Buriti Oil may be the nectar of the Gods - at least in Brazil. The Moriche Palm, Mauritia flexuosa, also known as the Buriti tree, is a palm tree that grows in and near swamps and other wet areas in tropical South America. Natives call it "the Tree of Life" which is the literal translation of Buriti. The entire tree has varied uses, and indeed may be a rare gem in the Amazonian jungle.
The Buriti (pronounced bu-REE-chee) palm grows to a towering height of up to 35 meters, with a palm spread that resembles a rounded crown. Beautiful pale yellow blooms adorn the tree from December to April, and an almost artificial-looking ridged fruit grows from December to June. The nearly perfectly shaped fruit has shiny chestnut colored scales, and the edible, yellow, fleshy fruit has a high vitamin C content.
The Buriti palm is suitable for human use in a variety of ways. The sweet fruit is used to make beverages, preserves and ice cream. Buriti oil is high in vitamin A and is cold-pressed from the pulp. Natives use the healing oil to treat burns because of its soothing qualities. The inflorescence buds are eaten as a vegetable, and the sap can be made into a juice or allowed to ferment to make a wine. Threads and cords are locally produced from the tree's fibers.
In the cosmetic world, Buriti oil is highly prized for the essential Fatty Acids and emollients that work overtime at keeping skin smooth. The antioxidant properties of Buriti oil also have skin repairing and protecting properties. In fact, the concentration of carotene in Buriti oil is even higher than that in carrot oil.
Slowly, we're seeing Buriti oil make it's way into the mainstream cosmetic market. Look for major players like The Body Shop to release a new collection of baby care products featuring Buriti oil in Fall, 2008. Dubbed "Buriti Baby", the collection touts skin softening, ultra gentle cleansing and protection for baby's delicate skin. Products range from shampoo to baby body butter, and include accesories made from organic cotton and renewable bamboo.
But Buriti oil isn't just for babies. Countless health food stores are now carrying the oil, the ground nut as an exfoliant, and even the fruit. Americans are just now learning how valuable this miracle fruit can be in terms of meeting so many diverse needs for our health and beauty.
Showing posts with label body care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body care. Show all posts
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Spa Parties: Pamper Your Body and Shop at Home All At Once
Spa parties are not a new idea, but the trend is more popular in recent years. As technology improves, companies are offering spa quality products to smooth your skin and pamper your body while you shop at home in a relaxing and fun "party" setting.
The idea is simple, and most are based on the direct selling, party plan model. An independent consultant arrives at your home, sets up her "shop" and presents a short product demo that includes slathering your body's skin with naturally inspired beauty and skin care from a company with a track record for excellence. Women with tired, achy feet are encouraged to soak them in tubs of warm water infused with products called "cooling peppermint foot soak" or "plunge and purify bath soak". Tired tootsies are refreshed and softened - much like the ladies themselves.
Most of the time, the products are far superior to anything you can buy in a retail outlet. Sure, you can get a tub of body butter at your local Wal-Mart, but the consistency and ingredients of the product are generally of a lesser quality than the body products you can shop for at home parties. Plus, many of these companies are using botanicals, natural ingredients and even rare herbs and oils to further bolster the effectiveness of the product. With the green craze in full swing, more consumers are looking for products that are good for their body, with more natural ingredients, and fewer additives, preservatives and chemicals.
In recent years, some of the biggest manufacturers of skin, hair and makeup products have established home party channels from which their clients can continue to shop. In fact, companies like Avon, which started as a direct selling company, have added stores in malls, as well as "in home" type sales presentations to their arsenal in recent years in an effort to "reach customers where they are". With the rising transportation and fuel costs, the in home party plan consultants are actually noting an increase in business, because people would rather "shop from their seat, instead of their feet" saving time, gas, and money in the process. One "shop at home" body care company projects that independent consultant sales will eclipse their retail store sales in the next 3-6 years. The convenience, comfort and value of attending a spa party at home is gaining more mainstream recognition, as women that have attended parties begin to rave about the products, the pampering and the fun with friends.
But the fun is not just for customers. While they can shop in a party-like setting, hostesses get a great deal more than just friends, food and fun. They also have the opportunity to earn additional products for free and half price when their friends shop for body care products at their house.
So just for opening their doors to family and friends, a hostess can walk out of the independent consultant's "shop" with an armload of free bath and body products delivered right to her home. All she has to do is invite her friends, serve light refreshments, and open the box of "goodies" when it arrives.
The best part? Spa parties are free to host. Independent consultants do not charge a fee to set up their "shop" at your home. Most consultants rely on sales from guests to pay for their time and materials at an in-home spa party. Some consultants charge a flat rate per person if no sales will be collected during the event. Hostesses can also get credits for additional products from the consultant's catalog when her guests agree to schedule a show at a later date. This is how an independent spa party consultant generates sales and repeat business. There are usually gifts or incentives for the guests to host a party as well.
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Would you like to use this article in your newsletter or e-zine? You can as long as you include this entire credit (including the web links):
Lisa M. Robbin Young is a skin care consultant, author, and entrepreneur. Sign up for her free newsletter, "Beauty ReMarks" and get a free copy of her book, "Saving Face" at http://www.lisamrobbin.com.
The idea is simple, and most are based on the direct selling, party plan model. An independent consultant arrives at your home, sets up her "shop" and presents a short product demo that includes slathering your body's skin with naturally inspired beauty and skin care from a company with a track record for excellence. Women with tired, achy feet are encouraged to soak them in tubs of warm water infused with products called "cooling peppermint foot soak" or "plunge and purify bath soak". Tired tootsies are refreshed and softened - much like the ladies themselves.
Most of the time, the products are far superior to anything you can buy in a retail outlet. Sure, you can get a tub of body butter at your local Wal-Mart, but the consistency and ingredients of the product are generally of a lesser quality than the body products you can shop for at home parties. Plus, many of these companies are using botanicals, natural ingredients and even rare herbs and oils to further bolster the effectiveness of the product. With the green craze in full swing, more consumers are looking for products that are good for their body, with more natural ingredients, and fewer additives, preservatives and chemicals.
In recent years, some of the biggest manufacturers of skin, hair and makeup products have established home party channels from which their clients can continue to shop. In fact, companies like Avon, which started as a direct selling company, have added stores in malls, as well as "in home" type sales presentations to their arsenal in recent years in an effort to "reach customers where they are". With the rising transportation and fuel costs, the in home party plan consultants are actually noting an increase in business, because people would rather "shop from their seat, instead of their feet" saving time, gas, and money in the process. One "shop at home" body care company projects that independent consultant sales will eclipse their retail store sales in the next 3-6 years. The convenience, comfort and value of attending a spa party at home is gaining more mainstream recognition, as women that have attended parties begin to rave about the products, the pampering and the fun with friends.
But the fun is not just for customers. While they can shop in a party-like setting, hostesses get a great deal more than just friends, food and fun. They also have the opportunity to earn additional products for free and half price when their friends shop for body care products at their house.
So just for opening their doors to family and friends, a hostess can walk out of the independent consultant's "shop" with an armload of free bath and body products delivered right to her home. All she has to do is invite her friends, serve light refreshments, and open the box of "goodies" when it arrives.
The best part? Spa parties are free to host. Independent consultants do not charge a fee to set up their "shop" at your home. Most consultants rely on sales from guests to pay for their time and materials at an in-home spa party. Some consultants charge a flat rate per person if no sales will be collected during the event. Hostesses can also get credits for additional products from the consultant's catalog when her guests agree to schedule a show at a later date. This is how an independent spa party consultant generates sales and repeat business. There are usually gifts or incentives for the guests to host a party as well.
==========
Would you like to use this article in your newsletter or e-zine? You can as long as you include this entire credit (including the web links):
Lisa M. Robbin Young is a skin care consultant, author, and entrepreneur. Sign up for her free newsletter, "Beauty ReMarks" and get a free copy of her book, "Saving Face" at http://www.lisamrobbin.com.
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