candles, soap and other beauty products while keeping in mind the environment. She is also conscious of having an affordable price point. AVM always keeps luxury in mind while making their products, packaging and pictures, knowing that all three go into making a high quality product. The best part about the lip balm is that it comes in eight different scents from a calming chamomile to a fun, fresh grapefruit scent.
10. Custom 110z Mug by MUG MUGS, $22.00
The best nights in often involve snuggling up with a warm cup of tea while treating yourself to your beauty ritual. There is no better mug to be drinking from than one with the face of someone you care about, your pet, or even yourself on it in cartoon version. MUG MUGS does just this. Jessica Thornton, the creator of all these spunky mugs posts all of her creations on instagram @mug.mugs. When you send in the photo you want MUG MUGS will specially make your own unique mug that will perfectly personify you.
11. Honeysuckle Soap by Rudder & Fern, $7.00
Not just vegan and organic, but also sustainable, these soaps by Rudder & Fern ship their products in 100% recycled materials along with using olive oil instead of other more exotic oils in their soaps. Rudder & Fern is a showcase for sustainable artists, so you can find a wide range of products that are both stylish but also benefit the enviornment. But don’t worry, the scents, colors and benefits are just as great as one would expect from other vegan products.
top photo: Parks & Rec/NBC
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