Strength in Letting Go

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well and staying warm. It's been a while since my last post and there are a million reasons why I have been such a slacker.

As you may know, I injured 3 fingers on my left hand in September, 2009. Several surgeries and countless trips to the torcher chick {therapy} later, I am left with fingers that won't straighten. They are in a permanent bend, and will be for the rest of my life. I'm also experiencing nerve issues because of all the trauma my fingers have been through.

Dealing with the day to day of functioning with this slight disability, it has forced me to take a hard look at my life, both personally and professionally. The statement of "you don't realize how much you miss something until it's gone", is an understatement. I figured it was my left hand and not my right hand, which is dominant. Once it healed, how bad could it be?

There are many duties or actions I can no longer perform without my hand interfering. I'm here with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart to announce I will not be manufacturing cruelty free and vegan bath and body products as of April 1, 2011.

I'm a perfectionist to a fault and was raised to be a hard worker and put 100% of myself into everything that I do. I am no longer 100% because of my hand, and I am not one to offer any less to my customers.

Cactus & Ivy was created on April 1, 2000 and it only seems fitting to close down the manufacturing on the same day, especially since I have a little "OCD" in me that wouldn't have it any other way. The site reflects changes that have already taken place, as in the removal of products that are no longer available for retail.

Cactus & Ivy will remain a company and I am planning to have other projects under its umbrella. Once I have all the particulars nailed down, I will announce what is to be next on this journey.

I've been my own boss for close to 11 years. I know for a fact I would make a terrible employee, just because I've been doing my own thing for so long. I am taking the front seat in my other venture, Personal Care Truth, that I co-founded with Kristin Fraser Cotte with The Grapeseed Company.

Even though I will not be manufacturing personal care products, I believe in the truth and will continue to fight for all the manufacturers in the industry, both big and small. For those that know me well, know that I stand firm in my beliefs and I can be just as loud, if not louder, when it comes to standing up for the truth.

Thank you for making my dream a reality. For the business, feedback, comments and press for the past 11 years. I've met some fabulous people and gained valuable friendships over the years. I'm confident that the trail I blaze will always be associated with the cosmetic industry. It's in my blood. This decision would be unbearable if it weren't for the love and support of my husband, family and friends.

I leave you with a quote that I shared with a friend that was moving forward in her life. “Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong - sometimes it's letting go."

Thanks for stopping by y'all! Have a fabulous day!

Nutrient Rich Pecan Oil in Bath & Body Products

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Yesterday's post highlighted that it was Chocolate Covered Raisin Day. Who doesn't love chocolate? It's not only delicious but is a wonderful ingredient to include in bath and body products, which brings me to today.

I grew up eating pecans on and in a variety of dishes cooked up by my southern Mom. To live in the south and not eat pecans is like not putting gravy on your biscuits. 'Pee-can' or 'peh-kahn', it's not just for pie anymore!

Pecan oil {Algooquian Pacaan (Pecan) Nut Oil} is extracted from the pecan nut, is rich in nutrients and oleic acid. It is a great oil to include in bath and body products, especially massage oils because it is light, highly moisturizing and perfect for dry or mature skin. Cactus & Ivy will be incorporating the fabulous ingredient of pecan oil in upcoming formulations.

Looking for an alternative to butter, corn oil or olive oil for cooking? Pecan oil has less saturated fat at 9.5% compared to olive oil with 13.5%, corn oil with 13.7% and butter with an astounding 66% of saturated fat! It's light and does not leave a nutty taste to your food.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!





Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Cosmetic Ingredients | What's In Your Bath & Body Product?

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. I felt compelled to write this after reading so many posts that are aimed at scaring the consumer in reference to toxic chemicals in their personal care products.

You, the consumer, are a very savvy bunch of smart cookies. Read the labels on your cosmetic products and while on a company's website, read their ingredient listings. If a company doesn't list all the ingredients for a product on their website or only tout the "natural" or "organic" ingredients then I have to wonder what they have to hide.

I belong to the Cosmetics and Beauty Network group on LinkedIn that had a discussion posted that was titled "Did You Know The Average Consumer Puts 515 Chemicals On Their Face/Body Everyday?". I had to respond because statements like this are very alarming. Donna Maria, CEO of Indie Beauty posted a reply as well and in part said "Would you rather use a facial cream with a tiny amount of chemical preservative that has been proven safe, or would you rather use a facial cream with no preservative that will grow bacteria and mold that could blind you or a family member?"

What concerned me the most about the person who started this discussion was she represents a company that says they produce products with premium botanical ingredients and a commitment to pure, safe and beneficial products. The only problem I see with this statement is that they do not list the ingredients on their website, as far as I can see. If they are listed then I must need to be a psychic to find them.


Cactus & Ivy proudly lists the ingredients for every product on our website. We list the ingredients on a product label as required by the FDA Labeling Guidelines. There are a wealth of sites that provide information without using "scare tactics" to make you believe the current lotion or soap you are using will cause cancer.

As I've stated in the past, let me say this again. Cactus & Ivy is and always will be for providing safe cosmetics and personal care products. If you ever have a question about an ingredient used in our products, my door is wide open. I welcome your questions and/or feedback.

For more information on cosmetics, ingredients and regulations, check out the links below:

Cosmetics Info - "Your source for safety information about cosmetic and personal care products, their ingredients and how they are tested and regulated."

Personal Care Products Council - "is the leading national trade association for the cosmetic and personal care products industry and represents the most innovative names in beauty today."

Cosmetic Ingredient Review - "Mission: The Cosmetic Ingredient Review thoroughly reviews and assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics in an open, unbiased, and expert manner, and publishes the results in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Truth In Aging - Organic vs Natural Cosmetic Standards

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) - "an association of manufacturers of cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery products, founded in 1945 to promote the interests of members, primarily with government. That remit has now extended to include the European Commission and many other regulatory bodies, national and international groups.

Confidence in Cosmetics

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!





Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Pink Grapefruit Bath & Body

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! Pink Grapefruit is another favorite essential oil of mine. It's always a preferred natural oil when I need uplifting with a crisp, vibrant aroma.

Pink Grapefruit Oil {Citrus Paradisi} is used for its sweet and tart aroma to awaken the senses, stimulating the circulation - which helps reduce cellulite, relieve muscle tension, used for oily or acne prone skin, uplift mental stress and a fabulous skin toner, to name a few.

The grapefruit tree grows to over 33 feet in height and California is the leading producer of grapefruit essential oil. The oil is expressed from the fresh peel of the grapefruit and comes in varieties of white, pink and red.


You can find pink grapefruit oil in our Moisture Body Lotion, Body Bath & Massage Elixir, Spring Fever Line, Fresh Breeze Loofah and Cactus Body Wash.

As with other citrus oils, grapefruit oil is photo-sensitizing and should not be used within 4 hours of direct sun exposure.

Thanks for stopping by y'all! Have a great day!!


Creator Extraordiaire
Cactus & Ivy

{ grapefruit picture - care of Istockphoto}

Custom Blend & Private Label | Spa, Bath & Body Products

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous Thursday! Did you know that Cactus & Ivy offers custom blending and private label?

For our wholesale clients, we create custom blends based on botanicals, scents, and other raw materials indigenous to your area. We will also create from a particular theme, scent, botanical, etc, the choice is yours! Note: Cactus & Ivy no longer private labels its stock products.

The first step in custom blending is to complete the required paperwork to get the ball rolling. You will provide us the type of products you wish to be created and once that is completed, Cactus & Ivy then researches the various plants, trees, flowers, oils and scents indigenous to your area or your theme.

The next step is to choose a container and packaging options. If you want something other than our stock container and packaging options, additional fees will apply. We then provide a quote for the products created. Cactus & Ivy then creates samples for your review. We have minimum order requirements based on your needs and can create custom blended/private label products in runs as low as 24 products per SKU.

Next you submit your company logo in psd 300 dpi format. We will work with your logo to see the ease of manipulation on a label or tag template, based on the container options chosen. We no longer offer the option for you to print the labels on your own. Once your logo has been worked, samples are submitted for review and approval. Additional fees may apply.

Your custom blended products will never be marketed to another client, even though Cactus & Ivy maintains ownership. Should you wish to own the formulation, you may do so for a flat fee.

In addition to retail and professional products, we create items for In-Room Amenities, Bath Butler, Sales and Marketing, giveaways, etc. The possibilities are endless!

For our retail clients, Cactus & Ivy offers custom blending and private label options for Baby Showers, Wedding Favors, Birthday Favors, Bridal Showers, Engagement Showers, Anniversary Celebrations and more.

So, if you are in need of custom blended/private label cruelty free and vegan products for spa, bath and body then give Cactus & Ivy a shout. I would love to create something for you today!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Giving Life To Old Formulations

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well! The weekend was absolutely beautiful and staying indoors was not an option. I hope your skies were bright and you had a relaxing couple of days.

Over the weekend, I worked in the yard taking in the sunshine and blue skies. Gardening totally relaxes me and some of my most creative ideas come from working in the yard.

I have decided to give new life to old bath and body formulations. Cruelty-free and vegan creations that didn't make it to the solitude of my shop are about to get a new lease on life! For whatever reason the formulations were never put to the test, I am looking forward to working on them again with a fresh eye and a wide selection of fabulous ingredients at my disposal.

So, y'all please keep your eyes peeled for the unveiling of new formulations and thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy