The Herbarie

Monday, September 21, 2009

Fall Is Here!



Here at the farm, the air is fragrant with the scent of Osmanthus and Ginger Lily. My beloved Roses are in bloom again. Cooler temperatures remind us the seasons are changing. Summer is behind us and Fall is here.






Our eggplant, peppers and okra are rushing and racing to produce fruit and we harvest daily. The Red Okra is now almost 12 feet tall and still producing those tasty pods!



The muscadines have done well again this year. Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) are native to South Carolina and thrive with little care.




During late summer and early fall, these generous, low maintenance vines are dependably lush with fruit.

Every morning and evening - to and from work - I stop by the arbor to grab a handful of delicious and nutritious muscadines! My favorite muscadine is Southland, a big juicy purple to black variety. These delectable bites of bliss are very high in polyphenolic compounds such as Ellagic Acid and Resveratrol. Muscadines are one of the richest sources of these antioxidant compounds and have been studied extensively for many potential health care benefits.

Our Pineapple Sage plants are lush and just starting to bloom. The Camellia sansanquas are full of buds and will be blooming soon. This time every year I make my Muscadine and Pineapple Sage Jam along with more Hot Pepper Jelly. Each year I say I’m going to make wine with our grapes and who knows this might be the year I’ll do it!



Fall fruits and flowers are a special treat and remind me that life goes on and to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose.


Herbarie Update!
Our mission at The Herbarie is to bring nature and science together to offer the best in innovative, natural source products. We have a strong commitment to quality and ethics, a responsibility to the environment, and strive to offer the best in customer service. We are passionate about what we do and we strive to share this passion with our customers!

We have brought in many new products! Throughout Fall I will be sharing information on these new products, along with ideas, formulas and formulating tips - all here on my blog!


NEW PRODUCT!
ECOCERT - PlantaMulse™ Liquid - Natural Plant Source, PEG-free, biodegradable complete emulsifier made from the esters of glycerin and fatty acids. PlantaMulse™ Liquid has the ability to form lamellar liquid-crystalline structures in water which provides exceptional stability and superb re-fatting properties and sensory characteristics.

PlantaMulse™Liquid performs beautifully to formulate cold process, sprayable formulations such as body mist or facial mist. PlantaMulse™Liquid will emulsify essential oils, as well as oils and emollients, in sprayable formulations.


For years, customers have been asking for a natural alternative to ethoxylated emulsifiers such as Polysorbate 20 and we are so pleased to be able to offer PlantaMulse™Liquid!

This summer I have enjoyed making and using my Natural Spray Mist with PlantaMulse Liquid: http://www.theherbarie.com/Natural-Spray-Mist-with-Plantamulse-Liquid-p-131.html


I’ve used this basic formula to make a light, refreshing and conditioning “bodymilk” mist with our Calendula Extract OS and Rose Geranium Essential Oil. This formula is so easy to make and so very nice to use!

NEW FORMULA!
Natural Spray Mist with PlantaMulse™Liquid
Part A:
Plantamulse Liquid - 2.5% = 12.5 grams
Calendula Extract OS - 9.0% = 45 grams
Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil - 1.0% = 5 grams
Optiphen - 0.8% = 4 grams

Part B:
Distilled water - 86.7% = 433.5 grams

Total: 100% = 500 grams

-Combine room temperature ingredients in Part A with mixing – a hand held whisk or stir tool can be used. -Add distilled water in Part B to combined Part A with high shear mixing (stick blender) or homogenize until fully incorporated. -Package in container with spray mister.

PlantaMulse™Liquid is perfect for making elegant, light lotion! Our All Natural Lotion formula http://www.theherbarie.com/Plantamulse-Liquid-All-Natural-Lotion-p-130.html is so easy to make and will leave skin feeling exceptionally soft, smooth and conditioned.

NEW FORMULA!
PlantaMulse™Liquid All Natural Lotion

Part A
PlantaMulse - 3% = 15 grams
Abyssinian Oil - 2% = 10 grams
Passionfruit Oil - 2% = 10 grams
Calendula Extract OS - 5% = 25 grams
Coviox T-50 - 0.5% = 2.5 grams

Part B
Distilled Water - 70.2% = 351grams
Cucumber Extract - 5% = 25 grams
Pineapple Sage Hydrosol - 10% = 50 grams
Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) - 0.5% = 2.5 grams

Part C
FO/EO - 1% = 5 grams
Optiphen - 0.8% = 4 grams

Total: 100% = 500 grams

-Combine room temperature ingredients in Part A and mix well using our hand held, wire whisk and nylon spatula. - Add Part B distilled water and mix well using a high shear mixer such as a stick blender. - Lotion will be medium viscosity and perfect for packaging in a bottle with a dispensing cap.

PlantaMulse™Liquid can also be used to make hot process creams and lotions by utilizing a co-emulsifier and fatty alcohols. When greater viscosity is desired, 1-4% fatty alcohol (ie. behenyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol), and medium HLB co-emulsifier (PlantaEm), or low HLB co-emulsifier (ie. lecithin, glyceryl stearate, sorbitan stearate) can be used. We also recommend water phase viscosity/sensory enhancing ingredients such as XanThix, UltraMaize or HEC.

PlantaMulse™Liquid is compatible with most ingredients and due to its lamellar liquid-crystalline structure is a perfect carrier for active ingredients. PlantaMulse™Liquid is not compatible with cationics.

PlantaMulse™Liquid is supplied in easy to use liquid form.

PlantaMulse™ Liquid exhibits excellent stability at elevated temperatures and good freeze/thaw stability from pH 5.0-9.0.

●PlantaMulse™Liquid eliminates the need for Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80 and other ethoxylated emulsifiers in the formulation of sprayable body mist.

●PlantaMulse™ Liquid is easy to use and provides all natural, PEG-free emulsification for cold-process, sprayable lotion milk, body mist, facial mist and light lotions.

●Sprayable emulsions will be opaque and will not be clear. For stability and to enhance sprayability, homogenization is necessary to create smaller emulsion droplets and lower viscosity. A high speed stick blender can be used instead.

PlantaMulse™Liquid can also be used with co-emulsifiers and fatty alcohols to formulate high viscosity lotions, creams, and other emulsions.

PlantaMulse™ Liquid can also be used in scrubs and body polish to provide rinseability.

PlantaMulse™Liquid is based on vegetable source raw materials and is free from ethylene oxide and nitrosamines. It is biocompatible and biodegradable and offers skin conditioning and a soft feel. PlantaMulse™ is a trademark of The Herbarie.

NEW PRODUCT!
All natural, Amazonian White Clay for skin cleansing, hydration, and rejuvenation.

After months of steeping in nutrient-rich leaves, fruits, and seeds swept downriver from the Amazon rainforest, this native clay is allowed to dry naturally and become energized by sunshine during the dry season. The clay is then gathered from the banks of the Amazon river and used for skin hydration, cleansing, and rejuvenation. Amazonian White Clay is rich in mineral salts such as calcium, iron, potassium, and sulfur and according to traditional belief, can channel positive energy.

Recommended usage:Face or body pack: 15-50%Skin and body products such as regeneration, cleaning, hydration: 3 to 10%

NEW PRODUCT!
Honeysuckle Extract WS
for moisturizing and soothing skin.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years, but only recently by western herbalists. Honeysuckle contains antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory constituents and has a multitude of uses. The major constituents in Lonicera japonica are Flavonoids, Triterpenoid Saponins and Tannins.

The Herbarie’s Honeysuckle Extract WS is prepared from the flowers, buds and tender, young leaves of Lonicera japonica. Our unique processing utilizes steam distillation and other pure extraction methods to obtain both volatile and water-soluble plant constituents. Honeysuckle Extract WS contains no solvent residues, no heavy metals or other impurities.

Honeysuckle Extract WS can be used in skin care products such as creams and lotions, serums, toners, antiaging products, baby care products.

NEW FORMULA!
Amazonian White Clay Facial Gel Mask

Amazonian White Clay is nutrient-rich and perfect for skin cleansing, hydration, and rejuvenation. Biofunctional Acai Extract WS is rich in polyphenolic antioxidant compounds. Our Pineapple Sage Hydrosol and Honeysuckle Extract along with Aloe Vera Liquid provide moisturization and help to rejuvenate skin.

Ingredient Percentage / Weight / Fluid/Dry Meaure

Part A
Distilled Water - 34.7% = 34.7 grams = 2 tablespoons + 1 tsp.
GuarSilk - 0.3% = 0.3 grams = 1/8 tsp.
UltraMaize 3% = 3 grams = 1 + 1/2 tsp.

Part B
Pineapple Sage Hydrosol - 25% = 25 grams = 2 tablespoons
Aloe Vera Liquid - 10% = 10 grams = 2 tsp.
Honeysuckle Extract - 10% = 10 grams = 2 tsp.
Acai Extract WS - 2% = 2 grams = ½ tsp.
Amazon White Clay - 15% = 15 grams = 2 tablesp.

Total 100% = 100 grams = about 4 ounces

NEW PRODUCT!
Marula Oil
is obtained from the fruit of the Marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea) which is native to Africa. Marula Oil has been used traditionally in South Africa for many years. Our high purity Marula Oil is extracted from the kernels of the fruit using traditional cold-press methods and no solvents.

Marula Oil rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants which are essential components in the maintanence of healthy skin. Marula Oil is absorbed quickly and provides skin with a conditioned, soft feel. It has also been found to significantly improve skin hydration and smoothness.

Marula Oil is also used in hair and scalp conditioners for rinse out and leave in applications.
Due to the high mono-un-saturated content, Marula Oil demonstrates excellent oxidative stability as well.

Characteristics: ● Light, quickly absorbed ● Conditioned skin feel ● Excellent oxidative stability
Applications: ● Skin Care products ● Antiaging products ● Baby Care products ● Hair and Scalp Care products ● Lip balm ● Balms and salves


NEW FORMULA!
Emollient Facial Cleanser with Marula Oil

This oil based facial cleanser is perfect for normal to dry skin. It contains Marula oil which is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants and offers excellent skin softening and conditioning in leave on or rinse off products. Our Olive Oil PEG 7 Esters is water dispersible and provides gentle cleansing without stripping skin of natural oils. Meadowfoam Oil is naturally high in Vitamin E and along with Jojoba Oil and Castor Oil add stability to this formula.

Ingredient Percentage / Weight / Fluid/Dry Measure

Olive Oil PEG 7 Esters - 25% = 25 grams = 2 tablesp.
Marula Oil - 35% = 35 grams = 3 tablesp.
Jojoba Oil - 10% = 10 grams = 1 tablesp.
Meadowfoam Seed Oil - 10% = 10 grams = 1 tablesp.
Castor Oil - 20% = 20 grams = 2 tablesp.

Total: 100% = 100 grams = about 4 ounces






More New Products, Formulas and Tips Coming Soon!



Angie