Category: Blog Post

Holiday stress

Three Ways to Relieve Holiday Stress

Posted on by Lydia D

There’s no doubt that the holidays can be a stressful time.

It seems as though once the first week of November rolls around, everyone jumps right into the “Holiday Spirit.” Christmas carols can be heard on the radio, and holiday decorations are everywhere. While this should be a festive time, you might find yourself feeling rather frazzled. We may slowly begin to feel the dreaded “Holiday Stress.”

The holidays are wonderfully exciting for our children, who anticipate stacks of gifts and snowball fights, but as adults it means hosting or attending endless holiday parties and thinking about last minute shopping, all while trying to still juggle your regular responsibilities. While stress is often a normal part of life, holiday stress can leave you feeling drained and even depressed at times.

Why not make this time of year a little different? By doing just three simple things, you can spend more time enjoying the small things that make this time of year so special! So put on your comfiest clothes, whip up a mug of warm cocoa (why not add a candy cane to get in the holiday spirit?), and keep reading to find out a few simple ways you can relieve your holiday stress this year!

Start Early

Most of us are guilty of leaving our Christmas shopping until the last minute, and hey, we aren’t judging! Unfortunately, as the holiday draws near, the malls become jam-packed with frantic shoppers scrambling to purchase gifts for everyone on their list. Holiday shopping can be stressful enough without all the shoving and pushing that takes away from what the holiday is really about.

Why not plan to set a specific day or two aside this month to take care of everyone on your Christmas list, so you can avoid the malls altogether come December. This allows you to spend quality time with friends and family, to travel, or to do whatever you enjoy doing during the holiday season.

Shop Mindfully

Instead of purchasing novelty gifts that may soon be forgotten, why not spoil the special people in your life with loving, thoughtful gifts. Perhaps the skincare maven in your family would appreciate one of our gift boxes that you can feel good about giving them, as they are free from all harmful chemicals. Or why not give your loved one a gift certificate to that spa day you know she would truly appreciate and definitely deserves!

You can shop mindfully online and reduce the stress of shopping at the mall, while feeling good about supporting a business that creates handmade goods with love! And when you know that a business gives back, you can feel even better.

Don’t Forget About Yourself

It’s easy to neglect yourself when rushing around to take care of everything on your holiday list, but by taking time out for yourself you will be able to tackle challenges in a calmer, more relaxed manner.

Start your day with a short meditation, here is a great app to help you get started. Try and squeeze in a quick 20 min cardio workout to rev up your metabolism and keep you burning calories all day. Not only will this help to reduce your stress levels, but it will allow you to enjoy that extra holiday cookie without feeling too much guilt!

End your day with a long soak in the tub or ask that special someone to give you a relaxing massage with our Dry Body Oil; after all, you’ve earned it!

We hope that these three simple yet effective steps can help you have your best holiday season ever. Happy Holidays!

Shop Small for Small Business Saturday

Celebrating Small Business Saturday

Posted on by Lydia D

This year, once again, WEBA is celebrating Small Business Saturday by honoring our retail partners. Without them, we would not be where we are today. Their ongoing support of our business and its products is something that we do not take for granted.

As we gear up to scale up our distribution, we would like to take the time to encourage our customers and visitors to check out the local stores that carry our products:

  • Victoria Gardens
  • The Green Cottage
  • Living Eden
  • River Market Bar & Kitchen

    • By supporting these Hudson valley businesses, you are helping to support individuals who live and work here, women business owners, and you are helping us to continue to make products in the U.S.A. You can visit our Retail Stores list page to stay up-to-date on retailers that sell our products. We hope to have many more locations in the near future!

    If you would like to see our products in your favorite store, please feel free to send us an e-mail or a message on our Facebook page. We will make every attempt to contact them to see if they would like to add us to the items that they currently stock.

    Remember, it is the small, local businesses that generate the majority of new jobs in the U.S. Please help us to remain by supporting us with your dollars. #Buysmall. #Buylocal. Buy on #SmallBusinessSaturday.

    Woman with eczema scratching herself

    Natural treatments for eczema

    Posted on by Lydia D

    Are there natural treatments for eczema?

    What is eczema?

    It is known that approximately 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from eczema, a skin condition characterized by scaly, red, itchy patches on many parts of the body. Our skin is the largest organ in the human body, so it’s safe to say that those who suffer from this condition can be pretty uncomfortable.

    Natural treatments vs drug treatments

    Eczema is thought to result from inflammation, can be triggered by a number of things, such as dry skin, additives in soaps and detergents, lotions and creams, pollen and other allergens, and excessive sweating. Many prefer to seek natural treatments for this troublesome skin condition, as common drug treatments can include powerful steroids and/or antibiotics. These drugs, while effective, have many potentially harmful side effects. Some individuals may find relief from some of the following remedies:
    – Anything that relieves stress; this can include yoga, meditation, deep breathing, aromatherapy, and Ayurveda.
    – Avoiding products containing added perfumes, dyes, harsh detergents or other synthetics. Many of these can cause irritation, especially in persons with sensitive skin.
    – Using products containing healing oils of castor, sunflower, shea, pumpkin seed, lavender, tea tree, neem, and other pure essential oils. Plant-based oils contain beneficial fatty acids that sooth dry skin, and essential oils like lavender and tea tree are naturally antibacterial.
    – Including more Vitamin E in the diet. Vitamin E is found to have antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties, and can be found in foods like nuts and seeds. Vitamin E can also be applied topically if desired.

    Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of this skin condition should, of course, seek the advice of a qualified dermatologist. This post is by no means intended to substitute for medical advice.

    References: https://medlineplus.gov/eczema.html
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/496789-vitamin-e-for-eczema/

    hand washing with bar soap

    Bar soap vs Liquid soap

    Posted on by Lydia D

    Bar soap vs liquid soap – the debate rages

    Have you ever asked yourself about bar soap vs liquid soap for your regular skincare routine? There are many cleansers on the market today, and it can often be confusing to figure out which product is best for you and your family.

    There are a few things to consider, like 1) cost, 2) effectiveness, 3) earth friendliness, and 4) additives. Which is easier to use? Which is kinder to skin? Which ones provide the most skin benefits? The choices may seem endless.

    It’s important to know what soap is. “Real” soap is made by combining a fat with an alkali. IN the beginning, soaps were created by using rendered animal fat and wood ash. The basic formula hasn’t changed very much. What has changed are the ingredients used to make today’s soaps. Commercial soap manufacturers use fats derived from rendered cows or pigs to make their soaps. Manufacturers like WEBA would rather not support the factory farms that produce most of the animal fat used today. Instead, we use organic plant oils and butters, which contain many skin-nourishing fatty acids.

    Companies also make non-soap cleansers which consist of commercially manufactured surfactants, like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which can be derived using petrolatum, a non-renewable resource. They are high foaming and they clean well, which can sometimes result in skin irritation. It is particularly harsh on hair, especially color-treated hair. There are alternatives to this ingredient which area less harsh available on the market today. You can read more about sulfates by visiting Best Health Magazine’s The truth about sulfates webpage.

    Liquid soap, ounce for ounce, is more expensive than bar soap. The primary ingredient in liquid soaps and gels is water. This makes it more wasteful, as it’s hard to measure how much you’re using. This also makes it more likely to grow bacteria and mold. Hence, companies must add preservatives to liquid soaps. They often add other additives, as well, like artificial fragrance and coloring. Some of these ingredients may cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Bar soap does not require a preservative; its high pH provides protection against bacterial growth. However, bar soap manufacturers can use additives, too, so it’s important to read labels to avoid potential allergens or harsh chemicals.

    If the jury’s still out on which soap is better, why not give our bar soaps a try? They are plant-based, synthetic and SLS free, and use pure aromatherapy essential oils for a fresh natural scent that is naturally antiseptic. You can see our selection by visiting our bar soaps store page.