With the emphasis that has been placed on hand washing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we would like to provide some important points on the dos and don’ts of caring for our skin.
“Hand washes with antibacterial ingredients as well as alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be especially harsh and drying on your skin,” Shari Marchbein M.D., dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU School of Medicine, told Self Magazine.
Plus, you don’t really need to use those types of soaps to get rid of germs—the friction created by the mechanical act of washing of your hands as well as the surfactant cleaning ingredients in the soaps is what actually removes the microbes from your hands.
Although our understanding of how the new coronavirus spreads and how to protect ourselves from it is still developing, regularly washing your hands with soap and water (especially before touching your face and before/after eating) is one of a few tried-and-true public health strategies the CDC is recommending right now to prevent the spread of this particular virus.
So, yes, that does mean that actually washing your hands correctly—for at least 20 seconds—is absolutely necessary.
Our JAVA Body Wash is great for everyday use. It is aloe based with green coffee and argan oil. It offers a gentle but thorough Clean and is also Moisturizing. We have it On Sale now on our website, so you can have one at each sink in your home or business.
Hand washing with water and soap cleans and protects from virus germs and bacteria
We also have our AWESOME Body Serum which is perfect for moisturizing dry hands. The Serum is On Sale too.
Body Serum in our original Bottles
Be sure to LIKE and Follow our blog – we will continue to address ways to stay safe, healthy and keep your skin feeling awesome through this trying time.
JAVA Skin Care was in LA in January exhibiting at the Indie Beauty Expo. We made some awesome connections. Let us introduce you to The Indie Mood and their latest blog about the Indie Beauty event – Spoiler alert: they offered up some love for JAVA.
This past week in Los Angeles has been so surreal for us both. We recorded an episode of Natch Beaut and met tons of brands at Indie Beauty Expo, all with something interesting and original to offer. We saw so much innovation and creativity in one space. Almost every brand was woman owned, and it was so inspiring to see women lifting each other up, from brand owners to bloggers. Most importantly, I got to spend a week with Giulia creating content and planning the future of Indie Mood. This blog has given me so much. It’s ignited my passion, inspired so much purpose, and given me a best friend. *wipes away tear* We wanted to share some of the highlights of our experience at IBE LA 2020.
Being a Part of onTUWI
onTUWI stands for ‘teaming up with indie’ – it’s an online shop that sells indie beauty products curated by bloggers and influencers. We were so honored that they asked us to be a part of this program! We got to try a ton of products by brands that had booths at the expo and pick our favorites for our own boutique. Check out our previous post to learn about everything we selected for our boutique and why we chose them. You can visit our boutique here, and use our code THEINDIEMOOD20 for 20% off, which is an affiliated code. Our shop will only be open until March 27th, 2020!
Meeting New Brands
The most exciting part of this entire experience was seeing so many amazing Indies in one place. There was so much energy and innovation; brands that have created things that are completely original. NipLips is a lipstick brand that uses color scanning technology to match you with your perfect lipstick shade based on the color of your nipple. Like you are probably feeling reading this, at first I was a bit doubtful, but the colors I was matched to changed my mind (aka – they were perfect). You find the color through a close up scan of your nipple that is taken through a smartphone app, which then matches you to a complimentary shade.
Sway is a body care brand that creates signature body oils in which you can customize based on what issue you want to target, i.e. adding extra moisture, healing, or antioxidants, as well as your choice of fragrance, along with add ons like shimmer, crystals, and flower petals. Giulia and I each customized our own oils, and they’re beautiful visually and functionally.
Moonchild Sleep was memorable because the founder spent years searching for an ethical way to gather silk without hurting the worms to create stunningly pearlescent pillowcases, eye masks, and more. On top of sourcing the silk ethically, she also uses every last scrap of material to make things like scrunchies. Silk is incredibly good for your skin and hair as you sleep: it keeps you cool, doesn’t overheat or cause breakage to your hair, and prevents you from sweating which in turn prevents acne. These are just a few of the interesting brands we came across; there was so much innovation at IBE LA 2020 that got us both so excited for the future of indies.
Seeing Creative Strides Towards Sustainability
We were blown away by the dedication that we saw toward sustainability this year at IBE. So many brands have come up with interesting solutions to reduce waste. A standout was Root, a cruelty free and vegan beauty and lifestyle brand based in Iowa. They’ve really gone above and beyond to make their brand as close to zero waste as possible, including new compostable refill packets for their powder foundations and eyeshadows. They also have large refill bottles for their liquid products, so if you love a product, you can purchase it in bulk, including skincare, haircare, and soap. They also have a ton of products, including their multipurpose cheek and eye cream – Pretty Paint – in zero waste metal tins that can fit into a magnetic palette. The pretty paint in the shade Elisa is in our onTUWI shop – use code THEINDIEMOOD20 for 20% off!
Another brand that blew us away in their dedication to sustainability was Java Skincare. They used raw green coffee beans to create their oils, but instead of wasting those beans, the repurpose and roast them to make their coffee body scrub. They also created a really beautiful refill bar for their oils for their stockists to have in store, using chemistry flasks to refill their most popular oils at a discounted rate. The chemistry flasks make it easy to measure out the perfect amount while also looking cool.
Brands That Were Solving Unsolved Problems For Consumers
There were also so many brands that finally were taking strides to fix issues consumers have had for years. Indies have the capability to innovate from experience, and it really showed at IBE. One example is Solara Suncare – FINALLY a mineral sunscreen without harmful, pore clogging ingredients that doesn’t leave a white cast on your face. It’s also approved in Europe, which has the strictest standards for suncare than anywhere else. It’s also vegan, cruelty free, and reef friendly… where has this been all my life!?
Palette was another product that blew us away… Giulia was literally screaming. It’s a leak-resistant travel and beauty tool with 5 wells in a row for you to safely bring your cream beauty products along with you when you travel. The wells are silicone, so they can be easily cleaned by pressing them up.
The entire IBE experience was phenomenal, and getting to spend time together was amazing. We met so many awesome brands that are bringing that uniqueness that both of us love about indies to the table in so many ways. We feel so lucky to have been able to attend the event together this year, and we are super excited to see what 2020 has in store for us next.
*This post is not sponsored.All opinions are our own.
November is upon us. Thanksgiving with my family is very special to me. This is a great time of year to give thanks for all that we have. I also try to remember those less fortunate – here’s a reminder to all that Food Kitchens and Pantries are especially in need right now, so if you are able to make a donation, I encourage you to do so.
A perfect hostess gift for any dinner party can be a great bottle of Prosecco, cozy sweaters, or a special food item.
My favorite things this month:
Choosing the perfect Hostess Gift – I like to bring a bottle of Prosecco for the party and, to spoil my hostess, JAVA Skin Care products to enjoy the day after (we all know how stressful it can be to cook the turkey).
MACY’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City remains my family’s favorite holiday event. For years and years we have attended the parade… the kids are mesmerized by the floats. Truth be told, so am!
We are thrilled to be chosen again this year to participate in the Made on Honor Market Event for Narragansett Beer on Nov 23 & 24th. In an effort to include more businesses, they are moving this year’s event to the beautiful WaterFire Arts Center located at 475 Valley St. in Providence! The space is truly amazing and we couldn’t be more excited about it. Join us for two full days of holiday shopping, meet the people behind some of OUR favorite brands, and of course, we’ll be drinking plenty of beer. Best part? This is a FREE event and it is open to the public.
The JAVA Discovery Collection is a four-part kit that includes mini sizes of our signature body care products: Body Serum, 1 oz.; Body Scrub, 2 oz.; Body Wash, 2 oz.; Body Bar, 1.5 oz.
Together, this collection improves appearance of skin tone and fine lines, minimizes moisture loss, brightens and softens skin. This is perfect as an introduction to JAVA Skin Care or as a travel kit – all four products are TSA compliant.
Wishing you all a Healthy, Safe and Happy Thanksgiving
October is such a transition month. We begin the month with summer-like days still lingering, with some 80 degree afternoons and beautiful beach days, but few beach-goers.
We end the month deep into Fall. Leaves have turned and many have already fallen. We celebrate Halloween (keep an eye open for our spooky sale later this month).
October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At JAVA Skin Care, as a women-owned and run business, women’s health issues are always of highest concern to us. We are acutely aware of the battles faced by so many women – as well as men- who are fighting for their lives every day with Breast Cancer. We would like to share some facts and links to breast cancer information as part of our support of this very important annual worldwide campaign:
WearItPInk tells us:
“The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of
successful treatment. So it’s important to check your breasts regularly and see
your GP if you notice a change.
Common breast cancer signs and symptoms include:
a lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit – you might feel the lump but not see it
a change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
a change in the color of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed
a change to the nipple, for example it has become pulled in (inverted)
rash or crusting around the nipple
any unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple
changes in size or shape of the breast” 1
…and, from The American Cancer Society:
“How Common Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women,
except for skin cancers. Currently, the average risk of a woman in the United
States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 12%. This means
there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer. This also means there
is a 7 in 8 chance she will never have the disease.
Current year estimates for breast cancer
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer
in the United States for 2019 are:
About 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
About 62,930 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
About 41,760 women will die from breast cancer.” 2
“There are some things that might be risk factors for breast
cancer, but the research is not yet clear about whether they really affect
breast cancer risk.
A great deal of research has been reported and more is being done to understand possible environmental influences on breast cancer risk.
Chemicals in the environment that have estrogen-like properties are of special interest. For example, substances found in some plastics, certain cosmetics and personal care products, pesticides, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) seem to have such properties. In theory, these could affect breast cancer risk.” 3
Breast Cancer Action warns of possible link between cancer and cosmetics:
“Many
cosmetics contain chemicals known as parabens and phthalates, which recent
studies indicate may be linked to cancer development…
… Many diseases like cancer, asthma, birth defects, and learning disabilities are on the rise, and growing evidence indicates that these health problems are linked to the chemicals we are exposed to in our air, water, food, and everyday products. It’s time we start acting to protect human health.” 4
At JAVA Skin Care, we believe that everything we put on our bodies can make a difference in our overall health . Our skin is our largest organ and it is responsible for keeping every other organ and other parts protected. It is also porous, and as such, absorbs many of the products that we lather on. For this reason, we only use non-toxic, all-natural ingredients in every one of our JAVA Skin Care products. If you have concerns about what you are putting on your body, then check us out.
This month, we are offering our Wonderbar Soaps at 20% off. Get yourself a healthy, moisturizing clean!
Breast Cancer touches all of us, whether it is through our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or more directly, ourselves. Together, through research, awareness, education, and early detection, we will make a difference and a cure will be found.
Summer in Rhode Island lasts through the end of September with warm temperatures. It really is one of my favorite times of the year… I know, I say that each season… lol.
CSA – Coastal Growers Market
I love going to Farmers’ Markets and picking up local vegetables. The Casey Farm (Saunderstown, RI) Market is one of our best markets and is located on a historic working farm. Truly a lovely location.
Fresh Eggs are a special treat We get ours from the Future Farmers of America, Narragansett High School Program… Do you know about FFA? It is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. FFA develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give them the tools to achieve real-world success.
With my children back in school and breakfast such an important meal to fuel up for their day, I use the veggies from the market and the eggs from FFA to make my “famous” frittata… well, maybe not so famous… but so good!
I use an awesome recipe from Ina Garten aka Barefoot Contessa, which you can see here: Roasted Garden Frittata
Speaking of favorites, our DemitasseLip Duo is a favorite of mine and of JAVA Skin Care customers based on being one of our top sellers. Repair and rejuvenate your lips from the summer and get ready for the fall.
Java Demitasse Lip Scrub and Lip Balm are a delicious and all-natural way for your lips to look smooth and and plump using only the highest quality ingredients featuring our signature organic raw coffee argan oil infusion and loaded with caffeine and antioxidants. Both products are Inspired by the French Espresso Romano that is served with a twist of lemon. Gently exfoliate with our lip scrub to prime your lips and then follow with our lip balm to protect and shine.
The dog days of summer have arrived, and I am committed to enjoying e-v-e-r-y last minute of it!
This is my dog Driftwood. He is the JAVA Mascot. He even has his own Insta Page – he loves to get follows @driftwoodyyyyyy. He is a Saint Bern-doodle, a combo of a Saint Bernard and a standard Poodle. I must admit, he is the coolest dog because doesn’t shed, doesn’t drool and has the temperament of a Saint. He is pretty big at 85 pounds, but as gentle as can be. He loves to swim and take baths.
Paddle Boarding Anyone?
My new obsession is paddle boarding. At the end of my street is a saltwater river that is perfect to paddle board on. We even do Full Moon Paddles. The next Full Moon is August 15th. These evening events are amazing. If you are into paddle-boarding, I highly recommend a this lunar experience. Friends have offered to teach me paddle board yoga, but I struggle with yoga on land…lol…so I’ll pass on that for now, anyway. Here is my recommended Kayak Rental Shop in Narragansett RI: Narrow River Kayaks
The Leo New Moon is Here
Speaking of the moon, we have a New Moon In Leo July 31st. This is going to be a game changer that will take us into August. During this new lunar cycle we’ll all feel profoundly confident putting our dreams and desires in the forefront of our minds and missions. Read more…
AugustProduct of the Month
As summer races to a close, our
skin is feeling the effects of sun, wind and salt water… I have been exfoliating and it makes my worn skin GLOW with new life!
Our BODY SCRUB blends our signatureorganic raw coffee argan oil infusion with roasted coffee to create an all-natural exfoliator that smooths, moisturizes and softens skin. Scrub in gentle circles all over the body to quickly remove the superficial layer of dead skin cells, instantly making skin look more youthful. Reduces the appearance of cellulite, stretch marks, and rough patches, and other skin conditions. Can be used on skin imperfections anywhere on the body from the neck down. Shop Now.
Because it is the August Product
of the Month you will receive 20% off the price on our website.
July is awesome in Rhode Island. The weather, the beach and all the events we have keep our days filled with fun. Some on my favorites are:
The Bristol Parade
The Annual Bristol 4th of July Celebration began in 1785 when Rev. Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church and a Veteran of the Revolutionary War conducted the first Patriotic Exercises.
We pack our chairs, make a picnic and enjoy the day.
Fireworks We will be at the beach for the Fireworks on July 4th. Such a fun family day…
Clam cakes and Chowder Monahans Dock, Narragansett RI
Hands down our favorite place to get the perfect lunch… and the view is spectacular.
How are you spending July? I would love to here about your favorite things to do.
During all this fun… please remember to care for your skin. Stayed covered and wear SPF.
This month JAVA is featuring Body Wash.. Why we love it: luxurious bubble soothing organic aloe vera base moisturizing argan oil sweet almond oil scent
Pro Tip: Run out of shampoo? Forgot to buy face cleanser? Good thing our body wash is the queen of multitasking! Lather up your body, face AND hair for beautiful moisturized goodness thanks to all that organic aloe and argan oil Also great for a bubble-bath.
We are fortunate to live in and work from Narragansett, RI… our beaches have won numerous awards for their beauty. It is a special place that I invite you all to visit.
As I look forward to summer, some
of my favorite things are:
Lobster Rolls – we go down to the docks of Point Judith, RI and buy lobsters right off the boats.
We also have amazing places to sit and enjoy the views with a glass of wine. My favorite place is the Coast Guard House… Stunning!
As you may know, I love to
garden, and my Peonies are beginning to bloom. I always struggle with wanting
to cut them for a table center piece but coming up the walkway to the front
door and seeing them each day is such a wonderful experience. I tend to leave
them alone; maybe I need to plant more of them so I can enjoy them both ways…
note to self: plant more peonies.
This time of year, my skin
needs some extra help. The winter has been cold, the spring has been wet, so I use our JAVA Trio to show off my skin in all my fun
summer clothes.
Our JAVA Trio products are used by our spa customers across the country to help reduce the feel and
appearance of cellulite and other skin imperfections
and maintain a healthier and glowing look.
Each JAVA Trio product contains
JAVA’s signature raw coffee – argan oil infusion, packed with caffeine and
antioxidants to help you get your skin refreshed and healthier.
The Collection Contains:
JAVA SKIN CARE Coffee Bean and Raw Sugar Scrub – 8 oz.
JAVA SKIN CARE Organic Raw Coffee Body Serum – 4 oz.
JAVA Wonderbar Coffee Exfoliating Soap – 6 oz.
The JAVA Trio is our Product of the Month. Try it for 10% off just by following this link: JAVA TRIO
I would love to hear what you think after you have used the Trio Routine.
Directions
Here is the at-home
version of the Skin Smoothing Spa Protocol used in 5-star spas across the
country:
Before showering, apply JAVA Body Scrub to dry skin in a circular motion, towards the heart, with even pressure to any “affected” areas (any dimply or less than firm spot on your body, legs, bottom, tummy, upper arms, scars and stretch marks). Scrub gently for three to five minutes. The circular massage will redistribute fat evenly, decrease fluid retention and increase circulation.
Next, wrap the area with a towel, and let the mixture soak in for
fifteen minutes. While you wait, relax; flip through your favorite magazine
while the antioxidants and caffeine absorb deep into your skin to detoxify
and strengthen.
Shower off to rinse your skin. Partially pat dry – you want your skin
to be slightly damp.
Now, massageJAVA Serum into affected areas (and while you’re at it, go ahead and smooth that serum all over your body). Not only will the serum deliver antioxidants and caffeine deep into your skin’s upper layer, it will create a moisture barrier to continue to keep your skin soft and supple all day.
Use the scrub and wrap protocol three days a week until desired
effect is achieved. After that, continue scrubbing once a week and use the wrap
protocol as needed.
On days that you’re not using the scrub, use Wonderbar Coffee Natural Exfoliating Soap in the shower in a circular massage on effected areas to maintain the fat distribution and deliver caffeine and antioxidants to your skin.
During this month of May, I would like to honor all our mothers with this poem and wish them all a wonderful Mother’s Day filled with love and joy!
Mothers – Believe in us more than we believe in ourselves
Do more for us then they do for themselves
Worry about us more than we realize
Pray for us more then we will ever know
Value us more than anything else in the world
Give us more than they can afford
Love us more than anyone else can
Matter more than words can express
We want to spoil our mothers so we have a very special gift…Our Double Shot Body Serum is on sale and we are offering a limited edition Mint Lip Duo as a gift with purchase. This Mint Lip Duo is not available any where else…it is so minty fresh!
Our luxury Double-Shot Body Serum is brimming with a concentrated blend of our signature organic raw coffee and organic argan oil. This non-greasy formula delivers a double-shot of antioxidants and caffeine, protecting and giving skin a youthful glow. Simply smooth a small amount over clean, damp skin to lock in moisture with this special blend for a smooth satin finish without heavy residue. Perfect for extra-dry skin.
JAVA Double-Shot super-moisturizes, brightens and softens skin, adds a sheen to newly shaved legs and makes tattoos pop.
April is always a busy month…. collaborations and events that have been planned for months finally happen. I would like to share my fun April collaborations:
Narragansett High School Senior Kelsey Urbach has been this year’s intern. She has inspired a new product~ the Mint Lip Duo. We have been working on it for months She participated in formula creation and she had a great focus group of Seniors evaluate the product. The product will on sale at our J.Crew Pop Up April 27th in Rhode Island.
I am also very excited to have participated as a panelist in the Ethical FashionForum~Presented by Restored by Design and Senior student team Kayla and Zedekiah from Bryant University FashionForum, at Bryant University.
It was an EXCITING and educational evening bringing awareness to sustainability and ethical fashion; an interactive study of sustainability through a fashion show and panel discussion…
A panel discussion made up of local business owners, professionals, professors, and eco-fashion designers, explored the future of Eco-Fashion, problem solving, and how to step into a more ethical lifestyle with style!!!! The evening included a “not your ordinary” fashion show… individual local eco-fashion designers presented their work on the runway and included the opportunity to get up and personal, touch and feel, ask what inspires them, hear the stories behind their creativity… giving you stylish alternatives that GIVE to our future in ethical ways…
Featured Eco Designers; Restored by Design, ClothesHorse Clothing, NathaliaJMag, House of Ama. Sustainability Panelist included: Reed McLaren, Jo-Anna Cassino of Flipp Salon, Nathalia JMag, Martha Jackson, Bianca of Clothes Horse Clothing, Stephanie McGovern Additon of Java Skin Care with Yemi Sekoni as MC.
Lastly, we are participating in a Pop-Up at J.Crew in Garden City, Cranston, with award winning Rhode Island Blogger Patty J.
J.Crew and Patty J invite you and a friend for styling, shopping, & refreshments and enjoy 20% off your purchase. Java Skin Care will be in-store selling our organic coffee and plant-based skincare line! We are introducing and selling our new Mint Lip Duo for the first time…we are so excited!
Plus, Karen Gomes, a local makeup artist & skincare expert, will be joining Patty for this exclusive event!
Our luxury
The PERKS of JAVA Skin Care 