Texas Beauty Labs

Babycake Truffles

Mary's Thoughts

What can be better than a fresh and creamy chocolate truffle?  A fresh and creamy chocolate truffle with a sweet cake-like center!  My friend and fellow local entrepreneur, Tori Alvarado, started Babycake Truffles with her partner, Trish, last year and they have been a real hit!  I ordered my first batch right when they opened for a special treat for the staff here at Texas Beauty Labs.  I expected them to be good – (everything Tori is involved in is exceptional) but I was totally shocked when I took my first bite.  Instead of a firm, chocolate center, I bit into a super yummy, soft, fudgy center.  Mmmmmm.  We were all quickly hooked and the box I bought that I expected to last two days lasted two hours.  Embarrassing, but true.  Check them out at http://www.babycaketruffles.com!

Avocado Oil

Teri's Thoughts

Mmmm.  I love avocados.  They make every sandwich, taco, or dip better.  They can also make every lotion, hair conditioner and scrub better too!

Avocado trees originated in southern Mexico and can be traced back as far as 7000 B.C.  They moved into California in the 1890s and were a huge crop for growers by the 1930s.  The famous “hass” avocado was patented in the 1930s, but became the most popular in the 1970s.  Now California produces 90% of the nation’s avocados.

There are amazing “green” properties to growing avocados.  The trees use the least amount of pesticides of all fruits and two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four.  There are other great facts about the fruit on www.avocado.org.

Avocado Oil is known for its vitamin-rich properties.  It is high in vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E and in lecithin, beta carotene, and potassium.  It works exceptionally well for sun damaged skin, and helps to reduce age spots.  It is very light oil, making it ideal for use in hair care products.

We can work Avocado Oil into almost any creation you can think of – I encourage everyone to substitute some avocado oil in their favorite lotion or cream.

Going Green

Gretchen's Thoughts

It seems like everything these days is about “going green,” and here at Texas Beauty Labs, we too realize the importance of being environmentally responsible. Like any beauty product manufacturer, we have certain byproducts of production – used cardboard boxes, empty plastic jugs and glass bottles, used computer paper – all of which we take the time to package up and take to our local recycling center. 

There’s this great website called “Earth 911” that we used to find the best recycling center for our assortment of recyclables. You can search by zip code (and what you want to recycle, if you like) and it will find the center closest to you and tell you exactly what kinds of recyclables they accept. 

David Orr, environmental educator and writer, briefly states why we should all take the time to recycle: “When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.”

Body Butter Soufflé

Alyssa's Thoughts

For as long as I can remember, my mother has taken extraordinary care of her skin – her hands are always soft from the lotion she massages into her hands numerous times a day, and seeing her grab a bottle of heavier cream to rub into her feet as we settle down to watch a movie together is a familiar sight.

I definitely learned the value of being tender to my skin from my mother – if any part of my body feels a little dry or chapped, I long for a lotion or cream to use. It is probably for this reason that I am a big fan of our Body Butter Soufflé.

The fact that this product is one of our most popular says it all – if you crave something rich and moisturizing but not too heavy, consider our Body Butter Soufflé! (Still not convinced? We’ve included Aloe Vera Leaf Juice – think of those healing properties!)

Trust me, the dry, sun-touched parts of your skin have been longing for just this indulgence.

Michigan Vacation

Teri's Thoughts

This Friday I am leaving for beautiful Michigan. It is where I spend almost all of my vacation days, not just because I love it there, but because it is where I call home. Unfortunately, the state has been dealing with some pretty tough times, but there is so much beauty there, I would encourage any traveler to visit.

I will fly directly from Austin to Detroit and visit with family there for a while. I will probably spend a lot of time in Ann Arbor with my sister, hitting all the fun, funky shops downtown. Then it is off to the west side of the mitten. (Hold your left hand up, palm facing away and you have the Lower Peninsula.) I am excited to visit with friends in Traverse City, on Lake Michigan. It is so pretty up there, it’s just too bad I will be too early for the famous Cherry Festival. After spending three or four days hanging around up there, my girlfriend and I are making our way down the coast to Saugatuck, where we will be meeting about 15 other girls for a fun-filled beach weekend. We rented a house right on the water, which I am so excited for!  I have never been to Saugatuck before, but I have a long history with Lake Michigan, so I am thrilled to be going.

After all the fun in the sun, I will be heading back to metro Detroit for more family time. I will have spent a good twelve days away from home and I will be ready to see my husband and the dogs again. And of course I will have to get back to work!

Texas Summer

Alyssa's Thoughts

As a lifelong Texan, I know what “summer” can hold – days of scorching sun and sticky stillness, as creatures large and small attempt to keep cool. As a child, I would sometimes wonder at the books and songs that described summer as “green” or “lush” – everything around me was parched and brown!

And yet, I can’t help but love the summertime. I love to drive with the windows rolled down and music going. I love the sense of freedom and renewal that summer brings. Most of all, I appreciate one thing that the hot Texas sun does for me – it makes it that much easier to jump into the lake and run into the ocean!

This summer, I plan to appreciate the miracle of air conditioning and reflect on what Robert Louis Stevenson said about enjoying summer:

“The deep grass moved and whispered
And bowed and brushed my face.
It whispered in the sunshine:
‘The winter comes apace.’”

The Bad Luck Ladder

Alyssa's Thoughts

In the craziness of this week (and oh how crazy it can get with projects rolling, requests swimming, phones ringing, boxes moving, creams churning, and emails dropping in our inboxes), a twelve foot ladder somehow ended up standing right next to my desk, like a giant bridge I would have to pass under when moving from my work area to the rest of the warehouse.

One of my coworkers laughed and playfully said that she refused to walk underneath that ladder – why ask for bad luck? For a split second, I considered making a commitment not to walk underneath it either – for laughs or just to be on the safe side. Then, the split second passed and I realized (well, first, that I could squeeze around or move the ladder – but I opted for neither choice) that I don't believe in the power of ladders, and that even if I did, I do not ever want to be the kind of person who lets any degree of fear dictate her actions.

Dismissing the potential bad luck of a walking under a ladder is one thing. Not letting my very real personal fears get the best of me is another. Lately, I’ve realized that trying to weasel out of doing things that intimidate me, or avoiding action by hiding behind excuses or other people is just a sign of my weak and immature areas as a person.

Recently, I’ve resolved to not let the ladders of my life stop me from living. I’m not going to try to squeeze around them. I’m not going to try to get someone to move them for me. I’ll accept them and pass underneath them – growing more confident and more mature as I travel back and forth beneath them.

Who Wants to Go to the Beach?

Mary's Thoughts

Something that I look forward to every year is our annual sojourn to the beach.  My husband and I go to Rosemary Beach every year with friends.  We drive from Austin with an overnight stop with my old friend, New Orleans.  I have a very specific routine that I stick to for our short time in the Big Easy.  Laissez les bon temps roulez! First, check into the W Hotel in the French Quarter.  Then it’s off to Emril’s for an excellent meal.  After some time people-watching and walking the beautiful streets, it’s back to the hotel for some serious sleeping.  Up in the morning, I have my morning café au lait and beignet at Café du Monde in the Quarter.  On our way out of town, we always stop at Aunt Sally’s to load up on their delicious pralines.   

Once we get to the beach, I am in deep relaxation mode.  We usually stay in one of the lofts in the heart of Rosemary and it’s the perfect distance to the beach.  We wake up midmorning, stumble to the white sand beach, where they have the most comfortable beach chairs reserved just for us.  After a quick morning dip, I get into my magazines/book/iPod and become lost to the world.  Around noon, after we’ve had our fill or morning surf and sun, we head back to the loft for a light lunch and some air conditioning.  Around 2 pm, we’re ready for the sun again!  We will either go back to our beach chairs or we’ll go to the beautiful Barbados pool for a lazy afternoon in the sun.  Back to the loft at around 6 pm, eat dinner at a local seafood restaurant, to bed by 9 pm (yes, we’re Grandma’s)!  The next day, up again midmorning for the beach.  Lather, rinse, repeat. 

I didn’t go through my whole vacation to make you envious of my special relaxation time – quite the contrary.  I want to inspire you to have your own special relaxation time.  As small business owners, we are so busy, busy, busy that we forget to take time out for relaxation.

One thing I have learned is that if you don’t take out time for relaxation, it takes a toll on your business.  When you are the owner and CEO of a business, your employees look to you for leadership.  Your clients look to you for great products and great customer service.  If you are not rested and relaxed, it’s hard to give them your very best. 

It doesn’t have to be as elaborate as my beach vacation.  You could take two hours out of your week and get a great facial from a local spa.  Take an extra long walk on the hike and bike trail.  Take a few deep breaths at your desk.  Anything!  Just take some time for relaxation.

Cocoa Butter

Teri's Thoughts

Who can resist the sweet smell of cocoa butter?  I honestly don’t think it’s possible!  When we get big shipments of it here, I just want to sit and smell it all day long.  Since that is not an option, I love to work it into our products whenever possible.

Cocoa butter is the buttery fat from cocoa beans.  It has been used as a moisturizer for centuries, and it is still prized today for its stability and melting point.  It melts on contact with skin, making it a really nice cream that absorbs easily into the skin and helps to retain moisture.  It is full of antioxidants and is really good for skin elasticity.  It isn’t scientifically proven, but people have been using it for ages to help prevent stretch marks and to reduce scarring. 

At Texas Beauty Labs, we offer several formulas with cocoa butter including our Cocoa Butter Lotion and Cream, and our delicious Chocolate Orange Body Butter.

It's Shower Time!

Alyssa's Thoughts

Working at Texas Beauty Labs has perks aplenty, but one of my favorites is getting to take home and enjoy certain products!

I’m one of those people who delights in her daily showers (or on more difficult and draining days – long, hot baths) and on the special days when I have colorful, fun products from work in hand, my relaxation time is even longer than usual.

As much as I always enjoy my baths and showers, I have even more fun when I get to indulge in a scrub or cream from work – they spice up the routine!