 Our innovative selection of 100% natural facial masques just got a facelift: we’ve tripled the size of each jar, while delivering a 60% savings. Tres fabulous, no? Each one is a dry powder that you can mix in 30 seconds or less with pantry ingredients to create a fresh, totally customized treatment especially for your skin type. It’s super-simple and no-mess, with instructions right on the jar. My personal favorite? Strawberries & Creme. Luscious strawberries blend with Argiletz rose clay and powdered buttermilk to create an amazing facial treatment that softens and renews tired skin as it boosts brightness. The perfect “perk me up” for you rksin this holiday season! 
 
Shop Bella Luccè's nonprofit to discover a treasure trove of handmade Moroccan luxuries and learn how adding beauty to your life can change the lives of indigenous Berber people. 
 Regular readers will likely know that I am obsesses with tea. And I don’t mean mildly obsessed. I fuel my addiction regularly with new tea varieties and teaware, but this particular tea-to-go mug is my favorite. Crafted of ceramic, it boasts double walls which help the tea stays hotter longer and also means it isn’t uncomfortable to hold, even when freshly filled. I love the bold graphic design and the sandblasting adds texture making it even easier to grip. Snatch one up for just $12 at Stash and take your morning pick-me-up on the road! 
Crushed Freshwater Pearls: Celebrated by Asian women and ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia for more than 3,000 years, pearl powder has a rich history and a myriad of legendary tales about its use at the Imperial Palace. Created by pulverizing real freshwater pearls, it is reputed to boost skins brightness and is rich in both amino acids and trace minerals. 
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma- which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs 
3 tbsp. Dried Lavender Flowers* Process lavender flowers in a blender until they become a powder, turning off the blender and scraping down the sides as necessary. Whisk together lavender powder, milk, and honey in a glass bowl, then pour into a jar. Before each use, shake the jar and pour half of the mixture into the bath. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Makes enough for 2 baths. *Dried lavender flowers can be found in the spice section of gourmet and specialty stores. (Recipe courtesy of the National Honey Board) 
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From Africa to South Carolina: our mudcloth cosmetic bags have landed!· May 14, 2012 - Bella Luccè NewsThey’re here, they’re here! Take a walk on the wild side and keep all of your personal care essentials within easy reach with Bella Lucce’s new African Mudcloth cosmetics bag! Entirely handmade, each generously sized bag measures 7x5” and is capable of pulling double-duty as a chic clutch. A zippered interior pocket is an ideal place to stash small perfume vials, eyeliner pencils and lipstick, while the roomy main compartment holds eyeshadow, blush, mascara and other potions. An African cowrie shell zipper pull adds an exotic touch to this fully lined and padded bag. It’s delivered with three complimentary samples from our popular African Adventures Collection tucked inside, along with a storycard detailing its creation.  Personifying the spirit of “handmade”, each piece is handsewn in Djenne, Mali of handpainted cloth created using ancient indigenous techniques. Bogolan (also called mudcloth) is the quintessential West African textile. The word “bogolan” means “made from mud” in Bambara, the local language of Mali. The bogolan technique of dyeing and printing cotton is entirely organic. Traditionally, the textile is made using narrow strips of cotton cloth woven on looms in the villages. The fabric is first soaked in a dye bath made from mashed and boiled leaves or bark to infuse the cloth with either a red or yellow hue. Once dyed, the fabric is treated with mud collected from the Niger River, applied freehand in multiple layers with the help of a toothbrush. The cloth is dried in the sun, then washed in the river and laid to dry on its banks, where the oxides that remain from the mud intensify to create a permanent pattern. We offer the bags in three distinct patterns: butter, terra cotta and zebra.    This bag looks good while doing good…now doesn’t that feel GREAT? Arrives with these complimentary samples tucked inside: Argan & Acacia Rich Body Creme, Moringa & Shea Cleansing Bar and Mongongo & Shea Nutritive Hair Conditioner. Grab yours now! Why is everything in miniature so adorable?· May 9, 2012 - Bella Luccè News We’ve been pondering that question at Bella Lucce for the last few weeks. I mean, it’s always been true for puppies and babies, but lately we’ve found ourselves ooh’ing and ahh’ing over wee-sized beauty products. Who knew? From swaddling baby lotions in labels to picking out the perfect baby pineapple for a photo shoot, we’ve gone totally mad for all things miniature lately. In just a few weeks, we’ll be launching six (count ‘em…six!) TSA-approved travel amenity kits. You never again have to rely on tired hotel amenities or face life at 30,000 feet without a good moisturizer. We’ve bantered around the idea of travel kits for several years now and we’ve finally found just the right combination of packaging and price point to make it all happen. Launching May 28th: African Adventures Travel Luxuries Each kit will feature 4-5 miniature products designed to be carried on planes, trains and automobiles, to keep you looking radiant wherever your travels may take you. And each will be wrapped in a chic cotton bag in your choice of one of three ultra-groovy prints. After you’ve exhausted the supplies in your amenity kit, you can always order the larger versions once you’re back at home. And that adorable cotton bag? Tuck your earrings, bracelets and necklaces inside, give the ribbon ties a tug and toss the whole she-bang into your luggage on your next adventure. It’s a total win-win! Coming soon: handmade mudcloth bags direct from Mali· May 1, 2012 - Bella Luccè NewsWe’re excited to announce that we’ve expanded our relationship with the women’s cooperative in Mali responsible for creating the gorgeous bogolan wraps for our African soap bar. Beginning May 14th, we’ll be offering handmade cosmetic bags in modern bogolan prints custom designed especially for Bella Lucce. Look for three distinct patterns, each accompanied by a storycard detailing the unique story of its creation.  Weaving indigenous cotton on a loom in Mali
Women at the cooperative adorn the cloth using mud from the Niger River Each generously sized cosmetic bag measures 7x5” and is capable of pulling double-duty as a chic clutch. A zippered interior pocket is an ideal placed to stash small perfume vials, eyeliner pencils and lipstick, while the roomy main compartment holds all your essentials. An African cowrie shell zipper pull adds a exotic touch to this fully lined and padded bag. Personifying the spirit of “handmade”, each piece is handsewn in Djenne, Mali of handpainted cloth. The women’s cooperative responsible for creating the bags provides employment for local women and profits from the export of the bags are kept in the local community, providing literacy training and cataract surgery for native Malians.  The Niger River is central to life in Mali I personally traveled to Mali in the spring of 2010 on a mission to select a women’s cooperative to manufacture authentic bogolan soap wraps for our forthcoming African Adventures Collection. Over the course of the last two years, we’ve enjoyed our relationship with Association MaliMali, but recent political instability in the area has prompted Bella Lucce to expand that relationship. Since the tourism industry in Mali will all but disappear until stability is firmly reestablished, the income the cooperative provides is vital to the survival of the local people now more than ever. Stay tuned- we’ll reveal images of the bags a few days before their launch on May 14th! Inner Peace + Good Karma = free Bella Lucce· April 15, 2012 - Giving BackBelieve it or not…Columbia has a small clutch of Buddhists and even a few Buddhist centers. Amidst the stunning civil-war area architecture of this state and the predominance of beautiful churches, a small but devoted band of inner peace activists gather several times per week, from all faiths, to cultivate and celebrate the beauty of peace. Ganden Mahayana Center is a “501(c)(3) non-profit Buddhist meditation center in Columbia, SC, whose aim is to help others develop inner peace by offering classes on meditation and practical Buddhist teachings for daily life.” It’s a cozy place filled with warm souls and my daughter Celie and I enjoy Saturday morning lessons with the resident nun, Kelsang Nyema. Celie and her classmates pray, sing and meditate together as Nyema teaches a lesson, reads a story and then oversees a related art project. We often go out for cupcakes afterwards. I enjoy Wednesday night teachings and meditations that encourage me to love more purely, stress less and abolish anger. Even though there’s not a children’s program on Wednesday nights, Celie often joins me because she finds the center peaceful…so she curls up on a couch in the social room and listens to the lesson until she inevitably falls asleep.  Kelsang Nyema The center has a few obstacles, it’s located up a flight of stairs, which all but eliminates the participation of those with physical disabilities. We have just one meditation room, so adult classes or kids classes can be underway at any one time, but never both simultaneously. The downstairs space directly below the center was purchased recently and underwent a year-long renovation to begin a new life as a bar, which has led to a year-long exercise in patience… meditating amidst the cacophony of jackhammers and bar chatter isn’t exactly easy. And while the downtown location is convenient and scenic (you can see the Statehouse from our windows!), there’s a perpetual struggle to find parking and every 5k run or parade presents a labyrinth of blocked streets. But, alas- after an extended search, the center has found a new home! The new center will begin hosting classes on May 30th in nearby Lexington/West Columbia. With handicap ramps, a dedicated children’s space, lots more room for growth, an adequate parking lot and NO JACKHAMMERS. Can you feel our enthusiasm?  The move will involve some minor renovations and the Mahayana Center is currently engaged in a modest capital campaign to raise the necessary funds. Bella Lucce has donated a total of $500 in gift certificates, in a variety of denominations, to aid the effort. If you love Bella Lucce and you have a desire to help promote inner-peace to people of all faiths, please consider making a donation. The entire affair takes just a moment and can be completed online via secure servers. We’re a third of the way to our goal and we promise to electronically deliver your “thank you” gift certificate from Bella Lucce post haste so you can soak in a decadent bath and ponder world peace and all the good karma you’ve earned. :) Click here to take a one-minute tour of the new space and donate. Please give a warm welcome to.. .· April 2, 2012 - Bella Luccè NewsThe Bella Luccè family continues to grow and we’re happy to announce our newest additions. These stockists have fresh shipments of Bella Luccè ready and waiting…stop in, ring them up or click on to pick up your favorite bath and body luxuries locally. Longboat Key, FL: Aluna Wellness Center and Spa Click here to locate the nearest Bella Luccè stockist in your area… there are now more than 700 worldwide. If you’re a spa or salon interested in hearing about our innovative products and treatments, we invite you to give us a ring at 800.485.3079! New Cosmetic Legislation on Capitol Hill· March 28, 2012 - Cosmetics Legislation & Small Business AdvocacyThough we’ve enjoyed a temporary hiatus in the discussion of new federal cosmetic legislation, things are heating up once again on Capitol Hill. The Cosmetics Safety Enhancement Act of 2012 was formally introduced earlier this week. Authored by Rep. Pallone (D-NJ) and co-sponsored by Rep. Dingell (D-MI), it is the latest attempt by the House of Representatives to revise and update existing laws that impact how cosmetics are manufactured, marketed and distributed within the United States. I encourage you to read the complete text of H.R. 4262 by clicking here. Attempts to revise the structure of cosmetic legislation are not new and we’ve previously seen several pieces of legislation by way of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011, etc. In fact, a team of small business representatives from the industry has been in DC on several crusades since 2008, meeting with the FDA and legislatures to help them understand our particular niche in the beauty industry and how to best protect both consumers and small business. If you aren’t familiar with the history, I invite you read a collection of my previous blog posts on the subject. On Tuesday, March 27th, a public hearing was held by members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee to discuss the current state of cosmetics. For more than two hours, witnesses from the FDA, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, small business, industry trade groups and the California Safe Cosmetics Program submitted testimony and answered questions from congressional representatives. If you missed the live event, you’re in luck! A recording of the full hearing is below.
Video streaming by Ustream
Mandatory Facility Registration Mandatory Product Registration User Fees Safety Substantiation Adverse Reaction Reporting Good Manufacturing Practices Mandatory Recall Authority  At present, the bill has just one co-sponsor and has been referred to committee. It has a long journey to passage, though there has been talk of attaching it to another piece of legislation designed to reauthorize funding for the FDA, enabling it to hire hundreds of staffers to review new drug and medical device applications in a timely manner. That particular legislation is expected to be voted upon this summer. Sharp eyes will notice that the current bill language does not mention any small business considerations. I am confident that forces are at work on Capitol Hill encouraging legislators to consider the impact of this type of regulation on thousands of thriving small businesses. It’s a delicate balance to protect public health in such a manner as to avoid stifling the innovation of scads of companies at the forefront of the natural product movement who seek to offer an alternative to mass marketed formulations. I encourage those of you who love cosmetics, those of you who manufacture or distribute cosmetics and those of you who have an interest in the public health of women to follow this legislation and its developments closely. I remain optimistic that we can reach a reasonable outcome that satisfies all parties. Fingers crossed! Beyond Kony 2012…· March 10, 2012 - Lela's TravelsswI admit: I’ve been glued to my laptop for the last few days. Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave, you’ve probably heard about the film Kony 2012, produced by the California-based nonprofit Invisible Children. The organization has been in operation for almost a decade, raising awareness of the brutality of the Lord’s Resistance Army. The LRA rebels have been terrorizing the people of Central Africa since 1986 under the leadership of Joseph Kony, a tyrant of mythical proportions, the world’s most wanted war criminal and all-around awful guy. They’re modus operandi has been to abduct children and force them to become brutal soldiers who perpetuate the conflict. The LRA has populated a reign of terror for the last 26 years, wreaking all varieties of brutality on the people of the region, most especially in Northern Uganda. My daughter Chloe first brought the video to my attention on the evening of March 6th, when it had just 26,000 views. By the time we finished watching it together (30 minutes later), the video had amassed 50,000 views. By the time I went to bed? 150,000. The next day? An astounding 10,000,000. Just 5 days after its release, Kony 2012 has topped 60 million views. While it’s been a fascinating testament to the power of social media, there have emerged a multitude of critics who allege that it oversimplifies a complex struggle (true), who point out that just 31% of the $8,000,000+ raised by Invisible Children last year was spent on the ground in Uganda (true), and that millions of teenagers buying “action kits” is primarily symbolic and has little chance of helping bring Kony to justice (debatable). No matter your opinion of Invisible Children, I think the fact that social justice issues are front and center in the minds of millions of young people is a very positive thing. The video has been a catalyst for some stimulating discussions in my house and for that I am quite grateful.  Warlord Joseph Kony In July of 2010, I had occasion to travel to Uganda myself, at the invitation of Bead For Life, an awe-inspiring nonprofit based in Kampala, Uganda. I had been fortunate enough to meet Devin, the Co-Executive Director, at the Global Shea Conference in Mali, Africa just a few months before and she extended the invitation for me to come to Uganda to see her operation firsthand. I jumped at the chance… Bead For Life has been working in Uganda for almost a decade. They began in the south of the country, enrolling women in an entrepreneurship program, teaching them to roll beads and offering cash, literacy classes and business training under an innovative model that replaces international aid with self-sufficiency. Though the program is hugely successful, Devin was compelled to find a way to support the women of Northern Uganda, the very same women ravaged by the LRA. For the past few years, she’s initiated in a new shea butter program, paying LRA survivors to collect shea nuts which are processed into shea butter for cosmetic use. I had the great fortune of meeting the shea collectors themselves and spending time in a former refugee camp near Orum. The experience was deeply touching and impacted me in ways that I still struggle to understand. Holding the hands of women who have survived the murder of their husbands, the abduction of their sons, the rape of their daughters and the destruction of their villages is a heady experience, to be certain… I invite you to read about my time in the IDP camp here.  Helen, an LRA survivor, stands with her children at the graves of her family (all victims of the rebels) I’m writing today to implore you to channel the energy created by the Kony 2012 film into direct action to support the people it introduces. How? I’m so very glad you asked: 1. Host a bead party. Invite a few friends over, put on a CD of African music (provided), arrange the colorful paper bead jewelry, pour a few glasses of wine and raise funds to directly benefit women in Uganda, enabling Bead For Life to expand their vital operations and reach. While you won’t receive any sort of commission, the good karma is immeasurable. Find out more about hosting a Bead Party. I also invite you to read more about Bead For Life’s accomplishments and their financials. I think we can all agree that 91% of revenue being dispersed directly to their programs is a record to make anyone proud.  At a bead sale I attended while in Uganda In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that Bella Lucce produces finished shea butter products on behalf of Bead For Life. We’ve been a proud partner since 2010 and manufacture their products with the same care and attention to detail you’ve come to expect from us… |
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